How cute is this kid? I especially enjoy the part half way through where Colson gives him a remedial speech session to try and get him to say "baseball". Hudson completely ignores him I'm sure thinking 'I know how to say it ding dong but it's way more fun to say "Hello-Ok-Bye-Bye"'.

THE NUMBER 8

No, I'm not talking about the number of teeth Colson has missing from his mouth but rather the number of years we have been blessed to call him our son! What an amazing kid this is! Some of the things he does may make me scratch my head but most of the things he does bring a smile to my face. He is so affectionate and open with his love and he makes you laugh on a dime. He hates wearing clothes and shoes so in essence he may be the owner of a nudist colony someday or a missionary in the streets of Africa. 

We love this kid!!! And we celebrated his special day with family, yesterday, on his real birthday, and will hit it big on Thursday with his real birthday party. Have you ever noticed how hard it is for kids this age to understand why you sometimes have your birthday party on a different day than your real birthday? He's finally come to terms with it and I hope his celebration is as fun as he is!

 
Scott, Hudson and Colson with the cool bow target they got him.

CAMDEN HAYES SPINELLA

Beautiful baby born

June 22, 2011

Weighing 7 lbs 7 oz

21 1/2" long

Very proud parents: Scott andChristina

Equally proud cousins: Calli and Colson

Not so sure brother: Hudson

SERVICES FOR HIRE

Does anyone need my kids services of hair and make up? Look at what they did to their Grandpa. Isn't he beautiful? It's hard to see in this picture and through the actual writing on his face with cover up but he has had a makeover complete with hair and make up.

WORN OUT!

Saturday mid morning while Wes was cheering on Colson at his Legends game, I was reuniting with a very special girl in our house....Calli! I can't tell you how refreshing and energizing it is to be in the midst of a huge mass of young people (counselors) and even younger people (campers) showing their spirit, their crazy side and their excitement about Christ.

Pine Cove has a closing ceremony as a way to reunite us with our camper and give us a little taste of what our kids experienced that week. Calli was very excited to see me and had many great stories to tell. I asked Carson what her favorite part of the week was and she said Club! Their activities consisted of canoeing, zip lines, the blob in the lake, pool time, exciting theme nights and her favorite part was where they all came together and would sing and hear a lesson from The Bible. A.MAZE.ING.

It was an exciting week for Calli. She told me that everything clicked. Everything she has learned since she could remember growing up in the church all made sense this week. They had communion on Wednesday and she said it was so powerful. She said "I always take communion because I know I'm supposed to. And I have always known what it means and understand the representation but this week it was so clear! They made it so simple and explained it in a way that I completely understood." WOW! The theme of the week's lessons was "Being Stuffed". Not as in food but as in being stuffed with God's Word and not being greedy with all the STUFF we have. They talked about how there are many times when we don't want to do things or don't get things we want. We might choose to complain but God doesn't want us to be greedy. God doesn't want us to be selfish. And guess what...I woke her up at 6:45 this morning to head out the door for baseball and I didn't hear one complaint! We ate at 2 restaraunts that she didn't want to and she didn't complain. She brought her Bible in the car for the hour long ride to the ballpark and she read the first 9 chapters of Genesis. God's Word is becoming alive in her and it brings a smile to my face and my heart.

Her counselor, Chillaxe, recognized this about Calli at the closing ceremonies....
"Calli is uplifting, offering support and encouragement to her peers. She is determined and strong, taking initiative to lead others. Calli is creative, consistently offering new and bright ideas"
I think in one week Chillaxe got to know my Calli Grace pretty well.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I have some pretty terrific Father's in my life. First my dad who sacrificed so much for our family and put up with a lot of hormones being the only guy in the house for way too many years. He's out of town this Father's Day but that doesn't mean that he's not loved (obviously)!

Of course Wes' dad has also been a wonderful support to me but more importantly he has and continues to have a huge impact on Wes' life.

And then there is Wes. His kids adore him and he's pretty stellar at loving on them and doing things with them.....which makes up for the socks he leaves NEXT TO the dirtly clothes hamper most days.

