Crazy May

I know, I know... It has been a while since I have posted anything. So here is an update on what we have been up too... May was a very busy month. Samantha finished up her first season of softball. She also had her school carnival and end of school awards. Cole had his last day of school activities and we spent some time on Brad and Bethany's boat. Here are a few pictures from our adventures.
This is a picture of Team USA at their team party. We all met at Fudruckers for dinner and celebrating. The girls got their own softball signed by everyone on the team and a case to keep it in.

The following Thursday the softball league had Rumble in the Park. The teams competed in relays with in the division. Here is Cole cheering on team USA.

Samantha ran in the sprint relay. Look at the facial expression... looks just like Brandon.

Cole loves to wear Sam's batting helmet. He prefers it backwards.

Samantha's team trophy. Her team also got first place at the Rumble. She received a medal for first place too.

Here are the parents and kids that make up Team USA. We had such a great time with everyone this spring.

As most of you know, on our way out of the park Samantha hit Cole's eye with her sun visor (an accident). Cole's actual eye was cut. I ended up bringing him to the hospital that night. Everything turned out okay. Here is Cole sleeping in the ER.

Cole had a luau for celebrating the last day of school. They made these hula skirts. Cole loved it and wanted to wear it the entire day.

Memorial Day weekend Timothy came in for a visit. We all went bowling on Saturday. Well Brandon, Timothy, and Samantha bowled while Cole and I cheered on.

This little girl adores her Uncle Tim!!!!

Sunday, we went to NASA. We had a BLAST!!

Our future astronaut....

Then Samantha and I went to Maggie's recital. Maggie did a WONDERFUL job.

Samantha's school had an end of the year carnival. They had face painting, snow cones, spray painting hair, finger nail painting, dancing, and a dunking booth that teachers sat in and the students threw the balls. I volunteered to help. I worked at the finger nail painting station. Can I just say I painted just as many boy nails as I did girl nails. I thought it was so funny... all the boys wanted to paint their nails multiple colors mostly of their favorite teams.

Samantha and her teacher Ms. Torres. Her hair was blue and green. And her mouth is green from her green snow cone.

The weekend before we went to the beach Bethany and Brad invited us to go out on their boat. As usual we had a wonderful time! All four kids love to sit like this as we are driving. The faster we go the more they like it.

Cole sporting his new shades.

We anchored in a cove and went swimming. Here is Samantha before she jumped in the water again.

The after picture! All four kids fell asleep on the way back in... mission accomplished! Cole is under the white towel on my lap.

Finally the last day of kindergarten!!!! Samantha loved her first year at real school. She had a wonderful teacher and mad some great friends. She is looking forward to next year and is very excited that she can now call herself a first grader.

A Perfect Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. It started with "muffins with Mom" at Cole school. Brandon's Dad and Step Mom came in town for a visit. Samantha had her last softball game for the season. And the weekend ended with a day at Conroe Lake on Bethany and Brad's boat.
Cole was very excited to share his morning with me eating breakfast in his class.

Friday, we (Brandon, Terri, Mimi, Papaw, Cole and Harrison) went to the Houston Zoo. It was a great day. We saw the baby elephant and baby giraffe. The boys loved the tiger and lions.

Here are all the boys on the carousel.

Samantha had her last softball game of the season on Saturday. And she had quite the crowd cheering her on. Mimi, Papaw, Maggie, Harrison, Jaime, Chad, Mason, Jacob, and Callie were her own personal cheering section. Sam did great. She got a girl out at third, stopped a girl at second, and hit off the coach 3 times. It was the best she played all year. This week we have her team party.

Sunday, Bethany and Brad invited us on their boat to celebrate Mother's Day. What a good looking family.

Our gang on the boat. Cole wouldn't smile because all he wanted to do was get in the water!

After we swam for a little while everyone decided it was time to get on the tube. Here is Samantha and Brandon having a ride. She loved it!

Next up we have Brad and Maggie. Maggie had a huge smile on her face the entire time.

Then Cole wanted his turn. Chad was kind enough to take him for a ride. Here are all the kids, including Brandon, cheering him on.

Cole loved it! Thank you Chad for riding with Cole Man.

Since it was Mother's Day we thought a Mom/Kid picturewas in order. So here we are... Mason, Jaime, Callie, Cole, Me, Samantha, Bethany, Maggie, Jacob, and Harrison. What a great way to spend a beautiful day. Boat ride, great friends, and wonderful family.... perfect!!!!!

