Happy Mother's Day 2024

This week I enjoyed my 12th Mother's Day as a mom.  I started celebrating Mother's Day when Zander was just three weeks old, fresh out of the NICU and in my arms at our church's baby dedication.  It is crazy to see how far we have come since 2013!  I included some of my first pictures with my boys and our most recent from this year's Mother's Day celebrations.  The boys brought me breakfast in bed and Maddox made some of the sweetest homemade cards and plaque.  He is the best artist in the family!  Zander used a birthday DQ gift card for us to get a sweet treat on him for Mother's Day evening.  These boys helped me celebrate all weekend long with a backyard firepit and cookout just the four of us and we were able to celebrate with Grammy and Grannie at church on Sunday and with a home-cooked lunch prepared by Zack afterwards.  We finished out the day by playing soccer and Mario Kart as a family.  I hate to admit it but Zander and Maddox beat the parents in a 2 v 2 soccer game at the local track! They are so talented on a soccer field!  The parents just couldn't keep up!

In other news, Maddox continues to share with others that Jesus died on the cross for his sins.  He is drawing three crosses any chance he can get (even in school on the whiteboard)!

Zander and I took a free evening at home to mow the grass.  I taught him the basics and Zander is on his way to earning his keep! ;)

Last weekend, Maddox went to support his best friend, Mollie, as Timon in the local theater's presentation of the Lion King! She did an incredible job and Maddox was such an encourager and supportive friend in the audience.  We also stopped by the Spring Folly for about 30 minutes to grab a turkey leg (Zack), a bloomin' onion (me) and cotton candy (for the boys).  It rained all weekend so we didn't last there long!

I got to cheer on my favorite graduate as she officially finished her 2nd Master's Degree... this time in School Counseling.  I have had a small glimpse into all the hard work Linds has put into this program within the last three years.  Our weekly runs would sometimes discuss big projects due or important facts she had learned within her reading.  I always say she is my best therapy on our Saturday morning runs and now she has the degree to prove just how valuable her guidance is!  I'm so proud of my little sister for recognizing something she is passionate about and working so incredibly hard to reach this goal while maintaining a full time job, raising a family and being available to her family and friends... she didn't miss a beat but she definitely deserves a well-earned break from academic studies!

We continue to cheer on our favorite baseball players throughout the week.  The cousins had a match up last week and it was fun to see them both on the same field at the same time!  It was pretty easy to cheer for both of them when they were making plays and up to bat!

On Saturday, we attempted to make a quick trip to Lowe's to get flowers for Mother's Day.  Someone hit the side of my car while trying to park their F-150 truck.  Unfortunately, they didn't stay to accept responsibility for their actions, but a kind bystander waited with us until the police arrived to file a report and take their statement.  I am still in shock that we have had TWO hit and run incidents this year.  I wish people were more honest and owned their mistakes.  We tried to turn the day around by getting Frappuccino's while grocery shopping and having a fire pit in the evening!

Speaking of things that need repaired, Maddox hung from this spindle and broke it last week.  Zack tries to tell me that the damage our boys have done over the years is minimal when you consider the gender of our kids but it doesn't make it hurt any less to be looking to repair this in the near future!

We got to visit Dot, one of Great Grandma Nancy's best friends, on her birthday.  The boys love working on puzzles with her. 

Today was Zander's last field day of his elementary career!  It is also the last field day for his teacher and Maddox's teacher as both of their teachers are retiring at the end of this school year.  I guess they decided to go out with a bang and finish with the Houston boys.  We love Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Maready and are thankful they stayed around for Maddox and Zander.  They will be greatly missed as they enjoy their retirement!  Grammy got to enjoy field day as well!  She took most of the pictures while I manned the snocone machine with Angie and Tracy.  Zander won first place in "Jump the Creek" (check out the action shot a friend sent me).  I think both boys enjoyed field day and the weather was perfect for some outdoor fun!  I even grabbed a quick picture with Emmy! :)

The fifth graders asked Mr. Ben, WSFCS Volunteer of the Year and one of our favorite people at SGES, to be the graduation speaker.  All of the 5th grade staff kids asked him and he said YES!

We finished out Zander's soccer season on Friday.  Aunt Lindsey, Emerson and Eli were able to come to his last game.  We tried to snap pictures.  As you can see, Aunt Lindsey got the best one of the night! :)

Baseball, Soccer, Grand Prix, Fun Run and Career Day!

We have had a lot going on since my last post!  This spring has been the busiest one yet!  To finish up Zander's birthday festivities, we had Super Hero Night at AWANA.  Check out Spiderman (a.k.a Maddox) holding the AWANA flag.  Zander got a sweet treat (which is the Sunday night tradition after AWANA) to finish out his birthday night.  Both boys had new shoes delivered since they keep wearing through their tennis shoes.  We are hoping basketball shoes might work better for these busy boys!  Finally, Zack brought lunch to Zander on Monday, and he got to invite some of his friends to sit outside and eat with him.

Zander testing out the new hair product that Grammy and Grandpa got him for his birthday.... he looks so grown up here!

I went out of town last weekend to celebrate Jamie's 40th birthday.  While I enjoyed a weekend away in a mountain cabin, Zack had fun with the boys.  I got a picture of them playing soccer at the nearby track.

I got home in time to see Zander play in one of his last soccer games of the season.  They brought home a win with a 3-1 score!

