So Kendall had her first trick-or-treat experience on Saturday - she dressed up as the cutest unicorn in all the land and hit about 20 houses with her friend Riley. We came back home on Saturday and she didn't seem all that interested in her loot, so I put the pumpkin bucket in the laundry room and haven't thought anything of it.
Last night as soon as we got home, she walks over to the laundry area, opens the door and asks for a treat. Um - where did that come from? #1 - she never opens the laundry door and #2 - I didn't even know she saw me put it there. So I give her a treat (an itty bitty bag of Skittles for those inquiring minds) and she went on about her business. While she was over in the living room playing and I was SURE she wasn't looking, I took it upon myself to put the pumpkin bucket in the pantry. Safe spot because she didn't see me put it there and I put it up high enough that it wouldn't catch her eye should I open the pantry in front of her.
I go into the office and piddle around some and the next thing I know, in Kendall walks, swinging her PUMPKIN BUCKET and asks for a treat. WHAT!?!?!?! So not only did she OPEN the pantry door, she somehow figured out how to get the bucket down and bring it to me. Geez Louise - she's outsmarting me already.
Just for the record, the pumpkin bucket is hidden in the pots and pans cabinet now.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tag!
Ya'll know I'm a sucker for any type of "tag" or survey, so when my sweet friend Rachel P posted a tag, I couldn't resist. Here goes:
1. Tell me something great as of late.
- Our vacation was, in a word, great. We went to the beach, dined out, took naps, went to the pool, saw alligators, ate sushi, laughed, laughed and laughed. It was our first vacation with just our little family, but it will not be the last. There is absolutely nothing like waking up everyday for a week straight with only your loves to be with. I am more in love with my husband and daughter than I ever could have imagined.
2. Tell me something hard as of late.
-Consistency with disciplining Kendall is hard. She is such a precious, smart, funny, lively little girl but she is also strong-willed (and I don't use that term lightly - I've read the book). There are days when I feel like I'm doing a pretty horrible job at the whole mommy thing if my 21 month old is already acting so heinous. Luckily she makes up for those days when she tells me she loves me. Most beautiful sound in the world.
3. Tell me something about your family. Good. Bad. Funny.
-Good - My parents are home more now that the winter season is here. While the goal of their ministry is to be full time at the beach, I don't think this winter season will be the start of that, so they'll be around lots.
-Bad - I have a loved one that is my extended family really going through a hard time right now. It's been on my mind a lot.
-Funny - Kendall got rain boots while we were at the beach and insists on wearing them all the time. You can check out Facebook for proof. The child would wear them to bed if she could. Granted, they are pretty cute.
4. Tell me something about your friends.
-They do my heart good and we're heading for a girl's weekend at the beach in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. It's cold so I don't have to squeeze into a bathing suit and I get to be with my girlfriends - doesn't get much better than that.
1. Tell me something great as of late.
- Our vacation was, in a word, great. We went to the beach, dined out, took naps, went to the pool, saw alligators, ate sushi, laughed, laughed and laughed. It was our first vacation with just our little family, but it will not be the last. There is absolutely nothing like waking up everyday for a week straight with only your loves to be with. I am more in love with my husband and daughter than I ever could have imagined.
2. Tell me something hard as of late.
-Consistency with disciplining Kendall is hard. She is such a precious, smart, funny, lively little girl but she is also strong-willed (and I don't use that term lightly - I've read the book). There are days when I feel like I'm doing a pretty horrible job at the whole mommy thing if my 21 month old is already acting so heinous. Luckily she makes up for those days when she tells me she loves me. Most beautiful sound in the world.
3. Tell me something about your family. Good. Bad. Funny.
-Good - My parents are home more now that the winter season is here. While the goal of their ministry is to be full time at the beach, I don't think this winter season will be the start of that, so they'll be around lots.
-Bad - I have a loved one that is my extended family really going through a hard time right now. It's been on my mind a lot.
-Funny - Kendall got rain boots while we were at the beach and insists on wearing them all the time. You can check out Facebook for proof. The child would wear them to bed if she could. Granted, they are pretty cute.
