Life: Eric Monster

This is my little creative child, Eric. He would be totally happy with a notebook and a pen- drawing and doodling for hours!

Right now, he is really into drawing monsters. I don't really know where that one started. Anyways, yesterday, when we were doing face paints with his friend Leela. He really wanted me to paint one of his monsters on his face.... I tried! Can you see the resemblance?
These are a few monsters from painting with watercolors this morning. He also journaled about them today too!

Celebrate:: Mothers

Hope you all enjoy this beautiful day. Go and give your mama a squeeze today!!

Celebrate:: Easter 2011

Here are a few pictures from some of our happenings yesterday as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. I was able to get the two girl cousins together in their Easter dresses!
We went to my brother and sister-in-law's house where we had a big gathering of family and friends. My dad is trying to perfect the perfect Easter egg hunt- complete with writing each child's name on the egg. This way the prizes inside are more tailored to each child's age! How thoughtful are my parents!

Trevor had a little allergy attack yesterday and wasn't able to participate, so big brother helped find all of his eggs. I mainly followed Gwenyth around- she was so excited! Hope you all had a blessed Easter too!

Gwenyth:: Sleepy 16 months

Here's one I took of Gwenyth yesterday- I am trying to take a picture every month of her. I think I am pretty close to keeping my goal! Yeaah!!
Here is my sleepy Gwenyth. I went upstairs the other day only to come down to Gwenyth asleep in her exersaucer. It was so cute- I just had to add this one too. Happy weekend!

Happy Monday

Don't you just want to squeeze her! Here's to a happy Monday!

Night and Day::

I live in a world of opposites- and I love it.
Here is a little preview of what I am working on during my "night job"-Steven and Jessica's wedding. More to come soon!
When all is quiet and the children are dreaming peacefully- this is when I get the majority of my work done. Because here is what I am doing during my "day job". Wait, who am I kidding- I should call it- "day and night job" and than "late night job"!

I was so excited that is was a little warmer this afternoon, so after naps T went to go play with the snow on the deck. I thought we could use a little fresh air in the house. Knowing that G would probably be unhappy if I closed the sliding door- I turned the heat way down in the house, bundled G up so she could be a part of the action, and just used the screen sliding door. I did end up putting shoes on her- as it got a little chilly!

January:: 2011

Here is Gwenyth's favorite time of the day. As you can see- she takes this very seriously! I just had to capture this stage in her life, as I know it will pass soon!
Legos have been kind of a staple here at our house as we have had many frigid days. The boys love them!! What is also cool is that these were me and my brother's legos from when we were little- bringing back many good memories.

Family Picture:: 2011

Here is our long-awaited family photo! Thanks again Jamie!

Franczyk Happenings:: Part 2

So I had visions of Christmas morning (we did Christmas last Saturday with my family) kind of like the scene from Little Women. Probably because I love that movie- and sometimes wish that life could go back to being simpler like what it seems to be back then.
Anyways- do you remember the Christmas morning scene where there was all that lovely food on the table- and everyone was chipper and optimistic and thankful for the little things? The littlest (I can't remember her name) even says, "Oh, isn't butter divine!" I really don't think that is something in America today- that most would be thankful for.
Anyways- I was in charge of bringing the bread this year (along with other things). I had made one loaf already and the 2nd was made Christmas morning. I had even made my own butter and I thought all was well with the world.
After I had done some more cooking- I went upstairs to get ready while my husband was with the kids downstairs. I came down only to see my beloved loaf of bread looking like it was from a Friday the 13th movie instead of my beloved Little Women Christmas loaf of bread. It really looked as if my son had taken a knife to it- but my husband reassured me that he just put our blender lid on it a few times. Sigh....
Here are some more pictures from our Christmas last Saturday.

Happy Birthday Jesus!!
I love this picture of my mom. I feel like it really captures her as a person. One of the most giving people- so fitting that she is giving out gifts. And I love her smile- so genuine.
Trev's trains!
We love transformers- fake smile though
Love these guys!
This is a special picture-as I was always a daddy's girl- my dad with my daughter.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Franczyk Happenings:: Part 1

December has turned out to be quite the month! I am finally just getting around to posting these pictures of our sweet little girl's 1st birthday. Our computer was on the fritz for about a week at the end of November- so I put on my crafty hat and made all these fun decorations for G's party!



