Celebrate MASON!

As I drove Mason to school bright & early Tuesday morning it reminded me of another Tuesday morning not so long ago . . . one in which I was pregnant and on my way to the hospital begging my husband to turn around and take me back home because I wasn't ready yet! Instead he took me to the drive-thru at McDonald's even though I wasn't allowed to eat and I was dying of thirst but he was hungry . . . that however is another blog post entirely!

And so here we are SIX years later going to Kindergarten - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MASON!!

How in the world do I have a six year old??? One who is so sweet and so smart and who says things like, "Well, actually Mom . . . " and who stays up late with me and talks about Jesus . . . oh, how I love his precious (somewhat stubborn and rebellious) heart!  And am completely overwhelmed that God loves me enough to entrust his care with me - how lucky am I??

We started the day off with a healthy breakfast in bed of donuts and water! Nothing better right?  He was having trouble processing that he had to go to school on his "dirthday." Funny story, he has always said "dirthday" and I don't correct him because I figured it was a speech thing but on the way home from school he had this look on his face like I wouldn't believe what he was about to tell me and he said "Mrs. Mac says its "birthday" - prounounced clear as a whistle - and not "dirthday." Can you believe that?" So apparently all this time he could say it but never knew it was birthday??? Moving on . . .

Conner & I came back to school bearing cupcakes for his birthday snack to share with his friends!  Here he is with his birthday visor (the top has all sorts of birthday stuff on it!).

Ooh, a remote controlled helicopter that really flies!

Just what I've been asking for!

Seriously, is he stinkin' adorable or what?

Wednesday, Mimee & Uncle Josh joined me for Mason's Awards Assembly!  He was very excited to be getting his large reading trophy for reading all of his assigned books!  And I was extremely proud of him that he got up on stage and raised his hand when they called his name and didn't hide - YEA!

Proud Mama and her baby!

Mimee came home from vacation just for this - Mason loves her so!

Look at that big trophy!

Today, Conner & I went to school to help Mason's friends celebrate their last day of school.  We had a great time throwing frisbee's, blowing bubbles, playing with sidewalk chalk, and being on the playground!  Conner enjoyed being with the big kids but when his class came out to play and had popsicles he wanted in on that action! It was fun to see them in their element!

Partners in crime - Mason & Payne with Conner

Mason & Hunter

Conner & Natalie finding new uses for the bucket of sidewalk chalk

Sending much love to my BIRTHDAY BOY/KINDERGARTEN GRADUATE/READING TROPHY WINNER!!! Mommy, Daddy, & Conner are so proud of you and love you so much!

Field Day 2011

Both boys participated in field day today! Of course, neither of their events were even remotely near one another so I feel as though I've run all over the campus frantically asking "have you seen kindergarten yellow shirts or prek purple shirts?"  (each class in each grade wears different colored shirts for field trips and events, but I can't just ask for a color of shirt because each grade has the same eight colors - got it?).

I had been watching field day go on for about 10 minutes before I realized I was watching actual field day and not field day practice.  Many parents were dissapointed because they took away the competition aspect of field day and this year each class did their own activities and everyone got a ribbon that said "I'm a winner!"  Last year the classes competed against one another.

Here are Conner's friends playing "Duck, Duck, Goose."

Conner had not noticed me until he was picked as Goose and then he ran to me instead of playing!

Mason's friends waiting for their turn to ride a pool noodle like a stick horse

Payne giving the hand-off to Mason on the Crawfish in a Spoon relay

that wasn't a relay because there was no one else racing!

Back to Conner, after much outdoor searching I found him in the gym!

When he noticed me he quit playing and said "Hold My!"

Conner letting us know he is hot while waiting in line to find a seashell in the sand

(really what happened to Tug of War, sack races, etc.?)

Ok, back to my yellow shirts! Found them on the opposite end in the jumpers!

Mason & Natalie

Natalie chasing Mason in a fierce Duck, Duck, Goose game

And back to Conner . . .

oh how he loves a bouncy slide!

Field Day was fun and exhausting!

The boys got to check out which is always fun for them!

Only 4 more days of school!

Community Helpers Program - Bah Humbug!

On Tuesday, Mason had his Community Helpers Program where the different classes honored Community Helpers, like Firefighters, Military, Bakers, and Ball Players.  This program was in lieu of Kindergarten Graduation . . . yeah, that's what I said too.  Mason's class honored firefighters and I don't have a problem with firefighters I would have just rather seen him in a cap & gown getting a diploma or something!!

Apparently Mason had the same attitude as me because he had a sudden severe case of stage fright and he refused to participate at all.  So even though trips were postponed and work was left early to see him, he wouldn't get off his seat on the floor! We still love him anyway though!

Here he is with his Mimee and ReRe!!

Papa and his boys!

Proud Parents and their fireman

(someone said he must be the Fire Chief since he didn't do anything -

he's going straight to management!)

Gator & Friends Field Trip, Year 2

Every year the pre-k classes at the boys' school goes to Gator & Friends for an end of the year field trip.  Last year I took Mason and this year it was Conner's turn!  He really loved feeding the animals and was very upset that you couldn't feed the camel this year.

He settled for a picture instead!

His pre-k friends!

Here is his lunchtime "Mom I'm hot & tired" face!

Luckily he had the energy for one more activity -- holding an alligator!

He checked out afterward and had a fun trip to Target & Chick-fil-a with me before heading home to pick up Mason!

He has now added to his entourage of animals in his bed - we now sleep with a huge plastic alligator named "Mama."

My New Gardener, Raphael . . .

So I blogged last month about not liking gardening all that much so we decided to hire a gardener!  I am so excited! His name is Raphael . . . and he is the cutest thing ever!! Oh and did I mention he was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?? Seriously he's great and cute - did I mention that already?

And if you are wondering this picture was taken just after supper and yes, around our house that constitutes the right time to dress up and put on rubber boots!! You know, cause Mason was using the costume before supper so now it's Conner's turn!

My other seriously cute gardener!! Ready to do some karate action on my weeds!!

Notice the cat taking advantage of the unsupervised ice cream in the background!

Just another crazy day in the Brown house!

Gone a' Pickin'

After a very busy weekend of storm clean-up and T-ball we enjoyed a peaceful Sunday evening pickin' blackberries!  The boys and Ryan had gone a few weeks earlier and were anxious to show me their blackberry detecting skills.  We found most of the berries at my parents' pond across the road from our house.  It was a great night to go - fairly cool and nice and breezy (but still hot enough for snakes to be on my mind!).

I was a "spotter" and here are my pickers!

ah, serenity . . .

Ryan & Mason hard at work

my babies!

we brought home about 10 berries the other 50 got eaten as soon as they came off the vine

Ryan was concerned about washing but by my logic it had just rained . . . same difference, huh?

of course, my children don't go anywhere without finding mud

they got a waterhose shower when we got home

Mason is showing me his muscles in the background

my loves!

(combination of mud and berry juice on Conner's chin!)

It was a very peaceful and relaxing way to end an exhausting weekend!