She loves me...

She cries when I pass her to someone else (even Grandma sometimes) or if I walk by and don't pick her up. She can't help it, she just loves me. She needs me. She wants me. And I love it!
Both my boys were Daddy's boys so I am soaking in my "Mommy's girl" who just happens to be obsessed with me.
Don't mind one bit. (sorry Grandma and other loving family members)

But I'm the Birthday Boy

Mr. Mason is still our constant entertainment. Intense, funny, always teasing but also sweet and tender. I begged him for weeks to please stay little for mommy and not turn 3 but he assured me, "I will still be your special boy when I'm 4." He sure worked the "but I'm the birthday boy" line for a good 2 weeks. It didn't help that our spoiled boy got 4 parties!

Mario & Buzz Party for Cousins Mason & Alec

Grandma even made them each their theme cake - Mario for Mason

(just like Christian's of course)

 New balance bike from mom & dad

 2 Buzz Lightyears

 

Actual Birthday

Right when he woke up he grabbed the birthday banner that was sitting out, threw it at me and said: "hang this up right now." I had to take orders from the BIG birthday boy all day.

Lego Ninjago Water Party with friends
(again, same as Christian's party)

New Lego Ninjago jet - he was happy just playing legos inside during half his party.

 Miss Mia sure enjoyed the party!

 Mr. Mason with his best buddy (and twin) Colton and big bro. Same Ninjago cupcake repeat from brother's birthday, imagine that. I think it's sweet he always wants to be just like Christian, although Christian would beg to differ. Sure makes it easy on mom!

And a 4th party at Grandma Linda's & Grandpa Dave's - 4 parties for our big (SPOILED)

4 year old!

Fab Fourth

A Fabulous Fourth it was and action-packed as always. That's how we roll, just can't miss a thing. Early morning breakfast and bike parade, followed by big children's parade with cousins, swimming with Morgans, BBQ, waterslide and fireworks at Nana's followed by Sugarhouse Fireworks.

Patriotic Bikini Babe - I could not resist this purchase!

Swim time with daddy.

 3 cute cousins all decked out in their stars and stripes enjoying their corn cobs.

Then check out these faces - Mia letting our her loud SQUAWK (as she does all day long) and cousins Leah looking pissed off at her.

Then they decide to share or steal...too funny. I probably took 30 pics of these 3 corn-eating girlies.

 Sparkler boys with Uncle Johnny.

Half asleep waiting for the BIG show at SH Park.

Finale to our fab, fun FOURTH!

Go USA!

I am LOVIN the Olympics and so is my entire family. Christian requests to watch it every night, even the random sports like fencing (he calls it "glow in the dark sword fighting"), water polo (Mason asks when he can go to that pool), table tennis (or what we like to call ping pong) and kayaking. The women's gymnastics "Fab Five" are amazing - they nailed it! I absolutely loved watching them take the gold. Phelps has been fun to watch too, as always. And the super tall 17-year old swimmer is amazing.

The Olympics has been a nice distraction since the greatest Bachelorette season ending. I was so sad to see it end. Loved loved loved every minute. Go Utah boy Jef and Emily! I just adore them (like they're my BFFs of course). SO SO cute together. And of course they will live happily ever after. Together forever.

Chaos, life as we know it.

I'm starting to realize that I thrive on chaos (okay maybe I've always known this). Plan a kid's birthday party the same day as dentist appt, piano lessons and first baseball game that we're coaching...oh and the church party I'm in charge of, why not?? Then go to Lagoon the next day (and more setup for church party that morning and cleanup from b-day party the day before), why not? Then more lessons, sports and pack for a weekend family reunion the next day. Sure, bring it on! Oh and my big work project that's all due at the same time, plus my 3 little ones demanding my attention of course. It's a crazy life but it's a good life. And I know I'm not the only mama who feels like a crazy person every day, right? But it's what we all do. We are Superwomen and we just DO IT ALL.

Part of my problem is that I've never been good with "work before play" and it all catches up with me eventually (once a quarter, coincidentally when my work project, church party, etc. all happens at once). When it rains, it pours! I feel like a crazy person for a week, then I get 'er done and breathe a sigh of relief when it's all over with. Then we can play, play and play some more! That is what life is all about. And I have no guilt about treating myself to a massage or pedi or cleaning lady - even better. All moms deserve it.

There you have my quarterly moment of chaos. Thanks for reading my vent.

