Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

got this idea from a friends blog and thought it was cute, also stole her Christmas card idea:) lol

Mason turns 3 on the 27th

Mason,
I really can't believe how big you've gotten and how fast these three years have gone. You've gone from being the sweetest baby in the whole world, to getting into EVERYTHING, to being quite the cantankerous 2.5-3 year old.  That being said you still are super wonderful and have quite the sense of humor.  (of course you think you are the funniest person in the world) You've really missed your brother the last couple months and still insist that you are turning five, because we told you that you couldn't go to school until you were five. When I ask you if you want a birthday party you tell me "No" and when I ask if you want cake and ice cream you tell me "No" as well, which we all know is a lie!!  Your favorite food is Chocolate, you love playing pretend, and trains with Ethan.  You really really love the Pitchers necklaces and bracelets (at least you call these watches) and you really say just about every word in the dictionary ... when you want to. 
I love you and can't imagine life without you

wow!! you look like Zach here

You've really become a little man

snow day

As soon as Mason saw the snow he was asking for his jacket.  Even though he had bare feet he thought that if he put a jacket on he could go outside:) So we got the kids dressed and Spencer went out to help them build a snowman.  Then Ethan surprised us by building one all by himself in the backyard ... and of course he gave his snowman a mustache ... what is up with him and facial hair??  As I was walking back in from taking a picture of Ethan's snowman I saw Mason sampling the snow and I asked him if it was good.  He must not have thought so because he came in a minute later and asked for some ice cream.  Who's kid asks for ice cream when they come in from snow play ... the answer is mine.

puns

One of my most favorite things in life is a good pun
     Not too long ago we were at my families and were joking around with my brother Josh about naming his soon to be baby Seven, but as the ribbing went on we decided that Seven wouldn't work because Josh only wanted Spanish names. At this point Spencer chimed in with a "Spanish people name their kids after numbers all the time ... (dramatic pause) ... like Juan" lol 
     Today I was joking with Lori that she was picking up my red leaves last to disguise the yellow ones she'd already dumped in the gully.  Without catching it at first I told her she was leaving a red herring ... come on ... I can't be the only one laughing at my pun:)

nice weather before the storm

This is the first day where we've actually had some leaves to take pictures with ... and it's supposed to snow this weekend!!  Is every year like this?? 

It was so fun to pick Ethan up from school today.  Everyone in Ethan's class was dressed up like Indians ... excuse me ... Native Americans,  and everyone in the other kindergarten class were dressed as pilgrims.  So the front lawn of the school was quite the sight to see. They also got to go into the big lunchroom for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Zach was really serious about the leaves.  He would bend down and pick up as many as he possibly could.

I promised Mason candy if he would look at the camera.  This technique doesn't always work, but the fact that we have peanut butter m & m's in the house might have helped.

How to keep yourself safe and worry free :)

I usually get really really scared when Spencer is somewhere overnight, so anticipation of this "boys" weekend I had been trying to think about how I could stay calm enough to get some sleep.  (Yes, in the back of my mind I know that most of my paranoia is unreasonable, but that doesn't help me sleep. Instead I'm awake all night long listening for the slightest sound and working myself up every time I hear ANYTHING.)  However, I came up with a plan that I put into work last night.  I set up all the children in my bedroom, this way I didn't have to leave the room during the night when one of them woke up (yes, they wake up every night) then I tested my panic button on the car from my bedroom (it works) and then when it was time for sleep I locked and barricaded the door by wedging the piano bench between my bed and the door and of course I had my cell phone.  There was no way this door was getting open without a lot of work. so ... it stood to reason (in my mind) that if someone was trying to get into my bedroom I would have enough time to push the panic button on my car to let the neighbors know something was wrong and call 911 from my cell phone before the door could be opened.  Now you all think I'm crazy, which I am when I'm home alone at night, but I had the most wonderful nights sleep only interrupted by my children and not the fear I normally feel. YAY for being prepared.

This door was not going anywhere!!

Mason in the crib, Zach in the porta crib and Ethan in my bed

Everyday fun :)

Mason, What are you doing on the counter?? In my medicine cabinet no less. 
Wait a minute, don't move, I'll go get the camera.

Mason sticking a straw (sword) in his belt

You're so cute!!  -- I not so toot!!  I big toot!!

Don't take picture of me ... Mason hides his head