Yeehaw!!!!!!!!!

Mason and Sydney really enjoyed and got into the Halloween day this year. They went as Woody and Jessie from the movie Toy Story 2. They wore their costumes almost the entire weekend of Halloween and still carry around their cowboy hats. Sydney was up playing in her crib the other night for over an hour.....I looked on the video monitor and she was standing in her bed with her cowgirl hat shouting, "Yeehaw! Yeehaw!"

Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell.....

Sydney now has a few pairs of pjs and plus the little fairy's picture is everywhere you look of Tinkerbell. Well, Sydney and Mason have made a new song for all of our Christmas carols to sing this holiday. "Tinkerbell, tinkerbell, tinker all the way!" Too cute not to share! What will these kids come up with next?

I smell stuffing....

Well, we just got back from a great trip to Disney World. The kids had a blast and were real troopers going from line to line at the parks. Mason was able to ride majority of the rides at the Disney World excluding the roller coasters, of course. He loved it! Sydney's favorite was It's a Small World. She and Mason still sing the song everyday.

One of the funniest moments of the trip though had to be our second day we visited the Magic Kingdom and we were riding It's a Small World. Mason pipes up and exclaims, "I smell stuffing (Mason's word for something) !" (I suddenly smell what smells like passed gas.) He then starts breathing in over and over again trying to figure out what that smell is. Then he looks at us and says, "What's that smell?" Matt and I are still laughing about this today. Another funny moment is when Mason was reprimanded for pushing Sydney. A few minutes later, he goes in and talks to Tim about it.

Mason - "Somebody pushed Sydney." Tim - "Really? Who?" Mason - "me." Tim - "oh well you shouldn't push people but sometimes we push people and it's an accident." Mason - "probably not."

The kids were mesmerized by Mickey and Minnie live and in the flesh. They still talk about it everyday. Mason will say Mickey loves him because he gave him a kiss and a hug. So sweet!

Night-Night!

I bought this cheap toy bin to put some of the miscellaneous toys that make it downstairs from their toy room. Well, Sydney has found a new use for it....her nest. I was on the computer and this is what I hear "night, night" as she curls up in the toy bin sucking her thumb. Hilarious!

Swim School

So the kids are taking swim lessons and so far it's a complete disaster. We are going to try just concentrating on Mason starting tomorrow for the lesson. They each have their meltdowns if they don't like something the teacher is making them do and each one feeds off of the other. Anyway, here's the kids with their new Swim Safari School sun visors on.

Ta Da!

Sydney's speech has really taken off this last week. Her funniest word right now has to be when she does something special and shouts out "Tada!" We all chime in and repeat it with her. She names body parts, waves and says hi and bye-bye, she answers yes/no questions with either a "no" or an "okay", she says hugs and kisses, a shouting of "mine" when Mason takes a toy, "mommy" and "daddy" vs. mama or dada, and an occasional "whoa" when she almost falls. It's amazing! This is all happening a lot sooner than we would have thought. Typical girl though.

Excuse me....

For those of you who have sons can appreciate this blog and for those of you who have baby boys....lookout. We were all at the dinner table tonight. Everyone was eating their meals happily and independently. Ahhhhh. Peace and quiet. Then I heard a noise that made me think twice as to whether or not we still owned a dog. I looked around at everyone's faces and Mason says "Excuse me." Then a few more minutes go by and Mason lets out a loud burp. I said to Matt, "Oh my gosh. All this burping and farting..." Immediately Mason passes gas once again and Matt had to leave the table because we were both about to lose it and die laughing. Mason just smiles again that sweet little smile and says "Excuse me!" Just when you think they aren't listening.......THEY ARE!

It's delicious!!!!

Those are two words Mason has picked up somewhere and now uses when he's eating something he enjoys. He said it last night during dinner which made me very happy seeing as it was a new recipe. Matt asked if he liked it and he replied, "Mmmm, yes. It's delicious!" So neat when a new words pops out of their mouths. No more yummy to my tummy......it's delicious!

