He Killed It

Austin killed my computer Sunday.

Literally killed it.

I told him I was going to unload my camera from my shoot I did that afternoon. He told me to give him ten minutes because he had to do something first.

I didn't realize that what he had to do involved killing my computer.

So Monday morning we headed to Best Buy to buy a new computer. Austin has been waiting for Windows 7 to come out so we just got a mid price range bridge computer. He stills plans on getting one when 7 comes out. That's fine with me then we each have our own computer. Sounds like a plan to me. He even upgraded and got the 22 inch monitor for 40 bucks after some haggling. I kinda regret teaching him how to haggle but anyways in this instance it got me a nice monitor.

Thankfully Austin was able to get the old computer going long enough to back up the files he wanted. I already had all my photos backed up because I just had a feeling it was getting ready to take a dive.

Now to the real unfortunate part.

The money for the computer had to come out of my flash fund. I was so close too. Within 50 bucks of my goal.

Let me tell you it is enough to aggravate a person.

I have decided...

I have decided to get a camera strap slip cover. I just can't decide which one to get. The Brown and Turquoise, the Black and White or the Red one. I am sure I will end up with all three but I have to start off with just one because of Austin. He gets weird about buying stuff online. I think he is crazy.
I have also decided that my diaper bag needs retiring. It is not cute and I don't use it that much so I might as well just use a purse and keep a diaper in it. I am tired of carrying around a ugly diaper bag filled with toys, diapers and snacks for the 'just in case'. I don't think I have ever changed a diaper while we were out unless it was a day trip. I will have to wait until next month to replace it though because I am fairly certain that Austin would flip out if he saw both hit the account in one month.
It is probably a good thing that way I can decide what one to get. The Pink Black Paisley, the Spa Chocolate Trellis or the Spa Kiwi Chocolate.

My Hope

It's Monday and I am for the most part done Christmas shopping. Well for people that are actually getting gifts.

We have some people on our list that are really hard to buy for and so they are getting an 8x10 of Mason. Something that they can't return exchange or re-gift. Some are getting them framed some are not. You know the picky ones that all the frames in the house match. I don't know how they do it. Do they just buy a stock pile of the same frame and store them for future use. I haven't figured it out yet.

Now I just have to get the photo taken. That is easier said than done. Mason doesn't like to sit still, well not really sit still but stay in front of my back drop. I don't care if wants to sit or stand he just has to stay in front of the back drop. He doesn't agree and thinks he should be able to jump on the couch and ride his toys when he should be sitting in his cute little chair and smiling sweetly. I wouldn't even care if he wanted monkey or bear in the photo as long as he could sit still for 5 seconds and smile sweetly. He gets this from his father. I am sure of it.

The last couple of times I tired to take his photo for this he threw himself on the floor and proceeded to throw the biggest tantrums yet. The last time he threw himself back so hard we had to get out the icepack. Austin has finally agree to 'help'. Little does he know that he will most likely end up in the photo as well. Well at least one.

Shelving

This last Sunday Austin and I put up some shelving and we didn't argue or anything. He didn't even make a squeak when I told him I wanted to paint them red. Not just red but hormonal red.

I couldn't believe our teamwork/cooperation. No one lost a finger or anything. There was no unnecessary yelling. Very unusual for us. We were all done in about 4 hours. Best yet they cost us literally nothing. Everything was re-purposed. I think that is my favorite part.

The long black thing you see to the side is actually the level that I was using to hold up that support because I was not tall enough to reach it on even a chair and Austin was already on the ladder.

Before we put the supports in this was just empty useless space behind the door to the stairway across from the bathroom.

Here are the shelves in and unpainted. There is enough room under the bottom shelf for 2 stacked totes.

I left the blue painters tape up in some spots because those areas need a second coat. Now I have a designated spot for my laundry detergent and misc. My bath mats are in the plastic sack waiting for my bathroom to get done. The white little tote is for Austin's stuff. He was shocked when I showed him that he would only have that little tote out of all these shelves. He has been trying to convince me that he will need one entire shelf. I very calmly told him that he has whole shelving units in the garage that are empty. He was less than thrilled with me. I then had to explain to him that it is not my intention to just keep junk on these shelves. If we did that we wouldn't ever be able to find anything.

Clear up on the top some misc baby items that we no longer need, guest bed bedding, Austin's old toys that he doesn't want Mason to play with collectibles.

