Mason is 4!!!

I can hardly believe that I'm typing this...MASON IS 4!!!  Wow, where does time go?  It seems like yesterday that he was the same size as little Brycers!  We are so blessed to have this amazing little man in our lives.  He keeps us laughing every.single.day!  Even though we struggled to have him...and didn't understand why...NOW WE KNOW!  We were waiting for this guy!

 

I'm 4!!!

Leading up to "the big day," Mason was really excited!  I'd ask him when his birthday was and he'd say "November 23rd."  I think he got a little tired of that though...cause sometimes he'd say "I already know when it is Mom!"  Maybe I was a little excited?  After he fell asleep on Birthday Eve...Zane and Grandma helped me get the balloons ready to cover his floor!  Since he sleeps in Grandma's room, the report was that he was really shocked and excited about the balloons and thought the balloon fairy brought them, and also wondered "how did the balloon fairy know my name?"  (Zane wrote "Happy Birthday Mason" on one of the balloons).

We had Mason's party on his big day at Grandma/pa Farmer's house.  It was a "tractor" themed party and Mason requested bacon to eat!  It was fun to get together to celebrate this amazing life!

SO EXCITED to open presents!

Every time I lifted the camera up, he'd pose for me!

Spiderman!

CHEESE!

What is it?

He was just so excited all night!

GRINCHY!

This is Mason saying "NO" when Zane started opening this present!

A BIG COMBINE!!!  WOW!!!  I couldn't capture the amazing reaction he had to this!

Before all of this...when we got to Grandma's on Wednesday night, there was already a pile of presents.  He saw them, then came to get me and said, "Mom, close your eyes, I have to show you something."  Then he led me to the present pile and said "Open your eyes!"  When I did, I said, "For me?"  "No Mom, for me!  It's my birthday!"  Then the next day I put the ones from us on the pile and I had him do the same thing...close his eyes and go up to see them...and he said "There's more!"  Then he turned around, made a fist, and said "YES!" 

Mason with his cake...as requested...a wagon with corn!  Here everyone's singing and he couldn't stop grinning!

Taking a BIG breath to blow out the candles!

Thanks to our family for making time in your super busy schedules to help Mason celebrate his special day!  We love all of you so much and you made his day!

Farmer Mason!

Zane was so happy Mason shared!

We put the cake box to good use...Bryce loved being pulled around in it!

Along with the birthday party...we had lots of family time for Thanksgiving as well!  Thursday we went to Grandma Beggs' house...just a small gathering for anyone who didn't have something else to do.  Friday was the birthday party.  Saturday we went to Grandma/pa Baker's, and today back to Grandma Beggs'.  Let's just say we're STUFFED but feel so blessed!  And this week...Biggest Loser starts for me...so great timing to have 4 huge dinners in a row!

What's that face, Bryce????

When we arrived home this evening, Buzz (our Elf) was here!  He was waiting in our tree!  The boys were SO EXCITED to see him!  This was the first time Bryce has been around for Buzz...so we had to introduce him!  Bryce just grinned!  And after we had baths, I heard them say to each other "should we go down and talk to Buzz?"  So I listened in while they did so...at first it was just Mason and he sat on the couch, looking at Buzz, and told him what he wants for Christmas!  It was SO CUTE and I wish I could have had it on video, but I didn't want him to know I was listening!  Then Zane joined him and they were both sharing their wishes with Buzz.  Let's just say...we had a lot more offers to help out this evening...let's hope it lasts!  Ha!

The boys talking to Buzz

This happened a couple of weeks ago...but I forgot to post...Zane loves math.  He's good at math.  And one evening he wanted to do some math problems.  Matt gave him some 2 and 3 digit addition problems.  This time there was some carrying required.  Zane was getting frustrated.  He wasn't sure how to do it, but didn't want Matt's help.  So finally Matt just told him to go to bed and they'd try another time.  So we thought that was it...and all of a sudden a paper airplane came flying into our bedroom.  Here's what it said:

I love math.  Why dan't I do math?  Mail plane for Matt

We about died laughing!  So Matt went in to talk to Zane...to tell him that he could do some math, but he needed to let Matt help him so he knew how to do them.  So they sat at the table for about 20 minutes working on math problems and it went much better.   Then he went back to bed.  A few minutes later there was another "mail plane for Matt:"

Dad you are awesome.

