The Million Dollar Story

Oh Grady-Goose... You are such a crazy, loving, frustrating at times, sensitive, determined, creative and positive-outlook-on-life kind of kid!!  

There are literally hundreds of stories I could tell about you and the crazy, off the wall kinds of things you say and do.  You make us laugh, daily.  We LOVE this about you.  Don't ever lose this quality buddy.  

So it all started when you opened a pack of baseball cards.  You are a really good reader now and read (memorize really just like your Daddy) the backs of each card.  You happened to find a card with a "Million Dollar Chase" contest listed on the back.  Well, you are super into money right now... saving money that is, and immediately started asking about this contest.  

Your Daddy and I giggled because it was yet another funny Grady story.  You use the exact lingo they use on ads and commercials when you are trying to persuade us to buy the infomercial stuffy or magic wand hairbrush, etc.  We were trapped in the car with you and you asked repeatedly if you could enter the contest.  I finally replied with "sure buddy" while giggling under my breath to end the constant asking. Ha!

You were quiet in the back for a while and then a few minutes later yelled out, "This itouch doesn't work"!  When I checked it you had typed in the million dollar contest website in the search box! I laughed and then told you we'd have to do it at home when we had Internet.  You then asked over and over again for the next 2 hours when we would be home.  We got home late but you ran right to the computer.  We told you it would have to be tomorrow... you are a very determined child!! 

Next day you beg and beg so at Cole's nap time I finally sit down with you at our computer to enter the contest.  I should have figured that you wouldn't let this go... when your mind gets stuck on something there's no stopping it.  (Hang onto this trait Goose, while it's somewhat annoying to us now when channeled correctly there will be no stopping you!)  

We got you entered and again I figure that would be the end of it... not so much.  You asked me 10 minutes later if "they would knock on the door with your money or just email it or would it be a letter..."  Say what?!?  I told you I didn't know.  Not good enough an answer apparently.  You informed me I should read the information to find out.  This was getting old, really fast.  So, I decided to let you know gently that you would not win the money.  You became really mad at me.  You thought for a minute and said, "That's not a very good attitude.  When I win I will only give you a dollar if you are nice to me for a week."  You then walked out front to check the mailbox... and again the next morning.  

This morning you told me all about a dream where everyone was standing around you with balloons and congratulations signs.  

You also told me your plans for the money.  You told me you are going to save it and buy a car with it.  A jeep with a convertible top painted with camouflage!   In your mind you are going to win that money and who am I to say you won't!  ;-)

So here are a few things you taught Mommy...

-You are determined... Big time!!!

-Even if something isn't likely (and actually ridiculous), don't ever tell you that you can't or won't... It just makes you all the more focused

-Be more optimistic about even unlikely things- it never hurts!!

-Somehow I need to continue to nourish this trait in you so you continue to have the attitude of being able to do/be/accomplish anything you set your mind to!!!

We love you Grady-Goose!!!  You are worth more than a million!

6 Flags - Mom and Grady

Grady earned a free 6 Flags ticket this year for reading lots and lots of minutes through an incentive at school... and since I am a teacher I got a free ticket as well!  Score!!  

Today was a perfect day to go since Cole went to "play" at Stephie's house!  I had never been before since I didn't grow up here, so this would be a first visit for the both of us!

We started out with a special breakfast at the donut shop...

I LOVE this kid!!

So excited!!!

We headed right for the kids area first and G had an awesome time riding all of the mini rides.  I think this will be the last year for him... he's getting so tall!  

We also ran into Sylvester and stopped by for a quick hug!

Grady rode everything we came across that day and was a trooper with the long lines we hit on the "cool" rides!  

I didn't get too many pictures of the other rides because #1 the phone was put away as I was clutching for dear life and #2 we went on lots of water rides and got soaked!!

It was hysterical riding with him on the antique cars ride where the kids really drive.  He couldn't remember to steer and push the gas at the same time- I'm having flash forwards to 10 years from now-- so funny!  We made it out though!  

His two favorite rides were Judge Roy's Scream and Pandemonium!  I think I've got a dare-devil on my hands.  It might be Daddy's turn to be the "teacher"next year- ha!  

Thanks for such a fun day Goose- love you buddy!!

BOYS NIGHT

Richard and Grady went with some friends to see the Rangers again Sunday evening!  

We just happened to be getting haircuts that day and the sweet lady added a little something special for the game...  Grady LOVED it!!

The boys had such a good time!

They got autographs...

Tanner Scheppers even told G how cool his hair was! 

They ate junk, played in the kids area and got a free Rangers pillowcase- what more could a kid want?!?

Well, maybe a win... but it was a great night at the ballpark either way!  

What's Cooking?!?

This summer I've been on a mission to experiment with new recipes, cook/eat more healthy, use fresh/real ingredients more instead of packages, use what I have in the fridge before it goes bad and avoid eating out as much as possible.  I also wanted to get better at making my own marinades/dressings.  It's been fun and I think we've all enjoyed trying new things!

These pictures don't really do the meals justice- how do they get such good pictures in books and on the web?!?  

