happy 6 months, b&c!!

My brother, Brett, and his wife Claire are celebrating 6 months of marriage this month! Claire recently sent me their wedding pics, and I saw a few that I either hadn't seen before and/or just loved! :) So, think back to a warm July day in Texas, and enjoy some sweet pictures of the bride, groom, the wedding party, and two ring bearers!!

here is all of the "grown up" wedding party

 a fun one of my dad and brothers with Grayson and Carter

 I hadn't seen these individual shots of the boys... love!

 they just look so grown up!

 walking down the aisle during the ceremony

 Carter did this funny step-touch move while walking down the aisle -- I had forgotten, but this picture reminded me :)

Happy 6 month anniversary, Brentley and Claire-bear!

"this is our state"

"This is OUR state. This is OUR state!" was chanted from the student section towards the end of the KU vs. KSU basketball game today at Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks beat the Wildcats by an impressive score of 86-60. The 'Hawks looked amazing!!

We went to a KU basketball game the end of December, as well as today's game, and here are some pics from our time in the Phog!

 brothers at halftime during today's game

 giving high-fives to the players as they came out of the tunnel in December

 Andrea Hudy, the great strength and conditioning coach

 Grayson with Big Jay on the court in December
(poor Carter was home sick...)

 the boys with the vintage Jayhawks today

 Check out the final score from the game today! Woo-hoo!!

 the boys with Big Jay during the 2nd half of today's game :)
I have to say, I love the pics with the Jayhawks! I have a collection of pictures in our basement of the boys as they have grown up with the Jayhawks... such fun memories from over the years!

 After the game today, we decided to stay and get a few of the players' autographs. Here is Carter getting one from Conner Frankamp...

 and the boys also got Perry Ellis' autograph!

 So excited!!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!

thoughts on a new year {2014}

I did a post similar to this one in 2013 as my little blog serves as a scrapbook of memories for us. As I've said before, if I don't write it down, I'll forget it. So, here are some random ramblings from January 2014:

• Grayson and Carter both have had great fall semesters in 3rd grade and Pre-K. Their teachers are wonderful, God-loving women. Grayson is now writing everything in cursive and will start multiplication this month. Carter has mastered writing his name this fall. Grayson is an amazing memorizer... he knows his Bible verses for school without us having to practice them. I wish I was like him!!
• Both boys love to play soccer. Grayson continues to play on a club team and played in his first tournament last fall. He just started indoor soccer yesterday, and his team won! Yay! He had a goal and 2 assists.
• Both boys also love to watch sports and G loves to read the sports section of the paper every morning. :)
• Jerry's work continues to be a blessing. They finished off the year with a record-high 50+ new joints in one week. Jerry is thankful to be busy!
• I am still faced with the uncertainty of balancing my 3 PRN jobs. Two are very steady, and one continues to be frustrating and difficult. I think most people in healthcare are nervous about what Obamacare may do to our jobs, patients, and insurance. It's scary.
• I have been blessed to be part of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) this past year. We started studying the book of Matthew in September, and it's been so good for me to be back in the Word. I knew no one in my small group, but it's a great group of ladies, ages 20s-80s!
• We had a white Christmas in 2013, had snow again on New Year's Day, and it snowed once again last night. We woke up to about 2-3" on the ground this morning, along with dangerously cold temperatures (lows in the negative #s). Brrr.
• Jerry got an iPhone, began texting, and joined Facebook all in one week. I'm still shaking in my boots. What a change!!
• Jerry and I both would say that were are anxiously awaiting to see how God will work in our lives in 2014. We are learning to trust Him with everything... and for those of us Type-A planners, it's hard. We are so thankful that He is in charge, and that He knows exactly what 2014 will bring.

A verse that I recently heard was such an encouragement to me:

"Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will be not room enough to store it." Malachi 3:10

 

And one of my all-time favorites:

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." Ephesians 3:20

 

Here's to 2014 -- and seeing God at work in all of our lives!





ice skating

During our extra long Christmas break, we decided to give ice skating a try. I'm not sure I've ice skated since I was in college, and the boys have never ice skated. But, everyone did really well! No falls for me, and just a few for Grayson and Carter! :) Nana was so kind to be our photographer, so here's a little video from our time at the Ice Center.

 

Not sure we're quite ready for the Winter Olympics in Sochi this year, but oh well!!

 

christmas day

After celebrating with our family at home, we all went over to Nana and Gramps' house to celebrate with the rest of the fam!

 Grayson read the Christmas story from Luke 2

 stocking stuffers for the cousins from Aunt Laura

 Nana and Gramps gave Carter more Hot Wheels and a cool race track...

 and gave Grayson some amazing Coast Guard legos!

 The uncles and aunts gave the boys a fun indoor basketball shooting game. It was the hit of the day!

 I love my chalkboard from AL!!

 there were basketball competitions happening pretty much all day

 All the kids and spouses gave Mom and Dad a new set of knives

 two peas in a pod... ;)

 Olive loved jumping on her new trampoline

 the ladies

 Claire provided some stiff competition!

Everyone at the end of Christmas Day -- so much fun!

merry christmas -- a week late!

Christmas morning the boys woke up to find that Santa had come back, and had brought them each a betta fish. They are red and blue, and their names are Rock and Chalk. Santa has good taste! :)

 here's the note Santa left them...

 they also found slippers and candy inside their stockings

 Carter is into Hot Wheels this year and Grayson is still loving Legos!

 a KU football jersey

 new Adidas indoor soccer shoes

and the movie "Turbo" for them to share!

What a fun Christmas morning!