About 6 weeks ago Wes won his first roping. He has dreamed (okay maybe that's too farfetched) of winning a roping so he can have his very own belt buckle. That's what cowboys want....a belt buckle of their own. Well this particular roping gave money for winning instead of a belt buckle. I was thrilled. Him? Very disappointed. So with the help (lots of help) from Colson's Willis baseball coach, because he knows about these things, I had a belt buckle made for him showing he was the champion of that roping.  The kids and I were so excited to give it to him we couldn't wait and gave it to him Saturday.

He loved it! And I really think he did! It was the perfect thoughtful gift!
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

USE YOUR DEDUCTIVE REASONING SKILLS

I'm taking a picture of him sleeping....where do you think he slept?

Home! I can't even type out the events that transpired for fear that the overwhelming calm frustration will overcome me again.

So instead I'll tell you what I was reminded that I forgot to tell you about yesterday. I witnessed once again how different boys and girls are. This years' theme was Camp Rock 2....a take off from the Disney movie Camp Rock. Each cabin was named after a tour city so there was Honolulu, Hollywood, London, etc. Colson's group was Sydney. At the beginning of chapel yesterday the camp director introduced all of the counselors and started with all the girls cabins. So Ava called out Hollywood and the counselors went screaming up to the front and the little girls in their cabin stood up jumping and screaming. They introduced each counselor and then the entire group shouted out their cabin cheer. The thought that was put into these cabin chants was very calculated. They had rhythm, rhyming words, made complete sense, talked about Jesus....they were just really cute. So all 4 girl cabins went and they ALL had cute cheers. Then it was time for the boy cabins. Sydney was first and just before their group was called out the head dude ran over to the other dudes who happened to be standing by me and they made up this really great chant since they couldn't be shown up by the girls. Wanna hear it? Counselors: "Let's hear it for Sydney"  Kids: screaming and jumping up and down. Sorry dudes, you were shown up by the girls. The funniest guy cabin chant was the Hong Kong group...."We're from Hong Kong, we play ping pong cuz we're from (pause) Hong Kong. Really? That's all you guys could come up with?

CAMP WEEK

On Sunday we dropped Calli off at Pine Cove Camp in Columbus for 7 hot, crazy, exhausting days of FUN! FUN! FUN! This is her second year to go and her and Carson have talked about it all year. It's an amazing opportunity for her to be able to go to such a nice facility that has so much fun to offer AND be around some amazing college aged kids who love the Lord and can be such a good influence and roll model for her. The interview process for Pine Cove is brutal and they travel the country to recruit these counselors so I know they are the cream of the crop. And the teaching and worship is really great! Calli's my easy, adaptable one. She can make friends with anyone. To say she was excited is an understatement. Of course we can have no contact with them this week so I'm sure the drive home on Saturday will be full of stories.

I did find that the nurse takes her job very seriously. On Sunday after we dropped her off, I get a call on my home phone about 10:30 at night. I didn't recognize the number so I didn't answer it. Since I didn't answer it they immediately called my cell phone which made me a tad bit nervous because I knew immediately it was the camp. It was...it was the nurse. She had found Flinstones vitamins in Calli's luggage and wanted to know if she needed to take them, when she needed to take them, etc. I politely explained that I didn't know she even had them, she just keeps it in that bag with her retainer, toothbrush etc and that if she wanted to take one a day that is fine. "Morning or night?" she asked. "Uhhhh....I don't really care.....I guess morning". I was laughing in my head thinking 'You do know they are like candy right? Why don't you give them to her at night if she doesn't have any accidents all day as her reward'. That's okay...at least I know they are really being taken care of. But apparently my answer wasn't a good one because she called me the next day about 2 o'clock. "Hi Mrs. Schubert...this is Nurse Joy from Outback and I talked to you yesterday and you said for Calli to take one of her Flinstones Vitamins a day but this morning she said she didn't mean to bring them and she really didn't want to take them. So I need to know if you want her to take them or not." I'm sure for her to take them means she has to miss something so that she can go to the nurses office and take her Flinstones Vitamins and she was like...forget that! So I gently let Calli off the hook and told the nurse that I guess she didn't need to be rewarded for accident free days and that she didn't have to take them.
They post pictures every day on the Pine Cove website so enjoy....

I can't wait to see her Saturday! We miss you Calli Grace!

