in with the new

Happy 85th Grandma Gladys!

My grandma turned 85 this weekend! Mason and I flew down to FL on Friday. We all partied like rockstars like it's 1999like fun family at an 85th birthday party. Before we got to the restaurant, Mason asked about the cake. "Can I blow out the candles?" "You can help blow out the candles." "Okay!" "Can I eat cake first?" "You have to have lunch first, and then cake." "Okay!" As long as he got cake, he would be happy. He got his cake, had a few bites, and was through. Love that reasonable kid.

After lunch, my parents, Jack, Mas, my cousins and I went back to my aunt and uncle's for some additional quality time. It was fun to spend time at their house. They have lived there for over 20 years. I have a lot of fond memories of visits there. Ian played basketball on-and-off with Mason for a few hours. Every so often Ian would head inside to watch football or talk to other visitors, and Mas would stand by the back door, "IAN! IAN! Come outside!" He was sweet to play with Mason so much.

The rest of the weekend was spent eating pizza (it lasted two days, mmm), playing Chutes and "Watters" (thanks, Aunt Jack!), playing piano (Mason), touring my dad's multi-faceted, award-winning garden, and swimming. Fun visit.

We'll Miss You, Grandpa Ken

Will's dad passed away this morning. He was a sweet grandpa to Mason. Mason could sense that he was fragile and was so gentle with him. Two of Mason's cutest observations... "Grandpa Ken's eyes are open!" (he napped a lot) "Grandpa Ken, where's your hair?"

We'll miss you Ken. We love you.

Visit to Honey and Ken's!

We drove to Grandma Honey and Grandpa Ken's house after T-ball on Saturday. Mason napped in the car, and then didn't go to sleep until 12:45. So awesome. (OK, you got me, that was sarcasm.) He played baseball, golf, basketball... in the side yard and hung out with Grandpa Ken on the porch.

Sunday we went out to lunch, got Mason the "Stinky Cheese Man" book, both in Helen and Ken's community's shopping area. We whiled away the afternoon grocery shopping (we walked Mason's dog, Louie - a girl - all around the store), playing in the kiddie pool in the yard, feeding goats cheerios, and throwing rocks into a lake.

Monday, I worked and Mason played with Will, Helen and Ken. Mason visited Helen's friends, he played on the playground, had a trip to "toys or us" (more hockey equipment!), spent a lot of time at a hockey rink near the house, and played with sidewalk chalk. Fun day.

I had a genius idea to drive home at bed time, so maybe he would fall asleep in the car and stay asleep at home. (More sarcasm there.) He did fall asleep pretty soon into the trip. And he slept until we were a mile from the house. He woke up and asked, "are we on Cwayton Road?" Yes, Mr. Smarty, we are. And then Mr. Smarty was awake until 1:45am! We will not try that one again!

Honey and Ken Come to Celebrate!

Helen and Ken came to visit on Friday afternoon. Mason knew they were coming to celebrate his birthday. When they arrived, after all the greetings and hugging and kissing, Mason wanted to know if they had presents. (In a nice way, of course.) And they did! He opened them and wanted to play with them all immediately (sailboat ball pool, hockey/soccer goal and match game). But they were just an appetizer. Saturday was the gift main course.

Here's Mas and honey at bath time.

On Saturday Mason, Honey and I went to the ("old farther" - these are all descriptors from Mason) city market. Then we went home, got everyone in our ("new gray") truck ("from Bree") and headed to REI. Grandma Honey and Grandpa Ken got Mason a ("real") bike for his birthday. Thank you!

Here he is in the store trying it out with his cool helmet on. Looks like a perfect fit!

We relaxed on the porch when we got home. And Mason tested out his new ("real") bike!

LI Visit - Day 8

This was a family-riffic day! Mason and I started the morning off by driving to Will's (and now my!) cousin George's house to see George, Katie and their new baby Emma. She was born on July 4. I told Mason their names on the ride over. We got out of the car, and George greeted us. Without being formally introduced, Mason said, "Hi George!" Funny man. Emma was sweet and content to be held. Mason did the same sweet head petting that he did to baby Justin. He loves babies!

After our visit, we headed to Stanley and Lorraine's for the big birthday BBQ. It was a celebration of the August birthdays of their friends and family. There was a blow up water slide that Mas and my dad went on (before all the other kids got there and were all crazy on it).

Mas played catch with me, Jack, my dad and other kids there. He threw water balloons. We played across the street at the playground. We ate BBQ chicken, steak (he never eats that stuff at home!!!), fruit, "chocolate circle cakes" (chocolate Munchkins), pita chips with cream cheese, and a rainbow cupcake.

Soccer!

Robbie and Bryan. They couldn't look any more alike.

JUMP!

LI Visit - Day 7

First a boo boo update... It looks like any old boo boo. There's no swelling, no bruising. Whew.

We had a fun day today at Marcy's (Mason calls her "Marcy Marcy") house. We played in the back with Aunt Jack, Melissa and Ashley. Mason and I went in the pool while everyone else stayed dry and warm on land. Grandma Sue Sue and Papa Vivi spent the day with us. We had lunch together (NY bagels, yum) and dinner together (pizza - third time! - still yum!).

