mason's house

I promised more, and have now delivered!!!

2010-11-04T22:17:00.011-05:00

After the fabulous beach, we headed northwest to the cool air of Colorado. It is a long way from Corpus to Colorado...for the record.

We swung by the Carlsbad Cavern's in New Mexico on the second day of our pilgrimage. Mason was amazed at the cave. He has always had a thing for caves and wanted to see one...so we showed him one. Amazing place to see. My first time, and I was impressed.

This was not always the sight in the back seat, but she did really great for traveling over 3200 miles. She is just about always a happy girl!

After Carlsbad, we headed north to Glorieta, NM, home of the Glorieta Baptist Conference Center owned by Lifeway. The words "peaceful, serene, and picturesque" do not do this place justice. I visited here twice during high school for Centrifuge camp.
They have the capacity to entertain around 5,000 youth at one time. I don't know how many acres it is, but it is in the hundreds. It is only 20 minutes east of Santa Fe, NM. I recommend anyone in the vicinity to stay a night. We did...two in fact. No offense to Nana and Gramps, but those were probably my favorite two days of vacation.
Did I mention we were the ONLY guests there. We were visiting between camps (I checked on that, of course) and the only other people there were maintenance and host couples that stay in each lodging facility. Amber was a little sceptical about why I wanted to visit there on the way to Colorado, but after staying, she loved it as much as I did. Mason and I played putt-putt, both kids played and ran in the grassy fields, on the play ground, and saw the beautiful flowers in the prayer garden (one picture up). You can feel God there, in the scripture hanging from every lamp post, in the smiles and greetings of every host person, and in the beauty, sights, and smells of nature all around you. Enough said, go there if you can!

We finally made it to Colorado! We had a good time visiting Nana and Gramps. We did all the usual stuff we do at their house with the exception of not going to the chuck wagon dinner/show we usually see. One additional thing we did...and the whole reason we went on these particular dates was...
The hot air balloon festival in Pagosa Springs! Mason was in awe of the huge balloons filled with hot air. We arrived in time to see a couple get aired up and take off. I had never seen a hot air balloon in person before, they are much larger than I though they were.

I love this picture. Mason ponders everything. He soaks it all in, and then tells you how he would do it. He is a lot like his mama in that he talks through his thought process out loud, which I get a kick out of and pick on her! There is nothing I like more than when he wants to talk to me and have a "real" conversation.

We finished our time in Colorado and headed home, only stopping to sleep a few hours. The kids did super and were both glad to be home to all their toys and their own beds! Mama and daddy were too! Maybe next week I can catch us up to date and get a couple of Halloween pictures in here!

Three months later...

2010-10-20T23:59:00.010-05:00

Wow, that's one quarter of the year! A lot has happened since we last spoke.

Mr. Strikes Alot went bowling for the first time. He though it was really cool! He actually beat his mama, but we don't have to tell everyone that. Mason has also figured out the Wii. He loves to bowl, golf, and play tennis. He is a hoot to watch!

Mrs. Prissy Pants decided to get a lot of teeth and personality. She is a ham, and loves attention. So much like Jaime Prewitt, it's scary! Ha!

Mr. Fidgety Fingers decided to participate in the Bible School program for the first time. We were so proud our child stood and sang with no outbursts or wondering around. Everyone else was disappointed, because they always expect a laugh from whatever it is Mason does when he is on stage!

Princess Fine Hair has finally got long enough lochs of hair to wear pig tails, bows, and clips without them falling out all the time. She helps with the "falling out" part quite a bit!

Master Mathematician went back to school in late August. Just in time to go on vacation!
Daddy's Sugar Booger loved the ocean. She was very independent and wanted to run out into it all by herself.
Capt. Crow's Nest enjoyed the heck out of seeing the Battleship Texas. He climbed all over that thing and had a gillion questions. He has drawn it and built it out of Lego's at least a hundred times since we have been home!

These clowns had a good time at the beach and on vacation. I'm about half way through the pictures. I think I will sleep for tonight and show you some more in a week. If you get time, read Job 38-41, it doesn't take long. It sucks you in and you will want to read it over and over. What a great, magnificent, detailed, caring, loving, thoughtful God we serve. I will never question Him, yet say, "Here is my life, use it to Your glory and honor."

5...already?

2010-07-20T20:33:00.006-05:00

Mason is 5. I guess I'll just have to get used to saying it...just doesn't sound right. Guess it should be, he is practically grown with the exception of not being able to touch the pedals when he drives the car!For his birthday, Gigi and Granddad took him, along with Aunt Jaime, to the LEGO store in Dallas. Four boxes of Lego's, a trip to the Dallas World Aquarium, and a custom made cupcake later, they rolled back into J'ville. I would say the boy is spoiled, but that doesn't touch the tip of the iceberg!!!Mason had decided he wanted to have his birthday at the Villages Water Park. He got his wish the following Sunday afternoon. We had three of his best buddies and their families there, and he had a blast. Mason is all about being outside and exploring. His face gets beet red in the heat, but it doesn't seem to bother him. He has become more "manly" lately, wanting to throw the ball and frisbee, also wanting to go with daddy places...which makes me happy! He is definitely growing up right before our eyes.

Our girls had a good time at the water park as well. Anslee wasn't real sure at first, but then loved it. She wanted to walk up and down the stairs of the play scape over and over!
She had a big time with daddy in the wave pool as well! She is getting big...I mean really tall! She is also pigeon toed, but the doctor says she should grow out of it. She is constantly into everything and has an incredibly annoying squealing sound she makes when she doesn't get what she wants. Her mama will back me up on that. Sounds somewhat like a terradactyl about to attack! Good thing is, she will eat anything. She loves to play chase/hide and seek around the couch and/or island. She is trying to run and it's the funniest thing you've ever seen! Usually ends in a face plant, but she gets up, shakes it off, and tries to run again.

I will leave you with this picture of Mason and Aunt Jaime. It just shows you how grown up our little guy is. His face is changing, the shape of his head, his little muscles are starting to show, it's sad and exciting all at once. Mason and I went to the convenience store last night to get Amber a Dr. Pepper and I grabbed us an ice cream sandwich to share on the way home. He loved it, but I told him that it would be "our" secret, not to tell mama. This has never worked before, the first thing he does is run inside and say, "Mama, we had ice cream!" But last night, not a peep. As I said, sadness and happiness at the same time.

Water Anyone???

2010-06-20T21:20:00.011-05:00

Well since we last spoke, I think we have spent 9 out of 10 days in the water!

It all started at the Great Wolf Lodge in Dallas. Anslee stayed with Gigi and Granddad while Mason got the whole weekend alone with mama and daddy. Boy did he wear us out!!!

If you can't see the excitement and happiness in this face, you better make an appointment with the eye doctor! He asked us a million times if he asked us once, "Mama, daddy...do you want to sleep in my cave with me?" I think I took a nap with him and Amber laid by him until he went to sleep one night. He had a blast! He thought it was sooo cool that he got to sleep on the top bunk and that he had his own tv in his cave. We hooked up his portable dvd player to it so he could watch movies at nap time and he was in heaven!

There are really just too many pictures to show you, but again, his smile sums it up. His favorite thing to do, along with all the big people tube rides, was to hop across these floating lily pads in one of the pools. He tried and tried and couldn't make it. He never gave up, or even considered giving up. We had to tell him, "Come on Mason, we'll try again later." I mean, after a dozen times or so. On the last morning, we were the first one's in the door and let him go straight there. After only one failed attempt, he finally made it across!!! Miraculously, it was easy then and he had to do it another half-dozen times to rationalize in his mind that he had conquered the lily pads, and he did. He has such a fun and determined personality!

Next, we had Anslee Kate's birthday at the lake. You can look at her face and know that she knew it was all about her. She is such a priss! Her smiles and laughs make me melt though. It's hard to believe she is one already. She is walking, talking some, and has enough personality for all of us! Her favorite thing to say is, "da da." I think it is a definite sign that I am the best! Haha! She loves to see me though, and loves to play hide and seek with me around the couch. She will peek around the edge of the sofa to see if I am behind it and I will crawl around and scare her from behind while she is looking. I wish I had a video of how hard she laughs when I do it! Like I said, lots of personality!!!

Amber made her this beautiful cake and she loved it!!!

I think someone must have tried to take her cake away, and she gave them the serious look!

Wednesday, Amber, Mason, and Anslee went to Burleson, to stay a few days with our friends the Carlile's who were house sitting for their parents. Their parents happen to have a pool...where the kids spent most of their time! Mason and Maddie had a really fun time together as usual. I think Jennifer and Amber thought it would be a little less difficult than it was corralling four kiddos, but they did great as they always do. Trey and I drove up Friday evening to find six tired souls! Fun was had by all and we appreciate them inviting us for the fun long weekend away.

And finally, after all that water, these two were begging to play in the tub Saturday night when we got home! What a pair! They bring such joy into our lives each day. I realize they are a gift from God, not to be possessed as mine, but to be raised by me for Him. My love for them only make me realize how much more He loves me.

Lot's has happened!!!

2010-05-31T11:31:00.009-05:00

Lots of stuff since last we talked. The weekend after my last post, we got to go to Dallas and visit Joshua Brown!!! Mason was so excited and they both played really well together. I think they were both so excited that neither of them slept much, but much fun was had. We played at the park, ate some yummy Mexican food, and Al cooked us a scrumptious breakfast Sunday morning before we had to leave! We are looking forward to going to the beach in September!!!

Anslee Kate has been into everything...literally. She is up and moving, but still prefers crawling for long distances and speed. She is good for a 5'-6' journey on foot, then eats it, or goes to the knees. She is so fun and happy to be around. She had her first lawn mower ride in this picture!

A week ago, Mason found a new friend on the back porch...he was enamored by it. He even went so far as to name him...Greenie! Funny how the things we take for granted are so new and vibrant to our children. Makes me pay more attention for things like silly green lizards!

Yes, simple things...like a bucket of water!

Yesterday we went to the lake with Uncle Ray and Aunt Monica. Mason got to tube again like last year. Aunt Jaime is bringing her camera with all the pictures today so we can download. I will post them later this week. Today Mason and I were upstairs building train track, well Mason was building...I had my finger's crossed this was going to work. Totally his idea, totally done by him, dad didn't help at all. I thought engineering a four story round house was due a picture! Have a great Memorial Day and i'll post again soon!

Daddy's tired...

2010-04-15T20:12:00.008-05:00

That is my only excuse for not blogging. I'm just sorry. I do love my kids and play with them, take pictures and all that good stuff...just don't share it with you as much! Have you ever seen eyes that blue? She pretty much rules the roost around here. She decided to pose for mommy while sitting with daddy. She is such a joy. She is saying "da da, ma ma, bub ba," and some other noises we can't quite decipher! Standing when she is brave. She can balance for probably 3 seconds, then back down. She is a speedy walker when she is holding onto something, it's only a matter of time before she takes off!

Here is "prissy pants" and Anslee, oops, I got that backwards! Ha! Amber and the kids went to a flower garden with Jen, Maddie and Molly Carlile. They had lots of fun. Didn't realize the kids couldn't play in the flowers and what not, had to stay on the path and behave. Where's the fun in that???
Here is our sweet Maddie. She loves Mason and they play so great together. They are such hams when they are together, this is the best picture I have of them when they are both smiling and looking "towards" the camera!!!

The new header picture is our best Easter picture as well. Aunt Jaime came home for Easter and may have some better pics, but I haven't seen them yet. Jaime started a new job last week and from all I understand, she loves it. I am so very happy for her! We just wish we got to see her more. Mason loves it when she is home!

Sweet smiles from a sink bath!

Finally, Mason said to tell you he will rough you up if you give daddy any lip about not blogging in so long! Haha! He battled a stick at the flower garden and the stick won. We would have more pictures of him, but the only thing he is ever doing is playing Lego's! I love my little guy. He has decided to run and hug me about every third day when I come home...I'll take it! I want so much to never fail him, to never disappoint him, to always encourage him, to be all the things my father was to me, and the things he wasn't. Maybe you can't be all things, I don't know. I am going to try though. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Phil. 4:21

Submarine's, princesses, and camping!

2010-03-11T20:25:00.009-06:00

Well, I think she is lacking enough iron in her diet and is trying to let us know. Really though, two teeth and this is the best thing you can find to chew on?! Ha! She puts everything in her mouth. She doesn't go directly to the mouth, she is intelligent about it. She picks up an item, briefly inspects it, then...in the mouth. I guess she is deciding if it is worthy!

Mason is always in one spot in our house. The Lego rug. We have told him to keep his Lego's on his play rug for safety sake with Anslee. He does pretty good with it. The Lego's are the only thing the boy wants to play with. Hours upon hours. We have contemplated doing an every-other-day schedule or something. I suppose it is good on some levels and bad on others. The picture is his rendition of the "Magic School Bus," if any of you know what that is. I thought it was pretty good myself! He is really creative and does some awesome stuff. A few weeks ago, the letter for the day at school was "F." The teacher gave mason a piece of paper with the letter "F" in the bottom corner and then finished up the word with "ish." Well, if a teacher gave me a paper with the word fish on it and wanted me to illustrate it, I would draw me some fishes! Not my boy. He drew a submarine with a periscope. The sub had an arm extended from below it with a net on the end to catch fish. Also, the sub had windows and a propeller. He threw a couple of fishes in there for good measure. It is a shame that as we get older and conform to the world that we loose such creativity. It is almost inspiring to see the things he comes up with in his head. I can't come up with anything worthy of the fridge :-( !!!
WHAT TIME IS IT!!!!!! Acceptable answers are: 1:00; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse time; and cartoon time! Mason is always up for a good cartoon (if you can peel him away from the Lego's). And Anslee seems to take an interest from time to time, but only for one to two minutes. About the time we notice she is still and watching, she moves on to something else.
Anslee has started sitting up to go along with her standing and walking along the furniture. She hasn't tried to walk on her own yet, she seems content with her current progress. She is such a princess when it comes time to sit from a standing position. She eases down, ever so gingerly, until she is seated. The drama levels are going to be high at our house in 14-15 years! Ugh!!!
Mason is really a big help around the house. He helps watch his sister and picks up so that she doesn't get things she shouldn't. She will crawl towards some of his things and he will run over and pick her up, much like this picture, and carry her to the other side of the living room. Only takes her 3.2 seconds to crawl back, but it is a funny chess match to watch!
And finally, I took the big dog camping last weekend. He loved it. It was a lot of work for daddy though. I didn't put too much thought into not having any other supervision or help in many of the tasks that are required in camping. He did help me pitch the tent! We had hot dogs and smores, slept all night, and then bacon and eggs for breakfast. He was a great camp buddy! I look forward to us going again!

