Christmas

It's Christmas time again. Time for wrapping paper, long lines and a reflection of the year past. I look at the 2009 with great happiness and deep sadness. Happiness from having a wonderful son, a new leash on life and a great job. And SNOW!!! Sadness from not being with the ones I love because of the choices I have made. But I can only pray that my higher power with look out for me and help me with the patience I need to get through tough times. But I have faith, and I believe that love and faith is all you really need.

Mason writing our Christmas cards.

In 2009 I also learned to nit. Here is a cream scarf I made for myself.

And a turquoise scarf I made my nephew for Christmas. Turquoise being his favorite color.

Mason next to our very small tree, but when you have a very small apartment a very small tree can seem very large.

I hope everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mason's Name

Mason is starting to write his own name. I still can't believe how fast he is growing. But I am also so excited to see him learning how to accomplishing things on his own. Like getting dressed, brushing his teeth, making his own PB&J and of course writing his own name.

I look forward to the future and the great things that are ahead of us both.

Mason Happenings

I feel like I haven't shared to much about Mason so I thought I would dedicate this post to the boy I love the best: Mason. All of these change at random but these are his favorites at the moment.

Food: Perogi's with tomato sauce and corn on the cob

Book: Shel Silverstien's "Falling Up"

Questions: "Mommy where is he/she going?" or "What's that?" or my favorite and this one is always directed towards strangers "Do you have any food for me?" (My son is such a moocher)

Toy: a little yellow duck that he won at the fair last weekend and his bike.

Park: the school across the street. (We go there almost everyday.)

Thing to do after school: Play Dora the Explorer on my computer while I make dinner. (His teacher just told me he speaks and understands Spanish with her in class, so I am think Dora may have an impact.)

Song: I've been working on the Railroad and You are my Sunshine also on the radio he loves "Tonight" by the Black Eyed Peas

Friends: a boy name Jesse and girl named Keali that are always at the park across the street.

Secret: "I love you" and "I'm gonna stay in bed all by myself"

Game: Tag

Drink: Water in a glass cup with one ice cube

Ticklish Spot: Inside thigh and neck

Shoes: His Green Crocks

Movie: Finding Nemo

At Bedtime: to tell stories to each other. (Because of this I now have a tape recorder next to the bed and I have been taping our talks together)

Bizarre thing: Socks when he sleeps (he will not go to sleep unless he has socks on)

Well that concludes my post about Mason's favorites. I will try to think of more and post them next time. Have a Great Labor Day!

Two Years

Today marks the two year anniversary of the passing of my sweet kitty Tiger. She was the world to me and her passing was one of the hardest things I had to go through. I have already talked about this on the blog so I won't do so again but I wanted to share something that always makes me think of her:

About a year ago I was having a pretty hard day and I was in the middle of cleaning the house, more specifically I was cleaning the bathroom where you litter box used to be (I know real sweet) anyway I just started missing her and all the comfort that she brought to me when I was feeling sad, when all of a sudden this James Taylor song come on my ipod and I had to just sit and listen and cry. Now whenever it plays I think of her or whenever I am having a hard day I can play it and it is like she is right there with me.

So here are the lyrics to the James Taylor song in honor of the best feline friend a person could have:

You've Got A Friend lyrics

When your down and troubled
And you need a helping hand
And nothing, whoa nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest nights.
You just call out my name,
And you know where ever I am
I'll come running, oh yeah baby
To see you again.

Winter, spring , summer, or fall,
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.
You've got a freind.

If the sky above you
should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud
And soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.

Winter, Spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?
People can be so cold.
They'll hurt you and desert you.
Well they'll take your soul if you let them.
Oh yeah, but don't you let them.
You just call out my name and you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Oh babe, don't you know that,

Winter Spring summer or fall,
Hey now, all you've got to do is call.
Lord, I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.
You've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.
You've got a friend.

I miss you Tig.

Update

I know I haven't posted anything in a long time but Mason broke my camera so I have been waiting until I had some more pictures to post but it doesn't look like it is happening anytime soon so I just wanted to take a short minute and do a recap of what has happen to us the past few months.

