Weekend Recap

Sean's dad (a.k.a. Papa John) and Sandra live in Annapolis, Maryland and came in town to visit. It was so wonderful having them here! I just wish they lived closer. They arrived on Thursday night and we went to Bandito's, one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants, for dinner. Even though it was 7:30 p.m. the boys were so good! James is always good when we go to restaurants but Michael is at an age where I usually end up wishing we had stayed home! I remember James acting the same way when he was the age Michael is now. We stopped eating out for a few months then decided to try again. I remember we went to Chili's for lunch and James sat at the table the entire time and was so well-behaved. It was a huge turning point. He was 2 1/2 and from then on we could take him to any restaurant and he was fine. Back to the visit.

On Friday James spent the day with Papa John and Sandra at their hotel while Sean went to work and I went to school. Michael went to Brookhaven for the day so James could have some one-on-one time. He had the best time! Sandra and James rode up and down the glass elevator, went swimming in the indoor pool, watched the airplanes land at Love Field from their hotel room window, and went shopping at Target! They had a busy day! Sean picked up Simon and Ellie in Waco that afternoon and we all came back to the house and had a wonderful dinner.

On Saturday morning we were up bright and early for James' 8:00 a.m. soccer game. It was here I finally started taking pictures to document the weekend!

I love watching James play soccer!

He took one down on the way to the goal but the little boy was just fine. The other team was very aggressive and notice it was 4 against 1!

Papa John, Sandra, & James

One of my favorite soccer pictures

Papa John & Michael

After the game we went to brunch and then to Lowe's where all 4 kids got to build a "Goulbus". The Build and Grow program is great and it's free! Lowe's has this program once a month? where the kids come in and build something. James has built a little firetruck one other time. The kids got aprons, little hammers & nails, and a kit with a school bus and stickers to put together. We all had fun! Sandra took pictures with her phone (since I left mine in the car) while I helped James build his school bus.

Saturday afternoon we took naps and started to watch the TX/OU game. We eventually turned it off because poor TX did not do well! We grilled out hamburgers for dinner and the kids played outside. We had another fun night!

Sunday morning we all went to church then came home so the boys could nap. On Sunday afternoon we headed to the Zoo. We have a family pass and now that the weather is nice we will be going more often! The kids love it. The picture below is really sweet. Simon read to Michael before his nap time, without me asking. I walked into our room and that is what I found.

I think James is trying to pose with his crossed arms?

Now they both have their arms crossed, ha!

Love this one of Michael looking at the lion

Still watching the lion

Waving to the giraffes

James had fun feeding the goats

Playing on the playground

Checking out the tiger

On our way walking to the exit of the Zoo, Michael found a butterfly bench he was fascinated with and played peek-a-book with me. I absolutely love these pictures!

Flying like a butterfly

Boo mama. LOVE this sweet face!



We were all tired after the Zoo but had fun. Sean took Simon and Ellie home to Waco and John & Sandra helped me get the boys settled down and ready for bed. We had a wonderful weekend! Papa John & Sandra stayed until lunch time this afternoon but this post is long enough so I will write a new post with pictures from Monday and Tuesday!

First Soccer Game

We had been talking about signing James up for soccer this fall and finally found a league on Wednesday and signed him up! Late registration is the entire month of September but we were just in time. We got an email from the coach on Thursday morning saying he knew it was short notice but James' team had practice on Thursday evening and the first game on Saturday! We went to Dick's Sporting Goods on Thursday afternoon and bought James cleats, shin guards, socks, and black shorts. He is on Team Juventus (named after an Italian team, they are teaching the kids that soccer is an international sport) in the Lake Highlands Youth Soccer Association. We went to the first practice and all of the 3-4 year old little boys running around trying to play were too cute.

The first game was today. Team Juventus won 9-1 and James scored 5 goals!!! They don't actually keep score but I did since James was making so many goals. Coach Chris said he is a natural and can tell he has the bug. Coach was right. James LOVED playing in the game today and is already asking when he gets to play again. We have a game almost every Saturday until the beginning of November. We love that James is learning about sports and being part of a team. We were proud parents today and know that this will be the first of many games for both of our boys! I had to chase Michael and get him off the field 4 times during the game. He also had to hold a ball while sitting in the chair cheering on his brother!

Pep talk before the game

Dribbling and shooting

Our little soccer player



Go #9!



JPG

Go James Go!

Love his determination



Practicing with Daddy



Michael and his signature move-running while shrugging his little shoulders! :)





 



Brave

James had been begging me all summer to take him to see the movie, Brave. He had never been to a movie before and I heard the story line was a little complex so I was hesitant to take him. Sean and James went to Waco last Saturday to spend the day with Simon and Ellie and they saw Madagasgar 3. Sean said James did great at the movies so I knew I wanted to take him to see Brave before it was out of the theaters.

