Happy Birthday Mason

Happy Birthday my dear sweet baby. Oh, you aren't a baby anymore? How did 10 years go by so fast? Could you please slow down just a little?

Bookie - pronounced /boo - key/

This is Mason with his very special blanket. The first picture he is almost a year old. The next picture he is about 18 months old.

I bet you are wondering what a "bookie"is. Well almost 10 years ago I had a new baby. This cute cuddly baby was Mason. He was given a blanket from his Aunt Susan. This blanket had belonged to her oldest son. Mason became very attached to this blanket. As you can see from the pictures above he took it every where. This blanket became a best friend to Mason. As he began to talk he called this special blanket "bookie". This bookie was wonderful. Not only was it a great comfort item to sleep with, it was a tent, cape, pull toy with the dog, towel, napkin, really anything you could imagine. I guess you are wondering why I would write a story about a blanket. Well......remember that cute little baby that fell in love with the blanket. He is turning 10 in a few days and guess what? He still loves his "bookie". It doesn't really look the same as it did back in the day.

Can you see it is a bit smaller than it used to be? He refers to "bookie" as he. This blanket has become a very special part of Mason's life. He still won't sleep without it. I keep teasing him that on Sunday when he turns 10 the bookie has to go. I really think he will be taking it to college with him. I hope his future wife doesn't mind a stinky piece of cloth in bed with them.

Fun and Trouble

Yesterday the boys and I went to a water park with a friend of mine and her kids. We had a great time. It was fun just floating around the lazy river.

Baseball, Baseball, and more Baseball

This was my weekend. I wouldn't change it for anything.

the love of a mom

Yesterday I helped host a baby shower for a dear friend. She is having her first baby. There were other people there with their babies and it just brought so many memories of my babies. I always new I wanted to be a mom and to this day I just love it. Even though my babies are 8 and almost 10, how did that happen, they still make my heart swell with pride and break into a million pieces when they are hurt. I visited another blog today and found this poem. I think it sums it all up.

Before I was a Mom - I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.I never thought about immunizations.Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.I slept all night.Before I was a Mom - I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.I never looked into teary eyes and cried.I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.Before I was a Mom - I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.I never knew that I could love someone so much.I never knew I would love being a Mom.Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.


Okay, go wipe your eyes now. It is time to go and see what kind of messes your little angels have made while you were sitting at the computer. LOL When you are yelling at them try really hard to remember those sweet feelings!

ummmmm......okay

Brad and I were kind of thrown into this parenting a teenager thing. Even though my stepson has always been part of our lives he lived the majority of his life in another state. His mother is one of the most selfish people I have ever met. She moved him around a lot, told horrible stories about Brad to Kyle, and basically did as she pleased when it came to Kyle. Anyway, my point is when Kyle called to see if he can come and live with us we of course said sure, he is our son. The first weekend he was here we had to decide if he could use the car, how far he could drive, and if he should have a curfew. Just a few parenting decisions we weren't used to. Mason and Tanner haven't gotten there yet. He is really a good kid and other than his filthy room hasn't been much of a problem. The biggest problem is when we tell him to do something, he says okay, but then doesn't do it. I can't stand this and it drives Brad crazy. Last night I went into the boys bathroom and I couldn't even walk in, because there were things all over the floor and counter top. I had told him to get it cleaned up before he left for church. We had also reminded him to take the garbage out before he left and this was not done. I know this is normal parenting issues, it is just not one I am used to. My other two kids know when I mean business and don't push me too often, and when they do I am used to how to handle it. But parenting an 8 and 10 year old is much different than parenting an 18 year old. Anyway, I wrote a note and put it on his door. It said.....Clean the bathroom TONIGHT. If it is not clean when you leave for work in the morning you will lose the use of the car. Guess what......it was clean when I checked this morning. Maybe this isn't so hard after all!!

The Baseball Nazi

Last night Mason had a scrimmage at the old Baseball USA. When we got there the kids warmed up in the batting cages. I got to meet "The Baseball Nazi". A couple of weeks ago the boys had practice with this coach. We weren't there because we were in Galveston. The other parents told me he was very scary. He made one of the kids cry and the kids had to do push ups everytime they did something wrong. He was at one time in the majors and is suppose to be a great batting coach. When it was Mason's turn to go into the cage he went in with great confidence. He is a pretty good hitter and thinks he can do no wrong. He got in his stance up at the plate and the "Nazi" began shaking his head and waiting for Mason to correct his feet. Mason had no idea what he was talking about. The other kids and parents tried to tell Mason what to do, but he was clueless. It is so fun watching other kids try to save a friend from danger. He finally showed him what to do. Then he started yelling out directions....."Elbows in, feet straight, I don't want to see your number, hands up..." Mason just looked like a deer in the headlights. He then told him to swing and throw his bat at him. Mason had no idea what he wanted, well he didn't throw his bat and the "Nazi" got all over him. "When I tell you to do something you do it." Mason ended up crying. Not a good idea. When his torture was finally over Mason said, "He's just dumb, he doesn't know what he is talking about." as he continued to cry. Then the scrimmage started and Mason struck out twice. Mason hasn't struck out in a long time. So this leaves me wondering....do you try and fix what isn't broken?

I guess it is my turn

I have been reading other people's blogs for a while now. I guess I am a blog stalker. It is time for me to jump into the blogging world, so here I go....... I live in a house with four men. I am the only woman. It is a little mind blowing at times. My husband Brad and I have been married for 13 years. We have two sons. Mason will be 10 on the 29th and Tanner just turned 8. My stepson moved in with us at the end of March. He is 18 years old. I am sure there will be many stories about our history and his future. We do have a cat and dog that are female, so my husband tries to tell me I am not really out numbered. The problem with the cat and dog is they don't cook or clean. I am a teacher which is the only thing I ever wanted to be. I have been teaching for 16 years. Last year I went from teaching first grade to teaching English as a Second Language. I mainly work with first graders and just help with reading. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to doing it again this coming school year. I am now spending the summer home with my boys and trying to keep them entertained.