Our Family's 2008 in Review

2008 has been a wild ride at times but overall was great for our family.

January- This was the 1st anniversary of our new home location. We moved in January 2007.

February- I got a new (to me) truck. A white Toyota 4Runner that I'd been wanting for a while. My family celebrated the February birthdays (1st- my Dad, 3rd- my Mom, 16th- my brother & 23rd- me) with a family gathering at Scott & Debra's house. I turned 31 years old but I'm still going strong.

March- This month began our visits to AR Children's Hospital with Mason's vomiting. Most of the month was a blur because it was spent on the road to and from Little Rock or in the hospital at Little Rock. Mason had two hospital stays during March. On a positive note, we were reminded how many loving & caring family and friends we have. Everyone offered to help in any way possible and most importantly by helping with Anna and praying so much for Mason and us. Granny Ruth celebrated her 80th birthday with a party at the nursing home. The kids and I were able to attend which made her day.

April- Mason had his 3rd hospital stay of the year at AR Children's Hospital and surgery was finally done. Scar tissue from his surgery in May 2007 was removed and an incision stitched up horizontally was made in his intestine to help widen a portion. Mason spent his 1st birthday in the hospital but was given a small party (where he couldn't eat the cake). We celebrated his birthday with family and friends later in April.

May- Our family enjoyed the kids first trip to the Memphis Zoo. We had such a great time. Grammy spent several nights with us while Daddy was gone to Banking School.

June- Kevin & I celebrated our 8th anniversary. Anna & Mason's cousins, Holly & Lauren, along with Uncle Rick came to visit. Anna enjoyed playing with them and hated to see them leave.

July- Granny Ruth passed away on July 7th. Her funeral was July 10th. Later in the month we took a family vacation to St. Louis, MO. We visited Grant's Farm, The Magic House Chidrens Museum, St. Louis Zoo and The Gateway Arch. It was HOT but lots of fun.

August- Kevin, Anna & I traveled to South Carolina for Anna to be in a wedding. We stopped in Pigeon Forge, TN and spent a day at Dollywood. We had a great trip but missed Mason. He stayed behind with Grammy (which he had rather do than be trapped in a car seat for so many hours!)

September- We enjoyed the NEA District Fair Rodeo (Mason's 1st rodeo) and the NEA District Fair. The fair was our annual trip with our friends, The Murray's. Kevin celebrated his birthday (I won't say which one--but he is older than me!).

October- We went to the ASU Museum's "Grossology" exhibit and Pumpkin Hollow. Halloween found us taking Hannah Montana and a pony to our church's Trunk or Treat.

November- Anna turned the much anticipated 5 years old with a party at Pump It Up. We watched Santa make his mall arrival. Lots of Thanksgiving celebrations and food with family.

December- Anna (and Kevin & I) rode a fire truck in the Paragould Christmas Parade. Mason received an excellent report from his MRI and checkup. Anna had a precious Christmas program for preschool. We enjoyed Christmas celebrations with family and friends.

Yes, 2008 has been a roller coaster ride at times (especially March & April) but God has gotten us through another wonderful and blessed year. I pray 2009 will be another good year for our family. I wish everyone that reads this a healthy & happy 2009 too!

My Little Helper

I've learned in the last few days how helpful Anna can be. It all started with a trip to Build-A-Bear on Saturday. I told Anna that we had a $10 gift card to Build-A-Bear and that she could pick out a $10 animal but wouldn't be able to get clothes for it that day. Upon arriving at Build-A-Bear there were only two bears for $10. She spotted a $12 bunny that she wanted. Since Christmas was just here, I had no intention of spending even $2.00 on another toy! So I told Anna that we should wait and let her "earn" the extra $2 to get the bunny. Naturally this wasn't a popular idea with her but I stood firm. I made a decision right there in Build-A-Bear that it was time for her to learn "that money doesn't grow on trees". I thought $2 was a reasonable goal for a 5 year old to earn.

