KASEY & KELLY'S WEDDING

LAST MONTH I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PHOTOGRAPHING KASEY AND KELLY'S WEDDING DAY. THEY ARE THE SWEETEST COUPLE AND SO IN LOVE. THE DAY WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND PURE JOY. I TOOK OVER 500 PICTURES! I WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT JUST LOOK AT THEM, COULD ANYONE TAKE A BAD PICTURE OF "KEN AND BARBIE"? I HAD SO MUCH FUN AND FELT BLESSED TO BE A PART OF SUCH A HAPPY DAY.

FAMILY REUNION FUN

WE SPENT THE 4th OF JULY WEEKEND ATTENDING A FAMILY REUNION FOR MARK'S GRANDMOTHER'S FAMILY IN KANSAS. WE MET MARK'S SISTER AND HER FAMILY AND DROVE TO KANSAS TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH THEIR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND MANY COUSINS. WE ALWAYS HAVE LOTS OF LAUGHS WHEN WE ALL GET TOGETHER. HERE ARE SOME FUN SHOTS OF THE TIME WE SPENT TOGETHER.
THE GANG'S ALL HERE!

MARK AND HIS GRANDPA MARVIN MARK & HIS SISTER TAMMY WITH THEIR GRANDMA WILDA ANDREW ENJOYED THE FIREWORKS THANKS TO THESE EAR "MUFFS" FROM UNCLE DENNIS. LOOK HOW CUTE HE LOOKS WITH HIS CHEEKS SMUSHED.

MARK'S MOM AND DAD SPENT THE DAY AT THE AMUSEMENT PARK WITH THE KIDS...THEY ARE SO FUN!

YEEHAW COWBOYS!

THE TICKLE MONSTER GETS HIM EVERY TIME!

MASON TRIES TO COMFORT HIS LITTLE BROTHER, WHO APPARENTLY, IS NO FAN OF ROLLER COASTERS...EVEN THE KIDDIE KIND.

HI DADDY!

I DON'T KNOW WHY, I JUST LOVE THIS PICTURE!

THESE FUTURE MASTERS CONTENDERS LOOK SERIOUS.

HE IS EITHER AN ALLIGATOR WRESTLER OR THE ALLIGATOR ATE HIS BALL.

MASON'S FIRST TIME TO DRIVE HIS OWN GO CART. DADDY IS CLOSING IN FAST WITH HIS TRUSTY SIDEKICK, KNUCKLES...I MEAN ANDREW.

THERE'S ANDREW!

MASON WITH HIS COUSINS, MICHAEL AND MEAGAN. PURE JOY!

ANDREW AND MICHAEL ARE HAVING A BLAST.

WE HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME WITH EVERYONE AND PACKED A LOT IN TO JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE ARE STILL RECUPERATING FROM ALL THE FUN! WE LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!

LEMONADE...THAT COOL REFRESHING DRINK.

GREAT SUMMERTIME MEMORIES WERE MADE WHEN MASON DECIDED TO EARN SOME MONEY BY OPENING A LEMONADE STAND IN OUR FRONT YARD ON THE CORNER. MASON WANTS TO EARN AND SAVE MONEY FOR A DOG. WE TOLD BOTH THE BOYS WE WOULD GET A DOG WHEN WE MOVE INTO THE NEW HOUSE BUT MASON WANTS TO EARN THE MONEY HIMSELF. HE RECRUITED ANDREW TO HELP HIM FOR A CUT OF THE PROFITS. HIS JOB WAS TO YELL "LEMONADE FOR SALE!" THROUGH HIS HOMEMADE MEGAPHONE.

WE HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS AND HAD A SUCCESSFUL DAY. MASON STEPPED OUT OF HIS COMFORT ZONE AND WENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SOLICIT "BUSINESS". ANDREW WAS A GREAT ASSET. HE IS A NATURAL SALESMAN. A WOMAN STOPPED WITH HER DAUGHTER TO BUY A LARGE LEMONADE. ANDREW QUICKLY SAID "DON'T YOU WANT A SMALL ONE FOR HER?" ALREADY USING THE UP SALE TACTIC!

I SNAPPED A SHOT OF ONE OF OUR LOYAL AND CUTEST CUSTOMERS MAKING HIS PURCHASE.

THAT LOOKS LIKE ONE SATISFIED CUSTOMER!

BOTH BOYS WORKED HARD AND HAD A BLAST. THEY EARNED OVER $10 IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS. NOT BAD! WE LIVE IN A NEIGBORHOOD FULL OF SOFTIES ;-) I SAT WITH THE BOYS TO WATCH AND HELP WHEN NEEDED. OUR NEIGHBORS WERE SO SUPPORTIVE AND ENJOYED REMINISCING, JUST AS I DID, OF WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. MY SISTERS AND I WOULD HAVE A KOOL-AID STAND EVERY SUMMER. WE ALWAYS HAD SO MUCH FUN AND SUCH A SENSE OF PRIDE WHEN WE EARNED OUR OWN MONEY. I CAN STILL SEE OUR LITTLE PLASTIC RED AND WHITE CHECKERED TABLE WE WOULD SIT AT AND WAIT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. I KNOW MASON AND ANDREW WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS MEMORY FONDLY IN THE YEARS TO COME, JUST AS I WILL.

Masonisms

My previous post was "all about Andrew", now I would like to share "Mason's Moments". As he gets older, the "Masonisms" have changed. His cute little nuances have matured. He is very methodical in his thoughts and decisions. He is also a very thoughtful and giving friend and brother. I want to share a couple of the latest stories that really describe Mason...We love and enjoy him so much.

