Summer Vacation

Adam and I decided it was time for a family vacation. I had grand ideas about a trip to San Diego or San Antonio, but reality hit when I imagined Mason on a plane. Nope, it was time to focus on Plan B. (Or was it C?) We decided instead to go to Cedar Point, stopping in to visit Aunt Susan and Uncle Sam on the way. Mason had fun on their tire swing and spent about an hour playing with their garden hose and a watering can.



The next day we headed for Sandusky to meet up with my parents. We always went to Cedar Point for summer vacations, so it was only natural they join us. It was a great arrangement - mom got to take Mason on all her rides and dad got to go on the big kid rides with Adam and I. It rained in the morning, but cleared up after lunch and we were able to hit every ride we wanted to. Mason enjoyed the carousel, but I think his favorite ride was the Calypso.



After Cedar Point we headed to the lake, which proved to be a wise decision given the unseasonally high temperatures. The lake was still pretty cool, but it actually felt really good on those 90 degree days. The Rowe's joined us one afternoon for lunch and the Cerda's came for a night too. Boat rides, barbecues and bubbles - a great time was had by all.

Mama's Day

I feel like I should be waxing poetically about all the wonderful things motherhood has brought me. But just look at this little face. Need I say more?

Here we are, all dressed up for brunch at the Beacon Club with Daddy, Nana, Papa, MorMor and Busha. (Although, if your seating is after noon, should it be called linner or dunch?) It's not like I need Mother's Day to have a meal prepared for me, but I do need Mother's Day brunch to not have a kitchen to clean up afterwards. Poor Adam, all the years he spent working MD brunches at the Cafe, I think he actually feels bad about going to these things. ("86 the Bennies!")

The day is almost over and I still don't have a gift from my boys. Adam says he ordered it on April 21st and it's still not here. The only other clues I got were that it was a two-step process and it's being delivered to his parents' house. Hmmm...

Pit Stop in East Lansing

Yesterday we headed up to Bridgeport for my brother's graduation, but took a pit stop in East Lansing. I cannot explain how much I loved trips to EL as a kid. Every year we'd drive down to my dad's alma mater and feed the ducks, visit the bookstore for our annual MSU shirt and pen, and then hit up some local restaurant for lunch (usually Hobie's).

Now it's our turn to take Mason to MSU. We skipped the bookstore (mommy spends enough money there throughout the year anyway), but did stop by to visit the ducks. I forgot the bread but the ducks didn't seem to care. They didn't even mind Mason running around after them. I think they knew they could outrun him or just fly away if he got too annoying.

We also stopped by my work and Mason was right at home in the office. He settled in at one of the computers and started banging away on the keyboard and adding machine. It was the first time I really thought 'he's my son after all.' Mason is definitely his father's son and does something daily to remind us of this. But on this day, crunching the numbers, he was my son too.

Old Friends, New Families

Last weekend Mason and I went to visit my very first best friend and her 6-month old daughter. It's crazy to think about how far we've come since those summers making friendship bracelets, riding bikes and rollerskating, and singing Mariah Carey and Belinda Carlisle songs. (I'm still shocked I thought I could pull off Vision of Love.) Now we're all grown up with homes and beautiful families of our own. And even after all that time - we're still friends. :)

Yardwork with Daddy

I think it's a prerequisite for every little boy to have pictures like these. Last year Mason would stare in amazement as Adam mowed the lawn. This year he's going to be running right next to him! I cannot tell you how these pictures make my heart melt. When we were pregnant I often said that I couldn't wait to watch Adam be a daddy - it really is amazing.

Pancakes!

Everyone knows that I stay out of the kitchen as much as possible. But in the style of my dad, I sometimes emerge on the weekend to create a yummy breakfast for Mason and I. This weekend we had chocolate chip pancakes!

The history of pancakes in my family is a strong one. It seems like every weekend growing up my dad would make us pancakes. Not just any pancakes either - he poured the batter into the most fun and interesting shapes. Dinosaurs, trains, letters. Whatever you asked for, he would make. Now my skills are not yet this refined, but I can mix a little batter and sprinkle some chocolate chips on top, so that's just what I did. As you can see, Mason loved them! Well, the chocolate chip part at least.

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny came a little early for Mason this year since we went up to Grandma and Grandpa's house for the weekend. Saturday morning he woke to find something hiding between the chair and ottoman in the living room. There was no candy in this basket, but there were a bunch of fun little toys. A book with some of his favorite rhymes, a megablocks police car, a sippy cup with his name on it, and (best of all) a broom! I think the broom has seen more action than mine since he got it. Sadly, I'm not kidding about that.

From there it was on to Bridgeport. We were happily preparing for the MSU/Butler semifinal game when disaster struck. The high winds caused a branch to fall from a nearby tree and knock out the power. So we did what any good Spartan fans would do - we packed up dinner and headed to Megan and Dan's house. Unfortunately, not only did we lose power but we lost the game. While a loss is a loss, dad and I were pretty proud of how far this much-maligned team actually went. There's always next year!

Easter morning arrived and brought more baskets for Mason. He found an Easter bucket in his favorite place - the pantry! We got all fancied up for church and took a quick picture. Is it just me or am I looking more and more like my mom? Off to church we went, but Mason was not on his best behavior. Several trips to the hall made me wonder 'why did they get rid of the cry room again?'