Once Anna realized that I wasn't going to cave in and hand over the extra money, she started asking how she could earn the money. I explained that she could help out around the house in different ways. Saturday night and Sunday she was asking to help in any way possible. But tonight was the best! I told her last night that I needed to clean the bathrooms tonight and asked if she would help. She was so excited. (Trust me, cleaning bathrooms doesn't excite me in the least!) When I got home this afternoon, I started on the kids' bathroom. Kevin & Anna got home about 20 minutes after me and Anna came down the hall and saw me cleaning. She said "CAN I HELP?!!" So I put her to work cleaning the sink and small jobs. After that we went to Kevin and my bathroom. She cleaned both sinks there and a few other things. She was so excited about helping out. I told her what a wonderful job she was doing and that I was so excited to know I had a helper for future cleaning. At one point she said "I'm so glad I get to help you clean the bathrooms!!"

I hope that Anna is learning that sometimes you have to work and earn the things you want. It hasn't really sunk in yet. Last night as she went to bed I was thanking her for all her help and told her that I think she had earned about 25 cents. I asked if she wanted me to give her the 25 cents or just wait and give her the $2 once it was all earned. She asked "can you just give it all to me now?" Already wanting an advance on her paycheck! Hopefully one day she will read this post and think "now I get it!" Of course that moment probably won't happen until she has children of her own who think money grows on trees.

My sweet helper! I love you, Anna!

Santa Claus Came to Town (or the country in our case)

Scenes from Christmas celebrations...

Anna enjoyed her time at Papaw and Grammy's house. She came back home in time to tell Christopher (our elf) "goodbye". He had to be gone to the North Pole by Christmas Eve, so we knew December 23rd was the last night he would be at our house. Sure enough on Christmas Eve morning, he was gone. Mason walked around the living room looking for him. He didn't understand why Christopher had to leave.
Christmas Eve was spent at Mimi's house. We had lots of fun!

Christmas morning brought lots of surprises! Christopher must have told Santa good things about Anna & Mason. (My opinion is that Santa graded on a curve this year!) Anna & Mason both seemed to like everything Santa and Daddy & Mama got them.
Excited about Build-A-Bear clothes & shoes.
I love John Deere!

Anna just found out that she is FLYING to San Antonio, TX with Mommy & Daddy in January. This will be her first time to fly. (I was 22 when I first flew...Anna will be 5!)
Oh boy, fast cars and a race track!!!
A note from Santa to Anna said "Look outside!" Anna looked outside to find her very own "real" 4-wheeler.
Our living room was a disaster by the end of gift opening.

Anna rode her 4-wheeler to the shop before we left for my family's celebration. (A scary sight...practice is needed!)Anna & Mason with Uncle Scott & Aunt Debra. (They are SO GREAT with Anna & Mason. The kids just LOVE them!)

As Mason opened his gifts, he took them to Papaw to hold (Grammy is laughing about it as was everyone else).

Aun'tee & Unc study a gift.
The kids (Aunt Debra, Anna, Kevin & Uncle Scott) play Anna's new game "When Pigs Fly".

After two days of presents & fun, Anna is exhausted on Christmas night.
Friday the weather was perfect for some 4-wheeler driving practice. (Who knew it would be 60 & 70 degrees at the end of December?!!) Anna & I rode her 4-wheeler while the guys rode Kevin's 4-wheeler. Anna actually seemed to get the hang of driving. There were lots of humerous moments that I wish we had on video...like the wheely that she & I did! But by the end, she was doing really well. My main concern is her lack of using the brakes. Most of the time that won't be a problem. If she lets off the gas it pretty much comes to a stop. But if she is going downhill and needs to stop, then she better learn to use the brakes. Also, Kevin is going to "tone it down" some. It goes faster than she needs! I'm still leery of letting her take off by herself. Over-protective mommy just isn't ready for that.

We are thankful for such a wonderful Christmas! Hopefully we will have many great memories from Christmas 2008!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year!

