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.

MOPS!!

MOPS starts today and I'm so excited. I don't know what I'm looking forward to most: the 2 hours away from Mason, the fellowship, 2 hours babyfree, friendships, did I mention a whole 2 hours away from Mason, food. I think it is a toss up. I have waited patiently all summer. A big feat for me.
This year I am doing the newsletter. I have a feeling this will get to be more of a chore than anything. I have made my template so all I have to do is change the articles out... maybe... I mean really how many people actually read the newsletter.
After MOPS Mason and I are going to make a quick pit stop at home and then we are going to my mom and dad's. We have a very busy weekend planned. Hopefully We will be home by Tuesday.
Austin asked if I was going to drag it out another day and I could honestly tell him no this time. See... I ordered a new camera and it should be here tomorrow... so I want to get home and play with it. Since he refuses to put it in his backpack when he drives the motorcycle to go to grandma and grandpa's this weekend.
I know! What a brat. Even though I am taking his clothes with me. Good thing I love him or this could be a grievous offense. I think I will forget his underwear. That should show him. I mean really I made his lunch today ,without the spit mind you, the least he could do is bring my camera down with him.
Anyways... so I off to go switch my clothes over. Somehow in the bathroom renovations laundry has gotten messed up and I'm of schedule and ran out of underwear for me. Let me rephrase that. I cannot find almost all my underwear. Out of 30 pairs I can find exactly 4. That's right 4. So instead of being able to do my laundry once a week it feels like I am doing my laundry everyday. Not good when you have snakes in your basement. I have no clue where they went but I have my suspicions that Austin does. He has found this oh so hilarious.
I just keep telling myself that 2 weeks and my washer and dryer will be upstairs. I know I live in a dream world.

Hot! Hot! HOT!!

We baked in the heat! Friday it was around 100, Saturday it was 101, Sunday it was almost as hot, and Monday was another hot day. The whole weekend was miserably hot.
Friday I drove down to the Sidney area for a weekend of fun and rodeo. The original plan was for Mason and I to go alone. Well we found out some info and I put my foot and told my husband that he had better make an appearance. I really try hard to get down and see his grandparents whenever I am down with Mason. I have given up hope on getting Austin down very much so he didn't throw too big of a fit. Lucky for him!!
Friday around noon I had the car all packed and ready to go, Hyde included. Since Austin would be riding the motorcycle down. We got to Austin's grandparents house around 3:30 or so. Mason was just a doll the whole time. About 5:30 I was getting ready to head over to my parents house for supper when Austin's parents show up and Grandpa informs me that Mason and I are going to go to supper with them. Not a big deal Mom and Dad didn't think I was going to get over there until around 8. So we went to Shenandoah and had supper at the Depot. Thankfully Mason decided to behave and ate his supper instead of throwing it on the floor.
I got over to mom and dads around 8 so I wasn't even late. It was so hot outside that the sweat was dripping down my leg and my carpi's looked as though someone had sprayed me with a hose thanks to the leather seats in my car. The black leather seats in my black car. Why my father-in-law ever wanted a black car is beyond me. I did notice though that his next car was silver. Mason went right up to bed much to the chagrin of my family. I really hate to get Mason off of schedule just because they want to keep him up to play. I ended up staying awake really late talking with Mom and Marianne. (When will I ever learn?)
Saturday Mason woke up at 7. Yes 7. I was thinking just shoot me!! Again will I ever learn to go to bed instead of staying up gossiping. Probably not. Again it was hot outside. Even at 7 in the morning outside letting Hyde go pee I could feel the humidity surround me and weigh me down. I gave up on my hair for the weekend and just put it in a bun and took two Tylenol for the head ache that would follow. I really should get my hair thinned out but I hate dealing with it then because not all the hair is one length and there seems to be more flyaways. Anyways it was hot.
Marianne, mom and I went down to one of moms houses in Thurman and cleaned. It is a super cute house it is... just... in... Thurman. It does have air though. Trust me I wouldn't have been down there cleaning it if it hadn't.
Saturday night we went to the rodeo. We always sit on the north side at the very end of the general admission section because with the addition of kids someone is always having to get out and go to the bathroom. This year there was a wonderful cool breeze and we all had fun. No one puked or spilled anything sticky on me so by my estimation this year was huge success.
We ended up getting over to Grandma and Grandpa's house about 10:30 and Mason didn't wake us up until 8. We spent Sunday morning with them and watched Mason be a loon. Austin had planned to leave after lunch to go home. I almost felt bad for him because he rode the motorcycle down with a tank top on and got sunburned so he had to wear a long sleeve shirt on the way home. He has informed me that it wasn't too bad because he didn't have to listen to me yammer on and on. (I read while he drives so I know better than this.)
After some lunch in Shen Mason and I headed over to my moms house only to find out that hey were headed up to my grandma house to show my cousin Jessie and her boyfriend Rapheal a house close to grandma's. So I turned around and headed north. I couldn't believe it but I beat them there by like 20 minutes. So glad I have a key to grandma's house.
We also got to look the house and let me tell you it needs some major work. The houses in the area are assessed around $200,000 and the house was listed for $139,500. I guess it didn't deter them. They put in an offer and got it. I can't wait until they are done working it. I am sure it will end being a show place.
Sunday night Mason and I stayed at Austin's grandparents again because we planned on being there for lunch on Monday and everyone over at mom's works full time so they wouldn't be there.
Monday we made it up to my Grandma's house about 2 to go shopping with her. She works at JCPenny and gets a pretty good discount. Austin needed a new suitcase because he came home with a hole in the last one. JCPenny was have a huge sale on luggage so I ended up getting him a really nice suitcase for about $80, or literally a third of full price. I also got Mason some shoes and clothes and Austin a couple of work polos. All for under the sale price of the suitcase.
I had planned on going home Monday afternoon but again it was so hot that I decided to stay with my grandma. She was thrilled. I don't get up to see her as often as I should. I also spent a good part of Tuesday with her also. I figured Austin doesn't get home until 5 anyways so why should I. So I didn't. I did have to stop at the store on the way home. I don't why he couldn't stop on his way home. No instead it had to be with a car full of stuff and the dog with me. Sometimes things like that irritate me. I guess I'll just have to get over it because it isn't going to change.
So that was my whole weekend. Nothing too exciting. Mason behaved for the most part. Hyde was a good puppy and didn't bite anyone. Not that he ever has but I wouldn't blame him if he ever wanted to take a chunk out of one of my nephews. They have all been warned. The naughty little cusses that they are. I know Mason just sits there, watching them, soaking in all the naughty.