4. Tell me something about your friends.
-They do my heart good and we're heading for a girl's weekend at the beach in a couple of weeks and I can't wait. It's cold so I don't have to squeeze into a bathing suit and I get to be with my girlfriends - doesn't get much better than that.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Unplugged
The Mason family is officially unplugging for a week, starting Sunday! We have been blessed with a place to stay in Hilton Head and we're heading down there early Sunday morning for a week of rest and family time. This will be the first vacation that we've taken with just the three of us - we usually impose ourselves on one set of our parents. My goal is to completely unplug from the busy life in Durham (except for homework of course - that doesn't stop because I'm going out of town, unfortunately). I'm not sure what all we'll get into, but I know Christmas shopping at the outlets is on the agenda and there have been talks of getting me on a bicycle...we shall see.
Can't wait to fill you in when we get back! Take care until then!
Can't wait to fill you in when we get back! Take care until then!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Blow out
For 20 months now I've avoided it. We've had a couple of almost blow outs, but nothing I would classify as truly disgusting.
Until tonight.
We're in the Kroger check out line when Kendall says "I poop". No biggie - she says "I poop" all the time - when she pees, when she breaks wind, when she's trying to make me laugh. Then I smell her. Still no biggie - obviously she actually did poop this time, so we'll take care of it when we get home. We live 2 minutes from Kroger, so I finished checking out - buckled her in the car and went home. Got her out of the car and saw that she wasn't joking. The kid definitely pooped. Took her upstairs and proceeded to take her pants off and saw that said poop was not only in her diaper, it was in her pants, in her shirt, up her back, on her leg. She started screamed "ewwww" and crying, I'm gagging and telling her it's alright.
And then I did what any other mother would do. I took her clothes off and threw them in the trash - didn't even consider sending that vile smelling stuff through my washer.
I guess I should consider myself lucky that she's 20 months old and we've just had our first truly disgusting blow out. Ahh - the joys of motherhood. I wonder what James would have done??
Until tonight.
We're in the Kroger check out line when Kendall says "I poop". No biggie - she says "I poop" all the time - when she pees, when she breaks wind, when she's trying to make me laugh. Then I smell her. Still no biggie - obviously she actually did poop this time, so we'll take care of it when we get home. We live 2 minutes from Kroger, so I finished checking out - buckled her in the car and went home. Got her out of the car and saw that she wasn't joking. The kid definitely pooped. Took her upstairs and proceeded to take her pants off and saw that said poop was not only in her diaper, it was in her pants, in her shirt, up her back, on her leg. She started screamed "ewwww" and crying, I'm gagging and telling her it's alright.
And then I did what any other mother would do. I took her clothes off and threw them in the trash - didn't even consider sending that vile smelling stuff through my washer.
I guess I should consider myself lucky that she's 20 months old and we've just had our first truly disgusting blow out. Ahh - the joys of motherhood. I wonder what James would have done??
Monday, September 7, 2009
Labor Day at the beach
This weekend, the Mason family set off for the beach to celebrate Labor Day. I must admit that as a child (a very young child) I thought that Labor Day was to commemorate the day that George Washington went into labor. And who said there was something wrong with the public school system??
I headed down Friday with my parents and KK and we met Megan down there. I haven't seen the Megster since school started back, so I was VERY excited to hug her neck and Kendall was thrilled to see her "Mimi". James joined us on Saturday and we truly had a great time just hanging out as a family.
I've been semi-boycotting the beach ever since there has been talk about my parents moving down there to plant a church. I know, I know - how selfish of me. Ronnie has been preaching down there for a few summers and I guess it should have dawned on me that the natural progression would be that they start a "full-time" church, but I was so comfortable in my routine of my precious parents being 20 minutes away that when they started talking about making the beach their permanent home, I sort of freaked. For those that don't know me too well, let me explain that I have a FABULOUS relationship with my parents. Like we're the type that will sort of make you sick because we get along so well. I'd rather be with them than pretty much anyone else on the planet. So, a few months ago when they came to me and told me that the Lord was doing a work in their hearts and leading them to be more permanent at the beach, I did what every other mature, Christian woman would do. I got into an argument with Ronnie, stopped reading my Bible for a while and decided that I'd never go to the beach again as long as I lived. Fabulous reaction, right? WRONG!
Listen - I know I was wrong, but I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest when my mom called me, full of excitement, to tell me that the Lord had clearly spoken to her and that she just knew they were being called to build a year-round church down there. But then the Lord started opening my eyes to the ministry that they have been called to.
