We noticed about a week or so ago that one of Mason's front teeth was darker than the rest and after looking some stuff up about dead teeth, realized this was the problem. I had been meaning to take him to the dentist now that he's 3, so we did some looking and found a pediatric dentist that came recommended by several friends. If you are looking for a dentist for your little one, look no further!

Let me just start by saying that Mason can not wait to go back! We get there and Mason immediately goes to the big fish tank in the waiting room that has Nemo, Dory and Marlin in it (according to Mason). This is just the beginning of the waiting room - there are 3 TVs with different video game systems on them and then a floor pad like Dance Dance Revolution but for toddlers that had a fun jumping game. There was a movie playing on a bigger screen with a table and art area also. I think he could have waited forever! As we were waiting, we noticed all these kids coming out with cups of ice cream which I thought was odd - Mason was quick to notice too:) We go back to an exam room and the nurse greets us with a balloon and stickers and a bag with a new (Diego) toothbrush and (Spongebob) toothpaste. Mason sat up on the big chair and had x-rays taken the whole time asking when he was going to get some ice cream. Dr Mike came in and was so great with Mason and explained everything to me about his "special tooth" (this is what Andy came up with). Next it was off to get his teeth cleaned and again, he did great for this. I'm sure the TV screen hanging above his head didn't hurt one bit though. He was given a token that he could put in one of the many gumball-type machines to get a prize (he picked a bouncy-ball) and then the big moment - ice cream! He was happy as a clam and thinks the dentist is great! Every parent's dream:) Now hopefully we will only be going every 6 months and no more than that!

We went to the Bass Pro Shop yesterday to see Santa - it just so happened that some friends of ours (The Linharts and Hunnicuts) were also planning to go at the same time so it was fun to spend some time with them too. We wondered around Bass Pro as we waited our turn. We were sure Mason wouldn't want much to do with Santa - he even told us beforehand that he was NOT going to sit on his lap. So when it was our turn, we were pleasantly surprised when Mason walked right on up to him and said "Hi!" as he waved his hand. Santa reached for him and Mason hesitated for a second, but then allowed him to put him up on his lap. Mason then looked at him and said "Merry Christmas!" Brody, on the other hand was not happy about being placed on the lap of this bearded man. After the picture, Santa asked Mason "What can I bring you for Christmas? Mason said "A candy cane" as he pointed to the basket of candy canes by Santa. I whispered to Mason to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. He then told him he wanted a bulldozer (he forgot to say a purple one!). About a minute later, we were watching the Linharts and Hunnicuts kids have their turn and Mason looked at Andy and said "Hey, where's my bulldozer??" Apparently he thought he would be getting it right away!

The best part of the day came when we were putting coats on and saying goodbye to our friends - Mason looked at me and said "What a wonderful day!"

Mason had his Christmas program for Kids Day Out last Sunday and did so great! He looked so handsome (and grown up) in his little suit coat and had so much fun singing his songs and doing the motions up on stage. There were over 100 kids performing together and hundreds of parents and family out in the audience so I can only imagine what he and the other kids were thinking as they came out, but Mason just waved at all of us and smiled. Two days later I was taking him to school and he asked if he could sing his songs again, up on the stage. I am a little afraid he may have developed his father's love of the spotlight!

The other day we were driving to a friend's house and we were passing the cemetery where my mom is buried. We drive by it quite often, at least a couple times per week normally and last summer, I stopped there, with the boys, to put some new flowers at the grave. Now every time we drive by, Mason wants to slow down and see the flowers (you can see hers from the road). This week when he drove by, this is what he said...

Mason: Where are our flowers?
Me: There they are (slowing down)
Mason: Those flowers are for your mom?
Me: Yes
Mason: Because she died?
Me: Yes
Mason: What how? (this is what he says instead of "why" for some reason)
Me: She got really sick with something called cancer
Mason: Were you really sad?
Me: Yes, it was very sad and I am still sad sometimes
Mason: Oh... hey, look at that train!

I love 3 year olds:)

I have really wanted to start some Christmas traditions this year for the boys and after reminiscing about my childhood and remembering some of the fun things we did at Christmas time as well as reading many craft blogs to get ideas, I came up with a couple things that I hope will be fun traditions for our family.

Idea #1
Find 24 Christmas-themed books and individually wrap each one. (You can get some from the library or find some after Christmas for super cheap to begin your own collection) Put all the books in a basket near the Christmas tree and each night before bed, have your kids pick one out, unwrap it and read before bed!

Idea #2 (quick and easy)
Mason LOVES stickers so this one was easy - make a Christmas tree out of green construction papers and glue it on a larger piece of paper. Find 25 Christmas stickers and every day, your child gets to put an "ornament" on the tree until it is filled on Christmas!

