Monday, January 27, 2014

Basketball, Boy Bauer, and Misc

Basketball is in full swing, and Jacob is LOVING it.  He didn't at first.  In fact, when we were in the parking lot right before the first practice he declared he did not want to do it anymore.  After the second practice he still said he didn't like it but I could tell he had fun while there.  But then the first game happened and it was love at first block, literally.  Those first few weeks he still hadn't really caught on to the rules and he wasn't making any shots-we found out we had our goal at home set a foot lower so on the actual court his kept hitting the rim-we have fixed it now.  HOWEVER, he heard "block your player" and he was ALL OVER IT.  It was like he thought, "finally a term I understand-blocking." 

Exhibits A, B, C, & D





This is the 2nd game where he actually made the first goal after both teams had struggled for several minutes to get one in.  It was pretty exciting, and he made the "YES!" gesture with his arm.




This was right before his first game.  We came early to get our jerseys and they were just lying there in numerical order.  He grabbed the one on top (#3) but then I saw #4 under it and spazzed, "GET THAT ONE!!"  #4 was Hallie's number all throughout highschool, middle school, and maybe even some when she was little.  Her wedding was the 4th one held at her wedding venue, and her wedding license announcement was the 4th in the list in the newspaper.  We have tried to get #4 for the last two years of football, but it hasn't been available (plus I am not sure he would go for it anyway bc he picks football numbers based on actual people in the league.  He isn't quite as obsessed with basketball).






We are taking turns bringing snacks-which, for the record I think is silly.  I mean, it's not like the snack makes it so we don't have to feed them lunch.  They are still starving afterward.  But whatever.  There is this adorable room just off of the court which has somehow been empty after our games so far, and they are really cute sitting around discussing the game, eating their chips and drinking their caprisuns  :)

Nicole came to visit us and we went out to eat after the game-and we ordered stun guns from Amazon!! All-in-all a typical random-Garzoli-style get together :)

Hallie had a gender reveal party at her work (which has this adorable little kitchen area).  Her appointment was in the morning and she was going to have to go in after.  She knew her co-workers would be dying to find out but didn't want to tell them first so she invited us and her mom too.  
She brought a blue balloon and a pink balloon.  The plan was that she and Josh would each blow one up and the one with the wrong color would let his/hers go and the one with the right color would keep his/hers inflated. 
 
Yes you do see a bunch of Sonic teas on the table :)



It's a boy!! And obviously Josh is quite excited :)
 



 He is all sprawled out!

Jacob was coincidentally out of school that day, so he got to come too!! He wrote "It's a boy!" on the balloon and drew a face.  He also took it home...

 ...and made a bed for it.  He also refers to it as "Maverick," which is what Hallie is planning on naming the baby.  Thus, we have all started referring to the balloon as Maverick.  This type of thing can be heard in our house, "Mom, where is Maverick?"  "He's downstairs I think."
**Incidentally, we are currently on Maverick #3 because as you might guess, a 9 year old boy and a crazy dog (Gonzo) don't really make a balloon-friendly environment.  Jacob has cried both times Maverick has popped.  Thank goodness I randomly had some balloons (hoarding 101=emergency birthday supplies).

Random snuggle moment

Jacob checking out Audible for the first time.  We quickly learned he would have to listen on his iPod so that it wouldn't interfere with playing games on the iPad.  So now the nightly routine goes like this:  brushes teeth, say our prayers, read a regular book together, then he gets 30 minutes to play on the iPad while also listening to another book. Because of Audible and being sick during Christmas break he has actually completed 4 books since Christmas and it is January 27.  And we are of course reading/listening to two more now.

These two kids have known each other since kindergarten.  We walk to and from school together, and they have spent many afternoons/Saturdays together playing.  But this was the first time we ever had Julian over to spend the night and they wanted to do EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE OTHER WANTED THE WHOLE ENTIRE NIGHT.  I have to say, it was really annoying because it just ended up being work for me-having to help them compromise.  But I finally got them to play board games.  We started with Outburst Jr.  (which was a HUGE hit) and I had to play with them for that.  But they quickly moved on to Battleship and Connect Four and playing by themselves. Finally, relaxation for me.  UNTIL they decided to have a checker war with each other with the Connect Four pieces.  #stillfindingtheminoddplaces


#snoozing

This is one of the door hangers I got Hallie for Christmas.  Jacob's art teacher makes them.  She is insanely talented.  I currently own 2 (3?) t-shirts that she designs, one sweatshirt, & 2 door hangers.  I have another door hanger on order and Hallie has 3 more.  I almost got our Sonic group to hire her to design our summer t-shirts last year, but Sonic Corporate wouldn't let us have different ones from other national stores.  Plus, I think I am going to hire her to do a paint party for Abby's 18th bday party (one of those things where everyone paints the same thing and the instructor walks you through it).  I told her she needs to just quite her day job and become my personal assistant apparently.

Keith and Terrin about to take a helicopter ride.

I am not very talented when it comes to drawing/painting/crafting but I have to give myself props sometimes on my creative picture ideas.  I had these collage frames that did have all different pics in them but because I am like my Aunt Debbie and can't keep any decorations the same for long, I took them out and blew up some pics that Jon had taken while bike riding in the woods.  The one on the right is a bridge he built over a ditch (the man always has to have a project), and the one in the middle is a tree near the bridge with the words, "JAKES BRIDGE 2011" carved in it :)  The one on the left is just pretty.  I'm pretty obsessed with how they turned out-I think it looks like you are looking through a window.



