Leap Day Catch Up

Ah, it's been awhile, hasn't it? I go for so long, blogging every day, and then all of a sudden I'm MIA for two weeks. So it goes.

It's the last day of February - Leap Day, actually - and I have no idea where the time is going. Everything has been crazy lately. I guess it always is though... maybe I should be getting used to it by now. Mason's starting to get restless, waiting for summer. So am I. I'm ready to be done with my job, to lay in the sun, to go to the beach, to see Dave Matthews and help plan Meg's wedding. I've been much too stressed and worried and down lately and that isn't me. Not at all. So my goal for March is to breathe a little bit more. Relax some. Read something other than grad school research and adolescent psych books. I want to finish Infinite Jest soon - it's getting a little ridiculous... the length of time it's taking me to read this thing. If I'm not done with it by the end of March I'm going to think significantly less of myself.

And Mason, he's as fun as always. He's so happy and easy-going and he never wants to leave my side. I was up all night with the flu last Friday. Saturday morning, my dad offered to come get him so I could nap a little bit (and throw up without someone climbing up my back [yes, that's as fun as it sounds]). He didn't want to leave me because I would "be all by myself".

The work, the dismal financial situation, the stress, the waiting - none of it matters - I'm so lucky.

Happy March.

The Way it Should Be

Finally, Mason earns his keep around here. hah.

Winter at Blacky

The best part of our day today was accidentally stumbling upon this:

After the park we had some ice cream and decided to take a drive. We went through Blacky and saw some guys on the ice, fishing. I was a little nervous - it isn't that cold so it couldn't be that frozen and what the heck would I do if Mase and I both fell through the ice - but we went out anyway.

Mase was amazed that we could walk on the water. He was especially fascinated by the ice fishing holes.

I don't think Blacky is ever not fun.

A Rainy Park Day

I told Mase I'd take him to the park today. He wanted to go up to the school but I overruled and went to Cold Stream because I wanted ice cream.

As soon as we got there it started to rain, but a little rain didn't dampen our moods any.

Ahh, the park makes me want summer!

Where Arrrrreeee Youuuu?

Mase is really big into hide and seek right now. Which is fine... but...

he really sucks at hiding.

Bookmark Valentines by Mason

I Thought My Serving Days Were Over?

"Mommy, I'm thirsty."

Okay..

"Can I have some water please?"

Yeah, sure, bud.

So I get up, I'm in the kitchen pouring his water and I hear:

"Hey, Mommy, can I have some ice in it?"

Yep, no problem.

"And a lemon."

Uh, okay.

"A little circle lemon on the side of the glass. Please!"

Is this my house or the Olive Garden?

A Good Sport

Anyone who says a hamster isn't a good pet for a three-year-old - that we should get a kitten or a goldfish or anything less misplaceable or crushable - is just wrong.

What kind of goldfish could do that?

Abduction

Mase and I were testing out the camera on my laptop

when we found the alien effect.

I don't think I've EVER heard him laugh so hard.

Fun with Legos

A couple new boxes of Legos means bigger Lego castles.

Bigger Lego castles mean trouble, if you happen to be a hamster.

It also means penguins and giraffes.

And construction men riding really strange frogs.

Bowling

Mase and I went bowling last weekend. It was his first time.

The woman in the lane next to us was nice enough to take that picture. She was also nice enough to give Mason five dollars "for a Happy Meal" because her husband, who had recently passed away, used to give Happy Meal money to kids all the time. If by some strange coincidence you're that lady and you're reading this - thanks.

Anyway, bowling.

Even though Mase had the unfair advantages of the bumpers, the ramp, AND being much cuter and significantly more personable, I still managed to prevail.

In case you can't read the scores, yes, those says 71 to 121. Beat him AND broke 100.

Admittedly, that was Game 2 - the first game's score being something like: Mase - 75, Me - 90. But there's no picture of that one, so it totally didn't happen.

Pillow Tent

Because every kid makes one eventually, right? We're probably a little late on this one, but this was Mason's first:

Smarter Than Your Average Hamster

Before we'd even had Hug Lovely for a week, we lost her. And I don't mean "lost her" like, she wasn't under the couch and we couldn't catch her. I mean, I went to work at 5pm, came home in the wee hours, didn't check her cage until 9am. Lost.

I'd been reading every night on the couch cuddled up with Hug Lovely, but I was surprised at how upset I was. I cried over a hamster I'd only known for a week. I lose everything - money, hoodies, my shoes, thousands of tubes of chapstick, my car in every parking lot I park it in - I could go on and on. How I've managed to keep track of Mason for 3.5 years, I'll never know.

Anyway, Hug Lovely was on the lam and I knew we needed to find her before she made her way to the basement or in some random hole in this old place. First, Mase and I tinfoiled every doorway.

Then, we strategically put snacks and vegetables in each room.

Since the rooms were all separated, we'd know what room she was in depending on what food was eaten. Genius. But the best part was our traps:

Unfortunately, Hug Lovely didn't get caught in my awesome trap... the only one who tried to eat the peanut butter was Mason. We went to dinner and came back to find a trail of orange bell pepper leading under the fridge. After an hour trying to lure her out, she was finally apprehended. Bugger. I'm proud to say it's been another week though, and we haven't lost her again. I have a stash of empty Ben and Jerry's containers on hand though, just in case.