My thoughts today

I miss my boy. Today we are celebrating his 1/2 birthday because 5 1/2 seems like a big deal to him this year. Yummy pudding-filled cupcakes with chocolate frosting and smashed oreos and worms on top. So... BOYish. Ava said, "Those worms are eating the Pupcakes! I don't want the worms to talk to me..."
The first week he was at school I had an aching in my heart. Seriously, I thought I would be fine, but thinking about the fact that I was no longer the center of his world cut me pretty deep. He actually happens to love school so much that he was upset that yesterday was early release. I am thankful for that. But this post wasn't even supposed to be about him...
My bond with my girl has grown SO much in the past 10 days. We spend our days doing "praw-jeKS" and crafts, reading books, dressing up, or just lounging around the house. And laughing. I really GET her sense of humor. Now I am not one that is into crafts or any art for that matter, but it is so much fun to see her get creative. She misses her brother and asks about him every day, but I know that both of us are treasuring this time until her baby sister arrives. Originally, I would have liked to have the spacing be a little closer, but I am SO grateful for this period where she and I can be alone for a few months.


To further prove my love for her, I have included a not-so-flattering picture of myself at 6 months pregnant, just because I know she is happy in it.

Now what am I going to do when I can't call them "MY boy" and "MY girl" because there just happens to be an extra one? (:

No tears were shed...

On the first day of school. And you better believe that was an accomplishment, not from my cute boy but from his pregnant and hormonal mom who had some attachment issues today. I think I would have felt better if I could have just watched him in his class for awhile...or had lunch with him...or gotten minute by minute updates to my phone about what they were doing ALL DAY. (:
No, but seriously, I survived and he loved it. He was a little quiet when I took him in there this morning but I heard all about his great day and the new friends he made. I was a little sad for Ava after we dropped him off. He usually sits in the back of the van and when we were almost home she said, "Mase, are you asleep back there?". Guess she didn't realize that we left him at school. And when I put her to bed tonight, I told her that we are going to play tomorrow after we drop him off at school and she said, "But he already went to school!" The adjustment is harder for some than others...
I noticed that he wrote "Mase" on the top of his paper instead of "Mason." I asked him if he told his teacher to call him that and he said, "Yeah... it's my nickname. And I LOVE my nickname!" So I guess that is what he will be going by in school. He is demonstrating his independence already. (As if he hasn't done that from the moment he was BORN!)


I didn't get a great picture because he was anxious to get into his classroom, but he is still adorable with this cheesy look on his face... miss him already for tomorrow.

Summer Highlights

Summer ends today for us. Mase starts school tomorrow and I have such mixed feelings about it. Before I can document my big boy wearing his new backpack, I need to play a little catch up. Here are a few pics of fun things we did this summer:

Back in June we took a trip to see my parents in Utah and also got to see some awesome cousins:




Then we had some fun without the kids at our Totally 80's party: (Did you know when you move to another state you can throw the EXACT same party again? We had a similar one in Portland- always fun!)






On the 4th of July, my kids had so much fun with cousins on Roland's side and their friends that I couldn't get them to stop for a picture. This is the best I got:



We went to Colorado in July and stayed in a cabin on the lake. It was beautiful and all of us had so much fun.










We also went camping but my battery died after two pictures. Here is one of them!



Because our yard is not yet landscaped, a rainstorm left us with a TON of mud in the gutter and street. We decided it would provide a good 3 hours of dirty play for the kids. Needless to say, they loved it! Now they are praying for another major rainstorm...







After all the fun, we are left with some satisfied and happy kids who are ready for their next adventure... I just don't know if I am!