I've been going to the Atlantic Beach/Emerald Isle area almost every weekend in the summer since I was a sweet little infant laying in my mommy's arms. I know the island like the back of my hand. We've been in this particular spot in Indian Beach (about halfway between EI and AB) since I was 12. These people have witnessed the unmistakable power of Jesus Christ working in the life of my family. They've sought out my dad and asked him to be their pastor during the summer months. They've come to the deck of our modest trailer and sought counsel. Some of them have shunned my parents, some of them have loved my parents, but all of them have seen the Lord at work - whether they wanted to admit that it was the Lord or not. The group of people that have come to hear the Lord speak through Ronnie has continuously grown. There are some there that have a relationship with Jesus and some that dabble in the whole "religious" thing. And then there are those that are very much against the thought that God wants something from them...that God wants them to come to Him. Since my parents have started pouring their lives into these people, change has taken place. Whether that be in the rich man that realized his need for a Savior or the proud man that only recently allowed my dad the opportunity to even share the gospel, there has been change. We've seen (yes, I say "we" even though I'm certainly not worthy of being a part of something like this) the numbers of those coming out on Sunday morning increase, we've started a Kid's Church to start building into the lives of the little ones around the area, we've given back to the community with food and service - we've been the church. And I have peace. Peace came a few weeks ago, actually. But it was confirmed this Sunday when I heard my daddy preach. I've heard him bring messages for a while now, but this Sunday was different because the Lord spoke to MY heart. See - this Sunday I wasn't looking at Ronnie as my dad - I was looking to him as my pastor and I saw, maybe for the first time, how Jesus wants to use him. I was supposed to help mom in Kid's Church and I just woke up knowing that I needed to go to church. I've never gone to the waterfront service at the beach before EXPECTING to hear a word from Jesus. But, boy, I was broken by the word the Lord spoke through my dad Sunday. And not only did that word lead me to contemplate matters about my own relationship with my Savior, but it also slapped me in the face with the fact that this is what my family is supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be ministering to the people down on the coast. We're supposed to be reminding them that not too many years ago we, as a family, were a TRAIN WRECK. We're supposed to be showing them that the amazing grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient. We're supposed to love them enough to sacrifice the comfort of my mom keeping Kendall for me or my dad being a short drive away when I need some advice. We're supposed to love Jesus enough to follow Him wherever it is that He leads.
And that's what my mom, the woman I'd love to become, and my (step)dad, the man that didn't have to father me but has done a HECK of a job doing it, have chosen to do. Theirs is a labor of love on this Labor Day. They may not see the fruits of that labor in this lifetime. But they are allowing the God of the universe to use them for HIS kingdom, uncertainty and all. And my heart is nearly about to explode for love for the Father for choosing them and love for them for responding.
God is good. All the time.
And I am a blessed woman.
I headed down Friday with my parents and KK and we met Megan down there. I haven't seen the Megster since school started back, so I was VERY excited to hug her neck and Kendall was thrilled to see her "Mimi". James joined us on Saturday and we truly had a great time just hanging out as a family.
I've been semi-boycotting the beach ever since there has been talk about my parents moving down there to plant a church. I know, I know - how selfish of me. Ronnie has been preaching down there for a few summers and I guess it should have dawned on me that the natural progression would be that they start a "full-time" church, but I was so comfortable in my routine of my precious parents being 20 minutes away that when they started talking about making the beach their permanent home, I sort of freaked. For those that don't know me too well, let me explain that I have a FABULOUS relationship with my parents. Like we're the type that will sort of make you sick because we get along so well. I'd rather be with them than pretty much anyone else on the planet. So, a few months ago when they came to me and told me that the Lord was doing a work in their hearts and leading them to be more permanent at the beach, I did what every other mature, Christian woman would do. I got into an argument with Ronnie, stopped reading my Bible for a while and decided that I'd never go to the beach again as long as I lived. Fabulous reaction, right? WRONG!
Listen - I know I was wrong, but I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest when my mom called me, full of excitement, to tell me that the Lord had clearly spoken to her and that she just knew they were being called to build a year-round church down there. But then the Lord started opening my eyes to the ministry that they have been called to.
