Vacation Photos

Day ONE. Saturday, June 21st.

Basically the drive out to Rapid City with a bunch of little stops.

Austin and Mason at Chamberlain SD rest area.
Mason and I at the Chamberlain SD rest area.
The whole way we would see fields full of round bails.
Mason when we got to the badlands had puked all over himself and the whole car smelled really bad.
Austin and Mason at the Badlands.
Mason and I at the badlands.
Austin, Mason and I at Badlands National Park.
One of my favorite photos of the whole trip. We got out to walk around and this was right in front of the car. It is one of the photos on my list to get blown up.
This photo does not do this overlook justice.
Our caravan minus one. Marianne and Jesse's truck and camper were down aways in the parking lot.

Mason and Austin are sitting in the black car.
Closing of the eyes during photos runs in this little family. My cousin Donald with his wife Sunshine and son Jamison. They also have a 6 month old named Jaxson that stayed with family. I can't blame them there.

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Day TWO. Sunday, June 22nd.

Reptile Gardens and Mt. Rushmore.

I think Austin and I agreed that the Bird Show was our favorite.

Another photo slated to be blown up. I think Austin was surprised by my photography skills though I have no clue why.

Mason during the Bird Show. He is such a little ham. Just ignore the crusty nose, please.
This was a truly ugly bird.

The bald eagle.
This was a naughty snake. We were all laughing very hard because of where the snake kept wanting to put its tail. I am pretty sure the kids didn't understand. Or the rest of the audience for that matter. (You'll notice he is looking directly at me)

Cobra.
Mason watching Hunter play with his gum.
Again he is just soaking in the naughty vibe from Hunter.
Alligator Show.
Austin and Mason during the Alligator show.

You'll notice that the snake is NOT in a cage. Therefore we didn't go to the bottom level of the dome. I did get a good photo from above and that was good enough for me.
Mason watching the snakes in the cages.
The walk up to the overlook for Mt. Rushmore.

It has all been changed since the last time I was out there.

A mountain goat on top of Mt. Rushmore. I was in the ladies room so Austin took this photo. One of these days I will have to teach him how to use my camera.
Mt. Rushmore.

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Day THREE. Old McDonald Farm and the 1880's Train.

Pig races at Old McDonald Farm.
Major in the yellow car and Hunter in the back of the green car.

Amazing how just 5 years can change the deffinition of fun. Major doesn't look too happy to be there but Hunter is thrilled.
Goats eating on a bridge.
Mason eating a cookie. We got a lot of comments about Mason. He was covered in chocolate. I was just glad I only paid a dime for his outfit at a garage sale. It did come clean though.
Austin looks just thrilled.

Austin and I were at the back of the family. We filled up to the front of the car on this side.

We all looked very good after being hailed on before boarding.

Mason and his 'sissy' sippy. I didn't know it would turn pink when warm. I thought it would turn blue like his other one.
Steam from the Train.
The storm that hailed on us.
An open car like the one we were in.

The engine taking on water after we got off.

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Day FOUR. Tuesday, June 24th. Our 8 year anniversary.

Storybook Island and swimming at Hot Springs.

What kind of 'hell' is this.

My question is did this boy choose to work here for the summer or was it some kind of cruel punishment.
Hunter being Hunter.
Hunter kissing Tigger.
Mason and Piglet.

Mason and Piglet again.

Jessica just wasn't fast enought to keep Mason from tasting him.Surprised that Jessica told him no.
Resigned to just sit there and look cute.
Hunter being Hunter again.

I am sure he will be behind bars again sometime in the future.
We had the stroller with us but Jessica wanted to carry him around.

All the boy plus Sarah and Cammie.

Sarah, Jamison, Daniel, Jake, Isaac, Major, Hunter, Mason and Cammie.

Mason was trying to push Hunter off the bone.
Dad imparting important pieces of wisdom to Mason. Hopefully Mason wasn't listening.
I don't know what they are trying to accomplish with this sign but we got a good laugh out of it.
Buffalo and babies.

More buffalo.
This would have been a better photo if it had been from the front.

(Notice the window in the bottom left corner.)

Crazy Horse. You can see the chalk outline of the horses head on the bottom right corner of the rock.
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Day FIVE. Wednesday, June 25th.

Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern and Cosmos Mystery.

Sign on the way down to Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern.

Inside the crystal cave.
Inside the crystal cave.
Largest dog tooth crystal in the world.

Inside the cave.

Austin and I in the crystal cave.

I was surprised this one turned out as well as it did after all Marianne took it.

Cosmos Mystery.

Cosmos Mystery.

Poor Austin was used as a visual aid. Yeah, must suck to be tall. (insert rolling of eyes here)

Today Mason is 1 year 1 month 1 week and 1 day!!

Pictures

I swear the photos are coming!
Mason was a pill today, hopefully tomorrow goes better.

Vacation

We have been busy the last couple of weeks. I think this is the first day that we didn't have to go anywhere. Well other than the grocery store but I think that is a given. So now to update on vacation.

We left for the Black Hills on Saturday the 21st of June at 4 in the morning and got home Thursday the 26th at 2:30 in the morning. Surprisingly Austin and I didn't argue that much. This was a blessing. We can't drive in the car for more than an hour without arguing. We mostly argue about being lost.

I cannot stand to be lost and Austin won't stop and ask for directions. Absolutely will not. Not even if his life depended on it. Crazy I know. So anyways we borrowed his dad's Garmin GPS. What a life saver. So anyways at least we didn't have being/getting lost to argue about. After all we were with my family and that is enough in itself to argue about. We did really good though.

I would have to the worst part of this vacation was when we would agree on a time and the people that pushed for that time wouldn't even get up out of bed until after that time. This really upset Austin. He is very schedule oriented. He wants to know where we are going what time we are getting there what time we are leaving where we are going to eat what time we are going to eat how many times we are going to eat and what time we are going to split in the evening.

I will start this telling with Saturday. Austin, Mason and I leave our house at about 4 in the morning. Let me tell you it is still really dark at that time. Well Garmin must get lost in the dark that early in the morning because it took us on some level B roads and had us so twisted around we didn't where north was.