Christening of M/V Affirmed

This past weekend Brandon and I flew to New Orleans for the christen of two new boats for my Father's company. We had a wonderful time. I sponsored (christened) Affirmed. Following the christened there was a wonderful reception at the Plimsoll Club at the World Trade Center a few blocks away. Following the reception, the celebrating continued at the Bourbon Cowboy with Brandon, Mom, Aunt Ree, and Aunt Susan all riding the mechanical bull. Oh... and a little dancing with a pole by Mrs. Kathie. Saturday, Brandon and I walked around the Quarter with Frankie and ended the day by eating dinner with my family at Cafe Giovanni's. Needless to say we had an amazing time. Thank you to Turn Services and Daddy for asking me to participate in such fun weekend.
The scene of the crime. The christening was done at the Riverwalk at the foot of Canal Street. There were two boats... Affirmed on the left and Citation on the right.

This is the boat I christened, M/V Affirmed. She had only been out of the boat ship yard for 2 weeks.

The Coast Guard was there with the fire boat straying between the two boats. ...They thought of everything!

Daddy giving his remarks on both the boats and towing business. What can I say he LOVES the river!

The big moment. "I christen you, Affirmed!" Brandon is hiding behind the light so that he didn't get champagne all over him. He was going to stand on the steps, but I told him to stand up wind unless he wanted to taste the champagne.

The Morton's who were able to attend. My Daddy's siblings and spouses along with my family. The only sibling missing is my Aunt Paula and her husband Billy.

Here is a picture of Timothy, Daddy, Momma, Frankie, me, and Brandon in front of M/V Affirmed and M/V Citation. Brandon didn't get the memo about wearing a hat to the festivities.

PS... For those of you who don't know M/V stands for motor vessel.

Softball Tournament

We spent this past Saturday at the ball fields. Samantha's softball league had their first tournament. We were lucky... they only played 2 games and the weather was nice, much better than last weekend. Samantha played very well. She hit from the coach's pitches 4 times and got 2 girls out. For the 6U age group they average the runs per inning to get first and second place. First and second received trophies and everyone received a medal for participating in the tournament.
Samantha playing shortstop in her "softball ready" stance. She isn't wearing her visor because it has gone MIA since her last game.

Cole was so good! A softball game is not very fun for a 3 year old, atleast not mine. I brought lots of snacks, a puzzle, and a few cars to entertain him during the long day at the park. At lunch he laid his head on the table and announced, "I sooooooo sleepy."

Cole did love playing with the girls between games, especially his Sissy. This picture was taken while we were waiting for the awards to be given out.

Samantha receiving her participation medal. She told me at lunch she was excited about the medal because she didn't have one and already had some trophies.

But she was very excited to get both the medal and a new trophy. Team USA got second place in the tournament.

Samantha and Reagan after the awards. These are two very happy little girls. Reagan's Dad is the head coach.

Team USA with all their awards! Samantha told Brandon on the way home that he needs to put up a shelf on her wall for all her trophies.

Oklahoma Visit

This past week Samantha and Cole had their spring break. Brandon had to go to Tulsa on business so the kids and I decided to tag along. Brandon's brother, Steven, and his family live there. It has been over a year since the kids have been able to see each other. We had a wonderful time! The kids played from sun up to sun down. Samantha is ready to go back and hang out with her cousins some more.
Jordan (7), Samantha (5), and Jaycee (4) The girls had a blast!

This picture is for Mimi. All three girls piled into Steven and Tiffanie's shower.

Our own March Madness. Brandon, Samantha, and Jaycee were on one team. And Steven, Josh, and Jordan were on the other team. Tiffanie was the announcer complete with a microphone to give the play by play. As you can see Bran and Steve really got into the game.

Samantha gets a slam dunk.

We tried to go the the Tulsa zoo on Tuesday. We weren't the only ones with that idea. When we saw the line we decided to go bowling instead. Here is Aunt Tiffanie helping Cole bowl.

Here a shot of the cousins after the game. Cole was exhausted and ready for a nap.

Josh requested a picture of them lined up from tallest to shortest.

While Cole napped after bowling, the girls made and decorated these adorable hats.

Thank you Aunt Tiffanie and Uncle Steven for a wonderful visit. We can't wait to see you again. We would love for you to make your way down to Houston for a visit.