Cubs (Spring 2013)

I forgot to include an update in yesterday's blog about the Cubs' Championship game last Friday.  Let's just say fate was not on our side.  After a completely undefeated regular season and several playoff wins our boys did not play their best and we lost to the Rangers.  At least we came in 2nd place in our division which is one step up from last Spring.  I am so proud of these boys because they truly worked their butts off this season.  It stinks that we lost but we definitely lost to a well deserving team.  There was great sportsmanship all around which made me happy.  One of the Cubs moms is an awesome photographer and I wanted to share some of the pictures she got of Garrison and the team.  I can't wait to frame these and make a baseball collage in his room.

You had a great season #23!  We love you so much and are so proud of everything you have accomplished!


~Jewels*

Weekend Getaway, First Steps, Rend Collective Experiment and Custom Cards

Weekend Getaway

We went to Coleman this weekend to celebrate a 50th anniversary for a sweet couple in Garrett's family.  I always love escaping to Coleman!  The peace and quiet of the country life, the fact that Garrison doesn't ask to play on my phone once while we're there, the chance to get off technology for a while and relax with family - it's all priceless.  I wish I would have been better about getting more pictures throughout the weekend but I got some of these yesterday.  These are my favs!

How cute is this high chair?  Ethan sure loved it! 



If I could sum up "love" in a picture...

These boys love their Granny!

 



First Steps

Our precious Ethan finally took his first steps this weekend (seven to be exact)!  And the best part was it was on Father's Day!  I was so glad Garrett and I were both able to watch him walk for the very first time.  He did it a second time and Garrett's Granny got to see but Garrison has yet to witness it.  He sure tried hard yesterday to get him to do it again but I guess he hasn't learned how stubborn our little E is.  In his own time!

And he suddenly turned into a major Mama's boy this weekend.  You won't hear me complain about that.  Oh, how I love this sweet angel baby God has blessed us with!

Rend Collective Experiment

I am loving this new Christian band I just discovered.  They are from North Ireland and their sound is so unique.  The only song I have heard played on the radio of theirs is "Build Your Kingdom Here" and it's amazing!

You can watch the video by clicking on the below picture.  It's a pretty sweet video and really makes me want to watch them live!

Custom Cards

I came across a really cool website called Treat.com and you can build custom greeting cards there (add photos, change text, etc.) and they will mail them for you.  Make sure you allow at least a week (even more for holidays).  I have used them several times and it makes greeting cards so much more personal I think.  And the best part?!  The total cost is just a little over $4, so what you would spend on a regular Hallmark card.  Check them out here.



I hope you all had a great Father's Day!  I am so incredibly blessed to have a daddy who is such a Godly example in my life.  The love he has for my sister and I is unconditional and to know that our Heavenly Father loves us all even more than that is unfathomable (but so real) to me. 

And I am blessed to have a husband and best friend who is an awesome daddy to our boys.  I can't wait to see where God leads him and us in this life.

~Jewels*

Last Day of 1st Grade, Contagious Laughter, Go Cubs!

I was so glad I was able to take off work for Garrison's last day of school.  I went to the assembly at his school where he received awards for no tardies and perfect attendance all year.  I was almost as shocked by his perfect attendance award as I was when I was told I made the top 10% of my class senior year in high school.  However, I didn't feel the need to ask his counselors to double check the stats like I did in my situation.  :)

After the assembly we went to lunch with my parents and then my mom and I took him to see Escape from Planet Earth.  It was a great day spent with my (gasp) 2nd grader!  Here are some pictures from the day.

Walking into the assembly with some classmates.

 



 

Getting his perfect attendance award.

 

 

From last day of 1st grade to an office professional in one day!

(Playing at Papa's office)

 

 

He's got this down!

 

 

Showing off his medal.

 

 

He's all tuckered out.  Asleep in the buggy at Wal Mart.  WT?!

 

 

Enough energy left to ride his bike.  Doing a great job without training wheels!

 

Ethan truly has a contagious laugh.  I find myself laughing at him all the time.  Whether he's being precious, laughing his deep belly laugh or throwing a tantrum I'm laughing.  (I mostly laugh at the latter just so I can stay sane.) 

Here is a video from this past weekend I took of him.  Even when he wasn't feeling his best he still had a great belly laugh going.

This has to be my all time favorite photo series that I took from dinner last night of him and Garrett.  I'm just glad I got to sit behind the camera and laugh for this one.

 And here are two of my other favorite recent pictures of him.

 

  He's regularly standing up on his own.  Now if we could just get that walking part down!

I am so proud of Garrison and all the Cubs for continuing to have an undefeated regular season and playoff season this Spring.  Thursday night is the big Championship game and I'm not sure if us parents or the boys are more excited!  Here are some of my favorite recent pictures of our boys.  (I borrowed most of these from other parents.)

 

End of season pool party this past weekend.

 

Silly Faces!

 

 

 

After their win last night!

 Love these boys!

 

 GO CUBS!!!

 

 

~Jewels* 

No Training Wheels for Garrison

We have not worked nearly enough with Garrison on riding his bike without training wheels.  And shame on us because in ONE day this boy got it down and he's a pro!  Check him out!

~Jewels*

Catch Up

My sister and her kiddos came in town over Memorial Day weekend and we had SO much fun!  We stayed the night at my parents' house Friday night.  Saturday morning the boys woke up at 5:30 am - yep, you read that right.  So I went to get them all donuts and we started our fun filled day!  We had lots of park time, pool time and family time...Nothing better!

They all had lights of some sort and thought they were pretty cool!

Fun at the park - love these new "bad boy" poses!

 



Bicycle Legs

 



 

Yes, we swam in this! :)

 



They still had a blast!

 



Kiki may have been right when she said it was too wet to take them to the park.  Tee hee!

 



 

 

At first I thought this was a hilarious picture...until I realized the rabbit is about to die a horrible death and Garrison has a pretty scary look on his face.  Hmmmm...

 



Papa and the little ones!

 



Grammy and the big boys!

 



Birthday Princess!

 



Sleepy Boy!

 



 

Took a break from watching Garrison practice baseball to feed the ducks!

 

She is so beautiful I can't stand it!

 



Happy Couple!

 



Cousins saying Goodbye.  :(  Oh, how we wish they lived closer!

 



Last Friday night I met my friends Natalie and Anne for dinner and I got to hold beautiful Miss Ally for a few minutes.  Tell me she's not precious!

 

And here are some recent pictures of Ethan I just had to share!

 

Baby stuck in a drawer...ha!

 

I am so proud of Garrison and his teammates for not only having an undefeated season but for winning the first game in the playoffs.  Our second game is Thursday night and if we win that one (fingers crossed) we go on to the Championships!  These boys (and their coaches) have worked so hard this season and we are so proud of them!  Go Cubs!!!  (Thanks for this awesome picture, Crystal.)

I can't believe school is out in just 2 days!  And I'm even more shocked that I will have a 2nd grader...where has the time gone?  I took Thursday off so I can go to Garrison's assembly at school and then we are going to lunch and a movie.  Love our mama/son date days and I can't wait until Ethan is old enough to join in the fun!


~Jewels*