Baseball, Bible School, Baby Showers, and Birthday Parties

Baseball season is over and I don't think I ever posted any pictures.  Partly because my hands were always full.  No one volunteered to coach the team, so on the first day of practice Brian stepped up. And coaching baseball to 4 and 5 year olds is not just a one person job.  So I too stepped in and helped out.  The beginning of the season was a lot easier, but as the weather got warmer and I got bigger - I was just wishing it was over.  Cole wanted so badly to play, so I had to put him in the child watch section at the Y during games and practices or have Mom watch him at her house.  Finally on the last game I let him sit on the bench with the big kids.  He just doesn't like to be left out.

Some of the kids at the after party at Clay's. 

Red cheeks and bushy hair.  After seeing this picture, they cooled off and I took them for hair cuts the next day!

A video of Carter hitting  the ball at his last game. 

During the month of June, Carter went to two Vacation Bible Schools.  He loved them.  We bought the PandaMania CD and listen to it alot.  Cole is too young to go, but he enjoys the music.  He would throw a fit when I'd drop off Carter and he couldn't stay.  Poor kid is learning the age gap at a small age.  This summer was full of things (VBS, gymnastic camps, Parents Day Out camps, etc) that Cole wasn't old enough for, but next year when he's 3 he'll be right in the mix!

Here are some photos of him having fun while celebrating God.

Allison's shower was at the end of June.  I was excited to see my pregnancy partner, she's just four weeks behind me.  And Matthew is such a good doting husband.  They'll make great parents.  We celebrated them at a shower at Pappadeaux's that her two sisters and I hosted.  It was nice to see out of town family come in as well.  Babies are always a reason to celebrate.  Mom made her a gorgeous diaper cake for the shower.  Alli hesitated taking it apart to ship it, but Mom fit it in the same box as the Moses Basket she got for them.  So it worked out. 

My baby shower was at the end of July and I gotta tell you, my friends really outdid themselves.  I know I have fantastic friends that are generous, crafty, sweet and great hostesses - but since I'm having my third boy - I was really underplaying the shower thing.  Well they didn't.  They made me, and thus this baby, feel so special.  And all the attendees showered me with wonderful gifts, sweet stories and lots of praise for mothering skills.  I had a great day. 

Here are the cake balls that Kelly brought for dessert.  Very good - the vanilla was my favorite, so creamy. 

 The spread of food.  And it was just as yummy as it was pretty.

 My sweet sweet hostesses.  Kelly, Julie, me and Jennifer.

 Oreo truffles that Julie made for people to take home.  She single handedly made me gain 3 pounds that week.  My biggest gain the entire pregnancy.

 My own diaper cake :)

 Cute clothes as decorations.

 More clothes

 I liked how Jen displayed the invitation - so creative.

 Invitation up close

We also had a few birthdays this summer (tends to happen when you don't blog for months).  While I was at Alli's shower, Brian took the boys to Caroline's birthday (she turned 3 and is Carter's best friend Luke's sister) at Cypress Academy.  All my friends love Brian, why wouldn't they, and he enjoyed their company as well.  We might have to start switching birthday party duty now that I know he can handle both of them and the chaos of a birthday party!

Julie sent me a cute picture of Carter and Luke.

And Carter's other best bud had a birthday in July.  Jacob turned 5 and had his party at Westwood Gymnastics.  The boys love the gym parties - as do I, less chasing around. 

Here are the two friends "hanging out"

 Look at those red cheeks, man was he wore out after this party.  He just played and played the entire time.  In fact, I had to corral him into eating cake and pizza, he just wanted to play.

My friend Carlin had her son's 1st birthday party last month as well.  We were running early to the party (as I usually do) after some errands so I took the boys to Crave Cupcakes.  Who takes their kids to a cupcake bakery BEFORE a birthday - well, a pregnant woman who really wanted one of their delicious White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cupcakes.  They're in the Galleria and I don't get to indulge often enough, so when we were nearby I just couldn't resist. 

 At the party swinging each other.

 More cake.

 And a more cake from a silly boy

 Brady, the birthday boy.