After bringing Zander home from soccer practice this week, I discovered that Zack and Maddox had taken out two more of M's baby teeth.  I have no idea how he will eat until some of these teeth come in! haha

Maddox continues to love baseball and even had Mollie cheering for him one night last week.  He had three home runs this week!  He has played catcher some but his favorite positions right now are short stop and first base, both positions where he has had double plays recently!  I can't wait to get his baseball picture... they sent the proof that is included below.  I get to see Emerson and Eli while I am at the ball field which I absolutely love!

We had our annual AWANA Grand Prix night last Sunday.  Maddox brought home third place with his American flag design.  The rest of the Houstons participated in a 6 minute challenge to build a car from scratch and see which car made it down the track the fastest.  Zander won the whole thing competing against his parents and some other AWANA leaders and his best friend, Jackson.  We all came home winners as it was a fun evening.  We are so thankful that Zack works for weeks to get the boys' cars competition ready!

We had our school Fun Run (Glow Run) to raise money to buy new curtains for our school.  I loved getting to check in on my boys for a moment during all the fun! #workperk

Yesterday was Career Day and Zack was asked to be a presenter!  He was in one of my friend's classrooms and she said he did an incredible job keeping the kids entertained and giving them important information about his occupation!  Zander loved having his daddy at school and purposely planned to attend one of his sessions!

Happy 11th Birthday Zander!

Dear Zander,

Happy 11th birthday! This is the last birthday you will celebrate in elementary school, and we tried to enjoy all the things that I believe you will be "too cool" for in the upcoming years!  I brought cupcakes to school on Friday so you could celebrate with your class (thank you Grammy for picking those up).  Daddy is planning to bring you lunch tomorrow from Chick-fil-a (birthday boy requested).  You have requested cash for your birthday this year so you can save up to buy a Go Pro.  This past month has been incredibly busy and fun!  We enjoyed a trip to Houston, TX and had soccer games, etc. to entertain us on your actual birthday weekend.  We celebrated your birthday with your four best friends over Spring Break (go back to that post to see the fun you had at Spare Time)!  You have had an incredible year as a 10 year old.  You were with your brother when he accepted Jesus as his Savior.  You learned how to water ski!  You got to take some amazing trips to the beach with family, to the mountains with your church friends and to Texas (which required an airplane flight)!  This year has had some challenges.  You have had to say goodbye to your first grandparent and your childhood pet.  You have had all As or As/Bs on each report card as a 10 year old.  You continue to excel in school, be a leader at our church and show kindness as a friend.  I am constantly impressed with your optimism and compassion for others.  You are incredibly talented and incredibly humble. You love soccer and enjoy playing left winger (bonus when you score a goal at your games).  You tried travel soccer this year for the first time and have enjoyed a sport year-round, making lasting friendships. You have gone through two memorization books in T&T and will get the Timothy Award at the ceremony in May (an incredibly hard and rare level to reach).  I am so very thankful you are my son and am so proud of the young man you are becoming.  Thank you for making me a mommy 11 years ago! I love you!

Love, Mommy :)

Soccer games on your actual birthday... it was wet and in the 40s!

Opening presents before soccer

Breakfast in bed!

Last night as a 10 year old!

Good Grade Donuts at Krispy Kreme in between soccer games 

Cupcakes at school on Friday!

President's Club Trip: Miami

Zack's earned the President's Club Award for the second time in his career.  His first win took us to Hawaii, and this year we went to a tropical paradise a little closer to home!  We were able to enjoy five days in sunny Florida, specifically Miami at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.  It was such an incredibly getaway planned and paid for by Sherwin Williams!  We had a little time to ourselves the first day, so I took the opportunity to show Zack where I grew up in South Florida, stopping at our church, my childhood home along with my grandparents' houses.  It was a fun trip down memory lane prior to the opening reception Friday night!

Friday Night Reception

We enjoyed two excursions during our trip... island kayaking and massages!  We ate the best food and enjoyed some beverages at the beach and poolside!

Awards Dinner (including couples' photos... Zack loves pictures... haha)

Massage time.....

I talked Zack into jogging with me along South Beach! :)

Our last two nights were more laid back so we enjoyed pool time and beach time prior to dinner.  We chose Italian food our first evening and Mexican food our second evening.  There were so many options at the Lincoln Road Mall area, walking distance from our hotel!

Until next time Miami..... palm trees will always be my favorite type of tree!

A few "catch up post" moments...

We lost power at school one day last week.... the kids enjoyed continuing on with work and lunch in the dark!

The boys came with me to work on a teacher workday.  We got to eat lunch together which was a wonderful treat!  They did an amazing job entertaining themselves by playing kickball or basketball all day!

We got to enjoy the solar eclipse with the appropriate eye wear for the occasion.  Apparently the next solar eclipse will be when they are adults about 20 years from now! I'm glad we could enjoy this moment together!

Zander started his job on safety patrol for the fourth quarter of his 5th grade year. 

The boys got their school pictures back!

We continue to be at a sporting event most nights of the week or days over the weekend!  I love watching all the kids (including my niece and nephew enjoy learning a new skill)!  Grammy and Grandpa took the boys to the Opening Ceremony of the baseball season while we were out of town.

Love these comparison photos in Google.... this is probably titled "Maddox with flowers" haha

The boys watched the Masters with Grandpa while we were gone!  These trips would not be possible without Grammy and Grandpa!  They shuttle the boys around to all their events, ensure they are fed, bathed and clothed in my absence!  I am so thankful they live so close and that the boys love being with them as much as I loved spending time with my grandparents growing up.

Maddox got asked to "play up" to a kid pitch game last night since they were going to have to forfeit if they didn't have enough players.  This boy was on cloud nine, seeing some of his best buds who play travel ball and getting a few hits resulting in runs and RBIs. :)