And then this one:

 



Dad I love you.

Seriously!  Tug at our heartstrings!  It's the little things!

Happy Thanksgiving!  And enjoy every magical moment of the holiday season!!!  When you get stressed...or worried...or feel like the Grinch...try to see it through the eyes of a child!

10 Months Old!!!

I found this gem on my phone...from when I was sick with the stomach flu...and Zane was delivering me a sandwich.  I didn't catch the shot of him with his shirt over his face...to avoid my germs...but did catch him covering his mouth!

 

Here ya go mom!

 Monday evening was Zane's Grandparent's Day celebration at school.  They must have been talking about it at school because the week before he kept asking me "When is Grandparent's Day?"  I kept telling him it was in September and it was over, but he kept asking.  He then said, "I know it's Monday.  So...is Grandma coming?"  I didn't respond quickly, then smiled and said "I don't know."  He said, "I can tell by your face she's coming."  We have realized that those are the types of things we don't tell the boys...becuase they then constantly ask us how many days, when are they coming, when will they be here...and on and on.  But he wasn't fooled this time!  We are so lucky to have such great grandparents for our boys.  They came down here Monday for the hour they were at his school.  And he even talked them into buying books at the book fair!  We enjoyed spending some time at home with them afterwards.

They had a photo booth there!!!

 

Dad, Mason, Bryce, Mom, Keeta.  Mason was the teacher, grandmas were the students.  Zane and Papa were downstairs watching a movie...I didn't get a picture of them!

Teacher Baker with his students

Bryce interrupting the lesson...

Mason is starting to do what Zane used to...crying when Grandma leaves...I had to comfort him when he kept saying "I miss Grandma!"  Poor guy!  Thanks parents for making my kids a priprity in your lives!  It means so much to them AND to us!

Zane reading one of his new books in bed!

Tuesday night Matt and Zane had Cub Scouts, so that left Mason, Bryce, and I at home.  I realized that we hadn't taken Bryce's 10 month photos, so we decided to do that!

Getting ready to take Bryce's 10 month photo!

This is about the best I got...hard to get this little one to stay still!!!

But he's such a happy fella!

Oh man, we love him so much!

Saturday the Bearcats had their first playoff game...and WON!  The boys found their NW suits and wanted to wear them, so we took a picture and sent it to Papa!!!

Go Bearcats!

How do the weekends go so quickly???  We got a lot done...but there's still so much to do!  We got a new water heater...woo hoo!  Hot water all the time!  And Merry Christmas to Matt and I...

We also got our Christmas trees up.  The boys are SO excited and anxiously awaiting Buzz's return (our Elf on a Shelf).

At church today the kids talked about what they are thankful for.  Here is what Mason came up with:

Jesus, Old Papa (don't you like Old Papa's hair), Dad, Mom

And on the back...Brent!

And the other day I found this note:

 



Santa, are you real?  (Check yes or no).



I don't know why this one is sideways...but it says "Santa I really, really, really, really, really, really want the 4 ultra headed dragon!"  Both notes written in the same evening.

And today Mason was all about sounding words out.  I have some 5 and 6 year olds that have trouble with this.  I was so proud!  He'd say a word (like pillow) and try to figure out each sound.  I helped some, but not tons!

Mason's writing.  You can see mom, vacuum, dad.  Pretty good for 3 I'd say!

bacon and coke are all I could make out of this one...

We have a busy week ahead.  Only 2 days of school...then Thanksgiving and Mason's birthday!  We're all ready for a long weekend with our families!  Since I won't write again until after the holiday, Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Take time to spend with those you are thankful for!