Idea #3
I saw a version of this on a blog and knew it was the perfect way to incorporate a lot of different activities for the month of December. I got these stockings at Hobby Lobby and got some Christmas fabric to make the circles and then used fabric paint for the numbers (my numbers did not turn out so well bc I got "diamond" paint instead of plain white, I am going to have to go back over them later). Every day, I will put a piece of paper in the corresponding stocking and Mason will get to see what is inside - the activities will range from making cookies for our neighbors to watching a Christmas movie to getting in PJs and driving around to see Christmas lights. I will just decide the night before what is feasible for the next day.




Hope you are having a great Christmas season so far!

We bought tickets to Curious George Live about 6 weeks ago and the anticipation has been building ever since. Andy and I had no idea how Mason would do - we thought he may be a little scared and not like it (the Thomas experience still fresh in our minds). But the big night came yesterday and I think Mason had the time of his life:) We took him to McDonald's for dinner and then headed down to the Sprint Center to see George. It was the perfect setting - the stage was in a great location and Mason could not have loved it more. He sat as still as a statue in his seat most of the time, looking up at us with a huge smile on his face at certain things - Andy and I had the best time just watching him react to things. We were laughing about it before we left how we were both just as excited as Mason was just knowing he would probably love it so much - it is funny how things change when you become a parent and get to experience things through your child's eyes!

eating at McDonald's before the big show

Back in July, the topic of Halloween came up and one of the staffers asked Mason what he wanted to be this year - he said "a moose!" and everyone laughed. The months went by and he kept insisting that he would be a moose for Halloween. I began searching for a moose costume and realized they don't really make them so I tried to convince him to be something else but he was not having it. I finally found a moose hat on ebay and Mason got his wish! Andy decided that Brody should be a hunter and they made quite the pair!

We had such a fun week! I have decided that Halloween is much more fun when you have kids - it has always been a holiday I didn't care for but experiencing it through the eyes of a 3 year old is so much fun:) Mason's Kids Day Out program had a costume parade on Tuesday which was funny and later that day we carved pumpkins. On Friday, our playgroup went to a nursing home to hand out treats to the residents followed by trick or treating at my office that afternoon. Today we went to a party at the home of some good friends of ours and then went trick or treating with the Van Gundy's! It was Mason's first time trick or treating and he LOVED it! He got the hang of it after the first house and would run to the next house, ring the bell and in a very high pitched voice say those magic words. It never got old. He got done, sat down and said, "time to eat it"! Here are some pics of the week...

Mason's class at Kids Day Out


decorating cookies for friends

(most of) the kids from playgroup at the nursing home

Brody is obsessed with dogs - he loved playing with Winston up at my office party

Mason and Luke (or should I say the fireman and the moose) at the party

the slide was a big hit

3 buddies ready to trick or treat

Just wanted to post some pics of my boys from the other night - they were both sitting in Mason's McQueen chair and looking so cute:)



We went to Faulkner's Farm with Papa and SueSue last weekend and had a great time! We went on a hay ride around the farm and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

We had the best today at Alldredge Orchards. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time picking apples and roaming through the pumpkin patch at the orchard. We went with our friends the Hodnefields and definitely will be going back! Mason had a GREAT time and has been talking about it all day.

This post has a couple purposes... I wanted to share something I have enjoyed doing lately and also to help some of my MOPS girls finish up their projects from yesterday's meeting!!

I have seen applique projects on several craft blogs I follow and decided to give it a try. It is really very easy, just kind of tedious.

I get tote bags at Hobby Lobby - just wait til they are 50% off or take your 40% off coupon. You can get 3 large or 4 small ones for $3.50 when they have them 1/2 off. For Mason's library bag, I got a heavier-duty bag that has 3 pockets on the back - I figure he can put his library card in there when he gets one, bookmarks, etc.

The paper you use is called Steam-a-Seam2. You can also find it at Hobby Lobby or Joann's - it is around $4 or $5 for a package of 5 sheets - again, use your coupon! Remember to look in the remnant sections of Hobby Lobby, Joann's, or even Wal-Mart for cheap pieces of fabric.

Here are some pics of my latest projects and a link to some step by step instructions...

onesies for gifts

a "gift" bag

party shirts!


library bag and halloween bag

Over the past couple months, Mason has struggled going to sleep at night and we noticed that if he didn't take a nap, of course he had no problem at night. So after we got back from Branson, we decided to start "Rest Time." At first, he hated it and would cry and just didn't understand that he wasn't in trouble, that I just wanted him to stay in his room to play or read books. After he started preschool, he did much better with it - I guess because they also have rest time there, he got it! Anyway, it has been going pretty well lately - he just plays in his room with his music on and doesn't try to come out too often now. Today I realized it has been well over the hour I normally give him and things were very quiet. I went down to get him and opened the door to this...

I guess he was pretty tired today:)