My child...

This is some kind of record for me. It has only been 8 days since my last post! Wow, yay me! Enough of that. On to the more pressing issues. Mason got to go to an indoor water park Sunday afternoon!!!

He had a blast! It was pretty stinkin' cool if I do say so myself. I'm sorry, but this is the only still shot we got of him. His smile was plastered on though, ear to ear! The boy in the blue towel is in Mason's class and invited he and the boy in the green towel to the party. Coolest birthday party ever!!!

Well, after the chlorine quit burning our eyes and nostrils, we headed home. This brings us to "my child." He had his Christmas program at school Tuesday night. After much lecturing, he agreed that it was good to stand up tall, sing loud, and mind the teacher. Very clear...right? My child was the one...you know, the one...that turned around backwards the whole time, looking at what was going on behind him. Then when it was time to sing, he leaned over the railing and looked all around. His friends...the ones from the water park...tried to talk him down, but no, he was determined. His mama went the front row to lay down the law...he smiled real big and turned back around. What am I going to do with this guy? He is something else.

This picture doesn't do his misbehavior justice. He is much better at it that what his reflected here! And that brings us to the next picture. I must say, it is of my own doing...maybe...karma, as "Ed" would say. I told Amber about two weeks ago that we don't need the plastic things in our plugs anymore. Mason is big enough and not going to stick anything in them, Anslee is too small to and we will be hopefully moving before she is big enough. This is what I found when we came home from the musical.Let's take this in order, shall we:

#1 This should be an advertisement for the plastic "thingies" that are in the receptacle above the fork lift. Maybe my child is a marketing genius?

#2 If you were interested in sticking a set of fork lift forks in an electrical outlet, of the three combinations of holes to stick them in, this one is the only one that will not give you a shock. Maybe my child is an electrical genius?

#3 Finally, and thank God, the people that make tiny grey, red, and black fork lifts know to make the forks on a tiny fork lift plastic, because a child like mine is going to stick them in a wall socket!!!

I hope you have an electrifying day!

Halloween to Turkey and inbetween!

Well, haven't talked to you since Oct. 28th...we have lots to cover.

Mason was a farmer for Halloween, and Anslee was a pumpkin. They were both very cute and cooperative with pictures. They actually didn't get to go trick-or-treating. We gave Mason a bunch of candy and took him to mom and dad's for a visit. He didn't seem to miss it. We will do better next year!

This one is all smiles! As of late, she has three moods: happy, hungry, and sleepy. Her personality and demeanor is totally opposite of Mason at her age. She is so very sweet and always excited to see me when I come home. I think her favorite thing to do is watch Mason. He is always babbling about something and she is quite happy to sit and listen. She doesn't like to let her mama get out of eye sight though. Spoilt child!

I forget all we did in November, but we have been busy. Amber is teaching children's choir at church (Mason's age) and she is getting ready for the Christmas musical. They had a warm up during the Hanging of the Greens service Sunday night in which they sang two songs...Mason played with a piece of string in his pocket and adjusted the microphone. The rest of the kids she taught did great though! Mason and I had a talk afterward...he will be singing next time. We decorated for Christmas a few days before Thanksgiving. Mason was a big help. It is neat seeing him more interested each year. I know it will peak soon, so I enjoy it while we can! He has only watched Polar Express 627 times. And that is just the past few weeks! Ha!

Puddin' pop is eating some food these days with some rice cereal mixed in. I think her favorite is sweet peas. She has also had carrots, green beans, apple sauce, and bananas. She seem to really enjoy eating each night. She lunges for the spoon which makes it difficult to feed her sometimes.
We had a great Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt and uncles this year. Many of my mom 's family came from Houston and we all enjoyed the time together. Our gifts are definitely under the tree! What a blessing they both are. I thank God for each day He gives me with them.

Is October almost over?

Where did it go? It may have floated away, as much rain as we have had here. Almost two feet in a month...that has to be some kind of record...and guess what it's going to do tomorrow...yup, 100% chance of rain.

This is what Anslee thinks of the rain! She said, "No, not again!!!" She sure is growing fast. She has rolled over, and we think she is about to teethe...note all the slobber on her hoodie. She has definitely had an attitude change since the last blog, all smiles now. She loves to watch Mason and has to be where she can see him. He loves her and wants to be in all of her business, showing her exactly how to play with each toy in the exersaucer!