The next shelf has all my sewing material. Someday when I am able to find time to sew again I will finally get a couple of projects done. I know I will have to find the time somewhere in the next couple of weeks to get some curtains made for these shelves so that you can't see them from the kitchen. It wouldn't be so bad but we painted them to match the trim in the upstairs not the trim in the kitchen. Hind sight is 20/20 I guess.

The 3rd shelf down is pantry. My kitchen cabinet shelves are not tall enough for a box of cereal so I have designated this shelf for cereal and whatever other pantry items I want to put on it. I will also be putting some of my PartyLite stuff on it. The Global Fusion Hurricane usually sits on my dining room table but I have my fall centerpiece out now and next month I will have a Christmas one out. Eventually I will get my stuff organized into totes and put below the bottom shelf but I will have to do that on a day that Mason is spending over at the grandparents because he is just too much help.

As of right now the bottom two shelves have no designated purpose and I'm sure that Austin will fill them with junk. As long as he knows that anything that spills out of his tote can be thrown away at any time he can put whatever he wants on them. I have learned that he needs to be aware of his boundaries and reminded often.

Every Little Boy Needs...

an indoor play area!!

I just wish my son hadn't picked this one.

Mason kept himself occupied for over an hour playing in this plant. He made a little mess but cleaned it up himself. It was so cute watching him try to pick up all the little pieces of dirt.

Tuesday Really Already??

Halloween morning Mason and I got up and started getting ready to go to Grandma Shirley's for trick or treating. I had Mason's costume all ready. I wasn't able to find what I wanted so I had Cammie pick up a ducky in size 3T. I wanted to be sure it would fit.
Marianne called and had me bring down a couple of other costumes that had been handed down to me from all the nephews over the years because she couldn't decide what she wanted Hunter to be. I am really glad she did because Mason's costume that Cammie picked up was too little.
There is no way it was actually a 3T considering it fit my cousins little boy who is 11 months. I was less than thrilled. Mason ended up being a green dinosaur instead and wouldn't keep his hood up.

Morgan trying to get Mason into his too small costume.

Mason was not thrilled.

We get all ready to go trick or treating and Mason decides that he would rather stay inside and play with this semi. I had to carry him kicking and screaming outside.

He was okay once he realized that he got to ride in the wagon. He was so excited!

Most of the parents. I got yelled at for taking this picture. Supposedly I was to give warning. I tried that and all I got was a bunch of fingers and backs.

This house was awesome.
They gave away free cans of pop and had a claw machine that you could actually win stuff out of.

I don't think the neighbors were too thrilled they were all across the street complaining.
It made me really glad that I live in the country and don't have to worry about neighbors.




This creepy clown followed us all over the neighborhood.
I think he just scaring my cousin Jessica. I can't believe she is still afraid of clowns.

Donnie filling my phone with dirty picture messages.

Somehow Hunter got a coke. His first one ever and Marianne was less than thrilled, especially when she found out it was by her husband.

Hunter didn't want to share his Coke so he gave Mason a Capri Sun.

I have no clue what they were tempting my son with but he was excited.

It really could have been anything shinny he is his fathers after all. I know my good wife side is coming out.

We finally made it to Mom's about 11:30 or so. After Isaac got sick all over Grandma's carpet and couch. We still have no idea what made him sick. He hadn't eaten any candy and I can attest to that. I have my suspicions that it was just excitement. Cammie called me from the interstate saying that he also threw up all over the backseat and wanted me to follow her into Glenwood to get him some 7-UP. She is lucky she caught me because I was right at that exit and had to pull over anyways otherwise I would have dropped her call. Stupid cell phones and all.

When I finally made it to Mom's I had to wait for her to get there to help me carry stuff in. I don't know how she got so far behind us considering we all left at the same time and Cammie and I stopped in Glenwood. Sometimes I wonder about her.

Saturday and Sunday we spent over at Mom and Dads doing nothing. Marianne came down Saturday and brought the boys. I was little surprised to see her again so soon because they had been at Grandmas the night before. Evidently Jesse was hunting and she didn't want to sit at home all day with the boys alone. I can't really say as that I blame her. Her boys are naughty. I had to resist the urge to put a blindfold on Mason the whole day. He did pick up a couple of things while we were there but they weren't the bad things. I sure Austin would be thrilled if they had been bad.

Uncle Guy Guy (my brother Donnie Guy) feeding Mason cheese puffs.

