Stepping Out and Falling Down...

OK, so the "stepping out" is Jason and I on Friday night. We were invited to sit at a friends table at a benefit for Susan G. Komen. It was fun to dress up and go out for a change. We went to a place that overlooked Dallas and it was so pretty lit up at night. Lucky for me, my friend had a really cute maternity dressy outfit that was perfect for the event!
So.......Falling down is Jackson!! He went to an ice skating party this weekend and ice skated for the first time. His whole baseball team was there and they had a great time. I cannot believe that I didn't get a picture of Jackson falling because it was quite frequent. I couldn't help myself but laugh because he looked like a rag doll out there. He didn't seem to mind because he had a smile on his face the whole time and keeps saying how much fun it was.
While we were at the party, Jason and Drew went to Lunar golf. It's an indoor putt putt course where it's pitch black and everything glows. What a fun weekend for everyone!

FUN RUN!

This morning was the "Fun Run" at Jackson's school. Instead of selling wrapping paper or candy this year, the kids had to get pledges for their run. Jackson was super excited and called all the grandparents and aunts and uncles for their support!
Jackson and his friend, Jack, kept pace together a few times around the track. Then, everyone was going at different paces. The kids could stop at the water table and get water--just like a real marathon!!
Each time they went across the finish line, they got a mark on the back of their shirt which told how many laps you had run.......the most laps you could run was 35.
Drew was there to support Jackson and all of his friends and one time yelled to me, "Mom, I just saw your son!" He loved seeing all the kids and cannot wait until next year when he will be able to run.
Here is Jackson with his friend from his baseball team, Justin. Let me tell you.....all of the boys were pretty competitive, almost running the whole time! The announcers were encouraging the kids to walk a lap and run a lap, etc....Jackson was sweating so much! Guess what, he was determined to run all 35 laps and he did!! He was so proud of himself and can't wait to call all the people who pledged to tell them how many laps he ran! Maybe he can run the NYC Marathon with the other marathoners in the family....Papa and Auntie A :)

Fall Ball

Fall ball has begun for Jackson. This is his 5th season with this team and these boys have all grown together. It is so fun to watch them now. Here is Drew hanging out in the stands---he has a whole posse' that he hangs with at the games.
Jackson is really getting to be a good hitter. He used to say that he wanted to be a scientist when he grew up, but now he says he wants to be a baseball player or a basketball player (sorry Grandpa!!)
His team, The Rockhounds, won 20-0......can you believe that? I will say they are pretty good, but I think they also won that big because of the other teams errors. The coaches had to talk to the boys afterwards about being good sports because the boys were flying high--they thought they were hot stuff. In the end, Jackson got the game ball for his great hits in the game. He also got a pack of baseball cards and was super excited that Josh Hamilton was in the pack. It made his night!!

Fall has begun

Drew has been especially excited to start soccer this fall. Jason is the coach and Drew loves it! He has especially enjoyed wearing his shinguards which he keeps calling "numchucks"....I don't know why.
The Wizards had their first game on Saturday and Drew scored a goal!! He was very excited and ran across the field to give me a big hug right after he scored...it was so sweet.
Jason is trying to give the team a pep talk because they were a little confused out there. As Drew said..."The other team crushed us" Well, he was right. I think the score was 9-3...that was my own calculation in my head because we're not supposed to keep score. The boys had a great time though.
Today was Drew's first day of school. This is his third year at this school and he loves it as much as I do. When we were walking in, all the teachers were saying hello to him and he just waved like he was the star of the show.
He walked in confidently and sat right down and started to work. He is such a happy, sweet kid. He'll have a great year!

If the shoe fits.........

Look closely.......the lighting is bad, but if you look close enough you will see two feet wearing different shoes. Who would do that? Is that a joke? Sadly.....no. Those are my feet last night at my birthday dinner with my girlfriends! I have to say that many of us had challenges getting to the dinner last night (someone forgot their baby, someone's kid was at acute care, and I had to bring Drew with me to the restaurant in his pajamas for 30 min.!) Needless to say, we all made it. Halfway thru dinner, I noticed my shoes felt different, so I just glanced down at my feet and that's when I saw the major fashion faux paux!!! What can I blame it on? My 6 month pregnant stomach that prevents me from seeing my feet? Yes....that is what I am going to blame it on!! I still can't believe I did that, but if the shoe fits.......

First Day Jitters....