We might have had a little argument at this point because we can both get to Hwy 20 in our sleep but he had the Garmin and followed Garmin and we got lost. Big surprise!!

So after the sun came over the horizon and we could see it was fairly easy going.

We actually met up with the most of the group at Sioux City at 7:30. That is when it started to go downhill. Just kidding!

I hate following people in a caravan so Austin and I chose to lead. Mind you we did not speed. Well not that much. South Dakota's speed limit is 75 and our high was 79. Now there were some butt heads in the caravan that were going 74. They say for gas mileage. Whatever with what they were driving that extra 5 mph wouldn't have made a difference. A gas guzzler is a gas guzzler. Keep up!!

Anyways I digress, it also didn't help that the rest of the caravan kept stopping. Whether it was for potty breaks or whatever it was slow going. Austin and I decided we didn't need to stop that much and kept going. It would have been easier if all the little kids would have gone at the same time instead of waiting until we had been driving for 5 minutes. Thank god Mason is still in diapers.

We met up with Mare, Jesse and the boys at about Chamberlain. Luckily it was about lunch time finally. We found a little diner there in town and had some lunch. A nice relaxing stop with some really good food.

Well the others must have gone 100 mph to get in front in of us while we were stopped because the math doesn't work out with what they say they were going. So they get in front of us and stop at Murdo at some car show. Didn't interest us but Mare and Jesse needed gas so we stopped.

This is where the slow people ate a greasy truck stop lunch and didn't feel well the rest of the trip. Can you tell I didn't feel to sorry for them. My lunch was great.

After they all have just one more cigarette we finally get back on the road and make it to Badlands National Park. By now I have lost track of the time because we have all agreed to keep up with each other so that we all stay together. I have no idea whose hair brain idea this was but anyways.

We finally make it to the Badlands National Park and Mason has thrown up all over himself and the car seat and it smells. Let me rephrase that. It is hot and sticky outside and it is hot and smelly and sticky in the car. Fun Fun!! So after we give Mason a wet wipe bath and get him changed it was time for some pictures. I hate being in pictures. I am the photographer not the model. So I apologize now for any horrible photos you might be subject to that have me in them.

I really liked the badlands. Well except for the snakes but then again should that really surprise anyone.

After the badlands we went to Wall Drug. I didn't find it that interesting. It is like one huge drug store. I can think of several things we could have done with that 2 hours so anyways now I can say I have been to Wall Drug. Woot Woot!

After Wall Drug we split up and just drove to Rapid City where the slow people had hotel rooms by the interstate. We were staying with Mare and Jesse in their camper at a campground a lot closer to everything. Unfortunately we were right behind the Old McDonald Farm and we could hear the rooster in the mornings. Anyways it was a LOT cheaper to stay with them than to stay in the hotel with everyone else. That and a lot less aggravating.

We had plans to meet at the campgrounds at 8:30 the next morning. Well at 8:30 Cammie calls to say that 'the Dons' had just gotten out of bed. I was not surprised. Austin was irate.

I thought we were doing awesome the first day only being an hour and a half off starting time. Austin thought it was the end of the world. So we went to Perkins and had breakfast and we still beat the others to our first destination.

Our first destination of the day was Reptile Gardens.

I thought this was going to be some little place with a bunch of snakes and maybe a gift shop. I was wrong. There were snakes and a gift shop but there were also birds, alligators, tortoises and a bald eagle.

We left there about 2:30 and I was fried to a crisp. I know what a way to start vacation. Scary thing is the sunscreen was in the stroller. Major DUH moment. Good thing I brought the noxzema with us. (takes the pain out).

So from the Reptile Gardens we went down to Keystone. We again ate at a little place right on the main drag. Austin was nervous about this place because it appeared that we were the only ones in this place. He was okay after I showed him the rest of the restaurant. Very good food and the ice cream was exceptional. That could be because it was really hot outside though.

From Keystone we went on to Mount Rushmore. It has changed a lot since the last time I was there. There isn't too much one can say about Mt Rushmore. It is faces carved into the side of the mountain. Awesome but that is about it. We opted not to go to the cave so we hit the gift shop and that is about all. From there we went on to the campground and then to the hotel to swim.

We got back to the campgrounds and Austin was still hungry so we went to the store and got some supper. Exciting stuff I know.

The next morning was Monday and we went to the Old McDonald Farm right by the campground. I was just so glad everyone was on time. Old McDonald Farm wasn't that exciting for us who were raised on a farm. I did enjoy the pig races though.

After Old McDonald one of 'the Dons' went off to dead wood and the rest of us went back to keystone to ride the 1880's train.

The 1880's Train was interesting to say the least. We were waiting to board and it just started to hail on us. It was a fast moving little storm so that was OK. We were drenched but happy. Mason handled the train really good and was happy to sit there and eat his goldfish crackers. After the rain it was muggy but we were in on open car so after it got done raining and we got the plastic rolled up it was beautiful. I think it was a highlight of the trip. To be able to see all that and not have to worry about driving off the road was wonderful. I thought it was the perfect ending to the day.

Tuesday we started the day by meeting at the hotel. We were on time. One of 'the Dons' had to unpack and repack their vehicle 3 times. THREE times!! Yes, 3 times, because God forbid they do anything the night before and be on time for anything. The Dons were going to go home after lunch so we were patient once more. My mother was so proud.

After they finally got their car loaded we headed to Storybook Island. It was so cute. All the little boys climbing all over all the storybook characters. I thought this little park was fun, especially because it was free ;)

After the boys were tired of climbing and running we settled in the park and had a picnic. The little boys thought this was just as much fun as climbing on the characters.

After lunch 'the Dons' left for home and the rest of us went to do what Mom had been wanting to the whole time. We went down to Hot Springs and swam. This was important to my Mom because when she was younger and they went to the Black Hills her dad took them to Hot Springs and went swimming. Honestly, who could begrudge their mother this memory.

We actually kept our grumblings to ourselves. Mind there was a lot of grumbling being an hour and a half from Rapid City. I think Austin was just glad that we stopped and ate on the way back. We stopped at Chute Roosters. It took forever but was worth the wait. It was really good.