Here are some of our favorites so far!

This was good- whole wheat spaghetti with a homemade chicken sausage spaghetti sauce.  The big chunks of tomatoes were yummy!  

I am by no means a chef, but I can follow a recipe pretty well if it is relatively simple enough.  I also cook what I like and what I think the kids will try... Richard is great because he'll try anything!  Pinterest scares me sometimes because sometimes it's good and other times it's a flop!!

We grilled up carne asada (from Sprouts- delish) and served it over cilantro rice and grilled onions and peppers.  

I also try to always have fresh fruit or a veggie side, and always a big salad with whatever I cook.  

I've been doing a lot of grilling to avoid heating up our kitchen but this was a great veggie casserole I served with a squash/zucchini/onion side and grilled chicken- which never gets old.  It made a ton and it was really yummy!  4 cheese rotini bake was its name, I think!

This could have been a meal by itself... It's a chunky salsa lightly stirred not mashed made with avocado (love), fresh diced red and orange tomatoes, cilantro, roasted corn, black beans, fresh minced garlic, and onions. We ate it with blue corn tortilla chips... to.die.for!!

We also have been branching out with seafood... 

I made grilled salmon for the first time ever over long grain rice... Sooo good and Grady ate three pieces!

My favorite though was grilled shrimp marinated in a sweet garlic/honey/lime sauce.  No picture- typical, probably because I couldn't wait to eat it up!!  

Here is some baked kale... we all liked this and will make it again.  (It's kind of a lot of work for not much though).

Grady loved it- he's the most adventurous of all of us... except for melted cheese.  LOL

Now these are yummy- Chocolate Shakeology balls!  They have honey, chocolate Shakeology powder, peanut butter, quick oats- Richard loves these!!

(Forgive the pic and the name...)

What are some of your favorite healthy dishes and/or snacks?!?  

More Summer...

This week was another awesomely fun and relaxing summer week with the kiddos!  We actually had some much needed rain and cooler temps... very nice for July in Texas!

Sunday night we had dinner at the Vaughn's and left Grady for a sleepover with Bro before baseball camp started Monday morning.  

It ended up getting cancelled and literally rained for 24 hours!  We met at Cicis Pizza for "pizza" - hey, it's cheap and the kids love it!  They have actually upgraded since I was there last.  I saw a bunch of students I know too- fun times!!

Grady got some new goggles and decided to wear them while putting together his new lego set- a fun treat for having no cavities again!

Cole enjoys feeding my classroom fish, Dorothy.  When she gobbles up the pellet he laughs and laughs and when he's eating he takes big bites and says, "I Dor-thy". It's very sweet!  I love his little toddler voice right now.  Even "nope" 10,000 times a day is sorta cute!  

My favorite squint-eyed smiley boy!

I found a set of beginner Bible stories at Sams that Grady loves and G thinks it's more fun to read on the counter!

Baseball camp resumed Tuesday and Grady had so much fun!!

I didn't get many pics because I was wrangling Cole, but he loved every second.  

One rainy evening Grady worked on his bow skills upstairs!  

A lot of this happened as well... 

These kids make my heart happy!  

This Week

This week has been packed full with all kinds of fun!!  

Monday we met Daddy for lunch at Chipotle!

He ate his whole lunch with his shades on... Too cool!

Afterwards we dropped Grady off for an afternoon of art camp at Color Me Mine.  This was his masterpiece!!

This is Cole's new "cheese" smile!  

One of his favorite activities... He lines them up during the Cars movie he requests to see each day, all day long.  One word: obsession!!

We've been walking to the basketball court/park every night after dinner per Grady's request.  He tells us he needs practice each night to "improve" his baseball skills for 7U.  You'd think he was training for the Olympics- ha!Cole and I swing, look for bunnies and play at the park.  The big boys run baseball camp.  ;-)

Wednesday we had swim lessons and then met the daycare kids (and two random kids) for a swim party at the Vaughn's pool!  Super fun!

(Cole, Drew, Grady, Ella, Kate, Blake, Brooke, Ava, Brody, random kid)

These two have been friends for almost 5 years now!  

They have grown out of their baby faces! I wish I had one of them when they were 1 1/2!  They were 3 here I think.  

Grady invented a new ice cream sundae- vanilla ice cream with peanut butter, chocolate bars, and chocolate syrup- yum!

These two do lots of this...

They really do love each other and play well together!

When Cole lets Grady love him it's very sweet!

When they both snuggle with me it's heaven!

Grady has tennis on Friday mornings and he loves it- he's getting pretty good too.  He does try to hit each ball as hard as he can, which is his only hurdle!  Cole explores in the mud and rocks during the lesson- he's such a boy!

He is so tough too!  He falls all the time because he's always running.  This kid doesn't even cry for injuries that I know hurt.  He tells me he needs a "band-an" and keeps running and playing.  I love how tough he is!!

Last night we met the King Family for dinner at Snuffers and we were so busy catching up that we didn't take pictures- next time for sure!  I've known Steph for 19 years!  

Hoping for a weekend of more play and relaxing!!  I'm lovin' me some summer!!