Saturday we had a mommy/son date to the movies! We bought popcorn, drinks, and sat down in our seats. James was an absolute angel and only had to go to the restroom once. It was perfect timing because we left during the part that we had watched as a preview online earlier that morning. James loved the movie and even re-told the the whole story to me on the way home. There was one part that was a little scary and during the movie there were kids around us that covered their eyes. James looked at me with a big smile on his face and whispered, "Mommy, I'm not scared". We had the best time and I loved spending one-on-one time with my big boy!

19 Months Old

Dear Michael,

You are 19 months old today! We spent the last week in Red River, N.M. with Mommy's side of the family celebrating Papa's 70th birthday and got back last weekend. There were 22 of us that went in all and we had the best time. You had so much fun playing with your cousins and running around outdoors. You LOVE being outside! The picture above makes me laugh. It is the bear that is on the porch outside of Grandma-ma and Papa's townhouse in Red River. You loved to hug and kiss the bear, and say hi everytime you walked by it. I will post pictures of Red River soon. Mommy was in staff development all last week and is now getting ready for her first day of school at a new school on Wednesday!

Mommy is still teaching but at a private school now working part-time. I could not be happier! Mommy is going to be working on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and home with you and your brother on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For me, it is the best of both worlds! I get to teach but I am a stay-at-home mom too. You and James will still go to Brookhaven but only three days a week. You will still be in Ms. Deb's class in Toddler 1 and we are so thankful for the flexibility of BCDC, letting us put you and your brother in part-time.

So Michael Scott what else are you up to at 19 months old???

You are 34 inches tall and weigh 26 1/2 pounds. This is accurate because we had to go to the doctor earlier this month for a fever you had. The fever lasted three days then you broke out in a rash. It turns out that is perfectly normal I just didn't know the rash was normal after a fever. While we were at Dr. McClard's the nurse weighed and measured you. Your official 18 month appointment is at the end of September (when you will be 20 months. You have a popular doctor who books up fast!) so I will have the percentages then but I looked back on the blog and found James' stats at 18 months old. He was 34 inches tall (95th percentile) and 27 pounds (75th percentile) at his 18 month appointment. You are exactly the same height and half a pound less than James was at 18 months old!

You wear a size 2T shirt now and 18 month shorts. You have a few 2T shorts with adjustable waists that fit.

You wear a size 4 diaper still and you moved up to a size 6 shoe.

You have 11 teeth now put I think that front bottom incisor tooth is finally about to come through!

You eat just about anything we give you but love fruit, yogurt, spaghetti, chicken, and "fench fies". You would eat "fench fies" every meal if we would let you!

Your vocabulary is amazing. You talk all the time and now repeat anything we say!

You can sing your ABC's with help from Mommy or Daddy and you know almost all of your colors.

You love to read books and do puzzles.

You LOVE to dance and anytime music is on you entertain us.

You want to do everything your big brother does so Mommy has had to talk to James about the big responsibility he has of setting a good example for you. That's a hard concept at 3 years old but he is doing a great job.

You love our dogs Chloe and Coco. Everytime we walk in the house you say, "Hi Chloe! Hi Coco!" Your brother called them Poey and Toto for the longest time so I am surprised you already say their names correctly.

You also love to help feed Chloe and Coco. Sometimes I catch you feeding them when they have already eaten and food is everywhere. They don't mind cleaning it up!

You LOVE Toy Story right now. You wake up saying, "Buzz Buzz Buzz" because you want to watch Toy Story. We have all three Toy Story's on rotation but the second one seems to be your favorite. You really love Jesse too. You have Toy Story figurines and carry around Jesse with you.

These first 19 months have flown by and you are going to be two years old before I know it! I can't wait to see what you are up to this next month. I love you soooooooo much!

Love,

Mommy

Brotherly Love

Sean takes the boys to school in the mornings and always texts me a picture from in the car or going into school because I miss my boys in the mornings when I am working. They did go to school Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Fridays all summer. Today he texted me the picture below. Sean said he didn't tell James to put his arm around Michael and James is also holding Michael's sippy cup for him. I think it is too cute!

Then a few days ago I caught another sweet moment on camera (what would we do without our cameras on our phones?) when the boys were playing together at home.





Since the boys are only 21 months apart I worry that they might be competing for our attention or fighting all the time. I want so much for them to be best friends. It's moments like these that make me realize they really do love each other!

New Friend

Sean met us for lunch at Chick Fila today. After we ate, I took Michael to the restroom for a diaper change and during that time James made a new friend! I am so glad Sean took a picture with his phone because I think this is too cute. James LOVES policmen and motorcycles so he thought a policeman that rides a motorcycle was just about the coolest thing he had ever seen!