Wednesday morning we were scheduled to head home but first we had to see Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern and Cosmos Mystery.

Everyone went with us to Sitting Bull Crystal Cavern but Marianne, Austin and me were the only ones that actually went down into the cave. There were a lot of steps and it was like a ladder so Grandma Shirley and Dad for sure didn't want to go. After the little boys found out how cold it was they didn't want to go either. Mom was more than happy to stay up top and watch Mason. Cameron opted to stay up top and smoke and Jesse was worn out from chemo so he took a nap in the truck. Mason really enjoyed sitting in the parking lot with everyone else eating a chocolate pop tart.

We really enjoyed seeing the cave. We could have done without the climb up all those steps at the end. My legs felt like jelly by the time we got to the top. Our tour guide said that his legs are like jelly after he climbs to the top and he does it 4 times per day.

Next we went to Cosmos Mystery. I thought this place was interesting. Austin says it is just an optical illusion. I don't care what it is I liked it. I have suggested he prove that it is an optical illusion by building me one in the yard. I think he has given up trying to persuade me that is just an illusion.

We finished the morning by going to Pizza Hut for lunch. I can't say too much for the customer service in and around the Black Hills. I think we had a problem about everywhere we went. Pizza Hut was actually one of the worst and one of the best believe it or not. The first gal to help us realized how big our party was and then ignored us. The second girl was such a sweetie and made sure we were happy and taken care of.
Whatever happened to service with a smile?

So we finally get on the road headed home and it felt so good. We were plus one because Isaac was going to stay with us for the weekend while his mother went tubing in Wisconsin.
Well at least the trip home smooth until Mom and Dad had a tire blow out on the interstate. So we turned around and made sure they got to somewhere OK.

There wasn't much we could do after they were in line to get the tire put on. We started on ahead and just met them in Mitchell for supper at yet another Perkins.

An hour and a half later we were on the road again. It was smooth sailing from there. We arrived home plus one and tired. I don't think the boys woke up on the way in the house. Austin had passed the driving over to me at about midnight so I almost had to carry him in the house also. I think that is a sign of a good vacation.

Pictures to follow.

WOW!!

Vacation was good but it is sooooo nice to be home. We got home at 2:30 this morning and the rest of the day was shot with going to the store and laundry. Not to mention my nephew came home with us. He won't be leaving until Sunday. Let me tell you Sunday cannot come soon enough. What was I thinking? Never again will I willingly offer to keep one of my nephew for a couple of days. Never!! I don't know what came over me. It was definitely a weak moment and she took advantage of me. I cannot wait until Mason is old enough to stay at her house over night. Pay back will be sweet!!
I will update later on the going ons and happenings of vacation. We really did have a lot of fun!!

8 YEARS

I can't believe it has been that long. It doesn't feel like it has been that long. I still remember standing at the alter. I also remember the horrible sunburns we both had and that the church was so hot. Oh, and how could I forget the cake fiasco! All the elements that made up my perfect day.

I love my husband. Everything about him. His smile, his laugh, his scent (I know wierd, he smells like the outdoors, fresh and crisp), his kiss, the fact that I can still make him speechless, the fact that he can still make me speechless. I love his dry en-gen-er sense of humor. The joy I get from laughing at him and sometimes with him is what keeps me happy. It doesn't matter how much I complain about him and his infinite wisdom, I am more in love with him today than the day we married, just as tomorrow I will love him more than I do today.

I pray the good Lord grants me many more years with my husband. To watch our family and grow old together. I could ask for nothing greater.

What noise oh wise one?

I was nice and let Austin drive my car to the airport and he comes home and says it is making a weird noise. I ask him to replicate this noise and he tells me, "I think it is the brakes." I ask again for him to explain the noise. He won't just gets mad and says it is the brakes. So $150 later I now have new front brakes. I saw the brakes they were not bad he just wanted to replace them.
He is the kind of customer that I hated when I worked in the office of the repair shop. He is the type that only wants you to repair what he says even if it is not the problem. The type that will then come in again because it is still making the noise and blame you for not fixing it to begin with. That is my husband and his infinite wisdom.
He changed the oil before he did the brakes and fixed the problem. Low power steering fluid. I surmised from this information that the noise was from him turning the wheel all the way to one direction or the other. Sometimes I would like to be able to just kick his butt.

What happened to the silence?

That's right the owl ate it and the coyotes made it deaf...
I was so proud of myself last night... I was in bed by 11. This is a real accomplishment whenever Austin is out of town. I just don't sleep well when he is gone. I'm not saying that I slept the best but I was in bed.
Usually out here in the country there are very few noises at night. Usually. That, however, was not the case last night.
No, last night there was an owl in the grove that decided that it needed to hoot all night. Well except for when it actually got something. I don't think it was a mouse though because I have never heard a mouse sound like that. Let me try to recreate what it sounded like. Hoot! SKREEEEEEETTTTCCCCHHHHH. Skreech.. Skreech.... Skreech... Skreeeeeeeeeeee....I am guessing it was some other night wanderer. I can't say as that I really care what it was, I just wanted it to shut up.
Then the coyotes started in. Which of course that set Hyde off and he decided that he needed to lay on Austin's pillow and growl out the window for over an hour. I didn't so much mind him laying on Austin's pillow it was the growling out the window that annoyed me. I figure if Austin didn't want him to sleep on his pillow then he should have told me;)~
I finally passed out about 2 or so, I'm guessing closer to 3. The last time I remember seeing on the alarm clock was 1:58. Mason, bless his little heart, even let me sleep in until the late hour of 8. Well, that is when I finally heard him anyways. When he gets older I will have to explain to him the benefits of sleeping in.

Sleep problems....

I think my sleep problems would work themselves out if the family would just get healthy and stay healthy. So a little update:
Jesse is doing good with the chemo. He did end up shaving his head before the second round and let me tell you he is not the kind of guy that looks good bald. He does say that the lump feels smaller and that he is getting the full use of his arm back with little to no pain. Very good news. We are hopeful that his next ct scan will show that the lump is smaller or even better nonexistent.

