Soccer season has begun!

This past Saturday, Brinley had her first soccer game of the season! We have the same coaches as last year (including Jason as assistant coach) and 4 players back from last years team. 
It was a hot, humid morning, but the season kicked off to a great start.  Brinley scored 1 goal.  She was very excited and ran off the field to give me hug and five. 

Brinley and her BFF's Addison and Halle

Brinley's first goal of the season

kicking the ball

Clayton enjoyed the game from the comforts of his own chair with water and soccer ball

The next two week are going to be crazy for us! We are in the process of packing to move to our new house! We are very excited and ready for more room to spread out! 

Zoo date with my lil man

On Monday, after dropping Brinley off at school, Clayton and I headed into the Houston Zoo for the morning.  We got there right when it opened and left after lunch.  We had the entire zoo to ourselves! We were able to watch the elephants get a bath and feed the giraffes. Clayton really enjoys not having to share mommy and we had a very hot, but very fun day!

yes, my son in having a conversation with the chimp

 Riding the lion on the carousel.  He was ROARing the entire time

 Oh no, the lion is going to eat me!!

 Feeding the giraffes was his favorite part of the zoo trip, at least that is what he told me!

First Day of Kindergarten

Last Monday was Brinley's first of Kindergarten.  She woke up super excited and pacing until we left to walk to school.  Jason went in late to work, so he could walk with us.  

 Clayton had to get in on picture taking too!

 My big girl walking to school

 Sitting at her desk in her classroom

 After we told Brinley goodbye, Clayton started crying and saying "I stay too".  He thought he was starting school that day too and was heartbroken he was leaving. I finally bribed him into the library where they were having a "Boo Hoo Breakfast" for kindergarten parents.  Donuts is the way to my lil man's heart!

Brinley had a great first week of school. She is making new friends and really enjoys going to PE, art and music.  She loves her teacher and is exhausted when she gets home in the evenings.  Clayton and I are enjoying our time together while she is at school. He does not miss her at all (I think he wishes he was an only child!)

Goodbye Summer

This is our last weekend of summer and we are sad and excited to see it go! Brinley will be starting Kindergarten on Monday and she can hardly contain herself! We met her teacher and saw her room Thursday night.  She was bouncing from excitement that not only was her class mostly girls (poor teacher) but she also has twins in her class. 

Clayton will enjoy next week being an only child and then he will start his school the following week! This momma is excited for a break and being able to get things done without  the kids "help".

Our summer was action packed and lots of time spent at the beach, swimming and friends.  Our only activity, gymnastics, finished yesterday!  Brinley ended the summer being able to do a handstand for 5 seconds, back roll, and jumping and turning around on the high balance beam.  Her coach keeps trying to get me to put her on the competition team, but mommy and daddy are not ready for that yet ;-)

Clayton spend his last mommy and me class (woo hoo for him being on his own next summer) perfecting his front roll and being able to do a chin up on the bar.  He can also walk on the balance beam alone depending on his mood. I am sure he will miss doing his belly flop into the pit of foam blocks (which drove his teacher crazy!)

Adios summer and please take your 100+ degree weather with you!!!!

5th Birthday

Brinley's 5th birthday has been planned since the day after her 4th birthday party!! Not once has any detail changed (just for the record, she has already planned her 6-9th birthdays down to place and theme!)This years theme was Barbie.  Here is the cake that she helped me design and I made.  She picked the colors, wanted to add the dog on the float and picked out the rocks to line the pool.  She was very involved and has added being a baker to her list of occupations!

 Here is the birthday girl the day of her party at the Indoor Soccer place.

 She had a blast running 100 miles a minute the entire time!!!

 Clayton enjoyed himself too, at least that is what the sweat drenched little man told me

 As the RSVP's rolled in, I knew we were in for a big party.  I guess it was a weekend with nothing going on, because I only got a few declines.  None the less, we all had a great time!!!

 My little family with the birthday girl.

Brinley's actual birthday was on a Tuesday.  For her dinner she wanted to go to the sand place (Lupe Tortillas).  It actually rained for the first time in forever that day, so the back up plan for Chuck E Cheese. Both sets of Grandparents joined us for the dinner and Brinley enjoyed having Chuck E Cheese bring her cake out to her!

Chicago

This last weekend, Jason and I headed to Chicago to visit Melody without the kids.  We had so much fun! On Friday, we ate lunch at Harry Carey's and then did a 7 hour walking tour of the city! I was amazed at how beautiful and clean the city is! The weather was wonderful break from the Houston humidity and we walked without barely breaking a sweat.


The breathe taking view of Michigan Lake from Melody's apartment

 Me and Jason on the top of Melody's building downtown

  We also took a architecture boat ride around the city.  It was really neat to hear all the stories about the rebuild of Chicago after the great fire!

 Me on the boat tour

 Me and Jason with the Sears tower in the back (black one)

Melody and I at the Bean with Skyline in the background

The best view of the city was in the women's restroom at the Hancock tower

We were so tired from our walking tour, we got some famous deep dish pizza to go and watched The Dark Knight (filmed in Chicago) at Melody's place that evening!

 On Saturday, we headed to a cubs game at Wrigley's field.  The atmosphere was like anything I have ever experienced! Those Chicagoans love their cubs! Even though the lost 11-4, they were partying like crazy afterwards! We had lots of fun walking to each bar and soaking up the atmosphere!

On Sunday, we ate a great breakfast at a little cafe and then rode the subway to the airport. It was an amazing weekend!

4th of July

We headed into Baytown for the 4th of July celebration this year. 4th of July is always a big deal and Baytown goes all out. I remember going every year when I was growing up and it was tons of fun! They had lots of good food, rides and games for the kids and lots of booths with handcrafted items.

Brinley and Clayton dressed and ready to celebrate the 4th of July

Although the festivities start that morning, we opted to head in after nap and dinner since it was 100 degrees outside! We got there around 6, found our spot on the lawn (in the shade) for our chairs and blankets and took in all the fun! The kids had a blast sliding on the big slide, riding the swings, playing carnival games, and begging my mom to buy them everything under the sun ;-)

She loved her patriotic, glittery tattoo!!

Entertainment for the evening included Django Walker (jerry jeff walker's son) and Pat Green! Both guys put on a great show and had my kids dancing all night! Luckily, once the sun went down, we had a cool breeze and enjoyed the fireworks to end the evening.

Clayton cheesing with a mustache made from his flashing necklace

Bubble gun fight!

We had a wonderful July 4th and celebrated america's birthday with all the favorites: funnel cakes, lemonade, baseball (clayton won a baseball and bat), country music and fireworks!!!