Horsley Reunion

We were lucky to be able to attend the Horsley Reunion this year since we were still in state. Here are the events from Mason's perspective.

Top right going clockwise: Mason at the top of the kids' slip and slide, M mostly naked on a push car, M enjoying outside sports time with his good natured cousins, Our first "camp out" (I can't believe he's two and this was he first time sleeping in a tent. How did that happen? And it doesn't really count as camping since we were right next to the cabin), Mason making an early morning snack raid on Nate's tent, and Mason and Oliver finally getting out of the water.


Staying in the tent with Mason was fun for me as a mom. I'd watch him look around with big wide eyes. He wanted his water bottle, books, and stuffed animals situated just right around his pillow. The first night we went to bed when there were still a bunch of people at the nearby campfire. Every time he heard a kid shout out he would put his fingers to his lips and say SHHHH! The second night we took a glow in the dark stick to the tent with us and he played with that for a long time. He'd put it over by my face to check if I was still awake or not. The third night he was so tired he fell asleep long before we got to the tent :)

More Summer Time Fun

Our summer at home has included some really fun events, but we've especially enjoyed the little everyday happenings. Mason eats a lot of popsicles and we usually head to the front porch for that sticky snack. We discovered Big Un's, which are mini kid popsicles that melt a little slower.

We spend a lot of time with my extended family, especially Cousin Ryan. Every time we get in the car Mason asks if we are going to "Kristi's house? RyRy's house?". The top right picture is Mason and Ryan at the library.

Mason has been learning to remove his clothes, which is a great skill but no so great when he strips down in stores and other public places. He loves to run around the yard, sans clothes. He does really good at stopping at the end of the drive and not exploring too far down the sidewalk north and south. Unless he spots a bird. In that case all bets are off and he takes off like a rocket, deaf to my reminders and shouting.

Snowcones, Fountains, and Motorcycles

We went with Nate and his kids to the little water fountain by Lins. The kids still thought it was great fun and I think they could have spent the entire day there. We got snow cones from the shack nearby and enjoyed the sunshine. We actually stayed there so late we ended up getting pizza and having a little picnic. I was trying to get a picture of Mason that included his face, which is really hard to do. Right when I thought I had the perfect shot, a motorcycle drove by and Mason pointed and shouted "DADA!".

don't forgets

We were headed to my sister's house. I said "Mason, we're going to Kristi's house". He responded, "Kristi's house? Ry Ry's house? Rabbit's house???". No buddy, Emily's rabbit isn't there anymore, but good job remembering.

In the middle of the night I was startled out of sleep by a VERY loud sneeze, followed by Mason screaming "TISSUE! TISSUE!". I stumbled out of bed and he met me in the hallway. We cleaned him up in the bathroom, and then he turned and headed straight back to bed. I stood there feeling overwhelmed by how independent and grown up he is. But then he only made it half way into his room before he crumpled to the floor, completely asleep.

Flinstone Car

This is one of Mason's favorite toys. It's the type of car he sits in and pushes with his feet. It's Kristi's and the sturdy thing has lasted her three kids and 16 years. Mason is one crazy driver and we have to watch him closely or else he lifts up his feet and goes flying down her driveway. He reminds me of Fred Flinstone!

Happy Father's Day

This is Jason at 3 1/2. It's easy to see where Mason gets his dashing good looks from. We're not officially celebrating Father's Day today. We're waiting until we are WITH him in a week or two. Until then, we sure miss Daddy. Every time Mason spots the moon (which he is really good at) he says "Moon! Dada's moon!" because Jason is the one that first showed it to him. When we talk to Jason via web cam, Mason just giggles and giggles. Then he tries to hug and kiss the computer screen. LOVE YOU DADA!

Mandarin Oranges

Yesterday I was feeding Mason and Elli dinner. I pulled out a can of Mandarin Oranges as a treat.

Elli calls them Man in Oranges.

Mason gets his colors confused and calls them Yellows.