I loved the look (and taste) of these butterfly cupcakes!
G enjoying her cupcake!


Here is Gwenyth at the hospital with my hubby and on her 1st birthday!

Gwenyth:: 1 year!

I really can hardly believe Gwenyth's 1st birthday is already here! I have enjoyed this past year so much- I praise God for such a healthy, happy baby girl. Love you Gwenyth!

Life at Franczyks

Here is a little collage of what's been going on in our lives lately! Early August started off with our church's VBS. I had the privilege of taking pictures during it while my witty husband was one of the MC's... notice his crazy costume! We celebrated 3 birthdays in our family and have enjoyed a little down time. I am working on Adrianna's senior session from last night! More pictures to come soon!

10, blue, and other thoughts

Yes, 10 is the number of days my little T-dog has been sick. But, thankfully, he is on the mend. And as the dr. told me today- not in the contagious stage... so no more quarantine! The flu bug just hit his body pretty hard. Poor little guy!

Here are some cute ones of the boys with their hats and gloves. For some reason, they really like wearing them around the house. Maybe they think they have superpowers with them on.

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The Chair

Baby G in my BLUE chair that I have gotten hassled a lot about by my hubbie. He claims it doesn't fit the decor. I claim it was free and the most comfortable chair you will ever sit in. Baby G will attest to that.

We'll see how long it stays upstairs.

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Houselife

The chair doesn't look that bad in black and white, huh!

Loving on baby G

Typical scene in our house

Got to love the Thomas pajama pants still on at dinnertime.

I love this! Big E loves to sit in the chair with Baby G.

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Bananatime

Banana time! I just started letting her have little tastes of bananas. I don't think she's taken much down, just a few licks.

Trying to get it!

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Where's Waldo?

Do you know this location? Here is the hubby last weekend graciously posing as I was testing the lighting in different areas where we will be going on destination. He is a champ! I am getting so excited for the weddings that are coming up! More photos from them soon

Life

I love this moody picture. I feel it kind of captures what has been going on in our house these past 2 weeks. They have definitely been challenging. Sickness, crabbiness, allergy attacks, dr. visits, late nights, early mornings, failed potty training, more sickness and lots of tears. But through it all God taught me a few things.

I think most importantly, that my kids are not perfect and far from it. And that I should not be ashamed of that, but embrace it and know that is why we have a Savior. As my kids get older and more in tune with life- I see their fallen state. And I have a few options. I can ignore it… maybe not the best answer. I can try to make them perfect- I think this is the one I was trying to do… but failing miserably at and them getting frustrated. Or I can accept who they are and that they will never be perfect and rejoice in the fact that we have a Savior that frees us. I am on a journey, as we all are. I know that I don’t have it all together, but day by day am learning to abide with Christ.

Here is a quote that I found today on a bulletin we get from our church. "As mothers, we never want to see our children experience the sting of failure or rejection. But in trying to shelter them from adversity, we sometimes overprotect them. By safeguarding them from pain, we also shield them from potential growth."

I love that last phrase. I know in my life, I have seen God grow me the most through adversities and trials. These trials can come just because God wills or because of my own mistake. It is something I am continually working on- being thankful for them, not fearing trials.

My goal is to be wise- I am not going to completely send my children to fend for themselves, but not go crazy trying to protect them. What a hard thing to balance!

This verse from the Bible has been really encouraging to me lately.

1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Just for a smile....

Here is one of my middle guy. He loves to wear this baseball helmet this way. I don't know if he thinks that this is how the helmet should be put on, but it's cute anyways. He was eating when I was trying to capture one of him. So it was kind of tricky to not get him with his mouth open!

My day

Hey, at least it's clean! For some reason putting the laundry away is actually the hardest part for me. I think because by the time I can actually fold it and put it in the drawers all the kids are napping, thus I cannot put it completely away. This picture is actually inaccurate because it was taken before another huge mound of clean clothes got piled on the table...

This is what our kitchen has looked like a lot recently. The boys like to make a train with the chairs and then walk on them and crawl underneath them... They are watching a show right, but normally they are running all over them.

Lastly, my sweet little strawberry. Thanks Aunt Leah for the cute strawberry hat!