Morgan and Mason. I think it is really scary how much they look alike.

I have photos of Morgan at Masons age and the only way you can tell them apart is by the dress Morgan is wearing.

Mason will not ask for food. He stands beside you and looks innocent until you give him some.

This is almost the look he gives you when he wants some of what your eating.

Really who could resist such a cute little face.

He thought it was fun for Morgan to push him around the yard in this car.

I don't think Morgan agreed.

Mason didn't want to share. He was rather upset that Isaac was in the wagon.

Mason and I went over to the Great-Grandparents house on Monday and Tuesday for the bulk of the days because everyone else works. They love to see him. Even when he is really naughty. Lately he has been liking to take the couch cushions off and run up and down the couch. By the time we get ready to leave he is wore out and the house is a wreck. That is how they want it and Mason generally doesn't get into trouble when we are there. Well unless what he does is really bad because Grandma doesn't like to see him cry. I'm not one to argue with an almost 80 year-old woman so he gets away with a lot.

Wednesday we headed back up to my Grandma Shirley's. My cousin Jessica was having a Home Interior party. Mom, Marianne and Cameron were to go with us but Cameron was sick with sinus infection and the wind was blowing really hard and so Marianne didn't want to drive the 45 minutes into town. Mom was up there to pick up Dad because he totalled his van by hitting a deer Monday morning on the way to work but the weather was getting bad, it was starting to rain, and they had some errands to run before they could go home so she didn't stay. They were delayed in going home a little bit because of a tornado warning for Fremont County but they made it home safely.

Grandma, Mason and I made it the 4 houses to Jessica's by car because it was still raining and Grandma had just got her hair done the night before. Grandma has gotten her hair done once a week since she was 17. I think the only thing that has changed is the color.

Jessica had a pretty good turnout. Especially considering how horrible the weather was. I got the cutest little sunflower plaques to put in my bathroom when it is completed. Which had better be by the 7th of December because I am having a PartyLite show here at the house and I still don't have everything I got last time hung up. There is no way I would try to put out all my PartyLite stuff because it would look hodgepodge with the variety of stuff but I do want to get out the pieces that I like. I have most of it put away so that Mason doesn't break it. I figure the bulk of it will stay put away until he leaves for college in 17 years.

After her party Jessie came down and we ordered Chinese and rented Baby Mama.

Thursday morning came way too fast. My Aunt Cheryl came over for pancakes and gossip. When she finally left Grandma's, we made our way to JCPenny so that I could get my bath mats with my birthday money and Grandma's discount. I ended up getting really really nice mats for less than I would have paid at Wal-Mart. Austin was surprised and didn't believe me until I showed him the receipt. I don't know why he doubted me.

Mason and I finally got out of Council Bluffs about 2. Traffic was moving smoothly and we actually beat Austin home, I couldn't believe it. That hasn't happened very many times.

Weekend Plans

This weekend Mason and I are going to Mom and Dad's. I am going to a baby shower on Saturday morning with Cammie and Marianne for my cousin Cassie. It should be fun. A little girl shower. Something new for us. We all had boys! All 3 of us... had boys... what are the odds of that?
Saturday night I am going to the town Halloween party. I don't know if this one will be fun or not. I cannot leave Mom's until Mason is asleep because we are having attachment issues and I don't want to leave her with my crying child, so I won't get up there until 9 or so. I remember last years, by the end of the night a lot of people didn't even know their own names.
Not me, no thanks, I just smelled of cigarette smoke really bad. It was a great night. This year I am taking my camera to have photographic evidence of Cammie's behavior. She doesn't believe me about some things that happened last year. I don't know if Marianne will be going with us or not, she has turned into a little homebody. Even worse than me.
I had to refill Mason's brag book because last year everyone wanted to see photos but the only ones I had were on my phone. Now Mason keeps taking my book, pointing to his photos and saying Ason, der Ason. Then he has to kiss the photo of his dad that I put in there. Don't worry he won't kiss the photo of me in there. I ask him if he will and he spits his tongue out at me. He definitely has his fathers personality.
Austin is staying home and laying the tile in the rest of the bathroom. Finally! It is finally getting done. It has been a long 2 months. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am also all caught up on the laundry. Now the question is what do I do with the 10 sets of sheets that we have. Who in their right mind has 10 queen size sets of sheets. Sad part is that they are all tan, cream or white. How boring.
I think one of the white sets will be used to back my quilt that I have been working on. You know in my 'free time'. In other words when I can't sleep in the middle of the night.
Well we should be home by Monday at noon, Wednesday night at the latest. After all we are going back to Council Bluffs for Halloween the next weekend. I wouldn't want Austin to think that we forgot about him.

