Concerts and Cars

The two most popular things in our home this summer are concerts and cars. Mason has taken to performing numerous songs on his guitar while sitting on the toy box in the living room. These songs usually include some aspect of his day, incorporating some exciting and recent event that has happened and then a series of what we like to call "Mason words". These songs last anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes and usually immediately followed by another original piece. Occasionally, we get his version of Coldplay or Weezer. After destroying the one pick he had by chewing it, he began strumming with his hands. Well, he's been playing so much that he started getting blisters on his thumb and finger. When we told him that all guitars players get this, he stopped whining and almost adopted a look of pride-like he had joined a elite group or something. It was pretty amusing! But we decided that picks would be helpful. So Mason and I had a little special mommy-son time at "The Guitar Center". It was like watching a kid in a candy store. He just went from one side to another, touching everything, playing as many instruments as he could and of course asking to buy everything! One very helpful associate showed Mason the mini guitars (which were still as big as him) and got a couple down for him to play. He sat on the ground and played, strumming his little heart out! I wish I had my camera with me!

Now, Willow likes to get in on the concert action too. Sometimes she tries to strum the guitar while Mason is playing. She usually gets a swift kick or push away from her brother. The tears ensue until I can distract her with another instrument that is just as appealing as the guitar. Those of you with two kids know that no toy is as appealing as the one the sibling has! So it usually takes some convincing that the shaker or drum or any other instrument will be just as fun as the guitar. Sometimes, Mason has a streak of selflessness and gives up his "special" and lets her play with it, trying to teach her how to strum it the right way. Watching that is pretty amusing! But once she gets going with another the instrument, the two of them make a pretty good duo, a LOUD duo, but pretty good.



Cars are the other big hit this summer, as has been for the past year. As is his custom, Mason dumps his bucket of die cast cars out on the floor and either singles out a few that he wants to play with (all the "Cars" cars) or takes all of them and lines them up on his town scene play mat. This option is the choice du jour most days. Willow of course loves to come in and pick up, i.e. destroy his neat lined up cars. The scene is not very different from the guitar. I try to convince Mason to share. He says no. I then try to convince him to pick out a couple cars that she can play with next to him. He says she can have the cars but can't play in his room. "She's gonna mess up my cars!" I try to let Willow play next to him anyways. She gets bored with her two cars when she sees the hundreds of other options nicely lined up next to her. She goes for them, he screams and cries while hitting her arms away. She begins to scream too. Before you know it, everyone is crying and pushing around fighting for the cars. Needless to say, I end up taking Willow out of Mason's room with her two cars while Mason slams the door closed and desperately tries to reassemble his nicely ordered rows of cars. We recently bought Willow her own car to play with. That was pointless- Mason hijacked it already and she still goes for the car that he has! Who knows, maybe in a couple years they'll be able to play together a little more civilly.

Summer Swim Class

My dreams of having a little surfer boy have been given new hope once again. Normally Mason doesn't like to play in water. Water that shoots up from the ground scares him, water splashed on him is scary, waves crashing up near him scared him...well, you get the picture. But we've seen signs of serious improvement this summer. We signed him up for two weeks of swim classes through our local parks and rec. So he started last week in the beginner class. He was a little skeptical and I had to go in the water with him on the first day. But once he got it, he warmed up to it pretty quickly. From day two on, it was just him and the the teachers- his favorite was the guy teacher:) Week one he was still a little clingy and reluctant to get his head in the water. But by the end of week two, I couldn't get him out of the water when class was over. And today, at his final class, he was going completely under water, blowing bubbles and kicking those little legs! He was so excited and I was proud of him. He told me "I'm so proud of me in swim class. It was so much fun!" Who knows, maybe we'll get a water baby yet?! Hey, as long as he's not afraid of the water, we're good!


Mason looking pretty darn cute after a good frog jump across the pool!





Mason working on his kicks on his tummy.





Kicks on his back...trying to keep his head above water, little shorty!





Swimming with his favorite teacher.

