In the Morning

I think it's needless to say that Mason loved his new train track. He stepped out of his room into the kitchen and it took him a second to register what was going on, but soon he was wandering around the kitchen pointing out new pieces and trying out everything.




He loved it so much I actually had to coax him into the living room to see the rest of his presents. Note to self for next year: one awesome present will be completely sufficient.








He was thrilled with everything (and he was definitely in need of new toys anyway). I was afraid I'd created a little mini-monster with my superfluous gift-giving, but I think he's alright.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

and instead of sugar plums and gum drops, train tracks were all through our house.


Mason inherited a ton of Thomas trains and track from my little cousins (who, by no standards, are little anymore). Adding it to the track we already had would give us enough for the mother of all train tracks, and I wanted Mase to wake up to it on Christmas morning.

So, after getting him in bed and getting the rest of the presents wrapped, I sat down to work on it. It took forever, but finally, at 1AM, I had this:






And yes, I am well aware I went way overboard. Online shopping will get you every time. Oops.

Christmas Art

Sugar Sugar

Ahh, holiday baking. I look forward to the few weeks leading up to Christmas every year solely because it's pretty much the only time I'm not counting calories and feeling guilty. Mase and I made sugar cookies last week. They turned out great, we ate more icing and dough than we did finished product, and Mase loved rolling them out and using cookie cutters - he was a pro, too - after all, it's essentially just like Play Doh.







Mmm. :)

Two Too Many

No Skating

Mason's daycare had a skating party a few weeks ago. He was pretty hesitant about being on wheels instead of good old solid ground, so I put on some skates and went out with him.


I bet it's been more than ten years since I've roller skated. Actually, I know it has. So when Mason freaked out after ten feet of skating, I was pretty disappointed. I wanted to go flying around in circles to Ace of Base, but alas, we ended up sitting on the sidelines watching the other kids skate. We did make it around one full circle and he let me skate around twice carrying him (which, fyi, isn't the slightest bit easy).


Maybe next time.

Yes, I'll Just Put it Over My Head

I wasn't sure it could get any worse than the huge butt comment, but I think it might have.

I have a pimple and it isn't small. I was getting ready for work yesterday and trying, to no avail, to hide the monstrous thing with seven pounds of foundation.

I say, more to myself than Mase, "Uggh, how the heck am I going to cover this pimple up?!"

Immediately, Mason says, "With a blanket?"

Um.. Thanks.

I get out of the shower to see that Mason had gone to the bathroom and used no less than half a roll of toilet paper. Of course it won't flush, so I'm plunging the thing and he walks in.

I say, "Mase, you have a tiny butt, there's no reason why you should ever need this much toilet paper, okay?"

Him: "Okay. ..I have a tiny butt?"

Me: "Yeah."

Him: Yeah! I do! And you have the HUGEST butt!"

It's a Really Cute Picture Though

Mason and I were napping the other day - he was snuggled up beside me and looked cuter than usual. I grabbed my phone and took this picture:


Not half a second after this picture was taken, I dropped my phone. On his head.

Let's just say I ruined the moment, and he wasn't nearly as cute when he was screaming over being woken up by a falling iPhone to the head. But really, who would want to be woken up like that? Poor Mase.

Scrooge No More

I'm a self-proclaimed Christmas Grinch. Or so I thought, until this year. Maybe it's because I substituted twice this week and, since I'm done with grad school 'til the end of January, have been really bored, but I mayyy have just gone online Christmas shopping crazy.

I blamed getting the tree early on my dad and Kim, but I'm not sure who I can blame for the ginormous Amazon order I just placed. Kids toys are just so FUN. Man, I can't wait to play Candyland and The Cat in the Hat board game.

15 days 'til Christmas :)

First Snow

A couple days ago was our first snow of the season. Mason doesn't remember the snow from last year and he was super excited to head out in it this year. We took the opportunity to have a little New Years card photo shoot and then we ran around in the snow.

Mase said the snow "sounds like carrots" crunching. (It totally does!)

Beccaria Lights

All Lit Up

I Hope This Lasts All Winter

Park days at the end of November? Yes, please.