Mason's 4th Birthday Party

I can't believe it! My baby is already 4 (well almost)! We did Mason's birthday party a couple of weeks early because we're always visiting relatives on his actual birthday (12/27). This year he really wanted to invite his friends and I was in agreement so we decided to have it at The Little Gym. It was incredible. We had the whole place to ourselves, and three instructors to lead the kiddos in various activities. I was tired from just watching them!

Anyone that knows Mason, knows how much he LOVES the Cars characters, and for months he has been asking for a Monster Truck Mater birthday cake. I failed to picked up the cars prior to the holiday rush, and when I went searching I couldn't find any. I finally found these at Disney.com, but of course, they were on backorder and weren't scheduled to get here until after Christmas. They arrived, however, only a week later so - YAY!

Monster Truck Mater Cake

Mason and his friends

Hanging from the high bar!

Getting ready to open his gifts

I know that he had a fabulous time. He kept sincerely thanking us for his party.

He really is a sweet kiddo! And he is getting so big!

Christmas Trees

I got the trees up early this year, actually the week before Thanksgiving. I knew we'd be away and I wanted it all ready whenever we got back. This year each of the boys has their own tree inn their bedrooms.

Ian has a Cowboy themed tree

Mason's is decorated with multi-colored balls & icicles

Looking at the outdoor lights from Ian's bedroom window

Preschool Program

That following Wed. Mason's preschool had their annual Preschool Christmas Program. In the days leading up to this, Mason kept telling me, "I'll go, and I'll get on stage, but I'm NOT singing." He was just as adamant that evening so I didn't even take the video camera, and the camera I did have with doesn't do videos. So, of course, the little guy sang his heart out the entire time, and fully participated with all the hand motions and everything!

He found us in the crowd

Making faces with his friend Alex

The 3 & 4 year old classes

Breakfast with Santa 2010

On Dec. 4th our subdivision did Breakfast with Santa again. The boys were so excited about it in the days leading up to it, but in all actually they didn't have much love for the big guy when the day came.

Mason just found out he's on the naughty list!

Not really - he just didn't want anything to do with Santa on this particular day. We were finally about to coax him up into the chair. He still isn't very happy, and he just told Santa that he wants "lots of things." Ian did tell (rather yelled at) Santa that he wants a bike!

I had to get a pic of the boys with Santa's Helper. I wonder how long this guy has been in the biz!

Jess' Birthday

This year Drew and I celebrated my birthday with shopping and dinner out. When we got back home we found that our absolutely fabulous babysitter, Adriene, and the boys had decorated the kitchen and made me a birthday cake. It was the sweetest surprise.

Mason's "car wash"

The cake the boys made!

Halloween 2010

We did another low-key Halloween this year. We had a toddler party at a friends. There were 5 families and we had about 12 kiddos (the oldest was 4 yr). We only went to a few houses but it took quite a while to get everyone through the line ensuring that all said "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You". Despite the fact that I forgot Ian's stick horse, Bullseye, and Mason's "jet pack" they still had a great time.

Raiders of the Last Trunk

The church where the boys go to school hosted a "trunk & treat" event called Raiders of the Last Trunk. The kiddos got to play games for candy in the church parking lot.

Woody

A very serious Buzz Lightyear

Getting mummified

Trying to blow the ping pong balls across the pool

Day Out With Thomas

Last month we took a road trip with our friends, the Wagners, to Rusk to the Texas State Railroad for the Day Out With Thomas event. The boys had a great time! Not only did we get to ride Thomas but they got to do a ton of Thomas related activities. They played with trains, colored, got tattoos, etc. They were worn out by the end of the day.

Mason holding his ears as Thomas blows his train whistle

Sir Topham Hat - you'll notice that neither of my boys is in the pic (even after we waited in line). They were cool admiring him from afar, but they wouldn't go near him.

Waiting to board the train. Ian is crazy!

Mason, Ian, & Eli

Because the folks live so close we stayed the night with them. RJ & Susan got to experience hillbilly hell for an evening. A terrible storm rolled through, and the electricity went out for several hours. But we still had a great visit. We put the kiddos to bed and we sat around the kitchen table talking for hours!