Earlier today, Mason was helping Sydney put a pair of my shoes on her feet and then proceeded to help her stand up in them. She put her arms out and he pulled. They worked as a team the whole time and it was precious. Then a few moments later, Mason wanted Sydney to put the shoes back on again and she wasn't interested.....she tried to just walk away.....so he whacked her in the back with the shoe while screaming, "Sydney!" Of course, immediately after went to timeout but inside I was laughing.
*(No toddlers were hurt during the making of this scenario.)

New words everyday!

Sydney is saying new words for us everyday. Her latest and most funny word is "okay." She nows says okay when you ask her something (yes/no question). She also has added the word shoes to her vocabulary. And boy does she like her shoes. Any shoe she can find around the house, she is trying to put on and will scream in frustration if she needs help.
Today Matt went to leave for work and he was at the front door. Well, Sydney waved bye and then said "kisses." So Matt came back over and she hurried down off the couch and ran to him with her arms open for goodbye hugs and kisses. So precious that we are still talking about it.

Dressing Up!

Sydney's is becoming such a typical girl. She loves playing dress up. She will find whatever shoes, glasses, hats, etc. around the house and put them on. I know what to get her for her next birthday!!!!

Signs of Spring!

Well, spring is here finally and it's beginning to get warm enough to venture outside. High near 40 degrees and we are jumping for joy. Never thought I would be saying that but it's true. Sydney's latest craze is being outside on the playground. She tries to do everything but her favorite has to be the slide. She will slide down then run back toward the stairs for more.

Tried to get Mason to eat his zucchini the other night. Matt says, "Eat it. It's good!" Mason screams, "It's not good! It's bad!" We can't help but laugh at that. Sydney wasn't too crazy about it either and she'll eat everything in sight (including things she shouldn't). So I guessa I'm all alone when it comes to eating zucchini.

Sydney's latest words are nana for banana, bi for bite (when she wants what you are eating), boo for book, whoa for something extraordinary, baby, hi, and poo poo for when she needs her diaper changed. She can now point to nine body parts.....eyes, ears, nose, mouth, belly, feet, hands, hair, head. When Matt's putting his uniform on to go to work, she will run over to him and put her arms out for a goodbye hug and kiss. Mason then orders daddy to give him a hug and kiss and give mommy one too.

Moving to Florida!!!!!

Matt is bathing the kids so I have a moment to write a new blog for everyone. I get a break and it's so wonderful.

Well, it seems we are counting the days until we move to Florida. Matt and I went down a couple weeks ago and are in the process now of buying our new home. Mason calls it his new big castle. We are so excited. We also were able to enroll Mason in a church-based preschool right near our house. I just hope he loves it as much as he likes his current school. We can't wait to be closer to everyone. I will be so spoiled if we have to move again. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

1, 2, 3......ARGUE!

I am totally convinced that your child turns three. Their language skills have quadrupled and they have the constant urge to argue with you. Mason will ask me questions quizzing me on things and when I don't know the "right" answer, here comes the argument. He will then proceed to tell me what I said that was wrong.
Mason - "Mommy, what's that?" Mommy - "It's an airplane." Mason - "No, it's not. It's a jet!" He's right. It's a fighter jet. I'll never understand where he comes up with this stuff.

He's even become so sophisticated that he's now putting his sis in timeout. Sydney was trying to get at his shoes the other day. (She loves playing with shoes.) Mason kept telling her no, no, no, Sydney. I guess he had had enough and next thing we knew he was pushing her back up to the entertainment center. Mason - "Sydney, you're in timeout. Don't do anything. Don't touch anything. Timeout, Sydney." Sydney just looks at Mason like he's nuts. Matt and I are still talking about it to this day. So hilarious!

