Comfort and Joy

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will
give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:13

Friday, June 28, 2013

Five for Friday

1.  Its been so hot lately that we have tried to find some fun things to do inside.  This was a jumping kind of day.
It's a jumping kind of day. #toohotoutside
 2. We enjoyed eating at YoLo on Thursday for Dinner Out for the Fund. The boys enjoyed orange sherbert...it was everywhere but glad they enjoyed it! Go eat at YoLo in Midtown today and support the Forrest Spence Fund. Our family enjoyed it! #forrestspencefund

3. Brother Juniper's in Memphis is spotlighting the FSF for the month of July. I took a poster our graphic designer (Jennifer Ellis) made and put it up today.  Go enjoy a yummy breakfast/lunch and drop some change in the fish bowl.  Thank you Brother Junipers for highlighting the Fund as your Community Spotlight for July. Go enjoy a yummy breakfast/lunch and drop some change in the fish bowl. Awesome poster created by the super talented @jenwilkellis

 4. The boys and I went for a mommy/son date to the Wolf River Kayak race a few Saturdays ago. We all really enjoyed it.
Enjoyed a fun mommy/sons morning on the Mississippi River. They loved the canoe & kayak race. Fun seeing @caseycockrum too!

5.  This precious girl is now big enough to play in the Exersaucer and her Jumperoo.  Where does time go?!?  She is now 6 months.  I need to take her monthly pictures and do a post on that.
My big girl loves her exersaucer.

Happy Friday friends!  Enjoy your weekend!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Maggie 6 months

Maggie turned 6 months on June 27th.  Months 5-6 were more big months for her.  She cut her first tooth right at 6 months and can now roll both ways.  She is hilarious in her bed rolling all over the crib. She can sit up unassisted for 10-20 seconds and has a great grasp and pinching.  She loves playing with her toys and grabbing for things (like mommy's earrings and hair).  She loves her exersaucer and jumperoo.  She is also very laid back and goes with the flow majority of the time.  She does prefer her crib for naptime but will still occasionally nap in the Ergo on mommy.  She still sucks her fingers and refuses the paci.  Food wise she enjoys butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, prunes, and bananas.  Maggie loves her Sophie the giraffe and any other type of teether.  

Things she loves:
-her brothers 
-her daddy and mommy
-faces
-smiles from others
-bath time
-being on the diaper changing table
-play mat
-exersaucer
-her fingers

-food
-lovie
-naps
-hands
-feet


Things she doesn't love:
-being hot (which is difficult since we live in Memphis)


She weighed 16.9 lbs and and was 26.5 inches long.  Thats 50% in weight and 75% in height.  She is doing great and has stayed very healthy.  The month of June the boys had 5 stomach bugs (yes you heard me right, it was terrible), a fever virus, and a cold and she never got any of them.  Praying that the sicknesses for my girl are in the past.  


Some pictures of our sweet girl!

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6 months last Thursday!  Totally smitten with this sweet girl!
Comparison of the 6 months. Untitled Untitled

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Beach vacation - round 1

Three weeks ago we headed to Seacrest Beach with the Spence family.  David's twin sister Anne and her kids along with David's parents were also there.  We decided to leave Friday night and drive half way because we weren't sure how Maggie would do on the long drive.  I spent most of the week before packing up for this trip.  It is amazing how much 3 little people need for a week at the beach.  I probably over packed but I was thankful that while we were there we didn't need anything extra.  David came home Friday after work and the kids and I were ready.  The boys have been asking about the beach for weeks.  They were thrilled it was finally here.  We packed up and headed out around 7:15 that night.  The kids were already fed and in their pj's.  Maggie took a little while to fall asleep but once she fell asleep she pretty much stayed asleep until we started looking for hotels around 11:30.  The boys watched a movie and then tried falling asleep.  It took them a little longer but they too eventually fell asleep.  We had planned on stopping in Birmingham for a hotel but unfortunately I think everyone on the road had the same idea because the hotels were booked.  At that point all 3 kids woke up and didn't go back to sleep.  We had to drive another 30 miles to find a hotel but finally found one.  By this point all 3 kids were wired, especially Miller.  He was on cloud 9 that we were staying in a hotel and he was going to share a bed with his brother.  By this point it was 1:00 am and we were exhausted.  We finally got him to calm down and fall asleep.  The next morning we packed up again and made the rest of the way to the beach.  We were all thrilled to be there and hug the cousins necks and see the beach.
We made it!  Yeah for cousins and the beach. Sweet girl loves the ocean!
The next morning everyone woke up bright and early so we headed to the beach.
Austin is in heaven with his cousins. #millerrefusedtotakeapicture
The kids loved playing in the sand and building sandcastles.  They also enjoy wearing life jackets and going out to the sand bar with Dingdad and daddy.  Fun morning at the beach!  #myhappyplace
My loves!  @daviddspence
In the middle of the day I can easily get frustrated and tired and forget that sweet memories are being made so after the kids are asleep I like to look back at the pictures and smile knowing we made great memories today.  #myhappyplace #yesthekidsarewear
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David and I took a sunset walk one night...it was beautiful!Sunset walk with my sweetheart. #myhappyplace #nofilter
Beth Winterburn took professional pictures of the 6 kids with the grandparents.  This picture below cracks me up every time I look at it.  Truly hilarious!Cousin pictures on the beach. Can't wait to see the professional ones from @ebwinterburn   #maggiewasoverit
One day was overcast with light rains so the kids rode their scooters around the cove.  So thankful we brought them.
What do you do at the beach when it's rainy and overcast?  Ride scooters!  #thankfulwebroughtthem
At night we would often head back down to the beach to burn off some energy.  I love the beach at dusk.
Goodbye beach!  We will miss you.
I'll do another post of the rest of the beach pictures next.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Dinner Out for the Fund

This Thursday Dinner Out for the Fund at YoLo in Midtown (Midtown only this Thursday).  Go enjoy yogurt or gelato and YoLo will give 15% back to the Fund.  Its going to be a hot day so a perfect day for yogurt!

