It's been a hectic spring and start to summer in the Mason household. I can't find the words to even pick back up where these stories that make up our memories should fit. I will start by saying that the Lord is good. He is faithful, even in the times where we can't see Him working. But working He is. Psalm 34 verse 17 says "The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. he rescues them from all their troubles." This has been a season of finding our way. From job changes, to tough financial decision to make. To surgery, to a car that just doesn't want to keep running, a great grandmother who has grown weak and feeble, schooling decisions for the fall and life bears down on us like a rainstorm that won't relinquish. Yet, there are blessings intertwined along the way. Blessings that go unnoticed the majority of the time. So I snap my camera to capture the preciousness that He gifts us with. And this blog, that I refuse to quit on, is the place that I want to look back on one day and say "see...look where God was working. I'm glad we didn't miss it."
Here lies 5 months of pictures from my iPhone. Thank God for that handy, dandy thing. It takes running out of storage space for me to finally sit down, unload, and document the pictures.
One of Lucy Mills classmates lives in our neighborhood. Zuri asked if LM could come play one afternoon so McClain and I walked her down the street. This was her first play date that I didn't stay for and she was so excited she skipped the entire way there.
Here lies 5 months of pictures from my iPhone. Thank God for that handy, dandy thing. It takes running out of storage space for me to finally sit down, unload, and document the pictures.
One of Lucy Mills classmates lives in our neighborhood. Zuri asked if LM could come play one afternoon so McClain and I walked her down the street. This was her first play date that I didn't stay for and she was so excited she skipped the entire way there.
McClain and his preschool buddy Bryce on the slides.
We love lunch with PopPop at Zoe's.
Working on soccer drills.
Valentine's Day surprises for our little sweetheart.
Love them.
Books with Suggie.
Packages from Grandmother and Grandaddy are the most fun! Once they are finished playing with the toys and eating the candy, the boxes make for cool "pirate ships."
We love, love our neighbors.
Little mama Lucy Mills loves to carry her baby, Maggie around.
Part of the kid's Christmas gift this year included tickets to the February show of Disney's Pirates and Princess tour. It was a special day, but Travis and I walked away with the conclusion that our crew is not ready for a Disney trip anytime soon.
I was cooking breakfast one morning and looked over to see a little piano playing and reading time happening.
I love that my children love my first baby, Maggie. She is a special part of our family whose world was rocked the moment real babies came on the scene. She is one loved pup though.
After the Disney Pirates show, Suggie gave McClain a pirate hat and sword. Day maker. Those are two "cheese" faces if I've eve seen them!
That same night Suggie kept the kiddos so that Travis and I could enjoy a double date night out with some of our dearest friends. We did dinner and Darius Rucker concert. These two mamas loved our night out on the town!
Mama and Daddy feeling like youngsters in love.
More Maggie love.
No sooner had the words "we have almost made it out of cold and flu season unscathed" left my mouth when the stomach bug hit our house like an atomic bomb. Followed by croup, strep throat, sinus infections, ear infections, and round two of the stomach bug. Never again will I utter those words...
But he does make a cute little patient.
But he does make a cute little patient.
Our sweet group of mothers and daughters got the idea to do an American Girl doll book club and tea for our little ladies. The girls brought their dolls along and did crafts - this one centered on Felicity - and they enjoyed it almost as much as the mamas.
Lucy Mills and Josephina.
A new meaning to "bubble" bath.
Welcome Spring.
How we missed the great outdoors.
My dinner time helpers.
The kids were so excited to help Gee celebrate her birthday.
We have the best zoo and the best friends to enjoy it with.
Feeding the giraffes.
Lucy Mills' first time climbing the rock wall. She is a natural.
Beach trip #1 of 2014. One Thursday after CBS I put the kids in the car and asked them if they wanted to drive to the beach. With shrieks of "yeah!!" and "hurray!" I quickly packed our bags, threw everything in the car and we hit the road. Travis joined us the following day after work. I love this age with the kids - no diapers, bottles, pack and plays, or double strollers. Alleluia! We can hit the road and go.
My happy place. Theirs too.
Why yes we wear Christmas pjs in March, especially at the beach.
All day Friday we did this.
And this.
And hunted for these.
And built this.
Since I had children I have wondered when the day will come where they can play and I can sit on the beach without jumping up every 2 seconds to keep someone from eating sand, or getting swept away by the tide. Well my friends, that day has arrived. It seems that 4 1/2 and nearly 3 1/2 are the magic ages for children to happily play on the beach.
Leave me alone world, I'm on beach time with my babies.
We brought several library books down with us, and the budding reader got lots of practice in while we were away.
Once Daddy settled in with us, we hit up our favorite pancake joint for breakfast.
