Nana with the Boys

I'm so thankful that my mom got to come and spend a week with us.  She played with the boys, read to them, and watched hours of them playing baseball in the backyard.  She was also so helpful to me with cooking and cleaning and sometimes just having someone there with you is all the help you need.  Thank you for coming, mom! We love you and miss you! You are welcome to come back anytime! 

(Papa, too, hint, hint.)

Major Turns 3!

July 11th our baby turned 3! No longer a baby or a toddler, but a pre-schooler! 

 I put up the "Happy Birthday" sign and hung the streamers around the lights and he was so excited when he got up.  "It's my birfday!" He said.  And he was excited and happy all day.  This first picture is the first one I got of him this morning...still in his pjs!

July 11th also happened to be cow appreciation day at Chick Fil A, so we all dressed as cows and went and got free food at Chick Fil A! My mom flew in from Michigan to spend a week with us.  Since we live so far apart, she has rarely been at any of the kid's birthdays. (I don't think she's ever been to a party or anything, but one year we happened to be flying home from Ohio on Eli's birthday, so she happened to see him on his birthday, but didn't really have a birthday celebration.) It was extra special to have Nana there!

 My herd: Brady, Eli, and a newly 3 year old Major!

 The first thing we did that morning was to go get our traditional birthday doughnuts.  Chocolate iced with sprinkles...yum!

 We had Major's favorite meal, spaghetti for dinner.

 And we had chocolate chip cookie cake for dessert.

 This picture of Major and the phone (that Nana is holding) is Papa singing happy birthday to Major. Major sung it with him.  It was so cute.

 Major and all his presents...most of them Batman related. :-)

 New Superman pajamas from Nana

 A big Batman from Aunt Kam and Uncle Devin

 Measuring him on the growth chart.  I believe he was 40 or 41 inches tall.

 Sweet big brothers playing with all of Major's little Batman figurines while Major is running around with his big Batman.  I love these quiet, playing moments.

 Superman playing basketball

 Mommy and Daddy with their big 3 year old boy

Last picture, Nana with a very silly Major

Bill's 7v7 Tournament at Faulkner University

July 8th Bill planned a tournament at Faulkner University.  He had 10 area schools participate in a 7 on 7 tournament as well as a lineman challenge.  It was a huge success and it was all him! I'm so proud of all his hard work!

Here is Bill sporting his new coaching hat.  I like it!

 The local CBS affiliate was there to interview him as well! Way to go, babe!

July 4th in Texas and a June 28th Wedding in Nashville

Again with the out of order pictures, but I'm going to go ahead and explain what we did in correct order, then try to go back and explain the pictures.  One of Bill's assistant coaches, Darby Palmer, got married on June 28th to a really sweet girl named Katie Dunn.  They got married in Nashville, and Bill felt that since he is the head football coach, he should go.  So we spent a night in Nashville and went to see Darby and Katie's wedding, as well as go to downtown Nashville to a store called Antique Archaeology.  There is a show on TV that Bill really likes called "American Pickers" about two guys who go around the United States and find antiques to sell.  There main store is in Iowa, but they opened a second store in Nashville.  Since we were there, Bill had to go to it.  Sadly, we didn't find anything to buy, but it was really interesting!

On our way back from Nashville, we decided to go to Texas for 4th of July week and visit Bill's parents and sister and brother in law (Kam and Devin), as well as our friends.  We were home for a day before we packed up the car and hit the road again.  We had a really good time with Aunt Kam and Uncle Devin and seeing some of our old friends.  We got to spend lots of good time with Jack and Kate Gowens (and I loved getting to spend time with their mom, Shelley!)

This first picture is Brady helping Uncle Devin make the hamburgers for 4th of July meal.

Second is a picture of Aunt Kam with Brady, Eli, and Major.  Her "little men" as she calls them. :-)

 This 3rd picture is of Bill with the boys at Antique Archaeology (the store I mentioned above).

 Fourth is a picture of Eli and Brady helping Uncle Devin clean out Gran Betty's refrigerator.

 5th: Brady and Eli with Zach, Allilson, and Alex Pace.  More good fun with friends and I enjoyed getting to see their mom, my friend, Rebecca!

 Random photo of Major sitting on top of our wood pile.  He likes to sit up there with his toys and play.

 Bill outside of Antique Archaeology

 More Brady helping Uncle Devin make dinner

 One day we went to Jack and Kate's grandparents' house to swim at their pool.  We swam all day long.  They slept hard that night! Here are Kate, Brady, Major, Eli, Jack, and Addison

 Brady sliding down the slide

 Another random Major as batman photo...I guess I take a lot of these...

 4th of July at Gran Betty and Big Daddy's house.  Here are Brady, Eli, and Major.  That night, we saw fireworks with Jack and Kate and Addison (AKA Addie), but I didn't get any pictures.  Oops!