Brooks and Dunn

A few years ago, Clay and I saw Brooks and Dunn in Atlanta. During their “Only in America” song they bring out a few military people and do a really cool celebration. A few weeks ago, Clay came home and told me that B&D were coming to Raleigh and he really wanted his brother Jay –stationed at Ft Bragg, will deploy in December- to be one of those people. You may be saying well, yeah, that would be nice but how in the world can that happen? Through our jobs at KaBOOM! And THD we have worked with the Academy of Country Music the last 6 years to build playgrounds and every year a country star attends. Last year, it happened to be Brooks and Dunn. I could not attend b/c of Jack but Clay went and met the guys and some of their “people.” Well my ever resourceful husband has stayed in touch with some of those “people” and made a few phone calls and low and behold, Jay Councill was one of the three military guys that got to be onstage during “Only in America.” He and his wife, Jen, were treated like rock stars, hanging out backstage through the whole concert and meeting B&D, Rodney Atkins and ZZTop. Clay also scored four more free tickets and his younger brother Jordan and his friend Adriana came down from Virginia for the weekend. We dropped Jay and Jen off at the back entrance and enjoyed their VIP parking pass while we tailgated for a couple of hours. Then we proceeded to our amazing seats all the while commenting on how Hurricane Hanna could have ruined it all. But we only got a little rain and by 2pm the sun had come out. The show was awesome and when they started “Only in America” the crowd went crazy but when Jay and the two other guys- Marines- came out the place went nuts! The video is below. There is a lot of screaming but you can hear the song and see the guys come out. Jay is the Army one. A wonderful, moving night that I know we will all remember! Clay, you are the best husband ever but Saturday night I think you also won Brother of the Year!

Brothers- Clay, Jay and Jordan

Jay, Jen, Jordan, Adriana, Clay and Jennie

Tailgating- love those inflatable chairs!

Clay enjoying the grilled peaches and ice cream

The video- "Only in America"

Golf with Goose

Goose bought me my first set of clubs this weekend. Here he is giving me a tutorial. If you listen closely at the end, Goose spits and I do the same thing.

Labor Day Fun

Mimi and Goose came to visit me over the weekend. We had so much fun! I took them to one of my favorite parks here. Pullen Park has a carousel, a train and a playground. I loved riding the carousel with Daddy and then the slide again and again and again. We tried a new restraurant- The Pit- which is really good bbq. On Saturday, while mom and I took naps, Mimi and Goose made a sneaky trip to Toys R Us and came back with some great surprises. I got my very own slide! Goose even put it together in the backyard and brought me outside to surprise me! I did my happy dance and all I could say the rest of the night was "slide, slide slide." After dinner, he brought out a different toy- my own set of golf clubs. He is starting me early. I loved hitting them and then running after the balls. I also got my own nerf football that was thrown dozens of times. I love playing with Mimi and Goose and can't wait to see them again! Thanks for visiting!

I LOVE Craigs List

So my new obsession is with Little People. If you don't have a little person like me, you may remember playing with the Fisher Price Barn as a child. Well that is the Little People series. Now they make all sorts of toys. My Great Aunt Maureen gave me my first LP- the Nativity- and then added to my collection with the airplane. I have been hooked ever since. We were at Target the other day and Mom let me play in the LP aisle. I immediately grabbed the tractor which has a wagon attached. It came with the farmer, cow and pig. I carried the box all around the store and convinced Mom I had to have it. I even brought to Virginia and fell asleep with it on my lap (pic above).

So my Mom, who is the greatest, had a fabulous idea to look on ebay and Craig's list to see if there were some used LP things out there. FOLKS- check out the stash we scored! The posting on Craig's List included the Zoo, Noah's Ark, the Farm, the Zoo Train, the Dollhouse, the Unicorn set, two dump trucks and ALL the animals and people for each. ARE YOU KIDDING? She immediately emailed the lady and we picked it up today. Total price- $40!!! Can you believe it? When Mom was unloading the haul, I started doing my happy dance and proceded to play and play and play. The video above is of me sending all the LPs down the slide at the zoo. (I am obsessed with slides too). I am sure Mom will find Noah in the farm and the giraffes in the dollhouse but this is like Christmas! You are all invited to come play!

Virginia Cousin

Last weekend we got in the car (again) and went to Grandma and Grandpa's in Virginia. Mom and Dad had an engagement party to go to so I got to hang out with my Councill cousins. Here I am below with Greyson. He is 2 months older than me and we are gonna be a lot of trouble in a few years. With 200 acres to roam on the farm, who knows what we will get into???

Weekend in Knoxville

After the beach, we headed across all of North Carolina to Knoxville for Katie Kohl's wedding. I had a blast playing with Maeve. I cried every time I had to leave her. We are hilarious together. We love to give hugs, sing, dance and play. It was great to be with Mimi and Goose too. They took me to Toys R Us and let me pick out a cool remote control train. I am very into trains now. I have even started watching Thomas instead of Barney. Mom is so excited!