A Week of Art

Mason took a one week intensive art class this week. The local armory center offers one week classes that meet every day for an hour and half during the summer. They offer all sorts of fun and creative classes for all ages. So we asked Mason if he wanted to take an art class or continue his music class this summer. He chose art class...guess he wanted something new! So we then looked through the classes available for his age and gave Mason a few choices. He chose "Up, Up and Away", a class about the sky and things that are found in the sky. He was super excited about going to art class every day and I was excited to see how he would do in a new place. He's never been somewhere where he didn't know anyone by himself. So on Monday, I stuck around for a while after they were checked in and sent off to their classes. As soon as he said goodbye, it was like I didn't even exist. He went straight to the table, sat down and starting talking to the other kids and coloring. The rest of the week when I took him in he'd say good bye and take off to his seat at the table. He did so well- I think I was more nervous than he was. Is this how school is going to be? Mason running off to see his friends and me lingering behind to make sure everything is ok? Oh, I can't even think about that. So here are some pictures of the art Mason came home with this week- each with their own silly Mason story.

Monday Mason made a blue sky with an orange helicopter. I think he got a little carried away with the watercolors and ripped the paper.

Tuesday he brought this home. He said it was a mask. We're still trying to figure it out.

Wednesday they talked about night skies. He made this night time sky with glowing stars and LOTS of sparkles.

This is an owl he made on Thursday. The glue was still wet when he brought it home so it took a while to figure out what it was.

Friday's project was by far his favorite. It's a rocket and is what we call usable art. Basically it flies all around the house and probably won't last too long.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

The value of a father in the life of a child cannot be underestimated. I know that I would not be who I am today without the love. nurturing and influence of my own father. While he was raised in a time when men were less involved with the children and women did a majority of the work, my dad was still a pretty involved father. He played with us and read with us when we were young. He coached our track teams, was co-president of the local youth sports association we were a part of and even helped us with our homework. He may not have always said with words how much he loved us, but he demonstrated with his actions that he valued being a part of our lives. (when I say our I mean my brother and I) I will never forget the times that I cuddled up to my dad on the couch while watching a movie, asked questions about penalties when watching a Michigan football game or laughed and rolled my eyes at one of his many cheesy jokes. Most importantly, my dad gave me an example of loving relationship between a husband and wife. I am not saying he was perfect, but I have never heard my father speak an unkind word to or about my mother. He understands who she is and how she ticks and communicates with her accordingly. It was only fitting that when I found my own husband that he had many of the same qualities as my own father. Loving, patient, kind, funny and married to high maintenance woman:) And now that we have two kids of our own I see what an amazing father my husband is. I see what a healthy attachment he has created with both kids and how much they love and need that. Dave is one of the most involved fathers that I know. He changes diapers, he baths, he puts them down for bed, he plays outside, runs errands with them and lovingly disciplines them when needed. He is not afraid to be the caregiver. He willingly and confidently cares for both kids on his own to give me a break or let me go study. He has even gone out of the state by himself with one of the kids. I don't know a whole lot of other men who would do that! I am so thankful that my own children will have a great example of a loving, caring and involved father and husband. I can only pray that my son is as great a husband and father someday and that my daughter will marry a man as great as her dad!

Happy Birthday Willow

It is hard to believe that an entire year has passed since the day that Willow came into our lives. Her birth was amazing with such a sweet ending! And her first year has been just as amazing. We have all laughed so much this past year as we have watched her learning and attempting many things and just being silly. Her husky little laugh is enough to bring us to tears most nights! She is a smart and attentive little girl who can't wait to join the big kids on their many adventures in the courtyard. She is active, not so much a cuddler like her brother, so we take the cuddles whenever we can get them. She definitely has a mind of her own and has been determined from the beginning to do things for herself. She loves her brother and follows him around all day...often to the point of annoying him. She is an adventurer, already trying to climb up and leap off couches, tables and slides. So as we celebrated this first year of her life, we thought it fitting to also dedicate her life and our efforts as parents to raise her to the Lord. Our neighbor Jeff was gracious enough to do the service for us. SInce we live life in this wonderful community of people who open their hearts and homes to us all on a daily basis, we thought it most appropriate to dedicate her here, among our community. So we did and all the people who see Willow everyday and have a part in helping guide her committed to guiding her toward Jesus and things of His heart. It was such a sweet moment! We are truly grateful for such a sweet little girl and for such an amazing community to help us along in this journey of parenthood. It really does take a village!!