McClain put a hurting on some blueberry pancakes.
Breakfast out it a special treat.
Just to keep things real...the aftermath of vacation ain't so pretty.
At preschool with her best girl, Evie.
Snips and snails and ...lizard tails? That's what little boys are made of.
Nothing brings out a smile quite like a milkshake.
With Mrs. Louise, her precious CBS teacher. These two dressed up as Peter and Dorcus for the Bible story.
Swinging at Gee's after bible study.
More zoo adventures with the Fitts crew.
Molly, Eliza, and Lucy Mills on the carousel.
The whole gang.
Helping sweet Eliza walk around the zoo.
Feeding the giraffes.
The shark tank in the aquarium.
It seemed to be a weekend extravaganza with the Fitts family - the zoo, church, dinner at their house, and an afternoon complete with t-ball lessons.
Three monkeys in the bed snoozing away at Suggie's.
Beach trip #2 included time with, you guessed it, the Fitts. William, LM and McClain were brave enough to go in the water in April temps!
Spaghetti night with the crew!
Warming up in the hot tub.
Cooling off at the ice cream shop.
Getting cozy in their Easter pjs from Grandmother and Grandaddy.
We celebrated Travis' birthday at the beach Easter weekend.
Happy Easter and Amen!
Back at home enjoying the park with our friends who are the same age as our children. Here is McClain with Reece playing guns. Boys.
I have no words.
Getting their teeth "tickled" at the dentist. Both children did great.
McClain with his two CBS teachers, Mrs Melanie and Mrs. Kelli. The sweet ladies were great with a wild class of 2 and 3 year olds.
Mrs. Caroline and Mrs. Louise hold a special place in my heart. Apparently in Lucy Mills' too. They taught this precious class so much and even gave each child a Bible with the verses highlighted that the four olds spent the year memorizing.
Visiting Meme in the rehab facility where Lucy Mills got to help Meme do some of her exercises.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this guy found his old athletic jacket from the Air Force Academy. All I could think of was the scene from "Father of the Bride" when Steve Martin finds his old tux in the attic..."what do you think? Bought it in '75 and it still fits! {rip}" Love him.
The neighborhood watch committee.
Fieldtrip Fridays!
We went with a group of friends to this precious farm to learn about country living, barn animals, take a hayride and have an outdoor adventure. My kids loved every minute. McClain wanted to saddle the sheep.
And we had to call him off the peacock.
And the rabbit.
And was able to work on his turkey call.
Little miss enjoyed a pony ride.
Caring for the donkey.
McClain and his best buddy from school, Jack.
More peacock chasing.
Lucy Mills fell in love with little bunny foo foo.
Hayride!
We look forward to more field trip Fridays with this group in the fall!
Chillin'
Oh summer, how we've missed you!
Our preschool does a wonderful job celebrating mothers. For weeks leading up to Mother's Day, Lucy Mills and McClain came home singing songs they were practicing for us, and telling me about special crafts they were making to give me. "But it's a surprise Mommy" they would always say.
I loved my Mother's Day luncheon with my sweet girl.
My most treasured gift is always the card she gives me...
The next day was my turn to celebrate being McClain Mason's mommy. His class met us in the chapel to perform several songs that melted me heart. Then back in his class, he greeted me with a flower and a Mother's Day tea. Oh how I love being a mama to this boy!
My Mother's Day blessings.
Lucy Mills was so proud of her pink Olaf painting she made at Anna Heath's birthday party. We are obsessed with all things from "Frozen." She has already informed me that she wants a "Frozen" birthday party when she turns 5.
We love visits with Aunt Tutu.
Ahoy! My precious pirate.
Playing in the dress up box.
Several families that I knew from my childhood also vacation down at Litchfield. It is amazing how time flies - here is Lucy Mills at the pool with one of my old classmates' daughter. Lucy Mills and Louise hit it off and loved practicing their "blastoffs" all weekend.
More beach time with the Fitts.
They get so silly together I can't even get a decent picture.
Ahhhh. Thankful my children still nap!
A full day at the beach makes for cute girls in clean pjs.
We came home to enjoy more swimming with Suggie at her pool. The kids like the hide under her hat and play big bad wolf at the pool. These three get into their own little world together. So thankful for times like these.
So far I have been the one to cut both Lucy Mills and McClain's hair, mainly for the sake of saving money. Well, sweet girl reached the point where we needed to call in the professional.
The cut was quick but the hairstyle was her favorite.
That and the included manicure.
"Hey Mama, come and look at the cool fort we made!"
We signed up for the summer reading program at our library, and came home with a big stack of books to get started with.
All caught up for now. Hopefully it won't be five more months for me to post the next round. These children really are too precious for me to not document the makings of their childhood. After all the days are long, but the years are short.
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