And now some not so good news:
Austin's grandma Elaine is going back to the doctor for more test. She had a reproductive tract type cancer several years ago and she is starting to feel the same symptoms. We should know more next week.

Now for the update I have been dreading. Well I guess it can't really be an update if I am as of yet to actually write anything about it so here goes:
Friday the 13th my brother Darin was in Shenandoah and got hit with a tire iron in the face a couple of times. The details are a little sketchy still. He was drunk and doesn't remember a whole lot, as you can imagine. After a fight to even get him to go to the doctor at all he went to another doctor Monday and is now set up for reconstructive surgery on Friday. I have yet to find out he exact extent of his injuries partly because Mom doesn't want to tell me but I will be seeing photos on Saturday. From what I have gathered his jaw, nose and eyebrow are broken and something about his cheek bone. I don't even know what side. I will get clearer explanations when I can corner Mom or Cameron and they can't say they have to get off the phone and hang up on me.
Darin has changed in the last several years and has done somethings that he regrets and hasn't been an angel in the least. He has also done some really good things that seem to be overlooked by a lot of people. As he was sitting in the hospital talking to my mom he said "I'm sure I deserved this for something or another at some point in time." Darin is not my true brother but he is my brother all the same. It just gives me a chill to think that he could actually believe he deserved to be beat that way. No one ever deserves that. No matter how much of a butt head they are;) We are just so thankful he isn't hurt anymore than he is. Things could have turned out a lot differently.

All by himself!!

Yes, that is how Austin got to the airport. All by himself!! I was so excited. Although somehow he woke Mason up on his way out the door. I think he might have checked on him before he left.


Mason doesn't wake up when you enter the room but right after you leave the room. Thankfully he went back to sleep right away but was still up early. It probably doesn't help that I went to bed really late. Really really late. I just have so much on my mind that I couldn't get relaxed enough to fall asleep.

We'll have to see how tonight goes. I plan on going to bed early depending on how well Mason goes down. The first night Austin is out of town is always the worst. Hyde seems to be on hyper alert all night. The second night goes real smooth because he has worn himself out by mid-afternoon. I hope that is how I will fall asleep tonight. From utter exhaustion. I have already deep cleaned my kitchen and bathroom and done 3 loads of laundry. I know 3 loads doesn't sound like a lot but I don't use the drier in the summer. So all those clothes have to be hung up and then taken down. Considering my washer will do 16 pairs of jeans in one load that is a lot of laundry. I even did Austin's. Well it was actually mostly Austin's darn him. In case anyone is wondering yes there are still snakes in my basement so I am still protesting laundry which is why there was that much. I like to one load a day so that stays done and put away. I hate laundry piling up. Now I am just rambling so I need to go find a new project.

I think...

that I have convinced Austin that it will be cheaper for him to drive himself to the airport and leave the car in the short term parking. We will see come morning I guess.

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;)

Yep

It is Friday and I have left the property one time. That is it. One time, and that was to go grocery shopping. My life is boring!


Well Tuesday Austin leaves for Ohio. Wednesday he gets home. I have agreed to take him to and pick him up from the airport. He tells me that he told me what time he has to leave and the time that he would be getting back. I say BULL SHIT!! If I had been aware of the time I would have said no. Well I can't change it now so I might want to get over it.


Tuesday we have to leave the house at 3 am. Yes that is in the morning. Then on Wednesday I have to be back at the airport to pick him up at 11:50 pm. So I will get 3 horrible nights of sleep. Wonderful. I have already informed him that he is taking Friday off to help me get ready for VACATION. Then I spelled it out that his only job on Friday is to keep Mason from CRYING.


It seems like whenever I want to do something Mason cries the whole time. I take a 10 min shower and Mason cries. I wash dishes and he cries. Take out the trash and he cries. Don't think it gets better when Austin is home. Nope because he doesn't care if he cries. I have had to get rough with Austin. I don't like hearing Mason cry. Therefore I have explained to Austin that from now on while I am getting ready to go somewhere and he is to be watching Mason that if Mason cries, even little peeps, that I get to ask a question. The beginning of crying is one question and then if he continues to cry for every 30 seconds is another question. Any question that I want and he can't get mad and has to answer it. Last time I got to ask 10 questions. My husband hates questions. Not just nosy questions but any questions. Even if I ask him what he wants for dinner. That qualifies as a question. So hopefully he is more willing to not just let Mason cry. Otherwise he will have a long drive to Mt. Rushmore. 10 minutes of crying is 20 questions and he will have all day to let them add up. I also had to explain to him that he has to be nice to everybody while we are vacation. I think he got more upset about that than anything.


Next Saturday morning about 3 we will head up to Hwy 20 and then go west to Sioux City where we will be meeting the rest of my family to caravan to Rapid City SD. I told him if he is tired of me by that point that I can always drive Mason and he can ride with someone else. He told me no that it will be me riding with someone else. (See what I did there? Reverse psychology;) gotta love me) I had to make him feel like it is his idea. Therefore I will try my hardest to annoy him all the way to Sioux City. I have to be sneaky though. If he finds out what I am doing he will be impossible and I will be stuck driving the rest of the way.

My Mason!!

One Whole Year

*Click Play*

It makes me sad that I could fit his whole first year in under 15 minutes. I can't believe how much he has changed.

Recent Photos

Some recent photos that actually aren't of baby.

Rain? Seriously?

Well it is raining here again. I am so tired of rain. I also realize how lucky we are in where we live that we have no water in our basement and there is no threat to our house. A lot of other Iowans are not so fortunate. So far this year the state of Iowa has been hit by tornadoes and even if they weren't classified as tornadoes the same storm systems have done damage in I think almost every county. Now some of the worst hit areas are also getting hit by some pretty bad flooding.
I am sitting here wondering when it will let up because I would like to be able to mow the yard. Well that and I am afraid we are going to get more snakes in the basement because our yard is water logged.
Did you know they can climb stairs. EWWW!!

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.

It's Friday

Well it is Friday, the sun is shinning, the wind is blowing and yet I feel totally unprepared for the weekend. I know just how does someone prepare for the weekend. Well by bracing themselves for the fact that her husband is going to drive her nuts.

