Gram and Jill to the Rescue!

So I get this flyer in the boys' folders last week about the Kindergarten Gingerbread House Making Party and it explains that the kids will need a parent to help.  The catch?...2:00 in the afternoon.  I immediately feel like loser because I'm a teacher.  I'm a working mom.  I'm not available to build Gingerbread houses at 2:00 in the afternoon on Thursday.  Ugh. Most of the time I can get my classes covered or take a half day off, but it's one week before semester exams...that's pressure at school.  My heart was torn.  I was sad to miss out on this activity with my boys but sometimes it's just not about me.  So how could I make sure this day was special for N and J?  I called in the troops...some of their most favorite people!  My parents were booked that day because my dad had a medical procedure...praising God that went smoothly and he's on the mend.  Gram and Jill came to the rescue!  Jill is my lifelong friend of 25 years and she just happens to teach at the boys school.

She was able to get her class covered and help Tot with his gingerbread house. 

Gram sacrificed her afternoon to help JP.  

The boys were tickled and felt super special!  That's what matters.  I'm so thankful for friends and family that can jump in to help our crazy family. 

And I have to add that the gingerbread houses digressed from here...when I got home N showed me the "bloody gingerbread man" on the roof of his house...

I was totally appalled and disturbed.  I told the boys there was no blood on gingerbread houses.  Gingerbread houses are fun and full of candy and happy and sweet and I went on and on.  When Bryan came home, I pulled him aside and told him how disturbed I was about the bloody gingerbread men.  He looked at me like I was a crazy lady with a chicken on my head.  He said, "They are five year old boys.  That's what boys do."  Oh goodness.  Will I ever be able to adjust to boys?!!?!!!  Atleast I am learning to find the humor in fart noises.  

It's Fall Ya'll!

We got back from Disney World and I had a about 24 hours to wash 13 loads of clothes, totally unpack and get ready for the week.  We paused our chores for a little while Sunday afternoon to play in the leaves!  

We were wearing shorts yesterday and today the high temperature was 40 degrees.  Such is the life of a Texan.

Pest Problem

We have a couple of pests that we can't keep out of the pantry! But you have to admit, that is one cute little mouse!

Operation Christmas Child

For the past decade Becca and I have participated in Operation Christmas Child. This is an amazing ministry and a very easy way to spread the Good News and give hope to children from all corners of the globe that have very little. We decided that the boys were old enough to help this year and it was fun to make them apart of this tradition. We had a good conversation about why we were filling the shoe boxes for kids we did not know and how lucky we were to have so much. We thanked God for our family and everything He provides and then we headed into the store to fill our boxes. I told the boys that their boxes would go to a boy somewhere in the world that was their same age so they should pick out things that they would like and that someone would need. They took this very seriously but of course they are still 5 year old boys and I did have to veto a few items from the box. A few of the items that I had to reject were: silly string, a cell phone case, plastic nun chucks, a decorative piece of fruit, and novelty Hill-Billy-Teeth! We came home, packed our boxes, and finished the night off with some hot chocolate. For more information on Operation Christmas Child or Compassion International click the links below.

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

http://www.compassion.com/

Are you ready for some football?!

Football is a big deal in our house. We all love it. We especially love cheering for our beloved Baylor Bears! Jordan and Nathan are enamored with Baylor football and will often have lively debates about who is going to be Bryce Petty and who is going to be Shock Linwood or Shawn Oakman while running plays in the front yard. We recently signed the boys up to play flag football in an Upward league. This is a fabulous Christian organization that promotes athletic competition while also focusing on Christ. The boys had to memorize a scripture verse during the first week and recite it to their coach at practice. Both boys memorized it easily and were very proud of themselves. The verse was about how two are better than one and how they can overcome more together. Nathan confidently quoted his verse and then proudly recited the reference as "August 4:9!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

We had a VERY cold game this past Saturday but the boys didn't seem to mind at all. Jordan and Nathan both had long runs for touchdowns during the game. Like most everything else in their lives Jordan is extremely focused and serious while Nathan laughs, gives the official hugs, forgets if he's on offense or defense, and even interacts with the crowd! How are these two guys brothers and best buds???? Jordan wants to be Bryce Petty and Nathan always volunteers to be the center because no one else wants to. These boys are so different! Becca and I love their unique personalities but ultimately our prayer for their lives is that they will grow into Godly men who reflect the love of Jesus Christ. As a father, I pray that they will always defend each other, hold each other accountable, and sharpen each other-as iron sharpens iron.

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion."   --Ecclesiastes 4:9

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."   --Proverbs 27:17

Jordan (QB) having a disagreement with the center (Nathan) about the snap count!

Mr. I NEVER Smile During Competition

Nathan psyching out the offense...one of his defensive strategies is to mess up the opposing centers hair and/or remove their hat! (which he usually followed up with a hug) 

Nathan going in for the tackle! 

Brothers

Jordan on his way to a 75 yard TD run!!!

Why aren't you sleepy?

As if our bedtime routine isn't exhausting and crazy enough, sometimes Harper insist on crawling into Carson’s crib for a little extra playtime! 

Mr. Crazy Pants....

Well, this might explain why Harper’s doll stroller keeps breaking! I walked in the living room and found him watching tv like this. This little dude is a riot.

Gram discovered that Carson had made his own table and chair this week by turning a couple of buckets upside down! Check out that spoon! Love this kid. I’m sure his peaceful dinner for one was shortly interrupted by his sweet little sister soon after this picture!

Let's go GATORS!!!

Jordan and Nathan officially have another baseball season in the books! After sitting out a season, Nathan decided to give baseball another shot. They were able to play with the same coach and group of boys. The Gator’s had a great season and it has been fun to see the boys improve. This season was the first time for the

boys to have coach pitch. Nathan received the game all early in the season when he hit a nice single off the pitch. Jordan finally got two hits in the very last game of the season and received his game ball! Nathan also continued his tradition of entertaining the crowd while playing catcher this season (despite the numerous times Becca asked him not to talk to the crowd J) The true MVP was Becca who had to chase Harper and Carson around at every game this season (with the help of Gram, Papa, Meme, and Grandad of course)! Carson already mimics most of what his big brothers do and baseball is no exception. He wears a ball cap and glove around in the house and can chunk a ball half way across the playroom. Harper, who couldn’t care less about sports, enjoys the snacks and an occasional nap at games. She loved to wonder over to the player circle at the conclusion of each game so she could snag a snack from some poor unsuspecting player! But who could ever get mad at that precious girl?!