Mason {An Update}

Time for another update on our sweet Mason. He's 3 years and 3 months old. Goodness, time is moving on along. It's been a full three months so let's recap a bit about what's going on with our boy.

Mason is going to speech therapy once a week for 1 hour with Miss Allie as well as another child. He loves going and asks to go each week. We have also been able to walk there the last two weeks and that's been amazing!

He's becoming a much neater eater. WOO! He still uses a bib for messy things but it's not a requirement at all meals now. And I know, he could just make a mess and I could spot clean but who really wants to do that? haha!

He loves to turn the lights off and on and he can reach all of them now. Some he can reach from the floor and others require the stool but he can get them all.

By late November, he was staying dry most of the night. We'd take him to the bathroom around 9:30 and he was good until morning. By the end of the month, he was dry all night. We still have occasional accidents but they are few and far between. He is also getting better at pulling up his pants, flushing, closing the lid and turning off the light after it all. YAY for independence.

He has his whiny days. Some days are good with no whining at all and some days, it's whine central and makes me think I might like some wine. jk but really...three is something!

He told his completely non-sensical joke on 11/22. He's hilarious!

This was his fourth Christmas and it was the most fun yet. He loved it so much in every aspect...family, gifts, lights, books etc. So fun.

He thrives on routine. He loves to know what's coming next and it will keep him from asking many questions and in return getting frustrated with the answers he is given. The routine helps him so much. At the same time, he can go with the flow pretty easily most days...exceptions? tired, too full of energy from being inside, etc.

He currently loves Paw Patrol and after his monster truck adventure with Matt, he is enjoying playing with his monster trucks, too.

He LOVES to be outside. He likes dirt play, running, and just getting into random things. haha!

Mason stil enjoys reading and we are trying to re-incorporate it back into our day-to-day. We used to read so much but in the last several months, it's just not be a priority. Don't get me wrong, we still read, but not as much as I would like on a daily basis. Mason especially loves books about trucks, other vehicles and look and find books.

Mason's nap time has mostly turned to "rest time" and it's going pretty well. While I would prefer he nap since he still needs it most days, he is having rest time in his bed and reading books for about 1.5 hours while Maddox naps and I do whatever I have to do that day. And in return, he's going to bed at 6:30 right now. He is still happy after rest time and that's what matters to me.

I think that's about it for now. Now enjoy some of my most favorite pictures ever of our sweet boy!!

The monster truck is smiling according to Mason.

Oh this one on the left...I LOVE IT!!

Mason Says & Does {15}

When I was getting Maddox dressed, Mason said "You pretty Ma-mix!" I told him boys are usually considered handsome and girls are pretty. He said "You handsome Ma-mix and you pretty momma!"

Mason had made me lose my mind one day and I was just not happy with him. We were on our way to the library and he said "Jesus, thank you, for Mommy." and then he said "I love you mommy!" I lost it and cried and cried!

During the Great Stomach Bug Event, I asked him if he tooted and he said "No ma, dat you!"

"Sorry. Sorry, Miss Leslie." said one day while playing with toys

Just a random every day conversation...

"Who is my dad, Mason?"

"Paw-Paw"

"Who is your dad?"

"Daddy Dad"

"I tend like I not see you." --his response when I asked him why he didn't answer me...

Maddox was fussing/coughing in his bed and Mason was just singing to him. Twinkle Twinkle and Abiyoyo.

Maddox burped at the table and I said, "Maddox, that wasn't very polite." and Mason burst out laughing and said, "That's polite to me!" boys...

Mason got a toy taken away for yelling at me. (twice) He asked for it back later in the day. I asked him to tell me why I took it away. "Cause I yell yat you. Why I yell yat you?" "You tell me." I said. His response? "Cause I yove you!"
nice try!! 

  

Monster Jam {January 2017}

I mentioned a while back that we had planned to take a family overnight trip during January as our "something to do together" gift for Christmas. Well, that didn't pan out and it was a blessing in disguise because the night we would have been on the trip? the same night we had two boys sick with the stomach bug. 