Mason was pumped about going to the pumpkin patch! Ha! He is getting so big also. He is really enjoying school and learning alot. He is all about deer season and wants Granddaddy to, "shoot a deer with a bullet and make some sausage." That is a whole other story, just ask sometime. ;-) Seriously though, I have been wanting to take the boy camping, but the weather has hexed it more than once. Maybe this weekend?! Amber's folks have been here for the past couple of weeks. They left yesterday headed home. They will come back at Christmas. Mason always loves getting to play with them. Anslee took a few days to warm up, but eventually did. Amber, Erin, and Sharon went on cruise to the Caribbean this past Thursday. Spoiled bunch of women, if you ask me! Well, that is about all I know from here. Sorry it has been so long on my posting...just really busy. Guess we'll wave bye for now!

We are still alive!

Just a note to say we are still kicking. Mason is enjoying school and his Nana and Gramps being here this week. Anslee is doing super...as long as her mama is in sight. That's about it. I'm tired and don't feel like typing a ton. I think I am going to put Amber in charge of the blogging, but we'll see!

I don't think she could see her mama in this one! Mason was sweet and wanting to share his teddy though! He is a great big brother.

Busy week!

Well, lots has happened the past week here at Mason's and Anslee's house. I guess I will start where I left off. Gigi and aunt Jaime got home from vacation safely and bearing many gifts! Two of which were stuffed Mickey and Minnie mouse for my two children! Mason loves his! He also enjoyed getting the four or five post cards Gigi sent in the mail :-). Before they got home though, Granddad got to spend some one on one time with his granddaughter. I think she has him wrapped up already! Ha!

I was out of town this weekend playing golf with my college roommate. We had a good time. Mason had a better time at the ZOO! His mama took him on Saturday as a treat while Anslee stayed with Gigi and Granddad.

Sunday at church...not a word! Can you believe it?! He sat all the way through the children's sermon and didn't say a peep! I'm pumped. Although, that just means he is saving up for next week, right?!?!

Monday night, Greg, Liz, and Lauren came over for supper. Amber cooked us some chicken and dressing...mmm...and then we played a bit! Once Lauren warmed up to Mason, Amber, and I, she had a really good time playing. Mason didn't quite understand why she didn't want to get behind the chair in his "pirate ship" and play pirates. As the picture says, we had fun!

Finally, we are such a big boy now that we have homework! UGH! E is for eagle as you can see! Mason is doing so well at school. He can read all the letters in any word now and can tell you some words that start with a particular letter. It doesn't seem like he should be able to do all that yet. Makes me happy and sad at the same time.

Oh, and one other big thing, we have a contract on the sale of our home. Yeah! I think! The people have to sell their home first. We shall see. I can't think of the artist, but the chorus of one of my favorite songs says, "My God never fails." He has never failed us, and never will. He is so good to us, and I give him all the glory. My children are His. My wife is His. My parents and sister are His. All He asks me to do is love them, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest. I almost feel guilt for how much we are blessed as a family...but I also think, what would I not do or give for MY children? How great is our God, thank you Father.

"I Know Everything!"

Yes, this is Mason and his two cousins washing off all the mud they played in Monday...since all it does is rain anymore, we just decided to play in the mud! Ha! Actually, I wasn't there for this one, but he had a blast at his Aunt Erin's with the girls.



Mason informed his mother, on the way home from school last week, that "he knew everything." To which Amber replied, "No you don't." Mason replied, "Yes I do." Amber, trying to out smart him, "No you don't, only God and Jesus know everything!" Mason, without hesitation, "They sent in down to me in a little note." Are you through laughing? I have more.



We have children's church for about 5 mins. during the service each Sunday. Mason has been old enough to go down front since he has turned 4. They only do children's church during the school year, so these past four Sunday's were his first times. First Sunday, he tried to take the teacher's prop from her. Second Sunday, he crawled across the banister that hides the organ. The third trip, while the teacher was making a point about the bible, Mason stands up and announces to the whole congregation (with arms open wide no less), "I read my Bible EVERY night!" And this past Sunday, after making a scene while trying to show the teacher his acorn, when the kids were asked to answer a question, Mason blurted out "GOD!" in the microphone...luckily it was the correct answer! What are we going to do with this one? Everyone waits in anticipation each Sunday to see what Mason will do next...I don't know whether to laugh or cry...I'm still laughing for now!

And 'ole blue eyes here...she makes quite a fuss as well...just not in front of the congregation at church! She is doing great! She is sleeping all night...or at least 5 of the 6 previous nights. She turned three months yesterday. Where does the time go? She is happy for the most part...has laughed for Amber...just smiles at me mostly. It is a beautiful smile! She has a really sweet personality and wants to coo and smile at anyone who will give her a smile :-)!

Gigi and Aunt Jaime are cruising the Caribbean as I type. They called and said they were having a blast. I asked dad if he thought they were going to pay for us to have a "father/son" trip...HA! Fat chance!!! Jaime has started a website and home photography business on the side. She is really good and she really loves doing it. Someone wise once said, "Do something you love and you'll never work another day." She may have found her calling!?! Her website is www.jaimepphotography.com if anyone wants to take a look see.

