Field Trip Fun!

Last week Will's school had another fabulous, fun field trip that really attracted the dads to chaperone.

They spent a day at Minute Maid Park and got to see all the cool things the Astros get to experience!

Like where the owner gets to sit during games...

Where the fans get to sit...

 The dugout where the players get to hang out...

And so much more.  They even got to see where the bats and balls were made and prepared for game days!  What fun!  We'll have to go back for a game soon!

Opening Day!

Last Saturday was a HUGE day for the Brown household...It was Opening Day for Will's T-Ball team!

The weather was beautiful, the team was excited (as were the parents), and Will's performance on the field and in the batter's box was outstanding!

Here's our little player with his biggest fan!

And the rest of his fan club...

Isn't Will adorable??? I love that we went with the short pants this year...

And here's his first at bat.  Keep a close eye on the ball as it sails over the pitchers mound!

And as with anything, playing on a team with friends is always a plus...this is Christian, he is in Will's class at school and is just the sweetest, most POLITE kiddo in the world.

I need this picture in at least a 3 foot by 5 foot canvass :)

John was very interested in the game...watching Will from behind the fence on the first base line...

But he quickly lost interest when he realized he couldn't go out and play with the big kids (by the way, I love this picture to pieces)...

Here's Will, playing 1st base during the first inning...check out his perfect baseball ready form!

And here is Will trotting (there are no outs in tball) to second  base...

After the game we headed to the park where Will and Papa Max took out his new Monster Truck for a spin...

And John got to try out Will's baseball gear.  He actually puts the ball on the tee by himself and then hits it off (albeit with the wrong end of the bat).  He's a switch hitter...swinging both lefty and righty with reckless abandon!

Here's a good action shot...notice he naturally drives his hips into the ball haha!  There's a lot of momentum behind his swing!

Here's hoping for a fun season!!

Two Words

Two words I would have never EVER put together..."Carolyn" and "Gala" LOL!

Well, at some point, I guess I have to get out of my oversized pjs and tees on the weekend and get cleaned up to do something adult-ish...Two weeks ago Will's school had their annual Silent Auction and Gala to help raise some extra funds for some really cool initiatives the school has going on.

So yes, I had to BUY a dress for the occasion (now I have two in the closet!) and Billy and I headed out to support Will's school.

 The turnout was amazing and you wouldn't believe some of the items that were auctioned off!

The only one I was interested (and of course couldn't afford) was the Pre-K Class item...check it out...TOTALLY awesome idea.  

The school brought in an artist who took thumb prints from each kiddo, asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up, and then using the thumbprint, made an image of them doing whatever it was they dreamed of becoming!  How cool is that!  

(I'm totally recreating this)

 It should come as no surprise, Will answered "paleontologist".  I just love the image the artist created out of his little brown thumb print!

These kiddos are so ambitious, and just at 4-5 years old!  Here's the list of how the class answered the question...my favorite...Bigfoot Hunter :)

William: ski instructor
Will: paleontologist
Matthew: basketball player
Sarah: mommy
Calin: engineer
Rylee: teacher
Bryce: basketball player
Audrey: mommy
Cade: fire fighter
Graham: helicopter pilot
Christian: train conductor
Owen: veterinarian
Kensley: doctor
Avalon: doctor
Eva: pony rider
Deacon: Bigfoot hunter
Rhett: baseball player
Zara: mommy
David: doctor
Nate: pirate
Natasha: ice skater 

Why You Should Always Listen To Your Mother In Law

They are full of great ideas.

John recently turned 15 months old...and started wearing some of the clothes Will wore when he was that age.  One afternoon Nana Rosie came over and saw John in this getup...and commented (still not sure how she remembered this!) that we should take a photo of John going down our driveway like we did with Will when he was that age and wearing the same outfit for a comparison.

And.

I did.

Of course.

Here is Johnny Boomtastick at 15 months old.

24lbs 8.6 ozs ~ 49th percentile

32" ~ 75th percentile  

Immediately, you can see some similarities and differences.

SAME elbow dimples

SAME nape of the neck curl

But John definitely has a, um, huskier build and curlier mop!

