Big Boy Bowen!!

Bowen got to start school the day after Crockett! He is going to PDO twice a week, and although he might not be thrilled about it when the time comes, I really think he will have a great time! I remember when Crockett started school and he seemed so much older than Bowen for some reason. He wasn't. My baby isn't a baby anymore :( He was so EXCITED and looked so cute with his backpack on, just like Big Brother's!! Bowen got to take a lunch and a nap mat (which they said he napped on, amazingly!) and just seemed so grown up. He had a few tears as I handed him off (tore him off my shirt :) which made it slightly hard, but he had already quit crying when I went back to check on him 5 minutes later. I am so excited to see all the ways he grows over the next few months.

Happy Birthday, Chris!!

Crockett's first day of school just so happened to fall on Chris' birthday! I am about 9 months older than Chris, but for some reason he seems to be much more sensitive about his age :) I think things just seem to keep getting better, and age is just a number.... although, I may not feel the same way in a couple years! This year I surprised (kind of) Chris with front-row tickets to see Don Williams. You may or may not know who he is, and I didn't before I married Chris, but we are BIG fans. So on the night before his actual birthday, we had a date night. We showed up with the rest of the over-70 population for the concert! We were both dying laughing :) We did end up seeing a few younger people, and really, Chris is kind of an old soul anyways, so we fit in just fine. Don Williams was AMAZING! We both loved every second of it.... nothing but great songs. One of the best, most simple, only-about-the-music, concerts I have ever been to. It was a really wonderful way to celebrate my love. 

The next day, September 3rd, we had the Curry's and Lewis' over for a birthday feast! I cooked chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes and Mon brought a delicious squash casseroles! It was delicious! Chris got his favorite meal and then we had a bundt cake and ice cream. Yum! Thank goodness this only happens once a year. I am not sure our waistlines could handle it more than that :) It was totally worth it, though, and I wouldn't have it any other way for my favorite cowboy! I hope this year is your (our) best yet! I love you more than I can ever say. You have blessed my life in ways I never imagined. You are the only person I can imagine growing old with, and I look foward to celebrating many, many more birthdays with you!

Back to School!!!!

I think we were ALL so excited about going back to school! All of Crockett's cousins and friends had already started, so no one was around to play, so it was just that much easier to go back. Crockett was very excited to have Mrs. Holder this year for Pre-K. He has several of his buddies from last year in his class, so that made it even better! He is in the TIGER class and even learned how to sign 'tiger' on the first day! His class is 5 days a week, which will be an adjustment, but I know he is going to learn so much. We are so proud of the smart, creative, imaginative boy he has become and can't wait to see what this year holds for him!!

MY BOYS

My sweet boys are growing up right in front of my eyes. The summer days seemed to go by soooo slowly (don't get me wrong, I love spending my days with both of them, but by August we are ALL ready for a small break from each other!!) but the years are flying by. My sweet long-time friend, Hayly, captured them, at this moment, for me. They both melt my heart with their blue eyes, sweet smiles and love for each other. I could not love them more. My cup runeth over <3 p="">

I wanna be a COWBOY

Crockett has always been my little cowboy. He loves wearing boots, a belt, jeans and a cowboy hat just like his daddy. He loves looking at tractor magazines, feeding the cows and riding in the back of daddy's pickup. He is just Chris, about 29 years ago. And I LOVE that. He has been dying to go to a rodeo lately, so when the Post Stampede Rodeo was going on, Chris just knew he had to take him. He got all dressed up and was SO excited to be going. Crockett decided he wanted to do the Calf Scramble, so Chris lifted him over the stands and he ran out there like he knew exactly what he was doing. Neither one of us could believe he just ran out there like he did, but I think he was just in his element. He didn't get it, but he did get pretty close to a calf! He loved the "buckin' bulls" and had to go elbow his way to the front row to get a real good look at those bulls. That little cowboy makes my heart so happy :) Love the bond these two have. What a fun 1st Rodeo!!

T-Ball Party Time!!

To celebrate the end of the t-ball season and all the awesome Yankee players, the coaches had a skating party for the team! It was such a fun way to end the season and let all of the kids know how proud we were of them. We all went to the oldest skating rink in Lubbock. Literally, all the parents were talking about how WE had our parties there when we were kids!! SO funny :) Crockett had never skated before and although he didn't stick with it for very long, he did really good! They had all kinds of scooters and cars for the babies too! It was such a good time. We all had hot dogs and cake. The works.  We were so blessed to be on such a great team our first year. Crockett loved Coach Juan and Coach Javier and they were so sweet to him. They both exhibited such patience, love, kindness and pride for all of the players. What a fun way to end the season!!

Yankees!!!

It is hard to believe our t-ball season went by so quickly! I thought it was going to last forever, but just like everything else, it FLEW by!! We had such a great group of kids and coaches. We were blessed to be on this Yankees team. Crockett loved it and learned so much. He made lots of friends and can't wait to play with them again next year. At the last game, after they played, each player got a trophy. It was definitely a highlight of the summer :) We are so proud of our little Yankee and can't wait to see him play again next year!!

Swimming!

Since Crockett took swimming lessons earlier in the summer, it only seemed fair that Bowen get to take some lessons too! So, he and I signed up for mommy and me classes at Tech, along with our friends, Hayly and Coy. It was fun, although I am not sure how much they "learned". We got to sing songs and blow bubbles and jump in the water. I even dunked him a few times! He was not amused. Bowen had a great time splashing and playing around and finally figured out how to blow bubbles! He was so proud of himself! On the last day of class, we all got to swim. Crockett played with Grace the whole time and went round and around the lazy river. We had a great time playing with the Hext's for two weeks! I hope we can do it again next summer!!

Braidy turns 5!!!!

It is so hard to believe that one of my very favorite little boys is now 5, and not really that little anymore :( Braidy Spencer turned 5 on July 10 and we were SO excited to help celebrate!!! We began the day with our traditional donuts! I think it was breakfast #2 for him, but you can't start a BIRTHDAY without donuts!! We all sang Happy Birthday and let him blow out the candles. It was a great start to a very special day! After a little playtime, we all went home to get ready for Braidy's special lunch. He could pick ANYWHERE he wanted and, it was no surprise to us, but he wanted Bless Your Heart! This kid LOVES fruit. (I think he has eaten entire watermelons at my house before) And Bless Your Heart has fruit... by the cup-full. He is in heaven :) Such a funny kid! After we all enjoyed our lunch, and Braidy had his fill of fruit, Mon took all of the big boys to go see Despicable Me 2.

That evening Braidy had a PIRATE party! He had been telling me about his PIRATE party since Crockett's birthday, and he never wavered on what he wanted :) It was so much fun!! The kids got to go on a treasure hunt and found treasure, tattoos and a piñata! Everyone had a great time. Braidy got lots of great "treasures" for his birthday. We got him a cowboy hat and some spurs and a "Braidy" chair, Lulu got him some new boots, he got TONS of toys and a NEW BIKE! I would say that was a wonderful way to celebrate turning 5!!

Happy 5th Birthday to my smart, ornery, sweet, silly, playful, funny nephew Braidy!! We love you so much and had so much fun celebrating YOU!!