My little engineer - July 2010

I was busy cleaning up the kitchen when I realize Mason is very quiet and busy building something. He was very intense and into his project. He enlisted Sydney's help towards the end which may have been a mistake after realizing she was trying to carry track pieces while in her evening gown attire.

Sydney is swimming! July 2010

After 3 summers of attempting swim lessons with Sydney she finally conquered her fears and is now a little fish. Instead of me handing her off to her swim teacher kicking and screaming, now she's refusing to get out of the pool. Mason also took lessons but just to mostly perfect his strokes for the free style. Sydney got so fast they decided they needed to have a race! Sydney wasn't far behind her big brother!

Too Hot.....Need Shade - July 2010

We have had record breaking heat this summer and it's just as bad as a cold winter because the kids can't last very long outside before needing to come in the house to cool off. We are often at the beach or the pool. However, some days they are just dying to play outside. We had made it probably a whole whopping fifteen minutes and next thing I knew this is what I looked up and saw. All their idea...."shades" and shade.

Free Chic-fil-A Day July 2010

Well, there are certain things we are known for around here and that is eating out either on coupons or free kids meal days. Chic-fil-A had their annual free food day if you dressed up as a cow. So I printed out these spots from the website along with the "Eat more chicken" signs. We had a free dinner and that is rare around here.

Fireworks in the Street - July 4 2010

The kids and I invited Glama Timmy and Andy up to Jax for a visit. We were going to head to the beach and watch the fireworks from there like we did last year but the weather was iffy so we stayed and I was glad we did. Our neighbors had purchased over $600 in real fireworks that they shot off in the street. We had a front row seat to all the action. They even built a wooden table that they hammered the base of the fireworks to for stability. The kids were a little spooked by the noise (I think it may have had something to do with how late they were up) but soon realized it was just loud and not scary. We had giant sparklers and our own dj (neighbor two doors down) with a full fireworks display in our front yard!

How did you get those deer? - June 2010

So while in Tampa at Pop Pop's house, Mason asks him "How did you get those deer heads on the wall?" (Referring to the mounted/stuffed deer heads hanging on the walls) So Pop Pop tells him that he took his big gun and went into the woods and shot them and brought them home. Mason replies "Yeah, and then you use them as decoration for the wall."

Aunt Britney's house is great! - June 2010

The kids and I met Pop Pop and Annie in Cocoa Beach at Aunt Britney's house. Mason and Sydney loved seeing the dolphins and manatees in the canal behind her house. Pop Pop has his kayak and took Mason on an "adventure." Well, let's just say their adventure was so exciting and wild, Mason came back covered literally from head to toe with mosquito bites. Despite the itches, he loved it!

Nothing will stop our boat ride! - June 2010

Mason was sick the entire 5 days we were in Tampa this summer. He had a high fever and vomiting and turns out after day 4 of fever and an urgent care visit....he had strep throat. We had a boat ride planned with Pop Pop and Annie and nothing was gonna stop him so we motrined him up and set sail! The kids had a blast and would have had an ever better time had we not been worrying so much about Mason. What a trooper!

The Cheeseburger Girl! June 2010

If anyone knows Sydney well, they are aware of her love of cheeseburgers! It's what she orders off the kids menu about 90% of the time. She went with the Thomas family for big dinner at Salt Rock Grill. Take a look at this "kids" burger! Despite it's size, she insisted on me not cutting it up and she tackled it with no hesitation!

Super Heroes and their Muscles - June 2010

Mason and Sydney have really gotten into being superheroes lately. They pretend to have extreme strength and shoot and hurt the "bad guys" with their strong muscles! Watch out Spiderman and Wonder Woman....here come Princess Presto and Pirate Mason!

Kids miss their Daddy! - May 2010

The kids still have their daddy dolls from the last deployment that will follow along with us when we go places. Well, this year we went to Build a Bear and made deployment bears. The kids picked out their bear and dressed it how they wanted. Matt also put in a personalized voice recording for each one. When we finished making their dolls, Mason asked Matt where his doll was because he wanted Matt to have one with him and Sydney's voice in it to take with him. This is how I found Mason sleeping one night and had to run get the camera. He and Sydney pray for Daddy to come back home and the time to go by fast. So sweet!

VPK Graduation -May 2010

As I was ironing Mason's cap and gown, I just kept thinking "before I know it, I will be ironing the real cap and gown." He's done with preschool, people! We are on to elementary school!

Matt Deploys on the Truman - May 2010

Matt finally gets to deploy on an aircraft carrier. What a whole new world! It's amazing and he's happy to be on it. The food is so good and they have every type of food you could imagine. How is that you pay the same mess bill on a frigate and the food is horrible? This was us hours before he deployed.

TPC - May 2010

Well, it's that time of year again when Pop Pop and Annie come visit us and go to the TPC Sawgrass tournament. We took the kids for a practice round day and it was not as much fun as they had anticipated and were asking to go home within 30 minutes of being there, But I think we were able to drag it out for about 2 hours or so. Check out their outfits....would you believe that I had a 15 minute battle with Sydney over wearing those shorts? She wanted to wear a dress or pretty skirt instead. This choice of outfit was not girly enough for her. Ha, ha.

My Birthday - April 2010

The kids took me to Cracker Barrel. Yum, yum! It was fantastic. They were the sweetest children to me all day that day. No fighting, teasing, arguing, etc. I must have gotten a thousand kisses and hugs from my babies that day! Was a great birthday...just wish it was more than the three of us.