The boys were playing "driver" with the two umbrella strollers we have last Friday night. Mason laid down in the floor of the den and instructed Andrew to run over him with his stroller. Andrew did just what he said and kept going. He did not look back to check on the injured man (Mason) in the road...he headed for the kitchen to the "Friday night" candy bowl. Mason waited a bit for Andrew to no avail. He looked in the kitchen and saw Andrew and said, "There is a dying man in the road and your eating a Starburst!"...SO DRAMATIC :-P

While we were shopping for kid's shampoo, Mason told me he wanted to pick his shampoo. I picked up several shampoos designed for kids to show him. Mason picked up "Suave for Men" and said, "I think I want this one". I couldn't say no. No more clean baby smell when he snuggles me before bedtime...he wants to smell like a MAN. :-(

A few weeks ago I took the boys to see Wall-E. Mason's friend Cameron joined us along with his mom and sister. After the movie, Mason went to spend the night with Cameron. Andrew began to cry when Mason got into Cameron's car. Mason got out of the car and came over to console his brother. He hugged and kissed his little brother and told him he loved him. Andrew cried most of the way home from the movies and kept saying, "I want my Bubba". Once we were home Andrew was wrestling with Daddy and feeling better. The phone rang...it was Mason calling from his sleepover to check on his baby brother. He wanted to talk to him before he could focus on having fun with his buddy. His compassionate little heart just humbles me sometimes!

Check out all the little characters in the Tiny Tot Tuesday funnies. I just love reading what other parents are laughing about in their homes. I hope you laugh as much as I do.

Andrew's Antics

Boy have we been busy the past few weeks and I have been a blog slacker again. We have been enjoying summer with one another. I will have to do several post to share with you some of the fun we have been having. In the mean time, I had to post some of Andrew's antics. He keeps us in stitches! We usually hold back the laughter to administer the "tough love" and wait to giggle once the boys are in bed. Sometimes it gets really hard to keep a strait face...

We were at church one Sunday morning and our youth choir was performing. One of the songs they performed was his favorite..."Awesome God", which Andrew sings all the time. He smiled and joined in with the kids singing. All of the sudden he stopped abruptly, scowled at me and said, very loudly, "That is my song, why are they singing it?"

The latest Andrewism:

Chick-el-lay = this


While we were staying in a hotel in Joplin, Missouri with a lot of Mark's extended family for the July 4th weekend we decided to enjoy the indoor pool and relaxing hot tub one evening. I purchased several water guns for the kids to all enjoy while playing in the pool. The boys were having a blast having a shootout with their cousins. Andrew climbed out of the pool and walked over to the hot tub where a couple was relaxing. He shot them both in the back of the head! He ran away laughing and I wanted to crawl under a rock! He was truly taking no prisoners...not even the innocent bystanders were safe! I apologized profusely and thankfully they were accepting of my apology and found the humor in the situation. Andrew and I then had a conversation about appropriate water gun play. This goes into the "sentence I never thought I would actually have to say" category..."Andrew, you cannot shoot strangers with your water gun." He looked at me so confused as if he was wondering how anyone could think he was anything but adorable, even after being a senseless victim of his water gun massacre.

My Tribute to Shelley's Asian Cole Slaw

I am not much of a cole slaw fan because I do not really like mayonaise. Sadly, mayonaise is one of the few things that will cause me to turn my nose up. I will and do eat most anything that is in front of me...it can be a problem.

Well now cole slaw is a major temptation thanks to my co-worker Shelley! She brought this to my birthday lunch the girls put together for me a few weeks ago. It is absolutely delicious!!! I begged for the recipe and made it this week and it did not last 48 hours...and I probably ate 3/4 of the huge bowl. The family had Dairy Queen for dinner last night and I turned it down and had this instead... OK, I did get ice cream (thanks Wawee!). It did not even last long enough to take a picture to post for you. So I share this recipe with you and take no responsibility for your lack of self control! ;-)

1-10 oz package of Shredded Coleslaw
2 package of Chicken Flavored Ramen Noodles (crush your noodles and lay to side the two packets of seasoning)
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 cup of slivered almonds
2 cups of sunflower seeds kernels, roasted and salted
3/4 cup of canola oil or corn oil
1/3 cup of white vinegar
1/2 cup of sugar
Mix sugar, vinegar, oil, and 2 seasoning packets together. In separate bowl combine coleslaw, crushed noodles, green onions, almonds, and sunflower seeds. Add oil mixture to coleslaw mixture and let chill for several hours or overnight.

Shelley's commentary...
I sometimes add more almonds and sunflower seeds and sometimes I crush a third pkg. of ramen noodles to put on top of salad after I mix all ingredients together. I try to stir about every hour to 2 hours to keep the oil, vinegar, and sugar combined and soaking into the slaw and noodles.

LAZY DAYS

THIS WEEK IS A RARE ONE FOR US, WE ARE STAYING HOME EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. I STILL HAVE SOME PROJECTS FOR WORK TO COMPLETE SO IT IS NOT A VACATION FOR ME, BUT THIS WEEK IS A VACATION FOR OUR BABYSITTER, RONDA. BEING A HOLIDAY WEEK, A BACK-UP SITTER WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND. SO WE ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THIS SITUATION. THE BOYS ARE ENJOYING SLEEPING IN AND STAYING IN THEIR PAJAMAS UNTIL NOON.

I THANK GOD FOR TECHNOLOGY! I CAN TAKE MY LAPTOP OUTSIDE WHILE THEY PLAY IN THE SPRINKLER. NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL MULTITASKING! I AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH I CAN STILL ACCOMPLISH EVEN WITH THE DISTRACTIONS OF MY CUTE LITTLE MONSTERS. THE STATE OF THE HOUSE IS ANOTHER STORY! OK, I'M OFF TO GET SOME WORK DONE...MEANWHILE, ANDREW PREPARES FOR A DAY OF FUN IN THE SUN.