Friday Again.

Well, my week has gone fast. Surprising because Austin is in Slovakia. I dropped him at the airport on Monday and made my way to mom's. I took the long way and stopped at Grandma's first. It isn't very often that we get to see her without all 29 other people being there. We had a nice time. Mason was his usual cute self. Pulled her phone off the counter and played with the broom. Just wonderful. We also stopped at Menards and saw Aunt Cammie at work. She just couldn't wait to show him off. Finally about 3:30 we made it to mom's. A whole 8 hours after we left home. Amazingly Mason went to bed at his normal time. I however didn't and Mason got up at his normal time on Tuesday which made for a long day for me.
Tuesday we went to the Great Grandparents for lunch and play time. We got there after morning nap about 10:30 and left about 2. Mason was cute and wonderful. Ate grandma's mashed potatoes like they were candy. After there we went to pick up Cammie's little boys, Daniel and Isaac, at the babysitters. I took them to mom's with me and they didn't behave like always. They are the worst behaving little heathens ever. Cameron came and rescued me about 3:30. I made my way upstairs to the bathroom and locked the door so I could take a nice long soak. After all those years she took advantage of me by doing the exact same thing I didn't feel too bad.
Wednesday we lounged around mom's in the morning with Cammie and Isaac. About 2 we went to the Great-Grandparents house. Mason however did not behave well. He was crying and fussy. He didn't want to go to Grandma and I could under no circumstances leave his sight. We left about 5:30 to go to Daniels soccer game. It was chilly and really windy so we didn't stay for the end of it. They don't keep score anyways so what is the point. We spent the rest of the evening with my mom and dad in quiet. Cameron and her boys didn't come down.
Thursday everybody worked so I came home. The wind was horrible on the way home and it was raining. That doesn't make for fun driving. There were some pretty bad storms across Iowa in the early evening. We lost power for a little bit. My little windmill by the drive way got destroyed in the wind and there are now things all over the yard. What do you know though the stupid corn crib is still standing. I am sure if the wind was blowing that hard in any other direction it would be a pile of ruins. As luck would have it the wind was coming straight from the east and that is the direction that it leans. So basically the wind was holding it up. You could hear the stupid thing popping and creaking clear in the house. Maybe one of these days we will get lucky and the thing will just fall over. Probably not though.
So that is how my week has gone. Hopefully tonight and this weekend will go better. I am more than ready for a good nights sleep. Austin has called everyday which has helped my anxiety issues. I worry about him when he is traveling out of the country. When he called a little bit ago though he was back in Vienna getting ready for bed which for some reason put me at ease. Tomorrow he is going to be site seeing in Vienna and is really excited about it. I told him to get me something. He asked if he should get Mason something also and I told him not if it makes him get me something not as nice as if he didn't get Mason anything. So we will see. Afterall it isn't like Mason is even going to know. I know I need to mark that down as another good mommy moment.
Weather permitting Mason and I are going to the VEISHA parade tomorrow with G-pa Jeff and G-ma Robin. I know he won't know what is going on this year but we should have fun anyways.

