me and my boys

Yep, all this no blogging, and look where catching up got me...

So, yes, I admit I am a horrible blogger these days. Multiple times a day I log into my igoogle account to check email, google docs and my reader feed, and I am always reminded that I need to post too. But missing the traditional Christmas blog post, then the New Year's "I make a resolution to post more" blog post, and the "I went to New York again" and the "I'm so busy with school and life" and well, here we are... The wrap up post.

Upon looking at my blog today I noticed two things:

So this is the post where I talk all about how great Mason is since he just had a birthday. Don't get me wrong, Mason is a super kid in my eyes. I've always said how he was so meant to be the older brother - he's responsible, helpful, can do pretty much anything on his own...but in an attempt to keep this post somewhat interesting to people besides myself and his grandparents I'm going to list eight recent events in Mason's life. (My creative writing professor said I need to work on using concrete images over abstract ones anyway, so here you go Professor Nielsen...)

My boys always take their showers at night before bed. This usually means they go to bed with slightly wet hair, which in turn means that they wake up with incredibly crazy bed head.

I always have a hard time figuring out what to get the boys from Santa every year. I want it to be fun and exciting, but then they get so much from grandparents I run out of ideas. I also think it'd be more exciting if Santa would bring them the items they actually ask him for. So I was so happy that Mason's teacher sent home a letter he had written to Santa last week. Finally I can get him what he wants. Here's his letter:

To: Santa
I want a pinball machine and a mini motorcycle. (And by mini motorcycle he means one of those pocket bikes that big people can ride.)
From: Mason

Sure is aiming big that kid.

Mason once told me that he wants to be a police officer when he grows up. He also said that when he is, he won't give me any tickets. Thanks Officer Rudy, you're the best.

And this is Milo handing out treats. Actually, he was yelling at everyone he could see and telling them to come get treats from him. Then at one point he came in and said, "Well, Halloween is over".

So, today my boys were in the car competing on who can write a better letter "m."

I decided it's probably a good thing they are spaced far apart enough in school that they will never be able to play high school sports together.

Since this is usually what I look like at some point in the afternoon/evening - I figured it was funny that today I looked over and found Mason in this position.

So I watched Milo ride off today, training wheel free, and realized in less than a week he is not only riding a two-wheeler, but riding it well. Cutting through grass, going off jumps, stopping and starting at will.

Then I remembered how yesterday Mason informed me he has a girlfriend.

bikes and chicks. man, my kids really are growing up fast.

Milo's Birthday!

Wednesday my little Milo-pants turned five years old. He also took off the training wheels, for real this time (he did it a few weeks ago, but had Mason put them back on the next day). And true to his Milo-ness, he told everyone his birthday was really Saturday, but we were celebrating it on Wednesday (Saturday was his party).

For the party, Milo requested Spiderman at our house. As presents, Milo said he'd like a puzzle.

For the party, Milo's mom ran around all week in-between going to school, doing homework, attending a concert, applying for the advertising program to find Spiderman theme items and whatnot to pull off a home party for nine short attention span children.

So, one bag of Cheetos, nine cans of silly string, one giant spiderweb (made of crepe paper), half a container of Neapolitan ice cream (Milo's choice), a couple dozen presents and five bags of trash later...I took a short nap at the kitchen counter.

Within the week Milo also celebrated his birthday being the line leader at school, having lunch at the Harley Davidson place with me and dinner, with Mason and I. at the "peanut place" (Milo's name for Texas Roadhouse). He also informed me Thursday that he was now 5 1/2.

Here's a few pics of the birthday adventures...

Milo at dinner. He told me the next day really wished he could have told Hollie she was pretty (Hollie was our very nice waitress).

My favorite picture of Milo riding. Mason was so nice helping him get started and telling him how good he was doing.

This one is a little blurry, but the look on Milo's face is awesome.

Milo playing with a few of his presents - the ninja swords were the highlight!

So, to make a long post longer, I can't end without saying a few words about my Milo.

Milo is still the silly kid. Easy to please, easy to get his feelings hurt, always able to brighten your day. He will try any food once, no reservations to taste or texture (some of his favorites are Havarti cheese, coconuts and mac & cheese). I've been worried he keeps getting skinnier and that someday he'll lose his little cheeks; I often ask him if he'll just stay little. So far, he seems to keep growing up but keeps me somewhat content with his funny comments.

Here's some of the one's from this week - keep in mind this is just a sampling...

-If I didn't have any ears, my hat would fall down.