He did/She did

2010-02-15T20:41:00.011-06:00

He did...not want to quit swinging when we went to the park last week. He wanted to swing in my lap like when he was smaller...which I enjoyed because he wants to do everything "himself" these days. So we swang...for like an hour! I thought my hands were going to fall off, but I wasn't stopping until he wanted to. I know my hugs and kisses are numbered as a "dad," so I'm going to take all the cuddle time I can while I can still get it!!!

She did...not really enjoy grandma's 90th birthday party. It may have been because she got her first tooth last week!!! Now she will not let you put the spoon in her mouth without chomping the rubber coating with her one tooth and making you fight her for the spoon!

He did...not want to quit playing in the snow after about an hour in the freezing temps. I was so glad we received our 4-6" on Thursday night so that Mason could play in the snow. With Nana and Gramps in Colorado, he talks about the snow a lot...at least this year he got to play in some!

Our snow man, "Frosty," has been melting since Friday. Every time we leave the house, he gets excited and says, "There's a little bit of Frosty!"

She did...nothing short of melt my heart when she touches my face, ever so softly, and says "da da." She is so happy to see me each time I come home and has brought even more joy to my life.

He did...have some wicked spills on the trash can lid while sledding Friday! How much fun does he look like he's having?!?!

She did...confirm that I am her father, by trying to down the last of the Dr. Pepper Saturday afternoon. How can I deny that this is my child? Who needs DNA when you have DP?
He did...bounce off a little energy Saturday afternoon at Tyler Vinings birthday party. Bounce house establishments are just stinkin' fun. I just hate that I have to take a shower after we leave. Ugh!
She did...turn eight months old today. In addition to the new tooth, crawling for twelve days, and saying, "da da," she decided today that she would pull up and stand up next to the ottoman and play with her purse. Let's just say she takes after her mother. She is quite the over achiever!

And finally...

She did...allow me to be her Valentine one more year! We went to a hibachi grill restaurant with friends from church and my sister. We had a really good time. Afterward, we went to Starbucks and played games, speed scrabble to be exact. My sister gave us a good dose of John Prewitt trash talking followed by John Prewitt whining due to getting spanked by the youth minister and our friend Trey. The youth minister, who we will not name...we'll just call him Doug, admitted to cheating in a text message after leaving the Starbucks victorious. It was a hilarious evening. We enjoyed our time together and our friends. I made up for the lack of blogging with a really long one. Maybe I'm off some of your bad lists now! Ha!

About to...

2010-02-01T20:25:00.005-06:00

This one is about to crawl. She has taken a try at it several times, then face plants...it is just any minute she will be gone. She is pretty quick with her army/belly crawl, especially when motivated by Lego's or any other toy of her brother's she is not supposed to have. Katy bar the door, when she is mobile, we are going to be in trouble.

And this one is about to be grown. He took his little sister for a ride in his Gator the other day. He shielded her eyes from the sun, held her hand, and took very good care of her while he drove her around. Although she looks scared, she really liked it.

They are both getting so big. Mason is doing great with school. Things have seemed to really click since the holidays, he is coloring very meticulously, and able to communicate what they learned at school EVERY day. He tells me the letters, sounds, and combinations of sounds he learns, and what words go with those sounds. I think that is my favorite part of the day to see the pride and joy in his face as he remembers the words he learned. I am so proud of him. Anslee terrorizes him because he things she is going to druel on whatever she touches. It is a funny cat and mouse game with those two.

This one is loving being home with the kiddos!

Our Sunday school lessons the past few weeks have been from Ecclesiasties. Solomon seemed to have written this book as a journal of observations and conclusions. He states several times that all his labor was for nothing and meaningless. It is our curse as man to toil and labor on the earth, Adam and Eve insured that. It is our choice however, to find joy in all things whether that be building homes, tending to the sick, teaching children, investing money, practicing law, mowing lawns, or collecting garbage. We all have a purpose to fulfill. We may not be satisfied with the place God has placed us, but we should be content in Him and serve in the capacity we can. FFH has a song called "Lead," that is my favorite right now. Take a listen if you can. Wisdom is what Solomon had, wisdom is what the Bible says we should seek. He concludes his book with, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecc. 12:13-14

The New Year!

2010-01-10T21:50:00.009-06:00

I'm horrible at this. I'm sorry. We have done so much in the last month, I'll try to hit the high spots!

First things first, Mason went bear hunting....just kidding, we went to Austin to see Steven, Trisha, Matthew, and Will Jones. We had a great time. I don't have any pictures with the four of our kiddos together. :-( The weather didn't cooperate while we were there, but the kids played great together indoors and we went to a cool children's museum where they had a blast! It was good to visit our friends and their family. We actually stayed at Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam's cool place (that is where the bear was)! Thanks for a fun weekend Joneses!!!

The next week Mason got to go to Chuck's for pizza and games with Maddie, Molly, and Mrs. Jennifer. I don't think he had fun. Ha! There are many pictures from that day, but this one sums it up!
We really were going to send Christmas cards, even had attempts at a Christmas photo, but had an unwilling participant. We are since planning a happy New Year's card, possibly happy Valentine's, or even a happy Memorial Day card...all depends upon the speed in which that project gets finished!!! Look for it in the mail!!!

Santa did come to our house, and we had a great Christmas this year. I think this is the first year Mason "really" got it. He was all about leaving the cookies in just the right spot and making sure we turned the fire "off" so that Santa didn't get burned. This is a picture of his rocket ship he asked for from Santa. He loves it. He also loves his box of Lego's he received. He builds things all day long.
We had a great day with both of our families together at our house. Entirely too many gifts and too much food. All in all, a success for our first Christmas to host. We just need to dispose of 75-80% of Mason's toys when he isn't looking. Ha! Fat chance of that!

Our beautiful little girl is growing up so fast. She is pulling up on her hands and knees and rocking back and forth...then springing forward in the direction she wants to go. Crawling isn't far off...we aren't looking forward to that! She is eating well and sleeping fairly well. We have had a couple of entire nights lately. She is all smiles though, and we think those blue eyes are here to stay! I sure hope so. She is so much fun, and in a totally different way than Mason was. I love her the same as Mason, but it is different...I guess because she is a girl. What a blessing she has been to us. I will probably sound different when she wants me to give her money and drop her off around the corner from the mall so I don't embarrass her. We'll see!!!

Well, these two are our life. This is what we do! You know, I had a pretty good streak going until this year. I had a new year's kiss probably every year since I was 15 yrs. old...that is like an 18 year streak. Pretty good for a country boy like me. Well, this year I was watching a bowl game while laying on the floor in front of the fireplace when last I looked at the clock it was 9:00p.m. I awoke at 1:30 a.m. to my wife already in bed, the TV off, and me no kiss at new years! I will be over 50 years old before I can get back to a 18 year streak...and that's if I don't fall asleep again!!! Unbelievable!

2009 was a year of great joy, many blessings, and underestimation, on our part. You wonder how God can make each year better and better, and yet he does. Is it really better, or do we just appreciate more? I think some of both. I will continue to serve him in 2010, not so that he makes things better for me, but so that I can make things better for others in His name.

My child...

2009-12-09T23:08:00.007-06:00

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!

2009-12-01T20:50:00.009-06:00

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?

2009-10-28T20:50:00.007-05:00

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!

2009-10-13T21:16:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-09-24T20:43:00.006-05:00

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!"

2009-09-16T21:23:00.004-05:00

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!

2009-08-31T22:00:00.007-05:00

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

2009-08-06T21:09:00.004-05:00

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.

2009-07-29T22:53:00.009-05:00

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?"

2009-07-16T23:45:00.006-05:00

"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

2009-06-21T22:34:00.007-05:00

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!!!

2009-06-07T22:26:00.007-05:00

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!

Memorial day weekend!

2009-05-28T22:30:00.007-05:00

You just can't go wrong when a holiday weekend starts with this much mud! You should see his mama's car as well! Needless to say, Mason got washed, the car didn't. We had a long and fun weekend.

All the mud came from playing with the hose after washing his Gator. I suppose he has mud in his skid plates or something? Only our child.

Our pregnant family went to the lake for limited amounts of time both Saturday and Sunday. We had a good time eating and hanging out with friends.

Mason got to ride a Jet Ski for the first time. Look at that smile...that says it all! He wanted to go fast, "Super fast," he said. He didn't care too much for the waves, but had a blast overall!

Finally, I will give Mason 97% credit, dad 2% credit, and the Boy Scouts of America (for the knot in the rope) 1%, for this grand idea! We looked like some hillbillies, but Mason had a blast Monday riding behind the mower in his wagon. We rode around the yard and down the street a little ways. Luckily, no one saw us...I don't think! Ha! He was smiling ear to ear though. What can I say, when great minds get together, anything can happen! Ha!

My wife is miserably pregnant. She has one day of school left and 23 days of pregnancy left if she goes the distance. I think she is praying every day that today will be the day! Ha! Certainly do keep her in your prayers as she admits, "I am about to pop!"

Yeah, OK, Wha'd you say?

2009-05-18T20:55:00.002-05:00

I figured I would entitle this blog with Mason's three favorite words of late. We are working on those with several forms of discipline! Ha! I don't know if it is taking.

We had a really good week last week. Nothing too exciting except for my wife waking me up with contractions at 2am on Thursday. She said I patted her on the belly and told her it would be ok and went back to sleep. I don't think I did that though. Ha! Seriously though, she did have contractions until late in the day Friday and then they quit. Thank God for progesterone shots!!!

Mason has been excited about Anslee coming. Amber had a super shower at church Sunday afternoon and got tons of diapers and stuff. Mason helped haul all of it upstairs to her room this evening. The bigger the box of diapers, the more he wanted to carry it! A regular ole pack mule! I think it tired him out though, he went right to sleep tonight!

That is all I have for now. No pictures this week, wifey didn't charge the camera! I am doing it now though. Maybe next week will be better documented! Ha!

Birthday and Mother's Day!!!

2009-05-11T23:14:00.001-05:00

Boy did we have a busy few days this weekend!!! First we started off with a garage sale Saturday from 7am-2pm. Went really well I thought. And since it was my birthday, I decided to put all proceeds into the purchase of a riding mower. Probably a good idea since I sold my push mower in the garage sale! Ha!

Mason and I had a blast trying it out and seeing what all the levers and buttons did once I got it home...until it started raining on us! So Mason went inside and I finished mowing in the rain, ugh. I was committed though, had to finish! This mowing episode was Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday afternoon, when I actually went and purchased the mower, my wife said I had to hurry home to go to a function for my cousin at the lake and then to mom and dads for dinner. I grumbled to her saying, "We are just trying to fit too many things into one day." Almost to the destination, she told me to turn left to a friends lake house where all my buddies, wives, mom and dad, aunt and uncle were all waiting to surprise me. I am not big on surprises, but I had no clue she had done all that. We had a great time eating dinner and visiting. Dad cooked burgers and mom cooked corn on the cob and all the fixings. Yum.

That is my buddy Chris sitting my Mason and I. He drove all the way from Dallas to celebrate with us. I felt so guilty that he missed Mother's day with his wife and son to come to my party. And to boot, his wife cooked these awesome smore brownies that you can only eat one a day because they are soooo rich and you will go into a sugar coma!!! I washed them down with some of the DP she also sent...Al you are too sweet! Thank you. I am so very blessed to have such a great group of friends that have stuck together for nearly 30 years for the most of us. People find it odd when I tell them that I have lunch with life long buddies nearly every day for lunch. It is a rare thing to have ONE good friend, and I have so many. It reminds me of the story in three of the four gospels about Jesus teaching in a man's house and four friends take their friend, a cripple man, and carry him on a blanket for an undisclosed distance to Jesus. Upon arriving, they cannot get in the door, so they climb on the roof, cut a hole, and lower the friend inside where Jesus is. I have friends that would carry me as far as I had to go...and they know I would do the same for them.

Sunday, we had Mother's Day! We went to church, then home where Amber had purchased all the fixing for gourmet deli sandwiches for our family, my mother, and grandmother. We all had a good visit and lunch. After everyone went home, we let Amber take a nap on the couch and then we mowed as I mentioned earlier. We all had a good day together. Well, this was a long one, sorry. I hope everyone of you had as great a weekend as we did!!!

Well...

2009-04-28T23:00:00.005-05:00

Well, I was just about to finish a long blog...and my computer shut down Explorer. I hate computers. I'll give you a picture or two and fill you in AGAIN soon. Sorry.

Well, I got all my pictures in, I figured I would type again. We have had an uphill battle with our 3 5/6 year old. He has pushed the envelope in every direction possible. I am praying that with little sister coming he will act more responsible and selfless. We'll see...I know those are big expectations for a little guy!

My wife had told me the name of our daughter. It is Anslee Kate. I was allowed to pick the middle name...I feel so honored! Ha! We had a tough time deciding, but there you have it. This is about all I know. Amber and Mason are both awaiting the end of school! I don't know what I'm waiting for, but I'll let you know as soon as I figure it out! I will try hard to give more details next week!

Easter Weekend!!!

2009-04-12T21:19:00.006-05:00

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but we at Mason's house woke up at 6:24 a.m. to the monitor ringing in our ears, "MAAAHHHMMMAAAAHHHHH. DID THE EASTER BUNNY COME???"How can you not run up the stairs and get this cutie yelling that? I don't know, but I played possum and Amber went! Ha! We made him lay in bed with us until 7 hoping he would fall back asleep, but to no avail! The Easter bunny brought him the game Operation, since he is currently into being a doctor and all. It is a great goal, but I just don't know if dad can afford the 8-10years of college! Ha! He loved his game.

We were off to church and then to Gigi's house for lunch. This was a good picture of Mason with his mama. We couldn't get sister in the picture also, sorry! We enjoyed a delicious lunch with Gigi, Granddad, Grandma, and Jaime. Mason played until he was exhausted. Fell asleep on the ride home.

A few weeks ago when Jaime was home, she brought her guitar and was showing Mason because he had all kinds of questions about guitars. Here is a cute picture of them playing...don't worry, Jaime has since changed her hair back to the natural color!

We also went to our niece's birthday party Saturday. Ayden turned one year old and made the most of it! This picture is mainly for Nana and Gramps to see how much Ayden takes after them at the supper table! Haha!!!

That's about it for this weekend. I am ready for bed if this sugar rush will go away! Hehe! We had a great weekend and Easter Sunday with our family. Between school, Sunday school, and our teaching, we asked Mason why we were celebrating Easter today and he responded, "Because Jesus came out of the tomb!" Thousands of preachers said that same six word sentence thousands of ways today, but probably none so simply as my son.

