Tractor Fun

A few weeks ago the Annual Whitehouse Tracker Pull was in town.  The kids and I happened to be killing time while Nick finished the electricity in the shed.  We called Nick's Family and our neighbors and they met us there for the parade.  You talk about 'Country!!'

 

We took the kids last year and Mason loved it. I just knew they would both have a blast this time. 

Lolly, Pop and Aunt Sarah

Calvin, Deanna and Valerie

There were a ton of antique tractors and even a few small enough that the kids could climb on them. 

 

 

 For the parade we sat in old rusty bleachers and watched as each tractor drove by and shared a detail of their past.  The very last guy in the parade honked his horn and took off on two wheels.  It caught us all by suprise.

 

 

 

 

Calvin, Valerie and Mason

 

 

This was on the way to last years show!

 

 Mason and Nick at last years show!!

First Day of School 2012

 

 

The kids started school today in their new classes.  As I mentioned earlier Madi is in Mason's old class.  I have been telling them for a while about the move but they never did quite understand.  We started the morning by meeting Will and his brothers for donuts.  Will got to meet their new teachers while we were in Arizona and told Mason all about them.  Mason told Madi on the way to school that he would take her to her new class and show her everything before he went to his new class and they were both exited.

 

 

 

Once we got to school and took Madi to her new class the tears started.  She cried that she wanted to be a baby again and go back to her old class!!  I finally handed her over to the teacher and took Mason to his new class.  I think it finally sank in that he was moving and he started to cry too.  I stayed for a few minutes showing him the toys and talking with teachers and Will came over and told me I could go, that he would be there to take care of Mason for me!!!  Mason let me go and never looked back!

 

 

 

Madi's teachers said she had a good day but never said a word.  The second she saw me she started to tell me all about her day (and hasn't stopped talking since!!) She has started going to chapel, music, outside to the big playground and eating lunch in the lunch room.  I can't wait to see how much she grows because I know she is going to learn to love school and all of the new friends!!

 

 

 

Mason I know had a great day because he too has been talking about it since he got home!  He only has 8 kids in his class and they are all boys (poor teachers!!) He got to go to chapel, do art, play outside, go to music and eat in the lunch room too.  He already loves school and his new class. I am excited to watch him grow this year as well!! 

Arizona

  Labor Day weekend we went to Arizona to visit my parents.  It was the first time we have been to visit since last August and everyone was so excited.  The kids are finally old enough to survive the traveling (2hr ride to Dallas, waiting at the airport, 2.5hr flight, 30min drive to my parents) and we had a blast.  We got in late Wednesday night and of course ate and then went swimming!

 

This was the slide my parents bought to go into the pool.  The kids had much more fun with it in the grass.  Maybe next year they will slide into the water!

 

Thursday morning  the kids were up at 6 and in the pool by 6:30.  We finally lured them out to go to the Phoenix Zoo later that morning.  The Zoo was amazing and even though we spent hours there it got too hot and too late to see all of the animals.

 

 

Uncle Jason showing the kids the turtles.

 

Madi, Grandma and Uncle Jason on the alligator.

 

Everyone on the train.

 

Uncle Jason, Madi and Nick petting the sting rays.  Mason had every intention on going until the guide said the word bite!! He cried and Madi laughed.  We hope to go back when the weather is not 105 so we can visit all of the exhibits.

 

 

This was at breakfast at the Airport Cafe.  We go eat there every time we visit and Mason still gets as excited as he did the first time we went!  They love getting to eat outside and watch the planes take off and land.  Then after we eat we get to visit the hanger and touch real airplanes!!

 

We spent most of our visit in the pool and the kids loved it!  Nick and I got to go out with my brother to the Casino Saturday night and doubled our winnings.  My parents will argue they had more fun at home with the kids!!  They swam, went for a boat ride and had tin foil sword fights!!  We love and miss my parents a lot and hate that they live so far....but we sure do love getting to visit!!

 

Love you mom and dad and thanks for everything!!

 

 

 

Little Minds...Crazy Words

With both kids talking and running nonstop these days I have heard and seen a lot of funny things.  I thought I would use this post to share a few of them.

 

Madi:

 

 She randomly talks in a deep growly voice and loves to make animal noises. 

Her favorite words this summer have been

 

Hotel (said with screaming excitement at every tall building we pass)

I Do It 

I Pooted (followed by lots of giggles)

No Biaper (meaning no more diaper)

I x-cise mommy (she wants to go play in the studio at the gym)

 

She has also found a new love for burgers.  While eating at Daniel Boones a few weeks ago she snuck her itty bitty hand under Aunt Sarah's arm and snatched her burger! She then turned her back to her and went to town eating it.  When Sarah asked if she could have it back Madi tore off a bite size piece of bread and said "here ya go!"  Two days later she stole my burger at the tire shop and ate the entire thing.  We have always know she was a good eater but this burger phase has had us all on guard!!

 

Mason:

 

He is becoming such a little man.  He is so smart and loves to ask why.  When asked why he says why he calmly tells you 'cause I just need to know.'  He has the best memory and sense of direction and always talks with his hands.  His funnies this summer have been

 

The Hokey Pokey (the hockey puck used to swim to the bottom of the pool in swim lessons)

Ready Ever Not Here I Come (while playing hide and seek)

Loopty Loop (hula hoop)

OnDonalds (McDonalds)

Paris Wheel (The Ferris Wheel)

 

He is so clear and precise in his speech and randomly uses big words we didn't even realize he knew.  He once told Nick him and Madi could alternate car seats and always take turns with each other.  He loves to tell the world God is in his heart and bones are in his body! He will share anything with anyone, a stranger asked for a donut in the waiting room a few weeks ago and Mason walked right over and shoved one in his mouth!!  He is only shy if there is a room full of strangers looking at him but usually warms up fast.

