Football and Basketball

We have gotten sucked into the NFL playoffs.  

This is my life with three boys in this house. 

Brody's class won the Spring Creek spirit night. They each got THE t-shirt (it gets you free ice cream every time you wear it there) and a $10 gift card.  It was burning a hole in his pocket!  Thursday nights are our ONLY night with no sports (this is including Friday nights) so we promised him we would go!

He was very proud to "pay" for dinner. 

Right now, the weekends are for basketball.  Practices Friday night and Sunday afternoon and games Saturday.  It is always so much fun to watch!

Mason's team played the best team in the league and one of his best friends is on that team.  But team Hot Sauce did soooo well.  We lost by 2 and had a shot at the end of the game to tie it.  So close!  Mason had a couple of shots blocked (by all the tall kids on that team!) but he also got fouled and shot free throws to help his team. 

Brody's team was up next.  Unfortunately, we had FOUR kids out.  So crazy.  

But we have a big team so we had enough kids.  We were a little nervous having some kids out but they ended up winning 25-6.

Brody scored 8 points and was super proud.  He had a career high day.  Ha

Ice cream celebration after. 

John is never going to pass on a sundae. 

We had to take a headshot of John for work and this was the best we got.  

This guy won the President's Award at work.  We are headed to the Ritz in Naples, FL next month. 

He is sooooo deserving of it. 

We cancelled basketball practice on Sunday and had a baseball get-together at the park.  With our extra fundraising money from the fall, we were able to get the boys matching Boombah baseball bags.  They had no idea and were so excited.  And the bags are awesome. 

We are so lucky to have this baseball team as a family.  

Brody had been begging for Madden 20.  Since he had several unused gift cards, we let him spend his own money.  He has loved it so far and so has his Dad and brother.  Ha. 

I will watch real football games with them but playing video games seems a bit out of reach for me!  I will just sit on the sideline and cheer them on!  Ha. 

Basketball Season has Begun

Mom was able to stick around the weekend after the New Year.  John left on Friday morning for his National Sales meeting, so it was just the four of us.  We didn't have much planned.  On Friday, we went to lunch and then walked off all of that food on the trails.  I have been wanting to walk these specific trails everyone talks about.  It connects Keller Pointe to Smithfield playground.  It was so much fun!

So many cool things along the way. 

We also went to Central Market which is the BEST!  Mason loved the sushi they had out to sample.  He ate that and the salmon Mom and I cooked.  

 Saturday, we had lunch in Grapevine since the Christmas decor was still up and Mom hadn't seen it. We walked through all the fun shops after and had a blast. 

And that always means ice cream. 

We decided to freshen up and home and then take the train to downtown Ft. Worth.  We had only taken it north to Grapevine. 

The commuter train was actually really crowded that day!

It is just so so easy.  We got off the train and took Molly the Trolly to Sundance Square.  We got appetizers and maybe a beer at Razoos while the football game was on. 

At the train station. 

We were sad to send Mom home Sunday morning.  We had a great visit!

Sunday afternoon was basketball practice.  

Mason loves going because he plays with all the older brothers. 

Monday was my special day and Mom sent me this.  Love it!

Boys were headed back to school Tuesday!  We were ALL ready!

We had crazy weather this weekend.  It was 70 on Friday with threats of storms and tornados.  But we woke up to freezing cold temps and then it started snowing!  Crazy.  The boys went to bed wearing shorts!

I made them take another picture when it started coming down heavier.  It was beautiful!  But it didn't last long and the sun came out!

Which was good because we had our first basketball games of the season!

Team Hot Sauce was up first.  

Mason had been looking forward to their first game.  One of his good buddies at school is on his team and his Dad is the assistant coach.  He did so well in the game!  So aggressive.  Had so many steals and rebounds. He also had a couple of great shots but they just didn't go in.  Sooooo close.  

They won 20-7.

Next up was Brody.  He was excited since he had never played before!  Even better is that he is playing with his baseball team (which is totally not fair because they are all so athletic)!  

They are all such great friends so that helps too!

He had several steals and played great defense!  He also made a basket from so far out.  

He was pumped!  

Their team was 21-6. 

It was a good day in the Brower house for basketball!

If Mason got a foul called on him and Brody scored, they would get ice cream.  Ha.  

They both happened so we went to Braums. 

Sunday morning was Vision 2020 at church.  They had hot chocolate and bounce houses after service.  It was an awesome service and it makes us so proud and excited to be a part of Keystone Church!  Big year with the new church being built!

I ran a couple of miles yesterday afternoon and took a new trail.  Wasn't expecting to see horses but hey, it is Texas!

Busiest Week Ever

Ok.  I'm going back to the day after Christmas.

