Mason's last few weeks as a 2 year old...

My baby is about to turn 3! I can't believe what a big boy he is. He amazes us everyday and we're so blessed to have him in our lives. I can barely think about him turning 3 with out tearing up...pause for Kleenex...

And I just realized that I haven't officially announced that Mason will be attending Preschool in the Fall! (That is, IF he's fully potty trained! STRESS!) He'll go 3 half-days a week. He'll get to learn new things and have interaction with other kids and it will also give my Dad a break. He's been a lifesaver watching Mason since he was about 2 1/2 months old!! (I think that's right)

Mason and I have been doing a lot of "crafts" lately since we've both been a little bored with our regular routine. He's made paintings, caterpillars & a spider, necklaces out of yarn & straws, and even painted these little figurines:
He painted a Lion for his Grandpa (who loves lions) and gave it to him for his birthday. (although he's painting an elephant in these pics)


Really concentrating


Baked potatoes are one of my fave foods, and Mason has picked that up. Here he is eating "his very own tato"

In the backyard in the tent/obstacle course his Grandma Clova got him

It's hard to believe that there are so many "firsts" left for Mason to experience. Some everyday things are still special when it's your first! Case in point:
Mason usually eats cereal dry but he finally wanted to try it with milk. He loved it! (And he doesn't usually wear a bib, I was just expecting a big milky mess~but he didn't spill a drop!)


We're counting down on a paper chain (another craft we made) to his birthday & Spongebob birthday party. He's so excited!

Christmas Night

Like I said in the previous post, I got out of my pj's at 4 pm (!) to get ready to go eat a big, super yummy turkey dinner at my parent's house. We had already unwrapped our gifts, so it was relaxing just stuffing our selves silly. I didn't get too many pics that night. Must have been the triptiphan. (however you spell that!)

Mason eating a Christmas cookie after dinner

My Grandma & Wayne

Angela & Cameron

Last year, Ang & I passed over the tradition of breaking the wishbone to Chloe' & Cam. We were like, why are we still doing this?

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was just great! Mason woke us up around 7:30 and we went out to find that Santa had left him a shopping cart filled with "food", a cash register, lots of cool cars, and a stocking full of goodies. He also had a lot of toys from Mommy & Daddy waiting for him under the tree.

First sight of the goods

Playing with the Fisher Price cash register-just like the one I had as a small child.

Yes!


Unwrapping

A set of Spongebob beanies (warning: mommy without makeup ahhhhh)

unloading the stocking

I got Wayne this silly 4-in-1 hood thing for when he's doing yard work outside in the cold. (he will not be seen like this in public!) We laughed so hard when he tried it on. He looks like a monk/ewok/medieval knight!

After we all unwrapped our gifts, We had coffee (well, Mason had milk) and cinnamon rolls.


Mason played with his toys all day and we relaxed and watched part of A Christmas Story (my fave xmas movie)and Wayne & I ended up watching Batman (the original one with Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson as Joker) just because it came on tv & we got sucked in. I stayed in my pajamas until 4 pm!!! Then we got ready to go to my parent's for turkey dinner. (next post!)

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas Eve is our family's big night. We used to have Christmas Eve at my parent's house and Christmas Day at my Grandma's, but since my grandma has gotten older and doesn't have the endurance needed to make a huge dinner & play hostess, my parents have taken over both occasions. Either way I love it!

My Mom makes a big lasagna dinner on Christmas Eve (because it's good & it's something totally different from the traditional turkey dinner, which we have on Christmas Day) After dinner we unwrap gifts & then usually go to the candlelight service at church (oops-we missed it this year!)

Mason wanted a lot of help opening his presents at first. He's not a rip-into-it kinda kid. He just kept saying, "What is it? What is it?"

Speaking of...what is it? Can you tell? LOL. This is a hammer that my parents got for Wayne, but my sister wrapped! It was pretty funny. It looks like a hatchet in the picture.

One of Mason's favorite gifts, a Spongebob umbrella. He's pretty smitten with it in this pic...

Getting the hang of it

My Dad, Wayne & Me with my new Razorback chip & dip server from my Grandma Betty Ruth. Love it!

Chloe' with (one of many of) her prized possesions, a DVD set of Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland

Mason's other fave gift, a Walmart shopping cart

Cameron & Chloe'

And we were sure to put out cookies & milk for Santa when we got home

Meet "Patches"

Again, pics from last Friday when me, my mom, & Mason went to see Santa. After visiting with Santa & riding the rides, we ate lunch then started shopping. It wasn't long before we found ourselves in Build-a-Bear Workshop. Mom wanted to treat Mason to his first Build-a-Bear as a Christmas gift. It was fun! Mason picked out a cute puppy dog:

Pushing the foot pedal to stuff his dog

Putting the little satin heart inside

"washing" & grooming station

Picking out clothing & accessories

Meet "Patches"

Visiting Santa & Riding Vehicles

More about our trip to see Santa last Friday~
(these pics are from the same day as the last post, thus why he's wearing the same outfit. We have a "sweater vest" tradition when going to see Santa)

At first Mason was shy. He hid behind my legs as we approached the big man but soon let down his guard & sat on his lap. Feeling a little uneasy, he managed to utter, "Blue car, Red car" which is what he's been telling us he wants Santa to bring him.

I prompted him a little and he opened up, calling him Santa every other word as if they were old friends (they kind of are.)
Pointing at the vehicle rides in the food court, "Look Santa, big cars!"

All done. He got a sucker & a book & said, "Gank you, Santa."

We went straight to the rides~
First, the Tractor

Then the Race car

Next the Tow Truck



Finally, the safari Jeep

He was so cute putting his arm around the lion cub!

And I threw in this(NON blurry) picture of last weekend at church-after Cameron's children's program.
Angela, Cameron, & Aunt Lindsay (AKA me)

Christmas Fun

This is what it looked like on my way to work on Tuesday. Snow...



Yesterday was a super fun day for Mason. I picked up my mom & we took Mason to see Santa. Then he got to make a dog at the Build-a-Bear Workshop. I'll post pics as soon as I get copies...

On another note, I FINALLY got around to sitting Mason in front of the tree to take his picture for our Christmas cards. I kept holding out thinking that we'd actually get a family shot taken, but of course that did not happen, so our card will be just sweet little Mason again this year. He's the poster child for Mommy's Good Intentions. Look for the cards to be late...

A few of the poses:




Today we made our gingerbread house! I bought this kit at the beginning of the season and was waiting til we were all home to sit down & enjoy making it. The icing was NOT FUN to work with, but it turned out pretty cute anyway. Mason loved putting the candies on the roof, almost as much as he enjoyed eating them.