Party time!

I can't say enough about Mason..he has always been so laid back and chill. He's got the biggest dimples and cutest smile and laugh, which he's always more than willing to give you. He lights up your day when you see him. He is now non-stop from the moment he wakes up till he crashes for a nap. He is so close to walking..he just needs to get his balance. He walks along the walls/furniture and uses anything that moves as a walker. He LOVES his big sister, and chases her everywhere.

A few of his favorites:
*bathtime
*balls
*trampoline
*food, food, food
*cuddles
*anything with soft fabric..since he was born he burrows in soft blankets and will hold them up against his cheek.
* being outside

a few of his words:
mama
dada
bye-bye
ball (ba ba)
Addy (ahhee)
num (when he's eating)
coo-coo and tick-tock (that's what Chris says when he swings him)
hi
kitty (kee kee)

stats:
25lbs (85%)
30.5 in (85%)

We love you so much Mason, and are so grateful to be your parents!!

His birthday party was also combined as the Rose Easter party. We had an easter egg hunt, pinata and yummy food.




Addy didn't bother waiting to eat her Easter candy:) She found her eggs then went and sat down and ate them.

The Elmo cake was Mason's and the other one was for the rest of the kids to eat. Thanks to my fabulous friend Holly for helping decorate Elmo - it turned out perfect!!

waiting for his cake

Addy sat there and dipped her finger in the entire time.

presents!!

Mason is 1!!

We had no doubt that Mason would dive in when he saw his cake...this is the last thing we expected.....

This was more like it.... ( sorry about the kids walking in front and crooked camera:) )

April Happenings

April has been full of stress, packing, decisions and finals. We're moved out of the apt and into my parent's house for the next 3 months. We're still cleaning the apt and have our final walk through on Friday. I can't wait to have that done with. We've all had colds the past week, and Chris has had finals all week..so having the cleaning and still moving stuff out has just been the last straw for our stress levels. His last final was today, and we're so happy to have that over with. I have to brag that he aced them all!!! The kids have been so patient..definitely annoyed with all that's been going on - and they're definitely confused as to why they're staying at Gma/Gpa's everynight...so I can't wait to have this week over and be able to spend more time with them and help ease the transition. We didn't do too much for Easter..the Saturday before was Mason's birthday..so we combined it with the Rose Easter party. Here's some random pics from the month..I'll do a separate post for Mason's party.

can't get enought of this boy..he LOVES his highchair, simply because he knows it means food.

Because we just 'love' this beautiful, warm, non-windy Spring weather...we wanted to be outside in it, but because it's so nasty here..we built a fort, with bean bags, pillows, and a space heater in the corner:) Mason still braved the cold wind though.

Dying Easter eggs..

Bittersweet

So we got the final details on Chris's internship. They're actually hiring them on as summer help..so it's going to be 10-12 weeks instead of 8. They have a lot of projects this summer, which is awesome...I just wish they would do the 8 week internship and then hire them on, so we can all move down with him. I've really been hoping the kids and I could go down for May, and then fly back in June for the last few weeks before the baby's arrival. But, finding furnished, short term housing that's under 1,000 and not creepy is hard to find. So, Chris and his friend from class will be going down together and living together to split the costs. It'll be Mon-Thur, 7-5. Add probably 45min-1 hr bus ride each way..it'll make for long days, but they're excited to have the 4 day work week. We were super excited when we heard that, because then they could fly home Thurs nights..have the weekend here and fly back on Sun nights with the cheap Allegiant flights. No...they only do flights Fri and Mon for the next few months. I wanted to cry by this point when I knew I couldn't go down, that they've added another month onto this, and that he wouldn't be able to fly home often. They'll have to drive now..probably once a month. I know this is a HUGE blessing for us..the more work = more money we really need and more experience for Chris. I'm blessed to be able to stay at my parent's house....they've told Chris it's just fine for him to fly home for the baby and to take all the time he needs...and I keep telling myself 3 months will fly by. I know I'm whining, but I'm so sad for all the things Chris will miss with the kids. For Mason, these few months are huge for all the things they start saying and doing...plus I'm just sad to be away from him that long. We've never been apart for more than a few days. BUT, we are truly SO SO blessed and the possible job opportunity at the end of this is huge. This will be hard, but so worth it - so all I can do is count our blessings and think positive!:)

now onto more fun packing and planning Mason's birthday party which is the 23rd:)
...
I've got lots of pictures of the kids to post, but I've already packed the memory card converter..so no pics for a few weeks.

videos!

I'm late posting these videos, but better late than never, right? Mason was such a chill baby, just happy to be held and watch everyone around him. That's how he was until around 6 months. He started army crawling and was a master at it! We thought he would crawl normal so quickly after that, but he was content with his army crawl. He started actually crawling on hands and knees the end of February. He started cruising on furniture soon after that and now wants to walk so badly. He's not happy unless he's walking with his walker or making you hold his hands while he walks around the house. He loves being able to follow us and Addy all around the house crawling behind. It's just a matter of time till he gets his balance and then he'll be a pro walker. Here's a couple of videos when he first got the hang of how to push his walker. The second one is Chris tickling his back and belly..his laugh is so adorable.

Our one day of Spring...

Spring is my favorite season...sadly we haven't had Spring here in Idaho the past few years. It's rainy, snowy, cold and windy. The warm days are ruined by blasting winds. We had a warm day last week, it was super windy, but we went out anyway. There's an Elementary School by us..so we headed over to get the kids out.

Addy took a break to play in the bark with Mason


still loves swings, and now uses the big ones. She calls them the tickle swings, because her tummy "tickles" when she uses them:) Sadly, we thought Mason would love them like Addy..but he HATES the swings! Even when I held him on my lap and tried them, he hated it. So weird!


Chris ran the few miles over to the playground from our house..hence the workout clothes;)






Offering me some bark....


"no?, okay I'll eat it then:)...I've told you - everything goes in this kid's mouth.

Vegas!

We finally got our offer finalized. It is such a huge weight off our shoulders to have a date to look forward to, and be able to move on and start packing. Now if only we could have that job offer after the internship sealed, life would be almost perfect:) The Nevada Nuclear Test Site got Chris's resume and notified the teacher after Spring Break to say they'll have him start May 9th, or May 16th and it will be at least 8 weeks. They have a lot work right now, but the teacher told them that Chris and his friend Brandon both have families..so doing more than 8 weeks for the internship might be hard. He said knowing that they have the work though makes it an even greater chance of being hired on when the 8 weeks is over. We looked at their website, and they are hiring..so I'm just going to be optimistic and a positive thinker and plan on getting hired on and just keep looking for homes ;) We haven't decided yet about the kids and I going for the internship. 8 weeks isn't forever, but it is a long time to be away. If I wasn't so close to due date it would be a no brainer and the kids and I would be down there in a heart beat. I've found plenty of furnished places down there for this sort of thing, and the kids and I would have so much fun in the sun. But figuring out flights to come back for Dr appt's and then having to come back anyway to have the baby before the internship is over is tricky. Anyway, we are SOOO excited. Thinking about all the fun stuff down there to go see and do makes me want to leave tomorrow. We're so blessed and grateful for this opportunity, and can't wait to get settled and be done with the school life, and moving constantly.