September 2017 - The Twins Arrival

Well what started out as a not too busy, soccer filled September, got a little more exciting on September 18!  The Frericks Twins decided to make their arrival 2 weeks early!

Late on Sunday night, September 17th, I started having contractions.  We headed into the hospital around 1:30am (Big Shout out to Our Neighbor Maureen and Grandma and Grandpa who all came to our rescue with the big kids in the middle of the night!!!).  After a few hours of being monitored, my doctor decided I wasn't necessarily in active labor...BUT, since I was there and hooked up to an IV and clearly having contractions, we could go ahead and have some babies!  After some discussion, we decided that a C-Section would be the safest and best option.  At the time, Baby A (Tinsley) was head down, but Baby B (Conner) was transverse (basically sideways right under my ribs).  Since there was no guarantee that he would turn on his own, we all agreed to go ahead with the C-Section. 

At 10:50 I was wheeled into the OR and at 11:13am Tinsley made her appearance and 2 minutes later, we met Conner!

Tinsley Anne was 8 lbs, 3 oz and 20 inches long.

Tinsley Anne

Conner Edward was 7 lbs, 14 oz and also 20 inches long.

Conner Edward

This was the first time they were reunited outside the womb and the Twin bond is really a crazy thing!

Reunited Outside the Womb

 The big kids were SOOOO excited.  I am pretty sure Hudson told everyone she saw that morning that we were having the babies that day!  Here is the very first picture of the Frericks Starting Five!

The Frericks Starting Five

 With 2 weeks under our belt, we are kind of getting the hang of things.  The big kids are great helpers.  They all love to hold the babies. Hudson and Sullivan are great at giving them bottles when I need the help and Thomas is all about holding Conner....and sometimes Tinsley...haha! 

Tinsley Chilling at home

Conner Taking a Couch Nap

He loves holding his little bro!

 We are working on a routine (which is hard to imagine I'm sure).  The big kids are all in school which is helpful but mornings can get a bit crazy!  

The twins had their first check-up with their doctor at One Week old and are doing great.  They are almost back to birth weight which is awesome and they big and strong!

The twins are starting to work out their sleep/awake schedule and have had a few nights where they put 4-5 hours of sleep together!  Conner sleeps better than Tinsley but we're working on it!  

I don't think they look all that much alike but sometimes they surprise me!  

Sometimes they look alike

 Of course, having twins doesn't mean we get to stay in the house all day....being Number 4 and 5 means you are just along for the ride!  The twins have already been to 2 soccer games, a neighborhood cook-out and a block party!  

This weekend we loaded up everyone and headed to the Crieve Hall Block Party.  We love this event and never miss it.  Free face painting, balloon animals, snow cones and dinner....it's an annual tradition for us now!  

Block party fun

He was pumped for his spider

Snow cones and face paint

School is still going well for the big kids.  Both girls did great on their progress reports and continue to LOVE their teachers and classes!  The Purple Hearts Soccer team is having a great season also.  We had our toughest game so far last weekend, taking on a team of really big second graders and battled hard to a 1-1 tie!  It was great to see our team play so tough against some bigger older girls (half of our team is made of Kindergartners!)!

That is about all for now.  We are looking forward to a fun October full of Fall Break, the Pumpkin Patch, Hudson's 7th Birthday and of course Halloween!!

Here are the rest of the pictures from last month:

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August 2017

Well we all made it through the first month of school and so far, so good!

Hudson really loves First Grade and LOVES her teacher.  She has several good friends in her class which always makes things easier.  She is becoming quite the Reader and asked me tonight to take her to the library so she could check out some chapter books!  I love that she loves to read!

First Day of First Grade

Sullivan is loving Kindergarten also.  She Love, Love, loves her teacher and even has 3 friends from her old preschool in her class.  We are working on her sight words and she is slowly but surely getting it.  I'm not going to lie, its not easy....but I think it will click for her soon (fingers crossed)!

First Day of Kindergarten

Thomas also went back to school at the same schools he attended last year.  He loves going to school and put on his backpack every morning until he finally got to wear it to school.  He is finally potty trained and while it was exhausting, I am so glad we did it!  He loves his big boy underwear and I love having him out of diapers!

