Super Bowl

WHO DAT?!?!?!   sorry, I couldn't let a post about the Super Bowl pass me by without writing that. 

GEAUX SAINTS!! 

Normally Sunday afternoons we meet with our small group from church, but since Brooks was coming home last Sunday and it was the Super Bowl, we decided to host a little party to welcome him back and cheer on the Saints with all of our friends!  That way, Brooks wouldn't have to go anywhere and we wouldn't miss out on group.  We invited our close friends and had a "SUPER" time.  

Here's Gavin in his football player stance.

Some of the guys watching the game during dinner. 

Girl Talk

Gavin just wanted to be with his daddy. 

The Lutz Family

Watching the commercials.  I think Brent was a little tired?!? (maybe)

Cade- our source of entertainment for the evening.  Isn't he precious?

Hanging with Susie- can't wait to be little Addison in May

Finally together after 3 weeks apart!

Out with the old...

I spent some time last week cleaning out Gavin's closet.  I figured something was wrong when I pulled out a t-shirt that was sized 6 months, a shoe that was a size 2 (Gavin wears size 6-7 now), and a pair of pants that were 9 months.  While I was clearing out all of these items, I decided to go ahead and pack up all of his 12 month clothes as well.  Those were hard to do because some of them we just got around Christmas time, and he hasn't had that much time to wear them.  However, my child is growing!  He's growing fast!  I really should have quit putting him in 12 month clothes right after Christmas, the pants were getting short, and some of his long sleeve shirts looked like 3/4 length (ok not really, but still, they were getting short).  I tend to let him wear clothes until it's really, really time to move up to the next size, but I decided that we were just going to start over with all 18 month clothes.  So, that's what we're doing.  I didn't realize how much clothes Gavin had that were size 12 month, but I guess this was the first size of clothing that lasted longer than 3 months (ex: newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12 month)

Here was the infamous stack.

These were just his pajamas.  We had a little fun with these since he could wear "big boy" pjs.  

He was REALLY sad that we were packing up all these clothes.  

The after picture- I totally forgot to take a before picture.  Just look at all those empty hangers. 

Cookies..nuff' said

My friend Christa, who you can visit at Bruises and Bows, has found a passion for  making, baking, and decorating cookies and she is VERY good at it.  I decided to try out her techniques and I must say, I think I will stick to cakes!  

We were having a Welcome Home Brooks/Super Bowl Party at our house Sunday night with friends who have had more than enough of my cakes so I decided to try cookies for the party instead.   I enjoyed trying something new, and was proud of the end result, however, unless I practice more often on this, I don't think this will be a weekly or monthly occurrence for me.  I emailed Christa the day after making my cookies and told her that if anyone contacts me asking if I can/will make cookies for them, I will gladly send her the business.  It's not that I didn't like doing it, I just don't feel that I'm good at it.  I also know that it didn't help that I did ALL of it in one day, and literally spent the ENTIRE day making and decorating them-- as well as making the icing.  When I make cakes, I do a little bit each day so that the work load doesn't overwhelm me.  I think I got overwhelmed with the cookies. I decided instead of making the cookies a "dessert" at the party, that they would be favors for everyone to take home.  They also served as the centerpieces on the tables, during the party (mom- are you proud of me for that idea?).

Around 10am I made the sugar cookie dough

I rolled out the dough and began cutting.

I caught someone taking pieces of the dough every once in a while...

Oven ready... it took me forever to get the height just right...

More cookie styles going in the oven...

Letting them cool...

Decorate with icing..

footballs 

(for anyone who didn't choose a team to root for)

Jerseys..

(incase anyone was interested in the Colts)

Fleur de lis for the Saints of course!!

(I totally copied Christa's Saints cookies... see hers here. 

The final products.  I even wrapped them up in clear baggies with cute bows!  