One sweet moment I had with Mason today... Mas, Jack and I were in the backyard, and I said the word "ugly" while talking about something. I heard the word come out and told Jack that Mason didn't know what that word meant. Later when it was just him and me, playing on the swings, he asked, "What is ugwee?" (I have to remember that he is always listening!) I explained that it's when people are mean. He nodded. I asked him if he knew what pretty meant. He told me, "Fwowers are pretty. Marcy's fwowers are pretty." SO sweet! Here he is pretending to be asleep with Jack.

Mason helped Melissa, Ashley and Marcy make a poster for the birthday BBQ. They let him draw and put stickers on to his hearts' content.

After Mason went to bed, my mom and I started on our Rainbow Cupcake venture. I wanted to make a special dessert for tomorrow's birthday BBQ, and I knew my mom would be up to the rainbow cupcake challenge. It's fun to bake with her.

LI Visit - Day 6

Today was pretty quiet. Mason and I had time to ourselves. Marcy was working, so we played Wii with Melissa and Ashley (no pictures because they hate those). Ashley let him win at boxing. Very nice! Mason played with Oma (the girls' grandma) for a while - he liked her a lot! Then we went shopping (Target for a baseball tee, Old Navy for green socks - he was SO excited about those!, Barnes & Noble for a gift for Jack and a puzzle book). I wanted to take him to Long Beach, but I didn't want him to fall asleep in the car and have another 10:30 bedtime.

After dinner, Mason got hurt. We were waiting for our turn in the bath, sitting in our (guest) room. Mas was jumping on his air mattress while I sat next to him. He jumped into the corner of a night table and split the skin under his lip. That sentence sounds way worse than it was. The skin was more injured than a "cut" but less severe than if he'd popped a hole through his skin with a tooth (which was what I thought it was at first). If it was me, I would have run to the hospital to get stitches. It stopped bleeding very quickly, but it was several layers of skin deep. Masrcy and the other adults here don't think he needs stitches. I put Neosporin on it a few times, and we'll see how it looks tomorrow. Here's a blurry phone pic. It's too blurry to gross anyone out.

Amidst all the hurting himself action, my sister and parents arrived on the scene. What a great distraction from the pain!

Hazlet BBQ - NJ Visit - Day 3

We went to Hazlet today for a BBQ at the Elys' house. Being there for a BBQ felt like the BBQs from when I was little. Except there was no "Adult Swim", and there were less people (it IS Monday!). Oh, and I'm OLD now.

It was nice to have Mason meet and spend time with my mom's BFF (also "Sue Sue") and my dad's BFF (Bubsy - Mason loved saying that!) and their family - who I have known forever. And I got to meet their cute grandbabies who I'd only seen pictures of up to now.

Mas in his new Blah Blah Man swimmies. He lasted 15 minutes in the pool. I don't know if he was scared, if it was too cold, or if he was overwhelmed by all the kids. But he wanted out and he wanted his regular clothes on right quick!

Leo was scared and brave!

BFFs.

 

Me, Alison and Chris. I have known them for over 30 years!

Grandma Sue Sue and Papa Vivi Visit!

My parents drove here from hot, sweaty Florida this weekend! We had some busy times and some relaxing times. They got here Thursday, and we took them for Marco's Pizza. Mason ate four small slices (he usually eats one) and fawned over our waitress Renee. He asked a million times, "Where Renee?" "She's busy working, buddy!" Friday we went to the Little Gym, but it was closed. Oops. So we shopped around Target and Lowes, played in the sprinkler in the yard, shopped and ate ice cream in Black Mountain and cooked beef rump roast (I just wanted to type "rump"!) for dinner.

Saturday, July 4, we went to the City Market (of course!) and Earth Fare, and then settled in for a nice relaxing day at home. There was kiddie pool fun, mimosas and BBQ. I don't think my parents have ever had a full day of vegging in our yard. It was a nice change of pace. There were no fireworks, as Mas was asleep by 8. I love the no nap exhaustion, and the sweet crankiness that accompanies it!

Sunday we got a little busy again. We had Moose Cafe ("da Moose Pwace") breakfast with Tara, Tyler and Tessa. Mason loves their "egg bread". (What?!? I call it what it is!) It was overcast, so we headed to Fun Depot. It's a video game/mini golf/ go-cart/batting cage extravaganza! We played for about 2 minutes in the kiddie area, and then we got clubs and "played" mini golf. Mason LOVED it! After the 18th hole, Will and I took turns in the batting cage (I did slow pitch - I rocked it!) while Mason watched us and my mom played Skee-Ball. When it was time to go, Mas cried and cried that he wanted to "pway more golf at Fun Depot". We promised he could return. We had lunch and then headed up to West Asheville for cupcakes and ice cream. We made dinner at home, Mas went to bed, and we finished off the visit with the movie Hancock. I love when Will Smith saves the world Science-Fictionally!

My parents left this morning around 5am. They should be home in about 12 hours. Thanks for coming! See you in NJ and LI in August!

Aunt Meg Visits!

Meg came to visit this weekend. It was such fun to share our Asheville (and Black Mountain!) with her, and have another person here to celebrate ME! She got here on Thursday and left today. Thursday and Friday while I worked, and Meg, Will and Mason did fun stuff.

Saturday (my birthday!) was a fun, busy day. We went to the market, went shopping at Target and Lowes, drove to Black Mountain for an Arts and Crafts Festival, took a leisurely stroll around our neighborhood, relaxed in our yard, and then had PF Chang's for dinner and cake for ME!

Sunday we had a relaxing morning in the yard, went to a Kids' Festival downtown, and walked around the Grove Park Inn. The views from that place are amazing! We love you Meg!