August also brings a new soccer season and the blue hearts are back together again.  We moved up to the 1st/2nd grade league and added a few old teammates back to our team.  This season we are the Purple Hearts and are off to a great start with a big win in our first game.  Our second game is this weekend so hopefully the girls can keep playing hard!

This year, Nashville was lucky enough to be in the path of Totality during the Solar Eclipse which was amazing.  The kids were out of school for it and, I have to admit, it was pretty awesome.

Thomas was All About it

 We hit Totality around 1:30pm and it was so cool.  Our street lights came on, some people saw lightning bugs and the crickets went crazy.

Totality

That is about it for now.  September brings more soccer and getting ready for the Newest Frericks' to make their arrival!

Here are some pictures from the rest of August:

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July 2017

We are on the final countdown till school starts!  This is the last week of freedom for the kiddos before the first day of Kindergarten and First Grade for Sullivan and Hudson!

July was a fun, jam packed filled month for sure!

We got to spend a full week at the Lake with cousins and it was a blast.

We started the week off with the Rabun Ramble.  Hudson and Reed represented the family well in the 5K.  This was the first 5K for both of them and they did great.  I was so proud of them for running the whole thing without anyone.  I started the race with them and they left me in the dust.  I didn't see them again until the finish line!  The rest of the weekend was full of boat parades, fireworks and swimming fun.

Rabun Ramble

Spending a whole week at the lake can be exhausting when you are the youngest of 6 cousins.  Thomas was able to sneak in a "standing" nap in the boat post tube ride!

Boat Naps are best

 I love how well this crew gets along and plays together!  The big kids are so sweet to the little ones!

Cousins

Although, this is a more accurate picture of how they really act!

More accurate picture of how they act!

My 4th of July Crew

Hudson was all about the water sports this year.  She skied the most she ever has and LOVED to tube.  Even when it was just her and the big boys!  She also learned that falling off the tube is the most fun part and wasn't afraid to get tossed off every once in a while.

Back up on the Ski

 Of course we snuck in some sparkler time as well!

Sparkler Time

 Thomas discovered water sports this year too.  He was all about the big tube but really LOVED to ski.  He spent most of his time back there yelling at me to drive faster!

He was Obsessed!

 We ended our week with a pizza party on the dock and some night swimming!  Thomas loved being with the big kids!

Night Swimming!

These 2 did a lot of swimming too.

Buddies

When we got back from the lake we went straight to camp time!  The girls spent a week at Lipscomb soccer camp and loved it.  Of course it was the hottest week of the year (heat index over 100 everyday) so I think the highlights of the camp were lunch in the Lipscomb University Cafeteria and for sure the 100 foot long slip and slide on the soccer field.  They followed that camp up with Oak Hill Day camp and also loved that. They spent that week playing games, doing art, swimming and enjoying some huge inflatable slides!

Wacky Wednesday at Soccer Camp

We also spent a week of July attempting to potty train the big guy!  It was exhausting but I think we have made some progress.  He was very excited about his big boy underwear, especially the ones with Thomas the Train!  Thomas also made the move to his big boy room.  Thankfully he made the transition so well and LOVES his new bed.  I guess I would too if I went from a crib to a California King!

Big Kid Potty Training! 

The last weekend in July was all about getting ready for school.  Sullivan is very excited to go to Kindergarten and we had a big date night out getting all of her school supplies and a fresh new haircut!  She is ready to meet her teacher this week!

Kindergarten Hair-Cut!

That is about all for now.  The kids are enjoying a few days in Bowling Green with Grandma and Grandpa and then they are back here just in time to meet their teachers and kick off the school year on Monday the 7th!

Here are the rest of the pictures from our fun filled month of July:

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June 2017

June has been packed full of summer fun.

After a long weekend at the Lake for Memorial Day, we came home to prepare for Sullivan's FIFTH birthday!  I can't believe she is FIVE already!  

We celebrated with a Moana Pool Party at the neighborhood pool with all of Sully's buddies from the neighborhood and soccer team!  It was so much fun.  They swam hard, had pizza and cake and then swam some more.  We shut down the pool with a handful of them swimming until dark!

