Really?

This little dent totalled out my car. Wow.

(This photo was taken last Saturday, since then we have had two days in the 50's and there is only remnants of the biggest drifts left in my yard.)

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.

Mason's first Hair Cut!!

My baby boy no longer looks like a baby. Mason got his hair cut this last Friday.

Here is a before picture with my little sister Cameron. (We call her Cammie or Aunt Mimi)

Now some 'during' photos. Aunt Mimi was holding him so that I could take pictures.

He is starting to get upset.

Ohh! Lets bribe him with a hair clip.
No help for it he is just going to get to be upset.

I took over holding him from here and things went much smoother.

After: Doesn't he look so much older.

Monday!!! How?

This past weekend went way too fast!! Saturday we slept in not very late put later than normal anyways.
Cameron and Marianne and their families were up to Des Moines to go to Adventureland. I hadn't planned on going but I was going to be down in Ankeny anyways to go to The Home Depot to pick up the stacking kit for my washer and dryer so I decided to take Mason and go also. It was fun. Long but fun.
Mason and I got down there about 2:30 and we finally left the park at 9:45. Mason was wonderful. He never cried or fussed. He did get a little scared of the raft ride. I was so glad I took two extra outfits for him. We sure used them. We had only been there for about 40 minutes when he spilled cherry icee all over the front of him and after the raft ride because we were all drenched.

We got home very late but Austin wasn't mad because he gets more done while we are gone. I think he was just happy knowing we were going to be coming home that night and it isn't like when I go down to my mom and dads and am always a day late in getting home.



Sunday Austin let me sleep in. He got up with Mason at 7:30 and I don't remember anything else until 9:30. I never sleep that late. Never!! Not even growing up or before Mason was born. I am one of those annoying morning people. No coffee needed.

After I rolled my lazy butt out of bed we did literally nothing. Well I take that back we did hang up a couple little pieces of drywall. Then we went to Wal-Mart and got stuff for the fresh water fish tank. Right when we got back from there we went to a friends house for supper. We will be outnumbered in November when we all get together because Jess is having a little one. For the moment it just feels like we are outnumbered. So after a very noisy supper we had to stop at Wal-Mart again on the way home because naturally we can't remember to get everything in one trip and forgot something.

We finally made it home about 9. We were literally both in bed before 10.