Yeah, I know.

2009-03-24T21:18:00.005-05:00

Yeah, I know...it has been since Feb. 17th. I'm not going to make any excuses. We have had a few good weeks, a few not so good, several great days and a couple of really tough ones to swallow. But...we are still here. Everyone is healthy and I know two folks whom are desperately looking forward to SUMMER!

We had a good week this past week. Mason is communicating so well. I ask him each day to tell me about school and he comes home with more and more info each week. He is really growing up fast it seems. Since he can understand most everything and reply or question the things he doesn't, he seems all grown up. :-( He has been a daddy's boy the past few day though, and I have enjoyed that!

We went on a barge ride Saturday with Aunt Monica, Uncle Ray, Kayla, Caden, Aunt Jaime, Gigi, and Granddad. Mason always seems to have fun with his cousins. They played and tickled and ate everything in sight. This picture about sums it up.

We lost a dear loved one last Sunday. And with her loss, the services in her honor, and the time with her family, it made me remember an often overlooked part of our time here on earth. We are only here but a moment. Each person in our life, children, spouses, parents, friends, are all from God, but not our personal possessions. Our good Lord both gives and takes in His time. Appreciate the "pearls" your are surrounded with for "God doesn't cast pearls before pigs." Matt. 7:6. Mrs. Helen gave Mason the children's Bible he loves to read and I think of her each time we open it. She will truly be missed.

I will do better with blogging. I promise!

Dr. Jeckel & Mr. Hyde!

2009-02-17T20:58:00.003-06:00

Who is this guy...really? We have been experiencing strange behavior around here the past few days. We go from, "Mama, I love you the most." To, "Daddy, I just need you to close the door and leave." Then to, "Mama, I need to love on daddy some before bedtime." Mason has been like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get. Thanks Forrest. We are also trying to emphasize being careful with mama's tummy. It doesn't seem to be sinking in. That's all I have to say about that.

This week has been pretty vanilla, as flavors go. Amber took off from school early to be at Mason's Valentine's party and maybe snap a few pictures. She arrived five minutes late and the teacher said, "We are already done." She was a little irritated to say the least. Apparently, one of the other parents showed up early and the teacher thought it would be ok to start the party early...30 minutes early. Ugh. So, no Valentine party pictures for Mason.

Mama and daddy didn't do much for Valentine's either. Gigi and Granddad kept the munchkin and we had dinner with some friends. Pretty bland if you ask me! After going to bed last night at 8:30...just after Mason, I realize I mind as well be 80 years old!!! Ha!

Mason is doing really well with not tee teeing the bed at night. We still put him in a pull-up each night, but it has been months since he has wet the bed. He told me tonight he wanted to leave his big boy undies on...we decided we would on Friday night. He is getting so big and well versed. It is fun to talk with him and ask him about his day, just to see what made the biggest impression on him...because that's all he seems to remember! Ha! Anyway, maybe we will have more interesting stuff for you all next week and definatly more pictures!

Gator Ridin'!

2009-02-11T21:24:00.008-06:00

Seriously...we should film our son and make John Deere commercials. We took Mason to the deer lease Saturday evening. He quickly found this mud hole and proceded to go through it every way but upside down! He loved being out there. Gigi and Granddad came and we roasted hot dogs for dinner.

Of course, we polished off our hot dog dinner with a smore! You haven't had a dinner over a camp fire if you can't have a smore for dessert!!! Mason got to do lots of other fun things while we were there such as tour the Taj Mahal Deer stand of Granddad's, check out the lake with Gigi, and ride a REAL four wheeler with Granddad.
Although there is no pictorial proof that Amber and I were there, we really were! We had a good time watching our little guy experience the outdoors in a new and fun way!

And finally, Monday we went to the doctor for our 20 week sonogram and found out we are having a little girl!!! We were both shocked...I think we just assumed we were having another boy. Mason said, "I was right!" He had been predicting a girl from day one. Maybe I should ask him who will win the super bowl next year and call Vegas? Naaaahhh. Anyway, exciting times around here. Guess we will be cleaning out all the boy clothes and making room for pink ones...ugh. This means a wedding too. Ugh. So much for retirement...I think I will just work forever! Ha!!!

Who? What? Where?

2009-02-03T20:40:00.006-06:00

These words have been used a lot lately around Mason's house. It has been quite hectic since the last blog.

We got this shot after a delicious meal at Mercado's in Tyler. Mason loves his "chips and hot sauce!" Daddy is on the building committee at church as well as other duties, along with a super busy work schedule...I haven't been around as much as I would like. Amber fills me in on things and I'm like, "Now who did that? What exactly did he do? Where were y'all?" She has been super at taking up the slack with all the meetings and stuff, but it is getting harder the more pregnant she gets! I think we are almost back to an abnormal life again here in a few days! Ha!

Here is our big guy getting his hair buzzed off. It is so cute watching him get his hair cut, and he is so well behaved there...all the old men brag on him. The only thing that stinks is it costs me $24 to get my hair cut now vs. $12 before! Ha! He will only go to "Mrs. Charlie" to get his hair cut. I hope nothing ever happens to her, because we would have a long haired hippie boy on our hands!

Mason got to go to a birthday party Saturday for Tyler Vining. He had a lot of fun at a place called The Birthday House in Tyler. I didn't get to go, but Amber said he had a lot of fun. Mason told me that afternoon that, "Mama took me to Chick-fil-a for lunch, but I didn't get to play...it was the one in the mall." Poor kid...his mama already dragging him to the mall!!!

Finally, we took a picture just before church Sunday. He is a pretty handsome guy! He has been a bit stubborn lately, but hopefully it will pass soon. I is like he is trying us to see exactly how far and with what he can actually get away with. His favorite thing to do is when I tell him to eat his chicken at dinner...he'll say "Mama...Mama. Do I have to eat my chicken?" Or whatever item of food or action it is. We have our hands full. I hope our next child might mellow him out a bit.

Congratulations Steven and Trisha! William Henry is a handsome fella! We look forward to meeting him!

Birthday Extravaganza!!!

2009-01-20T20:51:00.005-06:00

I think everyone we know is having a birthday over the past month! We had the privilege of going to two more this weekend. Friday after school, Mason and mama go to go to Grayson and Drew Gaddis' birthday party! He had a blast there. It was fire truck themed and he came home with a little fire truck and a fire extinguisher that actually is a squirt gun! He doesn't know that yet, so let's keep it on the down low!!!

Saturday afternoon, we got to go to Lauren Wade's 1st birthday party. She was actually one year and three days, but who's counting! The kids had a blast. As you can tell, this is the best picture my wife could get because they wouldn't stay still. I have several pictures, but most were blurry. I'm going to have to remember to put the camera on "sports" mode with the fast shutter to catch these kids in motion!

Parker T. was in the house also! He is getting really big! He is looking all suave in his big boy clothes. He better get his act together, he's going to be a big brother about the same time Mason will!!! We had lots of fun at Lauren's party...especially eating cake!

That was the bulk of our weekend. Church was good Sunday. Mason asked tonight how Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. He literally wanted to know HOW. We tried to explain that is why Jesus is so special...and he seemed to accept it. He is very technical these days with his line of questions, so I know this one will come up again. He asked Amber about cemeteries the other day, to which she explained that is were we bury bodies after people go to be with Jesus. The next day he wanted to know if there were any little boys or girls there. That is way too big an issue for him to be wrapping his brain around. Amber said, "No...mostly old people." What do you tell your 3yr. old? AND he also asked, "Is Goliath in heaven?" I know the answer, but if you tell him no, he's going to want to know where Goliath is! Amber didn't answer that one, she was just silent, and he said, "He probably is."

I pray for wisdom each day...I think I will start praying for LOTS of wisdom to be able to answer my little "question machine!"

Mama's sick :-(

2009-01-13T21:56:00.005-06:00

Look at this guy. This is one of the only times he went down on his bottom. The boy likes to turn around and slide down on his belly! Comical to say the least.

Mama is sick. After having an ultra sound Thursday and seeing our newest addition with ten fingers and ten toes, she decided to catch a cold or something. It is Tuesday night and she is still recovering in the guest bedroom. Although, Mason and I have seen her much more yesterday and today than over the weekend!

Here is ole "cheesy fingers" himself eating some Cheetos at one of the birthday parties he attended over the Christmas holidays. Notice what all the other kids are eating and then see his PB&J sitting on his plate. The boy doesn't like pizza! This querk, along with recent DNA evidence, points in the direction that he is, in fact, my son! Ha! The blond hair is still in question!

Mason HAS been eating what we refer to as "big boy food" this past week. My wonderful wife has prepared two meals at each "feeding," one for she and I, and one for Mason. We decided that this must stop. Mason was informed, conformed, and adorned with dessert due to his success! He has eaten the same meal we have for almost a week now. Mom and Dad: 1 point!

Here is mama and Mason from our trip to the deer lease last week. It is a little hazy from the camp fire smoke...blame the camera guy. Mason and I hung out alot this weekend since mama was sick. Sometimes I have a pitty party because he mostly wants his mama or plays by himself, but he always wants to go with me when i'm going somewhere. And he always wants to ride with daddy in daddy's truck. That makes me happy! As if I don't have anything else to be happy about?! Ha!

Finally, congratulations to Steven and Leslie Remy for having their beautiful baby girl Sydney! We are very excited for you and look forward to seeing her in person.

The Holidays

2009-01-06T20:35:00.006-06:00

I know, I'm the worst blogging dad ever! Man have we been busy at Mason's house and have I been tired. Whew. I guess first of all, we should address Chirstmas.

We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas eve with Amber's parents, sister and her family in Brownsboro. Then drove home in time to put Mason to bed so Santa could come and see him. I think Amber and I were more excited than he was. We recorded Chirstmas morning on video, so I don't have any stills of that. He saw the gifts that Santa brought...surveyed them...seemed to say, "Yup, that's what I asked for..." and proceded to say, "Mama, which presents under the tree are mine." Ha! Little toot! He loved all his prizes and had a blast opening and playing with them all.

I will have to say that one of the biggest hits was a "Lightning McQueen" cd player Gigi got for him. He goes into a daze when he puts those headphones on. Amber says it will be nice for when we travel...I just keep thinking of Warren off the movie "There's Something About Mary." Ha!

I don't know that the stainless steel strainers are a better look, but he at least talks and interacts with you with it on! Ha! These two look like they are trying to keep the aliens from scanning their brains! They would only get a bunch of tractor and "Cars" stuff from Mason...who knows what would come out of Granddad's brain?!

Well, I know I have been brief. We really have done a ton over the past two weeks. I will share the pictures and stories over the next few weeks. We did go on a cook-out at the deer lease Friday night. That's were we got this cute picture. We are so thankful and proud of our little guy...what joy he has brought us. As we go into the new year with great expectation and anticipation, the realism is that along with the good times, there will be tough times and dissapointment. As I was reading in the book of John several weeks ago, chapter 16, vs. 33 changed my perspective on several things. It is a "red" letter verse, and that is exciting 'cause Jesus was talkin'. In the second half of the verse, he says emphatically, "In this world you WILL (future tense) have trouble. But take heart! I have (past tense) overcome the world!" How much more assurance do we need than that?

Mr. Bubbles

2008-12-17T20:14:00.003-06:00

Mr. Bubbles here had a big night in the tub last week. We always forget about the bubble bath since we are man-ly and do man things like showers, scratch our bellies, and pee outside. Mama dumped in some bubble bath and Mason had a big time. We are spending a little more time in the bath tub since it is cooler outside. Who wants to take a long shower or bath when it's hot out?

Anyway, this is the only picture I have this week. Thursday we celebrated Amber's birthday and I wasn't far off on my estimate...she had her pizza and was in bed at 8:30, not 8:00. We went to Big D on Saturday with Gigi, Granddad, and Mason. We met up with aunt Jaime and played all day. We went ice skating at the Plaza of the Americas (much less crowded than the Galleria) and ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory...our sole purpose for the trip. I think the birthday girl was pleased with her day as she fell asleep with crumbs and strawberry sauce on her mouth! Just kidding about the crumbs. Gigi used her camera while we were out of town, so I'll have to download her pictures and share.

Amber has been trying to make it to Thursday...the kids last day at school. She has to go Friday, but probably gets an early release. Mason is fired up about Santa and all the presents under the tree. Gigi tells him which ones are his and he points them all out to us each time we are there!

This is a funny story from tonight. It is long, so forgive me. Mason was playing in the living room with us and pretending he was a puppy. We went along for a while, but then decided it had gone on long enough. We asked where was our little boy, etc. Nothing. Well, I told Amber, "Guess we'll have to take back his Christmas gifts and call Santa and tell him not to bring Mason anything." This brought forth an argument, but from the puppy, not Mason. So I preceded to open my cell phone and talk to Santa (I have him on speed dial) and inform him of our loss of our little boy and the addition of a puppy. That's when it hit the fan. Mason started climbing in my lap, yelling at the phone that, "I'm pretending to be a puppy...PRETENDING!" So I cleared everything up with Santa and we got our little boy back. After a few minutes...the thinker that he is replied, "Even if I was a puppy, Santa brings the good puppies bones." Outsmarted again!

Daddy, let's drive our barges...

2008-12-10T22:10:00.003-06:00

This is Mason's newest thing to do this past week or two. Ever since we went on a barge ride with Uncle Ray and Aunt Monica, we have been building barges and jet ski's with our Lego's and driving them all around on the hardwood floor. Daddy's knees are killing him. Ha!

It doesn't look a whole lot like a barge, but Mason will tell you exactly where the motor is, the grill is, the driver's seat, bathroom, etc. He has a decked out barge. The blue ladder looking piece is the fishing pole, by the way. He says he is fishing for "red guewy fish," for all you Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fans.

At any rate, this is what he is into this week. He has been sick since Saturday with a viral infection in his mouth. It was a sore on his tongue. We thought he bit it at first, but after three days of not getting any better, we went to the doctor and got the diagnosis. He is better now. Back to school tomorrow!

Speaking of tomorrow, that is Amber's birthday! She is going to be one old bird! Ha ha! She was just whining to me that in only seven years she will be 40. Yup, if we're lucky! Anyhow, were going to party tomorrow...I'm sure a slice of pizza and asleep on the couch at 7:30 will be just her speed! Love you sweetie, Happy Birthday!!!!

All you faithful blog readers pray that these "barges" start to run on the carpet because daddy doesn't know how much more of the hardwood he can take! Ha!

Turkeylicious!