Buster when he was sick over Christmas.  Look at those pink/fever cheeks and cute bed head :(

I think this was New Year's eve.  We were watching a movie.  Clearly partying it up.




Thursday, January 2, 2014

Lights of His Life

Jacob had an assignment at school where he had to pick four people who "light up his life" and write about them.  I actually made the cut, which all moms know is pretty amazing.  Seems like we often get forgotten about.  So I am totally pumped.

Here are the pics he drew of us.  He said, "Sorry I made y'all fat."  Apology accepted.


Translation:
Some of the people that light up my [life] are my sister, my mom, brother, and my Dad.
My dud is one of the people that light up my life.  one of the things he does thats lights up my life is when he plays football with me outside.  Another reason is when he watches football with me.  And when he tought me how to ride a bike.....
A nother person that lites up my life is my mom.  My mom lights up my life when she keeps me company.  Ands when she reads to me at night.  And when she [watches] tv shows with me.
My brother is a nother person that lights up my life.  Josh lights up my life when he tells me jockes (jokes).  he also lights up my life when we eat at a restaurant.  And when we play video games on the xbox.
And last but not least there's my sister abby.  she lites up my life when she spens (spends) the night.  Another reason is when she takes me plases.  talks to me on the phone.

**I would just like to note that he indented his paragraphs.  And the correctly used an apostrophe in "there's."  And he spelled "restaurant" correctly.  I always get that mixed up.  However, he did randomly forget how to spell "light," sometimes spelling it "lite."  But not all the time.  Also, I'm pretty sure I AM the one who taught him how to ride a bike (I distinctly remember the arguing).  But since I at least made this list, I am not going to complain.

Anyway, he is clearly a genius.  And a sweetheart.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Christmas #2



Jacob and Morgan opening their "box of stuff" from Grammy.  She makes up a box of random small gifts each year. They love it.  And she puts it in a reusable plastic box.  I love that  :)

Morgan fussing at me when she realized I had bought her gift from Aunt Debbie while she was with me one day.

Jacob, petting his new football from Aunt Debbie

Opening his goal seen in the previous post.  Cuz I'm good at posting in order.


 Jacob checking out the note left by Elfis.

With his Santa stuff:  a new tv ("I'm so lucky, how many kids actually get a new tv for Christmas?!"), two new XBox games, and all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books that Elfis didn't bring.


 Santa brought Gonzo and Maggie bones in their stockings.  Each package had about 10 different flavors, and I wish I had video taped them "selecting" which one they wanted the first time I opened the package.  They both smelled each one and then picked one.  Love his tongue in this bottom one.

Jacob did this assignment right before Christmas break where he had to pick 4 people who "light up his life."  He picked me (yay!), Jon, Abby and Josh.  Then he had to write about each of us and why we light up his life.  I shrunk the picture and paragraph about Josh, laminated it and made it into a key chain for Jacob to give him for Christmas.  $1.50 project.  Woot woot.

 Jacob has been wanting some football gloves for a while.  I am not really sure why, because he isn't the quarterback, or a receiver.  But whatever.  Hallie got him some for Christmas, along with a red Under Armor shirt.



 Hallie opening her big gift.  Jacob's art teacher is extremely talented, and she makes and sells stuff on the side.  So I ordered 3 door hangers from her for Hallie:  they all have the initial B on them, and they are an easter egg, shamrock, and heart for those holidays.  They are all super cute, I should have taken pics of them.  But I was really nervous about it, because if she didn't like them, I couldn't exactly take them back.  But she did love them, and wants the rest of the holidays now  :)

I had this box from something, don't even remember what, and I wrapped up Hallie's door hangers in it.  Which is funny because her fave Christmas movie has always been "A Christmas Story"  (you remember- "FRA-GEE-LAY") and I didn't even think about it when I was wrapping it.

Jacob thinks he needs new shoes about every month.  And it's been about 3 since his last pair, so he was pretty excited to get these.

Morgan also got some new ones.


You can't see the box very well thanks to my expert photography skills, but this is a "slack line" from Michael (they came over to our house to open their gifts Christmas day).  Apparently these things are pretty popular in California.  People just carry their slack lines around with them and hook them up to stuff.  Basically a slack line is a slightly wider tight rope.  
Here it is in action:









I was able to make Jacob into a Fathead wall sticker using my Coke reward points. 

 His XBox is now in his room, here he is with his super cool earpiece, playing.  That punching bag was from Grammy also.
 His new tv hanging up, along with Alabama fathead stickers.

One more pic of Elfis, in the original jersey before he got a personalized one made with Jacob's number.


Old pic I found in my phone of Morgan going through the dress up stuff before her party.


Here are some other videos I took during Christmas:

Morgan opening her canvas I made her of pics from California:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouFfpkbKSCM&feature=c4-overview&list=UUlEiBflpzVOnuPlwMTh3iCQ

Jacob waking up and seeing Santa first:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxpJwrP7hQk&feature=c4-overview&list=UUlEiBflpzVOnuPlwMTh3iCQ

Mom being surprised by a dvd with old movies made by Brandon for us:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owisVUQnO0Q&feature=c4-overview&list=UUlEiBflpzVOnuPlwMTh3iCQ