Love,
Kevin, Brandi,
Anna & Mason

Tis the Season...

to party, celebrate & have fun!!

We started the week with sleet and some snow on Monday afternoon and Tuesday. Daycare closed early Monday and all day Tuesday. Kevin got the kids while I kept my priorities straight and went to a hair appointment! Yes, gotta get your highlights done whether rain, snow, sleet or sunshine!! Tuesday Kevin stayed with the kiddos while I went to work. (I'm trying to save my days off because we've got a trip coming up soon.) The roads were definitely slick, but if you leave early and drive slow it's okay. I actually feel empowered by driving on the icy roads. It's kind-of a "this can't stop me!" feeling. Of course the first time I end up in a ditch or wreck that will end my empowered feeling! Kevin & the kids came to Jonesboro later in the morning. Kev had a dentist appointment and then took Mason to the doctor. Kevin's so smart! He knew that our favorite pediatrician, Dr. Sneed, would have cancelations due to the weather and therefore could see Mason. He had been coughing and starting to sound congested. Fortunately his ears were good. She gave him an antibiotic and steroid.

Thursday was Mason's MRI and checkup with the neurosurgeon. Mason received a wonderful report. The cyst hasn't grown and everything continues to look good. The MRI will be repeated in one year. He will have yearly eye exams for life. Dr. Boop said that once he gets older that he might space the MRI out to every 2 to 3 years. He also said that 9 times out of 10, this type of cyst doesn't cause problems. We are praying to be in "the 9". Dr. Boop did tell us that he just did surgery on a two year old with the same type of cyst...not exactly encouraging news when you have a 20 month old. I know he told us this just to be honest and open, which I appreciate. Kevin asked again about how they do the surgery. When he starts talking about peeling membranes back and.....I just have to tune him out!! It makes me nauseous and want to pass out! So please continue to pray for Mason and that surgery will never be needed. Prayer has gotten our little man through so many things!!

Our 9:00 MRI finally happened about 11:30. We had a hard time entertaining a 20 month old that hadn't eaten since the night before in a small room with few activities.

Here is Mason in his gown & IV in his right hand. They had him so taped up that he couldn't put his arm down.

Boredom led him to trying to pump his stretcher up and down.

Friday was Anna's Christmas party at preschool. Each child brought a wrapped coloring book and crayons. They drew numbers to exchange the gifts. Then they had more treats than could possibly be eaten. But all the kids had fun. Then the best part was leaving after the party! No need to go back to work on a Friday afternoon!!

Anna with a Christmas ornament from her teacher. It says "Anna 2008" with a pink butterfly on the other side. So cute!


Good pals- Zoey, Anna & Paige. These girls have been together for over 2 years. We're going to miss them next year.

Friday night we were invited over to our friends, The Simpsons. They have a new home and it is absolutely beautiful. They gave us ideas and suggestions for building our house. Their 12 year old daughter, Ashley, spent lots of time playing with Anna & Mason. Sounds like she is practicing for some future babysitting jobs. Although when Mason pooped his diaper, she was quick to bring him to me. Anna loved being with a "big girl". When it was time to leave I opened Ashley's bedroom door to get Anna, and found the two of them under the covers in Ashley's bed watching television. Anna was grinning from ear to ear and thought she was SO big.

Kevin has hit his busy season at work. The farmers are wanting their money and some want it before the end of the year. He has started working late and even went into work early this morning (Saturday). This time of year I start to feel like a single mom. But it's okay because he works hard to provide a good living for our family.

Anna is going to have a big week. She is going to Papaw & Grammy's house tomorrow afternoon and will spend Monday & Tuesday with them. She will come home Tuesday evening. She gets to have the whole week out of Pre-K.

Merry Christmas

&

Happy Holidays to Everyone!!!

