Circus Celebration

We celebrated Trent's 3rd birthday with a circus themed party on Saturday. We had water slides to help beat the heat and circus treats...popcorn, snow cones, nachos, and cotton candy to go along with our birthday cake and cupcakes. The kids had a blast!

Three!

Popcorn was a hit!

No circus is complete without cotton candy
Trent requested cupcakes instead of cake

Fun cake

Zachary quickly figured out how to make the slide more dangerous
Coming down the "Cyclone"

My niece, Ali Grace
Birthday Boy

Splash!

Kayce and Emerson

Dakota

Brayden talked his daddy into joining him

Grelyn

Rustyn

Emma having a break with a snow cone

Nicole and baby Daxton

Ready for some cakeHe loved the singing Family effort to blow the candles out

Trent and Granny-Great who allowed him to poke his fingers
all in the cake because it was "his party!"

Enjoying the tables that Uncle Tripp built usTrent and KK were in deep discussion over cake and nachos

Cousins, Jeni and Lexi finally got on

And Raegan, too

My nephew, Jack loved his green cupcake

Present time

"It's my party...."Trace and Zachary

Raegan and Thomas
More sliding....

Daddy couldn't resist

The party was not without injury [SURPRISE]...Zachary took another hit on his already dark, dead tooth. He was a trooper and continued to party amidst the blood and tears after a quick oral exam from a dentist in attendance!

The party was a huge success...by my standards. Unfortunately the birthday boy told us on Sunday that he was still 2 and wouldn't be 3 until he had a B-I-I-I-I-G party. (????)

Three!

T: Terrific brother; Talkative; Tatoo lover; Story Teller

R: Rambunctious; Really funny; Ridiculously adorable; Ready for adventure

E: Entertaining; Energetic; Enjoys life; Easy to love; Endless supply of hugs and kisses

N: Naughty and Nice, too

T: Turned THREE Today!

We celebrated Trent all weekend. He has added so much fun and love to our family in his three short years of life. We thank God that he's a part of our little foursome...we cannot imagine life without him. Happy Birthday, Baby Trent!

Summer Days

We have spent the entire summer at the pool. We've enjoyed the water at both of the grandparents, at friends' houses, at my aunt's house, at our cousins' house and at the country club. My boys cannot get enough of it. They are so easy this year because they can be in the water without me so I don't mind taking them everyday.

This morning we headed to Grana's for some pool time with a friend and then we came indoors for the rest of the afternoon. For some reason I decided to attack my craft closet for a much needed clean out. I wish I had taken a before and after, but I was too embarrassed of the shape that it was in.

Seeing all the craft stuff in plain view got Trent in the mood for painting. He sat at his little table and quietly worked for a long time. I love to see his little mind at work.

While I was busy at work in the closet, I felt something wet on my leg. I kept asking Zachary what he was doing and he was giggling. I truly had no idea that I was the proud new owner of this...I'm playing tennis tonight and I'm pretty sure all the other ladies will be interested in knowing where I got such a classy piece of art on the back of my calf!

Trent and I were working on dinner and Zachary was so quiet I had to go check on him. He was in the door of his bedroom...

It was a nice, quiet, productive afternoon inside!

Some things aren't for sharing

As we drove away from our house today, I noticed that I forgot my wedding ring. I said aloud, "Oh Man, I forgot my ring."

Zachary asked, "Why do you always wear that ring?"

I began to explain how wedding rings are a symbol of your love and show everyone around you that you are married. I told the boys, "Like if someone who didn't know us were to walk into Daddy's dealership and see him wearing his wedding ring, they would know that he already has a wife."

Zachary said, "Then some girl won't ask Daddy to marry them."

I laughed, "Yeah, because he's our daddy, and we aren't sharing him!"

To which he replied, "Yeah, and if someone tries to take our daddy, I'll pop a cap in 'em!!"

Consider yourself warned.:)

All Stars

Mt. Pleasant Tball National Team

Before our first game
Cuties
Zachary was SO proud of the black under his eyes!
They introduced each player and then they all lined up for the national anthem. They were all a little confused...definitely should have practiced it! But, once they figured it out, they thought they were BIG TIME!
After the tournament....everyone's worn out...especially coaches!!!
We survived our first t-ball all star tournament over the weekend. Our kids had a great time, but were the youngest team there and it showed. We were out matched in both games, but really did pretty well in the second game. [The first game was brutal!!! Our team only got ONE out the entire game and it was because one of their runners ran out of the base line!!!!] It was a good experience and we will be ready for next year!!!

