What's Been Goin' On + My New Favorite Thing

As you know, the month of May is absolutely crazy around here. Ridiculous is an understatement.

Just about every important event in our lives takes place during this beloved month and as a result we end up broke and sick. No lie. ;)

Here is a quick run-down in pictures...

My parents celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary on May 7th! What a blessing they are to us! And yes, these were their wedding colors although not their actual wedding pictures - it was  a very 1970's wedding in which my mom wore white but everything else was brown and yellow!! ;)

We celebrated Little A's 6th Birthday that same day!

Our thoughtful, driven, sharp little first born miracle! We could not imagine life without him. What a joy he is to us and the best anniversary present my parents could ever receive - their first grandchild born on their 29th anniversary!

We had a double birthday party for the boys at a local park in the middle of the month, since Little E's birthday is at the end of the month!

Complete with Cars 2 races!

Of course there was Mother's Day, which was extra special because my parents were with us.

Me and my beautiful boys!

A few days later we celebrated MY birthday - the best day in May, not that I am biased or anything!! :)

We were in the middle of moving into our new house but because my mom was here we did manage to sneak away for a nice birthday lunch and afternoon of shopping, kid free!! :)

Memorial Day weekend I flew to Texas and within a 3 day time period we...

- had a party at my favorite restaurant to celebrate my sister Sarah {Director of WOTP Volleyball} and her fiance who both recently graduated with their Master's degrees!

-went out to eat at another yummy restaurant to celebrate mine and my dad's birthdays, where the highlight of the evening was the entire place going crazy when Josh Hamilton hit a 2-run walkoff homer to win the game in the bottom of the 13th inning!!! So awesome!

-welcomed my new little nephew, Noah Reid Lewis, into the world on my dad's birthday!!!

Here he is with Auntie Erin (me)!!! :) Congratulations to my sister Jessica, WOTP Volleyball Coach! We are smitten already! :)

And finally, I returned home just in time to celebrate Little E's 4th birthday!

Our bright, funny, mischevious, wild and crazy little entertainer, who keeps life interesting! The lovely cupcakes were accidentally dropped by an excited, helpful older brother, who shall remain nameless! ;) But they were still a hit!

As you can imagine, by this time I am half-sick and we have no money left ;) but we were not going to miss our own wedding anniversary celebration!

Big A took me out for a nice dinner, more shopping and then back home for a movie, after giving me this beautiful summer bouquet - can you tell I love to shop?! Actually it is because I never get to shop without 2 crazy little boys distracting me! ;) We had a great time celebrating 9 years of marriage!!! We are already planning our 10 year anniversary trip back to the magical place of Savannah, GA where we honeymooned what seems like just yesterday. ;)

Before I go, I wanted to show you what my sister Sarah got me for my birthday!

A Tervis 24oz Tumbler, complete with lid and straw. I am seriously in love with it!!! I carry it around all day and it helps me get my daily water intake, not to mention I look cute carrying it! ;)

All of a sudden I am seeing them everywhere. Yesterday I went to our local sports store to get a thank you gift for Little A's soccer coach and of course they had a UT one!

And yes, around here UT is the University of Tennessee, although the "real" UT (Texas that is) has the rights to the UT logo...Tennessee has to use the big T instead. (Just a little fun fact for you!)

I am thinking this one would be perfect for Big A for Father's Day! Shhh, don't tell him. :)

And of course I want this one for myself!!! :)

Or maybe this one? It would be perfect for summertime and my upcoming trip to the beach!! :)

Which one would you choose? You can see them here. Or go here for more Father's Day gift ideas.

By the way, now that we are somewhat settled into our new house and life here in East Tennessee, I am officially back on my Weight Watcher's journey! I am so looking forward to cooking and eating healthy meals again, or just cooking period! So tired of eating out!

I will be back soon with tips from my WW journey. Last time I checked I had lost 18 lbs but I still have a ways to go before my sister's November wedding!

Please pray for me as I try to lose weight, recover from the May craziness, continue to get our house in order, prepare for VBS and plan my family reunion, all the while entering the busiest ministry season for WOTP. I am in over my head but my God is bigger than all of this and His mercies are new every morning!

Let your mercies fall from heaven.

Sweet mercies flow from heaven.

New mercies for today.

Shower them down Lord as we pray.

Happy Summer, friends!

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.