This Boy Makes Me Laugh

I wish I could accurately put into words how funny Michael really is. We laugh at him all the time! When my mom comes over we are usually in tears half the time from laughing so hard. She constantly says that I am going to be "entertained for the rest of my life!".

This morning Michael insisted on wearing his Daddy's golf hat while he ate his yogurt for breakfast. He threw a fit saying, "hat, hat, hat!" until I put it on him then he smiled so big.

Michael also likes to "hide". He thinks he is hiding but we can always still see him. He is at the age were he thinks if he can't see us then we can't see him!

In his favorite hiding spot-the curtains!

Hiding before bath time. He really thought I couldn't see him!

That sweet smile melts my heart every time and those dimples? Oh my, I don't know where they came from because neither Sean nor I have dimples but I just love them!

18 months old



My favorite-I was holding you and you were looking at the Koi fish



Grandma-ma thinks you look very Presedential here





You were a little unsure of the grass!





This is one of your many precious looks



Looking at the turtles and the Koi fish



This is how Mommy spends most of her time-chasing you!

Dear Michael,

You turned 18 months old on July 18th! Our favorite photographer, Sabrina Gebhardt, was having mini-sessions at Fort Worth Botanical Gardens a few days before, so we scheduled your 18 month pictures. Ellie went with us and Grandma-ma met us there, just like last year for your 6 month pictures! Poor Sabrina spent the entire time chasing you. You had no interest in her taking your picture. You loved looking at the turtles and the Koi fish but were a little scared when the Koi fish swam too close to the bridge. Sabrina is extremely talented because I was sure there was no way she got any good pictures because you were so busy!We had fun though. I have already scheduled family pictures for the holidays the beginning of November.

So Michael Scott, what else are you up to at 18 months old???

You are 34 inches tall and 26 pounds. I need to schedule your 18 month appointment with Dr. McClard and we will get your official stats and percentages.

You wear size 18-24 months shirts and 18 month shorts

You wear a size 4 diaper and size 5 shoe

You have11 teeth but the bottom far left incisor is still not in! You have your first year molars though. You don't have any of your top or bottom canines yet but they are supposed to come in at 18-20 months. You and your brother both seem to get your teeth a little later so we will see.

Your nickname is Linus because you have to sleep with your favorite Aden and Anais star blanket and Ella, the little blue lovie/elephant. As soon as you wake up you stand up in your crib, reach your arms up high to get out and say, "banket, Ella" then bend down and pick up your blanket and Ella so you can bring them with you. You then carry them around the house all morning until it is time to go to school. You have Puppy at school to sleep with at naptime but sometimes insist on bringing him home too.  

You are a wonderful eater and favorites are still pasta, fruit (especially berries), and chicken.

You are talking more and more every day. You say-mama, dada, buba (for James), Ella, banket, ball, bouh (book), app or app juice (for apple), nana (banana), toas (toast), pease (please), tank ooooh (thank you), wuv you (love you), and more as you sign more. You are starting to repeat what your brother says too!

You are going to Brookhaven on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are still in the Toddler 1 class.

You LOVE the pool and are a little fish! I can't wait to see how you are swimming by the end of summer. You have no fear and will jump right in!

We love you very much Michael and can't wait to see how you grow and change this next month. Below are my favorites from your 6 month session with Sabrina in the Botanical Gardens this time last year. Look how much you have grown!

I love those cheeks!

You had just started sitting up by yourself

So precious-how has it been a year already?

Love,

Mommy



Ellie

I went back through my files and found old pictures of Ellie's family birthday celebrations and made a collage. I also have a picture of her sitting in front of her cupcake at her 1st Birthday party (where I made the cupcakes) but it is not on this computer. I will have to scan it and post it or add to the collage! I can't believe she is 10 years old! Happy Birthday Ellie!

Happy 10th Birthday Ellie!



The Birthday Girl!




She loves her little brother!




That is James' silly face




Pretending to like each other ;-)




James & Daddy




Our sweet snuggle bug




Love him so much




Ellie helping me bake her cupcakes. She chose red velvet with cream cheese icing-yum!




James





The only picture of me. Please excuse the no makeup! We were at the pool earlier that afternoon!

 


I love this picture because it is rare I capture Sean's real smile! He happen to be laughing and I had my camera. He has braces right now so hopefully when he gets them off he will finally smile when I take his picture!




Laughing with her Daddy & 10 candles on her cupcake!




Happy Birthday Elle Belle!



This sweet boy was hyped up on sugar!




Opening her gifts




Need I say more?