I really really want one.

Things I will regret telling you

1. When I was 7 or 8, I made my older sister the cutest little coin purse. It didn't occur to me until years later that a coin purse made out of an old pair of underwear is just gross.

2. A few years ago, I was on one of those magazine websites and answered an embarrassing question online (which I will not even begin to rehash here). A few months later, as I was thumbing through this major, NATIONAL magazine, I found they had printed not only my answer, but my full name and city and state of residence. What is worse, my youngest sister called me and told me she had read it too because a friend of HER's called her and told her about it. If you are one of the said two people that I am sure known about this, don't be talking about it here.

3. My sister used to pretend that she had an electronic knee and would regularly play with it. And she was like 10. Okay, so I know that's not about me, but I had to take the heat off.

EDITED TO ADD: On #2, I need to add that I would never ever have done this if I would have had ANY sense at all. It really didn't occur to me that this may be printed. with my name. I am still dying over this.

Regretsy

So, wait, you guys. I wasn't going to post anything about this because I don't want to be that girl that makes fun of some one's homemade creations.


but.....I couldn't resist. So, someone came up with this website, Regretsy, that features items that are listed for sell on my fav website, etsy, that as Regretsy puts it, looks like its made with your feet. There is quite the controversial buzz around the web about it though. It looks a lot like the actual etsy site, and even though it doesn't link to the items on etsy; its easy to type in the given words and find the items and sellers. And well, isn't it mean to make fun of some one's craftiness? These things are getting sold, so apparently, not everyone has the same opinions of the regretsy crew. But I digress, point is, some of it is wack, plain and simple. But, warning, some of it is also really gross, offensive and r rated. So instead, I have a few pics of some of the stuff that people are selling, and if I am not mistaken, that people have bought.

read: "this BEAUTIFUL GOLDEN PAPERCLIP NECKLACE." I don't think I have to say anything else here.

Brittany- you are so getting this mermaid clip for Christmas.

That looks like something I would make.

Never lose your dentures again. Or your keys.

Can you read that small print? It may look harmless; but it is made out of CATERPILLAR FUR.

Fall Festival

Adler's haunted house

Scary on so many levels

Pathetic

What is pathetic is that after two hours of working the ring toss booth, my legs and back are sore! All that bending down to pick up the rings did me in. I SERIOUSLY need to get back in the gym.

What is NOT pathetic is how great our fall festival went last night. We had more kids than I have ever seen there before. Everyone seemed to have a great time. I know Adler was buzzing from all the sugar and excitement.

Another exciting development in the Mason house is Hazel finally rolled over on her own a few days ago! She just wasn't interested in it, but now she has figured out that its sort of fun to throw your equilibrium off a bit. I think I hold her too much and don't give her enough floor time. But when you have a heavy footed 2 year old running around the house all day long, floor time becomes a dangerous game! But its done, so I guess next will be sitting up and crawling...(stop Hazel stop).

4 months!

I am shocked that just a little over four months ago, I only knew Hazel from her kicks and hiccups. The time has gone by so very fast. I guess that's what two kids does to you!

She is doing so great. She is 18 pounds and shows it every bit! She got her first tooth a few days ago and we have given her cereal a few times already. She liked it the first time, not so much the second. We are going to start some baby food in a month or so. I am going to try my hand at making my own baby food this time around. The first time, I wasn't too worried about the whole family getting their veggies, so I used the stuff in jars. This time, its a little different, so we will see! I have this pretty cool cookbook that gives recipes for the baby, toddler and grown-up versions of the vegetable so I can use the same cooked veggies for all of us. We'll see- I will be honest with you guys if we switch back to the jars!

Well, I am not feeling very bloggy today, but I will be back on soon!

Also, I wanted to invite all your kiddos to our church's fall festival tonight from 5-7 PM at Woodlawn Baptist Church (on Culkin Rd). Its going to be a lot of fun with a hayride, jumpy balloon, free food and games. I'll be manning the ring toss so come by my booth! If it rains, still come- we'll be moving it inside. Can't wait to see you there!!

duh

So, apparently, Disney is offering refunds to parents who bought "Baby Einstein" videos (read here) because, as it turns out, these videos featuring spinning toys, bright colors and geometric shapes, does not turn your baby into a genius.

I will be the first to admit that Adler watched some tv before he was two, maybe a few einstein videos, but I did not fool myself into thinking it was making Adler a smarter baby- it was for entertainment for him...and admittedly, a few minutes to fold clothes or get dinner started, or thumb through a magazine for me. I think its a pretty bad move on disney's part to even offer refunds. Almost every toy out there boasts some sort of learning experience and I am willing to bet that most of it isn't true. The truth is that at such a young age, most learning experiences come from interaction with parents or other caregivers. But hey, if they are willing to give the refunds, I am sure there are parents willing to take it!

So, in the past two days, I have found Adler on the kitchen counter, getting a glass out of the cabinet, and on the very top of his play kitchen, knocking stuffed animals out of the animal hammock in his playroom.

I always looked at my sister in awe for maintaining a sense of calm in the midst of her lively boys and dreaded the day when Adler learned boys were supposed to be climbing on or jumping off of something at all times. Well, that day has come. Now, where's my first aid kit?