Christmas Time's a Comin'

I can feel Christmas getting closer and closer! Last Saturday morning our house awoke to a Christmas visitor. Christopher Pop-in-Kins, an elf from the North Pole, was hiding on the entertainment center in our living room! Every night he moves to a new location in the house and Anna has to find him of the morning. He came with a book that tells all about himself. Santa sent him to keep an eye on Anna & Mason. If a human touches him, he loses his magical powers and has to go back to the North Pole. But he has to go back to the North Pole before Christmas Eve to give a report to Santa on Anna & Mason's behavior. That way Santa can pack his sleigh according to how good (or bad) Anna and Mason have been! Our family has been having so much fun with Christopher Pop-in-Kins in the household!!

This morning Christopher Pop-in-Kins was on the ceiling fan!!

Anna's Christmas program was Wednesday night. (I wish they would have it on a night other than worship night. We were able to attend a portion of worship service at Greensboro Road Church of Christ prior to rushing to the 8:00 performance.) All the kids in the Pre-K building were on stage together (rather than each class seperate as in the past). It was a "Country Christmas" theme. The kids dressed in cowboy/cowgirl outfits that included hats, bandannas, and boots. They sang several songs including "Merry Texas Christmas You All", "He'll Be Coming...from the North Pole When He Comes...He'll Be Driving Eight Little Reindeer When He Comes" (to the tune of She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain), and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Anna looked so sweet and was well behaved as usual! Her bedtime is normally 8:00 p.m. and the program didn't start until 8:00. We could tell by looking at her that she was tired.

Yee Haw!

Mason went to the program too. He was well behaved in that he didn't cry or scream or have a fit. But he was still loud at moments. He would get so excited and point and holler/grunt/screech/etc. He really seemed to enjoy the show! It won't be long until he'll be in the program!

Look, Mimi! Anna's singing!!

Friday I almost finished up my Christmas shopping. I've got just a couple more small gifts to pick up and I'll be done. Anna helped me wrap Friday's buys that night. I love to wrap gifts and I think she may too. She also helped get the Christmas cards ready to mail. She can be a good helper (when she wants).

Saturday evening our friends, Brian & Holly, had our family over for dinner and for the kids to play. Anna & Katelyn had a wonderful time (of course). Katelyn's bedroom looked like a tornado hit after they were done! Mason, Nathan & Macie mostly didn't act they knew each other. But with time that will hopefully change. Holly and I reminisced about how Anna & Katelyn didn't pay attention to each other at a young age. We also reminisced about how we thought life was stressful and difficult with ONE child...we knew nothing about stress back then!! We had a great time visiting with our friends and wish we could do it more often. Between our five kids we seldom seem to have time for more than "hey, how are you" and emails.

Anna & Katelyn as princesses.

Nathan & Mason check out Santa on the door knob. (I never captured Macie with the guys. Guess she's smart enough to stay away from them!)

Please pray for Mason (and us) this week. He has an MRI and neurosurgeon checkup this week. We feel good about it due to his normal development, but prayer is always helpful and appreciated!

Boys Will Be Boys & Mason Is All Boy!

This is a list of funny things Mason has done during the last few months.

One Sunday morning while getting ready for church we heard a crash in Anna's bedroom. We ran into her room to find Mason lying under her Dora Kitchen. He had turned it over on himself. ~ Mr. Muscles?

One day I noticed him eating "something" off the kitchen floor. I wouldn't have known what it was except the mud by his lip let me know it was dirt! ~

I was changing his diaper. After sitting him up on the changing table, he reached over and grabbed the bulb syringe for his nose and put it right in his mouth- YUCK! (Fortunately it had been washed since the last time it was used.)

Around the end of August Mason realized that his nose had holes in it. Every once in a while you would look at him and he'd have a finger stuck in his nose. It was kind-of like having your hands in your pocket only he had a finger in his nose.

One evening I had bathed both kids and gotten Mason dressed. I went to get Anna out of the bathtub and dress her. During this time Mason was playing in his room. After a while I realized he was being way too quiet for him. I went into his room to find him soaked in water from the humidifier in his room. He had turned it over and drenched himself, the carpet and several toys. Then a few days later he did it again! (After the second time, I started closing his door to keep him dry!)

