"H" is for "HUNT!"

I had no idea what to do for "H" day, yet knew we really should do something academic around here instead of watching Nick, Jr. all day! Since I couldn't think of a fantastic idea, I took the easy way out and said "H" was for "hunt!" I figured that way Mason could figure out what "H" was for! He has his own little VTech camera, so I had him put it to good use. I sent him and Nana on an outing to find all the objects they could that began with the letter "h". . .

They had a great time, and came up with some good stuff! On his own, Mason found

            

a "Honda"

some "horses"

               

a "Highlights" magazine

and a "hydrant"

And my very favorite discovery of the day?  "H" is for "holding hands."  So sweet, those two!

That's my studious boy. . .practicing his "H's!"  (Actually, we're making him practice before he does something much more imaginative like pretending he's a B-2 Bomber.  A typical day in the life of the Rays!)

G is for Giving

Remember my brilliant idea to do "alphabet activities" with Mason? Ummmmm. . yea. Remember how the last activity I posted about was in, I dunno, like October?

Okay. . .so clearly I'm not the best about keeping up with this. But we DID get through the letter "G." In December. I suppose this is a bit (a lot?) delinquent, but I figure it's better late than never. I'll try to be better with "H!!!"

Before Christmas, we took Mason to pick out a child from the "angel tree." Before we had kids. Rip and I used to make an annual event of shopping for children in need. Always one boy, one girl. This year, we wanted Mason to "run the show," so we let him pick. It was so heartwarming to see him deliberate, then choose one name from the tree. He chose a preschool-aged girl who asked for a "Little People Playset." He was so excited to shop for her and pick out something he thought she'd like.

Even though it was for a girl who probably dreamed of the Little People Happy Sounds House, Mason just KNEW she would want the farm. He was very insistent, so we let him select the farm.

I think the most special moment of the experience was watching Mason pay for the gift. We give him $1 in assorted coins every week, and he must divide it into "spend" (50%), "save" (40%) and "give" (10%) piggy banks. After the whole year, he had $4 in change in his "give" bank. Which he proudly carried around WalMart in a Ziploc bag, then gave to the cashier like a champ.

He was so proud that we didn't let him see us secretly slipping the cashier our credit card to pay the difference between his $4 contribution and the cost of the farm!

As soon as we got home, we talked about what we had just done, and asked him if he knew why it was important. I almost cried when he said "some little girls and boys have parents who don't have very much money for food or presents. We helped them have a Christmas, too." Oh, what a sweet boy!

And of course, we practiced the letter "G." G is for giving!

F is for French Fries

French fries? Yea, I know. Rather pathetic.

BUT, let me explain.

I had some good ideas for "F." "Friday," "favorites" (I even had Mason go around the house and take photos of his favorite things. Too bad I never got around to uploading those pictures!), "family," "football," "fall," . . .seriously, I had some good ones.

And then Dad showed up.

My dad is so awesome. He is fun-loving, energetic, full of happiness, easy to get along with, and has the best heart. He loves his family and my mom like crazy, and possesses a unique ability to be simultaneously goofy and respectable. He also eats junk food like a kid and will use any excuse he can conjure up to ditch his normal diet of yogurt and carrots for something yummier. I think he would even trade his firstborn for a bowl of ice cream. (WAIT, that's ME! Dad, don't trade ME!!) Anyway, Dad and I were upstairs with the kids, just catching up and hanging out, and Mason was writing the letter "f" on his little chalkboard. I was trying to be all educational when Dad said "you know what 'f' is for? FRENCH FRIES!"

Thanks, Dad.

So, clearly, that had to be followed with an outing to McDonald's for Happy Meals. There was just no way around it at that point! I'm pretty sure Dad was secretly jumping for joy when he heard me say it was "f" day. He had a plan the whole time! Clearly, Mason wasn't too upset about the turn of events.

I'm fairly certain Brody would have voted for "F is for Fall" so we could show off our festive decorations, but he didn't seem too upset either. He got some "Mommy Time" while Grandpa and Mason went to McDonald's.

And I even got a salad delivered. I think that's a pretty good FRIDAY.

C is for Candy Corn

Oooooh, I was so excited for "C" day!

Every fall, when August turns to September, I religiously do two things.  First, I put up leaf garland on all of our banisters and railings, and second, I make a delicious snack mix with fall candy.  As of today, there still isn't garland hung, but you can be certain we have our snack mix made!!