Daddy's our HERO

Our daddy is stronger, braver, smarter, and more special than any super hero...

Visiting Kent

Today I took the boys to Dallas to visit our special neighbor, Kent. He leaves tomorrow for a rehab facility in Denver so we really wanted to see him before he left. Honestly, I was a bit concerned about how my kids would do in the hospital under the circumstances. I prayed a lot about it and talked to them about what to expect.

They were perfect! Our visit could not have gone better. Kent's 22nd birthday is Saturday so we took one of Grana's pound cakes (Zachary's pick) and some homemade gifts. Kent was so gracious and sweet to the boys.

Kent's attitude is amazing!! He actually told us that this accident 'was the best thing that ever happened to him'. Can you imagine?! He asked us to pray over him and we were honored to do so. His testimony is and will be a very inspiring one.

Here he is styling his hair before pictures. Gretchen, be proud!

Trent with his BEST buddy

Melt my heart

After visiting Kent we had our first experience at Shenanigans. The boys had a blast playing laser tag, bowling, playing arcade games and watching Raegan climb the rock wall. (Zachary wasn't big enough for the harness--he was so bummed!)

When we got back to MP, the boys jumped directly in the pool. After all the fun we had today, I asked Trent what his favorite part of the day was. Without hesitation he said, 'KENT'!

Mine, too!:)

VBS 2009

Balloon toss

My sweet class

My boys and I on bandanna day

Playing a didgeridoo

Very intent

Cutie pie!

Bro. Clint before taking his pie in the face...
And after!

We had a GREAT week on the Boomerang Express at Vacation Bible School last week. I taught the kids who are going into Kindergarten next year. I just love that age! Zachary was in my class and after much wailing, Trent was too. We had a lot of fun and hopefully we planted lots of seeds in our little people.

As always, the boys and girls competed to see who could bring the heaviest offering. When the numbers were looking small during midweek, Bro. Clint offered a challenge that if they brought 600 lbs of change combined, he would take a pie in the face. That did the trick. There was over 1000 lbs of money brought by Friday. He kept his word and the kids went berserk to watch their preacher get creamed!

Prayers for Kent

***Kent's sister, Kara, sent me the information for his caring bridge website so we can all follow his progress. Click here to read her entries.***

Our neighbor, Kent, who we have all come to love since moving here, was in a horrible motorcyle wreck yesterday. He was flown to Parkland in Dallas and is in very serious condition. He sustained back injuries that could be life altering. If you are reading this, please stop and say a prayer for him. I know that he and his family would very much appreciate it.

My boys and I are praying every time we think of him...Praying for a full recovery! In Trent's words, "that bof his legs get fixed and he will come to my house to play."

AMEN!

T Ball Party

The regular season for T ball ended last week and so we celebrated last night with a swimming party at my in-laws. The kids had a great time swimming, eating hot dogs and enjoying cupcakes.

Here I am posing with my guys before the last game. Trent wore his full uniform for that game.

The boys were so pumped to get these "huge" trophies

The cupcakes were a hit...with kids AND adults.

We had a great set of kids this year on our team and we ended up League Champs! Way to go Padres!

Now on to All-Stars. I am not kidding. T-ball all stars!!! Brandon is coaching since our team ended up with the most wins. Tournament is mid June. I'll keep you posted on that madness!

Our Graduate

Zachary graduated from preschool on May 28. I have been trying to download pictures that my sister took for me since then and still can't! I copied these 2 off of her blog--so it's all I've got.

Their graduation program was Edward the Emu. Zachary was the zookeeper and loved his job. Here is he announcing, "It's 9 o'clock. The zoo is now open."



Here's the cutie decked out in his cap and gown. If I hadn't been dealing with an unruly 2 year old, I would have been emotional. I was very sad on his last day of school. NOT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN! I mean, he is---just not me!

He told the audience that when he grows up he will be a car saleman (with no 's') like his daddy.

I wrote Zachary a letter for him to open at his high school graduation. (My mom and KK did the same.) I have a feeling that day will come sooner than I can imagine...in the blink of an eye.:(

We've had a great preschool experience. Asbury in Little Rock was wonderful for Zachary and he has really blossomed at Brain Gym over the last 2 years. I am so proud of the little person he has become.

Here is our other child.

Don't let the cuteness fool you--he acted horrible. I've said it a million times, but it's a good thing he's cute! I tie dyed these shirts for all the kids playing monkeys in the program. This monkey never made it on stage!

He said next year he was going to be the man with all the keys (zookeeper like Zachary). I'm sure after his stellar performance this year, they'll hand over that lead role with no questions asked. Crazy kid!!