Ordinary Day?

Today I am taking photos for It's Real Life over at Farm Fresh Jessica's.
It's Real Life is a blog photo fest dipicting things are that real life. This weeks theme is an ordinary day.

Here are the only rules for this week.
You must include at least one picture of yourself in action.
You must include at least one picture of someone close to you, also in action.
You must include one picture in your kitchen.

Sounds easy enough right. I don't do much other than play with Mason all day so my day isn't too interesting. I will have to remember to delete the photos off of my computer after I post because it would not do to have photographic evidence of this. Austin thinks I do stuff during the day.

I just don't know how I am going to get a shot of myself in action. Maybe I'll take a photo of me doing dishes. That should count as action and in the kitchen.

I know people read this blog on Mondays more than any other day so grab your camera and join in on the fun. Don't forget to fill out Mr. Linky at Jessica's. Posting day is Thursday so you have a couple of days.

Now I need to read how to operate the timer on my camera. Yeah.

Wish me luck, I am off to find my tripod and play with the camera.

M~I~N~E

This little teddy bear has been in Mason's crib since he was born. Last week one day when I was getting ready to get him out of his crib he decided that he wanted to take this teddy downstairs and since then it is never far from him.

This is the look we get if we ask to see the teddy bear.

It is a cute little teddy bear. We got it from State Farm when we went to review our policies after Mason was born.

And in case we didn't already know that the bear was his he has named it MINE.

When we get ready for bed he will go around the living room looking for the bear saying Mine, Mine, Mine, like he is calling it over. It is really cute but his dad is not happy. Austin didn't want Mason to have a 'crutch'; even though he did.

Yes, my hard headed husband had a teddy of his own. He took it everywhere and when it came time for teddy to be washed he would sit in front of the washer and dryer waiting for it to be done. He would then cry because it 'smelled clean'.

All that is left of Austin's bear is one arm and the head. Personally I think it looks more psycho than comforting.

When his mother pulled it out to show me Austin walked in the room and without even thinking said, 'You told me that teddy ran away' like he was 4 again.

I have yet to tease him about this. Don't worry the day is coming. I rather like the sneak attack.

Pumpkins

Mason and I went and got pumpkins on Wednesday afternoon. We didn't actually go and pick our own pumpkin. We live in the country and within about 5 miles of us there are 3 little roadside stands. There is no one there to take money, you'll notice the gray box in the left corner of the photo. On it are the prices and PLEASE PAY HERE. On this day we got there about when the kids that lived there were getting home from school so the owners were out in the driveway. Being Iowa we chatted for a bit and Mason picked out his pumpkin. We were getting ready to leave we had already put our money in the box and the owner decides that we need one more pumpkin. He brings over this huge pumpkin, it comes almost to Mason's shoulders. It is in this photo to the left of the scarecrows head. It is huge. The price on the top of the pumpkin is $4.25. Austin was pretty shocked. Evidently he had been to Orschlens and looked at pumpkins but didn't want to pay the $5 for a little one the size that Mason picked out.

I just love these little shoes. Mason finally grew into them.

He looks so proud of himself. I think this is the only photo I took there that he would actually look at me so I am really glad that he is smiling.

I got home and put Mason in the living room while I unloaded the car. I am putting away groceries and notice how quiet it is. No wonder he is sitting in my chair trying to eat some candy that his dad forgot to put away. Mason did end up getting one unwrapped and ate it in the highchair after I put some play clothes on him. I figured after he worked so hard to get it unwrapped I couldn't not let him eat it.

Laundry Day

Whenever I do laundry Mason will grab my bra out, put it on his head and twirl around screaming. I don't really like my bra being posted but I couldn't resist that cute little face.

He had just taken it off his head and said 'boo' to me. I don't think he was expecting me to have the camera there and ready.

10:30 AM

That is the time this little Heathen Angel decided to wake up this morning. It was so wonderful. I actually got to shower and do some cleaning before he got up. I forgot what it felt like to be able to shower in the morning. I don't know if this is something that will happen everyday or if today was a fluke. Hopefully it will happen everyday. It would be nice to be able to have a couple of hours in the morning and evening to myself.