Family in Town

I am so very exited! My little cousin, Colleen has been excepted into TCU (Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth) and will be going there this Fall! She has lived in New Jersey almost all her life, so it is really cool that she will be here so we can see her all the time! And I am certain that I will be seeing my Aunt Kathy, her mom, my mom's sister, a lot more too!
The funny and weird thing, I didn't get a picture of Colleen. SORRY SWEETIE! I will on her next visit, which is only a couple of months away!!

Kathy, Colleen and John came into town a couple of weekends ago to tour the campus and all the family in the area planned to have dinner together. Not all of us could meet, Amy, Scarlet and Will were all very sick and sad that they couldn't join us. And Justin and Emily were out of town. But the Coppell O'Briens, the Coles' and my family all met at La Hacienda Ranch. We had a fun time and celebrated my Aunt Kathy's Birthday too!

Everyone arriving and hugging! From the left to right - Ben, Jim, Owen, Holly and Kathy.

Michael and Me!

Ben, Jim and Kathy had a very interesting conversation about the color of the lights near by. I love how Ben held Jim's thumb.

Joe and John catching up.

Leanna, Joe, Sarah and Adrian.

John and Jonathan having a great conversation!



Jonathan had a great time! He wanted to be independent and sit away from Michael and me. I thought it was cool. I like that he is comfortable mingling on his own!

Jonathan and Owen were cold, so Holly wrapped them in her jacket.

The next few pictures make me laugh. Kathy graciously invited Jonathan and Owen to help her blow out her Birthday candle! The determination on both of their faces makes me laugh! Ben supervised.

This last one did the trick. Good thing, because it looks like Jonathan is about to pop a vein!

Saying bye-bye, all hugs and smiles for Sarah!

Soccer Time Again

Since last season of soccer concluded, Jonathan hasn't stopped asking when he could play again! So we signed him up for Spring season! We requested to be put on a different team, just for some variety, but the team we were on last season didn't even form this season! The good news is, we are on a great new team, The Yellow Jackets! There are lots of kids who are excited about playing!

We have made fast new friends with neighbors down the street. They have a son Jonathan's age and the boys have really hit it off and the mom, Mandy, and I have really clicked too! So we asked them to join our team and thankfully they did and Gage was placed on Jonathan's team! It makes it even more fun to have a friend on the team!

We are excited about this season! Jonathan is more aggressive and attentive! Hopefully soon he will score that goal that he so desperately wants to score!!! In the mean time, it is just pure fun to watch him play!

He is the super tall, thin, blond boy, with the super long stride!

Going for the ball!

Good kick!

He is #3!

Go JJ Go!!!

Driving it down the field!

Still going!

Trying to get it to the goal!!!



His foot work skills are really improving!

He won the stand off!!

Benny says, "Go JJ!"

He loves to run, so this really is the perfect sport for him!

Good pass!!

Daddy swinging Ben!

Mischief!

Look at that stride! It's like twice as long as most of the other kids!

Ben LOVES Mandy and her two daughters, Gage's older sisters. The girls really help with keeping Ben occupied!

Gage had a ball! He was smiling the whole time!

Gage is just smiling and running!

Gage's first time to throw the ball in!

Jonathan did a jump for joy since he and Gage were playing a the same time finally!

I was way too zoomed in, but I thought his excitement was precious!

Gage going through the "good game tunnel!"

Jonathan, Gage and little Ben!

I just liked Gage's smile here! It makes me smile! Ben's trying to get their post game snack!  

Best Buddies

I've said it before, and I am sure that I will say it many, many more times - at least I hope - my boys LOVE each other! They are best buds! They love to play together. They watch out for each other. They entertain each other. It is so special and sweet! I love that they have each other and I hope, hope, hope it stays like this!  

Jonathan has recently become fixated on he and Ben sleeping in the same room/bed together at night and then they can have the other room as a play room. Michael and I are not ready for Ben to be in a big boy bed just yet, he is only 21 months! So we told him when the time comes for Ben to have a big boy bed we will talk about that as an option! Whether it happens or not, I am still a proud momma of my too super sweet boys!

Over the last couple of months the boys have started "rough housing". I know that I am supposed to just let it happen, but it's really hard for me to not say anything. The funny thing is, that it is usually Ben as the aggressor. He will come up and tackle Jonathan!!

The boys play together very nicely usually in Jonathan's room every day. And when friends come over, usually Jonathan's friends, Ben is right there with them. I have asked Jonathan if he wants Ben to leave him and his friend alone and he looks at me confused and says, "No, I love playing with my brother!"

When either of the boys are upset or crying, they both comfort each other. Just the other day, Jonathan was crying and Ben was in the other room. Ben came running down the hall, pushed me out of the way, saying, "JJ, JJ, JJ, JJ???" And when Ben got to JJ he said, "JJ you o-chay?" And they hugged...Jonathan said, "Yes, Ben, I'm okay." And whatever it was that JJ was upset about, he was all better now. A moment I will never forget!

On the days that Jonathan is at school, Ben will ask me constantly, "where JJ go?" And when we pick JJ up from school, they run and hug each other! Oh it just melts my heart!

I am truly cherishing these moments. I feel all too soon everything is going to change. Jonathan will be going to school! No more 3 Amigos! Hopefully it won't change too much!

I am so lucky to have two super sweet, fun and happy boys!

Here are some "Best Bud" photos from the last few months...

Ready for rain!

Watching out back.

(not the greatest picture) JJ climbs into Ben's crib every morning! It is fun to listen to them on the monitor!

This pic cracks me up! (Ben's boots are on the wrong feet! He put them on himself)



Don't ask...

Bundled up!

Racing! They will race any time, any place.

Okay, I'll tell you. It's "Belly" Racing. Rules: Lift your shirt up and run!
(Look how much taller J is!!)

Swinging!

Feeding Ducks!

Ready for Combat!

Sweet boys had been sick and are all better now! (I made them their matching initial shirts!)