bAcK tO sChOoL

Mason went back to preschool today. He was up and ready pretty early. We took some pictures in the picture tree. We read books in the living room while we waited for the bus. Every time a loud vehicle drove by his eyes would get big and he'd look at me to see if it was his bus or not. When it came he grabbed my hand and skipped to the bus. I think he'll be fine. I know he'll be fine. But for Pete's sake he's only THREE! I waved and smiled as they pulled away. I wouldn't go so far as to say I cried... I just blinked a lot. 

Dinner time

You know you need to set the dinner table more often when your little boy climbs up to the table and says

"Oh! Are we having a tea party?"

Harry

"Mason! Why is Harry in the fridge???"
"Because penguins like to be cold."

Whenever a box shows up from Aunt Carol we get excited because you never know what fun treasure you'll be getting. Recently she sent some clothes for the boys and this penguin. Mason named him Harry and is so sweet with him. He was very agitated last night when he couldn't find him and was walking from room to room calling "Harrrrrry?" Tonight he read him Eli's baby books and then tucked him into bed. Mason likes to have conversations with Harry and will change his voice as he speaks for himself or for Harry. Often you'll hear the line "Oh Harry. You're silly".

Mr. Mountain Climber

Jason went with Nate and my cousins canyoneering on Saturday. Mason was sad he couldn't go but made the most of the day by donning some extra gear and playing mountain climber. I led him around the yard by a rope and he scaled tall peaks (the rock out front) and steep crags (the retaining wall) all in the name of adventure. He always enjoys being like his dad and this game was no different. Mr. MountainClimber even helped me check the mail and water the garden. Climbers are really helpful like that...

Dad's extra harness...around Mason's shoulders...

school shopping

How do you

explain

to your 

three year old 

why 

he 

can't 

have 

purple

Dora the Explorer 

sneakers?!

i guess if i was a better mom i'd let him pick any shoes he wanted

my purpose

I've had a handful of little moments lately that have reminded me what life is all about.
I learn so much from Mason. He is simply good for the heart.

Today as we were doing an everyday task, Mason stopped looked up at me and said "Jesus knows me". He went back to what he was doing while I tried to stay composed. I love that he knows that. I wish everyone could have that same pure, simple, and firm knowledge.

I had to go into work for a couple of hours tonight. Usually when Mason sees me with my badge he begs me not to go. It makes me feel like a pretty lousy mom on the few nights I have to take off instead of tucking him in. Tonight he saw me and asked in a very grown up way if I was going to work. I said yes, kissed him goodbye, and went to the car. As I was about to drive away he came running across the front yard. "Wait Mom, I have something to tell you!" He climbed in the passenger seat, gave me a big hug, told me to have a fun time at work, and shouted "love ya!" as he trotted back to the house.

Pop Culture according to Mason

I swear Mason doesn't watch tons of TV. If you heard him talk, you'd think otherwise. The characters from his shows are real to him and he asks about them all the time. Here's his take on pop culture, movie classics, songs and more!

Overheard in church "my home teachers go above and beyond". Mason (loudly): "Hey she said beyond! Like Buzz!"

When he says "infinity and beyond" it sound like "Finny and Yon!"

He argues to himself "Duck season! No, Rabbit Season! Duck Season! Rabbit Season! POW!"

He sings this version of London Bridges: "My fair OLD LADY".

When Mason makes a silly mistake he softly says to himself "Silly ol' bear".

He's often heard saying "There's no place like home" and "Lions and tigers and bears! OH MY!"

One night I was in checking on Eli who had cried out. Suddenly Mason sat up in bed and said "I saw Peter Pan's shadow on my wall!" I hope I never forget the precise way he pronounces Peter Pan.

He likes to quote 101 Dalmations when he's hungry. In his sweet little puppy voice he says "I'm hungry Mother. Mother, I'm hungry too."

One day mid prayer he stopped and said "So Peter Pan is far far away but Jesus is really close?"

At some point he heard the Barney "Love song". Now he sings while he plays "I love him. He loves you..."

He's still tender hearted and cries at Lion King, Little Mermaid, and can't finish Monsters Inc because it's too scary.

Can Spiderman come play?

Mason spent the entire evening begging for Spiderman to come to his house to play. He asked over and over. I tried explaining the many reasons that was not going to happen. Finally we decided to call him and ask.