2008-12-02T22:17:00.009-06:00

We had a fun Thanksgiving day at Gigi and Granddad's house. We had 23 family members...I think...and we all ate and visited until we couldn't any more. So much good food. Aunt Lorna and Uncle Richard brought some Cajun turkey...I must have eaten 3lbs. myself. Must be why I'm still sleepy even now as I type, ha ha!!!

After the eating subsided, the scooter riding commenced! These kiddos rode, and rode, and rode, and rode those scooters. I broke a sweat pushing them back up the driveway after they got to the end! Look at the determination on Mason's face in the second picture...what concentration!

After they played outside for nearly an hour and a half, they all but crashed. Have you ever seen four kids ranging from 3-6 sit nicely at a table and play calmly with Playdo? Mason fell asleep on the way home at 6:30 and slept all night. I could handle that once a week! Ha!

Friday morning, Mason and daddy hung out while mama went shopping. She is nuts. We had lots of fun doing guy stuff and running errands. We finished decorating for Christmas and Mason was a big help. We wanted to get him an "Elf on the Shelf," for the weeks leading up to Christmas, but haven't found one. I think we will get one for next year though. Pretty neat behavior check for the little one's when they are old enough to understand.

Finally, I was so proud of Mason Sunday night when he put together his 24 piece Mickey Mouse jig-saw puzzle with only one or two hints from daddy. So when I came home tonight and Amber showed me this picture, I was even more proud. He did it all by himself, no help. I am so thankful for the good boy he is...he is such a blessing. Hopefully he will be 5 or 6 years old before he realizes he is smarter than 'ole dad! Ha!

Mellon Head!!!

2008-11-25T22:16:00.002-06:00

What to do with that big Mellon? This is the big question that we have here at Mason's house. His big 'ole mellon seems to get in the way constantly! Saturday we were playing on the floor and he took off to the toy box to get something, tripped, and left a dent (not really) in the table holding the television. It left a quarter sized knot on his head and he milked it for about two days.

Then Monday when I came home from work, daddy was on the floor being the "horse" and Mason the "cowboy" and we were riding around the living room floor. Of course, the horse always bucks off the cowboy and daddy WAS being careful. Mason was having such fun that once he came off and was sitting on his rear, he decided to tump himself over banging the other side of his head on the coffee table. Another knot. Who knows what the people at day care say about us? Ha!

Well, after me telling you of Mason's toughness...look for yourself. That boy was pushing the blocking sled all by himself. Whatever! I was telling him not to be a lineman, he'll have to push that thing all over! Ha!

As you can tell, after lunch Sunday, Mason chose to return to the football field over the park when given the option. Mama brought the camera this time!

We built a fort...
Conquered it...
And tore it down.

Then built another one! We must have played for nearly two hours...until dark anyway. We had alot of fun. He went right to sleep Sunday night! We wish all of you a great Thanksgiving holiday. We are thankful for each of your friendship and love.

Where's Joshua Brown?

2008-11-18T22:09:00.006-06:00

I heard this sentence a hundred times this weekend. Al, it's all your fault! Ha! Just kidding. We had a busy week followed by a weekend we were supposed to spend with the Brown family...including Joshua, but he was ill. Instead, we got to spend some time with Chris and he and I had a great time playing golf Saturday. What about the score? I said we had a great time. Ha!

Since Joshua and Al were not here to play all weekend, Mason got to go to Tyler with Amber and Gigi to the Discovery Science Place! Hours of fun there.

Amber says he enjoyed the ambulance, domino table, and kitchen the best. I'm glad he had such a good time. We are planning to go back soon!

Sunday, we had a fun day also. We went to church, then lunch, and THEN...walked around Lowe's! What a treat for Mason and daddy! Mama doesn't care for it much. I had to get some things for work, and Mason loves getting on all the lawn mowers multiple times!!!

We came home and Amber napped while Mason and I went to the football practice field to run off some excess energy. I forgot the camera this time, sorry. He had a big time with the blocking dummies. We would stack them up and make a fort, then he would climb on it a while, then knock it down. We used up that energy I was talking about. It was an early night for the big guy, then back to the grind this week.

You know, it will never be like this again...or at least that is what I think when I look at these pictures. I want to soak it all in and not forget any of it! I guess that's why we have pictures, huh? I catch myself thinking of the chorus to a song by 33 Miles. I think the group intended the song about your relationship with Jesus Christ, but you also only get one chance to be a good dad or mom, husband or wife, son or daughter. It is a really powerful song.

You only get just one time around

You only get one shot at this

One chance, to find out

The one thing that you don't wanna miss

One day when it's all said and done

I hope you see that it was enough, this

One ride, one try, one life...

To love............

Lots of happenins...

2008-11-11T07:06:00.007-06:00

Well, here is the picture of "candy corn" Mason I promised. Better late than never!This candy corn costume was somewhat of a bust since he only wore it here at home for five minutes and then at school for five minutes. I think we could have just made him a ghost out of a pillow case...but Amber didn't like that idea! Haha!

Saturday, a week ago, Erin Erin (as Mason calls her), Ava, and Ayden came over for the day. I know, Erin will never win a hair dressing contest! Poor Ava is going to whoop her mama when she gets old enough to say, "Mom, what were you thinking with my hair!" Haha! Anyway, they had a fun time playing together.

Sunday, we went for a barge ride on lake Jacksonville with Uncle Ray and Aunt Monica. They purchased a new barge a few months ago and Mason had not been able to go for a ride on previous outings, so there you go.

He is quite the "shrimp boat captain" I might add. He takes his work very seriously! He did have a great time. He went from excited to hungry to lethargic to hyper to tired in our three hour tour. He was great. He enjoyed his Gigi being there and giving him cookies also!

I don't have much to report on this past weekend. Daddy was sick all weekend and mama was nauseous most of the weekend. Poor Mason just played and played as his pathetic parents looked on. Ha! He did get to go to Gigi and Granddad's and roast weenies and marshmallows on the campfire. We don't have any pictures of that now, I guess mama forgot the camera??? I know mom and dad took pictures, I'll have to steal their camera to get a few shots! Aunt Jaime was home also and Mason enjoyed seeing her.

Finally, a note on Mason's mental development. He has been asking repeatedly about the colorful Wii controllers under the television to which we say, "DON'T TOUCH!!!" Finally a week ago when Amber was gone somewhere, daddy pulled them out and let the boy swing it around. He is hooked. He wants to play every night. We are limiting him to 2-3 hours a day...he has to have time to read his calculus books also. Ha! All jokes aside, he is better than you would think, he knows how to serve in tennis and loves swinging his arm bowling, but hasn't mastered the release. Anyway, we are going to have to squash this video game fetish he has and get him back in the sand box!

Two Grandad's

2008-10-30T22:01:00.006-05:00

Ok, let me preface this with the statement that it was "All Amber's idea."
Sunday night we had our fall festival at church. Amber had heard of another little guy dressing up as his grandfather last year and thought it would be cute. It sure did make Granddad's day! Amber did a pretty good job too...except for that wig! Ha! Matching watches, mustaches, and even bellys! They were quite a hit at the festival.

Tomorrow is Mason's party at school and he is going as a piece of candy corn, so look for that picture soon!

I don't know how many of you know who Groucho Marx is, but Mason must put on this mask every time he is at Gigi and Granddad's and run around saying, "Ahhh Chaa Chaa Chaa!" It is really too funny...especially since he has no idea what he is doing or saying!

Amber wears it sometimes also...I just don't know about her at times?!?!?! The neat thing about this picture is that Mason took it. He is quite handy with the camera if you leave him alone with it. You must remind him which button does what, but he does pretty darn good as you can see for yourself.

Finally, for those of you that haven't heard, we are expecting. The good doctor said June 28th. I just pray it actually comes in June and not April! Haha! Bad joke...I know...Alison will ream me for that one! Anyway, Amber is really tired and a little nauseous, but doing well. We'll keep you posted with all the details.

2nd Annual Campout!

2008-10-22T20:35:00.007-05:00

What a crew? As we did last year, Friday we packed up all our camping stuff and went to Tyler State Park with Greg and Elizabeth Wade. Mason has been looking forward to our camping trip for several weeks. Greg's mom and dad bought Mason a book entitled, "Me and My Dad," in which they go camping and "pitch" a tent and "lite" the campfire. Mason told me repeatedly that he wanted me to pitch the tent while he started the fire...little pyro!

I think you all know where this is going?! I told him over and over that his new Lightning McQueen camping chair was not a rocking chair. Other than all the excitement and not being able to calm down at times, Mason did great. I bought him his own camo sleeping bag, in which he slept all night. He was very proud of it.

Saturday we woke up, ate breakfast and went for a walk to the play ground. Mason enjoyed that. Afterward, we ate lunch and then went for a ride on the paddle boats...Amber and Liz paddled the five of us around the whole lake. They acted like it was no big deal, but I know they were at least a little bit tired!!! As you can see, Mason didn't have to paddle one bit and he was zonked out!

We came home and crashed Saturday afternoon. I think we all took a short nap. Sunday was church and Mason got to go to Gigi and Granddad's Sunday evening. He and his Gigi made cookies for paint class.

Also, earlier in the week, Mason's Aunt Lorna sent him a package in the mail and he was so excited to have received a package. He was beside himself trying to get into it and had to have a little help. Inside he found a John Deere coin bank and two new tractors...he was so excited. He said he wanted to ride in Aunt Lorna's convertible again, so I guess you'll have to bring it back up again Aunt Lorna and take him for a ride!

We have more stories from camping and more pictures for Aunt Lorna, so I'll be including those in a later post!

We should have stock in Chili's!!!

2008-10-14T21:35:00.003-05:00

The Chili's logo should be the banner on our blog here at Mason's house. Pretty much that is the only place to have a somewhat nice sit down meal in Jacksonville. Sad to say. So, Friday night Amber had a jewelry party here at the house and Mason and I got the boot!

We decided to head to the newest hardware store in town...Atwoods. It is in the old Winn-Dixie shopping center for you out of towners. We made our way around looking at all the tools, clothes, and four...FOUR rows of toys. More toy tractors in one place than you can shake a stick at! Mason was in heaven. After all the shopping we could take, we went to Chili's for a corn dog, oranges and molten chocolate cake. Whew! We were stuffed.

Back home around 8ish and to bed around 10ish...too much chocolate cake!!! We were comatose after all that!

Saturday morning, he decides to wake up at 6:30. Always great to wake up early on a Saturday! It didn't effect me so much because I was off to the Texas/OU game in Dallas, which was a barn burner! Mason got to spend the day with his mama, aunt Jaime, Gigi and Granddad.

They played outside riding the Gator and checking the "fall" garden.

After all this they took a bath and it was back to Chili's, thus the stock comment! And the vicious cycle continues...chocolate cake = late night and early morning. UGH!

Mason had a blast with them this weekend. Sunday we had church and played! His new saying for the past week is, "Daddy...sometimes things break." Don't ask me where he got that one. Anyway, I'll have to include a cake and ice cream picture next week!

Pumpkin Patch '08

2008-10-07T21:43:00.006-05:00

Yes, yes, back to the pumpkin patch Mason went this past Thursday. I was sad not to get to go, but Amber was able to take off work and go with our big boy. His whole school went...how would you like to be the one keeping up with all those kids??? Not me.

He and Amber had a blast. He is such a ham bone. Amber said he was not on his best behavior while they were there. She wondered if it was just because she was there and he was not afraid to do his own thing. As you will see in the next picture, he was much more interested in the tractor that pulls the hay ride than the story being told right in front of him.

This is his buddy Sam whose mama kept Mason for the past two years. They go to the same school, but are in separate classes since Sam is one year older. Mason loves getting to see him.

After the pumpkin patch, the went to the park for lunch, then home with mama. He had a great time.

Saturday, First Baptist Jacksonville, mom and dad's church, had an outdoor expo. We took Mason around ten that morning to see all the tractors and what not. He really enjoyed getting to see the Jacksonville Fire Department's new ladder truck extend it's ladder all the way out. He didn't know what to think of these two clowns though?

We had a good day Saturday, all of us together. Mason's favorite thing from the expo was his "duck" call. I don't know how well it would work while hunting, but he sure is good at blowing on it.

Obviously we have tons of pictures from the weekend, I'll have to show more later. Mason is learning more and more each day. We were so proud that yesterday he brought home a picture he drew of a tractor. I will have to use the camera and see if it will take a picture of it. It is very light because he doesn't push hard with his crayon, but he will tell you that there are two front wheels, a big back wheel, the hood, the cab, and the smoke stack. I was amazed. He is growing up so fast. I want to remember it all, but I can hardly remember my password to blog, so good thing I am writing it down!!! Haha!

Pumps, pumpkins, and a rock climber!

2008-10-01T21:27:00.004-05:00

Well, it has been one of those weeks. For daddy, the hurricane has played havoc on the work schedule. There is no less than 800 trillion people with a hole in their roof from a tree or limb and want Prewitt Construction to fix it...TOMORROW! I'm not complaining, just venting! Ha!

Amber has been swamped at school with six weeks tests and the ususal. Mason is just chill'in like a vill'in, oblivious to it all, like any child should be!!!

This is our corny son in a pair of his mothers shoes. She laughs at him histarically...I somewhat frown on the whole hoopla. These kind of pictures always come back to haunt you when you are twenty-something!

Mason is so very excited that it is October/Halloween time. He is all about the fall things, hay, pumpkins, leaves on the ground. He and Amber are going to a pumpkin patch with his school tomorrow. We took him last year and he really enjoyed it. I'm sure we will have some pumpkin pictures next week. He is constantly talking these days. To us if we will listen and then to himself when we are not. He has been singing this song that my mom taught him:

One little, two little, three little witches,

Flying over haystacks, flying over ditches.

Sliding down the moon with out any britches,

High. Ho. Halloween's here.

It's comical the first 5-10 times...the 30th or so it gets pretty obnoxious. We try other songs, playing the quiet game...nothing works. I'm just glad he's happy!

Finally this week, Mason has been all about his "stool." It is not actually a stool per se, rather a starter toilet that he never used. Now he thinks he is invincible that he has a little boost! As you can plainly see, this is ONE way to get a drink, but probably not the best. We are having to keep a little closer eye due to Mason's new super powers! He may be flying by next week, stay tuned!!!

2008-09-23T22:00:00.003-05:00

Our weekend was pretty laid back. We woke up Saturday and decided to get a hair cut and go to the zoo. When we arrived at the barber, our barber was not there, plus there was a 5-6 person wait, thus no hair cut. Then we traveled on to Tyler to the zoo. That was a long drive to follow my son around while he picked up acorns, sticks and pine straw. Had nothing to do with the animals this time. I told Amber we should wait a while before we return.

