Valentines Day? What's that?

I told my husband today that he didn't have to worry about getting me anything for Valentines day because I already ordered my gift. His response "But we don't get each other anything".
I neglected to tell him that I was also getting a couple new pairs of shoes from Mason. I figure what he doesn't know, won't hurt him. I love how generous my son is.
I am determined to teach my son differently than what Austin thinks.
I even got him something. A Wii remote charging station. Okay so it might actually be for me. I am tired of buying batteries.
I am hoping he doesn't look at my golf score because I am kicking his butt. As it should be.

Spoiled Rotten

Usually little kids like to open gifts. Well mine doesn't. He has thrown a tantrum every time we have opened gifts. He is content to sit there and help me a little to open his gifts. He gets that from his dad. Austin hates to open gifts too.
I couldn't believe it. He threw himself down on the ground twice while opening gifts at Robin and Jeff's. Once at my mom and dads and once at my grandmas. I can understand my mom and dads because it was way past bedtime but everywhere else he was totally rested but just being a little butt like his dad. The next 16 years should be interesting.
I've recently been telling Austin that he can throw all the tantrums he wants but they have to be AFTER Mason goes to bed.

Oh, WOW!

It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I promise to update on Monday with photos even. Here are just a couple of teasers:
1. I didn't get saved from having to stay the night (or two as the case may be) with the in-laws.
Yeah... that was... um... yeah...
2. Mason was spoiled rotten with all the gifts he received. He only threw 4 tantrums while opening presents. I was so proud...
3. We have our new-to-us car but it is currently stuck at the in-laws. Thanks to the blizzard like conditions.
4. Christmas was wonderful. How could a celebration of the birth of Christ be anything but wonderful.
5. My sister turns 30 on Monday (ha ha ha). I am sure there will be much more to this story. We are going out to celebrate tonight. I don't drink and will have a camera that by the time I pull it out the rest will be so drunk they won't remember even getting their pictures taken. My favorite kind of photos. Real candid and embarrassing.
6. Did I mention that I have been untethered from the mother-leash since Christmas night. I am hoping it becomes our family tradition. Well maybe, we'll see how I am doing about it tonight. I won't leave you hanging on this one...
Christmas night Austin, Mason and Hyde rode home with his parents and I stayed for my sisters birthday party and to do some things with my mom. I have so many feelings about this that I will go into more detail on Monday. I have to find out some opinions on this. I have to know if what I am feeling is normal or not. Over all I think this experience is good for us because now Austin gets to see what my days are like. I talked to him about 9 last night and he said he was E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D. Really made my heart soar to hear that. He said he didn't even get to shower yesterday. I know the poor baby.

So there are the teasers. My moms dial-up is more than I can stand after my blink-fast internet at home. Just checking my bank balance was a lesson in patience (excuse the spelling I don't have the stamina to wait for the spell check- Translation- I really have to pee but am dancing in my chair holding it until waiting until I post this so that my nephews don't delete it or fill it with naughty words)

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.

A Nice Weekend...

A nice weekend... oh, what I wouldn't give for one of those.

Saturday was spent doing laundry. A ton of laundry. I really need to go through Mason's closet and sort through all his clothes. Then I need to go through all the little boy clothes in the upstairs storage closet and get all the 2 and 3T stuff.

That should be fun. Some of the sizes are the wrong season. I can't have Mason running around in shorts and tanks in the middle of winter.

Sunday I got up early and made cookies for the party. Which was really good. If memory serves me it was around a $500 show. I think I am going to get most of my hostess credit in gift certificates because I saw the new catalog that doesn't start until the 16th and it is really good. Now I can't wait to cash them in.

Too bad I didn't get any females in my family for Christmas. Which reminds me I need to get to Hy-Vee and get gift certificates for the guys I did get. I know real thoughtful.

After the party we went with my mom, aunt, sister and grandma into to town to eat at LaCarretas. It was good. Mason flirted with the waitress and the ladies in the booth behind us. I forgot his sippy at home. Let me rephrase that, I thought he had a clean unused sippy in the diaper bag so I didn't double check. Turns out he didn't because the last time Austin took him to town he stopped at Casey's and got Mason some milk and used the clean sippy and then didn't tell me and just put it back in the diaper bag. Totally gross. Mason didn't mind because he got to drink out of a straw. I minded though because Austin knew better.

All in all the weekend was really good and I really shouldn't complain but I like to and today is a complaining sort of day.

Counting...

