Slide + Lake = Fun!

As I sit here eating Rolo's and drinking sweet tea, I have been thinking back on the happenings of the week and long weekend. One thing glaring stands out. The guys got together Friday night to play some more Spades. As you recall from earlier posts, Kannon was my partner and was no good...he never fails to exceed my expectations. We have played several hands Fri. night and aren't doing so bad. On this particular hand, he has bid "low," regular "low." I think I bid five. We are trucking along with our low-5 bid when on the 8th time around, my fabulous partner decides to spade in. My fabulous partner is going low, mind you. He bid low, on his own accord, with six spades. SIX SPADES! Just wanted everyone to know what I was dealing with around here!

We went to the lake Saturday and Mason had a blast! I took his slide from the garage thinking he might, might slide off of it into the water...boy did I underestimate that. All he wanted to do was slide more. Sorry we didn't get any action pictures, but it took two people, one to catch and one to keep him from falling when running to the stairs on the slide, thus no one to take the action shot! (That was the longest run-on sentence ever) We slid and swam until he was about to turn into a popcicle, then had to get out. The water was warm enough, but the breeze when you kept getting in and out made it quite cool.

Parker had his pool right next to Mason's slide and had a blast also. He is a pretty good little guy, doesn't fuss unless he is hungry or tired. A lot more like his mama than daddy...lets just hope it stays that way! Ha!

Sunday we went to church, then went to mom and dad's to celebrate aunt Jaime's birthday! It is not until tomorrow, Wednesday, but we partied all the same! Mason and I picked a card that said "For your birthday I thought you would like to see a cute guy with his shirt off." Then you opened it up and there was a naked baby. Sooooo, when Mason and I came home from Wal-Mart, he posed for a manly muscle shot....

.....what do you think? Future Mr. America? At any rate, we cut it out and pasted it inside aunt Jaime's card for a big smile and laugh when she opened it. She didn't want any gifts, just sweet moola for her trip to Ireland later in the summer. Al, you will have to give her some tips on where to go. I'm not a big fan of "no gifts," so I bought her a t-shirt with all the Sesame Street gang on it and it read, "I Was Raised In The Street." I got a kick out of it, even if she never wears it! With all that said, muscles and all,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAIME!!!!

Finally, Monday we went to the playground and played for over an hour and a half...the weather was great. Came home and washed the cars. This was Mason's first time to wash the car with daddy. He had washed the car with grandddad and had so much fun that I figured we would try it here at home. He was so funny. He said, "Mama..dis is reawy, reawy durty." So funny coming from him and not me! Ha! We had a great weekend together. Mama has been a little under the weather with allergies for the last couple of days if you wonder why she wasn't mentioned more. We tried to stay out of the house and let her rest lots. We want her to get back to abnormal soon!

Finally, we want to say Happy Birthday to Gabriel Arce!!! He was born to Lori and William Arce on May 24. I am awaiting a picture and will share when I get it, but wanted to say congratulations all the same!!!

Lightning, Sally, and Flo

We have had another busy week here at Mason's house. With the end of school drawing near, seems like we stay up later each night and wake up later each morning with even more things to do! We have to eat lots of M&M's to keep us going. Granddad helps out with that!

We had a good weekend. Saturday morning, Mason and I ran errands around town; the bank, getting gas, seeing Grandma. At lunch time, we went to Gigi and Granddad's for lunch with Aunt Lorna and Uncle Richard. They were here just for a few hours. We forgot the camera...sorry Aunt Lorna. :-( After all that excitement, we came home and Mason helped daddy put all his tools in his new trailer. For all of you who have not seen my 1979 Ford...it is about to retire. Mason was a big help in making daddy remember where everything went. I would put it up and he would pull it out again. We had fun.