That afternoon after a long nap, both Mason and daddy, we went to Gigi and Granddad's house to let him play for a while. That turned into a dinner outing which we had a good meal in the small town of Gallatin, TX. at the Olde Country Store.

Sunday was church. After services, Amber said Mason felt hot so we took his temp. when we got home and sure enough, he had a slight fever. Four hour nap...wow. I'm sorry he felt bad, but he must have needed some sleep! They went to the doctor yesterday and she said it was just some virus that had to pass...not even any good antibiotics to take. Maybe next time. Ha!

Pretty low key around here. We are working on minding mama and daddy the "first" time and not the 10'th time! He is doing well. After a few warnings, we take a toy away...the day's favorite, and that seems to have a direct effect on behavior. We return it the following day if he is good until then. He has caught on pretty well.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. The camera was forgotten on the trip to the zoo and low on battery upon return, so probably wouldn't have done us any good anyway. We will try to have more pics next week!!!

Ike, I'm busy. I'll be with you in one sec.

2008-09-16T20:38:00.007-05:00

Ike didn't even phase Mason. Other than the occasional question about why we were watching the weather on tv or why the generator was so loud...he was oblivious.

Aunt Jaime was in from Dallas and we went over to mom and dad's before the festivities started with Ike. We saw all her fantastic pictures from Ireland. She had a blast it looked like. Except for the food. Sorry Al. She was sure tired of fish and chips when she got home. I think she headed straight for a Chick-fil-a and a Dr. Pepper. I really can't tell how we are faimily...Jaime and I?!?!

Anyway, Mason enjoyed playing with her and Gigi and Grandad most of the morning Saturay until the lights went out. Ugh. Monday afternoon, the glorious Oncor electric service had us up and running again. Thank you Lord for the cool weather. It would have been miserable if it was still 90 degrees and humid.

Excuse my son's attire. He looks like a professional athelete just off the bus and preparing for game time. Actually, last week, Mason drew his first smiley face all by himself! We were so proud. The next day he drew a stick man not too dissimilar to the one shown here on the magna doodle. He and we are very proud of his artistic accomplishment and tell him each time. I don't know who he is drawing, but they sure are fat with really skinny arms and legs! Haha!

He is growing up so fast. Just tonight, Amber had "Meet the Teacher," and it was just Mason and I here at home. (I don't know which teacher Amber went to meet, but anyway.) We had to take a trailer to mom and dad's and on the way out in the truck, he said, "Daddy, today I saw Sam (his buddy) in the hallway when I left the kitchen (at daycare) and I said 'Hi Sam.'" That was all. He just wanted to share with me that he had seen his buddy. It made me smile that he is able to communicate so well and a little sad that he is growing up so fast.

I will leave you all with this picture and explaination. As we all know, daddy likes NASCAR. If I'm privileged enough to sit around the house on Sunday afternoon, it is on the television. I suppose it could have rubbed off a bit. I was making an invoice out on the computer a few weeks ago on Sunday afternoon while listening to the NASCAR race from the living room...and in comes my son exactly as the above picture illustrates, banging into the wall and zooming around. I tried to calm him down and say, "HEY, hey, what are you doing...be easy." To this he responds, "I'm a race car driver!" I tried to hold a straight face and asked, "What's that on your head?" He said, "My helmet!" Out smarted once again...3 yr. old vs. a 32 yr. old and he wins every time!!!

The largest sandbox EVER!!!!

2008-09-08T22:07:00.007-05:00

For Labor Day we traveled way south to Port Aransas for a little get away before school got too hectic! As you can well see from the picture, it was alot more play and get worn smooth out, than rest and relaxation!!!

Mason had a blast! He really enjoyed digging on the beach and playing in the sand. He also really loved going out in the ocean a bit and "jumping" the waves. He would laugh and laugh as we jumped millions of them it seemed!

We were blessed to get to stay with our good friends Steven, Trisha and Matt Jones. I regret this is the only good picture I have of them together. :-( They are up to something out there on the balcony...you can see it all over Matt's face! Ha! Matt and Mason played so good together sharing their cars and tractors. The Jones' were very hospitable putting up with our son who is stubborn at times and always anti-sleep! Matt was so laid back and sweet, it was fun for me to get to know him a bit.

Mason made many new friends including Isa, short for Isabella. We snapped this one of him holding her hand...ooooohhhhhh!!! He also played with Ava and Joshua Brown. Here he is practicing saying "TOUCHDOWN!!!"

Monday it was back to reality as we drove the 7 1/2 hours home. Mason did great there also. He rode the whole way with no movie, no nap, no nothing....except for a bunch of questions! We had a good week last week, nothing exciting. This weekend, we took Gigi out for her birthday Saturday night...her birthday was in July...we are a little behind schedule around here. Mason enjoyed eating out as ususal...especially dessert! Sunday we had church and then played at Gigi's house most of the afternoon since we didn't get to go on Saturday due to falling asleep in the care on the way home!

Well, we are into week three of school and Mason is beginning to really like his day care. We are so happy about that. I know I have been a slacker on this blogging thing... I will try harder! Hope you all have a good week.

Back to School!!!

2008-08-25T20:22:00.003-05:00

If you wondered why I missed my blog last week...the title says it all. If you are, married to, or mom was a teacher...you understand. Mason started daycare at First Baptist Church Whitehouse last Monday and is doing great! That is a real answer to prayer. Amber started school also and still has hair...that is an answer to prayer also! Ha!

That about sums up our week also. School, home, eat, sleep. Mason has not quite adjusted his sleeping schedule yet either. He is going to bed really late and getting up really early...go figure.
The last day or two he has done better. 6:15 on a Saturday morning is twice as early as the same time on a Tuesday!!!

Aunt Jaime was here for the weekend. She is leaving for Ireland this Saturday for a week. Hopefully she won't come home with some funny talking Irish dude like on "P.S. I Love You." I can't believe I just admitted to watching that girly mess. Anyway, we hope you have a blast aunt Jaime!!!

That is about all I know. We are heading for the beach Wed. afternoon. Many jokes have been made at our expense about getting sunburned and what not. I will definately have my sun screen on...SPF 250! Mason tans like his mother...but will still be sporting some. I will be back next week with lots of beach pictures and stories!

Bedtime...AAAGGGHHHH!!!!

2008-08-12T21:38:00.007-05:00

All the sudden this week, Mason does not want to go to bed. He doesn't want to take a nap. Nothing...and I mean nothing can get through to him either. We've tried diciplinary actions, rewards, taking toys away, and others...nothing works. We are considering the no-nap option, but don't want to. UGH! I suppose one could see his stubborn streak from the picture above?

I guess he gets it from his mother! Haha!!!

Steven, Trisha, and Matthew Jones came over for a long overdue visit Saturday! We really enjoyed getting caught up. They are going to be our roomies when we go to the beach in a few weeks...we are so excited! I took several blurry pictures of the boys together...blurry because they were always moving when I was trying to take a picture! I did get this good one of Matt. He was about midway through his lecture on casting. He was making the point that Bill Dance does not flick his wrist correctly thus causing backlash, which leads to lost time while fishing. Very informative if I must say so myself!

Later Saturday evening, we went to Gigi and Granddad's for dinner. Mason had a heart to heart talk with a grasshopper. I don't know what they discussed, but Mason sure was listening.

Well, starting Monday, Amber and Mason will be back to school. Things will be back to normal around the house. No more dog days of summer. No more long naps and trips to the mall. Maybe the routine will make our little man tired in the evenings and want to go to bed!

Mason loves to cook...or pretend cook, so mama took a picture of us while we were "grilling" on the back porch. I know these times won't last forever, so I'm trying to stick as many of these good memories in the permanent memory bank as possible. Next time you are near Jacksonville, run on by the house for one of Mason's delicious hotdogs and hamburgers. You'll be glad you did!!!

2,200 miles ago

2008-08-06T21:08:00.008-05:00

I posted our last blog 20 days and 2,200 miles ago. Sorry it has been so long. It is just so easy to watch some tv or go to bed, rather than this...but I tell myself it is worth it!!! Ha!

Just look at this guy! He has grown about a foot since I last talked to you all. Notice the Dustbuster...his mother is a firm believer in child labor. I lobby for more playtime, but she makes him clean, clean, clean! Ha!!!

So, we have been off to Colorado to see Nana and Gramps since we last spoke. We had lots of fun, played outside lots and soaked up as much cool air as we could before returning to the firey inferno we call Texas. We went to a chuckwagon dinner and singing one night. Mason loved all the fast songs and during the slow one's asked, "Daddy, when's it going to be over. Can you make it stop?" I don't think he is going to like "easy listening" music! Ha! Also, we played in a creek one day. Mason had a big time with that. Water was too cold for me!

He also got to ride the tractor with Gramps a time or two. He always loves that. We tried and tried to have a fire in the fire pit in the back yard and cook some hot dogs and marshmellows, but it rained us out each time. :-( Maybe next year.

Mason was a real trooper on the drive up and back. He didn't whine or moan, ask how much farther or could we stop. We actually promised him a stop at a playground, twice, and were not able to follow through and he understood. I am thankful that his reasoning skills are beginning to kick in! Makes things so much easier.

Since we have been home, things have been really hectic. It is tough taking off work for 1 1/2 weeks when you have a list a mile long of people waiting for things. Amber has been busy with getting Mason's daycare organized for this school year and planning for her school work. It doesn't help the temperature has been averaging 100 degrees and Mason doesn't get to play outside much. It rained the other evening and he had a blast playing in the cool rain.

Now that summer is almost over, Amber and Mason will have to leave their lives of luxury and come back to the working mans world. Ha! They have really enjoyed their summer. We have one more jaunt to the beach on Labor Day with some good friends and we are really looking forward to that!!!! I have lots more pictures from Colorado and the past 20 days, so I'll share them in the coming weeks!!!

2008-07-16T21:21:00.007-05:00

Not much has happened this week at Mason's house. We have pretty much been recuperating from last week with the birthday and all! This is pretty much what we have felt like in the aftermath! Haha!

I figure I will show a few more pictures of his birthday party since we have a million of them! This was his Lightning McQueen cake. He wanted the car off that cake so bad...

and he got it. Note to parents...black icing is messy and hard to get off of your child. I repeat, messy and hard to get off your child.

This may be one of my all time favorites. It needs no explaination.

We are headed for Colorado to see Nana and Gramps on Monday morning. This will probably be the last post for two weeks or so. I'm sorry I don't have alot to report this week. I'm sure we will be full of stories and pictures when we return to Texas a week from Tuesday!

A long time ago...

2008-07-08T21:22:00.008-05:00

This was definatly not a slow week at Mason's house. Friday was the 4th and Mason made the most of it! Our camera was on the blink that day, so no pictures of him flailing around in the lake. He has figured out how to move his arms and legs and get around in his life jacket. He had a ton of fun this year. He stayed late to watch the fireworks, but was disappointed because he didn't like the music while the fireworks were going off. Quirky kid, huh? He kept saying, "Daddy, when's the music gonna stop. Can you make it stop?" Of course I couldn't, it was just patriotic music playing on the public P.A. system. He did like the "bang" the fireworks made. He would echo them with a "bang....bang" when he wasn't complaining about the music.

Saturday, we spent the day at the lake again. The men all pitched in and cooked a feast of meat and corn for the Womack's and Remy's wedding anniversaries. I believe they are both celebrating 40 years this year. All the women decorated the lake house and both couples were surprised. It was fun, but a fairly long day.

Sunday, we went to church, skipped nap, and went to Gigi and Granddad's house to celebrate birthday a day early!!! Boy was he excited about birthday this year. Since Jaime had to go back to Dallas Sunday afternoon, Mason got to stretch his birthday out over two days...I try that every year and it doesn't work.

Mom and dad got Mason a motorized John Deere Gator for his birthday. Dad and I were totally against it. I never had a motorized car and he needs to run and play...but here you go. Gigi brought one home. He loves it. It was worth getting him one, just to see the smile.

He took right to it. He drives like his mama though, wide open and not watching were he is going! Haha! His favorite thing to do is put it in reverse and back up. He will have lots of years of fun on this thing...if Granddad can keep the battery charged up!

Monday was Mason's actual birthday!!! We loaded everything up and went to the Splashpark in Tyler. It is just a small area in one of Tyler's parks that has fountains coming out of the concrete and some neat water features. Mason loved it. He had eight of his friends there and he had a blast!

We had "Cars" cake, ice cream, and juice boxes until we couldn't walk...then we played more. One of the other kids told his mom and dad, "This is the best birthday party ever." That made Amber feel really good after all her planning and efforts. Mason got many gifts and he loved them all. His favorite upon first opening them all was a chain saw. No tree at the park was safe! Thank you to everyone who came, we hope you had as good a time as we did!!!

It seems like a long time ago we were looking at our son through a glass box with a feeding tube in his nose, praying his premature stomach would digest the milk he was given. Three years ago tomorrow he was rushed to Dallas in an ambulance to get better care than was available in Tyler (from Alison...of course ;-)), for nearly a month. As I watch him learn, as I watch him play, as I watch him sleep...I am thankful. Three glorious years we have been blessed with Mason. Do I remember what it was like before him...no. Does it seem like it has been three years...no. Could I imagine life without him...no. We give God all the praise and honor for the time he has given us with Mason...he is truely a gift from God.

The Clubhouse!!!

2008-07-01T21:47:00.007-05:00

Another fun week here at Mason's house. We are still going to gymnastics...tumbling class every week, sleeping very little, and playing a whole lot. The boy just doesn't know how much he will miss these naps when it is July, 100 degrees and he is 32 years old! Ha!

Saturday, we went to the hardware store and loaded up a goody bag full of lumber and stuff to build a clubhouse. This was understood by Mason that it is an early birthday prize, and boy was he excited. He spent the morning outside helping me...beating my level against the trailer, tumping out the box of screws in the dirt, hitting the level with the speed square. He is my favorite helper and I wouldn't trade him for the whole world!!!

When lunch and nap time rolled around, he reluctantly went inside and I struggled to finish before he woke up. All I lacked were some handles when he and him mama came out. I wish I could have paused the smile on his face when he first saw it. We have it on video, so I guess I can!!!

You can see the first place he went...underneath it! He loves to keep his tractors and dump trucks under there. I suppose it is as good a play place as any. He took his first nose dive off the stairs a few hours into the afternoon. While whiping the sand off his forehead he said, "It just hurt a wittle bit mama." He also complemented my work by saying, "Dis is a pwetty good swing daddy." That is good enough for me!!! What a joy he is...and I can't believe he is almost three.