Building Gardens

This week seemed just as busy as normal.  I'm not really even sure what we did...not much to write about...but we seemed to stay busy and I seemed to feel exhausted!  I wasn't so good at taking photos this week. So I'm relying on some from Jo, and a few from Saturday...

 

Smile bucket Bryce

Bryce and Ethan enjoying the weather at Jo's

Lauren pushing Bryce around outside!

A couple of weeks ago we received an email from Zane's principal asking us if we'd be willing/able to help with a garden project at the school.  They were wanting to build some gardens for the kids to plant in the springtime.  Of course we were more than happy to help out!  Unfortunately it was scheduled for the same time as the boys' haircuts, so we sent Matt to start working, and we go there as quick as we could.  By the time we got there, it was almost finished!  But Zane did get to participate in some dirt-moving, so he at least took part!

Analyzing the situation...

Moving the dirt...

It was cute to see them all working together!

The principal had all the kids pose for a photo.  I got in on the end of it...and said "act silly."  Zane listened well...when I asked for silly faces...naturally!

Signing the garden.  I hope their signatures stay!  Wouldn't that be cool for him to go visit someday and see his name?

We were all there, even Mason, who we thought would totally love this project, but he was suction-cupped to Matt and I...too many people...he doesn't enjoy crowds!  So he didn't really help much...and I didn't get pictures of him...

Today we were supposed to have our family photos taken for Christmas cards...and the weather took a nasty turn, so we had to reschedule.  I was really looking forward to pictures.  Oh well.  Next weekend.

Happy Halloween!



The boys were very anxious to carve their pumpkins, so we started our week doing just that!  Well, Matt helped them, and I captured the moments on camera!

 



Getting those "guts" out!

Did you get it all, Mas?

Bryce was watching from the sidelines...

He did some taste testing...and didn't approve!

My boys!

Zane with his pumpkin

Our upside down pumpkin...with upside down Zane!

Mason made this at school.  He didn't want to pose with his pumpkin...he wanted to pose with his project!

Tuesday we had Zane's parent-teacher conference.  We were so super proud of him!  She had nothing but good things to say about Zane!  He got the math award from the class!  She said he's already passed all of the 1st grade math tests (for addition) and is on to the second grade ones!  She's been challenging him with 2 and 3 digit problems, and he's doing really well with it!  He's also reading almost at the end-of-year goal.  The only thing we need to really work on is self-control...mostly talking...um...he comes by this naturally!?!  Zane is very full of life...and wants to share his excitement...just needs to work on finding more appropriate times and ways to do so! 

Wednesday was the night the boys had been waiting for...Halloween!!!  They were SO GOOD all night!  I had told them they had to say "trick or treat" first, then "thank you" and "Happy Halloween."  Zane was real good at this, and you could tell Mason was really working on it.  He would look at me when leaving a house and say "Mom, I said all my words," or "Mom, I said all my sentences!"  We had such fun watching them get excited about walking all over the neighborhood!  And little Bryce...he just sat in his stroller and watched the night unfold.  Not a peep...or roar...from him!

Zane the ninja, Bryce the lion, Mason the Spiderman

Spiderman

Zane the ninja (the white ninja on the cartoon Ninjago is actually named Zane...hence the choice of costume this year)!

Bryce the lion...all three boys were a lion on their first Halloween!

When the two big boys were doing this...

Brycers was doing this!

Out on the town!

"What is this?"

That tongue...always out!  This is our little pumpkin...

Check out that tush!

Bryce actually turned 10 months this week also, but we didn't get to his picture yet...we had his well baby checkup on Friday, and it actually turned into a sick baby checkup!  :o(  He had a fever and every time he coughed, he would cry like it hurt/burnred.  He ended up having an ear infection and a red throat.  So he is now on a couple of meds to take care of that.  He didn't feel too well when he turned 10 months...so we're giving him time...more to come!