School Normal - 1st Day of 1st Grade

Yesterday as we were driving around as a family... getting those last minute school things... Jordan mentioned that she was ready for things to get back to normal.  Then I think she realized that things had been pretty normal for the past 3 months - so she corrected her statement and clarified by saying, "Well at least our "school normal"."  I liked this - SCHOOL NORMAL.

Today is the 1st Day of 1st Grade!  We had so much fun this morning.  Please click on Living Above Ministries to read more about our morning...





We love you all dearly and wish we could see more more often!
Penny

They really do love each other!

I came downstairs Sunday morning to find my children together!  Sharing a chair and watching a movie!  I ran as fast as I could to find my camera - I didn't care about the lighting, or the staging - I didn't want to miss documenting the fact that they really do love each other!!!

In fact, after I took the picture - they asked if they could stay there for a few minutes longer before getting ready for church!  Wow!  I almost knelt down and praised the Lord right then & there!  I pray daily that my children will get along and not fight.  That they will share their toys and develop a great relationship with one another - and on this day - they did!!!  They shared a chair, space, and time together!!!

I did thank God for answered prayers on this morning!  Don't miss these beautiful moments with your kids!

Hang Time with Daddy

I love that my husband is a Pastor!  I love that he puts God first in his life.  I love that we can share our faith together.  There are some parts of his job that indeed are difficult and are not always comfortable... but one of my favorite things about his job is that we can go up to "Daddy's Office" and John can love on his kids - even if just for a moment.

This week we have a mission trip here from Ohio.  They are literally transforming our church as well as encouraging us in our work here in New Orleans.  They are such a blessing to us right now!  Yesterday we went up there to see all that they are doing and John was able to share a precious moment with JP while they played the guitar together.

I was really a very special moment.  I know John treasures these times with the kids.  It's such a wonderful thing to see and I just had to take a moment to share it with you.

What do you think... Preacher or Music Minister - which one is in his future?

A Mommy can dream right?

Snack Time with Jordan & JP

With 2 small children at home all summer there is a tendancy to have the "snackers" all day long.  Do you know what I mean when I say, "snackers?"  This is the VERY strong tendency to want to eat things like chips, cookies, candy, etc - all the live long day!

Now, this is neither affordable or good for my kids.  Plus, if I got up every time they wanted to "have a snack", I would never get anything else done in my house.  So, at the very beginning of the summer we established 2 snack times a day - one in the morning (9:30) and one in the afternoon (2:30).

Yes, my children even know the exact time that each of these specially prepared "meals" occur and I promise you when I say, they do not let me go one minute past!  It really does us both good.  It holds me accountable to stop what I'm doing and fix them a healthy & fun snack and spend a little time with them in the process and keeps them from snacking all day and eating us out of house and home (and as a result not eat their dinner!).

This solution has worked beautifully thus far in our journey through the Summer.  It's always a nice surprise to them what the snack will be and I love making them smile!

How are you getting through the summer?  

What neat tricks have you learned that you can share with me?!  

I would love to hear them all! 

(yes, the picture above is from today's afternoon snack time.  I know the pickle seems a bit odd and out of place - but they LOVE pickles and I don't always have them around - so it was an extra special treat today!)

Lordy Lordy! Looks who's 40!!!!

Today is John's birthday!  I can't believe he's 40!  We both feel so young!  Of course our 2 children - Jordan (6) and JP (3) definitely contribute to this feeling - but it still feels strange to say, "we're in our 40's!"  (I turn 40 in just 3 small months).

We have a really fun day planned if it would just stop raining!  I will definitely post more about this momentous day when it's over - but I just wanted to start the day blogging about the love of my life!

I met John in 2000 at First Baptist Church Euless.  He was leading worship for the Single Adults (about 350 in attendance!).  Now just to give you a visual... he had hair longer than mine, a beard, and had just finished a road tour with his band... yes.. he was a rock star in my mind!  And I even did that high school girl thing and imagined him singing to me!  And I can now say, as his wife of 8 years - he still gets his guitar out and writes songs about me!  It is as good as you think it might be!!!

He is my very best friend and I love spending my life with him! 

He makes me laugh hysterically...

He holds me when I cry....

He's a great jungle gym for our kids - even when he's tired...

And he can cook a mean steak - better than any Ruth Chris's, or Smith & Wellinsky's - I guarantee!

So, today, my love... it's all about you!  

Thanks for making my life so wonderful!  

Happy Birthday!

I love you!

Summer Days in New Orleans...

I love it when you you can have one of those snapshot-kind-of-days!!!  You know... the day where you're getting stuff done and the kids are being great and everything seems to fall right into place?!

In reality, I probably have those more often than I recognize or take the time to celebrate.  My husband has inspired me lately (in his recent sermon series) to celebrate the ones I love more.  So... here at the family blog I'm taking a few moments in between laundry, groceries, and managing the "he hit me's and the she hurt my feelings" to celebrate my life!