Mater Detour

Last month we were in Rusk to spend the Day Out with Thomas the Train and we found Mater! Since the boys love Mater we decided we needed to stop to get some pics with him.

Mason was so excited to touch his "tow hook"

Because we're big into monkey see, monkey do - Ian had to touch the "tow hook" too

Gearing up for Halloween

After our recent trip to the Pumpkin Patch we have been gearing up for Halloween in full force. Last week we carved and painted our pumpkins and we got out our Halloween decorations. Mason found the scary masks and gloves and went about trying to scare everyone in the house. At one point I caught him wearing the gloves on his feet as "monster feet." Ian even got in on the scaring action! We can't wait for Halloween this year!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Last weekend we decided to take the boys to the pumpkin patch at TGR Exotics. It's a quiet little animal sanctuary set up in a residential area. The boys had a blast. It amazes me how much they have playing in a trough of corn. We did get to see several exotic animals - they even pet the small grey kangaroo. After checking out all the sites the boys made a couple of pinecone bird feeders and picked out some small pumpkins to bring home and pain.

Swim Lessons

I'm not sure how I could have forgotten to mention swim lessons before now because it was a huge thing for us this summer. Both took swim lessons from Amber K. and she was awesome with them (far more patient that I would have been). I highly recommend her to anyone looking for someone to come to your house or subdivision pool for private lessons. By the end of their 8 lessons she had both boys swimming at least 10 feet to the pool wall, "monkey walking" around the pool until they could get to a ladder, and pulling themselves out. Both boys also learned that if we every fall into the water "go to our backs," which Mason practices frequently in the tub! We started the summer in floaties, but by the end they didn't even want to wear them. They really exceeded my expectations!

Ian swimming to Mrs. Amber

So proud of himself

Mason swimming to Mrs. Amber

He made it!

First Day of School - August

Both boys had their first day of school on August 24th. Mason is attending the 3 yr. old half day program on T & Th, and Ian is attending the 2 yr. old half day program on Tues. They're both in school from 9:00am to 1:00pm which gives me at least one day each week to try to run as many errands as I can without kiddos. I've finally gotten caught up on doctor and dentist appointments! Both boys are loving school. Today (Oct. 19th) was the first day (with the exception of the first day of school) that I was able to drop Ian off without him crying. I'm sure it had something to do with the pancake breakfast they were having this morning, but I'll take it!

Ian's 2nd Birthday

Ian turned 2 on July 5th this year. We celebrated his 2nd birthday in Carthage with family on July 3rd. He had a tractor/farm themed party and after presents and cake we went swimming in my mother's FABULOUS pool! At this point Ian was very much into "MOOOOOO" cows and tractors, especially John Deere tractors or as he calls them "Deere Tractors."

His "Deere Tractor" cake

His "Deere Tractor" cupcakes and farm animals "ducks"

Opening his gifts while Bella and Ashlynn look on

Blowing out his candles! He is getting so big!

Lake Hamilton - June

In late June, Drew and I went on our 2nd annual trip with his former high school classmates. This year we went to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We stayed at the Lazy Lane Lodge and it was fabulous. There were seven couples and no children! It was wonderful to be able to spend the weekend with such good friends. We spent the days sleeping in and relaxing on the water. Good times!

Father's Day Weekend 2010

Drew spent most of Father's Day weekend fishing with friends in Port O'Connor.

While they were out on the water he was accidentally hooked in the palm of his hand. The were nearly a half hour from shore and no telling how far from the closest emergency room so they decided to remove it on the boat.

They couldn't pull it out because of the barb on the hook so Stephen P. cut it and they just pushed it on through. OUCH! This happened Sunday morning, and the boys and I didn't find out until after he got home that afternoon. He came in, loved on the boys, opened his Father's Day gifts, and then told me he probably needed to head to the ER to get a tetanus shot. It was only when I asked why that he told me what happened!

Upon hearing how disappointed he was as a child for never getting a Snoopy Sno-Cone machine the boys and I decided that he deserved one for Father's Day so here he is with his very own Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine! He left for the ER about an hour after this pic was taken.