Today I woke up feeling very sad. I know that I should be so excited because Mason and I are going to Florida this morning. I am excited but I am leaving a huge part of my heart here. Brett has been on trips for work that lasted a week and Mason and I survived that. But this is the first time that Mason and I are going to be away from home for 7 days. As I am sitting here blogging, I have that feeling in my throat you get before the tears come. But of course, I won't cry because then Mason will cry. He is also really torn between staying with his daddy or going with his mommy. I had no idea that going to Florida without Brett would be so hard. Brett and I need to plan our own family vacation. If he could just get off work. That's seems to be the hard part.

On a lighter note, the sun is just now lighting up the sky because I have been up since 6am doing some last minute packing. I'm still searching for the air mattress. Anyone seen it?

Alright, I am going to close for now. I will be in a van with four kids for over 4 hours..... I may need a tranquilizer!!

Countdown

The final countdown has begun for our vacation. Mason and I are leaving Saturday morning with Angie and her kids to go to Florida for 7 days. I am really excited and so is Mason. The only thing that would make our vacation complete is for Brett to be able to go. He has to work and can't seem to find a way to wiggle out of it. When he first told me that he couldn't go, I thought that he would find a way. We are getting down to the wire and he is really not going. Bummer, huh? This vacation week is the only week of the entire year that we are all together as a family with no work, not softball, no doggie obligations and no alarm clock. But I will go with Mason and enjoy the time with him, Angie and her kids. We don't do anything except eat, sleep, lay around the pool and play the occasional game of bingo. My favorite night is when a DJ comes and sets up on the pool deck, which overlooks the ocean. We act silly and dance for a few hours. It's so fun! Of course, this year Angie and I are taking our new bod's, so watch out Florida!!!

Angie and I are both getting a souvenir while we are there..... a tattoo. We both already have one but we're getting another! We are both getting the palmetto and moon from the SC flag. My problem is which color. At first I thought pink but I'm afraid that pink won't show up really good on my skin, especially if I have a tan.... which I will when I get back from Florida! So, help me out!!! Give me some suggestions for colors. Angie is getting hers in navy blue but I think that I want something a little different. Any ideas?

I hope that I never have to move!! Amy and Billy are in the process of moving this week and we have been there every night. We have moved box after box from one house to the other. Poor Amy has a backache, a shoulder ache, a foot ache... basically an all over body ache. She looks exhausted and so does Billy. Their new house is gorgeous and I know that they will enjoy it for many years to come. But like I said, I hope that I never have to move!!

I am getting up at o'dark:30 again in the morning to walk with Jessica. I felt really good all day until I got home. I definitely ran out of gas as soon as I walked in the front door. I really should go to bed now but here I am blogging.

Our Flip Flop Club has a new blog that I think is really great. If you want to see go here. It' s very cool that we can all blog about whatever. I have the best group of friends ever!!

Bernie Singing In The Faith Home Choir

Bernie Mac

Mom, Dad and Ryan went to Greenwood, South Carolina to visit Bernie this weekend. I wish that I could have gone because I really miss him a lot. Doesn't he look great?! Thanks to Mom for letting me post these pictures!!

My Mixed Up Blessings

A lot of times in life, we are so busy that we may not notice all of the blessings that God gives us. Everything that we own is a blessing whether it's clothes, a house, cars or even something as simple as electricity. This weekend I realized that I have some new blessings... New Friends.

I think that enjoying friendship is one of life's sweetest blessings. What would we do without friends? We all need friends in our lives who we can discuss deep issues with, confide our secrets, fears or sorrows. We also need friends we can laugh with.

I am extremely blessed to have a group of friends, some old friends and some new. We call ourselves the Flip Flop Club. I like to think of them as my mixed up blessings. We are all very different but still sort of the same. Some of us cry at the drop of a dime. Some of us have 3 or 4 kids. Some of us drive minivans or SUV's and some of us drive Hondas. What makes us so similar is our love of life and now each other.

We had our 2nd Flip Flop dinner Saturday night. I'm not sure about anyone else but I had a great time! We laughed until we cried and then we laughed some more. As Mason would say, "It was stinkin doodoo fun!"

The best times in life are made a thousand times better when shared with a dear friend but I am blessed with a group of dear friends. If that's not a blessing, then I don't know what is.

I just want to say that I am really excited about several things that are happening this weekend. Today at 12:30pm I am playing golf for the first time in 4 years. I will probably make a complete fool of myself but I will have fun doing it. I am playing with Angie and Jessica. Watch girls!! Beware of flying golf balls!!!

The other thing that I am really looking forward to is our Flip Flop Supper Club tomorrow night. I am the hostess with the mostest and I am really excited about the things that I have planned. I tried to put a lot of thought into it because all the ladies that are coming really deserve a fun night out, full of laughing and being silly. I hope that it is just that!! A fun night out!

Party Pictures!!

Last Wednesday, I went to church for the first time, on a Wednesday in years. I will admit that I only went because Mason had choir practice. I tell myself every Wednesday that I should go to church but I don't.