Notice Will's shorts are doubled over and he still has room to spare while John's wearing them as is and filling them out nicely :)

Also, John's belly forces the shirt to rise up over his most adorable belly button while it appears Will still had ample room to grow.

And based on John's calves, he seems to have a lower center of gravity, while Will was quite the little toothpick.

But then there's the things that only a mother could see/interpret.

John's unruly hair and aggressive stance - totally fits his personality.  A "menace to society" as Will and I call him, who is not afraid of trying anything, falling off anything, eating anything, or requiring help for anything.

Meanwhile, Will's hair naturally and neatly fell into place and he was already doing chores at 15 months old - totally fits his personality.  The ultimate pleaser, do gooder, conscientious sweetie pie.

JOHN

WILL

Across The Universe

If you haven't heard The Beatles song, Across the Universe, stop reading (really), jump over to You Tube, and check out this little tune...it is fabulous.  And it really jives with this post.  Here's just a smidgen of the song....makes me think back to when these pictures were taken recently...

Sounds of laughter, shades of life
Are ringing through my opened ears
Inciting and inviting me.
Limitless undying love, which
Shines around me like a million suns,
It calls me on and on across the universe

Will's friend Radley gave Will a "universe" set to hang from his ceiling for his birthday.  

It is great.  

It is something OTHER than dinosaurs.

It glows in the dark!  

It was a fun project for Will and I to do together.

And it has made Will ultra curious about the universe!

Here is the completed set hanging in the corner of Will's room.

And did I mention Will was inspired?  He even took his new knowledge to the streets (er, or, driveway) and made this BEAUTIFUL solar system all by himself!  John was happy to help (or eat chalk, one of the two!)

And any time Will learns something new and cool, he gets very excited to show you all about it.

A First

The Saturday we celebrated Will's birthday with a Star Wars party, Will also had his very first slumber party!  I say party, but it was really just Radley...

After a quick nap, we headed out to a park where Radley and Will had their first interaction with MEAN GIRLS...yes, MEAN girls...they were playing on a jungle gym and Radley called Will a stinky head while they were playing and carrying on...well, apparently a group of about 7-8 year old girls thought Radley was making fun of THEM, which almost ended in a confrontation until Mrs. Brown set them straight :)

Anywho, after the park they sat down and watched a bit of Star Wars...things started out all relaxed and fun...

But then things got serious...

And wild...

 And confusing/funny...

And surprising...

Then there was dinner...we had...fun...and ice cream...

(side story - on the way home from the party, Billy took Radley in his car and Billy asked Radley what his favorite desert was - to which Radley responded, oreo ice cream.  

So, Billy, trying to be a great host , asked Radley if he'd like some for dinner.  As they drove up to the grocery store to get oreo cookie ice cream, Radley asked Billy where they were going...Billy said, to get ice cream.  To which Radley responded, "seriously, don't even joke about that." LOL!

 At bedtime, we pulled out Will's couch and made Radley a place to sleep and then Will's Godfather Grant came over for story time...

Radley told Will all about planets, Will read everyone a book, then it was time for bed.

 They slept the whole.night.through! 

The next morning we played some dinosaurs and then Radley headed home.

They had a GREAT time together.

We'll have to do it again soon!

Fun With Photos

Just a few photos I altered with my favorite app!

John's 1st Birthday

Will's 5th Birthday

 Easter 2013

Caught On Video

We took quite a bit of family video footage on Easter Sunday...

Three short pieces we'd like to share with you...

The first: Look Before You Sit

If you can ignore Will's whimpering about not getting the blue egg we saved for John, and focus solely on John, you'll witness an America's Funniest Videos moment...

The Second: Attack of the Bunny Bandit

Here I am, minding my own business, changing quite possibly the most explosive Johnny B. diaper yet after church, when I am ambushed by my very own husband and 5 year old with a confetti egg.  Will's remark afterwards "Daddy said you'd never expect it in the house!"

The Third: Payback

Will's revenge on Billy (confetti egg fight round two which took place on Sunday)...

I may have been slightly enthusiastic about "egging" Will on (pun intended).

Hope these made you chuckle!