Blank...

It is Friday yet again. Where did my week go? My days seem to fly by and I get nothing done. It isn't that I don't try to get something done. I do! Really!! My problem is that 'the kid' is crawling and getting into everything. I can't turn my back for a second. Right now he is fascinated with the door to the office. Open, close, open, close. Stop already.
So far today he has gotten stuck in the dog kennel, on the couch, hung up on the baby gate, and tried to be a gardener. The last of which Austin isn't going to be very happy about. I have already e-mailed a warning. He shouldn't be too surprised we are on day 4 of the nap protesting. I felt bad last night because I was making supper and Mason fell asleep in his high chair. Well on second thought maybe I didn't feel that mad. He was worse yesterday than today. At least he only got in one plant today. Oh did I forget to mention that he tried to go up the stairs this morning. I couldn't believe it. He isn't even 10 months yet.
I remember when we first got Hyde we did leash training with him. That is where the pet wears a leash at all times and it is attached to your leg, wrist, or belt loop. Well the first 6 months we did leash training so that he would stay out of trouble. I wonder if it is legal to do that with your kid. It worked wonders for the dog. Although even now Hyde doesn't usually get farther than 8 feet from me. At times that can be a pain.
Next weekend we are buying Mason a baby swing so that we can go out in the afternoons. I would go on walks but the gravel (dirt, river rock, mud) road just isn't conducive to that at this time of year. It is way too muddy out. I am ready to get outside and play.
Austin asked if he was going to get to mow the yard at all this summer and I nicely replied 'NO!'. The way I figure it he has about an hour a day of alone time. Thirty minutes to work and thirty minutes home. He sure isn't going to take away the one thing that will give me alone time. Sometimes I wonder if he is truly insane. He should know better. I can't wait until next summer Mason will be old enough to follow him around. Which will hopefully keep him from doing anything that will endanger his health. Like tear anymore off the corn crib. That is a whole other post in itself. Although I do wish he would go ahead and get it torn down. The stupid thing has become an eyesore.
Now my major thought all day is what am I going to do with Austin all weekend. The drywall project will only keep him busy for so long. Don't worry his sister put in a barb at Easter about our home improvement project and hers. Evidently hers is done and we are still working on ours. Um... ya, we have a baby to take care of also and ours involved demolition not just painting and wall fixtures. Anyways I got side tracked, it is just that she really makes me mad. I've just never met someone so hateful and I have Cameron for a little sister. Sorry back to the subject at hand. What to do with Austin this weekend. I think I'll let him sleep in till noon both days and argue with him the rest of saturday. Sunday after he wakes up I am going to go to the store and leave him with the baby, I haven't decided if I will come home yet or not. I probably will after all I would miss my guys. I am just really in need of a quite day to myself. It has gotten especially bad since Mason has decided that he is afraid of my sewing machine. I don't know how that happened. He had heard it everyday of his life almost and then just decided that he was afraid of it. Hopefully he gets over soon. Maybe Grandma Robin would like to baby sit this sunday. That would be nice. I've got a curtain and an apron that I need to get finished.
Well until next time...

Easter

We were early! I know I can't believe it either. For months I have been having conversations with my husband that go a little like this.

Me: Now, Honey, tomorrow I expect you to get up in a good mood and help me get baby ready so that we can be on time. I really hate being late! It would be a great help if you could do this without me having to nag you.