Today I called Sandy and asked her if she wanted to go and take Noah and Mason. So, we went...

I wish that everyone reading this blog could have been there because I can never put into words how it was. The service started with song and then prayer requests. People were just raising their hands and asking for prayers for people that they knew. I almost raised my hand and asked for prayers for Bernie but I decided not to. I sat and prayed for him during the prayer time. Next, a very talented woman sang several songs. I had tears in my eyes the entire time. It was beautiful.

Then at the end of the service the Pastor said that he had saved three prayer request for the end. He asked for prayer for his daughter and son-in-law and for my grandparents. My grandmother has shingles and hasn't been at church for a few weeks. Then he asked for prayers for my mom and dad to continue to be strong for Bernie. He said that Bernie had been on his heart for the past few days. He said that our church needed to pray earnestly for Bernie. I can't remember exactly what he said but I know that Sandy and I sat on the back pew and cried. The Preacher then asked that mom, dad and I come up front so that everyone could pray for us and Bernie. He invited anyone who wanted to to come down and stand with us and pray. Half the church came down front and we all prayed for Bernie. It was an amazing experience. I pray all the time for Bernie and for other people in my life. It was really great to have some many other people praying for him. I wonder if Bernie felt it at that moment.

Do you think that it was a coincidence that Sandy and I were there tonight? I haven't attended Bible study in years and years but tonight I was there and God showed Himself to me. It was not a coincidence that I was there. It was God's will.

Weight Watchers - Week.... I'm not really sure!

I have no idea what week this is in my Weight Watchers journey. I have lost 19.8 pounds and I am trying hard to maintain. I have 4 more weeks of maintaining and then I will be a lifetime member! What's so great about that?? I won't have to pay anymore!!!

This Saturday I am hosting the 2nd Flip Flop Supper Clup dinner. I am really looking forward to it. I think that there will be about 9 girls so I am a little bit nervous about where everyone is going to sit but I'll work it out. I am making a casserole that I hope will be yummy! I do have a few surprises up my sleeve so you ladies had better be prepared to have a really great time and tell your men not to wait up!

Arrrrr, mate, thanks for coming to me party! Tonight, before bed, we'll toast to yer health with a bumper of milk an' wish ye fair weather with lots of heavily laden vessels to plunder!

Happy 4th Birthday Mason!!

I woke up this morning with tears in my eyes because my baby is officially 4 years old. He was born at 11:36am on a Tuesday morning looking just like his dad. He was mad as fire and screamed for a long time. As you can see from this picture, he looked like he had been in a fight. I think that he felt like he had. He had black eyes and bruises behind his ears and head. Poor little fella!

4 years later, Mason is my life. I would walk through fire for him. He does wear me down and sometimes he makes me crazy but that's the way it is with kids. Today I can't imagine our lives without Mason in it.

Mason loves to listen to music and he loves to dance. He enjoys playing outside and helping his dad in the yard. He loves SpongeBob Squarepants and Ben 10. He learned how to pump his legs on the swing this week and he is so proud of that accomplishment.

By the way, if you want to see a gorgeous baby girl, go here. Her name is Ashlynn and she is so beautiful!!! I love babies!

This picture was taken the day before I had Mason four years ago! Wow! My tummy was large!! If I didn't remember that shirt, I would swear that this wasn't me!

Mason woke up today bubbling over with excitement. He has asked us 20 times, "Is it time for the party yet?" It is only 8:38am. We may go bonkers by 2pm.

Tomorrow is actually Mason's 4th birthday but he thinks that it is today because we are having his party today. He is singing in the children's choir at church tomorrow. I think that it will be very good. He screams when he sings so it will probably be very funny. If I get a good video on my camera, I will share it with everyone.

This week has flown by. Tomorrow is Mason and Will's birthday party. We have a lot to do but here I am blogging. We are having a pirate party complete with eye patches, gold coins and balloons. It should be fun but very exhausting!

It's hard to believe that four years ago I was preparing to have Mason. We were anxious and we thought we were ready. Is anyone ever ready to bring a baby home? When we left the hospital with Mason, I remember looking at Brett and saying, "Can you believe that they let us leave with him?" I was scared because we were going to have to take care of this little person.

I think that so far, Brett and I have done pretty good with Mason. He's very polite and tender hearted. He washes his hands after he uses the bathroom. He keeps his room nice and shiney, as he says. He is a great kid and we are very blessed to have him.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep....

Last night, Mason said his own prayers. Usually we help him along or he repeats what we say. I told him that he can pray about whatever he wants. He's actually very good at it. Jessica (a.k.a. Cheesecake) told me that I should try to record one of his prayers. So, I put him to bed, while hiding my camera behind my back. He started praying. About halfway through he realized that I was recording it and he mentions the camera.... too funny! It's very sweet. As you will hear, Mason loves people and he talks about school. The screen is dark and I was moving around some, so don't get dizzy!

Since it's Sunday, I am going to keep this short! Mason never was a great sleeper.... unless someone was holding him. He would cry for so long in his crib but the minute that he was picked up, he was sleeping. You know what you call that disorder, right? BEING SPOILED!