Monday, June 24, 2013

New website!!!

Sorry I have been MIA lately but I have been super busy working on the new Forrest Spence Fund website.  Please go check it out.  We are really proud of it and have been eager to launch it.

www.forrestspencefund.org

It's also time to sign up for the Forrest Spence 5k on August 24th at Overton Park.  Click on the picture of the race logo on the homepage and it will take you to the 5k page where you can click at the top to sign up.  Hope to see you on August 24th (of you can be a ghost runner and receive an awesome shirt!).

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Miller's birthday survey

I forgot to ever include Miller's birthday survey so mainly doing it so I can have it for our memories.

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Name:  Miller

Age: 3
Favorite Stuffed Animal: Big monkey
Favorite Restaurant: home
Favorite Movie: Planes
Favorite Toy: Trains
Favorite Sport to watch: Golf
Favorite Sport to play: Baseball
Favorite Animals: Monkeys
Favorite shirt to wear to school: Choo choo shirt 
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite Pizza topping: Pineapples  
Favorite Lunch: Pizza
Favorite School Activity: Play with choo choo trains
Favorite Book:  Planes book
Favorite Colors: Blue
Favorite Numbers: 3
Favorite thing to do as a family: go down to the river together
Favorite Breakfast: Cereal
Favorite thing to play with Austin: Choo choo trains
Favorite thing to play with mommy: choo choo trains
Favorite thing to play with daddy: choo choo trains
Favorite Pjs: Thomas the train
Favorite snack: yogurt raisins
Favorite Show: Mickey Mouse
Favorite thing about Mrs. Debbie: she reads books to me
Favorite Candy: M&M’s
Favorite Ice cream: vanilla
What do you want to be when you grow up: race car driver

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Happy 3rd Birthday Miller!

Happy 3rd birthday sweet boy!  I am so thankful for your little life.
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You keep me on my toes and keep me laughing all day long.  On a special date to the splash park with my middle love!
You have the sweetest spirit with a little mischievous in you.  Untitled
You love and adore your brother and want to be just like him.
My brave firefighter and knight are protecting me from the storm.
You are kind and sweet to your sister and love to make her laugh.A little encouragement from the big brother on rolling over. #thismilestonestuffishard
Your facial expressions are priceless and keep us laughing.
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We adore you Miller and are so thankful for the 3 years the Lord has given us with you.  Our life wouldn't be complete without you in it.
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Happy birthday sweet boy!

Friday, June 21, 2013

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 10 year Anniversary! It truly has flown by. There is no one in this world I would rather travel this journey with than David. I am so thankful for him and his love for the 5 of us. We are truly blessed. Here is to many more years together. 10 years today...so thankful for this man. He is the greatest gift to my life. I'm truly blessed to walk this journey with him. Happy Anniversary David. I love you. @daviddspence

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Breakfast/lunch/dinner out for the Fund

Next Monday, June 10th...make plans to go!!!  All 5 locations are giving back to the Fund!
Mark your calendars for June 10 for breakfast/lunch/dinner Out for the Fund at Holiday Ham. All 5 locations are participating so tell everyone you know to go eat there sometime that day!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Professional Pictures

We had Maggie's 4 month professional pictures done around Mother's Day.  Her pictures turned out great...the ones of the 3 of them were a little harder.  I was sad to see Miller's outgoing personality not shine through but getting 3 to smile at the same time is hard.  I do love Maggie's pictures though.
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Saturday, June 1, 2013

Six for Saturday

Another random Five for Friday (Six for Saturday...postponed due to David's birthday post)...I think that's life right now with 3 little ones...a little random. =)

1.  Both boys are the sweetest big brothers.  They love Maggie and are really good with her.  Every once in a while Miller can be a little rough but overall they are great.  The other day Miller got down on the floor with Maggie to help her with rolling over.
A little encouragement from the big brother on rolling over. #thismilestonestuffishard

 2. I had a special date with my biggest the other day. This boy loves some ice cream so that was his pick. Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Love spending one on one time with my kids. Ice cream date with my biggest!  #ithinkhelikedit

3. We have a finger sucker just like her brother. Somebody has found their fingers and thinks they taste mighty good. #justlikeherbrother

4. The kids and I enjoyed yogurt at Yolo the other day for Dinner Out for the Fund. We love ice cream! We scream for ice cream!  Go eat at Yolo for the FSF! #forrestspencefund

 5. We had a fun family day on Harbor Town last weekend. We took the stroller and the boys scooters and walked along the river and then stopped at Mrs. Cordelias for a snack and then Pizza and a movie for dinner. Maggie had a massive blowout in her diaper so we had to strip her down and let her be naked in her carseat.
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6.  We have really enjoyed our new patio furniture and try to eat as many meals outside as we can.
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Happy Saturday friends!  Enjoy your weekend!