This Guy

It does not get any cuter than McClain Mason.  At least in this biased mama's opinion.  

The limitless amounts of joy and laughter he has brought into our family, alongside my almost daily thought that boys are so different, have made me ever thankful for this guy.  

A few months ago McClain was just shy of two and a half when he jumped aboard the potty train. He has been doing great ever since.  Having a sister not much older seemed to help in this department.  However; big sis also taught master climber how to scamper out of his crib way sooner than Mama was ready to make the switch.  We put safety first and took the crib down in exchange for twin big boy beds (that once belonged to my mom and aunt - so special).  We are now a diaper free and crib free household.  

Since starting preschool this fall, McClain and his best buddy Jack like to talk on their walking talkys and run off to their rescue missions!! 

Daddy asked McClain recently what he wants to be when he grows up.  His response, a back yard guy that digs up the dirt and dumps it on people's heads.  Um...ok.  Well I guess there are worse things he could aspire to? 

He can be whatever he wants to be as long as he keeps that heart pure and tender.  What did I do before having a sweet son tell me Mama, you look so pretty! and I love my sweet mama ?

And here Mama, I picked dis for you. 

McClain never seems to meet a stranger.  When he walks into his class he tells each friend hello and calls them by name.  He does this at school, CBS, and church.  Perhaps he is laying the groundwork for running for office run day?  Or maybe he just has a heart that loves to love.

He has started to climb to the top of any piece of furniture and shout Blastoff! as he jumps off.  

He is happiest playing with Sis, being with friends, and he is always quick to tell me I love my family. 

He wants to be just like daddy and I think he already is. 

McClain, you are our superhero.   No doubt about it.

An American Girl Birthday

This birthday princess had the most special celebration for turning four.  

Our family met up with Grandmother and Grandaddy in Atlanta to give our girl a birthday treat she could never forget.   

Here she is getting checked into her American Girl hotel room.  It was fit for a princess.  And little brother thought is was pretty cool too.

After we loved on Grandmother and Grandad, and unpacked our things we drove over to the main event.  

For months we have been checking the American Girl books and tapes out from our local library.  Lucy Mills loves them and knows all the girls by name.  She could not wait to get inside this magical, girly, dreamland of a store.  

She was in awe. 

Yet, without hesitation she went directly to the doll she wanted.  She chose her long ago when the catalog came in the mail and there was no changing her mind.  Mommy, I want Josephina.

Not a minute was wasted.  She opened the doll box and sat down in the middle of the store with her new family member.

Come to find out it was Josephina's braid and earrings that sealed her fate in the heart of my birthday girl.  

Pure happiness with her pink credit card in hand ready to take Josephina home. 

We are all thankful to Grandmother and Grandaddy for making her birthday one for the memory books.  What a loved little girl our four year old is! 

Just checking on Josephina.  

That is the face of a happy birthday girl. 

After getting Josephina we headed for a birthday dinner celebration at the Bistro in the American Girl store.  It was perfect.  They had chairs for the doll to join us at the table and even brought her a little tea party.  The meal was delicious.  But nothing topped singing Happy Birthday to Lucy Mills and seeing the smile on her face when they brought her the pink birthday cake.  She was in heaven.  

I can't believe she is four.  

After dinner we headed to the hotel for a fun evening of swimming, and then Lucy Mills snuggled up with her new baby and their matching pick robes.  

Sweet daughter, you are a blessing to our family and I am thankful that we had such a fun memory for your fourth birthday.  

Adventures at EdVenture

Last Christmas Suggie and Aunt Marian gave the kiddos a membership to the local children's museum, EdVenture.  

They.love.it.

It proved to be the perfect indoor activity during the south's hot summer months.  Here is Lucy Mills posing with Eddie.  They loving climbing through the playground inside the boy who spans the two floors of the museum. 

They are amazed at all the interesting things to see - like the human skeleton that is designed to let the children move it's arms and legs.  

The supermarket is always a must to see.  They can shop, go through the checkout counter and ring up their items on the cash register.  

Giving a dental check-up. 

In the construction zone. 

Playing with the puppies and kitties in the vet. 

The light up board. 

Checking out the puzzles in the indoor treehouse. 

We love our adventures at EdVenture.  

4th of July

Yep, it's mid September and I am finally catching up on pictures from the summer.  I am nearly jumping out of my skin to edit and post our more recent happenings - Lucy Mills' birthday, the start of school, our recent trip out west; but the summer memories are too sweet to not document.  

For the second year in a row we spent the 4th of July at the beach.  It was a great getaway full of swimming, swimming, and more swimming.  We took a break from the water to engage in the parade some of the neighbors organized for the children.  

Yankee Doodle Dandy here led the way...

But that was right after Lucy Mills serenaded the group with every word of God Bless America.  It was perfect. 

And they were off, marching in step right behind the flag. 

The kids had a great time sporting their red, white, and blue and proudly waving their American flags.  

The four of us. 

God bless America, land that I love. 

The Beach in June

Our little fam of four convinced Daddy to take over a week off of work so we could escape to the coast for some R & R. 

Ten days free of business calls, emails to respond to, bills to pay, and floors to clean replaced with family memories made at the beach.

Time spent building sandcastles, collecting seashells, and surfin' the waves.  

Typical McClain - having a blast riding the waves!

Hang ten dude.

This girl was in her element.  She was the happiest I have seen her and seemed completely at home.  While she is cautious of the big waves rolling in, she loves to run in and out letting the tide chase her.  

My loves.

Beach girl. 

They had a blast carrying water back and forth from the ocean to make their own "swimming pool." That's one way to tucker these energizer bunnies out!

Love those smiles! 

I noticed this week that whenever McClain was heavily involved or concentrating on something, he would stick his little tongue out.  Travis said that Uncle Daniel used to do the same thing as a child.

He would have stayed out here all day.

Beach babies.

While the beach is wonderful, the children enjoyed having a swimming pool to take a dip in each day.

Notice McClain's arm bandage?  That stinker sliced his finger horribly by smashing sister's nightlight in his bare hand the day before we left for our trip.  After a last minute trip to our pediatrician, we went to extreme efforts to keep his finger clean, dry, and free of sand while at the beach.  While it was a chore staying on top of it, it certainly didn't slow our little swimmer down.

We love time with Daddy!

Daredevil McClain getting tossed in the air.

Not scared a bit!

Look mom, no hands! 

Lucy Mills has improved leaps and bounds in the pool.  She couldn't get enough of "going under" and swimming.  She even asked me to take her floaties off and we had so much fun practicing swimming like the big girls. ;)

Jumping off the side without holding our hands was also a new venture this summer.

While it took a lot of coaxing, big girl took the plunge!

And wanted to do it over and over and over.

We enjoyed beautiful weather the first half of the trip, and then some clouds rolled in causing storms the last few days.  These two were entertained with coloring books, markers, playdough, Curious George movies, and of course, each other. Mommy and Daddy hunkered down to finish watching our latest obsession, Lost. 

And when all else failed, running the hallways and pushing the alligator (elevator) buttons was a blast.

All in all, we enjoyed a happy trip away making memories as a family with our sweet babies.

Lucy Mills literally cried as Travis was packing up the car to come home.  Lucky for her we return for round two next week!

(I am going to start putting my watermark on my pictures to protect these images.)