Some Random Kiddo Mentions:
Christian decided he needed a nickname and started writing "Christ" on his papers (pronounced "Krisht with lowercase "i" of course). Love that he chose CHRiST instead of Chris :)  Oh and his other nickname? DJ. For no apparent reason, he just really loves how short it is. That's his Wii alter ego, DJ. And he has been begging for a chore chart for months now, what's wrong with this kid? Wanting to do work? He sees the reward and he is sold. Smart boy. I need to take advantage of this short window.
Many of you have heard all my funny, naughty, wild Mason stories. Well he is NOT a fan of me sharing those stories. Lately if he overhears me talking about him to anyone (even repeating something cute or sweet he has done), he lets me have it. "Why did you tell people, it's not funny!" He doesn't like people laughing at him and I don't blame him. Whenever he does anything naughty or funny, he immediately says, "don't tell anyone." This is very hard for me because I am a talker and I love sharing funny kiddo stories. Here I am telling the world about him. When will I learn? Sensitve little guy behind the intense, wild act he puts on for everyone. Hopefully I haven't caused any permanent damage with my story telling.

Miss Mia (9 mo.) is crawling up stairs now (yikes!) and pulling up on everything. She says hi, mama, dada and loves copying her brothers noises. It's a joy driving anywhere with them all singing, chanting and blowing raspberries at each other. She waves to us, dances, claps her hands and loves her food - gotta feed those thighs! Happy girl and busy, busy, busy.
Quotes of Late:
Mason says in the car today: "Mom, who is myself?" Oh how tender.
A couple days before his birthday he was teasing his brother and stopped in his tracks and said, "Santa is watching and the elves are watching and who else, I forgot?"
Me (trying not to laugh): "And Jesus and Heavenly Father and your mom and dad, so you should be nice to your brother."
Mason: "Oh yeah." Then he shut up and pondered that for a good 10 minutes.

Summa-time

First month of summer has FLOWN by but we haven't wasted a minute...3 weeks of swim lessons, This is the Place Heritage Park, Seven Peaks Waterpark (yes I am insane!), Murray Pool, lego workshop (Christian and daddy built an awesome robotic lego car - future engineer perhaps?), backyard water parties and BBQs, smores up the canyon...whew!

Wild and exhausting and a little bit crazy but so fun. My kids are so used to constantly being "on the go" that we all get a little stir-crazy when we're stuck at home for a day (okay, more like I do). So we just wear 'em out good and hard on lots of adventures.

Mia is crawling EVERYWHERE and into everything - she even tried her first few bites of cat food. Yuck. Good protein right?? She has 4 big girl teeth now and chants "da da da" and "ma ma ma" all day. Love it. She is a happy, happy girl and so much fun.

 Swim lessons...we love to swim!

 Gold Diggers and Cowboys at This is the Place Heritage Park

 New cousin Baby Buzz Lightyear (aka Austin)

Miss Mia loves to splash, splash, splash.

Harvesting the garden, aren't we so domestic??
Mason loves the fruits of his labor (strawberries and snap peas are his fave).
I attempted to pay the boys to weed and Mason parks it and eats peas instead. "Mom I am helping you  eat all the peas so they don't go bad." Perfect, thanks for your "help" Mason. :)

 Weeeeee, sissy in the swing (and brother is looking a little dangerous).

 Break dancin' dude loves a good beat and backyard dance party!

 Look who can stand up in her crib now. She's always so proud of herself when she learns something new. Big accomplishment! I love walking in to find this cute munchkin as she squeals for joy and dances in excitement. Seriously SO HAPPY all the time!

"Angry Squirrels and Golden Eagles Water Fight" in Nana's backyard, with self-made shields, mascots and all. The boys adore their super creative Nana!

Glow in dark pirate mini golf with cousins - and only 99 cents at Fat Cats all summer. Sweet deal and perfect escape from the heat for our boys.

 My favorite 3 little people.
And a little random Mason convo...while he was gabbing away at bedtime, I finally said, "It's time to stop talking and go to bed now."
Mason: "But mom, my tummy hurts when I stop talking."
Go figure.

Isn't summertime the best?? My fave season by far.

Lots more summer fun to come at our house - golf lessons, Lagoon Day, family reunion,
baseball league, piano lessons, lots more snowcones and swimming pools. What's not to love?

 and who can resist these sweet cheeks??