Austin: Good luck!

Me: No, I'm serious. He is half yours so I expect you to get him dressed and ready. I'll have the clothes laying out all you have to do is put a clean diaper on him and get him dressed right down to the shoes and coat. I will get the diaper bag ready. Okay?

Austin: No, why can't I get the diaper bag ready?

Me: Do you even know what goes in the diaper bag? You can get him dressed and keep the two of you entertained while I finish getting ready.

Austin: FINE!

Why should I have to do this. He should be grown up enough to help without me having to coerce him to. Maybe someday these conversations will begin to pay off and I will no longer have to go through them. Probably around the same time Mason can get himself dressed and entertain himself.

Everything went good. We were early and his sister couldn't make any snide coments about it. Don't worry she did other things that pissed me off. If she was my sister I would have put her in her place. I had promised Austin that I would be nice though. So when she started to make me mad I would take Mason to "change" his diaper. She is a serious baby hog. She has decided that she doesn't want any kids. I can't really blame her after seeing how cute Mason is and knowing that her kids would never come close to him. I know that was mean to say. So here is a picture of her, her husband and my Mason.

Now for some cute photos. Mason got a push, scoot, play John Deere toy.

My Mother-in-laws dog Cheyenne.

Someday Mason will be able to play as rough as Cheyenne wants.

Update

Well we made it down to mom's on Thursday night. We came home Monday SICK. I mean really sick. Both of us had really high temps. Yesterday is a blur. I do remember crawling to the bathroom because I was too dizzy to stay on my feet. Today we went to the doctor and it has been confirmed we have the flu. Wonderful. I feel like crap and bottles need washed. The normal. Well I don't feel like washing bottles so I bought new ones and put them on to boil. Much easier. Now all I have to do is remember to take them off the stove in about 10 minutes.
It never fails you have to go to walmart and your sick. Somehow by some miraculous force you get the newest stupid person working in the pharmacy. She looked smart but wasn't. Asked me a hundred questions and then told me that she couldn't find my prescriptions that were sitting on the counter in front of her. I also had to get some Mucinex D which is sold behind the counter now and she told me they were out as I was looking at it behind her. I don't do well with stupid people especially when sick so I grabbed my bag of prescriptions and cut in the line next to me. You can bet no one said a word to me about it. So the new lady helping me out showed the other one how and what to do. When she handed me the sudafed slip to sign, I coughed on it and handed it back to her. I am really hoping she gets sick. Other than that I have been good today. Really I don't have enough energy to be bad.

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.

Slovakia

My husband is going out of the country for work sometime in April. I can't wait. A week alone? No getting up early to make him lunch. No having to make him an eatable supper. No nagging about laundry or dishes. Just the dog, the baby and me. I keep teasing him that we need to take separate vacations. He looked at me like I was crazy. All I did was suggest that he could take a long weekend and go to his grandparents just him and Mason. I don't know what I would do without Mason. Well other than take a really hot really long shower. That would only take 15 minutes anyway. Normal shower time 7 minutes, if lucky. I'm blabbering. Anyways... What would I do with no one to take care of?

I need to remember to have him bring back some alchohol from there so I can try it. He tells me about it but that is truly only half the experience. I don't drink, maybe once every 5 years and I have decided that I need to try it so that I will know what he is talking about.

He tells me that I will have to drive him to the airport and pick him up. What?! Why? They have a shuttle at work. Someone that actually gets paid to take people to the airport and pick them up, crazy I know. That job would suck. So why do I have to do it. Not only is the airport over an hour away but I also have to wrangle Mason into being good. That and by the time Austin gets in and off the plane he doesn't want to go out to eat. He wants me to pick his butt up, be in a good mood, and come home and make him supper because he is cranky and tired of eating out. Let me just say NOT MY FAULT.

At least for this trip he has me on call alert. Did I forget to mention that is how I found out about this trip? The stupid airline did a test call to make sure I would get the messages if his flight was delayed or cancelled. I then called him and found out. He is so lucky I love him.

I think this time I will go down to Mom and Dads. It has been awhile since I have gotten to spend a week down there. That and someone will cook for me and take care of Mason. I really wish they lived closer. It would be nice for those nights when I don't want to cook to be able to call mom and tell her we are coming over for supper. My little sister has it so good.

