GO MEAN GREEN!

Grady has been super into football lately... In fact, the kid understands it more than I did when I was 20.  He's so funny fussing at the TV or talking about great plays, penalties, etc.  He sounds like just one of the guys... except age 6 1/2.  This makes me smile!  

Daddy and Uncle Jerry both went to UNT and so Grady has become a fan of the Mean Green this year.  I also taught with the starting center's mom for 8 years, so it's fun for all of us to cheer for someone we kind-of know.  

Last weekend Uncle Jerry came into town to catch a game, and that's just what the big boys did!  

Uncle Jerry bought Grady a foam eagle talon which made the game even more fun... well, that and the ice cream and kettle corn.  

The guys had a great time and a big win made it even more special!  

GO MEAN GREEN!!!  

Fall Ball Comes to an End

Grady played baseball for the Indians this fall.  Daddy helped coach with coach Weldon and they both had a great time.  This doesn't mean this season was a piece of cake... Lots of life lessons were learned.  

There weren't enough teams to have a 7U league so our 5, 6 and one 7 year old played with the 8U teams.  This resulted in us playing against teams that were much older and all that goes with it.  

The boys and coaches really had such great attitudes about it... and that's really hard to do when you lose almost every game.  (I think it was harder for us parents to watch! Ha!) So much learning comes from losing and although I can't believe I'm saying this aloud... I'm glad we got to go through this.  Everybody should.  It gives you perspective, humbleness, and teaches you that life goes on after losing. You can still have fun losing.  There is more to life than sports.  It really is just - a - game.  That's hard when you are super competitive... and in this family we all are!

Grady played all the positions ( I think), improved in fielding, hitting, throwing and catching.  He made new friends and got to play with (and against) some old ones.  

Grady really has a good arm!  It has been so cool watching his skills develop over the last 2 years.  

We can't wait for spring to get here for some more baseball, but in the meantime having Saturday mornings and T/Th off will be a much needed break!  

Here's to a great season, Indians!  

A Fall Day at the Zoo

Our kids love animals... and pretty much they come by it naturally because Richard and I are both wild animal lovers as well!  If we lived closer to the zoo, we'd be there all the time.  It had been a few months and so we planned a trip to go today with Daddy!  

We had the best day! The weather was a little chilly, but fall is here and you can't really complain about 60 degrees and sunny!

The animals were all pretty active today.  The lion kept roaring and roaring.  Cole kept saying, " Do you hear it?" 

The zoo also had some new babies.  Two  very new and precious baby elephants and a baby jaguar!  This baby rhino kept licking his momma as well.  So sweet!

We also had a picnic lunch, a carousel ride and a train ride!  

It was a perfect way to spend a beautiful fall day with my boys!  

Canton or Bust!

So, it's important to occasionally take a day off... for yourself.  I never really knew how much I needed it until I actually did just that- a personal day - for me!  

We decided to take off the first Friday in November, which also happened to be the day after Halloween and the day before my birthday, to go to Canton.   We loaded up Michelle's truck and headed out early.  The girls even decorated the truck for my birthday!

(Tiffany, Michelle, Me, Kristen, Katie)

We had the very best time!  All of these lovely ladies are mommies I met from Stephie's house.  Not only are our kids friends, but our husbands are as well.  We have all become very close friends and I cherish each one of them!  

We found all kinds of interesting things!

My belly was actually sore the next day from all the laughing!  

There are some serious shoppers at Canton...

We ended up finding some great stuff and filled our Canton carts!

Towards the end of our day I ran into a old college roommate and sweet friend, Phaedra!  Small world!  It had been more than 10 years.  

When we got back we headed to Mi Dia for dinner and drinks, my favorite!  

The perfect ending, to the most perfect day of fun and relaxation.  

Thanks ladies for the shopping, dinner and laughter.  It was a much needed day!!  What will our next adventure be?!?  

Happy Halloween 2013

My little Jango Fett and Dinosaur had a wonderful time trick-or-treating this year!  

Grady and Daddy carved our jack-o-lantern the night before.  They did a great job!

A few pictures just before... 

Cole enjoyed himself for about 10 houses.  He was d-o-n-e after that and so he, Daddy and Grammy went home and Grady and Mommy kept going for another hour or so.

Cole and Daddy handed out candy and roared at the kids who came to our door.

We have enough candy to last us until Easter, so I'd say it was a success!  

Happy Halloween!!!