Things my husband doesn't know

1. I only pretended to like that alfredo sauce (you worked so hard...)
2. On the days Adler doesn't have school, we regularly sleep to at least 8:45 (oh joy!)
3. At 5:07, all four of us- me, Adler, Hazel and our dog Toby, are literally waiting for you by the door. More often than not, we are still waiting, and things are getting hairy, at 5:30.
4. That chicken and veggie soup stuff we eat, not so much homemade as bag.
5. Those times I hand both children off to you to use the restroom, its really just that if I don't have 5 minutes to myself I might start rocking back and forth, babbling nonsense.
6. You are way cooler than me. (although, I think you might suspect...)
7. I don't turn off all the lights behind me when you are at work (for SHAME!)
8. I still watch "The Hills" (I don't know why it keeps recording, honey...)
9. I am on Facebook way more than is normal.
9. I frequently air my dirty laundry on my blog, if ONLY YOU WOULD READ IT!

a few more

love

my long legged boy "working hard" as he said

Hazel always does this with her hands- Ad asked me if she was praying

ADLER!

skating at Everitt's party- he went around the whole rink by himself!
Don't make me mad.

bright eyes

Proof she exists

talking to her mobile
THE BELLY!


boo.

whoops- I am working on it!

The beach, finally!

yummy!
having THE TIME of his life!
so, she wasn't so happy to be modeling 1 of 3 swimming suits she had for the trip, but I couldn't resist getting a pic of this fat baby in a swimming suit!

I need an intervention, pronto.

Somebody stop me before I spend WAY too much money at this etsy shop- Charbridge Knits and Gifts

I am definently getting this monster hat for Adler and one of these other ones for Hazel or either a pink monster hat, just can't choose. There is nothing better than a silly winter hat, in my opinion.

In all honesty, I can't decide whether I want the hats, or if I just want these ridiculously cute kids modeling the hats. Don't you just want to die over this photography?

Something's not right in the world

when you are literally dying from heat exhaustion at the school pumpkin patch party. We had a great morning, a hay-ride, pumpkin picking, scare-crow stuffing, and lots of playing; but man, was it hot and muggy!

And while I am at it...

First, let me say, I love Etsy. What I am about to tell you is not an anti-etsy rant. I buy from etsy all the time. As a matter of fact, I just bought a few Christmas gifts last night off of etsy. BUT- a few months ago, I bought some 5 or 6 cute outfits that were on sale for the kids to wear next summer. I paid through paypal and waited for my order to come in. And waited and waited until finally the seller told me that there was a tragedy in her family but that she would be getting them out very soon. So I completely understood and wanted to giver her as much time as she needed. But she never sent them to me, and what is worse, her etsy account and shop has been deleted! I filed a complaint with etsy, but she won't return any emails from me or etsy. Basically, that is all etsy does to help. I can't file a refund request with paypal because its been over 45 days. This apparently has happened to at least 6 other people because I have been in touch with them to see if there was anything we could do.

I am so bummed about it. I mean, its not totally about the money, although that is a factor. Its just the fact that I feel betrayed by a CRAFTER! I mean, I thought that all people who made things with their hands were inheritantly good people. I feel like someone just told me that the Easter bunny doesn't exist.

Okay, I am over the soapbox- just wanted to share. Any suggestions on how I can get my money back or the outfits, which is really want I want anyway!

ING Thursday

Its a slow week this week, so I thought I would steal some ING from my sister.

Watching: my latest recorded episode of "Rachel Zoe Project" (I am bananas over it!)
Eating: homemade chocolate chip cookies (its snack time somewhere, right?)
Listening: Adler banging his dump truck on the floor
Wearing: pajamas (its bed time somewhere, right?)
Reading: "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett (fantastic!)
Feeling: disappointed (in the high today- 93 DEGREES!)
Cleaning: Closets (love me a clean closet)
Wishing: I was at the Canton Flea Market
Smelling: you don't want to know
Paying: for cool weather clothes for the kiddos (why, I don't know as its 93 degrees)
Anticipating: the holiday season
Loving: My kids' juicy lips and cheeks- perfect for kissing!
Humming: "These boots were made for walking.." (that song has been running through my head off and on ever since I was a kid)

Sneak Peak

Ooh, Jeanelle gave me a sneak peak of the pics she took of Adler last week- can't wait to see more! She's so talented!

Not a real good reason to post

but I am trying to boot my recent blog post "Genius baby STINULATION (oops) Mobile"- down the page a bit- sort of lackluster I know!

We have been busy over here and it seems October is only going to be busier. We have fall festivals, pumpkin patches, birthday parties and more planned for the month.

Let's see- what's been going on with us...

Adler has been lovely the past few days. This cooler weather has seemed to make him agreeable and content. He is loving his preschool, especially his teacher, Mrs. Amber. He comes home all the time with "Mrs. Amber says..." And his vocabulary- every day its something new. The other day, I was trying to get Hazel down for a nap and it was suspiciously quiet in his room, so I went in there. He was in his closet, with an empty tub of lotion in one hand and a shoe full of lotion in the other. He "fingerpainted" the closet wood floors, filled his shoes with lotion, and greased down his body. After a minor freak out, I told him that now, instead of playing with him before nap, we were going to have to clean up the mess. He looked at me and said, "But I apologize momma!"

Hazel is doing so great too. She is sleeping fantastic and is so happy most of the time. She has been cooing for awhile now, but this past week, she coos for 30 minutes or so straight, not even stopping to let anyone else get a word in. She does this all day long- its really cute.

I am good too. I haven't hit any cute developmental milestones to write about though, so I will spare you on that. I am excited about the upcoming season- I just feel joyous this year!

I apologize to most of you who really don't care how much Hazel coos or Adler talks- I just feel the need to document these little things on my blog because I don't journal and the baby books don't give you room to put things like this there. If I don't write it somewhere, it will be forgotten. I do not want to forget any of the minutia of life right now. It is all such a sweet time in our lives, these days of cooing, bouncing babies, little feet running down the hall, tiny munchkin voices filling the air; I can barely contain it. So I write it down.