Fun with the green screen (aka...Coworkers in Costume)

Last night was a big night for Mike.  He has been managing a HUGE project at work for the past 18 months and it is finally nearing completion!  The project has been very demanding of everyone on his team, so he organized a dinner for 40+ people (employees, contractors, and their spouses) at Austin Ranch.  Not only was there a delicious dinner, there were also lots of fun activities!  There was a virtual skeet shoot, a quick draw competition, a pool room, and you can't forget the green screen.  The green screen provided a lot of laughs thoughout the evening as people dressed up as different characters to have their picture taken!  Here are pictures of the pictures that we brought home...

Wade, Mike, & Aubrey.  These guys spent a ton of time on the road together the past 18 months.

 

 

Alright...quit your drooling.  I know my hubby looks sexy in a cowboy hat...but he's taken ;)

Axton's Birthday Party

 

 

 

 

CAKE TIME!!! aka - Luke's 1 yr photoshoot

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Mike Adams

Today I took the boys to a local Whataburger for a Texas Rangers player appearance.  Mike Adams (pitcher for the Texas Rangers) came to sign autographs for fans.  This was our first time to go to an event like this and we arrived just in time! Adams was scheduled to arrive at 10:30 am and we got to the parking lot at 10:05.  The line looked like the line for the Texas Giant at Six Flags!  We walked up and got wrist bands 221, 222, & 223 out of 225 that were being handed out!  If you had a wrist band, you were guaranteed a signature.  Whew!  That was close!

Mike Adams arrived promptly at 10:30 and by 11:15 we were inside the Whataburger getting baseballs signed (could you sign your name 225 times in 45 minutes?!?).  While we were waiting in the parking lot, however, there was plenty of entertainment.  Yes...the Rangers fans provided a lot of entertainment/amusement...but so did Captain (the Rangers mascot) and some of the TX Rangers Six Shooters (cute girls who help with Rangers promotions...they were putting on temporary tattoos and making things out of balloons for the kids).  One of the Rangers staff took a picture (like this one) of the boys with Captain and it appeared on the Texas Rangers Facebook page!

 

See all these people still waiting for an autograph?  These are the people who were in line behind us!  These people didn't have wrist bands, so they weren't even guaranteed they'd get an autograph...but they love the Rangers so much they were willing to wait for the chance at one!

 

Brody brought a Texas Rangers souvenior baseball that we got him at a game last year.  After Mike Adams signed it, he turned to me and said, "I touched Mike Adams hand!!!!" 

 

I should've looked at the ball Barrett picked to bring before we left the house.  It was some giveaway ball.  It has the mastercard logo on one side and some ad for a home run derby on the other side!  I wonder what Adams thought when he was handed that ball?  I hope he didn't relate it to how much Barrett valued the autograph....because you better believe that signed ball is now sitting in an enclosed baseball case on Barrett's nightstand.  He is sooooo proud of the fact that he has a ball signed by Mike Adams!!

 

Not only did the event run smothly on the Rangers part, Whataburger did an amazing job of keeping everything organized and getting food out quick!  They even gave out free whoppers!  It may have just been a quick run in with a baseball allstar....but I think it was a highlight of the summer for our boys!

Guess who's gonna be a BIG BRO?!?!

 

Yay!!!!  We were so excited when Caleb & Audria stopped by (on May 28th)...espeically when we saw Axton's shirt!  He's gonna be such a good big brother!  Caleb & Audria's little one is due December 26th.  It's gonna be an exciting Christmas this year!!

Hawaiian Falls...Roanoke!!!

Today we went to Cabela's to buy Mike's Father's Day present (shhhhh!  It's a secret!  Well...it was until Mike got home and Barrett told him what it was...but we'll still pretend like it's a secret).  Since we were up north of Ft. Worth, we decided to try out the Roanoake Hawaiian Falls (our pass works at any HF waterpark).  We loved it!  Not only was it way less crowded than the one by us, but the boys love the kids area and Brody loved the fact that there weren't any lines for the big slides!  I took a few pics (from my phone, of course....not taking my nice camera to a waterpark...sorry!!)

 

I was impressed that Brody did the tall yellow and green slides....over and over!  I'm not sure I would've done them at 5 yrs old.  I even closed my eyes while I was doing them at 32 years old!