Hugs

Singing on the table
"Bringing home a baby bumblebee"

Weekend in Knoxville- part 2

Maeve and Jack eating chicken fingers and fries.

Mmmm- yummy blue popsicle
Mom and Dad at Katie's wedding
Mom and Aunt Shannon

Ring around the Rosy

While in Knoxvegas, I taught Maeve my new favorite song- Ring around the Rosy. Here I am trying to get her to do it with me. She was more interested in her Ginger- the giraffe.

Boating with Grandpa

We took the boat to dinner one night at the beach. It was so much fun. I loved being on the water, seeing the birds and the other boats. Grandpa even let me drive the boat!

Me and Grandpa

Nags Head

The beach is my new favorite place! Mom and Dad were a little worried if I would like the waves and the sand but this was not a problem. I loved it all!

Building Sandcastles

Mommy's favorite guys

Me and Grandpa
Naptime with Dad

Football on the beach

Daddy and Grandpa played this great game with me at the beach. They would throw the football into the waves and it would come back up to us and I would get it, then throw it to them and we would start all over. We played for hours! I loved it!

Nags Head

We are at the Councill Beach House in Nags Head. I am having so much fun! I love the ocean, bulding sand castles, finding things that Mommy hides in the sand and playing football with Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Jordan. Here are a couple of pics until we get home...

21 months

I am 21 months today! How time flies! My vocabulary is increasing by the day- real words and not so real. I try my best to communicate with Mom and Dad but when it doesn't work, I point alot. I love holding hands, giving hugs and kisses and playing chase with Daddy around the house. My favorite toys are my trains, blocks and balls. I will eat anything you put in front of me but some faves are hummus, chicken nuggets, blueberries and raspberries. Here are some of my other favorite things to do:

I love playing in my toybox.

I love hiding in cabinets and jumping out and scaring mom.

I love sitting at my table in the playroom and doing my puzzles.

And I love when people send me postcards. Gerry Donaldson sent me this one with dogs on the front from France!

I am a happy, happy boy! Mom and Dad are so blessed!

Life Changes

On Friday night the Rangers let my dad know that his services were no longer needed. “Dismissed” is how the Dallas paper worded it. In the real working world, when someone is fired, it is very hush hush. People speculate why or how. Rumors spread that they were escorted from the building or told to pack their stuff and leave in the next hour. I have worked in a corporate setting, seen it happen. But you never read about it in the paper the next day. In the professional sports world, everyone gets to know every detail b/c of ESPN, the internet and newspapers. We have lived our lives watching my dad’s career play out in public- wins and losses, hirings and firings; this isn’t the first time he has been “dismissed.” But this time is different.

You see the previous times were more in the middle of his career. He and my mom were raising three kids, worried about college, retirement and the elusive World Series ring. He had already discussed this being his last season in uniform. We have all hoped for that. Not that it hasn’t been a wonderful ride. We have lived in 5 states and Puerto Rico, seen games in 20 or so stadiums across the country and Canada. Our travels have been extensive and we have been afforded many opportunities because of my father’s career.

But this time, all three of us are college grads and Ryan is on to law school in a few weeks. My parents responsibilities for us are dwindling and now they can focus on themselves and their grandkids. My Dad can join us at Katie Kohl’s wedding in two weeks- the first time, besides our own weddings, that our whole family will attend a wedding together. He can play golf with Ryan in his remaining few weeks of study-less days. He can take Maeve to Mr. Gatti’s and the rides at the mall. He can enjoy dinners with Mom and talk across the driveway with Jimmy.

I can only imagine how my dad is feeling after spending 30+ years in professional baseball. My career only lasted 10 years but when I left in May, it was a hard transition. I didn’t realize it but I had been defined by what I did. But now in Raleigh, people only know me as “Jack’s mom.” I stay at home. They don’t know that I traveled the continent building playgrounds and educating community leaders. I have struggled with this. I want to shout out “I am more than a mom. I have a great education and exceptional skills.” But you know what. That doesn’t matter in the end. In the end all that we will leave here are our children.

So Dad, I think I can speak for Shannon and Ryan, when I say, that while we are so proud of you and your career, and while we will tell the stories to our children and theirs, and while you may or may not go back to the field come February, we are glad you are home now. We know your career will be documented and you will be known for the coach that you are and all the famous players you helped. But most importantly, we are proud of the amazing man, husband, father and grandfather you are and the life you and Mom have given our family. Welcome home! You are going to love East Tennessee in September!

Phone time and haircuts

Nothing too exciting going on here this week. Daddy took me to get my haircut yesterday and I was such a good boy- of course when he takes me! I sat really still and let the lady work her magic. Mom came home after having her hair cut and thought I look really handsome!

Here I am calling Daddy at work. I like to pretend and then I say "hi dad! hi dad!" But when Mommy calls him for real, I clam up.

Yep, Mom is getting blonder by the day. She had enough with that brunette stuff. Blondes definitely have more fun. I should know.