I should have known that he wasn't going to be a good sleeper because for the last 2 months of my pregnancy, I slept sitting up either in the bed or in the recliner. I'm not sure why but my hip would kill me when I laying in the bed. I have been sleep deprived ever since. He still doesn't sleep all night every night. He is in his own bed but about 3 times a week, he calls mommy or daddy in the wee hours of the morning. We go in and either lay with him or just stand beside his bed and he goes back to sleep. I don't even think that he is awake when he does it.

A Letter To Mason

Today, 4 years ago, was my due date with Mason. I was large and in charge and sooooo ready to have him. This week I am going to share things about my pregnancy and the week leading up to Mason's birth. Today I going to share a letter with you that I wrote to Mason right before he was born. I put it in his baby book for him to read when he is older. Here goes...

Dear Mason,

You aren't born yet and you won't be able to read this letter for years but one day you can look back and know that I have loved you from the moment that you were conceived. I'm sure that I will be overcome with love for you once you are here. I have such great dreams and hopes for you. I promise to help you achieve anything that you dream of.

Although I'm sure that our lives will change once you are born, I now can't imagine my life without you in it. You are my heart and soul. You will be the twinkle in my eye.

Since I found out that I was pregnant, I have talk to you. If I talk for a few minutes, I swear that you start some serious kicking. You have definitely kicked your way into my heart. That is were you will stay forever.

I will always be here for you... even when you are a teenager and try to ignore your crazy mom. I can't wait to meet you sweet boy.

I love you always,

Mommy

Poor Ripley

This morning I dropped Ripley off at the vet to be neutered. Poor little fella had no idea what was going on. He was wagging his tail when we walked into the vet. He thought we were just visititng some nice people.... Little did he know what he was in for. I felt really bad leaving him there. He was working his pitiful puppy dog eyes when I left. His eyes were screaming TAKE ME WITH YOU! But.....

Maybe he will stop chewing up Mason's toys and my pillows and basically anything that he can get into his mouth. Maybe he will stop humping every animal that comes to the house. Maybe he will stop barking so much. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

He has to stay over night at the vet so I don't get to see him until tomorrow. Tonight I am going to have to tell Mason something to explain Ripley's stitches so that Mason won't be too rough with him. I am sorta looking forward to a Ripley-free night!

Boys Will Be Boys

This afternoon, Sandy came over with Noah. Mason and Noah have become good friends. Then Robert and Wes came over to play. So, Sandy and I had our hands full with four boys. They played on the swing set, played baseball (with Sandy as the pitcher), played basketball, ate Lunchables, and just ran around and had fun! Of course, Mason stepped in dog poop but besides that, it was fun for the boys.

Right now, Robert, Wes and Mason are in the next room taking turning sitting on a whoopie cushion. They are all giggling. I can hear Mason now saying, "Robert, you pooted!" Wes just said, "Hey! It's my turn to poot! I wanna poot, too!" They are cracking me up!

This week, Mason class is learning about the letter A. Every day this week, he has to take something to school that starts with the letter A. Today we caught a frog and named him Alfie the Amphibian. Mason was very proud to stand in front of his class and talk about his frog. He also said that he told his teacher that he was going to bring an acorn to school tomorrow and that it would probably hatch. Guess what he told her would come out? A frog!

Happy day after Labor Day! We had a pretty uneventful weekend of cleaning the house, painting furniture and painting the screened porch. Sounds like fun, huh? We did go in the boat with Amy and her family. It was really nice. We thought we were going to get rained on but the dark clouds went right around us, leaving us with sunny skies! Saturday night, we went to mom's for my dad's birthday party. It was crazy because we all have so many boys. Boys are so loud!!! Even when they try to be quiet, they are loud. But it was fun. There is nothing that I love more than spending time with my family.
Sunday night, we went to my in-laws house for dinner. It was really yummy. I got to meet Brett's Aunt Sandy for the first time. She is a super nice women with a really warm heart. She was so sweet. She met Mason and of course, she loved him! Who wouldn't love him?
Mason informed us on Saturday that he changed his name. He is now Ben 10. There is a new cartoon called Ben 10 and Mason decided after watching it that it was about him. So, right now, he is Ben 10.... silly boy!!

Calgon.... Take Me Away!

Ever feel like that? That is how I am feeling this afternoon. Brett went to the doctor today and found out that he has strep throat. Good thing he went , huh? He got some seriously big horse pills and is already feeling better....although he is taking Motrin 800's and seems a little bit daze. I picked Mason up from school and he has been a turdhead ever since. If you have kids, you will be able to relate to this. He wanted a snack but couldn't decide which one... so he screamed. He got mad because the car on his race track wouldn't go all the way around.... more screaming. I told him to leave his daddy alone because he was trying to sleep.... yeap... more screaming! I had to put him in his room and close the door because I was about to lose my cool. I know that I can't expect perfect behavior because Mason is so young. I jinxed myself because I just told Ivette that other day that Mason had been an angel. Wonder where that angel went? Anyone seen him?