Bling Bling

Tell me if you don't laugh out loud at this one. Mason changed classes at school yesterday. Mrs. Doris has been his teacher, probably a 40-50 year old African-American woman, a very calm, fun and loving teacher. His new teacher's name is Mrs. Guinn. She is Mrs. Doris' daughter. I am told that she is very organized and structured, but I have not met her yet.

My mother has bought Mason a new pair of Sketchers tennis shoes that light up when he walks (a must for all children over the age of 2). He is very proud of them and likes walking in the dark to watch them light up.

SOOOOO...when Amber picks the Masonator up yesterday and they come home, the number one thing we do is take off our shoes. Mason says, "No mama, no mama, I don't want to take my shoes off." Of course, Amber asks why and gets the reply, "Cause my shoes got Bling Bling on them!"

Once again, what do you say to that????

We didn't do much this past week, Mason had somewhat of a cold from Thurs.-Sun. Mom and dad managed to not get it this time. Mason has started the "WHY'S," ugh. We watched "Cars" over the weekend, one of his most liked movies. The past few times he has just watched it in awe and accepted what was going on. NOW, why is Tow Mater scaring the tractors, where is Lightning McQueen, where is Doc, how come they are racing...I could go on. The entire movie we did this. I told Amber, no more movies until this passes!!!

I will leave you with a picture from this summer. This is when the big guy is happiest when sitting on a tractor, or bulldozer in this case, making engine noises and moving all the knobs and levers. If you have never done it, you should stop by an equipment dealer, climb up on a big yellow piece of machinery, and flip every lever and pull every knob. It WILL make you smile, just look how happy this guys is!

I think we're going to make it!`

Praise be to God, Mason did not cry TODAY when I took him to school!!!!

YEAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After much singing, talking about dinosaurs, and hopes of playing in the gym with balls (in the car on the way to school), he was in such a good mood that we walked right into his new classroom and he sat down at the table and told his teacher, "I'm ready to learn bout dinosaurs."

I told him goodbye, he said, "I lub you daddy," and that was that. I hope this is the first day of many! All smiles here from pappa!!!

Next, guess what y'all...it snowed in J'ville this week!!! Pretty much all day Friday it was sleeting or snowing! This was Mason's first experience with snow. His mama told him that you were supposed to go outside and eat it. I don't know where she is from...San Antonio, I think! Ha! So with that said, they bundled up and went outside to consume of God's frozen precipitation. He had a blast. He also liked looking on the roof for the rest of the weekend and seeing the remnents of the icy day still accumulated in the valleys. Look at these two...what a pair!!!

Finally, I suppose, I have a funny story to share about the little guy. So sharp he is, daddy pales in comparison. Most of the time I find myself struggeling to keep up with whatever it is he is telling/explaining to me. Poor child, has to repeat himself all the time to his slow father! Ha!

Anyway, on with the story. Our church is participating in a DIME's campaign, standing for "Does It Matter Eternally." The point is for every SS class to collect their change and put it towards the benevolence fund in our church. Each child received a piggy bank (pictured). Mason was very excited about his and wanted to put money in it, "For Jesus," he says. So, every day when I come home, Mason asks, "Ju got money daddy?" To which I give him all my pocket change from the day. He is having lots of fun with this idea of giving money to Jesus, and should instill a lasting lesson...BUT.

On the way home from Gigi's house Sunday, he informed his mother and I he wanted to go by Central Baptist Church, the old location, and see the tractors. They are tearing it down, for those of you who don't know. Two trackhoe's and one front loader which we have watched for several hours, cumulatively. At any rate, he continues to say, "I'm going to buy one of those tractors." To which I say, "Really, with what." He says, "With some money." I say, "Where are you going to get all that money?" You know where this is going..."From Jesus" he says emphatically. Once again, he stumps poor 'ole dad...what do you say to that.

I say, store up your riches in Heaven, Mason wants to buy a Trackhoe!

New School Blues...

Another long week for Mason at his new school. Man it is tough on dad dropping him off every morning to his protest. It stinks when your child is smart enough to tell you he doesn't want to do something, then when you tell him why he is going to do it, counters with another option that will remedy his problem and stumps you at the same time. Ugh.

