Infinity Sports Camp

Callan spent everyday from 9AM to 4 PM at Infinity Sports Camp. True to Callan form... I have no idea what he did for 7 hours a day for 5 days. On Friday he came home with the award "Basketball Hot Shot". He really enjoyed his week in the hot summer sun playing sports and getting to do something just for him.

Here he is with his "Coach" who taught him more than just sports.

ONE

It happens WAY TOO FAST!

We went to bed a ZERO =)


and woke up ONE!

The day we met...

This day came way too fast! Cruz Williamson Jones you are my heart on the outside. I love you so much! Happy First Birthday!

Father's Day: Worth Repeating

I LOVE YOU HONEY! Happy Father's Day!

It's NOT my birthday

Cruz feels the same way I do... he is not ready for his birthday. When we lit a candle for him and started singing...this is what we got. I like to call this face "What you talking about Willie?" (which I really do say to him a lot). I have no comment as to the gesture... we see it daily, at quite appropriate times??!!


When he figured out that he actually got to eat the yummy Gigi's Lemon cupcake, he was a little more on board.





And then once Nommie and Gandie brought out the birthday ball pit... he was all about birthday's.


Momma... NOT SO MUCH! I can live in denial for about another week.

Family

This week my brother and his family came up for a visit. It was Jackson's birthday the day they arrived so we had a family gathering to celebrate (and decided to add on Cruz to the celebration since he will be one just next week, but more about that later). I love when they come up and my family all stays in one place even if only for one night. My mom and dad, me and my family and my brother and his family were all under one roof. I think someone was almost always asleep and the adults repeated the phrase "shhh" way too much, but there is a peace that comes with being together.



I did not get good photos of the 4 year old birthday boy who was unsure of the attention that being sung to brings. But he is a riot and keeps us all in stiches. I did get photos of them all together, and the boys even had a photo shoot with Georgia since it was only the 2nd time they had ever seen her.



On Tuesday, we invited my dad's family to come help us celebrate. My grandparents came and so did my dad's sister with her son's and their families. Again, it got so hectic that we did not stop and pictures of the entire crew (I know we will regret that someday), but we had fun spending time together for a few hours.


** My brother and I have 2 cousins on my dad's side. Each of the 4 of us had a baby between June of last year and January of this year. 3 girls... 1 boy (imagine that!!??)I do not have a picture but in birth order... Ashley had Cruz, Bryson had Kaylie Ann, Jared had Georgia, and Jake had Paige.

5-6 County Champions

Silas' team played hard this year. They only lost 3 games all year. The first during regular season, the second in the Heritage Championship, and one loss in the 2 loss County tournament (he played a total of 20-25 games). His coaches were GREAT (and very patient with him and his mommy).They taught him so much... if it will only all soak in and not have to be re-learned. He is so proud of his trophies (he got 2... one for Heritage Runner-Up, and the other County Champion). I am so proud of him!

Baseball: Baylor

I don't get the opportunity to get my camera out much at Baylor's games. I have gotten several of him at bat, but not much in the field. This weekend, I took a few of him playing first. He loves to play first base. He loves to play any position, but this one is his favorite. He takes it seriously!

Don't ya wonder... is he talking to him, or just doing what baseball players do... spitting?

Home: 3 Years

Today our Eliza has been home 3 years. She has brought us more joy than we can describe. We cannot imagine our life without her in it.




When we were in Guatemala, we picked out 18 gifts to give her on this very day. One for every year until she is 18. They are not anything big, but all of them are handmade items that you would find in the market there. I love watching her open and play with her gifts from "My-mala-mala".

Baseball: Silas

This was Silas' first year to play "real" baseball. He played last year, but I think it actually did him more harm than good. In his past league, everyone got to hit off the tee and run around the bases. I do believe it was perfect for the age and so fun, but it made it harder to understand the real rules of baseball. Like running as hard as you can so you don't get out, watching your coaches to know if you should run at all, having a position rather than everyone on the team running to the ball and ending up in a pile fighting for the ball, or even trying to make a play with the ball that you get rather than just holding it up with pride that you came out of the bottom of the pile with the ball.

Silas has done so well this year and has an amazing coach and team. Silas is one of the young ones on the team and the boys are so sweet and encouraging to him. (have I mentioned that all the coaches are amazing... they really care about the boys and teaching them).

In the beginning Silas struggled with being able to hit off the coaches pitches, but we are on a roll now and hitting GREAT! Silas' team played in the Championship Game for the Heritage Tournament. They ended up losing, but if I do say so myself... they were robbed! Three bad calls from a teenage ump (there should have been at least 2 umps)and some severe intensity from the other team made for a strange game. It never ceases to amaze me how grown men (or even an entire stand of parents) can act around 5 and 6 year olds. I am proud to say our coaches took the high road !!!





I just wish I had the picture of him passed out cold on the chair not long after his game, with trophie still in hand.

Baseball: Callan

Have I mentioned that we have been playing baseball? Callan's Rangers' team has held their own this year. I am really proud of the growth Callan and the team have made. We won the first game in the Heritage tourney, but had to forfeit the second game from a lack of players (it is summer vacation). This is the team receiving their trophies.



Could the BIG toothless grin on this boy be any cuter?

Simple Things

Sometimes, it is the simple things in life that can bring such joy. A perfect pink umbrella is one of those things. Not only does it bring a smile to the face of a three year old little girl, but a smile on mommy's face just seeing pure joy in the face of her child.