Moments in between the hustle and bustle

To quote Mason's Llamma Llamma Holiday Drama book "Come and listen, little Lllama. Have a cuddle with your Mamma. Sometimes we should take a rest and hold the ones we love the best. Wishing, waiting, wanting things, we forget what this time brings. Gifts are nice but there's another - the true gift is we have each other."

I know I am not alone when it comes to the holidays being a stressful, busy, and exhausting time of year. It seems like from the time Thanksgiving hits to New Years day we are going one hundred miles a day. I have to secretly admit, I kind of love it. 

I am fortunate that I get to throw a birthday party in the mix. It takes a nice support team to help get you through all of it. Thanks Husband, Sister-in-laws, and my mom for all your help.   Here are a couple photos from our camera before it died.            

I found this dalmation fabric for a table cloth, lets see if a halloween costume lies in the future. I will have to learn to sew.

                                                                                                

We had a lovely and simple Thanksgiving with my parents. We deeply missed Cade, Emily and the kids but I think Mason doesn't mind having my Mom and Dad's full attention.

My mom would hate this picture because it is showing the kitchen clutter of the day but that's Thanksgiving, sorry Mom. Anyways, my parents tried a new recipe this year, Sweet and Savory Stuffed Pumpkins. They heard the recipe on NPR. It is not low-fat but it was delicious.

The aroma in the house was intoxicating.

While up at my folks Matt talked me into cutting down a tree from their property. "Think of what a great memory for Mason." My husband is good, really good at convincing me.

He had scoped out a pretty good one, just a little Charlie Brown flare. Mason enjoyed the whole process; stomping around the snow packed woods, cutting it down, tying it to the car and the finished product. Notice I didn't say decorating it? Too much for our two year old maybe next year.

 I think the weight of the Star is a little much for our sweet tree.

This is the first Christmas tree we have had in this house.

A few decorations around the house. I made this Christmas card holder, simple but I love it. I get to enjoy all the cards all day.

Not too many wrapped presents as of now. And definitely not to be placed under the Christmas tree. They are fuel for tantrums so we are sending most of them up to my parents. Poor Mason doesn't quite get that waiting thing.

No stockings either because I know he would pull them down daily and those heavy metal stocking holders would equal a hospital visit. BUT those are little things that come with having a toddler and our house still feels and smells like Christmas. LOVE IT!

                                                                  

In all the craziness we have tried to take some time to just be together.

walks along clear creek

Icy rivers and leafless trees

running on the empty baseball fields

and quiet moments by the sound of the water.

Moments that refresh our souls and keep us living in God's graces. Thankfulness that our hearts are full with love for each other.

We know a Terrific Two Year old

I wrote Mason a letter on his first birthday and decided to do it again for his second. Perhaps I will try to do this throughout his life and for subsequent children but you know how these things go. And because I am a sentimental cheese ball I made him a slide show with music to go with his letter. I just looked and I never posted his first year so you lucked out there.  So if you are really bored at work or with life feel free to watch 120 pictures of Mason's second year! Hopefully I will get some other life related pictures up here soon and some of Mason's birthday party.

Dearest Mason,


We celebrated your 2nd Birthday a week early this year. Your birthday will always fall close to Thanksgiving which is cool because you will get one heck of a feast but sometimes your friends may have to be with their families instead of you. This will only matter while you are 21 and younger. The good thing about turning two is that a Birthday is Birthday. I think you would like to celebrate yours daily. This year we had a fire truck birthday and your left brained mom created something that resembled a fire truck cake but trust me no awards we given out! We talked about your birthday for weeks. Practicing singing Happy Birthday everyday to various people and Characters, so when the big day arrived you sang right along with us. We even it sang it twice, relighting the candles, per your request. At the end you would do a spin and clap saying "Yea Mason."  I guess Dad and I are doing well in the "promoting self confidence in your child" department.


Your second year has been a wonderful one. You have gone from a babbling one year old who was into EVERYTHING to a little boy. I think I noticed the toddler in you start to emerge around 20 months. After spending time in Alaska with Fischer, Eme, and Jack I noticed your speech and manners really take flight. I have to say it is so fun to be your parents.
You are a very curious child, just like one of your favorite characters, Curious George. He is one of your favorite stuffed animals, who along with Bear, share your bed every night. George often goes on trips with us and he comforted you this past week when we went to the doctor for your checkup.


At age two you are sleeping in a big boy bed and have officially given up the bottle you adored so much. We are at the very beginning of the potty training process and feel you will let us know when the time is right for you.


A few months ago you started to like cartoons. We only have basic TV so PBS is your favorite station. I do miss watching the Today show in the morning but Curious George and Super Why have allowed me to have coffee, read the news, and clean. This summer Grandma bought you "Elmo Potty Time," I am not sure what happened to that DVD but I can tell you we both have every line memorized. My favorite is when Elmo's Dad says "Now Elmo where did your mother put that air freshener" and your favorite part is the  use of the word "Dookie." I don't like that word and as parent child relationships go sometimes annoying your parent is a right of passage. I still like to annoy mine. I digress, other favorites that we watch ALL THE TIME include; Thomas the Train, Builder BOB, Curious George, and Dad's favorite Calliou. We are officially submerged in toddler obsessions!


As your parents we think you are going to cure cancer someday but really, you are smart. You can spell your name, say your ABC's, and almost count to 20. You love numbers and nature and of course CBS Sunday morning. You love books and like the DVDs, you have your favorites.


Your dad has taught you about the various cycles the moon goes through and you say them every night before bed. NERDS! Just kidding. Your brain is a sponge but even though you are well on your way to solve world issues you are still a toddler, 100% a little boy who jumps, runs, and swords things with whatever wrapping paper roll you can get your hands on.


You also love Firetrucks, Trash trucks, Buses (especially school buses), trains and big trucks (semi's). No matter what you are doing the sirens of the firetruck or the crunching of the weekly trash pickup will stop you dead in your tracks. You are very concerned about helping people and we play make believe so you can come and rescue you dad or I with your firetrucks and ambulances.
The best is when we need you to sit still for a length of time like during dinner out, we pull up YouTube on our fancy phones and you watch Trash Truck Spec videos. I think the Heil DuraPack side loader is your favorite. I do have to say though the world needs trash truck drivers as a mother I am hoping you will go more along the lines of the cure cancer route. However it works out I will always love you.

Lately you have become obsessed with tunnels. Requesting we drive through one whenever we are in the car. Thank goodness there is a really small one connected to the Coors brewery in our town.


Thank you for the everyday kisses, the hugs, the I love yous, miss yous, pleases and thank yous. Thank you for our nightly songs (Itsy bitsy spider, Twinkle little star, and you are my sunshine) that you sing with me and our nightly prayers. Thank you for the way you love your Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and Grandparents! You melt our hearts all the time. 


Mason we cannot give thanks enough to god for picking us to be your parents. For giving  us this awesome responsibility of raising you. We are looking forward to age two and though I know there are going to be some challenging days I know the moments we can never get back will out weigh those.


Love Always,


Momma and Dad

Slideshow made with Smilebox