Well, I'm full of info, but don't have many pics this time. I hope to have more next week.

August!

I figure I will just fill you in on the month, since I seemed to have missed it on the blog! Sorry.

First things first, the big dog started Pre-K last week! He really loves it. He was praised today, seeing how some other kids locked the teacher out of the classroom and Mason was trying to let her back in. At least I know now that I don't have the WORST kid in the classroom! Ha!!! The reason I say this: Monday we hear from the teacher and she says she had passed out a color sheet of a butterfly to all the kids and told them to color pretty. Mason takes a brown crayon and scribbles over the whole sheet. The teacher comes by and asks Mason, "Mason, is this really the best you can do?" Mason replies, "Mrs. Carmen, this really is the best I can do for a butterfly flying through a mud storm and getting mud splashed all over it." Trying to contain her laughter, she told him good job and to play quietly. Boy, are we in trouble. He may be a politician!

Secondly, our daughter seems to have found her personality! Whooohoo! After eight weeks of straight faced seriousness, we are smiling, laughing, and cooing quite a bit. Even for daddy occasionally! She loves her bath time and gets very excited while bathing. She is sleeping a lot better now as well, only wakes up once per night. I think if we could get the moons aligned just right, she would sleep all night...it will happen eventually.
I was sick all last week, so Amber took Mason to the splash park in Tyler one evening to get him out of the house a while, and Granddad wanted to go along! He is just a kid at heart, he couldn't stay out of the water any longer than Mason could!!! They had a blast and came home exhausted!

Anslee went on her first scooter ride already. I know, you think she is looking at her mama asking, "When will daddy get me off this thing?" But really she was saying, "Why are we going so stinking slow, I wanna go fast like bubba!"

All I can say is, she is getting plenty to eat! What a chunkalunk! She is perfect. Mason adores her...always wants to hug and kiss her. He hums to her in the car when she is crying...the volume of his hum goes up with the volume of her cry...it's a circus, but sweet! I do apologize for my absence from blogging. I will try harder.

6+ weeks

Well, here we are at a little over six weeks old, and still the grumpiness! Really though, it's not that bad...she has a good day, and then four bad ones! Ha!

This is the look I normally get from her...really serious...not sure if she is about to scream or shoot holes through me with super laser beams that come from her eyes!!! All jokes aside, she HAS smiled a few times in the past week. It may have been gas, but we are counting them as smiles!!!

Since No.2 has been such a hand full lately, No.1 has had some obedience problems. He is so sweet and well mannered...I'm sure his life hasn't settled from the shell shock of Anslee yet. Still, that is no excuse not to use your manners, and mind your mama! Ha! He has had a good week with exception to the heat. We play outside each evening for around an hour, that's about all any of us can take after a long day at work. We are ready for November!!!


On a sweet note, I just polished off a whole role of Wild Cherry Life Savers. Yuuummmm-O! How excited was I the first time I found out they made a whole roll of cherry flavor?! They are my favorite hard candy in the whole world, I think?! Mason's favorite at the moment is grape bubble gum...he is always asking for it, so I have to keep a stash in my truck console to dole out on special occasions! Anslee's favorite is Similac. Ha! Have a great day!!!

Uhmmm...Ahhhh...oh yeah, the blog.

Where to start. I don't think we have slept since the last blog! Sure we have, just doesn't seem like it!

Look at those wild eyes. She looks like Dr. Evil demanding, "One meeallion dollars!" All I could come up with was a twenty and some left over formula...she said no deal and has been crying ever since! Ha! She is doing much better with the eating/sleeping thing, but still, her favorite thing to do is be fussy and cry between the hours of 6-12pm. One day I will pay her back by having a 7pm curfew or something! Ha!

Saturday morning, our good friends the Joneses came over. We got to meet "Willie Hank," as he is so adorably called. What a model child...all smiles from the time he comes in the door and then when it is nap time, lay the kid down in the crib and whah-la...he goes to sleep?!?!?! We didn't get one of those kind of baby's...either time! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and watching or two oldest boys play together. By the time I decided to snap a picture of them, they were going 100mph. They played and played...never once yelled mama or daddy...kid of nice! Ha!

Then, after lunch, Uncle Ray and Aunt Monica took us tubing! Mason just loved it! He wanted me to go with him the first two times, but then rode with his cousin Caden, and then by himself! He really liked it, and it wore him out...which I liked!

Now, this is the point in the blog where I wish I had been recording with my video camera.