Finally, Sunday we went to worship and celebrate with Paul, Trina, Parker, Greg, Liz, and Lauren at First United Methodist Church. Parker and Lauren were baptised. We had a nice lunch and then everyone came home for a nap!

We want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. We thank all the ones who serve and have served our great nation so that we are and continue to be free. And we pray that America will honor God and God bless America.

Slip...Sit and Slide!!!

2008-06-26T21:42:00.008-05:00

We haven't had alot going on here at Mason's house. Mason has been enjoying the leisurely days of summer...sleeping late...sipping on orange juice and watching cartoons...shopping with mama...eating popsicles...and all the other glorious things summer has to offer!

He has gotten to spend a lot of time with his Gigi and Granddad also. He likes it there since he gets whatever he wants! He loves to go outside and make mud pies. Yuck!

Also, what kind of hillbilly East Texan would my son be if he didn't take his first bath in a bean wash'in pot?!? At least he used soap!

Also this week, mama purchased Mason a Slip-n-Slide. They are much more cush than what I remember. I remember a long yellow piece of plastic held in the ground by some metal "tent" stakes and a small sprinkler on the side. Today's version comes with a fully inflated slide with guard rails on each side and a landing pool at the end. No more metal "tent" stakes either, smooth plastic ones that don't work worth a crud.

Anyway, Mason loved it. He loved the pool at the end the most, but enjoyed the whole slide at times. We could not get him to run and slide. He would run and jump on his knees or bottom...sometimes just run right through it until he wiped out. He was a hoot to watch.

These are the best two pictures I have because he wouldn't stand still long enough for me to get a good one. I'm glad he had fun with the thing! He needs some older kids to come over and show him how to use it! Daddy is a little big to slide down it.

Finally, Gramps' birthday is Monday, so we wanted to say Happy Early Birthday Gramps!!!!

Hope you have a great weekend and birthday Monday!!! We love you.

Father's Day Weekend

2008-06-17T21:27:00.009-05:00

Mason started tumbling class Friday. I call it gymnastics, but I was quickly corrected by my wife and her sister that it was tumbling class. Mason loved it to say the least. Mama only took a few pictures that didn't come out so great. She is promising more next week of better quality! This clown picture of our son is the best I can do for this week!

Saturday we got up early and took Mason to Gigi and Granddad's for an extended stay. Amber and I were off to the NASCAR race in Detroit, MI. Mom and dad had gotten us tickets and airfare for my birthday. I don't know if they wanted to send me to the races as a gift...or if they wanted Mason all to their self for an extended weekend?!?!?!

Either way, we all had a blast. The only downside was that I was not with my son on father's day, Amber was not with her dad, and I was not with my dad. We made plenty of phone calls Sunday morning though!

Amber and I had a great time. We made a brief tour of downtown Detroit...not suggested, on Saturday afternoon. Woke up Sunday and went racing where our guy Dale Jr. won the race! Then Sunday we drove to Niagara Falls.

It was a really long drive. Five hours one way, but definitely worth it. It drove me nuts having to constantly convert km. to miles. UGH!!! I would like to have the guy who invented the metric system alone in the ocatagon for a few rounds! Also, I would like to go a few rounds with the genius who didn't put the km. scale on the speedometer of our Chevy rental. What a whooping there.

Amber had never been to the falls, and it had been nearly ten years since I was there. She really enjoyed it. I know I have incuded a few pictures, but they do not do it justice. It is a much bigger spectalcle in size and scale than any picture or television documentary can show. If you are ever close enough to visit, you should.

It is eerie how close they allow you to get to the edge. One would only have to climb over a 30" tall rail and jump in to go over the falls. I'm sure someone has. It is nuts. Made me nervous to be that close...Amber made fun of me...but I didn't like it one bit.

These are the American Falls about a quarter of a mile down stream. Much smaller than the main falls, they are more three dimensional and relaxing to watch. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there is a deck and spectators at the bottom right...maniac adrenalin junkies!!! I'm just old and boring I guess!

Finally, we made our way back to the good ole U.S.A. and arrived home at 5:30pm today. Boy were we glad to see our little man. You could tell he missed us also, even though Gigi and granddad spoiled him rotten! I told Amber that it sure was a boring drive to the falls and back without someone talking and singing in the back seat all the way. He blessed us with a song or two on the way home from mom and dads! We are glad to be home and a complete family again.

Summer is here!

2008-06-12T22:26:00.006-05:00

This is my first post since Amber and Mason have been off for summer time. I can hardly live around these two because they are so giddy about staying home and doing all the fun stuff that being home all day entails. I know...once again it has been over two weeks since the last post. I have no excuse.

On the 28th of May, my sweet aunt Sharla passed away. She was my mom's youngest sister. She lived here in Jacksonville at Travis Towers (limited assisted living) for the past several years. Mason loved seeing her and always had questions about her. He pronounce her name "Char-wa," that always made me smile. Mason had questions because my aunt had many quirks about her due to mental illness and health issues. Mason always notices if something is not quite normal about someone. Aunt Char-wa had many problems, but also had the biggest heart. She lived on a minimal budget, with my mom and dad filling in the gaps most every month. Never once did she miss a birthday though. It was always a card, sometimes a pair of socks from the dollar store, or even some sort of trinket she thought Amber would like. I probably didn't spend near the time I should have with her. I think of her every time I enter Whataburger because she practically lived there (it's right next to her apartment)! I miss her smile and hearing her call me "Joshie bubba." She was a wonderful person and loved our Lord and I thank God for that and the time we got to spend with her.

Look at this guy! He is happier than a tornader in a trailer park! On the first day of summer, Amber took Mason to the playground and heard that in Rusk, TX there was a Tow Mater parked on the side of the road for all to see. Well, that's almost better than the World's Largest Ball-o-twine...they had to go. Mason was so very excited. She said she could not get him to quit smiling so big! I'm glad he had such an exciting experience with one of the characters from the movie he LOVES!!!

Also that week, Mason got to go to the zoo. He always loves that. I think he feels at home with all the other animals! Haha! I know his mama does! I'm going to get in trouble for that one!! Also during that week, we cleaned a bunch of tree limbs from our back yard to make a play area for Mason. He was quite the helper. So the following weekend, last weekend, we built a fence to hide the ugly barn that is behind our house!

Mason wants to help so much. He will do anything: hold the hammer, hold a nail, pull the rake, pick up rocks. He likes to talk while he works also. I try to stop and listen to him always, but it starts getting ridiculous! So mama has to listen while daddy keeps working! He is such a good boy though, and great helper. I will try to get a picture of our finished product on here next week. He loves playing back there and it is shady all day.

We are off to Brooklyn, MI Saturday to see the NASCAR race. Mom and dad got Amber and I tickets and airfare for my birthday. I think they just wanted a long weekend with Mason alone...no Josh and Amber to boss the grandparents around! Well, I guess they got it! Happy Father's Day to all you guys out there with litlens. What a privilege and honor it is. Thank you God for the gift of being a father.

Slide + Lake = Fun!

2008-05-27T20:54:00.006-05:00

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

2008-05-21T21:36:00.005-05:00

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!!!

2008-05-13T20:40:00.003-05:00

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!!!

2008-05-05T10:26:00.008-05:00

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!!!

2008-04-24T22:23:00.002-05:00

It has been an uneventful week here at Mason's house. We haven't been anywhere exciting or done anything of signifigance. :-( Mason and Amber did get to visit baby Ayden, Gracie I call her, on Tuesday. Nana is still there helping out. She will be visiting us for the weekend starting Saturday and then leaving Monday to go pick Bobby up in San Antonio. He is done with his contract work and back to Colorado he goes!

Aunt Jaime is also coming home for the weekend. She and Mason always entertain each other...until aunt Jaime gets tired! Ha! I am going on a men's retreat with church Friday night and Saturday. Should be fun. Like I said, nothing much going on around here. I promise to get the camera out this weekend and get some fresh pictures for next week!

Busy times!!!

2008-04-14T20:41:00.008-05:00

Things have been quite hectic around Mason's house these days. Seems like every other day we are having to clean house for people to come and look at it...but nobody wants it! :-( Ugh. Lots of effort to no avail. This "house cleaning" is why I missed blog night last week, then I just got busy and it was the weekend. Sorry.

Friday night at 9:22 p.m., we became aunt and uncle all over again. Ayden Grace Wyatt, 5 lb. 5 oz., 19" was born in Tyler, TX. Mama and baby are doing well and went home today from the hospital. I listed her "name," but it has been kicked around more than a soccer ball at a World Cup match. It could have changed since I was told?!?!?! She was a sleeping beauty when I got to see her yesterday. Never made a peep.

God kind of had everything worked out this weekend. I had plans to play football in Dallas Saturday and Sunday. Amber had a sister in the hospital, and Mason went to spend time with mom and dad who left on Sunday for a cruise. So, we all went our seperate ways and met back up on Sunday after lunch. While I was away for 30 hrs., Mason must have figured out what his Lego's were for. Amber said I had to look at the camera and see the picture Mason wanted taken.

He was so proud of his "sky scraper" that he wanted Amber to "take a picture to show daddy." He really did a good job. Amber said he built the entire thing himself and she had to pick him up to put the last few on.

When he woke up from his nap he wanted daddy to take a picture with him next to the sky scraper....then mama also!

Mason is getting tall...and heavy. You can see how tall his is when he is standing next to me sitting on the ground. I bought him some shoes Thursday and he is already in a size 8. Yes, I did get him another pair of "bling-bling" shoes! Sometimes we get flustered at Mason's hard headed nature and rebellion as a two year old. But when I step back and look at the larger picture, we are blessed with a wonderful little person that is so full of joy and ENERGY and wants to share it all with us. What more could you want?

He wanted to know last week why Jesus died...and where was heaven? What a marvelous thing to ask about and want to know...even as a 2 1/2 year old. We have never made a point to discuss Jesus and heaven with him yet, but we have always been honest when asked about the cross at church or other spiritual questions. So now he knows that Jesus died for our sins and that heaven is where we go to be with Jesus after we live on earth for a long time. :-) Tough questions to answer in 2 1/2 year old terms.

Well, I have shared all that I know. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Ava's Birthday!!!

2008-04-01T21:25:00.007-05:00

Friday was our neice, Ava Claire's, birthday. So, Saturday, it was time for a party!!! Mason had a blast at Ava's party. Gramps had bought her this Diego inflatable with a million of the balls, like the one Mason is holding, and they played and played in that thing.

Ava had tons of fun also! She blew out her candles as soon as her mama lit them...we had to sing Happy Birthday to smok'in candles! Ha! She is such a pretty little girl...and about to be big sister! Only a few weeks left!

Here is the big dog eating his cookie cake...nap time was Mission Impossible! Also here is a picture of the dangerous duo. They always look like they are up to something...which they ususally are!

I believe Mason had the most fun this weekend riding Ava's "for we-wer." He wouldn't get off the thing. If you can tell, his feet don't even fit on the steps on the side. Amber said we should get him one...I'm an old fuddy duddy and think toys should be powered by the child on them, not a battery. We shall see who wins out on that deal.

And finally, the story of the week. Mason was staying with mom and dad on Friday night so Amber and I could go out. Mom and Amber were at the kitchen table talking while Mason was running from the kitchen to the living room playing with dad. He told mom that he wanted something and she told him no. To this, he ran into the living room and threw himself on the floor and began to throw a fit. Dad raised his voice and said, "Joshua Mason, not in my house. We do not throw fits like that, it is not nice." Mason replied, "Well, I will go home and my mama will let me throw a fit." I wasn't there to hear it, but I'm sure his mama had to try to keep from laughing. Kids do tell the truth, whether we like it or not!

Chowklet Eggs

2008-03-26T20:35:00.009-05:00

Well, we had lots going on Easter weekend. Thursday morning we packed up and left town headed for San Antonio to see Gramps!

Mason was very excited. We arrived in enough time for Mason to play outside a bit and eat dinner. Then it was off to bed because we had a big day Friday.

Friday we went to the San Antonio Zoo. Mason had a big time...he always does at the zoo...I think he feels at home there! Ha! Check out this bear sitting in the background of his picture, it almost looks fake!

After the zoo, my two bit father-in-law and evil wife made Mason and I go eat Chinese food. Yuckie!!! They seemed to enjoy it. Then it was home for a nap. Friday evening, we met one of Amber's friends since childhood, Erica, and her family, at Clear Springs. As a foot note, this was the original Clear Springs resaurant in Clear Springs, TX.

After dinner with Erica's husband Jason, and three of her kids, Robert, Cameron, and Riley we went back to their house for cookies and ice cream. We had a short visit their due to the time an Mason's bed time. Cameron gave Mason a helicopter that he just loves! Thank you Cameron!!!

Mason crashed on the way home. When we got back to Gramps house, we changed all his clothes and put on pajamas and through all that, he never woke up. Saturday we woke up and stayed around the house. Gramps wasn't feeling all that well, so he rested. Mason and I went the hardware store and checked out the Radio Flyer wagons, bicycles, lawn mowers, and many other various items. Saturday afternoon, we went to "kiddie park." For those of you who don't know, it is a park of miniature amusement park rides for kids. Mason had lots of fun!

Daddy even got to ride one ride with Mason because he was too small to go alone...we decided to stick our tounges out at mama!!!

We left the park and had dinner and then back home. Gramps wasn't feeling well. When we woke up on Easter Sunday, Gramps was sure enough sick. It was cold, cloudy, and really windy outside, so we couldn't hide eggs. Sad for our little guy, but mama went outside and walked back in with his Easter basket telling him, "The Easter bunny left it next to our truck." He didn't care, he just started opening eggs and eating chocolate!

We left and went home around 9:30. I think it was the first Easter in my entire life I wasn't at church. I am happy to report that Gramps was feeling better today, so I hear. When we got back to J'Ville, it was pretty outside, so Mason got to play in the yard and use up some of the stored energy from the ride home! He (and mama and daddy) slept well Sunday night!

Now we are back to the grinding stone this week. Mason doesn't get to eat but a piece or two of candy each day, so he loaded them all up in a toy car he has (in the hood) and drives them around the house. It is a big car you sit on and push with your feet.

He is working the system though. After he has his few pieces of candy he comes over to daddy and says, "Do jew want sum candy daddy?" "A chowklet egg?" I reply,"Sure buddy, thank you." To which he gets an egg out from under the hood of his car and procedes to tear off the foil covering. Once uncovered, he brings me the egg and just as soon as he drops it in my hand he says, "Daddy, can you bite it in half and give me some?" I am way too soft...lets just say he ends up with more than a few pieces of candy each day. :-)

Let's make a deal.