I have to be honest.....it wasn't the greatest morning. We were not anticipating Jackson's reaction this morning. He was NOT excited for school. He thinks first grade is going to be "boring." I know that he was nervous and didn't know how to put that into words, so it came out as "boring!" I did manage to get this shot of him with a semi-smile :)
When we walked to school, he lightened up a little as we saw all the other kids walking and saw kids that he knew.
I'm so thankful that one of his best buddies, Jack, is in his class this year and they sat right next to each other!! I know he will be fine. Especially since I had to bribe him with a Sonic treat after school---please, I was trying anything this morning to get him up and going and Sonic was what won out! Great parenting, huh?? Oh well, a cherry limeade sounds good to me too :)

This and That.....

I could do another 20 postings about Disney, but I think it would scare you all away!! So, I've just added a few random pictures from the summer.
Jackson has gotten into reading the sports page in the morning. He checks the Rangers scores, looks at the pictures, and lately has been checking out the Olympics coverage. Especially to see what Michael Phelps has been up to. Can he be any more like his dad?
We have had a lot of playdates this summer as well. Here is Jackson and one of his best buddies, Jack. They came downstairs in these get-ups and guess who was the "robber" they were trying to catch? Drew. Poor Drew. They had him running all over and were handcuffing him and taking him to jail. He didn't seem to mind though :)
Speaking of Drew....he loves to volunteer for things. If we are ever anywhere and they ask for a volunteer, his hand goes up in a flash. All summer, we went to these shows at the library and every show, he volunteered but never got picked. He was always bummed and would sometimes hold his hand up starting at the beginning of the show when they hadn't even asked for volunteers yet. Anyways, the last show of the summer and he got picked!! He got to hold a roll of toilet paper and was so excited! I'm so glad his summer can be complete with his volunteering dream coming true :)

Disney, Part 2

The boys were fearless when it came to rides. They rode every roller coaster that they could and loved it! I think I have some wildmen on my hands!
At Epcot, we ate at the German restaurant and here are Auntie A and Drew doing their version of the polka!
We spent a lot of time on the bus going from our hotel to a park to another park, etc.....it was great because the buses take you right to the front of the park and you don't have to worry about car seats!
The boys checking out the Viking hats afrer the Norwegian ride....
We had breakfast with the characters which is definitely the way to go. That way, you knock all the characters out in one shot and don't have to wait in line at the parks. The boys loved this! It was so fun to see how magical everything was to them.

We're back from our Disney Bubble.....

Waiting in line at the Haunted Mansion...they don't look too scared!
Drew with Ben, Amanda's fiancee' hanging out in line

The Triceratops ride--one of the few rides I could ride!! WooHoo!!

Everything is different when you're at Disneyworld.......everyone is so nice and friendly, there is no laundry to do, you eat out almost every meal, and you feel like a kid again!!! We just returned from a fabulous trip to Disney and we all had a great time. Here are a few pitures.....WARNING....I will be doing a couple of posts of pictures :)

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Well, we have had a LONG day!! We were very excited to hear that we were having a girl this morning! As the doctor checked her out, everything looked great but there was a tiny "flap" flapping around in one of the chambers of her heart. He didn't know what it was, so he referred us to a pediatric cardiologist and we headed off to Dallas because they fit us right it (we didn't like the sound of that!) When we got there, he had just been called to the ER, so they told us to walk around the hospital for 45 minutes.....Finally, they called us back in and after all of that.......everything looks fine! We were so relieved. Apparently, when the chambers of the heart form, tendons stretch out and there was this lone tendon flapping around. He said that it will dissapear and the blood flow to and from the heart was perfect. No need to worry.
So.....with all that said, yes, we are having a girl and it is going to be so weird around here. Jackson says he never wants to play teaparty or dolls and Drew says he will play "just once." I have a feeling she will be ruling the roost in a few years! Thanks for all your prayers today....we are so grateful!

A night with the girls....(minus one)

Last night, my infamous brunch group went out for a night on the town!! We were missing one girl (Renee'), but she was with us in spirit!! We ventured down to Dallas and ate at Breadwinners (sooooo yummy) and we didn't have to cut anyone else's food but our own!! Then, we headed out to see Jersey Boys at Fair Park. It was so much fun--we all loved it! We didn't get home until almost midnight--I know....pretty wild and crazy!! For us, it was :)

A BIG week!

A BIIIGGG week for us!! On Thursday, we will find out if baby #3 is a boy or a girl. Stay tuned for the verdict....everyone is leaning towards a girl, but statistically speaking, we have a 75% chance of having another boy. We'll see!! We wouldn't know what to do with a girl!
Next, we are going to Disney for a week! I'm staying busy this week getting ready, doing laundry, and wondering what rides I will even be able to ride! I'm thinking not many. I'm just excited to watch the boys who are SOOO excited. It's one of those fun parenting moments that I plan to enjoy :)

The biggest Scooby Doo compliment!!