Another evening I walked into the living room just in time to see him holding the plug-in to the baby monitor. He had unplugged it! I yelled something, not sure what, but it was to let him know he'd done something wrong. So then he started to try and plug it back in!! I got to him at that moment and grabbed it away from him. (Whew, close call!)

I love my Little Man Mason, but he is giving me gray hair and wrinkles...and he's only 20 months old!

Lessons Learned from Anna

Our sweet & funny Anna.

I've been compiling a list of cute and sweet things that Anna has said. Hopefully one day she will look back at this and laugh.

Anna is always saying "You're the bestest Mommy/Daddy/Brother I've ever had! ~Lesson:~ Try your best even if there is no competition.

When I asked who won at a game they played at daycare, she said "It's not about winning, it's about doing your best." ~Lesson~ Do your best- that's what counts.

Anna asked why we had to go to work and school the next day. I was trying to explain to her that mommy works so we can have money for the things we need and so we can also do some fun things. She then said "If you don't wanna work, you don't have to. I'll give you and Daddy some money from piggy." ~Lesson~ Be willing to share.

One morning on the way to school I was singing along to a song, "Just a Swingin'" by John Anderson. Anna asked how I knew the song and I told her that it was popular when I was a little girl. Her reply was "So it's old, old, old?" ~Lesson~ 1) Just because you think of yourself as still young doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way. 2) Young children are honest!

One day Anna was playing with some toy eyeglasses. She said "I'm old so I've got to put on my glasses." ~Lesson~ Some things are more fun to do because you want to, not because you have to. (Yes, I explained that not everyone that wears glasses is old- like me! But from the last lesson we know that I'm considered old, old, old.)

While on vacation she noticed an iron and ironing board in our hotel room. She so excitedly exclaimed "Mommy, you can iron!!!" ~Lesson~ 1) Find joy in the simple things. 2) What is fun for one person might not be for another.

Anna heard Kevin and me discussing our plans of going to Hawaii for our 10th anniversary. She asked "when are we going to Hawaii?" I told her way, way down the road. She thought about it for a while and then out of the blue said "As long as I know what you're talking about, I want to go!" ~Lesson~ Get the facts before committing.

Anna & I were headed to Target to get her Pre-K supplies. I was going on and on about how next year she'd be getting Kindergarten supplies and I'd be so sad, cry, etc. because my baby is growing up. This is something that we had discussed several times prior to this instance. She really seemed to like all the talk about her becoming a big girl and mommy being sad. I may have taken it too far though because from the backseat she says "I'll still live at home!!!!" ~Lesson~ Be grateful for the time you have with your little ones while they "still live at home".

One day Anna told me that she had a fever. I had checked her temp earlier in the day when she had the same complaint but it was normal. This time I just felt of her forehead and said "no you don't." She asked "how do you know?" My response "you aren't hot." To which she said "well, maybe your feeler's broken!" ~Lesson~ Mom doesn't always know everything.

On the way home from church, just out of the blue she stated "I can't wait to be a mommy." Of course it caught us off guard but we managed to ask "WHY?" She said "I just want to." Kevin asked her "what does a mommy do?" and she said "work." He asked "work where?" Her answer "everywhere." Kevin then asked "who has the harder job, Daddy or Mommy?" My smart girl replied "Mommy." We talked some about what all a mommy does and then asked her again why she couldn't wait to be a mommy and she said "I want a hard job." ~Lesson~ I knew Anna was smart but after this I thought she was a genious. Who would have thought that a 4 year old could see how hard mommy works and that it's a hard job! :o) Gotta love the insight of a 4 year old!

One evening we were discussing Halloween and what she wanted to be for Halloween. We were on the Halloween subject for a while and then she jumps to "How many YEARS is it 'til Christmas?" ~Lesson~ Sometimes things seem farther away than they really are.

