MelMo

Some family members have handed down some kid DVDs to Mason. It's neat to see that Mason has his own preferences and can ask for what he'd rather watch. The winner is clearly Elmo, or as Mason says, "MelMo". We only have one DVD of Elmo's World and as parents we get tired of it. Last week Aunt Kristi gave us a full length movie called Elmo in Grouchland. Every time Elmo is NOT on screen, Mason becomes concerned and sadly asks, "Where's MelMo?" over and over.

So we're watching it and a mean guy takes Elmo's blanket and won't give it back. Mason burst into tears! He was so upset. I didn't realize his comprehension or sensitivity was that developed.

I think we might get Mace a Elmo doll or Elmo sheets to make the transition from crib to bed more alluring. We won't have a crib in Alabama so we're making that transition earlier than any of us are ready for.

potty talk

Thought I'd share some stories from the bathroom...

TUB: Mason loves the tub. We'll be in the middle of breakfast and he'll ask for a bath. It's the ultimate reward. Getting him out is hard, so I drain all the water and then he gets out better. I think it's cute that he reaches out and tests the water before he gets in. We've been battling getting him to lie down and rinse his hair for a while. Suddenly last week he doesn't mind it at all.

SINK:Mason is really good about brushing his teeth. He has two toothbrushes so he and I take turns brushing. After all the sweets at Easter, I brushed his teeth for almost ten minutes. Now he let's me brush a lot longer and better than before. He tries so hard to rinse and spit but usually just gets soaked in the process.

SHOWER: This morning I was showering and I could hear my phone ringing (I never answer my phone, just ask my brother Nate). It sounded like it was getting closer and closer. I realized that Mason was bringing my phone to me (helpful little guy). I heard the door open and almost too late I peeked out to see Mason winding up to chuck the phone into the shower. "No! Mason No!" I hollered. He really wanted to give it to me so I said, "Mason, it's for you! It's Grandma!". PHEW~ He walked away talking to the ringing phone. Later, I checked my missed calls and it really was my mom!

TOILET: Mason has a little step-stool and a little kid potty lid that he uses from time to time. He seems interested in the bathroom, but we aren't in any hurry to potty train. The other day we spent an evening sans diaper to see how much control he has. He did really well and is very aware of his body, but I don't think he's developmentally ready yet. But dang that boy is funny. I took him into the bathroom at the first and he went in the toilet. We cheered, said "All Done" and washed up. Later on, when I could tell he was about to go again, we went back in and sat down. He didn't go, but tried to fake me out by making a noise with his mouth and then saying "All Done". He did that a few more times that evening. I'm pretty sure I reinforced the "faking" because it cracked me up every time.

Smarty Pants

Mason has been knocking my socks off with his brilliance.
He catches me off guard with how smart he is.
It startles me and I fall into a desperate state of guilt over my neglectful parenting.
I picked up these balloon shaped colors at a craft sale. Immediately he began matching them up.
WHO TAUGHT HIM THAT?

Jason teases me that Mason will never learn his colors because everything in our house is a shade of brown. I think he'll be okay :)

When playing with the shapes he'll purposefully put the wrong colors together, smile, say "Noooooo" and fix it.

Happy Easter

We celebrated commercial Easter on Saturday. You can too! Just send a message through Cupid to the North Pole and Santa will pass it along to the Easter Bunny that you want your baskets delivered on Saturday. Cool huh?


So on Saturday all the local family members got together at Kristi's house for food, fun, and an Easter Egg hunt.


Kris is a terrific aunt.


Mason and Daddy searching for eggs.



"Too much sugar and no sleep make Mason something something..."
-Adaptation of Simpson's quote



Ooh Ooh Aah Aah! Mason was excited about his monkey egg.
Now I get to spend the next few years convincing him that monkeys don't lay eggs.