I have to count my forks. They keep breaking so I keep throwing them away and I don't know if we have enough for everybody.
Our plates and silverware came from Robin and Jeff when we got married. They got it for a wedding present so it is very old. At least in the way of cheap silverware.
I wouldn't mind having to buy new silverware. We should have replaced it long ago but we always had better things to spend our money on. Like groceries. Then you just get used to it and don't think about it anymore. Then we couldn't agree on a style. When you think about it this is the only silverware Austin has really ever known. I think I might just have to bite the bullet and buy some. He will just have to like or get used to whatever I pick out.
Sounds like a plan to me.

My weekend

Well we were ready to start painting on Sunday but we were just too tired. We worked really hard getting the last of the mudding done on Saturday and then sanding ALL day Sunday. Honestly it hurts to raise my arm to even brush my teeth. I am so proud of us.
Austin is putting up the primer today when he gets home from work and then tomorrow we are going to paint.
I now have to dust the whole house because it doesn't matter how careful you think you are when you are sanding. It gets everywhere. I do mean everywhere. I have so much to do before Thursday. Well actually Wednesday because I will be cooking all day on Wednesday so I won't be able to clean. Should be fun. Wish me luck!
On the good side Austin's mom is off work this week so I am going to coerce her into watching Mason this afternoon.
That was our weekend. It was literally spent in the bathroom. I am just so glad it is finally getting done. I am so ready to start hanging all my decorations back up and getting it really clean. I am so tired of the grungy construction bathroom. To be able to get my bathroom to smell of candles and bleach again. What a wonderful Christmas present. I know I'm weird. It's okay.
Well I'm off to get the house ready for Turkey day.

Thanksgiving...

This year for Thanksgiving we are staying home and having friends over. Well friends and Austin's parents.
I decided that I didn't want to drive for 3+ hours to see my family for an hour. Luckily our friends felt the same way so we are all meeting at my house.
I love to cook so we are going all out. The only thing I am not making is the pies because Austin's mom wants to. That is just fine with me I don't especially like to make pie. Especially pumpkin pie.
I am really surprised that his parents decided to join us. I think they are even more antisocial than Austin. They say they don't like to come over when we have friends over because they feel as though they are intruding. Mind you, I am a sweet and wonderful daughter-in-law when they are around. Sweet and wonderful dammit!! So much so that it is just wrong, sometimes I am afraid my face will break. It really doesn't go with my personality.
We get together with our friends and their parents all the time. So it isn't like it is an unusual occurrence for one or more sets of parents to be at our gatherings. I think it is just something they will have to get over.
Thursday should be fun. Busy but fun. Austin has decided that we need to have turkey and ham. I think he just doesn't want everyone eating his turkey. Which is odd considering I have made 4 turkeys this year. This will be number 5, I figured he would be tired of it by now. I spoil him shamelessly. I really should stop. I guess it probably makes up for all my other... um... "good wife" behavior.
Now I just have to hope that Mason's black eye is gone by Thursday. Poor little kid is Austin's, that is for sure. So. I will set the scene. We were all in the kitchen and I was making supper. Austin, Mason and Hyde are all playing with a ball on the floor. I go to the fridge to get out the butter, it is one of those fridges that has the freezer on the bottom, so I had the door open and Mason gets up to chase the ball and runs right in to the corner of the fridge door. He cried a little bit but then got distracted when Hyde tried to run off with 'Mine', his bear. So his eye is to the ugly brownish greenish stage.
I realize that little kids get hurt and I wouldn't be afraid to take him to my any one of my family because they know things like this happen and aren't judgemental. They wouldn't ask where I was when it happened. Then look at me like I was the devil when I said right there beside him. So just to keep everyone happy on Thanksgiving I really hope it is gone. After all I am just the 'spoiled princess' who married her wonderful son.
It's alright I am laughing too. At least Princess Hateful Raquel isn't coming this year. I am afraid I won't be as fortunate come Christmas. She better not even think she is controlling Christmas this year. She might run her husbands families holidays but she has to remember I am the only daughter-in-law on this side and I run things. I can't wait for the fight that will ensue. It should be monumental because she wants to get together on Christmas at her parents house that is 3+ hours from where we are going to be. Can you tell I am excited just thinking about it. I really can't wait to show her who is boss exactly. I think it is about time to remind her that I always get what I want by being sweet and wonderful dammit!!
I know the holidays really bring out my... um... yeah... good side... yeah that is what it is called.

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.

Halloween

Halloween is 9 days away and I still haven't decided what Mason is going to be. There are just so many choices and I just can't settle on one.