Sydney takes after her mommy. Everything has to be put away. Her newest "habit" is that once she's done getting her diaper changed, she has to throw the diaper away herself. If you forget and take the diaper away yourself, you will regret it. Screams and crying like you've never seen. She takes the diaper and walks right over to the pantry door waiting for you to open it. Such a good girl!!!!!

We got more snow!!!!!

We finally got another snow storm that we were all awake for and wasn't slushy. Mason and Sydney loved being outside shivering the whole time and making a snowman. Next thing we know Mason lays down and starts making a snow angel on the ground. Who knows where he picked that one up. He called it a snow rainbow (?) He also calls snow plows "snow clouds." And DO NOT try to correct him on it. Sydney enjoyed herself too. She couldn't really move in all of her snow gear but she wasn't about to give up being outside.

Trucks and Dolls!!!!

We took the kids to Toys R Us to get out of the house and since the temperature is too brutal to tolerate this is where we ended up. I used to believe that boys like trucks and girls liked dolls because parents pushed these stereotypes on our kids. But from birth Mason has loved any form of transportation including trains, trucks, lawnmowers, tractors, airplanes, etc. At the store Sydney's little eyes lit up whenever we were in the pink/doll sections. We got her a little purse with her own set of keys, wallet, lipstick, comb, and cell phone inside. She loves it. I think her favorite parts are the cell phone and the mirror on the key chain. Uh oh, boys!! Watch out.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

Sydney has decided that one of her favorite songs is "Itsy Bitsy Spider" just like her brother. She even will mimic the hand motions we do during the song. In the car this am on the way to school, I was playing a CD that has the song on it. Mason will ask to hear again and again each time it ends. Kind of annoying on a long trip but other than that I can tolerate it. Ha, ha. Well, this am I looked back and Mason says "Sydney, it's spider. It's spider song, Sydney." Sydney's little face just lit up and she started doing the hand motions. Too cute for words.

A couple of days ago I looked over at Sydney and she was standing kind of funny...a little crouched. So I called her name and said "Sydney, what are doing? Are you okay?" She started her alien babble and hit herself down at her diaper. I walked over to take a whiff and low and behold she had pooped in her diaper. Agh! She's already telling me. Craziness!!!!!!

Mason had his big 3 birthday party. He ate way too many cupcakes but it's only once a year, right? Gotta go. Matt made dinner. Mmmmm.

Sydney a hawk. I not a hawk

Sydney and Mason got mohawks in the bath last night. Mommy: "Look! Sydney has a mohawk." Mason: "Sydney's a hawk. I not a hawk."

Where does he come up with this stuff?

This morning Mason is getting dressed for school when GMA has a segment with the space shuttle taking off. Mommy: "Did you see that space shuttle going up in the air, Buddy?" Mason: "Yes, it's going to Mars, Mommy. Mars, it's red. Yes, it's red Mars." Okay kiddo, whatever you say.

Mason was watching Toy Story 2 where the first scene Buzz Lightyear is on the moon. Mason: "Look! It's craters. Yes, it's craters." Wow. I don't think I knew the meaning of that word until at least 1st grade!!!!!!

Today we went to grocery store to get food for Mason's party tomorrow am. Mason brought a toy in the car and wanted to take it into the store. Mommy: "Mason leave that in the car because you need to help carry groceries and you can't carry that and carry groceries." Mason: "No, I take this in store." Mommy: "But don't you wanna help push the cart and get groceries?" Mason: "Okay, I put this (the toy) in the cart." I can't argue that point, now can I?

Mason gets two "black cookies" (Oreos) at the end of the day if he has had no accidents that entire day. Well, I bought the new "spring" time Oreos that have a yellow filling instead of the usual white. Mason calls them bees.

After each peeing in the potty incident, Mason gets an M&M and a sticker. Well, one of his favorite is picking which color M&M. This is something you can tell he puts thought into because he usually takes his time picking just the right one. So yesterday he told me that the reason he (usually) picks yellow is because his pee pee is yellow.

