What will you build?

I think one of the best parts of parenting is watching my children discover. And another of the best parts is getting to buy toys we loved as kids! I get so giddy when I see a "retro" or "vintage" toy back on the store shelves. When I saw a 50th anniversary box of classic Lego blocks at Target, I had to buy it right away! Right now! What if it didn't exist in six months? What if my children only got complicated sets of Legos to make Power Miners and SpongeBob characters? Wouldn't that be tragic??? (Remember in my first post when I told you I could justify anything I wanted? There ya go.)


So we gave Mason "big boy" Legos (as opposed to the Duplo building blocks) this summer, and he was so excited. He went right to work.


OK, maybe Daddy went right to work! The first project was to replicate the house shown on the box (don't let Rip tell you he didn't love doing it!),

then they made a flying boat, complete with sound effects,

and of course, a "mini-Mason" figurine to live in the house.

Seriously, where's the fun in assembling a character or a vehicle according to the instructions when instead, this whole pile of miscellaneous, beautiful, primary-colored Lego blocks can build anything a kid desires? (Or anything his nostalgic parents desire?)


Which leads me to the question, "what will you build?"

Sitting on Top of the World

One day he couldn't, then just like that. . .he could! Brody's sitting up!

He can't get into sitting position on his own, but if we "place" him, he can hold himself upright for several minutes. "Can" being the operative word here! Just because he happens to be capable doesn't mean he's content to sit. Not our Brody! He's just dying to flop himself onto his tummy and crawl after Mason and all the goodies (aka, clutter) on the floor. While you know I do hate clutter (seriously, people, I really do hate it!), it's virtually impossible to keep it all picked up. It seems there's always an errant Lego, a dropped Smartie, or a carelessly tossed wrapper just out of Brody's reach. What is it about kids and clutter on the floor? Do they like it like that? Doesn't it give them anxiety? (Oh no, wait, that's ME!!!)

But Brody Boo doesn't have any worries about clutter or Mommy harping at him to pick up. Not yet, anyway. His biggest concern for now is not toppling over on the carpet!

Where the Desert Meets the Sea

We were lucky enough (again) to go on a wonderful trip as an incentive through Rip's job. Cabo San Lucas sits where the desert spills into the Sea of Cortez. And it looks exactly as Mexico should to me. . .

palm trees swaying in the gentle ocean breeze,




seagulls perched about,



a sparkling pool with a swim-up bar,



Rip and me, hanging out in the lounge with our feet up, listening to the relaxing sounds of "island" music,



a little (tiny!) bit of nightlife,



relaxing massages in a straw cabana,



my workaholic husband without his Blackberry,



and Rip reading "Green Eggs and Ham." (Huh?!?! Let me explain. Mason knows Daddy likes to read that book to him at bedtime, so he suggested we take it along on the trip. And we did!!)



Although it was a work trip, it really felt like a true vacation. Cabo San Lucas is referred to as the place "where the desert meets the sea." (And for all you 30-somethings, are you hearing Emmet Otter and Ma singing???!!! Hahaha!!!)

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

A few months ago, Rip and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary. As couples tend to do on anniversaries, we went out to dinner together.


While we were out, Christina was here with the boys, and Mason started saying HE wanted to go on an anniversary date. The two of them made tentative plans (yes, that's our Mason Ray, makin' plans on his own!) to go out for dinner. And dancing, because as Mason said, "that's what people do on anniversaries." I'm not quite sure where he got that idea, but it does sound nice, right??


As promised, a few weeks later Christina reminded him of their plans for an anniversary date and gave him a few restaurant choices. Drumroll, please. . . . .. and Red Robin it was! That morning, Mason and I were talking about how excited he was, and he said the cutest thing. "I need to wear a tie, Mommy." Oh, he's going to be a lady-killer someday. The immediate issue was that we own zero dress clothes. None. We don't go to church regularly (okay, ever. You caught me!), we don't go to formal events, we haven't had any weddings this summer, and as such, we only have shorts and t-shirts for our boys.


I went on a mad search for a tie, and ended up with a tuxedo shirt and bow tie from our neighbor, Jacquelyn. Put it with a pair of shorts, and PRESTO! Dressy outfit with a tie. Close enough. As our crazy luck would have it, Christina showed up in a white dress with a black tie in back and black bows on her shoes. They matched!!!!!






"Nana" had to drive, but Mason was a true gentleman, held her hand, and opened the door for her.



Now that's true love!

Rock & Roll, Little Dude!

Look what Brody can do!!

He's been able to roll from tummy to back for about 3 months, but just learned this today. He did it once, I grabbed the camera, and he did it again right away. Hooray!

He's also been getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth. I think he's about to start crawling! (Here in Texas, we say "fixin' ta" instead of "about to." However, I defer to my midwest upbringing!)

Now if we could just get him to STOP CRYING AND SLEEP! Then I'd really be jumping for joy!!

This is the life!

Oh, we can't do or say anything without Mason picking up on it. The other day, he got himself all set up in this lounge chair, kicked back and said, "aaah, this is the life." !!!!! Give the child a beer, and he would have been a dead ringer for Rip.

I won't get in the pool with both kiddos by myself. Mason thinks he knows how to swim, but absolutely does not, and as you've heard me say (write?) previously, he is absolutely fearless. He'll jump off the diving board and go all the way to the bottom. Luckily, Rip's always been there to pull him back to the surface! (or Poppa Ray!!) Anyway, that's why I wouldn't get in the pool with him without another adult. I'm afraid I won't be strong enough to keep up with him.

So imagine my surprise the other morning when I was looking for Christina and the boys, and found them out back! Check this out!




"Nana" is amazing. She tackled something I as a mother wouldn't attempt, and she did it WELL! She got Mason set up in his little floaty suit, blew up Brody's crab floaty, got all of them sunscreened up, and was having a blast with them in the pool. I'm impressed with that girl everyday, but this one really topped all! I wonder all the time what I would do without her. Luckily, I haven't had to find out. But I dread the inevitable day that I do have to learn. She's such a special person. . .as a friend, as someone we consider family, as our home's "Director of Childcare," as my helper, as our neighbor, and as a pseudo-daughter to Rip and me. We adore her.

And then I got to go back inside to a quiet house. Yes, this IS the life!!!