Example:

Mason: Why do I have to go to school daddy?

Daddy: Because mommy and daddy have to go to work buddy.

M: Why do you have to work?

D: Because we have to make money to buy things.

M: What do you has to buy daddy?

D: Clothes, food, our car, our house, TOYS! (I thought I had him there.)

M: I already have toys. I don't want to go to school.

D: (Defeated and speechless)

I have been reading up on all my negotiation books from college...I will defeat him next time!

My heart breaks for the little guy, he just doesn't fit in at school yet. He hasn't made friends yet and longs for the comfort of his mama. He is resilient and will come around, of that I have no doubt.

We had a busy weekend. Saturday we played around the house all day. After nap, we went to mom and dad's to see Jaime, Jason and Kiko. Jason was dog sitting Kiko for the weekend and Mason didn't take to her. Although the miniature pincher was smaller than he, Mason was definately scared of her. We had a good, but brief visit.

We hurried home and made supper for the Kidd's who came over to play. We had a live band in the entry way, then a concert in front of the tv! We had to put a halt to all of that why the moms and dads tried their luck at the Wii!! Lots of laughs!

Monday we had another friend born into the world! Lauren Elizabeth Wade was born just before 8:30, 8:23 I believe, on Monday morning. She is a healthy and beautiful baby. I don't know if her mama and daddy are proud, I couldn't tell by their smiles from ear to ear! We are so happy for Greg and Liz. Now the fun starts!!!

That has been our week. Pray for our big guy that he will come around about school. He is strong willed about not wanting to go and we have to get him over the hump! And finally, we want to give a shout out to Joshua Brown who turned 1yr old this past Friday! Happy Birthday Dude!!! Keep on truck'in behind that fire truck!!!

Is is 2008 already?

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I don't ever really feel old when I have a birthday. It just seems to pass like any other day of the year. But when it comes to New Year's day, that is when I feel old. Something in my anal, number crunching brain starts adding and subtracting all the milestone dates in my life with the current new year number. Whew, 16 years since the driver's license, 14 years since high school, 10 years since college, married 8 (wonderful) years, and 2 1/2 since I became a father. How many wonderful experiences we have had...and how many more are to come.

We have had a busy couple of weeks since Christmas. Aunt Jaime was home a few days, we had many friends come by to see us including Chris, Alison, and Joshua. Joshua and Mason had fun together. Joshua liked chewing on Thomas the Train. Mason said he heard that was popular with the younger crowd! They certainly had a good time playing.

We also had Brian, Jennifer and Wayne come by along with Parker T. from up the street. I dare not call them the three amigos, but they WERE quite a trio. Wayne, much like Joshua Brown, is quite the chewer/slobberer. Slobberer...do you think my English teacher would approve?

I am also a proud father to announce that we are 100% potty trained! We have successfully mastered going tee tee both sitting and standing, we have mastered No. 2 (He works for us!). We still sleep in a "night time" diaper to keep from having to change the bed in the event of an accident. He has only leaked a couple of times though. We are so proud of him!!! Yeah Mason!

He has stared at the Methodist Readiness School and is doing ok. He is having a little seperation anxiety from him mother after being home with her for the past two weeks. Each day has gotten a little better for him, so by Friday I bet he won't want to come home. Ha!

Tonight was my dad's birthday, 57. He wanted to go to Chili's. I don't know if he picks that place because he likes it or that his grandson loves it. I don't know if Mason really loves Chili's, or just the Molten Chocolate Cake! I give you my word, that boy has eaten ten of those things in the past year if he has eaten one! Must take after his mother!! Hehe!!

This is not the most flattering picture of our monster Mason, but he loves playing around the house in his beanie and mittens. He reminds me of an angry snow plow operater about to drive around and knock over everyone's snow men. I know, I have twisted thoughts! My favorite times are when I can sit and watch him play when he doesn't realize I'm watching. I'm sure much as our Father enjoys watching us run around trying to be the best parents we can for our little man. :-)