How It Really Went

Well we did spend 5+ hours in a car. The storms didn't end up holding off.
I got up early Saturday morning to start getting ready before Mason woke up. By the time Mason woke up I was ready to just jump in the car. Couldn't do that to him though. I like to stick with our same morning routine while at home so I had to wait for Mason to get done eating breakfast before we could go. We got on the road about 9:30 and Mason did cry all the way into town. I am a radio listener. I am not a fan of CDs because it is the same artist for 10 songs or so. Mason is a music baby in the car. He likes the male artist with the deep voices. So for that reason I keep a Trace Adkins CD for last resorts. Saturday was a last resort! I popped that CD in and in less than one song he was out. I like Trace Adkins but I'm only good for one song in a row of anybody. So we continued with our thankfully uneventful drive. We got to the b-day party about 12 and Mason was so good. For the day he was the perfect cute little kid. Didn't cry, blew kisses, didn't bite or throw food or tantrums. I got lucky because it was hot and humid and just plain sticky outside and that can make anybody cranky.
So after food, gifts, and good times we were ready to go. Now all day the sky to the northwest was getting darker and darker while the wind was coming out of the south sometimes southeast. Anybody who grew up in Iowa knows that hot humid with clouds and wind going different directions is bad news. Before jumping in the car I decided to check the TV in the camper for weather and discovered that all the counties that I would drivethru to get home were getting hit by t-storms pretty bad so I made the decision to wait it out. After all it wasn't a very wide line of storms. (I also got to see Big Brown lose the triple crown. I was really hoping he would be able to pull it off.) Anyways so an hour later I decide to check again and what do you know it looks like they hadn't even moved. That was when I gave up on going home.
My younger sister Cammie and her troupe were going to camp with everyone else but they were going to be in a tent so they decided to go stay in a hotel and I joined them. We finally left the campground about 9. (I couldn't believe the weather held out that long other than the occasional sprinkle) Mason didn't take an afternoon nap and he was asleep before we were to the highway. Thankfully he stayed asleep on the way into the hotel and didn't wake up until 9 the next morning. (I am going to invest in some room darkening shades for Mason's bedroom) So after checking out of the hotel and grabbing some McDonalds for breakfast, that we aren't going to tell Austin about, we are all finally ready to hit the road. It is then we hear this beep. The same beep that plagued the hotel room all night. We knew it wasn't any of our cell phones because they were either off or in the vehicles. It is coming from Cammie's purse. (the cutest purse I have ever seen) So she dumps her purse out in the truck seat and come to find out it was Marianne's phone. After some laughing it was decided that I would be the one to take Mare back her phone seeing as how Cammie and them were heading south and my main destination was north. Mare was shocked to see that we had her phone all night. She thought it had been lost outside and was ruined for sure if she could even find it. So at 11am Sunday morning we finally get on the road to head home.
We roll into the driveway at 1:15pm and we have to be to Du & De's by 3. We both needed a bath so a quick shower was in order but true to my husband's pain in the butt way he was in the shower. He knew what time we would be home. So after wasting 15 minutes waiting for him to get done with something he had all morning to do, Mason and I finally get a turn. (multi tasking: Mason had to shower with me after I was done because we don't have a tub and didn't have time to pull out his baby tub after Austin's stunt) We get to Hy-Vee, to buy a side salad because we are good cooks like that, right at 3. We did make it to Du & De's by 3:15 which is as close to on time as we have been in awhile. We finally made it home at 10:20pm after some good food and good times with some good friends. It was all I could do to get Mason and I up the stairs to bed.
So today we are doing nothing and it feels wonderful. When he goes down for his nap I am going to go out side and play with some bubbles and set up his little pool. I have tons of stuff I could be doing but it is all grown up stuff and I just want to be a kid today. The sun is shinning and the wind is nonexistent. Perfect for bubbles and swimming pools.

Interesting tidbit: drivethru on spell check comes up with the suggestion of diphtheria. I wonder if the symptoms are the same.

Busy, Busy!

