Happy 6th Anniversary!

The end of our BIG weekend concluded with our Anniversary! We got married on March 24, 2007... a short 6 years ago :) Ever since Crockett came along, on March 22, 2009, our Anniversary gets a tad bit overlooked, but we still get to go enjoy a nice dinner together. This year was no different, thanks to LuLu!! We went to Las Brisas and had a yummy dinner (and dessert!) ALL BY OURSELVES! It is the little things these days!

Chris,
I am so thankful for your love, friendship and support. You work so hard for the boys and I, and we are so lucky to have you. The last 6 years have been filled with up and downs, happy times and sad times, a few moves, two beautiful boys and so much more. I love the life that we have created. God really blessed me by making you my partner on this journey; I couldn't do it without you. I love you and look forward to many, many more years.

PaRtY TiMe!!!!!

After our soccer game on Saturday, it was time to get ready for Crockett's BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!! We have been anxiously awaiting the party for some time now. This was the first year I have let Crockett invite friends and we invited his whole class as well as a few other friends. We had it at "the fun place", otherwise known as Ready, Set, GO! When I started planning the party, I asked Crockett what kind of party he wanted to have. Without hesitation, he told me "A BULLDOZER PARTY", so for about the 3rd year in a row, we had a bulldozer theme :)  The kiddos has a blast! They got to jump on trampolines, swing into the pit, slide on the big inflatable slide, jump in the bungee harness, and so many other things! It was SO MUCH FUN! Crockett is lucky to have so many sweet friends that came to help us celebrate. Everyone had a great time playing, eating pizza and cake and watching Crockett open his gifts. Happy 4th Birthday, sweet boy!

Lucky for us, I have already learned that the weather on March 22nd is unpredictable (it snowed on his 1st birthday, which we planned to have outside) and on this birthday party day (actually the 23rd) as we drove to the party a HUGE dust storm blew in with a vengeance! By the time everyone left, the sky was red. That is Lubbock weather (especially in March!) for ya!!

Well.... ALMOST a Soccer Star!

Saturday was a big day at the Stone house. Our day started with the 1st soccer game of the season, and let me just say... It was QUITE entertaining! We picked Rachy up and headed out to the Berl Huffman complex, where everyone in Lubbock apparently decided to go that morning. Who knew we would encounter Lubbock's worst traffic jam. So, we were a teeny bit late for our first game. When we got there and found our team, they were all out in the middle of the field and Crockett ALMOST started to cry because he didn't want to walk out there by himself. Once he got out there and Coach Mike saw him, he was good. Thank goodness for Coach Mike. He is AWESOME. Crockett went in about half way through the 1st quarter and, OMG, it was hilarious. My child was literally chasing his own shadow and pretty much just running after the other guys. He made a buddy on the other team, the Hammerheads. When Crockett came over to us during a time out he told me, Momma say GO HAMMERHEADS!!! I told him that I was cheering for the GALAXY, but he didn't understand why I wouldn't cheer for 'those kids'. He did kick the ball one time... after it went out of bounds. He was kicking it toward the goal... on the other field :) Chris, Rach and I were dying laughing. He was really proud of himself and even gave us a 'thumbs up'! So, before our next game we need a little bit of practice. And maybe soccer isn't going to be our thing. But he left with a smile on his face and had a great time, so it was a total SUCCESS in my book!!!

FOUR!!!!

Friday, March 22nd was a BIG day!!!! My baby, Crockett Christopher, turned 4 years old! We had been waiting for this day for quite some time and he was SO excited it was finally here! We started our morning with our tradition of DONUTS from Aunt Mon, Braidy and Quinny. She brought chocolate with sprinkles, just like the birthday boy likes and we sang and blew out candles. Then it was off to school. We took cookies from Sugarbaker's that he picked out special for his friends. After school was out, LuLu kept the little boys while Mon and I took Braidy and Crockett to see THE CROODS. We saw it in 3D, and I must say it was SO cute! Both boys loved it! After the movie, we hung out at our house until Daddy got home and then we went to LuLu and Papaw's house for birthday dinner. We all had hamburgers and hot dogs and baked beans. LuLu made the baked beans because Crockett (the picky eater that he is) ate them, and liked them, at Mon and Ryan's house the other day. We tried to get him to try refried beans after that, but he told LuLu that he only liked the "oval ones". So, she cooked the baked beans, and after he ate two, he said he wanted to save the rest for "tomorrow", which means he doesn't like them after all :) Silly boy! After we ate, the boys all played while we waited for Rachel and John to get there. They came in from Dallas for a visit and to celebrate with us! YAY! We were all so excited to see them! As soon as they came, it meant Crockett could open his gifts, which he had been waiting for. Chris and I got him a big boy backpack, which he was not very excited about, but has since worn it all day long; Aunt Mon, Uncle Ryan, John, Braidy and Quinny got him new boots that he has worn ever since and tells me constantly that they are AWESOME!!!, LuLu and Papaw got him soccer goals, which he keeps wanting to set up, but the weather hasn't really been very nice yet, but he definitely needs the practice :) and Rachy got him is very own, personalized Pirate book, that has a permanent place in the new backpack. As soon as he got done, he told us he wanted some more presents to open. He really loved his gifts and had such a great time. We ended the birthday night with brownie and ice cream. We all sang Happy Birthday and blew out candles (Again :) He was exhausted, but had a really great, special day.

