Mason Memories: Finishing Out June and Celebrating the 4th of July

My little partners in crime came alongside to watch Mommy vote in the recent election.

We are thrilled for a new cousin!! Henry Thomas Mason arrived on June 19th and is perfect in every way. Lucy Mills and McClain melt everytime I show them recent pictures of baby Henry. They just love him already.

Grandmother and Grandaddy journeyed to South Carolina to spend time with us and we enjoyed every minute of their company. When they arrived the kids were already in bed, but McClain slipped downstairs to have time with his grandparents all to himself. He scampered to the playroom, grabbed his favorite board game, Candyland, and set it up to play with Grandmother.

And then set up Chutes n Ladders to play with Grandaddy.

Judy and Tony treated the kids to a dinner out at Moe's and a shopping trip to Target to pick out a little something special. In true boy form, McClain picked out Spiderman along with the matching helicopter.

While the kids were being loved on by their grandparents, Travis and I enjoyed a dinner out just the two of us.

Lucy Mills talked Grandmother into buying the Tinkerbelle Fairy set of dolls - I don't even know all their names but she sure does. Grandmother and Grandaddy pour so much time into these little people - from a morning of swimming, to frozen yogurt dates, to an indoor game of dodgeball - our kids are in heaven during these visits.

The kids pulled some money out of their money jar to buy a new set of paint and paintbrushes. Had I known the hours that this little $3 investment would occupy, I would have gotten them a little sooner.

So this happened...

Yep, I can't even take a shower in private without these kiddos "getting into mischief" as McClain calls it. They were supposed to be watching "Frozen" while I got a quick shower in before Travis came home from work, and the next thing I know McClain walks in with a big, Cheshire cat grin on his face. At least he honestly told me he cut his hair...Miss Priss refused to admit to the crime of crimes. She would not come clean about cutting her hair so finally I propped her up to look in the mirror. She examined the damaged and responded "well Mama...I just wanted it short." There you have it folks. After a punishment, hugs, and a long talk about not playing with scissors we headed off to Target to buy hair clips by the dozen. Don't laugh when you see us out.

The kids are in a phase of somedays needing naps and somedays not. Regardless I have them take a quiet rest time in their rooms - they can look at books, do puzzles, play, listen to books on tape, but they have to stay quiet. Wouldn't you know that as soon as I told McClain Mason that he didn't have to take a nap, look how I find him...

My newest favorite find in our city is the State Museum. I thought that maybe we were still too young to be interested in it, but the recent dinosaur exhibit got me thinking we should give it a try. That and it has air conditioning during this blazing summer heat.

The kids loved pushing the buttons on the SC map that light up the different regions. We talked about where we live, where Tutu lives and marked the drive to the beach.

Yikes.

The kids were mesmerized with the old crank phone...they were spaced far apart and the children couldn't get over being able to call and talk to each other.

Behold the dinosaur exhibit. Thankfully no nightmares have ensued since this outing.

They were really into learning about the dinosaurs and seeing the different types.

More painting time.

Fun at the pool with Brenn.

Sweet Suggie graciously hosted a spend the night party for her grands. I was able to clean my house and pack for the beach in peace. Best.thing.ever.

More summer fun with our friends Eve and Jack - the splash pad!

4th of July at Litchfield

Tropical Storm Arthur made us stay indoors one day, so we had to get creative with our activities. Pop Pop even gave jumping with Lucy Mills' Minnie Mounce jump rope a shot.