We have been very busy since last Wednesday. Cleaning and getting stuff ready for spring. Wednesday Mason and I reorganized my kitchen cabinets. They needed it. Nothing fit where it belonged anymore. I felt a lot better when it was done. I received no phone calls on Wednesday. Very unusual. Cameron and mom have off Wednesdays so I usually get calls from both of them. Well they forgot about me so I had to give them a bad time.
Thursday we went to MOPS. Then we stopped at a friends house on the way home and the store to buy the turkey for Saturday. Mason flirted all day. Smiled and laughed for every lady he saw. We get home and I wasn't too sure someone hadn't switched kids on me. He wouldn't be good for at all. Sadly we lost a plant due to tantrum. Austin was more upset about this than me. I truly hated the plant. It was an elephant ear plant that has always always looked sick. I was glad to see it go.
Friday, Austin took off from work at noon so that I could go and help out at the MOPS garage and bake sale. I took advantage of this. I left home at 1:00 and got home at 8:00. Mason was already in bed and my husband was sitting in his recliner and looked like he had been run over by a steam roller. Evidently Mason was his usual self and was hyper and naughty the whole time. I was so glad. I actually asked Austin if they had gone over to his parents house because it looked like they hadn't been home. He looked at me real pitiful like and said "NO! All I did all day was follow Mason around and get him out of things. He wouldn't leave my stuff alone and didn't even play with any of his own toys." Me being the good wife that I am said all innocent like "WELCOME TO MY WORLD!! Get over it. What is for supper?" I thought he was going to beat me. I have never laughed so hard. I did take pity on him and cook supper. Well I don't know if it would qualify as cooking. I heat up some leftover goulash. Don't matter, he ate it and didn't complain.
Saturday was a very busy day. We had some friends coming over for supper and we had planned on turkey. Well my fridge doesn't get warm enough to actually thaw anything so we had to thaw it in the sink. Austin must have been feeling bad about not helping me very much because I didn't have to touch anything but the kitchen. It was wonderful!! He even cleaned the bathroom.
So we get the turkey thawed and cooked and everything else ready and it was perfect. I went to get the turkey drippings to make gravy, I lifted the turkey legs and they just fell off the bird. It was juicy and flavorful. I regret not taking a photo. I doubt my next attempt will be as good. I do have witnesses though which can vouche for me. After dinner we sat the older kids in front of a movie and we girls washed dishes and cleaned up the kitchen while the guys drank some Slovakian brandy. Then we looked at Austin's trip photos by hooking the camera up to the TV. Everyone went home about 10:30. It was nice being able to just go to bed without having to clean the kitchen first.
Sunday we went to a brunch to celebrate the baptismal of two of the little that were over on Saturday. We stayed longer than we planned. It was nice out so the kids were outside playing. Then we had to make the weekly trip to Wal-Mart. I usually make this trip alone because Austin is such a whiner when it comes to shopping. When we got home it was too nice to be inside so we worked outside cleaning up around the corncrib so that the lawn mower doesn't pick up things. I'll post those pictures next.
So that brings us to today. I am exhausted and would like to be looking forward to an uneventful week but that is not to be the case. Austin has to go to Pennsylvania Tuesday and will get home on Thursday. Then we have a day trip to my sister's house on Saturday for my nephews birthday. Hopefully next week we can slow down and have some normalcy.

Mason's 1st OREO

Mason just couldn't get enough of that oreo. "NOTE: The shirt he is wearing in this photo Daniel wore for his 16 month photos and it was big on him."

My sister Cameron, known to Mason as Aunt Mimi has gotten quite a few of Mason's "first". The first kiss, the first giggle and a couple of others that I would have to look at his baby book to remember. I have informed her that she is not allowed to hold my child anymore. At least I got to give him his first OREO.

Yeah!!

I got my car back today. Yesterday my friend, Jess, and I, with all the kids, went to town and dropped my car off to have the windshield fixed. I am so happy to have it back with no cracked windshield. Now I can drive farther than Town. Naturally because of this I am going to Mom and Dad's for the weekend. I am so excited. I haven't seen them since Christmas. I don't think I've ever gone that long before.
Anyways I leave on Thursday and get home on Monday. I told Cameron that I was going to get there Friday night. I lied to her because I want to spend some time with mom and dad alone. That way mom doesn't have to fight to hold her own grandson. Well, that and that way Cameron's boys won't fight to stay the night with Aunt Lola. Love them to death but don't want to sleep with them. They hog the bed and always seem to have "accidents" in bed. I don't like to wake up wet smelling of pee. Maybe it’s just me. Friday Mason and I are going to go spend the day with Austin's grandparents. They like to see all the new stuff Mason is doing. Friday afternoon I have to pick Isaac up from the babysitters for his birthday. I will have to make it look like I am just getting down there from my house though. They, Cameron and her boys, get mad if they don't see me the night we get there.
Saturday we are going through the storage room at Mom's. Cameron was in it a couple of days ago and ran across some 18-24 month clothes for Mason. This makes me very happy because the 12-month clothing he is wearing now is almost too little. I also have to pick up some clothes from Marianne's. When I picked up clothes from her before Mason was born she gave me all of her stuff up to the 18-month mark. Little Hunter was still wearing his 18-month stuff at 24 months of age. If Mason keeps growing like he is we will be handing clothes down to Hunter instead of him giving stuff to Mason.