Crockett,
The past 4 years have been the most fun, challenging, educational, special years of our lives. You have made our lives so full of love and joy. You have become such a smart, polite, friendly, imaginitive, one-of-a-kind, tender-hearted little boy. You are constantly making us laugh. You brighten up any day with your hugs, kisses and i love you's. You have so many wonderful moments and milestones ahead of you and your daddy and I will always be your biggest cheerleaders. We are so honored that God chose us to be your mommy and daddy. We love you to the moon and back.

Bowen Barrett - 9 months old

Bowen was, once again, sick on his monthly milestone. This time it was a double ear infection and upper respiratory infection. What a nasty winter it has been for this boy! Hopefully, this will be the end of our sickness! In the midst of all the sickness, this has been a BIG month for our not-so-baby Bowen!

You are now weighing 22 lbs (80th percentile) and 28.5 in (75 percentile). Still a pretty big boy! (Sidenote: your head is 95th percentile... I am pretty sure you are going to be a genius :) We have moved up to Size 4 diapers and are in 12-18 month clothes. Even some of those britches are way too tight on your big belly! Such a fat kid. But those rolls won't be there for long, because you are now CRAWLING! Pretty much on your 9 month birthday, you figured out how to get everything moving at the same time. You love to find doors, cords and twigs and mulch to put in your mouth. Actually, pretty much EVERYTHING goes straight into your mouth. So I am pretty much constantly moving you and picking up. Between Saydi and your big brother, I have not figured out how to keep twigs out of this house. That is on my to-do list, though :) You FINALLY cut those 2 top, very pesky teeth! It was not a fun process, but you look so cute. And maybe a little ornery! You have quite a gap, and I just love it! You constantly grind your teeth together and it makes me crazy, but you make the funniest faces when you do it! You still love to be in your jumper and you love to walk around in your car. You are all over the kitchen and have even managed to get trapped in the utility room a time or two. You are such a playful kiddo. You love your blocks and your walker that plays music... pretty much anything that plays music. You LOVE your big brother more and more everyday. You belly laugh at him and watch him all the time. I love that. You still aren't sleeping great, but Dr. G told me I could give you 1/4 tsp of Benadryl  for all of your congestion and, HALLELUJAH!!!!, you have been sleeping for 5 or 6 hours at a time!!!! Now, I will not continue to give the Benadryl to you unless you need it, but those long stretches of sleep have been heavenly! You are eating pretty much 3 meals a day. Usually oatmeal for breakfast, fruit for lunch and veggies and meat for dinner. You like it all ok, but I don't think you are a great eater. You look like you eat a lot more than you actually do! You still nurse pretty often, and that is ok with me. You aren't very consistent with your naps either, but usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon. One is usually short and the other long, but it just varies which way it goes. You are really good about going with the flow. A lot of the time, your naps get pushed due to activities, so the inconsistency is probably my fault. Everyone thinks you are just the happiest little guy, and most of the time you are. I love that about you. You smile at pretty much everyone you meet. You are growing so quickly and I see an ornery little boy when I look at you, more than a sweet little baby. Although, you will always be my baby. Happy 9 months, Bowen Barrett!

Perfect day for a PICNIC!

We were blessed this Spring Break with beyond beautiful weather. We didn't do much, but we decided to have a picnic and feed the ducks one day. We got Chick-Fil-A to eat, with a milkshake!, and went to the park. Crockett made sure we remembered to bring a blanket to sit on. He was soooo excited! We parked it under a tree and ate our lunch. Bowen is a bit mobile now and fell asleep in the car, so I left him in the infant carrier. Do you have any idea how heavy that thing was?!?!? After lunch, we got our duck bread and went to feed the ducks. They weren't too hungry, but Crockett didn't care. He had a great time throwing the bread in the water. Bowen just loved being outside and watching his big brother. We had a great time. I just love love love spending time with my sweet boys.

Happy Birthday LuLu!

March 5th is Lulu's birthday. We usually do dinner and cake, but since she had to work yesterday, we had to do things a little differently this year. On Monday, we went to lunch at Sugarbaker's, our favorite birthday celebration spot. It was yummy, as always, but just a little chaotic with 5 little boys and 3 adults. I think everyone there thought we were a little crazy... and we were by the time we left! The boys all LOVE their Lulu, though, and we couldn't celebrate her without them!! On her real birthday, we all met at the Pie Bar to hang out and eat some YUMMY pie! The boys were very excited to see Lulu and Papaw. John even showed up and got to hang out for a few minutes! Bowen really loved his first taste of pie... Not that it surprised any of us! He screamed when Mon stopped feeding him. He is such a mess. 

We are so lucky to have such a special Lulu. Happy Birthday! We love you sooooo much!!

SOCCER STAR!

Last night was a very EXCITING night at our house! Crockett had his 1st soccer practice! He has been waiting, very impatiently, to be able to go play. We had a parent meeting last weekend to meet the coach and his team, and he left in tears because he didn't get to play then. He is on Galaxy and there are 8 little boys. They all had a great time running around and kicking "Dino", the ball. The great thing about this soccer program is that it is a teaching program. They use "Dino" and stories about "Dino" at every practice, to teach them how to play. It is pretty structured, although, I think that will be the only thing that is. The boys were all over the place, some were faster than the others. But they all had a great time and a huge smile on their face. I hope that is how the whole season is... with a few goals here and there :) Can't wait until the 1st game!! GO GALAXY!