The move into my sisters house went very well and the boys got along really well, although Mason was the mastermind in getting both of them in trouble a lot of the time. I was also very blessed in landing a job within the first three weeks after the move. Not only is it a salaried position, it came with 4 weeks paid vacation which will really come in handy when Mason has his surgeries in a few years.

And the big news is that I found my own apartment in Greenwich. It is a one bedroom but I think it is a perfect size for just Mason and I. Also we are right across the street from a park so we go over there almost every day after dinner and on the weekends.

Last weekend I went to IKEA and finally got a futon for me and a bed for Mason. It is so nice to finally be off the air mattresses but it is a little sad that I am thirty and just got my first futon but you have to start somewhere, and it may come in handy down the road when I have people come and visit me.

Also my little niece Maeve was born on July 16. She is happy and healthy and the sweetest baby anyone could ask for.

So that is all the big news. Thing have been settling down here nicely, and I feel so grateful the the wonderful opportunity and people that have come into my life the last few months.

The Sixteen

The day finally came.  The day when all this traveling would come to an end.  I think having a week in Virginia with family was perfect.  I was able to see everyone and spend some time out side the car, and considering this was only about a 5 hour car ride, this was going to be a piece of cake compared to some of our other traveling days.

Everything fit in the car great and it was nice to have Jen and Sam's car to store any access things like the bags that I had strapped to the top of my car.

We left Dad's right after lunch and hit the open road.  At first Mason didn't want to sleep at all, when ended up being OK since he got to see us travel underground in Maryland, and not just underground but under a body of water.  Mason loved the tunnel and even asked if we could turn around and go back through.

Then came Delaware and by this time Mason was fast asleep.

Had to get a picture of my trusty TomTom and I suggest anyone who is thinking about driving long distances to go out and get one.

Finally we made it to the last leg of out journey.  The home stretch and boy was I ready for it.  At least my tail bone wasn't hurting anymore.

We are now here.  Safely in Stamford Connecticut.  I am job hunting and Mason is making new friends at a daycare I choose for him.  He is in a home daycare but maybe having only a few kids might be better for Mason right at the moment.  I hope all goes well and I start working soon but of course I will keep everyone updated.  I hope you have liked my rendition of our big adventure but of course life is the biggest adventure of all and I can't wait to live it.

Day Fifteen

Day Fifteen was our last full day in Virginia.  It was very laid back for most of the day.  We played all morning and then went for a walk (and bike ride) to the park.

The fun stared later in the day when family and friends came over for a large dinner.  Omi made her fabulous green beans.  Now I am not a green bean fan but these were so good.  We also had chicken and mashed potatos and well let just say we had a lot of food.  Mason and Calvin have gotten along really well the whole time.   Here they are playing hide and seek while eating a snack for freeze dried bananas.

Here is an idea of the amount of food available for consumption tonight.  And this is just a shot of the appetizers,  Needless to say I am stuffed at the moment, a good stuffed.  After dinner everyone entered into a rousing game of Celebrity and we just all had a great time.

And Mason was very happy to see Uncle Brandon again.

Unfortunately our Grandma was feeling under the weather and was unable to make it but we did get a good shot of all the boys.  Now you may guess why everyone is excited Jenn is having a girl.  Just Kidding.  I love my cousins and I am happy we were able to get the picture.

  

Tomorrow we finish our adventure by driving the last few hundred miles of our journey.  I am sad to leave Dad's but all happy to get everything out of my car.  It really needs a good wash.

Day Fourteen

Day Fourteen was all about the kids.  Finally my sister and her family arrived a little past midnight last night.  Calvin was a little apprehensive of me at first but is was gone by mid-morning.  From the beginning, Mason and Calvin did everything together.

Auntie A then came over and there was more playing.  I think Mason liked having another child in the house and I have to say he was really good at sharing and playing along with Calvin.

I then helped Sam (my brother in law) make dinner.  We made delicious chicken burritos with corn tortillas and some corn salad, shown below.  Home made guacamole finished off the perfect meal.  Even Mason got into the corn salad and Spanish rice.

Grandpa and Grammy got the boys a bouncy house.  And I don't even need to explain how much the boys fell in love with it.  They played none stop of almost and hour (until it was time for dinner) and I think that was all Mason was thinking about when he went to bed tonight.