I've been going to the Atlantic Beach/Emerald Isle area almost every weekend in the summer since I was a sweet little infant laying in my mommy's arms. I know the island like the back of my hand. We've been in this particular spot in Indian Beach (about halfway between EI and AB) since I was 12. These people have witnessed the unmistakable power of Jesus Christ working in the life of my family. They've sought out my dad and asked him to be their pastor during the summer months. They've come to the deck of our modest trailer and sought counsel. Some of them have shunned my parents, some of them have loved my parents, but all of them have seen the Lord at work - whether they wanted to admit that it was the Lord or not. The group of people that have come to hear the Lord speak through Ronnie has continuously grown. There are some there that have a relationship with Jesus and some that dabble in the whole "religious" thing. And then there are those that are very much against the thought that God wants something from them...that God wants them to come to Him. Since my parents have started pouring their lives into these people, change has taken place. Whether that be in the rich man that realized his need for a Savior or the proud man that only recently allowed my dad the opportunity to even share the gospel, there has been change. We've seen (yes, I say "we" even though I'm certainly not worthy of being a part of something like this) the numbers of those coming out on Sunday morning increase, we've started a Kid's Church to start building into the lives of the little ones around the area, we've given back to the community with food and service - we've been the church. And I have peace. Peace came a few weeks ago, actually. But it was confirmed this Sunday when I heard my daddy preach. I've heard him bring messages for a while now, but this Sunday was different because the Lord spoke to MY heart. See - this Sunday I wasn't looking at Ronnie as my dad - I was looking to him as my pastor and I saw, maybe for the first time, how Jesus wants to use him. I was supposed to help mom in Kid's Church and I just woke up knowing that I needed to go to church. I've never gone to the waterfront service at the beach before EXPECTING to hear a word from Jesus. But, boy, I was broken by the word the Lord spoke through my dad Sunday. And not only did that word lead me to contemplate matters about my own relationship with my Savior, but it also slapped me in the face with the fact that this is what my family is supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be ministering to the people down on the coast. We're supposed to be reminding them that not too many years ago we, as a family, were a TRAIN WRECK. We're supposed to be showing them that the amazing grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient. We're supposed to love them enough to sacrifice the comfort of my mom keeping Kendall for me or my dad being a short drive away when I need some advice. We're supposed to love Jesus enough to follow Him wherever it is that He leads.
And that's what my mom, the woman I'd love to become, and my (step)dad, the man that didn't have to father me but has done a HECK of a job doing it, have chosen to do. Theirs is a labor of love on this Labor Day. They may not see the fruits of that labor in this lifetime. But they are allowing the God of the universe to use them for HIS kingdom, uncertainty and all. And my heart is nearly about to explode for love for the Father for choosing them and love for them for responding.
God is good. All the time.
And I am a blessed woman.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Chatty McChatterbox
I remember reading about "word explosions" when Kendall was first born. I wondered to myself if I would know when she was having one of those...um, I can definitely say that yes - she's having one now. It seems like everyday she surprises me with a new word...one that we haven't even been trying to teach her. Like today's word - socks. I had no clue that she knew that word. She just randomly saw a sock and said "socks". I love it! Parenting has gotten more fun and a little easier since she has been able to ask for juice or an apple. She's such a joy...truly, she is.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Surgery went well...
Thank you so much for your prayers. James' dad came through his procedure just fine and is resting at home this week. The recovery period is a few weeks and he'll be back to normal. The way God shows up in medical stuff just flat out amazes me.
While I was away at the conference (which was beyond fabulous, by the way), James took Kendall shopping and bought her some new shoes. Let me tell you, that girl is proud of her shoes. Whenever she wears them - she is constantly looking down at them and saying "SHOES!!" in her excited voice. It's precious. Poor child is obviously gonna take after her mommy in that regard. Just picked me up a new pair at Target about an hour ago, as a matter of fact...
While I was away at the conference (which was beyond fabulous, by the way), James took Kendall shopping and bought her some new shoes. Let me tell you, that girl is proud of her shoes. Whenever she wears them - she is constantly looking down at them and saying "SHOES!!" in her excited voice. It's precious. Poor child is obviously gonna take after her mommy in that regard. Just picked me up a new pair at Target about an hour ago, as a matter of fact...
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