Discussing her birthday party (that was 2 months away) Anna was naming off everyone she planned to invite to her party. She started naming some adults (without small children). I tried to explain to her that these people probably wouldn't come since they didn't have children that would be attending and would probably have other things to do on Saturday. She digested this for a minute and so excitedly asked "Saturday is my birthday??!!" ~Lesson~ Some things are further away than you want them to be. We've got to have patience.

I wish I could record all the funny things Anna says in my brain and then write them down. There is hardly a day that goes by without something cute, funny, sweet or histarical being said. Of course I don't have a recordable memory and don't take time to write much of it down. But these funny statements and questions are now captured for life!

Busy, Busy, Busy Time of Year

The past week has been busy. We had the Christmas parade Tuesday night, church Wednesday night, haircut for Mason Thursday afternoon, laundry & ironing Friday night and then a super fun Saturday.

Every year St. Bernards has a Christmas party for the employees' children at the movie theater. This year we saw "Bolt". What a cute movie! Anna, Kevin & I really enjoyed it. (Thank you Mimi for keeping Mason.) Of course for Anna, the fact that Miley Cyrus does the voice of the main character didn't hurt anything. But it was a really good kids movie. I recommend it to parents. We got to the theater about 8 a.m. (too early for a Saturday!) We got our food & drinks (St. Bernards provides popcorn and drinks), Anna got her picture made with Santa & Mrs. Claus, and then watched the movie. It ended about 10:10 and Kevin went to get Mason while Anna & I headed on to a birthday party. It was Anna's friend, Katelyn's, birthday party. Kevin & Mason met us at the party and it was lots of fun. It was at a gymnastics center and everyone enjoyed trying out the equipment.

Mason enjoyed this tube.

Anna enjoyed everything. This is the best picture of her because she was actually still. All the other pictures are blurred from her moving.

This picture is blurred from the movement but I had to include it anyway. Kevin did a flip on the rings! (He also did a back flip off the trampoline.) I was praying that he had disability insurance just in case all didn't end well!
After the party we ran and had lunch. Anna chose "the place that throws rolls" aka Front Page. Then we split up. Kevin started fencing our pasture last week so he went to work on that project. I took the kids and attempted some Christmas shopping. Not easily done with two tired kiddos and lots of people out and about. We did make it to the mall and two other stores before I gave up. I'll try getting some more done when I can go alone!

I've got several "projects" that I'm working on as Christmas gifts. So this time of year provides plenty of things to be doing. No boredom for now!!

Christmas Parade

Our family was invited by friends to ride on a fire truck in the Paragould Christmas Parade last night. This was Anna's first time to be in a parade. (Kevin's first time too & possibly mine. I may have been in the little Piggott Christmas parade when I was young...but can't remember for sure...I'm getting old and my memory is slipping!) We had a wonderful time. We bundled up in layers & layers of clothing. Anna wore her snowsuit and Kevin & I wore our Carhart coats. Plus we each wore a Santa hat. Anna & I had the luxury of sitting in the warm truck until the parade got underway. Then she sat on the very top and we stood beside her. She had so much fun waving at all the onlookers and saying "Merry Christmas!" Kevin & I enjoyed it too. The parade is much different as a participant than as a spectator. It is over much quicker when you are in it.

Mr. Bill drove the fire truck and Jenna, Daniel and Reba also rode along. They rode at the back while we were at the front. Mrs. Judith was kind enough to drop us all off at the parade starting point and then meet us at the end to hop into the warm van. Afterwards we ran to get Mason at Timmy & Debbys (we knew it would be too cold for him). Anna went on with Jenna and the gang to their house. Then we returned to their house for yummy homemade hot chocolate and treats. Mrs. Judith is something else! I told her I didn't know there was a such thing as homemade hot chocolate...I thought you could only get it out of a pouch! Ha! Ha!

We are thankful to Bill for asking us to be in the parade and for Judith taxiing us around. They provided Anna (and us) with a Christmas Parade to always remember. Thanks also to Tim & Debby for keeping our little man so he didn't freeze or jump off the fire truck.

Here are some pics from our fun night.