Sunday he spent the day with Gigi and Granddad while Amber and I went to Dallas to see David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy mop the floor with F.C. Dallas. It was a fun game to watch. Amber had fun also...especially since we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. :-)

In case you live on another planet and don't know who these cars are, this is Lightning McQueen, Sally, and Flo. Our lives (Mason's at least) revolve around these three cars. He eats, breaths, and sleeps the Cars movie. We had a bad day Monday at daycare because he hit one of the little girls hands because she was holding Flo and he wanted her. Trust me, we had a long talk. He plays with these cars first thing in the morning, all day at daycare, and all evening while at home. He wants to hold them while we watch the movie! He may need therapy!!! Amber hopes he doesn't have a change of heart because it would be fairly easy to have a Cars birthday party! I know one little man who would love that!

This picture is from last week at Gigi and Granddad's. Monday and Tuesday evenings, we sodded Burhmuda grass everywhere, so no more sand between our toes!!! To quote Tow Mater, they were "Happier than a tornader in a trailer park!" It was pretty. Mason will love the soft grass next time we are over. Sorry for all the "Cars" quotes...we pretty much have it memorized! Sooooo...."GOODBYEEE!!! I'm good."

Mama's Day!!!

This is my mama. She is going to kill me for putting this picture on the internet, but I love candid shots and this is one from Sunday. I was born on Mother's Day way back in 1976 so Mother's Day weekend/week is usually "our" weekend/week. She has been all things to all in our family; mother, wife, sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, grand-daughter and friend. Our sermon on Sunday was in Proverbs 31, vs. 25-31. She truely embodies it.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tounge.

She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I thank God for my mother and for the example she is and has been. She IS blessed and, for 32 years and 4 days, has been all these things to me. Thank you mama.

That brings us to the mother of my child whom I hold in high esteem. She is all things to Mason and I in our home. This is in no doubt due to her walk with the Lord and fine upbringing, accredited to her godly mother and father. For 2 years and 310 days she has been a remarkable mother to our child. She is the perfect balance of grace and compassion to my sternness. Mason is becoming more and more of a daddy's boy, but always longs for his mama first thing in the morning, when injured, and last thing at night. There is no substitute for mama. I thank God for the blessing of both of them and every moment spent with them.

Wow!!!

Wow, it has been like a month since I have made a post. I'm sorry. Mason has grown over a foot, learned the Pythagorean theorem, finished his first triathlon, and moved into his own place.

Seriously though, he looks like the type of dude that could do all those things...right!!!!!



We have had a really busy couple of weeks. Nana has been here since Ayden (Gracie) was born. Not here, but here in East Texas. Bob finished his contract with CPS last week and has been here also. Amber and Mason have made trips to the zoo and to see them many times...did I say "trips to the zoo to see them?" I just wanted to be clear on that. Here he was allowed behind the bars for an up close picture! Ha!

Aunt Jaime has been home in the past couple of weeks also. She is doing well and enjoyed playing outside and pushing Mason on the swing. He always wants to go "higher...HIGHER!" He must get that from his mother.

Mason has been learning lots these days. We are deep into the "why" era. Daddy and mama try to keep up, but most of the time end up with, "just because." He is definately getting bigger. He is up to a size 8 shoe now! I used to stand him on the kitchen counter and pretty much look him in the eye...now he is looking down on me quite a bit. He is sleeping in a "big boy bed" now (twin size) complete with John Deere sheets and all. He has done really well with staying in the bed.

This weekend he got to use the drill for the first time...boy did he love that. We about wore out a couple of screws and a battery on the 'ole Dewalt running them in and out of a piece of plywood. He was in hog heaven! He loves anything that has to do with tools or work. He is so funny, he has seen me put on my work gloves and taboggin to work in the winter months, so he associates those things with work. He puts on his mittens and taboggin in the living room to move his blocks around because he says, "I'm working."

And finally, this weekend on Saturday evening, what is left of the gang here in J'Ville came over for sandwhiches and to let the kiddos see each other. The women visited while the men played Spades. If there are ever four of us that want to play, I personally recommend Kannon as a partner for YOU and I will take whomever is left! Ha! He and I got our bottems whooped by Greg and Paul. Anyway, here is a picture of Mason, Lauren, and Parker. Nobody told Lauren that it was dinosaur t-shirt day...she out cuted them with her bow anyways!!!