Brooks is Home

Brooks came home Saturday night around 1am from China.  We were so excited to see him.  Brooks and I decided to wait until Sunday morning for Gavin to see him so Brooks could be the one to greet him once he woke up.  That moment was precious and I'm so glad I caught it.  As you will see, Gavin was very excited to see his daddy

Daddy walking in...

Gavin is taken back for a moment....  

Then, realizing it's his daddy..

Really excited to see his daddy...

Can't believe it's really daddy...

Giving some missed kisses....

Gavin was over whelmed with joy that he couldn't contain it and kept giving Brooks hugs all morning. 

Wrestle Mania

While Brooks has been away, he was really concerned that Gavin wasn't going to be around any guys and have "guy time" so he asked me to try and let Gavin play or hang out with some of our guy friends.  Since we have such amazing friends who have had us over for dinner, taken us out to eat, had get togethers, etc the last few weeks Gavin has had multiple encounters playing, rough housing, and just being in the presence of guys. 

One night, we went and had gumbo at the Sperlings and Gavin's friend Cade was there.  Anytime Cade and Gavin get together they have a blast!  (We had dinner with the Carpenters one night and Darrell (Cade's dad) was wrestling with the boys.  Gavin loves wrestling... he would chase Cade, try to pound on Darrell, and would laugh the whole time.)  Needless to say, while at the Sperlings' house, Darrell, Cade, and Gavin all started wrestling again.  After a while, Darrell stepped away and we watched the boys play!!  It was hilarious.  Now, all of us were a little nervous watching the boys and we kept moving closer and closer to them while they wrestled, but Cade did an AMAZING job being aware that Gavin is smaller then him, so he was somewhat gentle with him.  Gavin, just kept wanting more so he was the one initiating it.  Check it out...

Don't forget to scroll to the bottom and pause the music so you can hear these two boys (and all the comments by the parents)

When Daddy's away...

Mommy lets Gavin play with a baby doll....
(sorry the pics are blury, they are from my phone)

Look how cute that is..... Normally, I would have been totally against this (and I will say that I put my foot down when he kept wanting to play with a purse), but he was just tooo precious holding the baby, rocking the baby, taking care of the baby.  He even knew to put the baby in the high chair--- I did NOT show him that.  I was so impressed with how well he "nurtured" the baby doll.  It was actually the first toy he's never thrown.  He was very concerned when the baby's hat fell off and tried dilligently to get it back on.  I don't feel bad about letting him "play" with a baby doll, I mean, look... he's holding a golf club between his legs... this just means he is a great multi-tasker, will be a great big brother SOMEDAY, and has a soft/sensitive side to him.  I do hope he enjoyed this, because when I emailed Brooks the pictures, he had something to say about it.

Fun in the Chuck

Last week Gavin and I spent time in Lake Chalres. We had a great visit with family and friends and were sad to go. Gavin got to play with his cousins, Neve and David, his aunts and uncles, and had a blast with Captain and Kimmie.  We went and visited grandparents, great aunts, and close friends, too! Megan, I LOVE YOU and LOVED hanging out with you.  I wish we lived around the corner from each other.  You truly are a blessing in my life!  DITTO!! I went and visited my old cheerleading sponsor (I don't mean she is "old", I just mean she was a sponsor from my past) while I was home.  She's not at my high school anymore, but is coaching cheerleading at a private school.  I went to their practice and was VERY impressed with their performance.  I even got to give a few pieces of "advice"... I didn't realize how much I really miss cheerleading... wow?!?!  Good Luck Saints (and Barbe!?!?!) at SCA this weekend!! 

Uncle Kyle playing with the kids

David and Aunt Liz

Neve with Kimmie

Gavin really wanted to hold David.. I don't know how David felt about this....

Neve learning how to make this thing work...

David and his Daddy

These two look real excited to take this pic...

Kimmie with her grandbabies

Gavin and Captain (by the way, Gavin learned how to say "cheese" this week when it's picture time)- thus, what you see him doing here...  he loves the camera!!