Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

Dan and I took Evan to the Northwoods Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch on cold blistery day! we nearly froze to death but Evan had a super good time!

While our families were in town for the church dedication we also ventured out to the Sekapp Apple Orchard, and we realized how much Evan loves apples, maybe a little too much! I turned around to find he had eaten an entire apple, core and all.

Cousin Rachel

Cousins Ryan and Nathan

Church Dedication

We had the privilege of having our families here this weekend to help celebrate our church dedication.  Usually referred to a 'baby dedication' but Evan isn't exactly a baby.  We take this responsibility to raise him in a God - honoring home very seriously. We made vows to teach Evan about Jesus and God's love and mercy. To honor and respect each other in our relationship so that Evan will know what a God-honoring marriage looks like.
 
We were doubly blessed because we were able to do this as a small group.  Each of our four couples became parents within a 2 month period (March-May). So we wanted to make this vow together at the same time since we were in the unique situation to start our parenthood journey together!

Freudenburgs, Hicks, Pedersons, Andersons and Pastor Steer

Cousins: Ryan Rachel and Nathan

loving on the cupcakes afterwards

Family Reunion

The reason why the whole family descended upon Monett on this particular weekend, the big Hemphill Family Reunion!  We got to catch up with family members we hadn't seen in years!

Smith Family

L-R: Smiths (Jonathan, Valarie, Hudson, Whitlee) Pop Pop & GG, Freudenburgs (Laurie, Dan, and Evan) Below: Meachums (Rachael, Chris, Charlotte, and Presley)

This is right before Evan stood behind Presley and got smacked pretty good

Everyone was exhausted by this point, Everyone needed a nap!!

Right before he got in trouble for playing in the water!

Evan stole Whitlee's Pretty Princess shoes, he cried when we finally took them off!

Evan thought if he sat on his toy car no one else could use it

Cousins!

Our families joined together this past weekend for a 'toddler shower' for Evan.  It was amazing, Evan did so well! A real prince charming, a bit of a flirt in fact.  It was so fun to have so many cousins all together.  When everyone did first meet it did have a north meets south feeling!  My sister, Rach and her family traveled from Houston, Texas; Val and her family from Fayetteville AR; and my parents from Monett, MO. And the Freudenburg/Day family was from all other Minnesota and Wisconsin!  I wish I had more photos of the actual shower but as you can imagine I was a little preoccupied so until I hunt some down I have posted other photos of the weekend!

Let me assure you we do clothe him, but he is so messy with yogurt/breakfast we wanted to make sure he was done eating! He is playing cars with his cousin, Hudson (also Korean born)

Hudson and Evan sharing some Captain Crunch (notice Evan isn't going to let go of the car even for breakfast!)

It was sooooo HOT!  The kids had left the pool for the driveway toys (that is why the no shirts)

Presley made the photo in this one, she loved the Jeep!

Charlotte with the bubbles

more car competition

I have said since we first laid eyes on Evan many many months ago- He takes after his PopPop with his hair!

 

Evan is NOT a sharer - Hudson sang the "sharing" song over and over and over again all weekend, I kept thinking maybe Evan would get the hint.