In lieu of that trip, Matt decided to take Mason to se Monster Jam! We are also going to the circus tonight as a family outing. We took the rest of the money and added it to our Summer Vacation Fund so we can do more fun things during that trip.

This past Saturday was the big day!  Matt and Mason left about 4:30 and headed to dinner. PDQ is delicious!! 

Not sure who was more excited??

This was after Matt told Mason where they were going. He was pumped and they Facetimed to tell me. Matt gave him a Monster Truck shirt and then told him there were monster trucks inside the arena. Mason said "I ready to go!!"

This was the shirt we got him but he decided not to wear it that night because his sweatshirt already had "Monster cars" on it. haha! (I was pumped to find this at JCP because I had a $10 coupon so it only cost me $4!) 

Ear protection--check!

They had great seats. A good view of everything, right at the front of the section and also at the end of a row so there was a bar in front and a wall to the side. WIN for randomly picked tickets! 

The show lasted from about 7:00-9:30 and Mason didn't want to leave at the end. 

He even talked his daddy into a snow cone which cost as much as last month's rent! 

  

A few more pictures from the night.

Two of my guys. (My other guy was sound asleep in his bed at home while I did chores, read, took a hot bath and enjoyed the quiet. Mom win.)

OH! And we also picked up these monster trucks beforehand and Matt said it was the perfect intermission toy. He hasn't stopped playing with them since Well, except when he got them taken away for being disobedient. 

Despite a 2.5 hour show and a long day, this was Mason's face when it was time to go. He said "I stay with them all night!"

Sign of a good night.

A few videos from the night, too. 

mesmerized. 

January {What I Learned}

I wanted to join with Bekah and start sharing what I have learned each month. I hope I can stick with it all throughout the year but we will see. For now, January.

1. Part-time care of chickens is kind of fun. 

Our friends went out of town for a week and had their neighbor to care for their chickens for part of the time but we got to do it for a few days and it was fun. My job was obviously only a part of what goes into caring for chickens but I liked the little creatures. :) Plus, we got to keep the eggs and farm fresh eggs are the best!

2. No matter how hard you try to prevent it, kids still get sick. 

We have worked hard this winter to keep our kids well. Boosting immune systems, probiotics, hand washing etc. You know what? Our kids still got sick. We have had the stomach bug and we have had colds and congestion. Sometimes, it just happens.

3. Routine is good. Heck, routine is GREAT!

We started incorporating a nighttime routine for Mason and then eventually a weekday routine and it's been awesome. We've always had a great schedule at our house but our days at home all look different. Recently, I wrote out a daily routine for Mason and it's done wonders. It's not super stringent but more of a guideline for our days and home. He's responding so well to it and it's only been about a week and a half. Just today he told me, "First read, then show and School." Yep, that's right!

Our night time routine was pretty good until Maddox was born and then it just looked different for many reasons. Now that Maddox is older, our nighttime needed a routine. That has helped all of us in that 6-7 o'clock hour. Yay for routines!

4. Time as a family can't be beat. 

We had two full weeks of Matt off within a month and it was incredible. Some of those days involved sickness but it was still so great to be together. We have also changed my working schedule so I'm working during the week and then we are home as a family Saturday and Sunday. It's been great!

5. Boys will do things that girls will never understand. 

Y'all, I just don't get it and I don't think I ever will. Mason will do things when playing that kind of blow my mind but Matt totally gets it It is amazing and also incredibly funny to me. I love that males and females are so different!

6. Dates are incredible! 

Our goals for 2017 was a date out each month. Well, we didn't make it happen in January. We tried hard. In fact, we had two dates lined up and had to cancel both times because of a sick kiddo. BOOO!! After the second cancellation, we settled for an at home date night. We got a yummy take home meal from Fresh Market and just enjoyed good conversation, yummy food, a Where's Waldo book and a show. It was a fun date and we are REALLY looking forward to our dates out this year!!