Jonathan's First Soccer Game

Today was Jonathan's very first Soccer game. We decided to let him join since a lot of his friends were playing too! We didn't end up on the same team as any of the friends, but we saw a lot of them today and that was fun!
Michael and I have been so proud watching him at practice and then today at the game! He did SOOOOOO good. He just ran right out there with no hesitation. Something we realized that we shouldn't take for granted, since some of his teammates were not as thrilled about the situation. But Jonathan doesn't ever give us trouble about new things or meeting new people. He is a really easy kid! We are thankful!

Your next Soccer Super Star!

Meet the Astro's!!! (the shirt says, Hurst United, which is the Soccer Association)
From the Left: Ruby Kate, Brooklyn, Piper, Jonathan, Mia and Brody (We have one other team member named Emma) - They are all 4 years old and only 2 of these 7 on the team have played before. He is #3! Although, he keeps telling us he is 4!! :)

Brooklyn, Piper and Jonathan checking out the competition!

When I found out that there were more girls than boys on the team, I thought, well, that might not be too bad, Jonathan is good with the ladies. :) He and Piper have become quick friends. They have these little side conversations, it's cute!

Unfortunately for little Ben, the game fell right at his nap time. He was sleepy! But he was still a great kid!

Pre-Game Team Huddle!

A Jonathan and Piper chat.

Jonathan throwing the ball in! I love how excited his teammates are to get the ball!

Piper taking it down field for a goal! Jonathan coming as quick as he can!

Trying to avoid stepping on his teammate!

Jonathan is about to kick!!!!!!

Go Ruby Kate!!! Come on Jonathan!!!  

I like this picture - both Jonathan and Mia are in the same running pose and Piper and Ruby Kate both have their tongues out!!

GO JONATHAN!!!!!!

Unfortunately....this is when things went south for Jonathan. Ruby Kate, his teammate just scored another goal. He wasn't very happy, because HE wanted to score the goal. We didn't fully recover from this point. But he still did a great job!!! 

Jonathan began crying...still upset about not scoring and his whole team came to his side to cheer him up! I loved it, such great team work!! His coach is really great!!! I heard one of the girls say, "But Jonathan you've been giving your best hustle!" :)

The big bottle of water made him very happy!

All smiles at the end of the game!!!! So proud!!!

Going under the "good game tunnle'!

Yay Astros!!! They don't keep score and I lost count of goals but both teams played great!

Happy Birthday Pat

My mother-in-law Pat's Birthday is the day before mine, so we always get together and celebrate! Michael ordered in Mexican for all of us! We had dinner and amazing desserts and watched the boys play! It was super fun! Happy Birthday Pat!!!

Anna Marie made some yummy sweets. The cake she and Jonathan are bringing in is "better than, you know what, cake". It was really good. Jonathan helped Anna Marie decorate the cake, by putting the toffee chunks on top!

Pat getting loving from the boys! Jonathan picked out that balloon for Gran!

Hey Ben! (I forgot his portable high chair, so he sat in his stroller)

Anna Marie made Nutela Moose, that was my favorite! And peach thing, I forget the name, but it was all super yummy!

The boys playing with Uncle Brian on the floor. Ben loved that balloon!

My Birthday Fun

I had such an awesome Birthday! Michael took the day off and we had a bunch of fun as a family! We hadn't been to the new Sea Life Aquarium that they opened in Grapevine Mill's Mall last year. I knew that it would be a fun activity that we could all enjoy, especially on a hot August day!
But speaking of the weather, I thought of my mom that morning as I woke up, as I usually do...but she would always felt bad for me for when my birthday fell. She would say, even though August is one of the driest months of the year, it would almost always rain on my birthday and ruin any outdoor plans we might have made! And sure enough, Wednesday when we woke up, it was storming! Our rain catcher said we got 2"!!! It was a great Birthday present! We needed the rain and made me smile in remembrance of mom! And it was a good thing we had already made indoor plans.

This might be our Christmas card this year...I love this! I posted this picture on Facebook and everyone thinks it is pretty funny that Ben seems to be looking at us like we are crazy and Jonathan has found the camera. We were in front of a green screen, so my green shirt is blending in with the background!

The "normal" family photo. I like it, but I like the other one more!

This is the first room you come to. Hundreds of fish swimming in a large school. It is very neat.

This was something that we ALL enjoyed! Ben would get so excited and shriek and point and jump up and down in his seat! Jonathan was jumping up and down and running ahead of us!

Standing on the glass looking down at the sting rays. Jonathan didn't like this too much.

But this little window was just perfect for him.

OCTOPUS!!!! I have never seen one in person and let me tell you, it was gross looking! He was hiding back there.

Cool looking eel! Kind of looked like Giraffe print to me.



We are now in the 360 tunnel!

Ben LOVED it!

Giant sting ray going over him! We loved this tunnel!

Shark swimming over us!

The Nemo tank!

Jonathan was as tall as a Crab Shark!

We like Sea Horses!

Goose! He is on the other side!

This was my favorite tank! Red, Black and White! My favorite colors! They were such beautiful fish!

My boys also spoiled me with love and gifts on my special day!
A few days before my birthday Jonathan told Michael that he wanted to pick me out a gift. He wanted to get me something for my night stand...a button I can push that will make me go right back to sleep after he and Ben wake me up in the middle of the night...Ha! I thought that was the cutest and most thoughtful gift idea! Boy I wish there was such a thing! So Michael took Jonathan to Target and they looked for this button, but couldn't find it. So Jonathan then decided that he wanted to get me a book. So they walked down the book aisle and Jonathan found this one!!!

When he gave it to me he said. "So you will always know how to make cupcakes!" Again, I love his thoughtfulness! Love that boy and I love my book!

Michael got me an awesome new camera lens that I asked for! I can't wait to share some of the cool photos I have and will take with it!
Thank you to everyone for helping make my Birthday special! Michael, Jonathan and Ben - Thank you! I am one lucky girl!!!

Painting with a Twist

It's that time of year again. My Birthday. I love Birthdays. Always will, no matter how old I get!
So Amy and I started off the celebrating a week early with a girl's night at a place called "Painting with a Twist". I have always wanted to go here! It is a place that you can go in one evening paint one painting from beginning to end. They provide the paint, canvas, brushes and a friendly instructor. The twist is that you can bring your own beverage. So Amy and I brought some wine.
My mom and I have taken similar classes at my local community center, minus the wine part. I really enjoy the "do it in one class" part.
I looked up this site about a month ago and saw that the Grapevine location had a version of a Van Gogh painting, Stary Night in the Swap, on Aug 10th. I love Van Gogh! Especially Stary Night! So Amy and I booked it! I was really looking forward to it!!
We had a blast! I am pleased with my painting and we have plans to go again soon!!! Here is a link to the place: http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/

Getting started! - Hey, we kind of look alike...

The screen behind Amy just shows a larger version of what our instructor was doing.

Ignore the guy yawning behind us...it was a blast!!

To the top right is where the instructor taught.

This is my painting after the first break. (not sure why this picture is so yellow)

My painting after the second break.

My final painting. I don't hate it. It doesn't look like the Van Gogh, but that's okay.



Our final products!



The sweet nest necklace Amy made me.

Thank you Amy!!! I had an awesome Birthday with you!!!