Happy #12, Aidan!

happy 12th birthday to our first born!!!  wow!  12 years...where has the time gone???  i know this sounds cliche - but it really does go fast.  i remember like it was yesterday walking back to my apartment from the pool and feeling my water break - that was an experience!  good thing i was already wet ;)

how could i have ever known how much my life was about to change.  the overwhelming feeling of hearing that first cry and seeing that baby for the first time still makes my heart skip a beat as i think about it now.  i was instantly in love.

aidan - you are my one and only.  my first true love.  i had no idea what was in store and man has it been a ride!  i love every aspect of your being - even the smart mouth ;)  you are inspiring and an absolute joy in my life.  i love you so, so much!

we surprised aidan this year with a trip to arlington for his first RANGERS game!  they played on his actual birthday and we had a blast!  it was just me, roy, and aidan and i must admit - it was fun to just be the 3 of us :)

we took him to lunch first at his favorite - the cheesecake factory - YUM! 

 they spelled his name wrong - but it's chocolate - so you can't really complain ;)

and then we headed to the ball park.  we LOVE our RANGERS and had an absolute blast!  i made aidan a sign to hold up during the game - heehee!



i love this picture of him looking up and taking in the view for the first time as we walked in.  makes me have tears...

july in texas - it's hot!

i think it's safe to say - he had fun!

A Day At The Ballpark...

Aidan had a baseball game last night against the #1 team in his division.  In the 4th inning they were losing 8-2, but managed to come back and WIN 15-8!!!  We were all excited!

Ryan and his BFF Frankie!

Aidan hauling butt to first base!

Relief!

Baseball games are such a HUGE part of our life!  My little boys just make themselves at home out there.  Ryan has his routine of snacks from the consession stand - 2 ring pops (one for him and one for Cole), a bag of "circle chips" (Funyuns!), and popcorn!  HA!

Just wanted to share a "normal" evening for us :)

Mother's Day

I had a nice Mother's Day today with my boys.  Roy let me sleep in this morning and the boys woke me up with beautiful flowers, a HUGE balloon, and cards.  It was so sweet!  At first I thought maybe the balloon was so big so it would carry me off and we would all have a nice day... ;)  Just kidding!

We all got ready and they took me to lunch. 

My in-laws and brother-in-law and nephew ended up meeting us there.

I attempted to take some pictures of the boys together...

but that didn't work out as planned...

The boys and their cousin with Roy's mom

Me and my boys :)

All 4 of my boys...

I love this one!

I have to share this...I saw it on Katie's blog and it just spoke to me so deeply...

"If you know someone who has lost a child...and you're afraid to mention them because you think you might make them sad by reminding them that they died, they didn't forget they died. You're not reminding them. What you're reminding them of is that you remember that they lived, and that's a great, great gift."

~ Elizabeth Edwards

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

Celebrate!

Last Saturday we celebrated Ryan's birthday at Jump-N-Place! 

We had such a fun time...so did the kids!  Ha!

That place is GREAT too because they do ALL the work!  They set up the party room for me while all the kids were playing and jumping.  All I did was give the thumbs up! 

It was so laid back and easy!

The Birthday Boy!

Aidan had baseball pictures before the party!

Cole was all smiles :)

Cole's friend he found - he liked talking to this guy!

Going in...

Aidan and Cousin Bella (both had games after - it was also Opening Day for baseball!  We had a busy day!)

Ryan and Landon

Cousin Robert

Uncle Raymond and Cole

Fatty Maddy!  Love those thighs Maddox!

Roy was trapped with all the boys jumping on him!

Making our way to the party room...

This is the new way Ryan takes pictures...

A little shy while being sung too :)

You're busted, Cole!  It's not your birthday!!!

Thank you to all who came and celebrated with us!!!

Today...

Today was the day that my life was forever changed 5 years ago...

Today was the day that I least look forward to every year...

Today was the day that I last saw that sweet face...

Today was the day our precious boy was born and went to be with Jesus...



Today was the day...

5 years...I can't believe it's been 5 years.

I remember every detail of that day...

Sweet Alex,

You have forever changed me.  You have made me who I am today.  This is such a hard month for me, but knowing the grace of GOD gets me thru.  You are still so whole in my heart.  You live there everyday.  I can only imagine the big boy you would be today.  Being silly and sweaty and crazy!  We sent you balloons today for your birthday.  The sky was beautiful seeing them all float up to the Heavens :)  Ryan sent you two of his balloons from his party today.  He said he wanted to send them to Heaven :)  He loves you so much and tells everyone about you.  He just stares at your picture and loves on it.  He's so proud of you!  My heart aches for you, Sweet Boy.  Heaven will be sensational when we see you again...