So that left Colson at home with us. But he had his own camp to go to that I knew would be a much more challenging departure. The church we've been going to for about a year does their own spend the night away camp in Huntsville about 30 minutes from here for 1st-6th graders. Wes and I had talked about it when we found out and we both agreed that it would be so great if Colson would go because he could meet friends and feel more comfortable at the church. But if you read my blog you know my Colson. Scared of everything irrational....still crawls in our bed most nights....must have Jax with him to sleep.....just recently started sleeping with only his closet light on. So when his teacher exuberantly asked me if he was going to camp a couple of months ago I stressed how I would LOVE for him to go but I don't think there is any way he'll spend the night. She assured me that their were other kids in years past who had that problem and Mark is great about getting them to stay. I said "I don't know who Mark is but unless he's furry, stinky and bites ankles (like Jax) that it wouldn't matter to Colson." Mark is her husband, the other teacher in the class, I just didn't know his name. She suggested that we bring him up during the days though which I thought was a GREAT idea!

So yesterday was drop off (well for everyone but Colson that is) at 4 pm. I am sure that people thought I was an overprotective parent as I just hung around spying, trying to not be too close to Colson so he wouldn't hang onto me. And since I still don't know alot of people at the church I am sure they were thinking 'What is she doing'. I didn't want to drop him off, drive all the way home and then come back to get him a few hours later. I did leave to go get gas and something to eat. When I came back I found the kids in the cafeteria eating dinner. I went and said hi to Colson and he said "Mom, I think I kinda want to stay here tonight" GASP!!!  I tried to not cry from excitement and I told him I would go get his things and bring them back if he wanted me to. He looked at me and said "I said KINDA! Do you think you could bring me Jax?" Um no son...I'm pretty sure Jax is off limits. But by the end of the night he was so tired he just wanted to go home even skipping the nachos after the smores fire pit...doesn't that sound like a good combination?

And by the time we got home he didn't even want to go back today. After prying him out of bed this morning he agreed to go back. I had his bag packed so he could stay the night if he wanted and he would change his mind every 5 minutes. I told him he could go tell his teacher at dinner time if he wanted to go home and she could call me otherwise he could just stay the night. He wasn't too keen on that idea and asked if I would just come after chapel time and if he wanted to stay I could go home and if he wanted to go he could come home with me. Poor kid.....I'm not sure he'll ever outgrow this.

Tune in tomorrow to see which bed he slept in....I know the suspense is killing you.

A QUICK TRIP

In April, Wes and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. Since I'm as close to perfect as they come, his 13 years have been heavenly so any snide remarks should be mumbled under your breath. Since we have two very active kids and we aren't couch potatoes ourselves, finding an open weekend to get away is sometimes difficult. We decided to head out on an early Memorial Day weekend celebration to Wimberly. It was great timing except that we missed Colson's first grade awards :(.

We enjoyed Thursday night outside watching a Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers concert on a gorgeous Austin evening under a big oak tree. Of course sleeping in until you feel guilty that you are wasting your day away is always enjoyable too. We enjoyed some shopping, caught a movie, enjoyed the beautiful nature in the hill country and even got in some zip lining activity! While I thought it might be a little nerve racking it was actually very relaxing.

The longer I am married to this man the more I realize that we are a perfect pair. My weaknesses (ha!) are offset by his strengths. I love him more and more every day! That's as gushy as I'll get.

I LOVE SURPRISES

I get frequent surprises lately that come in the form of binded slick paper that appear in my mailbox. This months' surprise?

GQ magazine. And I've told you that my first surpise was Jet magazine, then Money magazine, then Martha Stewart Living and now GQ? I don't see a common theme AT ALL!!! So here is what I think happened.....

Somewhere recently I must have filled out a profile. In that profile I must have said that I was
1. Nationality: African American
2. Gender: Male
3. Income: $1 Million+
4. Hobbies: Crafts
And because of that, I receive free magazines that fit my profile.

So I lied about my gender...can't a girl have a LITTE fun?

A HARD HIT BALL!

If you read the blog you know that Colson was asked to sub on a select baseball team for a couple of tournaments. Well once you play one select game, it's addicting. To watch games where all the kids can actually hit the ball and catch the ball is a new concept when you come from League ball. And not to sound condescending on league ball because it's been good to us...but this Spring our League ball was frustrating. So with that said, our two tournament subbing ended up being a full time team member. But not without a little drama from a dad on the team....seriously people need to control themselves...these kids are SEVEN!!!!