There are some things that I know will happen this weekend that I have little control over. On Saturday Mason will wake up early. Austin will wake up late. He will then get right in the shower and refuse to help me get ready to go. I will be stuck in the car for over 5 hours. Mason will scream all the way to town and refuse to nap until we are 20 minutes away from our destination. When we get home Mason will have used the 2+ hour drive as a nap and will be up until midnight. While I am gone Austin will do something dangerous and then refuse to tell me what it was until I notice that something is different.

On Sunday Mason will again wake up early. Austin will again wake up late whereas he will then get right in the shower and refuse to help me get Mason ready to go so I will have to listen to him cry the whole time I'm in the shower. Mason will again decide not to nap until we are close to our destination. We will be late for lunch thanks to Austin procrastinating. Austin will not tell me what he wants for supper and whatever I make will not be right. Mason will go to bed early and keep crying out in his sleep until midnight.

So now that I have told you how my weekend will go I guess I could tell you what we are going to be doing: Saturday Mason and I are going to, my nephew, Major's b-day party. It is being held a little over 2 hours from here. (Hence the 5 hours in a car.) They are having it at a park this year so I will have to remember to pack the sunscreen. It should be fun and hopefully the storms that are in the forecast will hold off until after I get home. Austin is worried I won't come home until Sunday and he would be right if we didn't have plans for Sunday. Lucky for him we do though. Mason should have fun with all of his cousins. I will have to keep an ear out for what they are trying to teach him to say. My youngest nephew, Hunter, was trying to teach him to say shit. Hunter is 3 but he should know better. I haven't figured out yet who put the little kid up to it but I am sure he didn't think of it all on his own. I personally can't wait to get there. A whole day with my family without Austin watching over my shoulder making sure I'm not misbehaving (smoking). I know I will have a couple but I look at it this way some people get together with friends or family and have a couple of beers. Well I don't drink, I guess you could call me a social smoker. So those are the plans for Saturday. Mason and I are going to a birthday party where I will get totally 'smoked'. Yep, totally smoked. At least I won't wake up with a hang over.

Sunday all three of us are going to Du & De's house. They had a baby on the 22 of May and I am yet to see anyone but Mr. Du hold her that would be including Mrs. De. I think it is strange. When Mason was born I wouldn't even get in the door before someone was trying to get him out of the car seat. They came to the b-day party and little K stayed in her car seat the whole time. So now back to our plans. Du & De wanted to have everybody over to their house for lunch and then we can spend the rest of the day in the pool or playing cards depending on the weather. We will probably end up playing cards because there are way too many kids to have in the pool. It would be fine if the parents were going to be focused on the kids but we will be socializing and accidents happen. All 7 kids are 3 or younger. S & J are coming with their 3 kids. H is 4, Di is 2 and Da is going to be one in July. (he is 5 weeks younger than Mason) Je and Jo are also coming with their 2 little kids. R is going to be 3 here in a couple of weeks and V turned one in March. They are also expecting another little one the first part of November. Eight adults and 7 kids makes for a loud full house. That will take up most of Sunday. We should be home in time to put Mason to bed.

I am already looking forward to Monday so that I don't have to do anything and can recuperate. Just to get Austin out the door quicker I might even get up and make his lunch. Maybe, I haven't decided yet if I want to be that nice. We will have to see if he is good this weekend.

Birthday Party Pictures

Birthday cake Grandma Robin made

Same cake we had at the baby shower for Mason.

Clean.

Clean.

Clean.

Getting dirty.

Dirtier.


Getting dirtier.

Almost.

Finally, really, dirty!

Mason Birthday

We have been so busy. I really hope this is not how the whole summer is going to go. It has been awhile since I have wrote anything of sustenance so that is my goal for today. Some things have happened over the last week or so that I can laugh about NOW. I think we will start with last Friday.
Last Thursday we got rain. I don't mean a little rain. I mean we got r-a-i-n. It was a torrential downpour. We got about 4 inches here at the house. Ames got around 7. Friday morning while watching the news I hear that parts of Ames are flooding. I wasn't concerned about this for awhile because I don't drive into Ames very often. Then I remembered that we had Mason's cake and sandwiches ordered at the new Super Walmart to be picked up in the morning before his party on Saturday. I might have started to panic at that point. The Super Walmart is located on the same road they had just shut down for the flooding. Then they show the parking lot on TV. Almost the whole parking lot is under water. So I make an executive decision and call another Super Walmart close by and switch my order to that store. It might be a little farther to drive but at least I knew we would be able to get our sandwiches and cake for the 25 or so people that would be invading my house on Saturday.
I then spend the next 2 hours on the phone getting everything canceled and set up. Let me rephrase that, I spent 2 hours on hold with the Walmart in Ames trying to cancel. While on hold with the bakery, the bakery calls my home phone. Let me just say 'Are you f'n kidding me? They leave me on hold to call other people.' So they were calling me as a courteous call (HAHA) to say that the City of Ames had closed the store due to rising waters and that they won't be able to get my cake done. So I asked her if they had a line on hold she said 'yes' so I told her to pick it up. Yep it was me on my cell! So I had her pick me back up from my home line being on hold and transfer me over to the deli. That was a quick call I wasn't even on the phone 5 minutes. So why didn't they just answer my call earlier instead of leaving me on hold. I might still be a little upset about that...
Saturday finally rolls around and the Walmart deli in Ames calls to see if I want the sandwiches on white or wheat. I was to say the very least annoyed. I told them as nicely as I could that I had called yesterday to cancel the order. Believe it, or not, she got upset with me. I kindly explained to her that I did my part and that it wasn't my fault if one of her co-workers dropped the ball and then I hung up.
I had planned to go and get the cake and sandwiches by myself. You know to give myself a chance to relax, calm down, maybe hear my own thoughts (translation- sneak a cig) because I knew the day was going to be busy and stressful. Well I didn't get to go by myself. Nope! Austin was having none of that. So Mason and I set out to town and what do you know the car needed gas and my sweet child has learned that if he screeches just right it annoys mommy and keeps himself awake. So after making a quick and painful stop at the gas station I turned up the radio real loud and made the rest of the trip in relative silence. I don't know how long after leaving the gas station Mason fell asleep but he did. So after getting to Walmart I opened the doors to the car and enjoyed myself a cig. It was over 3 months old and dried out real bad so it went real quick but I didn't care.
I left the house at 9:30 and Austin called at 12 to see where I was at. He got lucky I was only about 5 minutes from the house. Walmart was packed. It took forever. Mason got lucky and the bakery ladies gave him a cookie covered in pink frosting. Everything got covered in pink frosting. Including me! Mason was much better on the way home. I think he was asleep before we even got out of town. While I was gone Austin did vacuum and get some things ready. Lucky for him because otherwise I would have been very upset. Bonus for me he didn't smell any smoke on me. That or he knew better than to say anything.
Everyone showed up about 1 or so. Lucky for us it was sunny out so no one was in the house too much. While at Walmart I bought bubble wands for the kids to play with so that kept them fairly occupied and out of our hair. We did the food, cake, ice cream, presents and talked. I would like to think that everyone had a good time but when you have little kids together it is not a party until they all cry at least once. So in that regard it was a blast. yippee.
Mason basically just took all the frosting off of his little cake and rubbed it all over his little face. He tore the cake in half but I don't think he actually ate it. He did end up with frosting in his nose that stayed there for 3 days because he wouldn't let me pick it out. I figured it wouldn't kill him so I didn't fight him about it.
Towards the end of the party a snake joined us. Yes a snake. A BIG snake. My b-i-l Jesse ran to the garage and grabbed some hedge clippers and snipped the snake but what do you know that just made it mad. So I went and got a spade. The snake was M-A-D and kept striking at the spade so finally I got it put on it just below the head and proceeded to cut the head off. Now it is a dead snake. I was rather proud of myself. I didn't just stand there and scream and act the wimp. Austin was rather surprised. I know that he would have just put it in a bucket and taken it to the creek and I would have had to worry about it every time I stepped outside. This way I don't. I can walk outside without having a panic attack.
So after that things calmed down. Almost everyone left about 5 or so. Mom, Dad, Mare, Jesse, Major, and Hunter left about 7:30. It was a long day. Good but long.

