Mason's New Sandbox

Wayne added a sandbox area underneath Mason's new swing set/fort. It was the perfect place for it and he has really been enjoying it this week! We got him some sand molds to make castles & such & he will play in it for over an hour if we let him! Wayne even made a cover for it because we didn't want debris getting inside or neighborhood cats using it as a big cat box. ("Uh...I don't think those were Lincoln Logs..." TS3 quote! LOL)





Also, I posted about Mason's Annual Handprint on my poor neglected blog Daily Chrysalis since that is were I posted about each previous year. That blog is just about artsy/crafty stuff usually. Anyway, you can check it out if you want...

On another note, Wayne & I have both been so incredibly busy trying to get EVERYTHING under the sun done before our baby girl gets here. My due date is in just 7 weeks and we've been stressing-but also getting a lot done each weekend. We've been so overwhelmed with all the stuff that is breaking around here! Why all at once? Why now!? I know we'll get it all done & be ready to welcome our little one though!

Now Showing...

This afternoon, we took Mason to see his very first movie in the theater! Since he's 4 now and well versed in Toy Story 1 & 2, it was a no-brainer that we wanted to take him to see Toy Story 3. He did a wonderful job sitting still & being quiet. He ate a whole box of gummy bears during the movie and only had to get up once toward the end to go to the bathroom.
The movie was really funny and also sad-I will admit that the Mommy hormones got to me at the end & I was crying (and trying to wipe away the tears fast because I felt a little silly!) Wayne enjoyed it, too...and Mason thought it was great. He liked the whole theater experience and is looking forward to returning to see more movies in the future.


With the movie poster (and wearing his new TS3 shirt):

Here's how excited he was right before we left home:

Swimming & Swinging

On Sunday, Mason got to try out the new swimming pool he got for his birthday. He had a great time splashing & jumping & even did a few cannonballs!






While Mason was swimming, Wayne finished the assembly of the playset! He worked so hard over the course of 3 days to get it together. Mason hopped right out of his pool & onto the swings & glider when he heard it was ready. It has a bumpy slide & a little picnic table/bench area. We are talking about putting a covered sand box under the fort (behind the picnic table area.) I know Mason (& eventually his baby sister) will get years of play out of the set!

Mason's 4th Birthday

Saturday was Mason's 4th Birthday! We celebrated by having family over for a Disney Cars themed party, eating pizza, cupcakes & ice cream, and watching Mason open gifts. He had a great time!

With the gifts:
The cousins: Chloe' (17), Mason & Cameron (almost 13!)
Striking a silly pose in his "Birthday Boy" hat that he's had since his First bday!
All the pizzas!
With the cake table...

He looks so big in this picture! This was his own little cake. He requested cupcakes, but I just had to get this little cake, too!
The cupcake tower (those chocolate ones are to-die for!)
Time to open presents!
One of his faves~a swimming pool from his Gigi (my grandma)
And another fave~Woody with a pull string from his Grandma Clova (Wayne's Mom)
Mommy, taking a little break! (almost 31 weeks)
And yet another fave gift...an Art Easel with ALL the accessories from his Mimi & Grandpa (my parents)
And the big gift from Mommy & Daddy...a new outdoor playset! This picture is Day 2 of assembly. Wayne finished it today (Sunday) and I will post the pics of it soon.
Wayne & his brother Billy worked SOoooo hard on trying to get this assembled in time for Mason's birthday--they even worked in the dark & in the rain! Mason is very excited about it since he had outgrown his other outdoor fort/slide.
One last exciting gift~Mason's first pet! His Uncle Billy got him a Betta fish & all the stuff to go with it. He loves it & although called it "Fishy" for a day, has decided to name her "Bluey."
Thanks to all of our family who made Mason's 4th birthday so special! He loves each gift he received & was thrilled to celebrate with you!

Life, Liberty & Happiness

We had a busy 4th of July weekend~we worked on lots of projects around the house but took some time to celebrate the holiday as well. On the 4th, we went to the Bentonville fireworks display at Orchards Park. We even got Mason to take an hour nap before we went! (a rare act!) He fell for it because we let him lay down under the baby's crib...he was out within 15 mins!

Sidenote: Wayne has the nursery painted & all the furniture moved in now, so I can work on decorating!

We let Mason do some fireworks at our house on the 3rd & 4th--just sparklers, snakes & other small, not-as-dangerous ones!

Posing for Mommy

The Nap:
Mason & Daddy waiting for it to get dark outside

Mason & Mommy (not looking my best here!)

The fireworks...I didn't get too many good shots this year :(


I love these 2 pictures of them watching the fireworks!


A little fun with sparklers when we got home~Mason was up super late that night!
Hope everyone had a great holiday! This weekend will be another busy one~it's Mason's 4th birthday!!!