 

Barrett was more into relaxing than anything else.  He didn't mind chillin' in a chair with his goldfish while Brody rode a big slide.

 

Another fun day with my boys at Hawaiian Falls!  I love summer :)

 

Why the fascination?

Does anyone know the proper term for the bank deposit thingy that shoots up the tube back to the teller when you're at the drive thru?  Well...the boys are fascinated with it!  Every time we go to the bank they beg me to let them just look at...and possibly even hold the bank container.  I shot a pic on my phone the other day....just so I won't forget this random fascination :)

 

Luke's 1st Birthday Party

 

It was strange not seeing the birthday boy (or his parents) much during the party.  They actually ended up leaving towards the end of the party to take him to a Care Now.  I tried to take lots of pics for Tyler and Ann so that they could see what went on at Luke's birthday party!  I also had Daddy Steve take a picture of me and my handsome hubby.  I love this one!  I think it might have to be my new Facebook profile picture ;) 

 

I also LOVE the lighting in this picture of Brody and Collin!  They were being silly and trying to carry the other cousin to the pool.  They were laughing so loud I heard them from inside and hurried out just in time to catch this picture...

 

 

Axton's 1 year photoshoot

 

Today I got to take pictures of Axton (and Caleb & Audria)!  We went early so that it was still cool outside and we had so much fun taking pictures!  I think Axton's favorite part was the smash cake.  He tore that cake up....and the evidence was all over his face, clothes, and the bridge!  It was great practice for his birthday party :)  I took about 350 pictures this morning.  There were so many good ones that it was hard to pick which ones to post!  I made a few collages below so that I could post more.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Boys LOVE mud!

It rained A LOT yesterday and today. What does that mean to the boys? It means the creek is muddy! It means it's time to put on boots and clothes (the ones that aren't Momma's favorties) and go get messy! Here's Barrett as he was on his way to find Brody.  I'm gussing I'll need to hose them down before I can let them back in the house for dinner tonight. 

 

Hawaiian Falls!!!!!

This year Daddy Steve and Namaw got the boys season passes to Hawaiian Falls for their birthdays!  It's a gift that will keep on giving all summer long!  Today we went to the water park for the first time as season pass holders.  It has been a few years since Brody and I went with Audria...and Barrett had never been!

The boys had sooooo much fun!  (so did I!)

We ran into one of my friends from the gym, Suzanna, who has a daughter who went to preschool with Brody.  We hung out with them a lot of the afternoon so that Brody had someone to ride the big slides with.  You have to be 42" tall to ride and Barrett isn't near 42" yet.  At first he was excited to go watch Brody do a big slide...then he realized that he wasn't allowed to ride them and he got really sad.  If you look close you can see a tear rolling out of his sunglasses down his cheek while he waited for Brody.  Thankfully, there are lots of other things to do besides the big slides...so we'll get to have lots of fun this summer!   

 

You might notice the dark clouds in the pictures I posted here (taken with my phone).  Yes...storms were rolling in and just as Brody got to the top of one of the slides, they shut all the rides down and they had to walk all the way back down.  It's ok...it was time for us to leave anyways.  Since we have season passes, we can just go back another day!  So fun!

Am I allowed to show the umpire proof of a bad call?

Tuesday was Brody's last game of the spring season.  It was a HOT game.  It was humid, temps were in the 90's, the sun was shining bright, and there was absolutely no breeze.  I looked like I'd been to the gym by the time we walked back to the car after the game....and I was just taking pictures!  Brody looked like he'd jumped in the pool!!

 

 

Grammy came to town to see Brody's last 2 games this week and tonight Daddy Steve, Namaw, Caleb, & Audria were also at the ball park to watch the game.  Axton spent most of his time chasing an extra baseball around.  Even though it was hot, he was all smiles....until I pulled out the camera! lol

 

 

This is the play that frustrated Brody the most.  He was playing first base and the pitcher (Cade) threw him the ball.  He bobbled the ball a bit...

but he had regained control and had never taken his foot off the bag by the time the batter arrived.  The ump thought that he wasn't touching first base when the batter tagged the base.  You can see from the picture below that his shin was laying across the back corner!  I was standing by the dugout when the inning ended and Brody ran up saying, "Did you see that play at first where he called the runner out?  I had him out!!!"  I told him not to worry...that I had proof on the camera.  They don't review plays in MLB....so I don't think the ump would've liked it if I threw a red flag on the field and asked him to come look at the display on my camera ;)  lol   Mike later told Brody, "If you hadn't bobbled the ball the ump would've called it out for sure.  Just catch the ball fast the next time and you'll have an easy out!"