I'm Still Alive!!

Mason's birthday has come and gone and believe it or not I am still alive. I had been looking forward to and dreading that day for so long. My little baby is one. Thankfully we can believe he is younger than that because it is aceptable to refer to age in months until he is 23 months. It sounds so much younger than saying he is 1 and a half or so, etc.

We have been busy!

Mason birthday party is on Saturday. That means around 30 people will be invading my house and we need to get it clean. I mean it is clean but it has to be C-L-E-A-N! Not everyone has been to my house so there will be people looking in closet and kitchen cabinets I mean everywhere. So not only do I have to make sure the whole house is clean and organized but we have to make sure that the outside is safe for my nephews. So Austin and I have busy.
Monday we ordered the cakes and sandwiches and baught the cups plates and plastic silverwear. Tomorrow I have to go and buy drinks, ice and bubbles to keep the said nephews occupied. I just hope that the weather holds out for us. We are planning on this being outside and I really don't want all 30 or so people in my house at the same time.
So now on to thw next thing on my list: shampooing carpets...

Oh My!

This year has gone by so fast. Where do I start? Well, Mason is turning one on the first of June. Can I just say I am not ready. I don't want him to grow up. I want my baby back. The sweet little thing that took two naps a day and didn't talk back or roll over right after I get the diaper off. Mason is growing so fast and learning new stuff everyday. Thankfully he isn't walking yet but I am sure he will be in no time. He has become a little mimic. He really tries to copy whatever you are doing. Sometimes this isn't helpful. Like when throwing something away. I am throwing away not digging in the trash like he interprets.
Mason vocab has just exploded recently. His favorite word is still NO, but he has added new words. Hy do (Hyde dog), ball, don't, ouch (touch), momma, dad, kiss, more, ood (food), cookie, cracker, down, shhh, ash (trash), bath, and mine. I know there are some wierd ones like touch and trash, well that is because when he is sticky I tell him 'don't touch' and trash is because I am always telling him and Hyde to stay out of it. I never thought I would have to tell him to stay out the trash but things don't always turn out the way you want.
Mason loves hot wheels cars. He carries them around pushes them around with one finger and makes the car noise. I think little boys are born knowing how to do that. I sure didn't teach him and I highly doubt Austin did. He also loves to torture the dog. He will follow him around all day. Given that Mason gets bored of this game Hyde will go lay down in a spot of sunshine and Mason will find him. It is almost like Mason tries to sneak up on him. He will approach him real quite and then just lunge at him and land on him. Hyde for the record doesn't think this is fun.
During the day Mason and I play and sometimes weather permitting that takes us outside. Mason loves to swing and has started to throw a fit if I try to take him out of it. So after getting out of the swing I put him in the stroller and we go check the mail. You will notice I didn't say get the mail. Nope we just check it but that is a whole other post. So then we walk to the stop sign and back and then we go inside for nap. Nap is a very important part of this equation. He has to be tired enough that I can bring him inside and lay him down for a nap. At least with a minimal amount of fussing. Some days this works and some days I have to rock him in the recliner and we both end up falling asleep.
I know the next 3 years will fly by and he will be in preschool and next thing I know he will be graduating high school. I am just not ready to give up my baby yet.

Huh?

Why do Fridays always sneak up on me? Let alone a Friday leading up to a 3 day weekend. Austin and I did nothing on Saturday. I mean nothing. It was really nice. Sunday we cleaned the basement. Yes, I actually went down in the basement. I have been working on that while he is at work. I can actually do laundry again without having a panic attack. Lucky me!! Monday we went and ordered Mason's birthday cakes and food for his party. Should be fun. 30 people invading my property for the weekend. Shoot me now!! After that we went to our friends' house and saw their new baby. I don't remember Mason ever being that small. After that we went to other friends' house and had a BBQ. We always have fun with everyone. We had a nice slow weekend. I know I am leaving details out but I have to go rescue Hyde. Mason has been following him around all day and now he is starting to whimper. At least I hope that is the dog and not Mason. Anyways...