The girls have enjoyed a few VBS' during June which is always fun.  Thomas has had to stay home with his new most favorite person, Anne Marie, or as he calls her "AnMe" because he is not old enough for VBS just yet.  They have a big time during the day playing and swimming and of course napping!  He loves a nap when the house is empty!

We have had a few family adventures as well.  We celebrated Father's Day with a long walk to the Ag Center for a little creek adventure!  The kids loved it but I think the dogs loved it even more, especially Maysie!

We also went to check out the Chinese Light Festival that made a stop in Nashville.  It was very cool to see all of the lanterns and the performances they put on.  We also stayed just long enough to see the lights shine when the sun went down!

To wrap up the month, the girls enjoyed their first experience with REAL summer camp.  They did a week at Camp Widjiwagan, the YMCA camp just outside of Nashville.  They went to day camp on Monday and Tuesday and when I dropped them off on Wednesday, they SPENT the next two nights at sleep away camp!  I picked them up on Friday and they LOVED it.  They have already asked to go back next year for a whole week of spending the night!!  After spending 10 years of my life at the same overnight summer camp, I am so happy they loved it as much as I did!

All of the kids are doing great and seem to be growing like weeds.

Hudson lost her second tooth and is just all legs these days.

Sullivan is also growing like a weed and sometimes I forget that she JUST turned five.  She is so excited about Kindergarten and it is hard to believe it will be here in just over a month.  At her five year old check-up, she was 46.5 inches tall (97%) and 54 lbs (96%).

Thomas is also getting so big.  He talks ALL the time now and is obsessed with trucks and balls.  He also just started liking Mickey Mouse on TV and any show with dogs!  He loves to swim and work in the yard with Tom.  At his 2 year check-up, he was 35.5 inches tall (80%) and 30 lbs (85%).

That is about all for now.  The girls are going to VBS at our church this week and then it's off to the Lake for a week to celebrate July 4th.  Everyone is so excited for some lake time with the cousins!

Here are the rest of the pictures from our fun month of June:

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May 2017

It's finally summer and we are off to a great start!

School is out and everyone had a great year!

Thomas LOVED school this year and was sad to see it end.  He had such sweet teachers at both of his schools!

Sullivan wrapped up PreK forever!  She had an awesome year at Judson with Miss Tama (who she adored).  She learned a lot and can't wait for kindergarten next year.  Her school year ended with a sweet performance where they sang a medley of songs followed by a fun luncheon.  Judson Baptist is the best PreK around for sure!

Celebrating the END of PreK

Hudson had an AWESOME year at Crieve Hall Elem.  She LOVED kindergarten and her teacher Miss Piper.  She was so sad school ended b/c she said she was going to miss Miss Piper so much!  I can't believe how much she learned in just one year.  She is reading 3 levels above where she should and she made Principal's List and had Perfect Attendance.  We love our school and can't wait to have 2 of our kiddos there next year!

My Kindergarten Graduate!

 May also brings the end to another great soccer season.  We have the BEST team ever and I love coaching these kids so much.  They are so eager to learn and tough as nails.  Half of our team was playing up but you would have never guessed it.  We won all of our games but more importantly, they played tough defense (only gave up 2 goals all season) and they actually took what we did in practice and did it in games!  At this age - that is incredible.  

My Blue Hearts!

Blue Heart Soccer Studs

  With school being out for summer that only means one thing - LAKE RABUN!

The kids could not wait to get to the lake and play with their cousins!  We had an extra long weekend of swimming, tubing, top jumping, birthday celebrating, big blue mat playing COUSIN TIME!

Celebrating Thomas' Birthday

The NEW Big Orange Tube

 We also try to make our kids try something new every time we go to the lake.  Thomas got to get on the ski for the first time and he LOVED it!  He also ASKED to jump off the top like all the big kids.  We weren't so sure about the jumping part so with a little help from Uncle Pace, he was lowered halfway and LOVED it!  He even asked to go again!  He also really loved tubing with Tom and the big kids!

