11 Years

 I realize my post have been sporadic this summer. It's because life is cray cray! I'm still battling the every day sickness that comes with pregnancy. Some days are better than others. Some are just plain awful. Thankfully I have friends with pools so we have been swimming at least once a week the past few weeks. Swimming wears the kids out and makes for a not so boring day for me. I have loved getting to hang out with my friends so frequently.

We have been in full swing with birthday parties, ministry, celebrating anniversaries and more ministry.

Emery is FOUR!!!! I can not possibly believe that I have a 4 year old. She and Jesse are playing together better and better every day. I'm excited for her school year to start but i know Jesse will miss her terribly.

Benji was in charge of a VBS in an impoverished part of S.C. Joanna, S.C. It made for some long days for him and for me and the kids! Emery did get to go to most of it and she loved it. We were at the beach when our church did VBS so I was glad she got the opportunity to experience it.

We celebrated our 11th anniversary this weekend. HOLY MOLY I can not believe it's been 11 years. We have accomplished a ton over those years but some times it does feel like we just got started. 

We sent the kids to Georgia. Benji had middle school pastor's camp on Saturday but came home late afternoon so we headed out on the town. It was pouring rain just as we headed out so we joined the rest of Greenville at the mall for a few hours. It was fun just to walk around like the old days. We had dinner at The Lazy Goat , which was amazing. Definitely one of my favorites in Greenville. 

Today we are laying low and staying in the house. Emery is coloring and Jesse is being Mr. Destructo as usual. Friday I have another ultra sound, so hopefully I will have some more photos of baby #3 to share.

Our Bean Is A Baby: 3rd Edition

It is so amazing how fast babies develop. 4 weeks ago this precious was just a bean looking thing on the ultrasound screen. Today A Baby. Heart beat was 165, even saw him/her wiggle around. So exciting! It doesn't get old, just as exciting as with Emery.

RUN

I Miss Her

So Pinterest is....well, y'all know... anyway. Looking at the food Pins has made me nauseous the past couple of weeks. (I know, such a shame, right!?) So when I've felt the need to Pin I've had to stick with  non food images. 

I found this adorbs image of Lauren Conrad last night. AND IT WOULD NOT PIN! It kept saying the site was spam. So anywhoo....I love it, and I miss her so much! I feel like I seriously know her since I watched her grow up on T.V. 

Haven't read any of her "novels"....haha that may be a bit much for me. But I do love some of her clothing at Kohls.

COME BACK TO T.V LC!

The 4th, Mufasa and Orange Beach

Well. We have been busy to say the least. 

We spent the 4th with some friends and their very large extended family. We had a blast, they had a little stage set up for the kids to sing some patriotic songs, which was adorable. We had tons of food and then ended it with a great fireworks show. 

It was Blazing hot and humid that night! The kids had so much fun running around with little friends, they were exhausted the next two days. 

 Later that week Benji and I put on our Artsy caps and went to see The Lion King downtown at The Peace Center. It was amazing. I am so, SOOO glad/lucky/blessed to live in a city large enough to  host Broadway shows but also small enough to have the small community feel. Greenville really is the best city on the planet. (Besides Paris, of course).

It was also the first time we had a babysitter put our kids to bed before we got home. They did great, went straight to sleep. I think this may be the beginning of something good.

Soon after that we found ourselves headed out yet again to the beach. This time is was with Benji's High School youth. Every year we go to StudentLife camp in Orange Beach, Alabama. WE LOVE this camp. The speakers are top notch. J.R. Vassar (1st year), David Platt (2nd and 3rd year) and this year we heard Matt Chandler. Matt Chandler, in my opinion is one of the most prolific, influential pastors of our Generation. It was amazing to see how GOD worked in the lives of our students. HELLO, Did y'all have summer camp like this when you were younger, because I sure didn't! 

 Fast and furious past few weeks in the Ladd home. I am 9 weeks this week in my pregnancy and so far this one has been similar to the last two. This time around I don't have the luxury of sleeping away my nausea or even stopping for that matter. I've pushed through and am hopeful that the 2nd trimester will bring a healthy baby and no more sickness. 

Beach Baby

I already need some looser clothing. I see maternity jeans in my near future. 

Here's a few more pics from our time at the beach. Can I please go back now? 

Almost A Month!

I can't believe it has almost been a month since I posted last. Things have been crazy. Benji was in Brazil for 10 days, home for two, then we headed off to the beach for vacation. We went back to Florida this year, after a few years of the Beach in South Carolina. It was a welcome change and the water was beautiful and sand so white. 

This year my Birthday and father's day came while we were at the beach. I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend the two days! Benji played golf and I went shopping.  

The day I dropped Benji off at the airport to head off for Brazil, I found out we are expecting baby number 3! Talk about an emotional day. 

I am still pretty early in the first trimester, due around February 19th. We are so excited and thankful for the opportunity to welcome another member into our family. 

Of course once we got home we hit the ground running. The kids were exhausted after playing hard all week in the sun and water. It took them an entire week of sleeping late to catch up. 

We have been busy with pool parties and summer bible studies with the youth. We've TRIED to catch up on house duties, laundry, yard work, paying bills, grocery shopping and washing NASTY cars! 

I can't believe how fast the summer is going. Emery will be starting Pre K4 before too long and we will be finding out whether or not she gets a sister or another brother. :) 

Here are a few pictures from the beach. May post a few more later.