Joy Rush

Well Barb over at so the thing is... tagged everyone to do a Joy Rush list. I thought long and hard about this list. To narrow it down to things that give me a joy rush. What kind of joy rush are we talking about. A rush so sweet that you never want to leave the moment or the ones that you know will go to fast so you lock them in your memory to bring out at will. I couldn't decide so I have included some of both.


Note: only #1 is in any order. I figured I might as well start with the sweetest.


1. Seeing my husband's face as the doctor tells him we just had a little boy. - We, being my husband, decided that we didn't want to find out the sex by ultrasound. We decided it would be fun to find out at the birth. Well the big day came 2.5 weeks early by my water breaking at home. So after a hurried drive home, finding me washing dishes, packing his bag, dropping Hyde (the dog) off at his parents, getting yelled at and abused for 6 hours before they decided to give me my epidural. There is no sweeter joy rush than seeing his face as the doctor tells him he has a little boy. Watching it sink in with all the wonder and awe. I get teary just thinking about it.

2. The sound of my husband and son playing in the living room while I am making supper. - They roll around and crawl all over each other and the dog. Basically just get rambunctious.

3. Laundry out on the line.- Nothing says summer like clothes out on the line.

4. Perfect sunny days where the breeze is barely blowing and the bees are out buzzing. You take a book out with you and doze between pages and don't care. Time just seems to stand still.

5. The telephone ringing.- My sister call 2 times a day and after being with a no talking toddler I will take anything.

6. Snow days.- When we are lucky enough to get snow without the wind and the flakes get huge and fall really slowly. Where you can go outside and stand there with your mouth open and try to feel the flakes hitting your tongue.

7. A good cup of coffee- The smell; the taste; all the creamer to candy-fy it. I use the spoon for more than just stirring. Need I say more.

8. My husband.- Everything about him. His smile, his laugh, his scent, his kiss, the fact that I can still make him speechless. I love his dry en-gen-er sense of humor. The Joy I get from laughing at him and sometimes with him is what keeps me happy. It doesn't matter how much I complain about him and his infinite wisdom, I am more in love with him today than the day we married, just as tomorrow I will love him more than I did today.

9. Mowing the yard.- I know crazy. Right? We have a huge, huge yard and it takes 2 whole hours on the riding lawnmower going full speed. That is 2 whole hours by myself. Bonus: the lawnmower is loud enough to drown out my own thinking.

10. Good friends.- I have found a new appreciation for friends. In high school I didn't make friends easily, I kinda went back and forth between groups and have no friends that live close by from those years. Since then I have made several really close friends that I couldn't live without and we have survived moves, marriages and kids together. When I say that I am going to go shopping or out to lunch with one you can bet I have butterflies just thinking about it. The joy I get out of from these friendships is priceless.

11. My dog Hyde.- My first baby. I call him the hairless wonder. As in it is a wonder he has made it through so many Iowa winters without freezing to death. He loves to cuddle. He will worm his way under my sweatshirts and sleep all day if I would let him. Some lazy days I do at least until he sets off a gas bomb.

12. Driving anywhere by myself- Well almost anywhere. I don't like to go to the store by myself. Come to think of it that is the only place I get to go by myself. I like to drive there by myself but don't like to be there by myself.

13. Laughter.- I love to laugh and to make people laugh. Good thing I don't embarrass easily.

14. Waking up in time to see the sunrise.- Stepping out of the house into the mist and watching the sun rise and hearing the birds chirping.

15. My family.- Knowing that no matter what they will always be mine and there is nothing they can do about it.

I didn't think this was going to be as hard as it was. There are a lot of things I get pleasure out of but only a handful of things I get true JOY. I challenge everyone to make a Joy Rush list. To see it in black and white how truly blessed I really am is humbling to say the least.

Manners

My child is coughing while eating breakfast. So me being a good mother look over at him to make sure he doesn't choke. What do I see, he has his hand up to his mouth holding his food in his mouth while he is coughing. He got really mad when I put his hand on the tray and let all his food fall out. Someday we will have to work on manners.

Friday? When did that happen!!

It is Friday and the weekend is here. This week it is more of a relief. I know that Austin will be home for 2 whole days and that I can sleep in. I am just so tired. I haven't been sleeping well. I think it is the weather. I just suddenly wake up and feel lost at like 2 in the morning and then it takes forever to get back to sleep. I can handle this happening once in awhile but this has been every night. I need a nap.
I am excited! When Austin gets home I get 2 whole hours by myself. I don't care if those have to be spent mowing the yard. At least the mower is loud enough to drown out my own thinking. Literally I zone out and ignore everything. I do keep my eye out for snakes though, just so that I can run over them. I do watch what way the wind is blowing before running over one now. I might have been spacing and ran over one a couple of years ago and ended up with dead snake all over me. Austin was in Germany and I was covered with dead snake running around the yard screaming like a mad woman. I don't have to wonder why they call the crazy lady. Dammit I earned that title. A couple of other things might have happened also to attribute to that title but those will have to wait for another time because Mason and I are going to go outside and play. Well right after we slather on the SPF Dork.
Hopefully the rest of my weekend goes as well as today

Snakes!!!

Sunday we were cleaning out the basement and I found a snake. Did you hear me? A SNAKE!!!! In my basement. A snake! I can handle about anything but that.
I am deathly afraid of snakes. I saw it and started screaming. Poor Austin didn't know what was wrong. Good thing he was helping to clean. Otherwise I would have been down there screaming scared stiff until he got home. He did his duty and got the thing out of my house.
Monday I was gonna do laundry and had such a bad panic attack I ended up bowing to the porcelain thrown. Just the thought that there could be more down there is enough to do it for me. I cannot bring myself to go to the basement. Hopefully there are no tornadoes this summer. I will surely die because there is no way I can go down there.

"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.

Do you hear me? The last time!!

I have been hurt for the last time. I refuse to let his family treat me this way. I have been far too sweet for far too long. I wouldn't let a stranger make me feel this way why should I let his family. Forget waves I'm going to make a big splash.

I do know my little guy!

