random

Outdoor Fun

Food, Food, Food, oh how I love my food....

Brennan is officially weaned and is loving the many varieties of yummy food offered to him through out a day. We just loved the first spaghetti dinner shots. Rice is not as messy--but SUPER annoying with all its stickiness. Bon Appetite!!

July 4th Festivities

Our July 4th day was the standard American celebration. BBQ with some fabulous friends with some yummy food. Great hosts who didn't kick us out even after Taylor peed on their bathroom floor and rug. Mason loved the pasta salad. Brennan was in heaven with the baked beans, Taylor ate a large portion of watermelon, and Carter pretty much ate the hot dog. Brennan's tummy continued to expand through the homemade Mango Sorbet which we cut him off of because he was just eating the adult size portion with no cares in the world. Because of Mikes back we did a divide and conquer evening for the fireworks and fair. We took two cars and at the end of the BBQ Mason was fighting to go with Dad. We told him countless times that Mike was going home, but he wouldn't have it. Mike does report that once they got home Mason finally got it and was a little bummed out. So Mike had Brennan and Mason while the rest of us party animals headed to the fair.

Carter and I went on a ride called the Midnight Express. Crazy fair ride made me feel like I was shaking for about 5 minutes afterwards. Carter's head looked like it was going to snap off his body, so fun was had by all...NOT! Carter was just "bursting to go on a ride mom." At one point I did hear, "Make it stop, I don't like it, make it stop!" Then as it slowed down to end he was saying how fun it was and he wanted to go again. We did not go again for a second round of torture. I think I was holding on to Carter really tight because I am actually sore today from it. After that grand time Carter took a couple turns down a slide that was super tall and then we went and bought some candy floss(cotton candy). Taylor spent that time with her favorite person and one of our friends, Robyn. Although when we got back we did find it had been a community effort because of my daughters unpredictable bladder. Thanks guys!! We enjoyed a concert by the Tops in Blue. Some was a little cheesy, but the kids really enjoyed it and it was quite an impressive set up. They are all active duty Air Force who try out and tour for one year doing concerts all over the world. They were very good and entertaining as well. The transition from concert to fireworks was poorly executed. They didn't think things out to well when it came to the big trucks that were in the way of seeing all the lower ground firework action. Then the music was having problems so they would delay the fireworks while trying to sort that out. The kids loved it and Carter ran in circles the whole time screaming that they were shooting at him. Overall, the fireworks were pretty good, although the worst year ever in comparison to the few we have been too up here. Just technical difficulties. What do you do, right? Then it was the find your car fun! This is why I need Mike at these things every year. I can never find the van afterwards, he on the other hand has a built in GPS that leads the way. I was WAY off course and was thankful for a car alarm. Rows that were rows were now just big long lines of people trying to leave. Thankfully we passed a dozen people who were also just trying to find their vehicle and so I didn't feel to stupid. We found it, we made it home safe, and I crashed about 2 minutes later.

Back Stuff

Thought I should take the time to specify what was going with Mike. He had a denervation procedure on Monday. This is the first of two things to be done. He has a herniated disc among other issues that are needing some fixing. He was put off this last deployment so he could fix things. He has been doing PT, and other treatments and time finally called for something a bit more drastic. Not the full surgery as the doctors felt that was over the top to do that. He will go back in about 5 weeks and have some tissue removed from his disc so that there is room for the herniation to go back in. It is called Neoplasty. I just thought rather than leave it at Mike had surgery I should explain things. :) He is recovering well and is on day three which means we are suppose to go for a walk..still trying to convince him of that. He is sore, but he is going to be insane with cabin fever soon, so getting out for a moment shouldn't be that hard.

Cinnamon

Back surgery for Mike yesterday, Mason was asleep this morning so we left him with Mike while I took the others to school to drop off Carter. Mason must have heard the door shut. When I got back he was crawling back into bed with Mike. I was gone 15 minutes. :) Cinnamon is a really BIG PAIN to clean up!!!!
This was the scrabble game that Mike and I played last night. Mason loves getting into the Scrabble box....yippee!!!
You know those big giant cinnamon containers from Sam's Club, that is what Mason got. It was basically full, so that is just for a visual of how much cinnamon there was. AAAHHHH!!!!

Carter Blackbeard

Carter's class had a Pirate Party and got to dress up for the day. He had a blast and was so excited about being Blackbeard!!

