Fun on The Farm

We headed out to Crowe's Nest Farm with the MOMS group at my church last week. It was sooo fun and I highly recommend it! Both kids loved it and we were all WORN out (Alex even took a nap that day when we got home)! With Alex being slightly obsessed with animals right now, this trip couldn't have come at a better time!

hayride out to see the buffalo and ostriches

these amazing beasts run with the tractor because they know the foods coming :) really cool!

couldn't take his eyes off them he was so excited

(we had just learned about buffalo because he got one in his animal cookies, so this was too perfect! and cool!) down to the ostriches and Ellie was still concerned about those buffalo

showing the egg while the big birds chow down

on to check out the other animals, including this beauty lama lama ;)

some BIG pigspriceless

on to the chicken coops

and dont forget to milk the cow!


This preggo momma had our moms group all feeling quite sympathetic.

It was a beautiful day to get to know new friends and spend some time with the animals!

Soccer!!

Go Avalanche!

Alex is doing YMCA soccer this fall and is loving it so far! He has been waiting for this for a while and couldn't have been more excited! Dad decided to coach and relive a little of his high school glory days :) Well, at least he thought he would use soccer skills. 3 and 4 yr old soccer is not alot of skill. These kids just run around after the ball and kick it wherever...if they are even paying attention and not playing in the dirt or waving at mom on the sideline. Quite entertaining and seriously cute. But Travis has done a GREAT job with the little ones and really enjoys seeing them succeed and be so proud of themselves. He is putting a lot of time (and patience) into it, so I am really proud of him! I love the precious moments father and son are getting together too.

Alex is doing well but has really had to warm up to the idea of games. He is little and young compared to a lot of the other kids so its kind of intimidating and can get rough. I know he will get his goal by the end of the season! He has had some great kicks on the ball and has had some good defensive moments- my favorite move is arms and legs out like he is totally blocking all that he can.

mom can coach a little too- "you want to go that way"

end of game cheer tunnel run! maybe Alex's favorite part?


Here are some of the details...
Practice every Monday night and games every Saturday (ours our at 9).
They don't keep score and its all about fun.
Travis stays on the field the whole time to help.
They play 4 on 4 and there is no goalie.
The kids get subbed out often to keep it fresh and give everyone a chance.
Our team name is Avalanche and NO Travis did not come up with that, it was assigned. please. :)

We are loving our team and have great participation! The kids are just adorable!! We especially love that Evan S., our good buddy, is on our team! And his Dad is helping Travis out by assistant coaching!

We have quite the cheering section...with all the family in town there is always someone (or many) to cheer Alex on! He is so lucky and doesn't have a clue.

this cutie was a good cheerleader
and the biggest fan and Alex's favoriteEllie shockingly stays in her chair most of the time!

First Practice!

It was HOT! So glad its cooling down a bit!

This was just a day that he wanted to wear my headband while playing soccer in the backyard...said it helped him. As cute as he is, glad it wasn't a trend that stuck.

flashback friday

me and my dad, I just see Ellie! poor girl got her mommas bad (and lack of) hair

Back to School!

We are off to a great start this year! Alex is loving his new school! We switched him to the preschool at our church to better make it our home. He did great on the first day with no tears! 100% improvement from last year!
He was most excited about using his new nap mat. (Old school didn't take naps) This is crazy talk since he doesnt nap. I think he realized after the first day.
The second day he was a little more hesitant and we had some tears but not anything that lasted longer than a minute after I was out the door.

my attempt at a sibling shot...its all love here

Ellie and I have been enjoying our one on one time! We went shoe shopping the second day and had fun!



I have been so enjoying picking Alex up everyday and hearing all about it! He is so much better about remembering and verbalizing what happened at school. He is signing songs he learned there even! He was VERY proud that he knew his teachers names- Miss Sharon and Miss Susan. I think they worked on it a lot the second day. (They happen to be twin sisters.) He does seem to be doing the art and writing too! I will have to post some of the cute stuff coming home in his folder.

our first homework assignment. mommy was pleased with her work

The other day he says on the way home- Does Ellie want to play guns? Me- No I dont think so. Why? A- Cause my teacher says we have to play guns at home.
Great. I have that kid. I swear we don't promote guns here!

This was Ellie on her "first day of school"- I have decided to do the Moms group at the church and so Ellie went to her "class" that day. She did great and I was so proud of her! and really, could she be any cuter! She wanted to wear her backpack!

Since those early days Alex has not been a fan of going to school really. He is such a homebody and still hates to get ready in the morning. BUT everyday when I pick him up he says that school was FUN! and has a smile on his face! Well, all but Tuesday when I was like a minute late and he was worried about me coming to get him! :( oops! Mom of the year I tell you!

summer fun with Alex

I have not forgotten about you bubba...we have had a fun fun summer and I just need to throw a few random pics up about it all!

First Movie Theater Experience- Cars2. You were timid but super excited and did really great! This event was followed up by another trip to Cars2 with Papa and then a trip with Daddy to see Pooh. (Sweet part was that they tried to see Rio and it was sold out and Alex cried. Not bratty cry but sad cry. So Travis took him to see Pooh at the other theater. I mean, really, just broke your heart. He told me all about it when he got home- Momma, they sold out. No more tickets.)


lots of trips to HEB...this was the day I stupidly got you the car cart like you wanted. never again. but yall were cute! (this is sooo old! I can tell bc ellie has NO hair!)

whataburger!

You love the pool. Hands down fav summer activity. Loved your goggles and this day decided that you would prepare by eating lunch in them. :) I love ya!

We went bowling for the first time! with some new friends- his daddy is an old friend of mine from middle school! If you know Andy Boerckel, you know this is his boy! :) Anyway, it was so fun! and you loved it once you got the hang of the ramp. I should have known since you love all sports!




We did some baking...you are really into it now and LOVE to lick the spoon, bowl, and everything you can get your grubby lil fingers on. One benefit of dairy and egg free baking is there is no worry with this! and its encouraged you to try new things including chocolate- which you have learned that you like! yay!

We went to the circus! Met up with our good friend the Stacers before the show! It was all fun! and only doubled your interest in animals! (BTW, I was really impressed with the show! They couldn't be more right with the slogan- a show for all ages!) Ellie did...okay....the people behind us probably hated us. She liked it all but it was so much it was a little bit of overload. Just tried to shove food and drink in her most of the time.

Totatlly stole these pics from Kathryn.

Alex wasn't in the mood for pictures that day. He was way more interested in the 25$ spinner souvenirs.

Most mornings you could find us cruisin' the hood since Alex learned that he could go all around our neighborhood circle on his bike! It was great to get out before it was too hot and let him get some energy out.


your love for sports is incredible really. you love to read sports illustrated at the table just like Daddy. And you get excited when the new one comes!

we did a lot of indoor baseball, among other sports, and you are pretty good too. yes, this is why my house is so boring decor wise. we live in a gym I tell you.


we got a super fun package from the fam in California that included this large zoo animals. The kids were in love at first sight! Alex has since been obsessed with them and plays with them daily. He also has adopted "lion and cheetah" to be his posse going everywhere with us and to bed with him every night. He has been asking to go to the zoo a lot lately and I assure him we will be there soon (as soon as it cools off just a little more).


You started wanting me to take your picture if you think you look funny or cute or I dont know...but I will take it! Then you always want to see what you look like and you smile the biggest smile!

You are my best buddy and I love ya to pieces lil one. I wouldn't trade hanging out with you all day for anything!