Me: Hello, Spiderman?
Jason: Um... yes?
Me: This is Ashley and Mason. Can you come to our house and play or do you live to far away?
Jason/Spiderman: I live very far away. I can't come over because I have to go get the bad guys.
Me: Oh okay. Thanks anyway.
Spiderman: Tell Mason to be a very good boy and help people.
Me: Okay Spiderman.
Mason: Goodnight Spiderman .

After we hung up Mason was quiet for a minute. Then he exclaimed "SPIDERMAN HAS A PHONE?!"

Mason's 4th of July

We went to Richfield for the Fourth of July. He had so much fun with his Starr cousins.

Here are some pictures of Mason from the weekend.  I love this batch of photos because they capture some classic Mason expressions.

Bridger and his "baby Mason"... in a cooler for some reason

Spray painting these flowers is a July 4th Starr tradition.

Watching for candy at the parade with Jackson, Jordan and Bridger.

This is what hot dogs and snow cones do to kids.

Mason and Joss hanging out during family pictures

Seen Ice Bahz

Mason has been singing a lot more lately. He sings as he colors. He sings as he plays. One Sunday I was in the hallway with Eli and I heard the strangest song. I walked down to nursery and through the open door saw Mason playing with cars. It was him singing. After listening for a while I concluded he was singing Give Said the Little Stream, or at least his rendition.

Although Mason has made huge strides in his language and pronunciation, sometimes I still have to work really hard to understand what he says. For the past month he's been walking around singing this:

Seen Ice Bahz. Seen Ice Bahz. Alllllll the wayy-yyyy-yyyy.

It's been driving me crazy, not the singing-it's really cute, but that I could not understand what song it was. But the more he sang the "all the way' part the more familiar it seemed. Then it hit me.

Jingle Bells.

Of course! What other song would he be singing in June?

you've got a friend

We are so lucky to have some of the best kids in the world next door. Mason especially loves Dauvey, who is just a year older than him. She's so good to share all her toys with Mason. He wakes up some mornings and the first words out of his mouth are "Can I play with Dauvey?" They ride bikes together, jump on the tramp, play dress up, look at bugs, and play in his play house. Having a friend so close has made this summer so much fun.

if he says he feels sick...

Mason had a checkup at the dentist. For a few days prior he kept saying he felt sick and that he was thowing up. He never did and seemed fine. On the way to the dentist's office he said he felt sick, but then went in and played with the toys in the waiting room. He got x-rays for the first time. After his teeth were cleaned he said he felt sick again. See where this is going? He came and sat on my lap while we waited for the dentist to come do his exam. Then Mason puked. It was great.

 

I really love how well behaved he was, especially considering he really didn't feel well. The dental assistant said she's never seen a three year old sit so still. If only he could act like that at church..

His view

Memorial Day

(I'm actually posting this a couple months later. I can't believe how much Mason has grown up this summer!)
The summer begins with our traditional trip up the mountain to open up the cabins.

Meet Magnetic Joey! Mason's new favorite toy. I love his hair here.

Look at our lizards! (Mason's not wearing his usual mountain clothes, we went to church in Alton.)

Hand Attack!

I don't think I've written about Mason's obsession with Eli's hands. I hardly know what to say. He won't leave Eli's hands alone. Mason is constantly pulling, tugging, squeezing, pinching, and grabbing Eli's hands.

logic

 Shortly after Mason's birthday he kept asking for something, and I couldn't figure out what he was saying. He'd received gifts for his birthday so I thought it must be one of his new toys. Try as I might I just couldn't understand what he was asking for. One evening he came in and asked again. I was holding Eli in the rocker. I said "Mason, I don't know what that is. Can you show me?" He left, discouraged, and I felt bad. A few minutes later he came back in the room, holding a very heavy bag of potatoes. He got very close and said, slowly and loudly, "MOM!. MR. POTATO. HEAD!". He's amazing.

Mason was looking at bugs on the sidewalk. He asked "Mom is this a nice bug or a mean bug?". I replied "I don't know Mason. How can you tell?". He clarified, "Does it bite?"

Mason loveslovesloves to pretend he's a dog. If I call his name he responds, "I'm not Mason, I'm a puppy". As my friend put it, boys can be very naughty boys but very good puppies. We've had to talk about how yes, puppies lick people but that no, it's not okay for Mason to lick anyone. Ever. Mason will sit and stretch his foot up to scratch his ears. That's what puppies do. Lately I can't get Mason to wear shoes (can't blame him). He told me "Mom, puppies don't wear shoes". I replied "Oh yes they do" thinking "Internet, don't let me down". I got on the computer and showed him several pictures of puppies wearing shoes. I win.