The boys love Scooby-Doo, especially Drew. He even had a Scooby-Doo party last year for his birthday and his love for Scoob is still going strong. Tonight, while I was talking with Jackson while he was going to bed he said, "Mom, it's weird because you and dad look like teenagers, but you're adults. You're like Daphne and dad's like Freddy!" Wow!! He compared us to the fashionable Daphne and the handsome Freddy! That was the biggest compliment I've had in a long time :)

When I find something cool, I have to pass it on.......

So, my friend told me about this site called www.blurb.com that will make your blog into a book! A real live hard back book!! So, I tried it. Since I started the blog in Jan. of 2007, I had a whole year under my belt. I went thru the tutorial and I just got my book. It is sooooo cool!! I love it!! I'm thinking that I am going to make a book each year. I gave up scrapbooking because it was becoming more a burden to me than a joy, so this is a great way for me to journal and have pictures along with it. Go check it out and if you start a blog......you better let me know!!

Ammendment to "Drew is the Sweetest"

So, right after I post about the sweet things that Drew has done and said.......This morning after church, we go to pick him up and one of the helpers (who is one of my friends) is cracking up at the door. She tells me that they were talking about families today and Drew raised his hand and said "Have you seen my mom? She's the one that's really fat!" I will say that my friend said....."because she's having a baby, right?" Just to clarify......All the teachers got a good laugh at that one. Oh, Drew.......

Drew is the sweetest....

Two funny and sweet stories from Drew......

1. We dropped Jackson off at a birthday party near the mall, so Drew and I decided to walk around while we were waiting for the party. We got a smoothie and were walking and Drew said, "Mom, hold my arm like a gentleman." Then, he held out his elbow (like you do when you walk down the aisle) and I had to link my arm thru it and walk practically lopsided thru-out the whole mall. If I would try to stand up straignt, he was offended. It was cracking me up.

2. We were in the car and Jackson started asking me about homeless people. What they ate, where they went to the bathroom, where they sleep, etc.......Drew was listening to the whole thing and piped up and said that he didn't ever want to be homeless. I told him that he would not be. He said that he never wanted to move out of our house because then he would be homeless. I tried to tell him that when he moved out, he would be an adult and he would want to move out. He got tears in his eyes and said "But I love you and dad too much" So, with that, I said he could stay as long as he wants. He was happy then......guess he's not ready for the real world!! I hope I don't have to eat my words in about 15 years :) So cute...

Summer Camps

Both the boys had summer camps this week. Drew did a soccer, basketball, and baseball camp which he loved.
He learned a lot of new games, but his highlight of the week was that he "beat a 6 year old 2 times!!" He was very impressed with this!
On the last day, the coach told me that all week, Drew had been asking him if he liked the Jayhawks or Rangers better. He said that he told him that our family all liked the Jayhawks and told him all about it. He thought it was pretty funny.
Jackson had a great week on the golf course. Check out all the kids that they pile in the golf carts.....I tried not to notice the dangers of that too much :)
Jackson played with his buddies, Kyle and Powell. They got to go all over the course playing different holes every day. But, one of his highlights was getting to eat lunch in the clubhouse everyday! Both boys had a great week. In a couple of weeks, they will go to Dr. Suess Art Camp which they are excited about too. That will be totally different than the sports camps and may not provide lunch in the clubhouse, but I'm sure they will have a wonderful time!

Move over Michael Jordan.....

We have a budding basketball player at our house. Ever since the Jayhawks won the championship, Jackson has taken a major interest in basketball. When he was in school, he would hurry and eat his breakfast and then go outside and shoot before school. He's even had a few meltdowns because we wouldn't let him go out and shoot because it was dark outside or raining!
This kid has a passion for basketball which pleases his dad, as you can imagine. I hear Jackson pretending to be a player that is getting his named announced by the announcer and he runs on to the court. I guess this is what boys do......If you're a girl, we stand in front of a mirror and pretend to be the latest and greatest pop star. So, I guess I'm glad he's acting like a boy.
We have a little hoop for Drew, so he goes out there and shoots alongside him. He doesn't seem to have the passion though. Jackson will stay out there in 100 degree heat and shoot. Drew is more like me...we like to be inside when it's too hot. We watch from the window :)

Happy 4th of July!!

We had a busy, hot, and fun 4th of July weekend!!
The boys decorated their bikes so they could be in the Flower Mound parade. We got candy for them to throw to the kids and they were ready to go!
Here is Jackson carefully throwing candy to some kids...trying not to hit anyone.
After the parade, they had jumphouses, music, and free hot dogs!! We left there sweaty and happy :)