My friend called and offered up last minute tickets to the Mavs game.  We had no plans that night and  had never been to a Mavs game.  We were so excited. 

American Airlines Center

They were GREAT seats.  Right behind Mark Cuban. 

And we ran into Brody's best friends too!

We told the kids, don't expect these seats when we buy on our own.  Ha

Even better, it was an awesome game.  

They were playing the Spurs, Luca was back, and it was a packed house. 

If you look behind the kid with the ball, that is Mason.  

His goal was to get on that jumbotron.  He even switched seats with me because I was on it several times.  There is pure excitement on his face. 

Mom got in town Friday. 

We had all of our Christmas presents picked up and this woman restocked our tree...

Boys were waiting on the porch for John to get home from work to open presents!

Memphis was playing in the Cotton Bowl Saturday morning and we knew so many people coming in town.  Soooo happy Emily and Daniel came and we were able to hang out for the night.  

We started at Joe T Garcia's.  

Looking at this line for a table, it was clearly a busy night.  It is always packed and the line moves quickly.  People usually don't mind because you grab a pitcher of margaritas while waiting. 

We went to Billy Bob's after and it was a night to remember.  

Bull riding, two-stepping, and tons of fun. 

We woke up early to get to Arlington for the football game.  Our friend from home gave us tickets, and we thought, why not?!?!   We love the Cotton Bowl and football!  

And Mom got to come!

We aren't Tiger fans, and will never be, but it was cool....and we weren't going to root for Penn State. 

Mom's first time in ATT stadium. 

It ended up being such a fun game.  

Unfortunately, Memphis didn't win, but it was close!

But the funniest part was when it was over.  We left after Penn State's last score and it was POURING down rain.  And of course we parked a half mile away!

Dripping wet.  It was brutal and hysterical at the same time!

But we needed to get home because we had ANOTHER event to go to that night!  Judy and Larry got the boys Dallas Stars tickets for Christmas.  We had never been to a hockey game and the boys were sooooooo excited.  

Again, the seats were awesome and we had to tell the boys don't expect this again!  Ha

When you are in the American Airlines Center, you must take this picture.  Ha

Sunday, we woke up and met Mason's TN friend and his family at Pappasito's for lunch!  They had come in town for the Cotton Bowl also.  Mason and Brody had been sooooo excited and had a countdown. We had a great lunch.  It is right next to the Trinity River and park so we explored after.  It certainly was not a warm day, but of course the kids could have cared less. And being boys....how else would you get across the river.

Kathryn and I made our way over the river while everyone else drove the cars around to the park. 

They had so much fun and it was an awesome park. 

And what do you do after lunch and the park?!  You get ice cream. 

And if you are accident prone, you get a black eye from one of the zipline swings.  

I am making my way through this busy busy week....

I worked for my coworker Monday and a half day Tuesday.  (Thankfully, Mom came in town to watch the boys. I won't mention that John ended up taking off Monday to play golf with friends. Ha)   So while I was working, Mom met our friends, who moved to Michigan, along with several other Shady Grove moms for a playdate.  They went to Freddy's and then Kid Mania.

We have missed these kiddos!
And as a bonus, I got to see their mama for dinner that night!

Tuesday was New Years Eve and I worked half a day.  Then we all got dressed and ready to go to a NYE party.  One of Brody's baseball teammate's family invited us all over.  They also invited Mom which was so nice.  

There were lots of people there but it was so much fun hanging out with these ladies outside of baseball.  

We have all been trying to find a time to get together but it is so hard with school being out and needing childcare.....

But somehow these Dads found time on Monday to play golf together....something isn't right about that.  Haha.

Brody has best friend twin cousins and best friend twin friends.  

The kids had a ball.  I think the only time they ventured downstairs was to eat, take this picture, and watch the ball drop. 

The party stayed alive until after midnight but us baseball Moms decided to have the kids come downstairs for the 11pm NYC ball drop on tv.  They loved doing the countdown.  Then we were able to get out of there and home before midnight. 

Since the kids never stay up that late, Brody slept until 8 (which is late for him) and Mason until 10!
But we had to get up the next morning because we were having our 2nd annual NYD party at our house.  You must eat all the Southern food on NYD while you watch football.  

I didn't get many pictures but we had a great time with our neighbors. 

And this year, Mom was here to help me cook!

We have loved having Mom here!  She has to be exhausted from all the activities!!!!!

Yesterday was Thursday and back to work John and I went.  Mom had the boys all day and they even got haircuts which was MUCH needed. 

Such a fun week!  John is in Florida for work now, so Mom and I will have a little more fun with the boys before she heads back to Memphis.
School starts Tuesday, so the break is coming to an end fast!