 

Both kids love to dance and will walk with lunges in public often.  They play, fight, laugh and cry together daily.  As of right now Madi is tough and daring.  She is normally quick to throw a fit and loves to snuggle first thing in the morning.  Mason is obedient and tender.  He is very reserved and hates to break the rules.  He hugs kisses and snuggles anytime.

 

I am so blessed to be their mommy and spend this time with them.  I love them more and more each day and I am amazed by their big hearts and imaginative minds.

Sweet summer time

Yes I do realize it has been a few months since my last post!!! We have had such a crazy busy and fun summer.  We have traveled, battled illness, played, swam and built! Rather then add a few hundred new post with the details I thought I would just post pics here and try to pick up with the writing this fall.

 

Madi has learned to play hide and seek and randomly gets herself stuck!!

 

 

Mason has become my helper in the kitchen.  He mastered tea and cookies all in one afternoon!

 

 

We build lots of tents and eat on the floor a lot!

 

 

We all love to nap with daddy on the weekends

 

Madi has started moving her pillow and bed at night.  We have found her on the floor, couch and under the bed!!

 

 

We visit the farm often.  This trip was right after the fire.  The farmers tractor caught on fire and we lost a lot of pasture, trees and the shed.  Thankfully the bus and jeep survived! And yes Madi often goes without pants and even clothes!

 

 

Nick has started building a new shed, the kids call it their new building and love playing, helping and building with us.  It is almost finished and we are already planning our patio party for this fall!

 

Madi with her teachers from this summer.  She had such a rough time with school this summer, she went from loving it to hating it over night.  Finally the last few weeks she loved it again and even made a few friends.

 

 

Madi with Caroline and Annabelle!!! Her first girly friends.

 

 

Mason with his teachers from the year and summer.  We both really learned to love Mrs. Rankin and Mrs. Cadell.  We are even more excited Madi will have them in the fall so we can still visit!

 

 Mason with his classmates and friends.  Tucker and Will have been in his class since he started school and we love them both.  Tucker will be going to a new school in the fall and Mason and Will are going to move on up together!  Mason also met Brennan this summer and adores him!  And Madi of course had to jump in the class picture!

 

Both kids have grown and changed so much this summer.  Madi has started taking a lot.... some of her favorites are 'got it' 'come on guys' 'I got big girl bed' and 'I tee tee potty'..... yes we have begun the potty training process!! Mason is getting so smart and independent.  He loves Madi and constantly reminds Nick and I that 'I just love you all the time'  he has full blown conversations and can be the sweetest and cutest little boy in the world when he wants to be.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 4th......Happy Anniversary.....Happy Family

We had the best holiday ever!! July 4th Nick woke me up early and started complaining about a sore throat.  He asked me to go get him some ice water at 6am......I was secretly cursing him all the way to the kitchen (who wants ice water with a sore throat???) when I opened the freezer I saw a note and immediately got excited.

 

Nick had planned and booked a family vacation in Galveston for 5 days.  He typed a two page letter reminding me how much he loved me and how we all deserved a break and told me to start packing because I had just a few hours before we hit the road.  I love love love surprises and Nick is so good about knocking me off my feet with them!  He had tried to surprise me last year with our first weekend get a way without the kids but our dog passed away.  We rescheduled and did our best to enjoy but honestly missed the kids.  I was thrilled to learn they would be joining us this year! 

 

This was our first family vacation... just the four of us!

This was our first night there and July 4th, we couldn't handle the traffic from the parade so we had a picnic on the sidewalk in front of our hotel to watch the fireworks!

 

We rented a bike the next day and rode over 6 miles! The kids could not wait to get back to the hotel and pool.  We were all sooo sweaty!!

 

Building a sandcastle on the beach.

The next day we walked the beach and they had more fun smashing castles and chasing birds!

 

Checking out the fishing boats. Mason just wanted to look and Madi walked right up to a cooler and touched the fish.  Nick and his dad have taken many fishing trips on these same boats.  He is so excited to take Mason out on them too.

 

They do occasionally love one another!

 

 

Dinner and drinks at Joe's Crab Shack.  I will not ever understand why all restaurants don't have a slide and sand....we had such a peaceful dinner!

 

 

They had a blast playing.. coming to the table to take a bite.. and running back to play!

 

Feeding the pigeons while we wait for a table at dinner.

 

Madi Mooski

 

Bubba Man

 

 

Last night family tradition 'Pizza Party'

 

 

Silly Faces!!

 

Nick's parents went to Galveston most summers while he was growing up and he loved being able to take us and make his own memories.  We all had so much fun, we had a great view of the beach, pool and the Ferris Wheel (or Paris Wheel as the kids called it).  Nick and I loved seeing the kids play and explore! We learned that the kids are happiest at the pool and decided to take turns planning a surprise summer get a way!!!

 

Can't wait until my turn next summer. The kids and I are so blessed to have Nick in our lives and I look forward to all of the memories we have yet to make!!  Happy Anniversary Babe and thanks for all of your hard work, love and support!