2008-03-18T22:09:00.008-05:00

This is a picture of "tummy swinging" as Mason calls it. He is getting pretty good at it if you ask me! Sunday, after his nap, we went to the park, a.k.a. East Side Elementry for a slide and a swing. Mason loves being there and playing on all the equipment. We love it because it is all fenced in and we can let him run and roam without having to chase him around every moment!

While we were there, another group showed up to fly their kites and Mason and I watched in awe. I haven't flown a kite since I was a kid. I may have to pick one up and do that!

Gigi and Grandad came to the "park" with us Sunday. They enjoyed watching Mason play also. It is also great having two more sets of arms and legs to chase him! :-) Here is a picture of us on the swing...he wanted to swing for an unusually long time...my arms about fell off!

Well, it is spring break now for the munchkin and his mama. They have been taking it easy and relaxing around the house for two whole days now. We are going Thursday to see Gramps in San Antonio. We are supposed to go to the zoo while we are there, Mason should love that. I guess the Easter Bunny will find us there? I'm sure he has the same magical powers that Santa has.

Sometimes you just play so hard you have to lay down and rest for a minute. I think Mason agreed on Sunday. This was his own doing, not prompted. He is such a "little man" now. I have told him a time or two that "If you drink your milk (or whatever) we will get a snack," which I follow with, "Is that a deal?" You know what is coming. Now every time he wants something or wants to negotiate, he is saying, "Can that be a deal daddy?" Watch what you say mom and dad...they are always listening!!!

Don't forget the Bugs!!!

2008-03-11T21:05:00.006-05:00

That is what Mason kept asking me when I was sick last week..."All better daddy?" I am happy to report that we are ALL better. Mason only had two days of fever Thurs. and Fri., then a sluggish weekend, but no fever. Yesterday he was back to his old self!

Nothing too exciting to report this week. Aunt Jaime came home this weekend and played with our little guy. I think he wears her out! Just about the time she thinks she has snookered him, he is back for more! Mom and dad enjoyed playing with him this weekend also.

Mason has been in a surprisingly good humor since his sickness. He actually wants to play with daddy. DID YOU HEAR THAT?! He was hiding under his coloring table Sunday and asked me if I would get under there with him. So I did. Then we proceded to pull all the chairs in around us. Mama tried to come over and participate in our fun...then...Mason said, "No mama, this is for boys only, you're a guryle!" We got a good laugh from that one!

Well, that is about it for this past week. One more little tid bit. At bedtime, Amber always takes Mason up to bed, while I clean up the living room, etc. We have a little goodnight ritual, he and I, hugs, kisses, and then a little good night banter. I tell him good night, to which he replies. I tell him sleep tight, to which he says, "I will." I tell him sweet dreams, to which he says "You too daddy." And Sunday night he added, "Don't forget the bugs!" I'm sure somebody told him "not to let the bed bugs bite" and he got it a little misconstrued. He is such a thoughtful and loving child, what a blessing he is.

Stink'in Flu

2008-03-06T21:34:00.006-06:00

I apologize for being gone so long. Weekend before last, as I previously posted, Amber was sick with a "stomach bug." We will never believe anything mama/wife says again! A week ago today, I contracted that "stomach bug" that MOST PEOPLE call the FLU! Five full days I lay in bed, no contact with the outside, no munchkin love, nothing. Finally, yesterday I feel back to normal, and our little guy comes home from daycare with the same thing. Amber took him to the doctor today and confirmed it. He has had his flu shot, so maybe he can skate through his sickness without hitting all the potholes like dad did!

If you look through the slit in the bag, you can guess who is in there. NOOOO, not Amber. If you have a little one and want to laugh a bit, just get out some luggage and throw it in the floor...just be ready to play hide and seek...ALOT!

This was in our bedroom where Amber had unpacked from the weekend. Mason would run to our bathroom door, where his mama was and close the door...then run to the suitcase and jump in saying (listen to this) "I need some privacy." I was just standing in the corner laughing. He didn't seem to mind me there, but needed some privacy from mama! Ha! He has also started saying that if we are in the bathroom going potty and she can see us from the kitchen, he says, "Daddy could you shut the door, I need some privacy." Where does he get this stuff?

This past weekend, while daddy was about to push up daisys due to the "stomach bug" (i'm still bitter), mama and Mason went to Aunt Erin's to play with Ava and Gramps! Mason had a big time. He loves going on a Mule ride and seeing all the cows.

Here is Gramps and Mason just say'in "Hay." He sure did have fun playing outside and looking/climbing on all of Uncle Greg's tractors and implements. He always has fun with Gramps. I was sad I didn't get to go visit and play.

Well, I have about exhausted all my knowledge and I am out of cough drops here at the computer. Lesson of the week: If your significant other complains of the "stomach bug," lock them in a hepa filtrated room and slide food and meds through a slit in the door! You don't want it!

A Weekend Away

2008-02-27T20:53:00.006-06:00

Well, this past weekend Amber and I went to Dallas for a long weekend to celebrate our eight marvelous years together. This left our munchkin with mom and dad. We hardly recognized the spoiled boy when we got home. I think he got everything he ever wanted in a three day span! New tricycle and all!

Amber felt bad all weekend so it was probably good that we were apart from the bundle of energy so that she could rest. He has been running around the house this past week calling her "mama babe." Pretty funny to me. I don't know where he go that one.

Mom and dad made mason this "map" on an old cardboard box. It included "Gigi's house," where Tow Mater is parked, the deer lease, complete with coyotes, tents, etc. and many roads.

Like I said, what more could he want?

Here we are a few weeks ago at Grandma's house. This is G-ma's first time on the internet...it will never be the same! Four generations of Prewitt...pretty scary! Grandma enjoyed driving Mason around on her golf cart...I think it scared his mama, but Mason loved it!!!

Well, that is about it from 'ole J'ville. Pretty calm in these parts. We are praying for Rusty Clark, my college roommate Jeremy's dad. He had a mild heart attack Monday and a triple by-pass Tuesday. He came through, but is a big man and has a long recovery in front of him.

I find myself watching what I do and say more and more each day. I was informed by my 2yr. 7mo. old child this evening what my phone number was. That blew me away. He is also quite the problem solver. I told him he had to ride home with mama because daddy's work truck did not have a car seat. He told me, "Take that car seat right there in mama's car and put it right there in daddy's truck." So I did, just as I was told my the toddler. I'm just a puppet, controled on a whim by the puppeteer!

Chuck-E-Cheese's

2008-02-18T20:41:00.006-06:00

Sunday was Mason's first trip to Chuck-E-Cheese. It was Sam's birthday, the son of his day care provider, and Mason was excited. He loved the rides most of all. He thought the tokes were money, so he wanted to know where they were at all times. Personally, I remembered CEC being much more fun, but, as I have said, I'm old! :-)

He even got to meet the "Big Cheese" himself. I don't know who was more excited, Mason, or his mama! Ha!

This week has been pretty low key. No "ice falling from the sky daddy," or "spanking spoon" drama. Our little guy is getting bigger and smarter every day. This week, when I tell him goodbye in the mornings and to have a good day, he replys, "I will daddy." He also has started saying, "I love you daddy, good night and sweet dreams," unprompted. Makes you not want to put him to bed!

Mason is also able to go to the bathroom on his own now. He is pretty efficient at everything... except aiming! We will have to work on that. In the mean time, I think I will still help him rather than constantly clean the toilet and bathroom floor! He is growing up so fast.

I don't know if he is the Lone Ranger, Clint Eastwood, or one of the Musketeers, but he is a handsom guy!

Happy "sugar rush" Day!!

2008-02-14T22:11:00.004-06:00

Our little boy is getting bossy. Nuf said. He was staying with his Gigi this past Friday afternoon when it was time for nap. Mom put him down and Mason would just not give it up and go to sleep. After 3-4 repromands, she decided to take the "spanking spoon" in the room with her. Here is the conversation:

Door opens...

Mason: I don't need that right there. (Refering to the spoon.)

Gigi: Well, you lay your head down on that pillow right there and go to sleep.

M: Well, YOU lay that spank'in spoon down on that bed right there.

Mom said she had to cover her face to keep from laughing. He did go to sleep though!

She bought Mason this cowboy hat...which he declares he must have while riding "Pinto" his horse. This picture is from tonight, Valentine's night, where he is wearing off some of the sugar rush from the giant, iced sugar cookie he ate after supper! I understand the sugar rush...but he never seems to crash like I do after a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper?

Parker T. came over for a visit Saturday. I don't know if he liked me, or was just sleepy, but he took a nap in my lap for a while. His daddy make fun of him, calling him "Fat Albert." I just think his daddy is scared because he knows that in about six weeks, Parker will out weigh him! Mr. Parker is a cutie though, we enjoyed the visit.

Sunday we went to the park again to swing. To our astonishment, Mason ran over to the swing...and about the time I though he was going to hit the swing with his stomach, flip over it, and eat it into the ground, he soared up into the air and swang back down with his belly laying on the swing's seat. Score one Mason. He learned a new trick and didn't tell mom or dad. Those sneeky daycare kids!

Well, it has been a busy week and we have a busy week coming up. Sunday will be Mason's first trip to Chuck E. Cheese. We will have the camera there in case the police need photo evidence.

Today being Valentine's day, just a quick though. I think the word "love" is thrown around too much these days. After all, it is the "action" verb used in John 3:16 that describes how much we are cared for, yet we use it to describe our favorite Mexican food or shoes or gadget. With that, I would say, use the word "love" with meaning. I love my family, I love my wife, I love my son, and more than all, I love my God for blessing me with them. Happy Valentine's day!

We have come full circle

2008-02-05T21:44:00.000-06:00

Well, after weeks of crying and unhappiness, Mason is back in Whitehouse at his old sitter. We figured if he didn't adapt after a month, it wasn't going to happen. Also, when you have an unhappy child all day every day, he is still an unhappy child when he gets home. Thus the change. I will keep you abreast of the situation as time passes.

Today was another first for Mason. While trying to exit Brookshires with his mother, golf ball sized hail pelted the pavement and mama's black car. We only have 40-50 good sized dents in the previously unscathed auto. Mason loved it though, came home telling daddy that ice was falling from the sky. I liked the story until I saw mama's car. :-(

Another first for Mason this weekend, his Gigi bought him some footies (Trisha knows what I'm talk'in about!). Mason loves them and calls them his new socks...I guess they are socks, but technically they are attached to the pants, who cares...he LOVES them!!!!

Sorry, daddy didn't take the best picture. Well, it has been a fairly boring week around here. We are just hoping the change of daycare will bring our fun loving little boy back!

I know last week I said everyone should climb on a piece of machinery for fun...I've got another one for you. We did go to the Intermediate school on Saturday and play on the playground. Mason loved the see-saw among other things. But as always, he loves to swing. He would swing for hours if daddy could last that long. But what memories that brings back, the same feeling in the gut of your stomach when you go a little too high. It is almost as if you were still young...if you couldn't see those adult legs sticking out in front of you. If you haven't swung in a while, go...it is really a treat!

Bling Bling

2008-01-30T19:51:00.000-06:00

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!`

2008-01-22T19:46:00.000-06:00

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...

2008-01-15T22:00:00.000-06:00

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?

2008-01-08T21:09:00.000-06:00

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. :-)

Christmas...Whew!

2007-12-26T21:06:00.001-06:00

Boy was it fun and fast this year. All you other moms and dads with little tikes...once they hit two, the instinct to tear paper kicks in!

It has been a hectic week at Mason's house. Amber had to work until Friday, her folks came in Monday, and now all the sudden it is the day after Christmas. Where did it go? Mason has been recovering from an ear infection with a ruptured drum...soooo the few nights leading up the big Day were filled with sleepless nights...not due to the excitement of Santa Clause. Finally, Christmas night, he decided to sleep all night...yesssss!!! Now back to work. Ugh.

Starting last Saturday, the 22nd, Amber decided it was time to potty train. After ten accidents on Saturday, she wasn't so sure of herself. Then Sunday, only one...and only one since then. We are so proud of our little man! We have No. 1 down pat and he is coming around on No. 2. I feel like I will be receiving a raise if I don't have to buy diapers any more! Whooo hooo!!! I have done my best to show my son how to sit on the pot and read some literature...I think he is getting that also!

What to tell? Mason got a new Radio Flyer scooter, which he is still figuring out. Hungry Hungry Hippo, which you must all come watch him play. Every time his hippo eats a marble, he says, "Mmmmmm." It is hilarious. Also, a battery powered Thomas engine. You wouldn't thing that one AA battery would make the train set new all over, but it does. :-) Many books, many hot wheels, and many clothes. We are truely blessed.

We had Christmas eve dinner with Amber's family here at our house. Christmas day, Amber, Mason, and I, opened out gifts here at home then proceded to my mom and dad's for Christmas there. We decided this year to have Christmas supper rather than lunch so that no one would be hurried or rushed in the morning. It was nice. After way too much to eat, we played a few games of dominoes (interesting with Mason in your lap) while the women chatted in the living room. Then off to bed...the first complete nights rest in three or four days.

I guess that is all I have to report. I would ask you all to pray for my sister-in-law's neice Betsy. She has fluid on the brain and the doctors don't know why and they can't get it to stop. She is in the hospital in Ft. Worth. The family is having a tough time on many fronts, so add her to them prayers if you will.

We pray each of you had a day as wonderful and joyfull as us, celebrating the birth of our Savior. Also we pray each of you have a new year filled with hope and happiness as we enter 2008.

The Little Gym

2007-12-18T20:18:00.000-06:00

Who'd of thunk it? Buy a mid-sized office space, put mats all over the floor, throw in a few balance beams, a couple of uneven bars, and some music and you would have an instant birthday hit. Booked all day every weekend for 1 1/2 hour partys. This Saturday we went to Mason's friend Landyn's birthday party at the Little Gym.

What a blast. You would have thought that Mason had already participated in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in the "All Around" gymnastics competition. He ran straight in and hung from a set of uneven bars with his feet out in front in the proper position. All the other parents asked if he was in gym or had been there before. I apologize as a father and parent, I have not taught him to refrain from showing out yet. :-)

After all the playing we went into the refreshment room for cake and presents. You would have though that Mason had never had cake, or a Hi-C in a box. His mama had a hard time keeping him from wiping his hands on his clothes. Mmmmm...cake is good!

If you ask me, the Gym is a good idea, but the schedule was poor planning. You feed a dozen three year olds cake and punch, then make them sit down and watch one kid open all the gifts...not going to happen. We had to put Mason in "lockdown." As you can see for yourself, he is fairly distraught. Eventually we did get to play more though!