Strep Throat and other yucky stuff

Well I have gotten strep throat from my sister, Cameron. I swear I didn't hug, kiss pinch or even slap her when I saw her on Saturday. I don't get it. She gets it and then I get it. There have been some years that I have gotten just by talking to her on the phone. O'well I am finally getting over it. I actually went to the doctor yesterday. She gave me some stuff that has kicked it in the butt.

Now Mason is getting sick. That has been the hardest part. I haven't got to hold or kiss my baby. I don't think he is Strep Throat because his eating hasn't slowed down, so he isn't afraid to swallow. His nose is really disgusting but that is about all. Hopefully it stays that way.

Austin is taking the day off. That means I will be around him for 12 to 13 days. I thought a weekend was hard. We should have some interesting fights. Who knows might be fun now that Mason is taking 2 hour naps mid-morning. Incidentally that is about the time Austin likes to get out of bed. Lucky for me.

Photo Day

This last weekend my family all got together to get photos taken for my mother as a surprise christmas present. This presented a little problem in that she knew I was coming down to do a PartyLite show but that I wasn't coming down to see her. Not good. She also knew that Mason and Austin were going to be with me. Then she found out that Cameron and Darin were coming up to Council Bluffs and that Donnie Guy and his family were coming in from Fremont. Not a huge deal because it is close to the holidays and we could all be shopping at the same time. Then she found out that Marianne and her family were going to be meeting us at the mall and that Cameron would be taking Morgan home. She knew something was up so she decided that her and Dad would just go to Grandma Shirley's for the evening. Since they were "kid free".



So there we are taking our huge 19 person family photo and mom peeks her head around the corner. I was honestly surprised that we could keep it secret that long. No one slipping. Her figuring it out on her own. We all did really good. She usually ends up cornering one of us. Then again the only one close enough for her to corner is Cameron and she isn't always the nicest person so mom probably couldn't tell if she would be lying or not.





Me - Marianne - Cameron
Darin - Donnie Guy

We are all starting to look older. It is about time. Maybe one of these days they will stop ID'ing me when I buy minor prohibited stuff. I don't think I will list all the ages. Way too depressing.




Jesse - Donnie - Racheale - Jesse (younger)
Darin - Courtney - me holding Mason - Austin holding Daniel - Morgan - Ricky
Marianne holding Hunter - Major - Cameron holding Breanna and Isaac - Faith

I know all the kids just look thrilled. To get that many to smile at the same time we settled on all the adults smiling and the baby not crying. Darin is hiding the bottle and burp rag. You can barely see the bottle in his one hand.

We have really exploded in the last 10 years. For those of you who don't know I will give the break down.

Morgan 10
*Emily 8
Major 7
Daniel 6
Isaac 4
Breanna 3
Hunter 2
*Qwentyn 1
Mason 6 months

*Darin's two aren't pictured. Stupid ex-wives. He wouldn't have this problem if he could just stay married.


I know those of you that counted the number of people actually in the photo know that there were more kids than what is listed. Donnie Guy's girlfriend, Rachaele, had her three kids there. Jesse, Courtney and Faith. I have no idea how old they all are. I do know that Courtney is the same age as Morgan. I believe they share the same birthday.

After photos we went to Grandma Shirley's for pizza. We only ended up going through 5 larges. Not bad for that many people. All in all the day only ended up costing us I think about 40 dollars. Photos and pizza. I won't count the gas to go down and back because I can take that off my taxes as a business expense. Remember originally I went down for a PartyLite party.

We ended up getting home really late and Austin had to work the next day. It was good. I don't get to see them that often anymore. We talk all the time but that isn't the same. Sometimes it is nice to see their face when they realize you have just insulted them. Most of the time the translation is lost over the phone. The only bad thing about getting together is that one of usually ends up with a sick kid the next day. I won the lottery this time. Mason got pink-eye. So we have had a fun week. But that is a whole nother post.
Until next time.