The kids have been swimming or playing in the backyard, Jordan made her bed, JP & I played catch this morning, I've gotten about 3 loads of laundry completed (from washer to closet!) and worked on some blog time and even made myself a healthy lunch!

I do love my life and praise God that He has given me these 2 beautiful children and a wonderful husband who adores me.

I would write more... but I'm already hearing, "M-O-M-M-Y!!!" from the stairs - so back to parenting I go and the To-Do List.  Thanks God for this brief moment to recognize the sweet spots in my day!

Another Wonderful Year @ Grandmother & Papa Camp!

Last week the kids were at "Grandmother & Papa Camp" - and the theme this year was "God's Top Ten!"  All week long they learned Bible verses, camp songs and created crafts all centered around The Ten Commandments!  It was nice to know that they were enjoying time with their cousins and learning great Biblical truths from their grandparents at the same time!  All the while, John & I were off in Colorado relaxing in the mountains!!!

Just to prove that they did learn something while attending Grandmother & Papa Camp I wanted to share with you a brief story about a conversation that went on in the backseat yesterday:

I had just picked the kids up from an afternoon of playing with friends.
JP:  Mommy I really wanted to take Braxton's toy home with me.

Mommy:  I know, but it belongs to Braxton.  You can play with it again the next time you go to his house.

JP:  But I wanted to take it home with me today!

Jordan:  JP!  Do you know what you're doing?!  You're so, like, COVETING!

I was thrilled to know that 1) my 6 year old knows what coveting is and 2) that she remembered what she learned last week from the Bible!

It just goes to show you that they do listen and they do remember and it makes a difference in their lives!

Hallmark Blog Moments

This past week has certainly been filled with "blog moments."  You know... those things that happen in the course of your week, or life rather and when they happen you immediately think, "I've got to share that on the blog!" 

Okay, so I've got about 3 of them that I know for sure I want to share with you all - and they are all VICTORY moments of which I'm super excited about too!!!

Okay the first one is Jordan's Kindergarten Graduation!
Can you believe it?  She just turned 6 last week!  She did so well singing on stage and speaking her skit lines so confidently in the microphone... a mother couldn't be prouder!  She received an award for perfect Church attendance and for reading over 100 books!  Wow!  A lover of church and of books... does it get any better?

Okay - blog moment #2
Last night as I was trying to run the kids a bath, Jordan asks if she can take a shower instead!  Wow!  I think my life just got easier!  She LOVED it!!!  She washed her own hair too!  It was fabulous!  When she was all done she asked if she could take a shower all by herself every night!  Wow!  Again... couldn't be more excited about this phase of growing up!

And for blog moment #3...
JP pooped in the potty all on his own!!!!  Yes, this is definitely a moment of PRAISE!  I know by events later in the day that a total conquering of this area is not complete - but we are more than happy to praise & celebrate victories like this!  All I've got to say is, "JP... you did good son - just keep 'em coming!"

As summer kicks off this morning - I'm going to be watching and waiting for more celebratory blog moments and don't worry - I'll share them with you here!  So stay tuned!

Where did the time go?

Okay, Okay - everyone keeps telling me that these days of small children are just going to fly by!  Sometimes I'm not so sure they are right....

But this morning as I'm remembering the day Jordan was born - 6 years ago today - I feel exactly that!  I remember every detail of that day as if it happened yesterday!  And then I blink and she's 6 years old, asking me questions about songs on the radio and what makes a car work (oh my!). 

She's become my little helper and I love it!  I know that this is only a glimpse of the days to come... I'm catching a vision of us cooking holiday meals together, shopping together, and so many other fun things.  Jordan - you just keep doing what you're doing, learning, growing, loving your family, friends and your God and you'll tackle this thing called LIFE just fine!

This week is birthday week - next week is Kindergarten Graduation. 
Stay tuned for lots of fun photos of it all!

Summer's just around the corner!

When Jordan's birthday gets here I know that Summer is just around the corner!

I can't believe that my oldest child is almost 6 years old!  There are so many ways I could take this first sentence.  One, I really do remember as if it was yesterday the day she was born.  She was so tiny and had the cutest little cry - it was almost a squeak instead of a cry.  Or I could mean, "I can't believe I'm almost 40 and my oldest is 6!"  Most of my friends that are my age have teenagers!  Either way, watching Jordan turn 6 has already been so much fun!  She really takes everything in and let's excitement take over her whole little person!  A couple of weekends ago, John's parents - Sweet Mama & Papa Lou - came for a visit and brought all kinds of treats!  (Barbie, books, clothes, etc)  Each gift was opened and held up for all to see.  I think her best gift was story time at night!  Getting to sit in her grandmother's lap and get undivided attention was priceless to her!  She hated to see them leave.

This next week, Jordan will get to have a special snack during school and then Saturday is the big party @ Storyland @ City Park.  She is SUPER excited!  Stay tuned for more birthday stories and pictures!


Click here to see more pictures from the grandparent visit!

JP really enjoyed their visit too!  In fact, he had so much fun that he finally conked out with his Boo-boo Bear in the living room!  He NEVER does this!  I just had to capture this moment and prove to him later than he indeed CAN take a nap!  I'm not sure if it will work - but it's certainly worth a try!