Brennan is 1

Brennan's birthday was a blast! That is for a one-year old party!! Brennan knew just what to do with those presents. He put out his own candle by squeezing the wick. He is fast!! Fast delivery, fast reflexes!! :) He also ate quite a bit of cake, and needed a bath afterwards, I think that is what a first birthday is all about.

I don't know what he weighs or where he is on a chart thing, nor do I really care. :)
He just learned how to really pucker up those lips for a kiss. His record is nine steps. He LOVES sword fighting, hence the sword on the cake, he will even say, "On Gaurd!" Well, it sounds more like, "o ga." We will have to try and video this action soon. He waves everytime we walk out the door toward the van. He is super ticklish. He can go up and down stairs. Although he is super lazy about going down and will whine at the top because he knows Carter or myself will come and help him. :) Something I really love about Brennan is that he is enjoying being a baby. I have never had cuddlers(is that a word) like Brennan. He loves to hug you and even pats you on the back with a hug. He wraps both arms around you and just squeezes. I melt everytime. Sooner and later he is going to figure out that as long as he stays hugging me it is that much longer that I don't go lay him in bed for a nap.

Dishwasher Phase

Mason's Last Day

Mason's last day of school was June 11th. On the 10th myself, Taylor and Brennan went to his class to celebrate. Mason was given two awards. He 'read' 700 minutes and was given a few free movie passes and kids meals at local restaurants on base. When it came to his reading, the time that Mason spent looking through books staying focused on the pictures we cut that in half and recorded that as his minutes read. We also counted minutes we read to him. So he actually spent well over that 700 minutes with a book in his hand. This was just for the last term not for the whole year. :)

Mason was also awarded a certificate and shirt for "Rocky's Runners". The school has a track that they record miles walked on. They call it Walk America time. Mason recorded 52 miles with his class. Mason also recorded 26 miles on the track with his Special Ed class. We were really proud of Mason for this. He works really hard and is full of energy!! I will never forget the first steps of Mason and the emotions that came with them. This was a huge accomplishment for Mason and I couldn't be more proud of Mighty Mouse!!

This is a friend of Mason's that really wanted a picture with Mason.

Poor Mason, this happened to be just good timing. He wasn't really frowning as much as he was just pulling a face! :) We have had an interesting experience this year with school. We have had a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions as we got use to how things work at different schools. We still think North Dakota knocks these guys out of the water!! The last 7 weeks of school really were wonderful. We finally got a great aide and Mason really likes him. We are hoping that this will mean starting 3rd grade will be a lot easier and we will have limited problems. Here is hoping!!!

Dancing Baby

May 29, 2009

Brennan took his first little step on May 29th and we have been progressing slowly since then. We now have a record of three steps! He is really content to do his crawling thing which is different for our children, but it is fun. We took these a few days ago as he was going for the empty bowl of food. Never a better motivater than food.

more random

Mason loves to cook with us and he also loves to help out Dad. So this was the best of both worlds. Yes, it is our fault that he thinks he is totally and completely self reliant in the kitchen. :) oops.

This was the 'pool' that the kids made after church a couple weeks ago. I love that they get along and can play for extended periods of time without a referee a.k.a, mom.

The vaccum was on and Brennan was in heaven. He chases me normally and hugs the vaccum if he gets in front of it. However, he was amazed and in love with the fact that the vaccum was on and he would put his hand there and it was sucked up very quickly. He would stick a few fingers in there and laugh.

Fighting with the Red Power Ranger, I am sure that I will be able to take him soon. :)

Brennan's first taste of a pickle. He really enjoyed it and wanted more. No sour face at all. He must have mom's taste buds.

These two are really good friends most of the time. I always thought it was really annoying when they were fighting all of the time. However, now they team up against me. I can't decide which I liked better. :)

randomness

Mason and Brennan enjoy playing blocks together and we were impressed that they did this for a good chunk of time.

Taylor and Mason have a bad habit. Hands in the mouth..always!!!

Brennan has been doing this for awhile we decided we should get a shot of it. I looked at him about a month ago and told him that all my children were crazy. Hands on my head like the above. Well, he copied and has been getting better and better at it.

Carter, or should I say Prince Caspian. Very serious about his duties as a prince. Don't mess around with this guy!

I love this picture! Brennan got into the backpack right after we got home. He pulled out this apple and took a bite and just gave me the cutest grin. He knew he got away with something he just didn't realize what. Then he was happy to eat the apple, and I was happy to pick up all the skin that was spit out through the house.

Aim

The aim was that little glass bowl. The result was fabulous. The bowl was full. Now we just need to learn how to stop the pouring.