Sadies 2012

Sadies had a Disney character theme this year.  I don't know when they started having themed Sadies dances.  Back in my day, we just wore matching shirts.  Much easier.  But this is pretty fun.

Mars didn't want to be anything 'typical', of course.  No Cinderella & Prince Charming or Beauty & the Beast.  So we came up with Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum from Alice in Wonderland.

She & her date, Josh were pretty funny......

And the group.....

We had the group over for the dinner & pictures part.

And they can't do anything normal.  No.  It had to be pasta dumped in the middle of the table because "it's funner that way."

And when they go goofy-golfing for the day activity, they'll play while tied to their date.  They're so creative like that.

Awwww.  Look at them in their garbage bag bibs.

So adorable!  :)

valentines

We've been working on some fun Valentines.  Just Max & Gus.  Zane opted out.  Apparently, you can still exchange Valentines in 6th grade. 

We thought this one was funny for Gus....

..... but I thought it might not be completely appropriate for a Kindergarten class.

So we're going with this one.....

I looooove Valentine's Day.

Tomorrow it's Valentine sugar cookie day.  Yum!

Jake turns 14

I thought I'd post this before he turns 15!  His birthday was back in October.

I'm pretty sure everyone likes Jake.  He's such a great kid!  He's nice, and considerate, and doesn't even complain about mowing the lawn every Saturday.  And holy flip!  He's turning into a man before my very eyes!!  I mistake his low, manly voice for Brian's all the time.  It's so weird!!

He had a big movie/game party at Automated Environments' showroom, of which I took no pictures.  But they had a blast.  He would have preferred a dance party, since he's currently obsessed with dancing, but I was just not up to it.  Maybe next year.

Happy Birthday baby boy!

I love you!!!

I'm kind of obsessed with hiking right now.  I usually am this time of year for some reason.  Maybe it's just because the weather is so fabulous right now or something, but I just crave it.

I usually just talk about going hiking, and then never get around to it.  But this year I'm actually getting out there. Thanks to Michelle, who will plan it & make it happen.  And it's so fun!!


We've gone on two so far.  We took some of our kids to the Wind Caves in Usury Park one Saturday morning.

Up towards the top there was a lady who had supposedly broken her ankle.

On our way back down the trail ,we watched as a rescue helicopter came in & landed as close as it could, while hordes of emergency medical people were hoofing it up the trail......I swear to you there were probably twenty or so.  With a stretcher on one big, fat wheelbarrow wheel.

The helicopter landing was very exciting.  We had to stop & watch for a while & take a million pictures & video. 

These guys don't get out much.

So then, when we get back down to the parking lot, we see this.....

A huge line of emergency vehicles from all over.....City of Mesa,  Apache Junction,  Maricopa County Sheriff's Office......I couldn't fit them all into the picture. This is probably half of them.

All of this,  for a broken ankle!

Must have been a really slow day or something!

A few weeks later, I hiked Flat Iron with Michelle & some of her family.

It's basically the top of Superstition Mountain.  And it's not one you bring the little kiddos on.  I think it's about 6 miles round trip, but it's alot of climbing.

the beginning of the trail

See what I mean?

We were climbing!

It was such a great workout.

But hard on the joints on the way down for us old people. :)

I packed a can of Diet Coke for the top.  And cookies.

Woo hoo!

It's a spectacular view from up there.

Then I almost fell!

Just kidding.

Michelle, Janae, and me

This past Thanksgiving, the night before, a small plane crashed into the mountain killing all on board, including 3 small children.  I remember hearing about it on the news when it happened.

The crash site is right at the top of this Flat Iron trail.

You can hike right up to it.

They took away all of the bigger pieces, but there's still alot of debris.  Melted glass & metal bits & stuff.

There's kind of a memorial up there.  Some stuffed animals, Christmas cards, flowers.  The mom was not on board & lost her whole family that night.  It's the saddest thing to think about.

And then......it's the craziest thing......we were hiking back down & happen to run into the mom of those kids that died in the crash, who was hiking up there for the first time since the accident.  Crazy, huh?

This part is called the 'bowling alley'.

It's where alot of people stop & head back down, because it gets pretty steep from there on.  But not us!!

Can't wait to do it again!

Kindergarten Christmas Program

You gotta love a good Kindergarten program.

They had already performed for the older grades earlier that day, during which (as reported by older brothers) Gus had apparently been cuddling up to the girl standing next to him, and stroking her hair.......which sounds a little weird.......I'm not too sure that that's normal......and then there was allegedly some nose-picking.

So I was a little nervous to see what he might do during the big performance.

But he sang his little heart out.  See him?

Here's the same pic zoomed in.....

And then the antlers went on.....

And I could barely see him the rest of the performance!

Although I got this shot......

.....of a mid-nosepick. 

Through some antlers.

What's a Kindergarten Program without some good nose-pickin'?!   I always say!

And afterwards, a little cousin-lovin' with cousin Kellen.

Good stuff.

Dear Mr. Werner,

I just wanted you to know that my son, Zane, does have more clothes than

 the black shorts and striped sweatshirt that he wears every. single. day.

Just in case you were beginning to get concerned.

In fact, he has lots of other clothes that he just doesn't want to wear, and

 this is a battle that I'm choosing not to fight right now.  I'm sure you

understand.

I can't guarantee that this outfit is getting washed every day (or two), but I'm

 trying.  Let me know if he starts to stink.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Mason



one cute chick

Caroline was a yellow chicken for Halloween.

One of these days I'll get the rest of Halloween on here.  But right now I'm just glad to get something blogged.

This was a Chasing Fireflies costume that I then stuffed the body inner lining, which I thought made it alot cuter.

And she was such a good sport about having it on!  Hood & everything!!

She is so my most favorite fat little baby chicken ever!

Hors

This is Hors.

Also known as Carter the Brown Horse.

And he is Gus's favorite stuffed animal at the moment.

Hors was zero years old until he recently had his birthday(which we all had to celebrate), so now he is one.  He eats dinner with us & has his own bed, and is full of all kinds of ideas & opinions.

Too bad Gus wasn't a girl, because he'd be great at playing dolls.  Marlee didn't give a rip about dolls, and so far Caroline's more interested in trains & balls, so I've felt a little jipped in that department.  But maybe this will have to make up for it.

The other day I found this on the kitchen table.....

 

And this....

I'd have to give Hors a thumbs-up.

He never talks back to me.

Gus would definitely vote 'yes'.

Hors has been the favored one for some time now, which says alot for him.

And he's not lost yet.  Well.... lost, then found, then lost, then found a few times.

Sorry, Hors.  But it's only a matter of time.

school pictures

Now that the school year is half over, I'm getting around to posting these that I took back in August!

I'm not a big fan of the usual school pictures.  Maybe I'd buy them just for the classic horrible-ness of them, except that they're ridiculously over-priced.

So this year I decided to take my own.  I like them alot better. 
And they're free!  :)

Who needs toys?

We bought a wagon.

And guess what gets played with the most.....

Boxes are the best!