 JP is assuredly the most ready for Summer!  We got the kids a little pool for the backyard.  A day doesn't go by when JP doesn't venture out to the pool in some capacity or another!  This picture was taken on a day when I told him that we didn't have time to swim - but he could play outside.  So walking around in the pool - with his clothes and his cowboy hat seemed to be okay I guess.

What a summer I'm in for huh?!  Anyone want to come spend the day with us?  There's never a dull moment around here!

JP's adventures

Last week I wrote about Jordan's School Fair - this week - it's all about JP. I think daily I'm amazed at how fast he's growing up. The things that he says lately are really both smart and funny! He definitely keeps me on my toes - every day!

Friday is John's "day off" from the office. We typically all take Jordan to school and then the three of us go out for breakfast. It's a nice time to give JP some personal attention - similar to what Jordan got before JP arrived on the scene. This past Friday JP wanted to get some boy glasses! He's been finding and wearing Jordan's Ariel & Hello Kitty glasses and I think he finally got fed up! He announced to us that he wanted some "boy" glasses! So as we were shopping for these manly glasses he found this orange hat. He put it on all by himself and announced that it fit perfectly and that he wanted to wear it home. I had to admit, I loved it on him! So I sent him, with the hat on, to find his Daddy (who was already at the counter buying the glasses!) John thought it was too perfect and he added it to the purchase!

After shopping for JP and some other weekend essentials - we found ourselves in a HUGE rainstorm! So we all went to Sonic for some slushes and corn dogs - to wait out the rain!

Later than same weekend - JP surprised us all with his bike riding skills! I think his training wheels are going to be short-lived!


It is never a dull moment around the Franklin house! I love it!

The School Fair

Well... I was trying to decide what to post today about my wonderful family and as I sat at my computer - rather just staring at it - waiting for inspiration.... I landed on the title of my blog and realized that I started this blog to let family & friends know (okay, let's be honest - the grandparents) back in Texas - what life is like in The Big Easy - New Orleans.

Then it hit me! I haven't wrote about last weekend! Last weekend was Jordan's School Fair. Here in New Orleans, almost all of the private school have a School Fair. It's a fundraising opportunity for them. On any given weekend - around this time of year - you can drive down almost any road and see huge signs advertising their school's fair! They are much like a Texas Carnival!

Jordan looked forward to it for weeks & weeks. And then it happened... they began to bring in all the carnival rides to the school parking lot. Jordan was beside herself! Every day she would describe a new ride and share how should couldn't wait to ride it. There was the dragon roller coaster, the biggest & tallest slide she had ever seen and so many others. Daily she would give us a countdown as to the opening day of the Fair!

She did have a blast with her friends. We also got to hear her sing on the big stage along with the other K-2nd graders. What a way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Here's a video of her performance on stage!



The Dragon Roller Coaster...


Her singing on stage....


Hanging out with her friend...


The airplane ride....




Her favorite... the fish tank!


More fun friends!

Treasures from my foyer floor!

This morning Jordan has the day off from school. After breakfast I walked into the living room and saw this all over the foyer floor. It really made me smile! Mainly because I know Mrs. Peggy gave all this wonderful scrapbooking stuff to her - but also because the first thing she wanted to make with all her new found treasures was a Mother's Day card! Thank you sweet Peggy for teaching my children new arts & crafts skills! You're the best!

I can't wait to see what wonderful creations will come from my foyer floor!

Crescent City Classic - Revisited!

Easter is always a busy time of year for our family. We don't have the luxury of traveling to see our family like most do - but it is always a special time for the 4 of us. We try to always do something that will truly make memories for our children. While here in New Orleans one of those things is the Crescent City Classic 5K Race. It happens on the Saturday morning before Easter every year. And our church has always had a water station @ the 1/2 way marker. Our very 1st weekend of living in New Orleans we participated and had a blast! This year was no different... well... except that our kids were a little older and could play in the water more!

Beginning of the race


JP helping setup the water station


JP loved watching the runners!


Jordan was my bestest helper!


Soon the fascination was with the HUGE HUGE water bin!



Jordan found us some more cups at a much needed time!


After the race... hanging out at the Degas House.


After the race - all wet!


The last "team" the run the race... brings a whole new meaning to "bringing up the rear".

Mardi Gras

Wow! We had a great time at our first Mardi Gras in New Orleans! We went to 2 parades - Endymion & Bacchus. They were fabulous! And I even finally understood why we had to have a ladder and that as crazy as it sounds - it's actually pretty cool to put your kids up in a box on top of a ladder along the sidewalk! The kids, while yawning - kept saying - "Get me something cool Mommy!" And "Throw me somethin' Mista!" I'm actually looking forward to next year!

Here are just a few of the fun things that we got to see:

JP with just a little bit of his loot!

Jordan & JP reaching for beads!

A really fun tree @ Bacchus!

Getting ready for the parade... see all the ladders?

Parade is over - on the way home. Thankful for the wheels!