Sydney in Hats - February 2010

Well, we all know that Sydney loves her accessories. She just couldn't resist wearing my new sun hat around the house. Kentucky Derby, here we come!

Disney World - April 2010

We went to Disney World with the kiddos for one last time before Daddy deployed. Had a blast and went everywhere! We stayed up two night in a row for firework shows and the kids were in heaven. Mason even went on bigger kid rides like the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom! Matt and I went on it first to preview it and it was pretty scary so we thought he wouldn't like it. However, even though we warned him that it was fake but scary, he wanted to go on it. He bragged about how he went on a scary ride and wasn't scared. He talked about it for weeks afterward.

Fishing with G-Parents - April 2010

Annie and Pop Pop took the kids fishing in our pond by our house. Kids had a ball with their cane poles catching fish. I have pictures of myself holding up a fish like this at this same age. Love it!

Warm Enough to Go to the Beach again! April 2010

The kids are huge fans of the beach and are always asking to go back for more sand and sun. Just look at my little coppertone model getting her bronze on.

Monster Jam February 2010

We wanted to wait until Daddy could make Mason's first Monster Jam and this year we made it happen. I've never seen this side of Mason that came out that night. He was at one point standing in his chair and screaming at the top of his lungs just like the other rednecks in the stadium. It was a riot! He was one very happy boy. His best friend from school ended up sitting right behind us out of 35,000 seats and it was not planned at all. Also, Nitro Circus Monster Truck ended up doing a complete backflip in the air and landing on all four tires. First time it's been done in Monster Jam history. Fantastic night!

Sweet Picture - February 2010

Just had to post this because it's so sweet! Wish this was a constant position between the two but no such luck!

I Hate it When you Win!!!! February 2010

This sequence of pictures just says it all. Look at how intense Mason's face is. He wants to win the Mario Kart race soooooo bad! But when Pop Pop finishes the race in first place, his body goes into rigor mortis and all hell breaks loose. Hilarious!

My Two Fairies! February 2010

Mason is such a great big brother, isn't he? I mean, how many boys do you know who would dress up like this for their little sister. He does draw the line though when it comes to fingernail polish and hairbows. He will hate me in a few years for posting this but I just had to. It's priceless!

Mason Turns 5!!! February 2010

Mason had his hot wheels birthday party. We just had cake and ice cream with a few friends over. I can't believe he's this old. Time with him sure has flew by. He was so proud to be five and I think he's favorite part was that now he was that much older than Sydney....she's only three and he's five! He told everyone how old he was. It was the first thing out of his mouth....even strangers at the grocery store...."I'm five now."

VPK- Mason's Valentine's Day Dance

Mason actually had a "seniors" (at the preschool...seniors are four years old) Valentine's Dad dance! It was so cute. They lined up and gave the lady their ticket to get in and then just kind of wandered around the open dance floor. Mason was not so sure about all the sillyness at first but he warmed up a little later. He's not very fond of people watching him....especially if it involves being silly. I wonder where he got that from? He told me he didn't want to dance with any girls except me. Such a sweet boy!

Daddy's about to go to VA - January 2010

Kiddos are sure gonna miss Daddy while he's up in Virginia. Matt is going to be stationed in Norfolk, VA as the Materials Officer for the Desron 26. Should be a much less stressful job for him. Too bad it involves him being away from us. We love you, Babe!

Sydney's Name - December 2009

Sydney has always picked up things way before her years but now she is writing her name. Trust me, I did not push this. She has learned this just from coloring and practicing letters. Amazes me everyday!

Santa was very giving!

The kids could hardly go to sleep they were so excited. They left him a plate of cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer. This is their load of toys Santa left.

Santa Visit 2009

The kids enjoyed their visit with Santa this year. They wanted a car that kids can drive. Mason wanted transformer costume of Bumblebee and Sydney asked for princess instruments.

Rocket Launch

Mason is 100% boy who is into anything to do with science and space. So Matt bought a rocket and we were finally able to take it out and launch it with success. KC was here and helped us find it at one point when it went so high, it landed 100's of yards away. We were about to leave thinking we had lost it. So cool!

Princesses Don't Cry

Well, it's very rare for all four of us to be able to get a picture together. Actually, it's rare for all four of us to even be in the same location but that's another story. I really wanted to get a good picture of us before Matt and I left for his Christmas party. Sydney was having a meltdown because she didn't want us to leave. She refused to stop crying so the only thing that would work is that we told her "princesses don't cry." Look at the difference a little line makes.

Sydney's in her Big Girl Bed

Well, call me a bad mom but at a little over three years old, I finally put Sydney in her big girl bed. She was perfectly happy in her crib or the pack and play at Glama's house. I was just waiting for the right time where I felt it safe enough to take the plunge and deal with little miss thing coming out of her room over and over. Actually she did wonderful and absolutely loved her fairy princess bedding. Should we say pinkalicious?

Tampa Fire Dept Boat!

Pop Pop took the kids on Tampa Fire Dept's new fireboat. It was really nice and of course, we loved the colors! Smelled of fresh paint and leather.

Nov 2009 Disney Trip

We took kids to Disney and had a blast! We told the kids that we were gonna eat lunch in the castle with the princesses. Of course, Sydney was ecstatic but Mason wasn't too pleased. He shouted "Princesses are for girls, not boys!" Well, guess who was digging lunch with the princesses once they started telling him what a handsome prince he was. He even went home with a sword. All in all, he said he would eat there again. Ha!