Thanksgiving

We are doing Thanksgiving at our house this year. I have told Jeff, Robin, Dan and Raquel that they are invited but I don't really think they will show up. Austin and I decided that we didn't want to drive for 3+ hours to see my family for 1 hour before everyone had to leave for other obligations. We have friends that are staying in the area also because of gas prices and new babies so they are all going to come and we are going to have a 'family we choose' Thanksgiving. I think it will be fun. Austin doesn't care either way. He did ask me who was going to be doing most of the cooking. Like it was a question. I already know that I will get the minimal amount of help from him. Hopefully it doesn't snow before then...

Just What I Needed...

A long lazy weekend...
It was wonderful! We didn't worry about doing stuff in the bathroom or dishes or laundry or mowing the yard. Truly lazy.
Saturday we went to a b-day party and ended up staying most of the day. It had been so long since any of us had been able to get together with everyone that we took advantage of the situation and stayed up late (ha 10) playing cards, laughing, and talking.
Sunday we putzed around the house I did a little cleaning, a few dishes, and a couple loads of laundry. Austin mudded a little in the bathroom and Mason played and was naughty. Around noon Austin decided he wanted to burn some of the old wood that came out of the bathroom so we loaded up the truck and took a load over to the burn barrel because of all the nails we didn't want to put it on the brush pile. It was a very hot fire that we had fun with. I know in a couple of years we will have to refrain from playing with fire when Mason gets older. While Austin and I were playing tag in the yard while watching the fire Mason was taking a nap in his swing outside.
After the wood burning Austin *gasp* folded some laundry and picked up the living room and entertained Mason while I made supper. Pork roast with carrots and celery and mashed potatoes and gravy. I think it was my best yet. For dessert we had Cherry Squares (a homemade cake with cherries in the middle drizzled with homemade icing). I really have to stop spoiling my husband this way he is going to start to expect this every week.
So that is what we have been up to. It was nice to be 'home' all weekend. I love my family but the drive gets old. As of right now I have no plans to go down home again until Halloween. I still have to decide what Mason is going to be this year. Last year he was Tigger. I haven't seen any little costumes that just jumped out at me and yelled 'Mason' this year yet. I am on the lookout though.

I know what could be cuter than this.

Father's Day

We did exactly what Austin wanted to do. Absolutely nothing. It was wonderful.

Saturday we went to his parents house for a cookout. Austin's sister, Raquel, was also suppose to be there. Well we were to eat at 6. At 6:30 his mom calls Raquel and she said she had "forgot" it was Saturday and "thought" we were all getting together on Sunday. Can I just say 'Are you fucking kidding me!!!' She knew better. I talked to her about it on Friday and she asked if we were going to be there Saturday. I hate her so much. We know why she didn't come. Austin's mom asked me why she would do that so I told her 'Raquel likes to believe she is an only child. She tries to dis invite us to everything or leave us out completely. If we don't get the invite directly from you and she is to let us know then she will lie to you and tell you we couldn't or didn't want to come.' Then I gave her several examples where she has pulled that kind of stuff and all she said was 'That explains a lot.' Well DUH!

Other than that it was good. Truth be told Austin and I were relieved she didn't show up. We didn't really want to have to hear how their "honeymoon" was. Sorry it was just a vacation!! They lived together for 2 f'n years before they got married.

I guess if we are going on their logic then the vacation Austin and I are going on next week can be considered a 'honeymoon'. Wish us luck we are sharing a room with my little sister Cameron!! I feel bad for her now. Okay maybe not that bad;)

"She got to us first"

I will start this one with a little background. Austin and I have been together for 12 years this June. We will have been married for 8 of these years on June 24. That is a long time. In this time I have been a fair, sweet, understanding, willing to please, and dare I say loving daughter-in-law. I have gone out of my way to be nice to my horribly spoiled sister-in-law. I have been more than fair in the way we split major holidays. Never once have I told his family no we can't do this or won't do that.

Well about a month ago I asked Austin's parents what was going on for mother’s day. I was told they would check with S-I-L and see if they were going to celebrate with us at their house. Well two weeks ago I asked again and got the same answer and that they would let us know. So last Wednesday I sent my M-I-L an e-mail and asked again. No answer so they called about asparagus and I asked, again, and was told "S-I-L is taking us out to dinner" I replied "would have been nice if she had invited everybody to celebrate the family holiday" To which they replied "She got to us first" I was simply livid. Got to them first my butt. Needless to say I ended the call rather quickly and informed Austin that I was done trying with his family. He was very loving and supportive because he has never cared one way or the other. He very nicely summed it up by saying "You can only make excuses for people for so long before you run out of them. I am out of excuses."