Tomorrow has the promise of being another really nice day.  The family is coming over for game night and I can't wait.  I am a little nervous because the last came I played was Candyland.  But I am sure all will be fine and I will enjoy every second of it.

Day Thirteen

Day Thirteen was spent in Washington D.C. going to the Museum of Natural History.  We had a nice time but Mason was more into running around and riding the escalator.

They did have a great dinosaur exhibit.  The also had a great precious stones exhibit that featured the Hope Diamond.  Beautiful.

 

We then had a authentic D.C. hotdog and soft pretzel and sat in front the the Museum of American History and people watched for a while.

 

Mason also practiced being the future American President by waving and saying hello to almost all the people who walked by.  I couldn't help but laugh at the innocence of his love to say hello to people and to put himself out there.  And if the people ignored him he then yelled "Hey Over Here!"  Very Sweet.

I found this huge straw in the back of the shelf and Mason fell in love.  I don't think he has ever seen a straw this big before.  He had to show me how the chocolate milk came through the straw then he had me do it.

Then we rounded of the day with a small adventure outside.  All in all today was a good day.

My sister is on her way here at the moment and is somewhere in Maryland.  As I am sure I have said before I am very excited to see her and my little nephew.  Patience.

Day Twelve

Day Twelve was full of laughter and urine.  Yes I learned the hard way that even though a child is potty trained, if you make them laugh to the point were they pee all over you then that is considered your own fault.  But besides that it was a nice day.  Not a big picture day so I didn't have much to add but enough to get the point across.

 

Mason's chain keeps coming lose so Grandpa was the hero today in helping put Mason's chain back on his bike.  Also adjusting the seat so Mason will sit a bit better on the bike.

This is Mason shooting fire balls at Grandpa so he can become a superhero.  Very cute.  Mason said he was Spiderman and so was Grandpa and I was Mommy Spiderman.  I had to laugh a little at that one.

We went back to Potomac Mills today.  First to try and fix my glasses and also to buy Mason some clothes.  Nothing big just a few pairs of jeans and some t-shirts.  All very cute.

Tomorrow is just Mason and myself again.  I am planing on waking early and taking him into Washington D.C.  Either to see the cherry blossoms or to the Natural Science museum to see the dinosaurs.  We will have to see once we get into the city.  Also my sister is traveling down tomorrow night and I am ever so anxious to see her again.  Tomorrow should  be a much better picture day.

Day Eleven

Day eleven was spend being with family and a little bit of shopping.  We went out to lunch with my Grandmother and my Aunt.  I haven't see either in a long time.  It was very nice catching up and seeing how my cousins have changed and grown.  

After lunch and a nap we drove over to Potomac Mills, the local shopping center.  It is a huge shopping center full of outlet stores.

Mason wasn't so much into the shopping as he was into the sporadic arrangement of rides throughout the mall.

We also stopped off at a row of pear blossoms that were in bloom at the front entrance of my Dads housing community.

I had to catch a closer look at these beautiful blossoms.  I can't begin to describe the beauty of the blossoms.  

 

Dad is home tomorrow so it should be fun.  I feel a little bad because dad is working late just to spend time with Mason and myself.  

Day Ten

Day ten was really nice.  No rushing, now driving, no nothing.  Just getting to play with Mason and taking it easy.

We ended up going for a walk in the woods and exploring.  I could tell Mason loved being able to find sticks and look at all the nature around us.  We just don't have woods like this around Orange County.  Yes there are places to hike but nothing like this.

We ended up hiking up to a little picnic area and had a little snack.  Although it was cold we really enjoyed being out of doors.

Mason found headphones in Grandpa's mud room and ended up running around the house with them.  I caught this pic of him and I though it was so cute.

We also went exploring around the house and just had fun taking it easy.

Mason has really gotten into helping me around the kitchen.  He is growing so fast right before my eyes.  I am really blessed to have such a loving son, even if he can be bull-headed sometimes.

Tomorrow Great Grandma comes to visit.  I am not sure what are plans are but I am excited to see her.  I am sure whatever we end up doing will be worth taking pictures.