Day 4,161

The

First thing's first: read your Bible!

Then put on the most pathetically hilarious face and

go back to Bathtub Beach!








Don't forget Old McDonald's ice cream date night in our pjs!

I'm pretty sure the kids are convinced that McDonald's is really called Old McDonald's and that they're only an ice cream shop ;) Can't beat dollar cones.

Day 4,156

The Rain that Didn't Rain on Our Parade

Rain, rain, DON'T GO AWAY!

Ok, go away now.

Mom and Dad need a date night.

And Taylor needs some more wife-in-training training.



Goodnight (with the lights on)!

Day 4,090

The Youth Symphony Concert!

Ella Mae is soon to graduate from the Twinkle group and move to Book 1 of Suzuki violin lessons. She just started her second song and is loving it!

Molly is progressing well--she is still working on her Twinkles, though she knows the bow rhythm to each variation correctly. Her fingers are too weak and uncoordinated yet for her to play the actual strings on the violin, but she's building up strength and soon, we'll be hearing her play just like the big kids!

Bearett and Amelia are currently in Book 1 and are learning their seventh song! There are 17 songs in Book 1 and 10 books total in Suzuki Violin School.

Then it was off to a new local fruit stand for some tasty treats!

And a stop at The Property to check on our baby avocado tree!

Then Taekwondo. 

And then to our first orchestra concert!

Our friend Ms. Ava was “First Violin,” and we finally got to experience her talent in person for the first time! She and her mother are the reasons the children began violin lessons with Mrs. Hinkelman and we are so grateful. 

Mrs. Hinkelman’s current 15 year old student won a competition prior to this concert, in which she earned herself the prize of a solo part in the performance. We got to see her play her violin solo as well and what a treat it was!

:)

Day 4,010

The Parent’s Night Out

Heater, you dog you!

Stealing all Daddy’s attention!

Not so fast, sister. 

He’s still all mine! 

Date night at The Gafford—it may only happen once every couple months, but we sure do love us a date night!

Thanks for watching them, Tay!

Day 3,981

The Thursday Great

Kitchen creators. 

Baseball chuckers. 

Candy gobblers. 

Gracious spaghetti dinner. 

Puppy dog lovers. 



Creative art enjoyer.

Day 3,712

The Boundless Team Party

All my little athletes, ready for some festivities!

Friday night was the girls’ gymnastics team Halloween party and they got to invite their siblings! So Daddy and Mommy had a little date night and the kids had all the fun with their friends and favorite coaches. 









:)

Day 3,709

The Tired but Terrific Tuesdays

Mommy Daughter surprise ice cream date! We’re currently living in Jensen Beach, which is about 23 minutes from the gym, so our long car rides have turned into a special time with our babes!

Buuuut, truth be told, we’re pretty tired of all the minutes and miles spent in the car and looking forward to being closer to all our favorite places here shortly.  

Tuesdays, Bub has practice and Adam was asked to help coach, so for the first time ever, Daddy was called “Coach” by Bearett!



<3

Day 3,702

The(y’re) Growing Up Too Fast!

Princess party!

I can’t believe we’re already beginning to celebrate our two year olds turning three! I remember like it was yesterday, walking into our church for the first time with only Amelia as a one year old!! Now our BABIES are turning three!! Mama T always says that “the days are long but the years are short,” and she’s spot on. Gracious. It sure has gone quickly. 

The girls and I stopped by The Property on the way home to check out the work Daddy and Bub have been doing and it’s looking beautiful!

They’ve been busting their tails trying to do what they can to work the land while we wait and wait on permits and surveys and specialists and all sorts of hoops we have to jump through to get the building process started. Covid and the labor/supply shortage aren’t doing us any favors, so it could be awhile before  we’re seeing any real progress. I suppose that’s to be expected these days and so we wait. As patiently as possible. In the meantime, my boy is turning quickly into a BIG boy! Daddy let him run the weed eater and he LOVED it!

Can’t get enough of them! Adam is Bearett’s teacher whenever I’m gone in the mornings or need the extra help, and coming home to this is just such an encouragement to my heart. He’s so enjoying school this year and has matured a ton in the past few months. We are so thankful!



Tuesday was much like Monday—busy as ever with no pauses in between. We had a party, gymnastics, school, naps, baseball, and a ladies fellowship supper at church. While Daddy took Bearett and Molly to baseball, I took Amelia and Ella Mae to the ladies fellowship, where they got to eat supper with the women and watch and learn and participate in what it looks like to intentionally spend time with your sisters in Christ. And what a sweet time it was. I love you, little ladies!

Day 3,696

The Last Goodbyes

Oh Mullet,

Daddy said you had to go. 

Farewell, you ratty, dirty, adorable Thing. 

HELLLLLOOOOO BUBBA’S NECK!

That’s a mighty fine head shape if you ask me!

He’s a little sad it’s gone, but he looks as handsome as ever and I’m loving his new look!

The girls, meanwhile, went shopping for some things to restock the Airbnb a little bit…

NOT THIS AGAIN. 

I’m wondering when enough is enough already. 

Thankfully, there’s still supply of everything we need for now, but the prices are higher and the availability is much lower, even in Florida. Aye. 

Anyways, Wednesday was our last night in St. Pete, so we decided one last date night was on the list, so we ate some burgers and said farewell to the cutest little town that we’ve come to quite enjoy.