I wasn't far off on how our day would go. I do know my kid. When we got home he so graciously 'helped' me put away groceries until Austin got home and informed me we were going into town again. Fun stuff ya know! At least he put baby to bed without me asking;)

Busy day

We have a full busy day planned. First we are going to play in the plants and make a mess. Then we are going to clean it up. Next we are going to get dressed to go to lunch with friends. Then we are going to scream, cry and refuse to take a nap in the car all the way to town. Next we are going to K-Mart to get some summer shorts and sandals for Mason where he will flirt with every lady in sight and act the total angel at least until we get back in the car where he will start screaming again. Then we have to go to the store where Mason will flirt and charm all the old ladies. And then finally on the way home he will take a 20 minute power nap. Where upon he will wake refreshed and ready to destroy my house again. Sounds fun to me.

Sunshine

Today and yesterday have been just wonderful outside. Mason and I have spent as much time as possible outside. Yesterday we walked a mile to the stopsign and back and played in the yard. Well that is until we saw a huge (HUGE) snake. I am so scared of snakes. Ridiculously scared. So Mason and I spent the rest of yesterday afternoon inside. When Austin got home he wanted to take a walk so Mason and I walked another mile to the stopsign and back. In case your adding that up that is 4 whole miles.
Today Mason didn't wake up until 9. It was wonderful!! We spent a large portion of today outside also and now it is time for a bath to get all the slimy baby sunscreen off of him. I hate how it feels on our skin. It is to rain tonight and tomorrow so we will be stuck inside again. Hopefully by Thursday it will be nice enough to get back out.

Oh My!! Where did my year go.

My to-do list now only has 6 items on it. We only have until the 29th to get it all done. I don't know if we will get to everything. Some of them are big things. It is okay though. It is just stuff that I would like to have completed before Mason's b-day party. Tomorrow I will take care of one of the things. Organize my kitchen. It should take a good portion of the day. I will be taking everything out of the cabinets and putting down new contact paper and then nothing will be getting put back where it is now. I absolutely hate how it is set up now. I told Austin that if he is good I might take pity on him and label the handles. If he is really good I will label them correctly.
I can't believe Mason is almost a year old. What happened to my sweet little baby. It sure was easier when he was tinier and slept all the time. Before I know it he will be going to kindergarten, high school, college, getting married, and then bringing his own kids to be babysat. Time is going too fast.

What is important to me?

Well Tricia this is for you. I don't remember a bigger challenge, it is not all flowery and flowing but then again neither am I. ;)
From the title of this post you wouldn't think that this would be a hard post to write but it is. It is hard to decide what is important to you and then decide what you want for your child. I have expectations of myself and my little family. Sometimes they coincide sometimes they don't. Usually both spouses are united on what they want and expect out of their children. Austin and I are not united on this. Yes on what we want the end result to be but not on how to get there.
This can be traced back to how we were both raised. We were raised totally different. That shows especially now that we are raising a child. I want Mason to be a well-rounded individual. One with strong morals and convictions. So here is my list of things that are important to me for Mason.
Faith- This is very important. Everyday I pray that Mason will know the Lord as I know the Lord. That someday if ever asked 'Do you believe?' that he will be able to say without doubt 'Yes, I do!'. This is probably where Austin and I differ the most. He would like to pick a church based on how long he has to 'sit there and try to stay awake'. I want one based on how much I get out of the sermon. I don't want one that reads right from the itinerary. That leaves me cold. I grew up in a wonderful church with a wonderful church family. I want that for my child. Which takes me to the next thing.
Family- I never want my child to feel unwelcome within the family. Reading that makes it feel even weirder. I have never felt unwelcome within my own family but I know Austin has in his so it is very important to us that Mason knows he never has to have an excuse. As it stands right now we don't go over to Austin's parents house without the proper invitation. There is no popping over or anything of that nature. My family, for lack of a better word, is intrusive. You never feel unloved. We have gone over this again and again my absolute best friends are my sisters. We talk everyday, more than once, usually. My brothers and I send dirty jokes back and forth via text messaging but it is still technically communicating. Never for one second have I doubted that they would give their live to save mine and they know it is true of me also. I have convinced Austin that he need to show more affection towards his son. It, believe it or not, took a lot of talking to do that. Austin's family does not hug. It is something that my family does whenever anyone says goodbye. I have so many memories of hugs that I couldn't pick a favorite of any of them. He thinks that man hugs are awkward. Well DUH, they are if they only happen at your wedding, funerals and the birth of your kids. The importance of family is so very important to me that he has jumped on board, so to say. We have agreed that if we, or our child, ever feel unwelcome somewhere that we will just leave. No excuses.
Compassion- I am not raising a bully. Period.
Gratefulness- Not to be confused with a sense of entitlement. We are not a bank and money does not grow on trees. I never want Mason to feel that he deserves something just because he is our child, or because of who he is or thinks he is. I worked for everything I had in high school and missed out on a lot so I don't think we will push it to that level but he is going to work. Nothing is free. On this Austin and I are on the same page. The over abundance his grandparents can give him is not because he deserves it or that he is entitled to it. It is because they love him and want to. Therefore he will be grateful for it or he will not get it.
Self-confidence- He will have to follow Austin on this one. I have self confidence but it is not as evident as in Austin. I know that what I do I do well and would not be afraid to put my photos or public speaking up against anyone but that is not readily seen. It isn't something I developed until after high school. I'm sure if I had the self-confidence that I have now when I was in high school it would have been a lot more fun.
Education- Formal and informal. Yes, I want him to go to college and get his degree, blah, blah, blah. I also want him to have an informal education. I want him to understand how the world actually works. Truth be told I am still trying to teach Austin this. He lives in black and white. I know that black and white exist but I can usually be found in the gray. I like the gray;)
I am sure Austin's list would be totally different but that is because he thinks what he had growing up should be good enough for our kid. I don't agree. I think all kids deserve better than the cold upbringing he received. 'A home is nothing without hugs and love, a heart is empty without a home.' I want my son to grow up in a warm, loving, forgiving environment.

To-Do

Another weekend is upon us. We have a to-do list that has about 7 items on it. Hopefully we will be able to mark one maybe two off this weekend. That would be wonderful but we will have to see how things go.