Opening Day

Opening Day arrived the same weekend as Max's birthday! We had a fabulous weekend of sports and celebrating a milestone. We live in a BASEBALL household and we LOVE it! All three boys play and all three continue to grow and develop into great players. We have the luxury of playing year round down here in Southeast Texas. Of course it's not always easy on the bank account but we head out to Academy twice a year, ATLEAST, to get prepared to play. Max has moved up to the Junior League now so he plays at a different location but W.E.L.L. is run by committed parents who work hard so that we can have a fabulous facility. We love to watch games, eat dinner at a teriffic snack shack and cheer on our boys and other boys we've grown to know well during our three years here.

Both Ben and Max are playing for the Rangers this year!

Mark Thomas is quite the pitcher! He was put in to close up a game the other night with two runners on base and two outs. No pressure there, but he came through with a strike out to tie the game at 9. It's a lot for a 9 year to shoulder that responsibility but he did great! I was definitely sweating it out in the stands texting Mark with a pitch by pitch description.

A Teenager in the House

Are we seriously old enough to have a teenager in the house? Well I guess we are since Max turned 13 on the 14th of March! I really cannot believe that my little 6 pound 4 oz first born son is a teenager. I remember when Mark and I had him we felt so unequipped to be parents and just marveled at his existence. He's been a wonderful son and continues to amaze us. I'm not saying he's perfect....because he definitely does his fair share of mixing up trouble in the house but on the whole he's a wonderful young man.

We celebrated at Buffalo Wild Wings with most of the guys from his seventh grade class. He switched schools this year and every time we're around his classmates we are reminded of why we chose to move him. It's a wonderful group of young men and their camaraderie is quite an experience. You should have seen them when they decided to take on the Extreme Wing Challenge. Each boy who wanted to participate was given a Blazing Hot Wing and they had 30 seconds to eat it and refrain from drinking anything. It was absolutely hilarious!

Max wanted to add onto his drum kit for his birthday this year. He recently received a scholarship from our church and received $250 to add towards a new piece of equipment. So off to The Guitar Center we headed and quickly spent a lot of money on a new high hat, stand, bass pedal and two new sets of sticks. But to hear him play makes it all worth it. Max has been playing the drums since he was a toddler and the rhythm patterns he creates now just blow my mind!

We're headed into the unknown with a teenager but he's got a good head on his shoulders, still tells me he loves me daily and can clean up the kitchen like you wouldn't believe. We love you Max!

Dudes and Darlins

Ella got to spend a fabulous evening alone with her Daddy. Those moments are rare in this household and they had a blast! Ella has been involved in Daisies this year and she and I go to meetings every other Saturday. It's a fabulous Troop and we've been able to do several things in the community that are helping to shape her little mind.

Every year there is a Dudes and Darlins dance and the theme is obviously Western. Mark and Ella got all gussied up and I took some photos of them before they left. Earlier in the day Ella said to me, "I need to take a LONG bath, not just a play bath." She chose every element of her attire and looked just precious.

Mark said they danced and he twirled her around the room. Her smile while listening to her Daddy recount the evening was priceless.