What a weekend

We did absolutely nothing. Mason was good and surprisingly quiet. I couldn't believe how well he stuck to his schedule. Some weekends he won't just because Austin is home. Unfortunately this showed Austin just how much free time I do have during the day. What he doesn't know is that this is what I do during that free time sometimes, that or it gets eaten up by me showering. I know of all the things.

He forgets that I don't have someone to watch the baby while I do things like that. Sometimes I wish he would just step up and help more with the baby. It is almost impossible to get him to give baby a bath or feed him baby food. I have to use my powers of negotiation sometimes to get him to put baby down for bed. Then he gets mad when I "disappear" to wash dishes. Which brings me to my next point.

My son is making me a social pariah. When we go to the grandparents they are like normal grandparents and like to make Mason smile. Well he won't smile at them while I am in the room. He will twist and turn until he can see me and then he will smile. So I go to the next room or stand behind them while they are holding him that way he will at least smile in their direction. He only does this to Austin's side of the family. He doesn't do it to my side. Maybe my side is just more intertaining. I don't know.

Christmas

Christmas was good.The weather cooperated beautifully. We left home Christmas Eve to go to my parents for my dad's side of the family. Last head count we had 33. We ended up staying at my parents house this year which was new. Nice but new. Christmas day we went to my grandmas house. At last head count there was 32. Christmas evening we went to Austin's Grandma's where there was a much smaller crowd. I think there was 12. A much smaller group.

We had a good time everywhere we went. Mason was passed around quite a bit but that is good for him.

Mason got a lot of annoying toys. I know it isn't going to get any better. Not after all the horribly annoying toys we gave for gifts over the years. As my siblings put it "Pay back is a bitch." I highly doubt that Marianne and Jesse are going to find something to surpass the annoyingness of the "Stink Blaster". If they ever do I have some refills for the Stink Blaster.

Mason opening gifts at his Great-Grandma Fishers

I caught them all unaware with this photo.

7 little boys ages 7 to 7 months. Left to right. Jamison, Isaac, Hunter, Daniel holding Mason, Major and Jacob. Jacob is just a grandson not a great grandson but anyways. Darin's little boy Qwentyn isn't pictured because he had to leave early. Next year we will have 9 little boys 8 and under. We really need some more little girls. We only have 3. Morgan, Emily and Breanna.

Anyway I think everyone can just imagine how noisy it was with that many little boys running around. Who knows what we are going to do when they get to be around 16 and get cars.

Mason opening gifts at Great-Grandma Shirley's.
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Mason got a monkey that you can record something on his left hand and play it back on the right. Austin put on there Mimi Aucky. Marianne's boys call Cameron Mimi and Cameron's boys call Marianne Mimi. Well Jesse taught Hunter to say Mimi Aucky whenever someone said Mimi. We all have had great fun with that over the last couple of years. We are going to run into problems with Mason though because both Cammie and Marianne are Mimi. Should be fun.

Mason and Morgan on Christmas Eve. They look more like brother and sister than cousins.

My brother-in-law Jesse.

Hunter being naughty.

Austin is rather quick with that middle finger.

Marianne holding Mason. Mason really wanted her glasses.

Hunter was jealous of his mom holding Mason. Amazing he didn't get jealous of his dad holding him. He just didn't want to share his mom.


Cameron holding Mason sitting beside Ricky. Mason was just fascinated with the ceiling fan.

Weekend Plans

Austin's mom is going to watch Mason tonight so we can go to the birthday dinner. She is excited, she just finished her classes on Tuesday, so, she is available. She also gets to watch on him Sunday because I am making Austin help me clean out the basement. I want everything put away or thrown away. I am tired of walking around his boxes. If it has been in a box for over 2 years we evidently don't need it. I don't even remember what all is down there. I found a tote with empty boxes for things we don't even own anymore. Stuff like that can find its way to the burn barrel.

If we have time I am going to make help me finish cleaning out the closet in the bathroom. He said if I could live without that closet then he would seriously consider moving my washer and dryer. He is afraid that the bathroom will be really messy if we move them because of all the dirty clothes that will be in there. I had to remind him that that is where the dirty clothes sit now until I am ready to wash them. I don't know if he thought I was running them downstairs every night, or what. Sometimes I think he is crazy. So anyways he wants me to prove that I can live without that closet. Not a problem. Even though there will storage space beside the w&d. I can do it. I think he is afraid of losing the closet. He keeps more in it than me.