The Franks Family

The Franks Family

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

first and last

Today was Roman's last day of school. This is a really big deal to us because he has been going to a daycare part time since he was three months old. I think his toddler class has been so beneficial and such a great experience. We have decided to keep him home next fall while I'm not working. This is going to be a big change for all of us, but I still feel he's going to do great at home with his mommy!
Bye bye Ms. Marni
We'll miss you Ms. Kibra
Today was also my first day of not working. It was so weird to wake up and not have to be at the office! Matt took me to La Duni for breakfast to celebrate. We walked around Northpark mall and enjoyed our morning together just the two of us while Roman was at school. We won't be getting many kid free days at all in the future! After the mall, we came home and cleaned the house together and then hit the gym together. The days go by so much faster than they do at the office! It was such a great day!

Memorial Weekend

We had a great memorial weekend with great friends. Friday night we had Jay and Suzy over for homemade pizza night. After dinner, we put Roman to bed and they stayed to watch a movie. It was a great relaxing evening.

Saturday afternoon after nap time, Helen and Jason came over with Jake. The boys had so much playing in the blow up pool in the back yard. We grilled fajitas and enjoyed the hot weather.

Taking turns with the cozy coupe
Roman and Jake playing with the sidewalk chalk
Helen and Jason
After dinner the husbands gave the boys baths together. It was Jake's first friend bath!
Ash and Helen with our sleepy boys! We had a great time with the Lary's!

Sunday after church and nap we met up with the Longs over at Corey's sister's house. They have an amazing house and pool. We grilled hamburgers and got to swim for the first time this season! It was so refreshing to get in the pool!!
Ashley 36 weeks pregnant and Lindsey 29 weeks
Boy, swimming can really wear you out! It's time for a break!


Super Roman in the pool!
What a little poser!! His shirt says big brother in charge!

We had such a great weekend with friends!!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

poo poo in the potty

Roman went poo poo in the potty on Thursday night! What a big boy! We were so proud of him. Matt was there for the process. I wasn't even in the room! We praised him so much and gave him his first piece of candy, a M&M. We're not trying to potty train at all right now, but it was still so exciting! We've called family members and friends to have them praise Roman over the phone too! Big boy is growing up!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

the last day

Well the day has finally arrived. I am officially retiring today. I say that lightly. Who knows if I go back to work one day. We'll see! It is so bitter sweet! I have worked since I was 15-1/2! I know that being home with my babies will be a very hard, yet rewarding job. I am so excited and feel very blessed to be able to have this opportunity.


Throughout my 4 years working at HP, I have grown close to a few other women. My friend, Glenda, is also pregnant so they threw us a small little joint shower today for lunch.


Glenda, Tracy, Sharri, Karen, Sandy, Ashley

The preggos! Baby Logan is due exactly one month after Carmen

The little elephant outfit that I got baby Logan


Glenda got me some cute blankets!

A group of the co-workers got together and gave me a gift card to Janie and Jack. So sweet! I feel blessed to have gotten to work with a great group of people! I'm definitely going to miss my lunch buddies!! I'm not going to lie, I shed a tear after lunch!

diaper/wipes shower

Last Sunday, our Sunday school class threw us a diapers/wipes shower for Carmen. We had a full breakfast before the lesson. It was so awesome to bring home so many packages of diapers and wipes! I love being part of such a fun group of people that are all pretty much in the exact same stage of life as we are.

Wow, we are blessed!



Thursday, May 19, 2011

Carmen's Nursery!

We've finished Carmen's room!! It is just what I originally pictured and wanted!
I chose a paint color called warm stone from Sherwin Williams. With all of the white furniture, I wanted a really dark contrasting wall.

The bedding was the most expensive purchase in the entire room. I found it online at Bella Notte and just had to have it! After searching aimlessly, I found a store that gave me a significant interior designer discount, so I jumped and made the purchase. I felt a little guilty afterwards, but oh well I can't take it back now! The fabric is so soft and it is exactly what I wanted!
The dresser, mirror, and desk were my furniture when I was a baby. We repainted each piece and then spray painted the existing hardware to match the window hardware. The crib and changing table were Carmen's cousins. The triplets graciously gave them to us! I found the little distressed table in the corner from a flee shop in Waco when I was in college. Carmen is getting no new furniture at all! Re-using is the best!
I came up with the idea of putting the letters on a painted wood plaque a while ago. I found the wood plaques at Jo Ann's fabric and then had Matt paint them to match the pink curtains. I stapled the ribbon bows on the back. We ordered the lower case letters from pottery barn kids. They were supposed to be white and when I received them, they were an off-white. Not perfect! I made Matt spray paint them a stark white to match the adjacent furniture and ribbons.
I painted the lilies and begonia from pictures that I found on the Internet. They are done in acrylic paint on canvas. I then got them custom framed in matching white frames from Jo Ann's fabric store. That store must love me now!