For real Easter we spent a quiet morning at home learning about Christ and spending time together as a little family. Dave and Kaprena invited everyone to their house for Thanksgiving Dinner that night. That's right, Thanksgiving. Kaprena says she doesn't get enough of those delicious foods once a year so she makes a big Thanksgiving dinner a few times a year.

Mace Face

Here are the faces of Mace's.
Whether he's being sweet with his stufties,
roaring (constantly roaring),
hiding from the camera,
getting into mischief outside,
all spiffed up for church,
or opening a cereal box in the store and stuffing his mouth...

I just can't get enough of this face.

Easter Animals

Thank you Cal-Ranch for being our farm substitute.

We took Mason to see the chicks, ducks, and bunnies.

He begged and begged to PLEASE get one. Oh wait, that was me.
Except for the bunnies. They creep me out.

Starr Gazing

Yet another important life skill taught by Dad.

After a day of hiking, you still had energy to notice the moon.
Dad took you to the back yard and the two of you enjoyed a special moment together looking at the stars and spotting airplanes.

Thanks for reminding us to notice the little things that make life magical.

Lucky Boy

On St. Patrick's Day, Mason got lucky and got to spend the morning with little Maya.
We played with toys for a while but I realized we might have a more enjoyable time together if we put the toys (and Mason's stress about sharing) away.

We put on our jackets and headed outside, grateful that we had some lawn to play on instead of all snow.

We made the traditional pine-cone-PB-bird-feeders.



Mason thought the bird feed was granola. No No Mason. Don't eat the bird's food.

Guess who likes peanut butter? :)

After we were done Mason headed for the snow. Because of our neighbor's huge trees we have a lot of shade and half our lawn seems to never melt. He likes to throw snowballs but that morning Mason decided to be a gentleman and not attack Maya.

As much as I'm sick of the snow and the never ending "2 more inches" storms, Mason is so entertained by snow that I'll probably miss it when it's all gone.



I love sitting back and watching children play. I wonder how they know to be nice. I wonder what game they are playing.

I wonder what they are imagining...

Brilliant!

Whoever thought of putting this chair in the fabric store is brilliant.
Since I take seemingly hours to pick out what I'm getting, they could at least watch my kid.
A chair, a book, and a duck will do nicely.

I said, "Mace, smile for me"
His expression said, "Mommmmmmmm" in sarcastic teenage voice.

Things were feeling not so brilliant when I tried to get him out of the chair to go home. I think we are banned from that store.
Add it to the list.

Birds for breakfast and too much help

Whenever Mason gets too quiet I know he's up to something.
Today his mischief was birds for breakfast.



Here's my little helper painting the birds the day before. I love his apron.

He is a very good helper. He's especially good at putting away.
Here he is with dad at Home Depot, our home away from home.


Can too much help be a bad thing? Funny you should ask...

(Missing: two keys from my laptop)

The wedding according to Mace Face

Here's Mason and all his Starr cousins except Bridger.
(Mason, Jackson, Carson, Jordan, and Joss)


Mason spent most of the time at the temple grabbing handfuls of snow, throwing them at his cousins, and laughing devilishly.

Does it look to you like Joss is fleeing from Mason? Well she was.

All tuckered out!

More pictures of Mason HERE

Feeding the calves

We went to Richfield for Janett's wedding and reception. There was a lot to do. Even when there is a lot to do the cows still need to eat.
Here's Mason with his mom, dad, and Papa Starr.

A Horse of Course

Thanks Uncle Andy for taking us to see the horses. Mason was making such...unusual...horse noises when we pulled up and saw them out the window. He was very excited! Mason wasn't scared and tried walking right to them.

I spy FOUR horses, do you?

Tub Creature

Is that a...????

My brother stopped by today at about the same moment I was about to lose my sanity. I had a million things to do and needed to be on the road to Richfield in less than two hours. Nate offered to take Mason so I could focus. My normal hesitancy about parting with Mason was forgotten and I practically pushed them out the door.

Not long after that, he sent me this photo.
Yes, that is a snake wrapped around Mason's arm.
No, he doesn't seem to mind.