I really think he can see dragons

Mason's friend Tui introduced him to the magical world of dragons. Mason even made up his own word for "dragon" in sign language. His imagination is so amazing, sometimes we spend afternoons tiptoeing around and whispering as we hunt the dragons in the house.

A few days ago Mason ran down the hall to get me. He told me there was a dragon in his room. He dragged me to his room and pointed to the corner cupboard. He was so excited and animated. I told him to go open the cupboard and let it out. He went over and opened the door. The dragon must have spooked him because he yelped and scrambled back to me. He was so scared he was almost in tears and needed to be held for a long time.

Today he asked to draw. I asked him to draw me a dragon. This is what he did. It's so different from his regular doodles. I love it.

PeT rOcKs

Here we are making our new friends, the Pet Rocks.
Step One: Select rocks from side drive way
Step Two: Wash them, dry them
Step Three: Paint!
Step Four: Doodle with markers and add Googley Eyes (not pictured)


Step Five: Wonder why your mom is painting rocks...

Game time

Tonight Mason and I played a new game called Tip Over. As the name implies you play the game by tipping over your son on the bed to which he responds by laughing his head off. This will be added to the regular games we play like There is a Bug On Your Head, POKE, two person Duck Duck Goose, and one player Ring Around The Rosies.

Opening Ceremonies

Mason and I practiced for a week doing "what fireworks do". We'd flick our hands out and say Boom! Boom! Boom! Every year, a grandkid ends up in my mom's house freaking out and I didn't want it to be Mason.

When the fireworks started it was already WAY past Mason's bedtime. He froze in my arms and didn't move a muscle, not even when cousin Natalia knocked him in the head repeatedly as she pretended each explosion was shooting her.

I tried readjusting him on my lap, but my little still as a statue baby wouldn't budge. His expression reminded me of last year when I took him to the ocean for the first time. Not really happy, but not crying. Sort of a "ok, this is really intense but I can handle it" type of look.

Cousin Hyrum trotted over and joined Mason on my lap. The Grand Finale started and we were all amazed.

Hyrum: "Whoa....Awesome"
Mason (finally): "Whoa...BOOM!"

Then it was over and the sky went dark again. Mason was very still in my arms. I leaned over and put him on the grass on a blanket. As I was chatting to friends and family nearby, he zonked out.

I wonder what he dreamed about.

What we miss...

When we leave every summer we usually have a grand adventure. What we miss out on is the camping, hiking, reunions, and normal day to day fun. I've wanted to let Mason play in the sprinklers and eat popsicles since we bought the house.

We invited some cousins over for some good ol' sprinkler fun. What I didn't take a picture of was the Teeter Totter of Doom. They set up a kiddie pool on each end so whoever fell off landed in water.

We still miss Jason but I'm glad we didn't miss this day.

Tuckered Out

We had a very busy morning running around and then playing in the sprinklers. My sister Kristi stopped by around lunch time. I sat and chatted with her for a bit instead of getting lunch out. Mason helped himself to the pantry and found a container of cereal. As we chatted he happily sat and munched on the usually forbidden treat. I watched as he ate slower and slower. Then without so much as a peep he leaned over backwards and fell asleep in the middle of the floor! He's usually the fight-sleep-to-the-bitter-end type so this was astounding.

Cute Cousins

Mason and Hyrum are only about a month apart. For a long time they've "parallel played" but lately they certainly interact. Mason will run around the yard, and Hyrum will follow. Mason screams like he's being chased, but he loves it.

I really like this picture because I have one of Jason with the same strange tongue biting expression from when he was a little boy.

Mason and Dot

My sister in law, Emily, got a cute little dwarf rabbit. Mason LOVES it. He's super nice and soft. Here they are at the Canyon Park.

Nature vs Nurture

I do not eat my oreos this way.
Jason does not eat his oreos his way.
I don't know that Mason has ever actually seen anyone eat an oreo in this manner.

But Mason does. So this is some sort of inherent behavior.
I think he does it so he can have "two" cookies instead of just one.