Well I am tired of being ignored, shoved out of the way, left out, taken for granted, and pissed on in general. I refuse for Mason to see his Mother being treated this way or to feel like she is being treated this way. I have taken control of my family. We will do what I see fit when I see fit. Austin has agreed to this by saying "Evidently playing favorites is not the way to raise children". I couldn't agree more. He can go see his parents when he wants by himself. If they want to see my child they can call and invite the whole family. Not just one or two of us. He has also agreed that as soon as Raquel says something snide we can leave no excuses need to be given. Have I said lately that I absolutely Love Love Love my husband. He is better than I deserve but I am not giving him up for anything.

So for Mothers Day I got to sleep in and then we went to town and had lunch with his parents. (How sad that you only want to spend long enough to eat with your son and grandson on Mothers Day. I told my husband that if I had known how my mothers day was going to end up being that I would have been stashing money away for gas to go to my grandmothers to spend the day with my family. Why because they were ALL there. Not one or two but all. That is the way I want Mason to remember holidays being. Warm and loving with everyone in attendance. Not an hour at a restaurant.

Push, Scoot, Play

Mason has mastered the John Deere Push, Scoot, Play toy. He can now stand up behind it and push it all over the house get on and off of it scoot all over on it. Climb on it to get to other stuff. What a wonderful toy. I should have just bought him a step ladder.

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.

Happy Valentines Day?

Austin and I don't celebrate Valentines Day. I don't know why, we just don't. I don't think the candy is that great and the flowers are too expensive. I buy my own flowers whenever I want. We tell each other we love each other all the time so I guess we refuse to let a holiday dictate to us when we should give gifts showing it. I know he will love me just as much tomorrow as he did yesterday and for me there is nothing better than that piece of knowledge.

Oh what a year.

We had a pretty good year, last year. Mason was born. The first 6 months not so fast. The last 6 months went really fast. Really, really fast. I think the last half went fast from lack of sleep. Those first 3 months were really rough. Between having a newborn and the gallbladder problems I don't think I ever really got any quality sleep. Amazingly after the gallbladder was gone Mason started to sleep through the night. What a blessing that was. Mason now goes to bed at 8 and gets up about 7:30. I should be getting enough sleep. Now.
We are now on an awesome schedule. Mason naps from 10:30 to 12:30, 3:00 to 5:00, and then goes to bed at 8. You won't hear me complaining about that wonderful schedule. I shouldn't be complaining. I will though.
Austin is finally over whatever was plaguing him. Thankfully.
We had a good new year. We ended up playing cards until 1:30 in the morning. Let me tell you we are way to old for that crap. I felt like crap the whole day. Like someone had run me over with an 18-wheeler. Good thing we don't drink.
I decided not to make a new years resolution this year. I did keep last years. I have not had a cig. at my house in over a year. Why ruin a perfectly good streak. Maybe next year I'll make one. Maybe. Maybe not.

Christmas Vacation

Only 4 more days and Austin goes back to work. I don't have enough projects to keep him busy. That means for a couple of those days he will be annoying me.
Today I got lucky and he is helping a friend cut down some trees. He should be bringing back a good truck load or two. That would be nice. Otherwise I will find myself out in the grove making sure that he doesn't kill himself cutting down some of our trees. I know that this spring we will have to cut some down but it will about 50 degrees not 10.
I know that you get two guy friends together with chain saws and some bad stuff can happen but Austin and Sterling don't drink. They should be relatively safe. Sterling is experienced at cutting down trees. I am too but I don't count for advise because I am a girl and therefore don't know anything useful about stuff like that. Yeah, Right. Maybe I can use my power of persuasion and get them to come to my house tomorrow to cut down some. Anyways. Today he is occupied. Tomorrow he is probably going to be my headache, no, no I meant handful. I swear. . . Anyone want to trade for the day.
I am sure we will spend half the day arguing. I love to argue. I call it my hobby. It is just that I am sure he will want to do something that I think is dangerous and will try to talk me into letting him. Like working on the corn crib. I won this argument last weekend because of the ice.
What does he think I am? Stupid. There is no way I am going to let him work on the corn crib. The thing is leaning and creaks and pops really bad when the wind blows and he wants to get in it and take out a beam. No way. His life insurance policy doesn't cover stupidity.
I don't know why he can't be the type of husband who moves a recliner and a TV to the garage to avoid his wife. Sometimes that would be great. To know that he is just in the garage watching TV instead of doing something idiotic. I have even suggested it and he said. "Why, I like to keep busy."

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.