Mason and I had Bible School all last week. We went from 6-9pm every night! Mason had a blast. This is a picture of him from the program on Sunday night. Do you see the monitors on the floor in front of the teacher and next to the pulpit? There is a matching pair on the other side of the church. During the second song they were supposed to be singing, Mason decided to check out the sound system and make sure all four monitors had sound coming from them. It was quite a trek across the stage checking all four...everyone in the church was rolling laughing louder and louder as he bent over and put his ear next to each one. I just looked the color of a Dr. Pepper can I'm sure...that's my boy.
This week has been calm for the most part. Mason still loves his little sister, as you can tell. Aunt Jaime is coming home this weekend and we have a birthday party with a bounce house on Saturday, so we are looking forward to more fun then!

Mason, "How is your baby sister?"

"She is this long, has brown hair, sleeps a little, and cries a lot!" This is the answer you will get from our NOW 4 year old son!

There were two thing he wanted for his birthday...one of them is the "youth guitar" as he calls it, and the other was a bicycle. He hasn't quite mastered the guitar yet, contrary to the photo, he prefers to sit on the couch and play it flat on his lap. He says he can play "Jesus Loves Me" on the "really loud string," but you will have to come by for a visit and be your own judge!

Here is the big dog on his bike. He loves it. Received his first road rash on the first outing in the neighbors driveway. He is a bit more cautious now! His helmet has monster trucks on it...he is all about that as well. He has been a real trooper with all that has been going on in his little life the past month.

Now, on to that thing that is this long, has brown hair, sleeps a little, and cries a lot.
Anslee is not a happy camper. I only had four pictures on the camera of her since we have been home...this is the best of the four. Reason being...she screams every second she isn't asleep or eating. I think I have held her twice, with her awake, that she was not crying. We have tried different formulas, feeding closer together, further apart, just about everything we can think of. I don't mean to complain, but I told her tonight during one of her fits that, "Some baby's like their mama and daddy, smile occasionally, and don't cry during every dull moment." She rolled her eyes and cried some more! As you can tell from the pic above, she just likes to flash gang signs and take everything way too serious!

She loves a good soak in the tub, that is one of the only things that calm her down. After working all day and then hearing screaming from 6pm until 1am, I'm ready to hold my head under the bath water for a while! Amber is super patient and a super mom, I could never be as tender and compassionate as she after being here all day, every day. She is doing a super job with both kids, we just need the new one to cooperate a bit! Our God just has a funny sense of humor some times, we will look back a laugh at these days...maybe!!!!

Anslee Kate

If you want the whole story, you'll have to call or come by for a visit...Blogger said it was too much information for the data base. Sorry! I'll give you the abbreviated version.
This is Anslee Kate, born June 15th, 7lbs. 4oz., 20" long. She has been a really good baby so far. She eats well, sleeps lots and isn't too fussy. She has had to sleep on the light blanket due to Jaundice, but should be cleared of that tomorrow.

She loves her bubba and he loves her. I think she ranked three kisses and hugs before Mason and I went to church today! We promised him he could be the very first one to see her after she was born. He was so very nervous as I went to the waiting room to get him. He is such a big boy and has such a grasp of what's going on...we are so proud of him.

We were allowed to come home Tuesday morning around 9:30am. Amber had a smashing headache and I was just plain ole' tired. Turned out, Amber's headache was a spinal headache. I took her back to the hospital just today to get a blood patch and she is feeling much better tonight. I wish that on no one...it's hard enough the first week at home with an infant...exponentially harder with a migraine-like headache. We are all good now!!!

Sorry I don't have more pics. My sister was there with her camera and took lots so I wasn't so concerned with clicking pictures. Thank you all for your prayers, phone calls, and text messages. They have each been an encouragement and energy boost! I think we will still call this blog "Mason's House." We just have an additional occupant now!!!

Still no baby!!!

We have had a fun week since Mason and Amber have been out of school. First we celebrated

Aunt Jaime's birthday last weekend. Believe it or not, Mason wrote her name on her card all by himself. Daddy was writing the letters on another piece of paper to show him what they looked like, but then he drew his version that I say is definitely legible! He was very proud of himself as we were also!

During the week Mason and Amber went to Aunt Erin's to play in the bounce house/water slide. He had a blast if you can't tell. I'm glad it is getting warmer so that Mason can do fun things in the water, but that is the only reason!!!

Now this weekend, we didn't do alot. Gigi and Granddad caught a bunch of fish Friday night and Mason went over Saturday to inspect all the fish. He learned all about bass and crappie, and which one has the larger mouth! Ask him, he will tell you all about it! Then he and Amber came by to see daddy working and bring me some lunch. Mason still loves his tractors.

After work, we decided to blow up the swimming pool and go for a dip at home. Swimming does make for an easy bedtime! We had a great weekend...Amber goes to the doctor tomorrow for her check-up. We shall see how much more until we are four!