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