-Are you anyone's mom? (yes Milo, I'm your mom.) But are you anyone else's mom? (yes, I'm also Mason's mom) But I mean, are you anyone else's mom?

-I switched flip flops to ride my bike, these one's will protect my feet better.

-I just pulled a piece of food out of my teeth with my finger.

Love you Milo-head!

Well, with 100% of my children now in soccer, practice twice a week and two games every Saturday (yes, please pity the fact that I have no day off anymore), I guess I'm a real soccer mom.

And how funny is it that these are the numbers my kids ended up with? Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Mason's favorite part so far is the squirt bottles filled with water that some of the moms have brought to keep the kids cool. Milo asks me almost every morning if he's waking up for soccer practice. Last Saturday when I went down to wake him up the mention of an actual soccer game had him jumping out of bed with the most excitment I've ever seen (and if you know Milo, you know mornings aren't usually his thing). Both of them beg me after each game to let them wear their uniforms for the rest of the day. Funny kids.

I'm sitting at the kitchen table working on math homework.

Enter Mason and his neighbor friend...

Mason (holding two random pieces of plasic together to form a container): We found a really weird spider in the sand box.

Friend: Yeah, it's green.

Me (thinking only of the idea of it crawling out of the container): Ew, get it out of here.

Mason: We are. (as he takes a roll of scotch tape outside with him)

I really dislike spiders. Even pictures of them give me the creeps. I guess now at least I know Mason doesn't share the same fear.

Yuck. Blah. Ew.

You know, who doesn't love a kid with monkey feet pajamas? But as cute as he is, I just have such a hard time sharing my bed (and half my pillow) with someone who sleeps like this. I mean, come on - is it really necessary to sleep diagonal?

It was the thing I needed for my day. Thanks Milo.

My youngest sister has joined in on the blog world. Yesterday she posted something about Milo - I figured it was like a free post for me if I provide the link. I'm so clever.

So check it out. Stacie should have an excellent blog since she recently graduated from the University of Utah in journalism - she's a pro now!

Click here. Or here.

Yep, Mason turned seven today. Wow. It's not even so much seven that makes me crazy, it's more the fact that next year he'll be eight. That always seemed like such a big kid age to me. Then I think that by the time I'm done with school he might be double digits. A double digit child? Ahhh!

Today was Mason's day. He had a bowling party with friends and cousins, played with his new toys, ate dinner at the restaurant of his choice (Tepanyaki) and offered free face painting to the neighborhood.

So now it's time for my Mason tribute.

Mason came into this world, exactly one month before his due date, after almost a week of contractions and two false delivery room visits (the second time they actually told me I was going to have him, then sent me home the next day. It was fun.) A few days after being born he was checked into Primary Children's Hospital for a few days to be treated for jaundice. Then he had the most sensitive skin, ever. Then at about age two he started having asthma, something he now does nebulizer treatments for every day and night - more if he has flare ups.

But this kid has never slowed down. He's always been outgoing, full of energy and unafraid of any stunt - things I had a very hard time understanding in the begining but have since learned to accept as Mason being Mason. He loves to do stunts on his bike, trade pokemon cards, buy hotwheels, build legos...and countless other boy things that can keep up with his energy level.

There was no question Mason was sent first for a reason. He's responsible, loving and helpful -getting especially excited when he can remember things that I forget (he has an incredible memory & mine is getting worse by the day). You can't get anything past him, he understands things so well - this is both good and bad for adults. He's always asked lots and lots of questions - and lately he seems to be able to answer many of them on his own, funny kid.

And tonight he talked me into letting him sleep in my room, his arguement: it's his birthday. Clever kid.

Happy 7th Birthday Mason! (even if that does me I keep getting older too)

Mason never waivered once in his birthday party choice. He wanted a bowling party. I thought it was a little funny since he never really goes bowling, but I didn't have to clean my house or think of games to play for hours - so no compliants from my end.

The other request from Mason for his party was that his Poppy come and do face painting. Mason sure knows how to please a crowd of kids!

And no Rudy event is complete without some Milo-ness. If you're wondering what in the world he's doing...he's showing how strong his muscles are. He did this after pretty much every turn. Notice the ramp to help him bowl? Yep, you're super strong Milo.

This was probably one of my favorite points of the party. Mason missed one candle and one of the boys yelled out, "That means you have one girlfriend!" haha!

Mason enjoying his cake next to is super rad bowling pin. The bowling alley gave us this to have all the kids sign for Mason.