There is a new freckle on Mason's arm and the other day he asks me what it is. So I tell him and show him that I have freckles too. He points to one of my moles on my arm and says, "Mommy has a BIG freckle!" I started cracking up and he began to laugh but had no clue why.

Sydney is beginning to learn that this whole naked thing Mason does is not half bad. She will now walk up to me or Matt and in some alien language just whine and jabber while pulling at her shirt for us to take it off. The longer you wait the faster/louder the jabber gets and the tears begin. As soon as her clothes are off, this big smile comes across her face.

Earlier today I heard Sydney jabbering away in one of her native tongues so I turn around and there she is walking around and around with a plastic toy phone up to her ear. The phone is perfectly positioned and if I didn't know any better I would swear she was actually having her own conversation with someone out there. :)

Concept of Time -Mason

All basically Mason can talk about these days is his upcoming birthday party. So earlier this week....Mason: "Birthday party is tomono (tomorrow)." Daddy and Mommy: "No, you have ten days until your b-day party." Mason smiles.
This morning.....Mason: "My birthday party....ice cream." Mommy: "Yes, you have six more days until your party and you get ice cream." Mason: "No! Ten more days!!!" Mommy: "Only six more days!" Mason: "No!!!!!! Ten more days!" (holding up ten fingers in my face)

Baby Mason video trial

This is my 1st attempt as posting the various videos we have taken of the kids over time. Mason like to do this crazy breathing pattern. It was so cute!!

January 31, 2008

Mason is hugging Sydney. Mason says, "I taking Sydney hugs. I love Sydney." I said, "Oh, you love Sydney?" He replies, "Yes, I love Sydney, that's right, Mommy."

At the park, I say, "Mason, it's time to go. It's too cold." Mason: "No, it's not cold, Mommy." Me: "Well, I'm cold so let's go." Mason: "Yeah, I'm cold too."

Matt's leaving for work every morning. Matt: "Bye, buddy. I gotta go to school." Mason: "Daddy go school like Mason's school." Yes, Daddy's school is just like Mason's school.........

Matt: "Hi, Sydney. Wow, you are getting big." Mason: "No, Sydney's not big. I'm big. Sydney's a baby."

Mason's going on his 6th day with no accidents. It's amazing! Started off a little rough but now we are getting the hang of it. Last night, he peed in the potty and says "Mommy, I went pee-pees in the potty. I wear underwear. I'm a big boy!" I said, "Yes you are a big boy." Mason: "Yes, I'm a big boy. No accidents. No accidents, Mommy." :)

Sydney's newest craze is asking to be put up on the couch at which point she turns into crazy woman.....jumping, leaping, etc. You have to stand over her every move so she doesn't fall off the couch. She's laughing and screaming with joy the whole time. She has also started occasionally sucking on her thumb during the day. She always does it in her bed when going to sleep but never during the day. Isn't it funny? This is the exact same age that Mason started doing the same thing when we were in Tampa over summer. What a cowinky dink!!!

January 29, 2008

Okay I should have been doing this sooner but better late than never, I say. This is just one more way for all of our friends and family to stay connected with our crazy lives all over the U.S. The kids are growing up so fast. Every day Matt and I are amazed at all the little things Sydney and Mason are doing.
Mason doesn't forget anything. He's now added another step to his bedtime routine.....medicine (chapstick) for his lips. With all of this cold weather here in RI, his lips can't get enough. And don't you forget that one step or the whining will not stop until you take care of it. His newest love is peeing in the potty at school. He will actually hold it so he can pee in the school potty. We are currently on our 4th day of no accidents. So exciting!!!
Sydney is just as crazy as her brother. She fights her naps by jibber jabbering away in her crib. Her words these days are: book, duck, uh-oh, all done, truck, choo-choo, night-night, ball, and several animal sounds. Too cute!!! She and Mason are somewhat obsessed with the Nick Jr Backyardigans. Every morning their faces light up when it comes on.