He slept good Saturday night. Sunday we had a day of church, naps, and play. It didn't seem to bother Mason that the Cowboys lost, so I didn't let it bother me either. Mason talked his Nana into getting under the train table and inspecting daddy's construction of said train table. He tells you where each nail is and babbles on about how it is put together. I'm sure he know more than I do already...just don't tell any of the people I am working for!

And finally, on a sad and happy note all in one. Mason will be privileged to join Ms. Tina Sorrell and others at the Methodist Readiness School starting in January. We are very excited that he was able to get in such a wonderful school. His current care provider had decided to return to work after this spring semester and we were going to have to find alternate care then. We are sad that he will not get to play with his dear friends he has made at "Mrs. Julie's" any longer.

He has loved his time there, but I know there is much to learn and fun to be had on the loop in J'Ville! What can I say, I went to preschool there and look how great I turned out! Ha!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas! As Mason said repeatedly tonight as he sat in the entry way playing with his monster trucks, "Ho, ho, ho...Merry Christmas!"

Dallas, TX

2007-12-11T21:50:00.000-06:00

What can't you do in Dallas, TX? I mean, when you are two years old and your Aunt Jaime invites you to see the train exhibit at Northpark Mall, what else could match that? We had a action packed weekend with lots of fun and friends.

Saturday we woke up early and shot up to Big D in a flurry with Gigi and Granddad. We arrived at Aunt Jaime's apartment and quickly left for the park. Boy did we have fun there...so much fun that we left the camera in the car. Mom had hers, so we will have pictures from the park at a later date.

After a quick bite for lunch, it was off to the hotel for a nap...Mason at least. After nap time, it was back in the auto and off to Chris, Alison, and Josh's house for a quick visit. We had a great time catching up with them and lov'in on their little guy. Josh and Mason played well together, didn't seem to bother them that one was a Longhorn and one was a Bear. :-)

Oh yeah, left the camera in the car at Chris and Alison's also. UGH.

After our goodbye's, we were off to the Cheesecake Factory. Nuff said. We all walked out of there about 10lbs. heavier. This was Amber's birthday meal, so no one held back! Whew...I didn't know I could eat that much. We were also priviledged to meet my sister's "friend" Jason. He was very pleasant and we enjoyed his company for dinner...hopefully we will see him again. Hint, hint. Then off to bed...no trouble sleeping after all that food.

Finally, finally, Sunday was here. The day to see the trains! We went to the mall early, arriving 30 minutes before the shops opened, only to find out that the train exhibit didn't start until noon. So, we roamed around, shopping here and there, ate some lunch and then headed to the "show!" Mason loved it. He had a look of awe on his face the entire time. You could tell he really wanted to touch them, but had enough respect and restraint to know that he couldn't. We could have spent all day in there and he would still want to see more. I would recommend it to anyone with kids.

Sad times, sad times, we had to get in the car and come home. The Masonator slept a little over half way home, which was good. I think Gigi did also. :-) At any rate, we had to go back to work yesterday to get some rest from the weekend!

Just Digg'in

2007-12-04T20:57:00.000-06:00

As we are about to celebrate our two year, five month birth date, Mason is funner (I know that isn't a word) than ever! We have so much fun with him. He has such a different personality than either of us. I see little quirks of mine and small subtle things he does like Amber, but mostly he is a person of his own and that is so cool.

The weeks just fly by, and we don't really have a lot of excitement during the week...but on the weekend, watch out world! This weekend we got to RIDE ON A BACKHOE!

This treat (for Mason) was courtesy of my parents septic system malfunctioning over the Thanksgiving holiday. I helped my dad redo all the field lines on Saturday morning and Amber made sure Mason was there to see the tractor in action.

I think the boy will be a tractor operator. He gets such a thrill out of making the bucket go up and down and turning the steering wheel back and forth. We could have rode that thing all the way to Montana and he wouldn't have cared.

Look at the pumpkin man here. As strange as it is, our little man has a special place in his heart for pumpkins and acorns. These are two of his favorite things to play with...along with dirt.

His favorite toys right now are his miniature monster trucks (oxymoron), his basket of groceries, his Thomas train set, and his Frosty the Snowman stuffed doll. Mason is crazy about Frosty. He goes around singing the song all day at the top of his lungs..."Fwosti da snow man was a jowy happi sowl." One of his favorite thing to say now is "Mama...what chu been doing?" "Daddy, where hab chu been?"

As I began saying, he is tons of fun. I can't remember what it was like before he was around, but it couldn't have been as fun as this!

Turkey Day!

2007-11-26T21:01:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is about all that was happening around Mason's house this week. Here is a snazzy picture of he and his Gigi playing with his new construction set on Thanksgiving day. As many presents and "surprises" as this boy gets from his grandparents (both sides), Christmas is just going to be another day. Ha!

We had a nice day at my folks. Amber's dad was able to come up from San Antonio and we enjoyed his visit. Jaim-o got to come home also. Although I did not get to spend much time with her, Mason always enjoys his time with his aunt Jaime.

Mason is getting smarter by the day. I have realized that kids discover the same things more than once and in more than one way. Take Mason's toy plastic car that squirts water, for example.

First he realized it was a toy and played with it in the tub. Next, he realized it was a car and made motor sounds and drove it around the tub. YESTERDAY...he realized if he filled it up with water he could squirt mom and dad AND the whole bathroom! We could hardly tell him to stop for laughing so hard. :-) We were both soaked.

He is also speaking very well. Complete sentences and complete thoughts...except when the imagination kicks in and he starts making up words. Tonight I was a "shaker" and he was a "snipper." Whatever that means. He plays very well by himself. I think his Magnadoodle was our best investment thus far.

Chris, you will like this, he talks constantly about drums and playing in the band. I think it will be fine if he is in the band, as long as he falls somewhere between "Peetie" from American Pie and Tommy Lee. Either extreme may push me off my rocker! He is excited about Christmas and wants a set of drums. I am told he is getting some from his Nana and Gramps...I hope they come with a large bottle of asprin!

Well, I will leave you all with a picture of our pudding monster. How thankful we are for him. How thankful we are for the priviledge of parenthood. So many things we are thankful for this Thanksgiving and high upon our list are you, our friends and our family.

A Troubling Week

2007-11-20T21:12:00.000-06:00

In a week normally filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming holidays, dear friends of ours had a tragic death in their family. Steven and Trisha Jones are dear friends of ours and her brother and sister-in-law, Bryan and Sarah Moran, are aquaintences through them. Bryan and Sarah tragically lost their youngest daughter, Audrey Kate, only two years and seven months old. I'm sure I have told many of you personally of this tragedy, but those whom I have not, I ask you to pray for them as often as you can. Pray for Bryan and Sarah, for their stregenth, and peace for their hearts. Also pray for their two other daughters, Caroline and Mary Claire, along with the rest of their families.

At a time of year when familys come together to share the holidays together, sometimes the idea of how fragile life is and how often we take it for granted gets lost. We just expect everyone to be at Thanksgiving dinner, just like last year and the year before that. Only the Lord our God has enough wisdom and comprehension to understand such a tragedy as the Moran family has gone through. Who are we to question God...yet our hearts are so heavy for this family. I ask you once more to pray for them dilligently, and cherish each moment you spend with every friend and family member over these holidays.

On a happier note, we would like to welcome Parker William Travis to the neighborhood. Sorry I don't have a better picture, but this is what I've got. Parker is a little over a month old, mama and baby are doing well and daddy is back to abnormal. He is a cutie!

We are also looking forward to "baby Wade" who is on the way sometime the first part of January! I'm sure she will be a cutie also. I can see she and Parker holding hands already! Ha!

Well, Mason has had a fairly uneventful week here at his house. We went to IHOP on Saturday evening for dinner. Mason had a smilie face pancake with strawberries for eyes and bananna slices for the mouth. He ate all the fruit and didn't have much to do with the pancake...normally one of his favorites.

We also decorated for Christmas this week. That is an event with a two year old running around with ornaments and whatnot. Whew. He is going to be a lot of fun this Christmas, I can already tell.

Mason is excited about his Gramps coming to see him Thursday morning. He is always talking about Gramps' house. He has only been to Colorado twice and San Antonio once, but it is Gramps' house this and Gramps' house that...sorry Nanna. :-)

We will be going to Gigi and Grandad's house for Turkey day. Lots of family as I understand. Mason's favorite thing at Gigi's house is the dirt pile, Granddad had something to do with that. Mason loves playing in it and making "tini tiny hiney slides," as he calls them when he slides down from the top of the pile. It may be too cold Thursday, but we will see. May just have to get bundled up and get dirty.

We wish each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

"My Hero's Have Always Been Cowboys"

2007-11-13T20:55:00.000-06:00

Oh, so I'm supposed to update this blog thing more than once a month? Just kidding. We had a computer meltdown and are just now back up and running.

We have so much to talk about and so many pictures from the whole month...where to start? Halloween, why not. Our big guy was a cowboy as you can see. He ran around saying "trick-or-treat" and "yee-haw!" We went to our church for the fall festival. Mom and dad went with us because Amber and I had to work in a booth part of the time. Mason had a blast!

His new favorite thing to say is "I did," or "I have," when you ask him a question. He is being stubborn about the "yes sir" and "yes maam" thing, thus the new favorites. What a little toot.

We also went to see Thomas the Train a few weeks ago. That was really right up his alley. Mom got us all tickets and we went to Rusk and rode "Thomas the Tank Engine." The music was a little loud during the ride...Mason held his ears most of the time, but had a load of fun. We got some stick on "tats" and bought us a new backpack from the gift shop. I don't know which one, the crips or bloods, wears the Thomas gear, but we are decked out!

His Gramps also came to see him two weeks ago. That spurred on a trip to the zoo! He always loves the zoo...and his Gramps! They had a big weekend together.

Aunt Jaime came in this past weekend and spent the whole morning Saturday with us. From doughnuts to haircuts to checking out the JFD firetrucks to fixing flat tires, we had a busy Saturday morning. He loves getting to see his aunt Jaime and telling her that she drive a silver jeep and lives in Dallas. (I think she already knew those things ;-)

I suppose that catches you all up on our happenings. I thought I would leave you all with the view of my son that I most often get as I am chasing him wherever he may go. My favorite times are when I can just sit at a distance and watch him play. What an imagination has. How I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next!

Camping, football and everything Fall

2007-10-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

Well, get this, we took our big guy camping Friday night for the first time. He had a blast. We went to Tyler State Park with his uncle Greg and aunt Liz. All the boy could talk about was "pitch tent...pitch tent." Needless to say, he has a book that is entitled "Me and My Dad," which talks about a boy and his dad camping. We pitched the tent and then set up the pack-n-play inside...what a sight...which brings me to my point. Tent, sleeping bags, pillows, food, clothes, blankets, pack-n-play, toys and...no camera. Yeah, yeah...I don't want to hear it. He had enough fun we will go back soon and take the camera...probably will forget the tent, but who can remember everything?

All you Longhorn alum don't get too fired up about Mason in this tee. I just couldn't find a "My First Baylor Tee" at the local Academy. It is hard to find good cheap tee shirts for the boy...this one was on sale for $2.00.

Aunt Jaime was home for the weekend. She has purchased a new silver Jeep and is flaunting it to everyone else who wishes they had a jeep to cruise around in. I am happy for her. She was also home for her ten year reunion. That really makes her old...that really makes me three years older than her old...ugh.

Sunday, we went to church, watched the Cowboys and then took our usual trek down to the Jacksonville Indian football practice field. Mason loves having 100+yards of burmuda grass to run around on. His favorite things to do are climb on the tackling dummies (rectangles, as he calls them) and blocking pads (trapazoids)...then when he has conquored all the foam shapes laying around, we throw the football and soccer ball and he commences to driving his dump truck around collecting them in the bed. Dad always get a good laugh...and shoulder work out.

We are going to see Thomas the Train this Saturday at the Rusk State Railroad. I don't have to tell you how excited he is about that. I'm sure you will all get to see a picture of him with Thomas next week!

Sorry, I had more pictures to add, but my computer locked up.

The "punkin" patch

2007-10-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

It has been a fairly calm week here in J'ville. The Indians got their rears handed to them by Whitehouse Friday night. It was Mason's first football game. He was white eyed and in awe. He really liked hearing the band, tapped his foot most of the time. He really enjoyed seeing the two trains go by also. Trains and the band were really all that there was to watch anyway, the Indians don't know a thing about football.

Saturday morning, the wife, the boy and I ventured to Bullard, TX., home of Moore Farms and their kid friendly pumpkin patch. Mason has a tractor video and one of his favorite parts is the portion about the "pumpkin patch," hence, we had to go :-).

At any rate, we made the short trek to Bullard in search of pumpkins. It was quite an experience for the youngster. We got to go on a hay ride into the field (behind a tractor, no less) and pick our own pumpkin. There were also farm animals to pet, corn maze, old time well pump for the kids to pump on, and lots of pumpkins. Who would have thunk it, in tiny ole' Bullard. Mason had a blast.

I am happy to report that he is doing much better at going to sleep. Maybe it was just a phase, or it could have been the wooden spoon mama put on the dresser...hehe! Either way, we are getting better results. Brown's, Jones'...your time is soon!

This is new

2007-10-04T20:53:00.000-05:00

Well, this is a first. Never "blogged" before. Must say, I was inspired by Trish and Al. Maybe just jealous that the whole internet was getting to see Matt and Josh and missing out on Mason!

Tonight we are batteling the ever "go to bed" bug. He will not go to sleep...bed time...nap time...ever. Usually by 9:30 or 10:00p.m. Would you lay in the dark for 1 1/2-2 hours talking to yourself ? Mason is a full believer in it...every night.

Poor Amber had to go to Julie's house, Mason's sitter, and spank him today at nap time because he was keeping all the other children awake. Broke her heart, but she was proud of herself when he laid right down and went to sleep afterward. He is a hard headed "buggabugga," one of HIS favorite words.

He is very independent, but wants you there to watch...just in case. We spend hours playing with our Thomas train set and in the rocks in the flowerbed outside our back door. If I knew he loved the rocks so much, I would have done the whole yard that way...then daddy wouldn't have to mow!

We are supposed to go to the "pumpkin patch" on Saturday. He is very excited about that. He has a fixation about pumpkins due to the pumpkin farmers on his tractor video. He also has a fixation about tractors, but who can resist that beautiful green paint with the yellow plush seat?

I will look forward to sharing with you all. You will just have to excuse my typographical errors and poor spelling. Maybe Mason will take after his mother and be much better at those things than his father :-).