Anyways, we had a tournament in Katy this weekend and our hitting was on fire! In the first game we had one kid hit the ball over the fence at his first two at bats. It was exciting! Wes didn't make the first game but thankfully he made it shortly after the second game started to see Colson get up to bat. There are two things that Colson does that make me quite anxious. He's a solid hitter and I can count on one hand the amount of times he's struck out this year playing both league and select. BUT he almost ALWAYS swings at the first pitch (which is usually high) and if he doesn't hit on the first pitch he gets it to a two strike situation. So Colson comes up to bat and the bases are loaded (I stress). He swings at the first pitch and misses (I stress). He gets two strikes (I stress). The pitch comes and he wacks it.....fly ball over the shortstops head....over the center fielders head who is running over to catch it.....OVER THE FENCE! The kid got a GRAND SLAM and the crowd went NUTS!!!!  I watched him as he rounded first and he began to slow his running down. He said his coach told him he could slow down as he high fived him. He rounded second and began to trot towards third which is where all of us were yelling and hollaring facing him running towards us. He rounded third, gave that coach a high five and got the cutest little grin on his face. He had told his coach at the beginning of the game that his ball was going over this game....and it did! Not a bad hit for a kid who looked like this 2 hours before.

We were so excited. I screamed so hard I got light headed and had to lean against the fence. Another mom told me she did the same thing. We played really good that day and were seeded #2 and actually thought we might win the tournament or at least get to the championship. But Sunday was a new day and we fell apart losing the first game to a team that we had beaten twice before, including the day before. You win some, you lose some right?

I didn't even have my camera to take a picture. This is the only shot I got of him after the game eating a well earned dessert. 

THEY WERE PROMOTED!

He did it! He was promoted to 2nd grade. A little part of me wanted him held back so he could have Mrs. Hurst again but since I actually held him back in the two year old class because of his summer birthday it wouldn't be good for a just turned 8 year old to be in first grade again. Colson received the A Honor Role for the year, the music award and the Citizenship Award for excellent behavior....he must save all of his excellent behavior for school. Our parents of the year award was revoked because we weren't even at the awards. Wes and I had already had a trip planned (bet you didn't know that because I haven't blogged about it (yet)) when we found out the date for his awards. Therefore I made every other family attend.

Here are Colson's "MEMORIES OF MY SCHOOL"
My favorite place at school: PE
This place is special because: You get strong and a healthy heart and you get to run.
My Teacher's name is: Mrs. Hurst
I like my teacher because: she is nice and she is smart. I think all never have a better teacher.
This makes my teacher happy: When I say I don't want school to go over.

Calli also was promoted. My stellar student will hit the big hallways next year and I'm sure the Schubert anxieties will come out in August as she prepares to sych herself up. Turner held a graduation for the 5th grade class with a small reception following. Calli has had a great 5 years at Turner and experienced some of the best teachers around.

 Pretty flowers from Grammie....always so thoughtful on the big days!

 Even Hudson came to watch the big event. I got Colson out of class so he could watch or should I say play games on my phone the whole time.

The foursome....Michaela, Lauren, Calli and Kenzi

I'll slowly close this chapter of her life and with my heels dug move into this next chapter which I'm fully prepared to be much more challenging.

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!

Can I hear a WOOOHOOO? Doesn't Mrs. Hurst's face say it all???? No more homework....no more early bedtimes....no more lunch making....o more early rising!!!!!! What an enjoyable time of year summertime is, despite the heat! The last week of school was filled with awards ceremonies, graduation and parties! What a bittersweet ending. Calli will be moving up to middle school. She's a little nervous about the transition and just prefers not to talk about it.  Colson completed his first year in public school with great success. He's thriving in the classroom and among his friends and we leave one of my all time favorite teachers. The standing joke with me and PDS (Presbyterian Day School) is that a part of me wants to have more kids just so they can go to that school. That's how I feel about Mrs. Hurst...I am very sad that our paths will never cross again in a teacher/student environment.

Lots of fun was had the last day of school and while the kids wanted me to come early to their class lunches so that I could take them early...I couldn't get them out of the school.

Calli's fun

Colson's fun

School got out Thursday and on Friday we had several of Calli's friends and their parents over to swim, eat and just kick off summer 2011.

 I am sure it will fly by as fast as the first part of this year has gone.