The kiddos and I went to Kroger right after breakfast to get the supplies. . .it was VERY important that we go to Kroger because they have these awesome little shopping carts.  As long as I don't need much, AND as long as the store isn't crowded, I let Mason be in charge of our purchases.  He's not very reliable, nor very coordinated (which explains why we only do it in an empty store!), but he thinks it's a blast.  Sadly, Kroger had neither candy corn nor Halloween M&Ms, so we basically accomplished nothing except pushing a miniature cart haphazardly around the store for 30 minutes.  Oh well. . .30 fewer minutes to fill!!!

Thankfully, the Walgreens right across the street had everything we needed.  Last year, I couldn't find any candy corn to save my life, so I had to have Lara send it to me from Denver.  I know, that sounds reeeeeDICulous, but what else was a girl to do?  This mix is seriously that good. 

*two bags Halloween M&Ms
*two bags Brach's Candy Corn
*one large can cashew parts and pieces
*about half a large container of raisins
*employ four-year old to pour and stir, then devour!

And, to add to our lesson for the day, Brody Boo wouldn't stop CRYING.  He is the most rotten child on the planet.  I have no one to blame but myself because I always cave in and pick him up when he goes ballistic, but it's rather unbearable if I don't.

Oh, and the longer you let the snack mix sit, the better it gets.  The cashews make everything else kind of salty and greasy. . .oooooooh, it's goooooood!

B is for Books

For "B" day, I surprised Mason with a trip to the library. We used to go more often, but it's been much harder these last several months with Brody. Now that he's on somewhat of a predictable nap and sleep schedule, I thought it would be a fun outing for us.  Mason has his own little library card, of which he's very proud.

So, "B" was for BOOKS! We do love our books in the Ray household, and whether they're old or new, borrowed or purchased, they give us hours of entertainment. I often fantasize about winning a $1000 shopping spree to Barnes and Noble. . .oh, how fun that would be!

We got all comfy-cozy in the beanbags and read several books together.  Brody was really good, so it was a pleasant outing.  

I let Mason pick out five books to take home. . .believe it or not, one of them was "The Berenstains' B Book!" 

Our "B" day was even better because it was NANA'S BIRTHDAY!  We practiced writing little "b's" and big "B's," then started a game where we all say words that start with that letter.  Winners from today were Brody, brother, bottle, baby, and bedtime!!!

As for any books I'm reading?  Well, I'm trying to read "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," but I'm not making much progress.  Lara and I are supposed to have it finished by next weekend's scrapbook retreat, but it's not looking good.  Sorry, Lara!!!!!  Too much time blogging, not enough time reading!!!!! 

A is for Alphabet Activities!

A delightfully fun part of the "blogworld" is connecting with others who share your interests; yet another fun facet is finding and reconnecting with old friends. One reason I began to blog was that one of my childhood best friends, Lauren, has an adorable blog where she shares her artwork as well as tidbits about her life. We had been out of touch for the better part of 15 years, and it's been really neat to fall back into contact. I've been inspired in many ways by her blog, and wanted to create something similar. So, here I am, givin' it a "go!"

I check her blog every few days, and often find ways to use her creative and fun ideas for crafts here at our house.  Lately, she's been doing a letter of the day with her kiddos, and I thought since I'm home with the boys three days a week, Mason could really benefit from this.  At least it's better than sending him off to play by himself while I search the Internet!  Seriously.  ANYWAY, though. . .

"A is for Acorn!"

I actually "lifted" this idea directly from Lauren.  It was just TOO CUTE, so we had to do it!  Mason and Christina went to the park in the neighborhood to collect acorns, then brought them home and gave them little faces.  Their creations cracked me up!

Then we went into my office and practiced writing the letter "A."  Mason was so very excited to get to play student!  He sees all the "big kids" come in, and to get to sit in their spot in Mommy's office was a ton of fun for him.  We have the craft room upstairs with a jillion crayons, markers, glitter pens, pieces of construction paper, etc., but a plain ol' piece of computer paper is what he wanted. 

I plan to keep these activities going. . .Rip doesn't think I'll make it through the alphabet.  What he doesn't know is that I have big plans for "W is for Wine" when I get to that point!  Well, maybe I won't wait until "W."  Oh, hell, just give me a glass now!  Hah!