 

This may be the end of organized baseball until the fall season starts..... 

 

 but I can guarantee you that it will still be played daily at our house. Barrett has caught the bug and is now wanting to play catch almost as much as Brody!  And I wonder why these boys eat so much...

I am not that old!

Brody just pushed the grocery cart around the store for me. Barrett was at home playing Candy Land with Grammy, so I wasn't pushing any kids around...just the groceries. B did a great job of steering the cart and even put it up in the cart stall after we loaded the groceries in the car!

Seriously?!? I can't be old enough to have a kid that can push the grocery cart for me!!!

If I remember my childhood correctly, I should invest in high tops to protect my heels from the grocery cart wheels.

Don't make the trees grow....and thumb toes

All last week the boys asked us to pray for the garden and trees to grow as we tucked them into bed at night.  Towards the end of the week it rained quite a bit.  I didn't realize it until tonight, but Barrett assumed that the rain was a direct answer to the prayer that he and Brody prayed for the trees to grow. 

One of Barrett's favorite birthday presents is the monster truck that Daddy Steve and Namaw got him.  He has been talking about how he can't wait to take it over to the ramps (the area in the creek that the boys ride their bikes) and drive his truck in the ramps.  So....last night at bedtime Barrett said, "Momma?  Will you PLEASE not pray for the trees to grow?  I really want to drive my truck in the ramps tomorrow!  Don't ask God to make the trees grow!  Please?!?"

He knows that when it rains the creek gets muddy....and I typically tell them not to get muddy.  He was thinking that if we prayed for the trees to grow that God would make it rain again and then he wouldn't get to drive his truck in the ramps.  Melted my heart!

Oh....and I can't forget to write down his other prayer request....he asked us to pray for his "thumb toe".  We said, "Your what?!?"  He said, "You know....my toe that looks like my thumb.  I can even suck it!" as he put his big toe in his mouth to prove his point!  YUCK!  It had us all laughing uncontrollably though :)

Barrett & Collin's Birthday Bash

June is FULL of birthdays in our family.  In an effort to decrease the number of weekends reserved for kids birthday parties, Julie and I decided to do a joint birthday party for Collin (6/6/06) and Barrett (6/27/08).  Matt and Julie offered to have the party at their house and our boys were super excited to go to Collin's for the party!  They have a few acres of land surrounding their house and the boys love to have the space to run and play!

 

Seeing as Barrett wants to imitate everything his big brother does, any guess as to what he wanted his birthday cake to be?  Yep...Texas Rangers!  Julie (with the help of cake decorator Collin) made a monster truck cake for Collin and then we bought (*gasp*....yes for the first time ever I bought a cake) an ice cream cake for Barrett.  This way we had cake and ice cream without an abundance of cake!

 

Matt has a huge smoker on his gazebo out back that he used to smoke some yummy chicken.

 

While waiting for the chicken to finish cookin', Luke entertained all the adults with his cup stacking skills.

 

 

Daddy Steve wanted to take a picture of me and Ann before Tyler and Ann left....and it turned out so cute!  I love this girl so much!  Hardly a day goes by that we don't spend at least 1/2 an hour talking on the phone.  I'm so thankful my brother married such a beautiful woman (inside and out)!

 

Oh...and here's that cute brother that married one of my best friends ;)

 

We missed Caleb, Audria, & Axton (they were camping with their small group from church) and Jon, Cindy, Bella, & Emma (they were busy moving into a new house in Austin).  Our hearts were also heavy with Sissie's deteriorating health....but it helped lift our spirits to spend a day together as a family laughing, telling stories, and watching the enthusiasm of the children.  I'm so blessed to have such a loving family!

Oh....and the boy who never thinks he needs a nap was asleep before we even got to the highway!  He was clutching one of his new toys as he slept and at one point he suddenly screamed "NO!" and threw the monster truck at the back of the seat.  We all looked at him with startled looks on our faces...and then laughed when we realized he was sound asleep.  He didn't remember the incident at all when we got home.