Thomas skiing

Hudson got back on the kneeboard this summer and did great.  She went the furthest she has ever been  without falling and was very proud of herself.  She also loved tubing this year and jumped off the top without a life jacket!!

Kneeboarding pro

Sobe didn't want to ski and after much back and forth decided not to try the kneeboard, but she had a great time paddle boarding with Charlie, swimming and playing.  She didn't want to jump off the top but wanted to earn her special treat from the marina, so with a little assistance from Tom...she made the jump!  I wouldn't say she loved it, but she told me it wasn't scary....haha!

Paddle boarding with Charlie

We also got to celebrate Thomas' birthday at the lake which was so much fun.  He is obsessed with his cousins so any time he gets to spend with them is the best time!  We all enjoyed some cookie cake and he got to open presents which is always fun!

Happy SECOND Birthday!

 After our long weekend ended, we packed up and headed home.  Of course we had to celebrate Thomas' birthday one more time with presents from us and he was so pumped to get a bike and his very own helmet!!!

Loving his Birthday presents

That is about it for May!  June brings even more fun activities with VBS, Camps and of course Sobes' big FIFTH birthday this weekend!

Here are the rest of the pictures from our fun May:

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March and April 2017

Spring is off to a strong and busy start!!

March was full of soccer, dress-up days at school, snow, spring break in Atlanta and much more.  

Dr. Seuss Character Day - Sally from Cat and the Hat

The Blue Hearts (our soccer team) are off to a great start once again.  The girls are really playing well and having so much fun with our team.  It's fun when you can roll from fall soccer, to basketball back to spring soccer with the same team!  

Nashville got one more snow in March which was crazy but very fun.  We built some snowmen and did some serious sledding until it all melted away by about 3:00pm.

This guy was big into snowball fighting

We enjoyed a long weekend over Spring Break in Atlanta where we got to see MamMam and of course hang out with our cousins, which is always fun!  We found time to squeeze in 2 baseball games and a lacrosse game and a few fun dinners out!

Sullivan had a big March also - she is officially signed up for Kindergarten in the fall!  She is so excited and probably wished she could have gone this year with Hudson!  So the countdown is on and she can't wait!

All Signed Up

 April was full of even more soccer, Tom's Birthday, Easter, quick trip to Bowling Green, lots of rain and some hot, hot weather.

We had a nice trip to Bowling Green for the day to Celebrate Tom's Birthday.  The girls were dying to go fishing and Thomas finally got to join in.  He loved it.  Although mostly he wanted to go in the water not sit next to it,

He loves to "fish"

 Hudson won our March Madness bracket and go to choose dinner (a few weeks later) and this of course was her selection.  She and Sullivan can put away an All-Star Slam breakfast with ease!  This guy was just in it for the chocolate chip waffle and hat!

We love the Waffle House

 We had a wonderful Easter this year.  The kids did 2 or 3 Easter Egg Hunts each and the bunny found them om Easter morning which was very exciting.  Our neighborhood had our first ever Egg Hunt and it was so much fun.  The girls were excited to get a picture with the bunny!

Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt

 Sullivan had an Easter Bonnet parade at school this year and she was so proud of her hat.  She designed it all by herself!

East Bonnet Parade at School

 We had a good time dying Easter eggs this year.  Thomas really had fun.  Although "gently drop it in" was very lost on him...it was more like a slam dunk as hard as possible.  But we got them all done he was very proud of his eggs.

Finished product

 These 2 did some serious puddle jumping during a weekend full of rain!

Doing some puddle jumping

 Hudson had a great April as well.  She lost her very first tooth which was very exciting and she also officially turned 6 1/2!!  She is still our tall girl as you can see and is getting so grown up!

Officially 6 and a half

We wrapped up April with a tough win on the soccer field, the Spring Festival at Hudson's school and a fun birthday bowling party for one our buddies.  And to top it off, our pool is now open which is all the kids can even think about!  Thank goodness it is 90 degrees this weekend but the water is going to be freezing!

That is about all for now!  May is always a crazy busy time so I know this year will be no different.

Here are the rest of our March and April adventures:

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