The white sheer drapes are originally from Pottery Barn and I've had them in my bedroom for a long time before Matt and I were married. The pink blackout drapes are from Restoration Hardware baby and child. They are so thick and fabulous! I was nervous ordering them online before I had even seen them.
The baskets in the changing table were originally in Roman's room. I just replaced the liners with Pottery Barn kid's white scalloped liners.
The desk chair was from an old flee market that I purchased years ago. I know, I will have to take the old flee market fan out soon. It's not plugged in, I promise! I just love it! The Winnie the Poo bear is from when I was little. We ordered the monthly picture frame to go above the white shelf to match Roman's.
I'm so obsessed with the large tutu that I ordered that I can't bring myself to take it off the door. I can't wait to get pictures of Carmen in that tutu!
The glider and ottoman are not my favorite for the room, (way too dark) but we were not going to buy a new set. They were originally in Roman's nursery. The chandelier is from Home Depot. It was by far the least expensive chandelier that I could find for the style that I was wanting.

For now we put some pictures of our family with Carmen still in my belly in her picture frames. Can't wait to replace some of them with pictures of her!

This verse from the Bible is from a parenting bible study that our small group at church is doing. The teacher said he gave his wife a copy of this verse when she was in the stress of sleepless nights of feedings and crying. It will help me to stop and remember that God gave me Carmen as a temporary gift to clothe her, feed her, and give her shelter. It is my job to be the best parent I can be to my children that are currently on loan to me from God. Wow, what an amazing blessing! I placed the frame just outside her door so I see it every time I leave her room.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the room. It was a lot of painting and hard work. Can't wait for Carmen to enjoy many hours in her room!!!

34 weeks

Last night Matt was laughing so hard at what we call my 'torpedo bullet' sticking out. I'm getting huge!! He just had to get some pictures. I'm 34 weeks pregnant and growing.

  • I feel like Carmen is starting to drop a little. My legs tend to get numb if I sit for a long time!
  • I can't wait to see how much weight I've gained this time. I know it has to be a lot because I've eaten out so much lately and I feel so much heavier.
  • I'm still walking and lifting small weights, but starting to slow down a little.
  • She gets the hiccups regularly and I can really detect her movements all the time. She stretches her feet out on my right ribs a lot!
  • I am obsessed with fruit! Mostly oranges and orange juice. Can't get enough!
  • Roman can spell Carmen's entire name! We go over the letters that are in her room all the time. He loves to get in her crib and pretend to go night night. He knows that sissy is in mommy's belly, but sometimes he also points to his belly. Poor boy! His world is about to get rocked upside down in around a month!!!
  • I still keep getting told by random grocery store clerks or people at work that I'm having a boy because of the way I'm carrying. It's kind of annoying because it's starting to freak me out! Wouldn't that be horrible to have to re-do her room! I can't take back her bedding! Oh the thought!
  • We can't wait to meet our precious baby girl! I have a funny feeling she might be a little early. Who knows!! In the meantime, I'm trying to provide her the most comfy home!

Grandma time!

Within a couple of hours of the triplets leaving town on Sunday afternoon, Grandma drove in town! Roman loved having his "mamaw" around! He kept waiting out the front door looking for "mamaw's red car". It was adorable!

We went out to dinner on Sunday night to celebrate my birthday. We had a great time! Matt and Grandma spent all day Monday and Tuesday re-planting the front yard garden. It looks awesome now! They worked so hard tearing out 30 year old bushes!! Mommy cheered them on from her office and Roman cheered them on from school! Monday afternoon got a little crazy when Matt accidentally hit a water line while trying to remove an old root. We had no water for a couple of hours. It didn't really make me nervous until Roman decided to run in the muddy puddle and then I realized that we might not be able to bathe him that night! Luckily we got someone over immediately to fix the problem. Pictures of the front yard to come!

We realized that Roman is exactly the same age right now that Matt was when they moved into the house in 1979. Crazy to think that Matt and I are living in the house he's been in since he was two! Talk about a house having a special place in your heart!!

We'll miss you grandma! We had a great time with you!! Thanks for the visit!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Busy Weekend!

Mark, Whitney, and the triplets came in town Friday night after Roman went to bed. It was so fun to have them wake up Roman on Saturday morning. They enjoyed playing together all morning after breakfast!

Late Saturday morning, the tripelts had a birthday party to go to and then we had separate birthday party Saturday afternoon. Roman enjoyed playing in the bounce house at Harlan's third birthday party! I'm so upset that I didn't get any photos of Harlan! He was a busy birthday boy!

Brad and Jamie were there with their three boys


Suzy, Jay, and sweet growing baby came to enjoy the party too!


Family photo at the party!


Sunday morning was another jammie play time. Roman kept switching laps to sit in!






We had so much fun with Mark, Whitney, and the kids. It was a fabulous weekend even though Roman started running a fever late Saturday night. I think between going to the zoo on Friday, playing hard with his cousins, and the bounce house party, he just got run down. Oh well, it was all worth it!!

Franks park time!

We enjoyed a fabulous Sunday morning/afternoon at the park with Mark, Whitney, and the triplets! Spring is so wonderful!!

The boys looking at the fish


It's bike time! Roman kept saying, "Momma, I need a helmet!"

Go kids go!


They rode around the entire park which is a little over a mile!Pit stop at the playground
Roman and Gracie
Mommy talk
Roman and his cousins
Roman and uncle Mark
Super dad pushing his girls!


The seesaw was a little heavier on one side!
Roman finally went down the slide by himself! Yippee!!!
Reagan was such a good pusher

We had a fun picnic after our bike ride. It was such a fabulous family day!