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

Evan's New adventure at preschool!

After much searching and interviewing Dan and I settled on Endless Journey Childcare for Evan's preschool experience. So far we really like it. He is in a small class (9-11 kids), mostly boys but I think he does have a few girlfriends. He attends 3 days a week and seems to really enjoying it more and more each day. His teachers say he loves music time! We also think he is a bit of a favorite of his teachers but we could be a bit biased!

While I don't have any photos of preschool I do have some photos of Evan with his grandma and grandpa Freudenburg on the days he gets to enjoy their company - and undivided attention!

baking cookies with Grandma

Evan loves story time with Grandma

Getting first class treatment at the campground with Grandpa

Even Mocha gets in on story time!

Weekend Away!

We spent the Labor Day weekend with our small group from church.  Our church has a beautiful retreat lodge out in a wooded area about 30 minutes from Rochester. We were thrilled get away and spend time with our group of four couples. We were blessed by Kelly who took some great photos to commemorate the family weekend trip.

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

Happy Birthday Hudson and Whitlee

After our long day at the safari zoo we enjoyed an evening celebrating Hudson and Whitlee's birthday at a Bounce Party!  For a kid that hated slides just a few days prior Evan decided he loved them and couldn't get enough!

Whitlee loving the bounce house

Birthday Pizza

Birthday Cupcakes!

I burned way too many calories helping Evan up each slide multiple times!

Wild Gentry Safari

While visiting my family in Missouri and Arkansas we visited Gentry Wildlife Safari, in Gentry Arkansas.  I assume the exotic animal laws are a little lax in Arkansas because there seem to be several of these type zoos.  Evan loves petting zoos so we thought it would be fun for the entire Hemphill clan. We started off in the petting zoo area and by the time we were done and ready for the drive-through area Evan was fast asleep for a long overdue nap so Dan and I got to enjoy the wildlife together!

Evan was so happy despite an bump on the arm

Out of the dozen photos taken on the log couldn't get all of them to smile at same time, but I love that Presley is eating the stale bread meant for the animals

Meachum Family

Evan wasn't happy because we wouldn't let him inside the monkey cage!  He loves Curious George!

Charlotte and giant turtle

Presley kept trying to unlatch the Boa Constrictor cage, she didn't understand why that wasn't a great idea!

Val and a Prarie dog

I think the zebra was preggers

the deer were a little too comfortable coming up tot he cars

Rhino: Wish I had a better photo but decided to follow the rules and stay in the car

I had never seen a white bison

Kangaroo and Joey tucked in there

Evan loves to chase ANY bird