barrett: 131 months old

                                            

If you saw Britton's post, you know why I'm so late here!  It's felt like the busiest month in forever.  Barrett had his spring choir concert this month and the choir gets to perform the national anthem at a Rice baseball game in a week.  He's happy that early morning practices are over!  We are gearing up for Barrett's 11th birthday next month, and he's decided on a "gamer" theme because we got a video game truck.  This thing is so cool!  They bring a trailer to your house and the kids play video games on a ton of screens.  Barrett has had pool parties the last few years, so it was time to mix it up!  This weekend Barrett started soccer.  He would probably like soccer more if it wasn't so hot out, but that's Texas for you.  He really wants to do football, and I found a fun football camp this summer for him to learn the ins and outs.  Plus, both he and Britton are going to a sea sleep away camp where they get to learn all about marine biology and other fun sea-related topics!  This will be his first time at sleep away camp, so I'm glad Britton will be there to keep an eye out for him.

Soccer action shots!

Likes:  cold weather, baseball and football trading cards, drawing with Posca markers

Dislikes: having to get up early

176 months old

                                                      

Yep, I know I'm a bit late here, and honestly, if Memaw hadn't reminded me I might have forgotten April altogether!  It's been a busy month, let me tell you.  Britton is still in her softball season, which is wrapping up April 19th.  Cue my sad face!  Because I have found myself really enjoying her games and getting to know her teammates better.  They are such a fun group of girls!  Britton is ready for school to be over (not me!) and for the summer to start, but neither of my kids are self-starters when they don't have school so I like that school forces them to get up and get going.  

Some shots from Britton's games:

Likes:  salted caramel cold foam, Nella, softball

Dislikes:  her English class because her teacher irritates her to no end

barrett: 130 months old

A bit late, but we're in spring break this week and every day feels like a Saturday!  Barrett has been plugging away at choir, and has not just a spring concert coming up, but also a performance at a college baseball game.  He's tired of the early-morning practices, but I know he'll feel proud seeing out this year, even if it's taught him that he does not want to do choir in junior high!

He also got a haircut!  Barrett's hair has been long and curly and so adorable, but he wanted a change, and I'm all for my kids choosing their own hairstyles.  He was not happy with it, as he detests change, but once he got used to it he's warming up to the shorter hair.  Like his mother, he'll probably grow it out just to cut it again in a few months!

He also had field day this month!  Barrett competed in the home run derby, the tire race, and a relay race.  

Likes:  camping with Memaw and PawPaw

Dislikes:  early mornings 

175 months old

 

The photos were taken on time, but alas, the post is late!  We've been so busy lately with LIFE that it feels like we're always playing catchup.  Britton has been busy with softball - she's got practice every day and games twice per week.  Plus, she has to stay after her games for the varsity games (they all ride the same bus) so she's home pretty late on game nights.  But she's been doing such a great job managing her time and staying on top of her schoolwork, even with the new packed schedule.  Last month Britton even made it to two concerts!  Ricky Montgomery and Olivia Rodrigo.  She loves live music, which she definitely inherited from me.  

Spring Break is next week and Britton's cousin Caroline is coming to visit!  We're showing her all things Houston, which will no doubt wear us all out, but we're committed to no early wake up times either.  I've taken the week off of work to cart everyone around, and I'm hoping I can sneak naps in.  

Likes:  Dunkin Donuts iced caramel cappuccino

Dislikes:  the week of school before Spring Break

barrett: 129 months old

It feels like Barrett has had a busy life lately too!  He's getting nostalgic and a bit teary about the idea of leaving his elementary school for junior high next year.  He's my old soul and has never embraced change - he gets attached to what he knows and loves, and will gladly stay where he's comfortable and feels safe.  He's really gotten into math lately, and is killing it on fractions!  He absolutely loves social studies, and is not so excited about choir anymore, but is determined to finish out the year.

Barrett made his annual Mardi Gras book float for the school library!  He chose "I Survived: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871" and really ran with it.  His favorite part was the fire made of tissue paper - I showed him how to tear pieces and twist them around a pencil, then dip the end into glue and tap it onto the cardboard.  

And he's really gotten into football and the NFL, and badly wanted this Super Bowl jacket.  He's still "earning" it through a month's worth of extra chores, but had to model it when it arrived.  He also enjoys playing Madden video games and learning about the teams and players.  Once he gets interested in something, he dives completely in!

Likes:  cheering on the 49ers to win the Super Bowl

Dislikes: doing homework

174 months old

 

A few days late because we have been BUSY!  Britton made the JV softball team - yay!!!  She's already started scrimmages, and her first game is next week.  It's made her schedule very packed, which in turn means we've had an increase in practice pick-up, game attendance, and dropping off forgotten softball bags at school.  Britton is firmly entrenched in her last semester of 9th grade, and it seems like she'll get a week with no demanding schoolwork, then the next week she's got 3 tests!  She's doing an incredible job keeping up with everything. She's way more organized than I ever was in high school.  

Likes:  softball!

Dislikes:  hauling all of her stuff on the bus, her glove giving up this week - we're searching for a new one

barrett: 128 months old

Barrett had a great December!  He wanted nothing but rest and relaxation, and that's what he got - a lot of time playing Madden 24, having friends over, and going on fun adventures once the hubs and I shut down the work computers.  We went to Popstrokes, explored Asian Town, went shopping, and went out to eat a ton!  His favorite Christmas gift was a bike from Memaw and PawPaw - a mountain bike, and he's picked up using the gears and such really quickly!  He also got a ton of football-related shirts and shoes, and a new football and basketball.  Barrett got some really great Pokemon cards, including one he's really been wanting (the name escapes me!).

January has seen him return to school, and this week they started learning the recorder in music class!  I showed him how to play "Hot Cross Buns" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (there's things I'll never forget in my life, and playing those songs on the recorder are a few).  Pretty soon he'll need to decide on what elective he wants to take next year - right now he's leaning towards band.

Likes:  Bob Evans mac and cheese, getting to pick where they all sit for lunch

Dislikes:  having to go back to his usual bedtime now that school is back in session