Camping trip

The kids and I went down to California for a couple weeks to hang out with cousins and go camping.
We spent the first week with my sister and her kids and were able to see all of the Phillips cousins.

The kids had a great time running around the house playing games, jumping on the trampoline and playing outside.  It was really hot and we were able to go play in a pool at a friends house.  Mason likes the water but wasn't excited about having to go in the water or get his head wet.  They also loved playing the piano, being outside in the mornings before it got too hot, and spending time with their cousins.

Paige loved dressing up and would want to be dressed as often as we would let her.

Mason of course requested lots of video games from Uncle Chris, and luckily he didn't have to twist his arm too much to play.

Paige got her toenails and fingernails painted for the first time and loved it.  She had to show everyone and talked about it constantly.

When my parents came home we packed up and went camping for a few days at a resevoir.  The kids loved riding on the kayak playing in the water with cousins, swinging in the hammock and running crazy.

This was the first time Paige went camping that she didn't sleep in a pack n' play.  She did pretty well but wanted me to lie by her until she fell asleep.  Luckily she was pretty tired and fell asleep fast.

The kids love camping and had a great time being dirty.

When we got back to my parents house the pool had been refinished and was ready for us to swim in.

We also got to be there for my niece's birthday party.  They had a fun time decorating masks, playing games, watching a show and eating cake.  Mason won the game and got some really cool mustaches.

We had a great time riding the plane home and Paige had hands in the air while we took off and said "weee".

So glad for the opportunity to go down and see family. Thanks for the visit!!

Fun pic update

Just wanted to document some of these pictures of my two crazies and the things they do.

Paige is the ultimate copy-cat; especially if it's Mason. If he plays with something she wants it too, if he is eating a sandwich she wants a sandwich, if he has shorts on she rolls her pants up, if he crosses his legs, move his fork to the left side of his plate, makes a silly face...she does it too.

Paige is definitely not as coordinated as Mason was when he was younger, nor does she care as much if there is food on her face.

Then there was this one time we were eating jell-o and Mason somehow managed to get some on his arm, which he then ended up wiping on his face and because it was red he had marks left over where it stained his skin.

Paige is the best Mom to her babies, even Mason comments that she is a good mom or will ask me why she is such a nice mom to her babies.

Bath times have been fun with both of them. Mason in the past has been nervous about water on his head or face, but has been wanting to get better and will often yell for me to look at him while he lays down in the bath.  It may not seem like much but for a boy that used to freak out if a drop of water was on his nose this is monumental for him.

He also has some a very strange obsession/fear/interest of bugs and always tells me he sees spiders or ants places, even when they aren't there.  He even made Christopher come check his room for spiders one night before bed.  So one day while I was weeding I found a worm and asked if he wanted to hold it, I was surprised when he said yes, and was completely knocked over when he actually did.

You can see some wave in Paige's hair during the day but when she first gets out of the bath and it's still wet it has some really good curl.

Mason finally took a picture with his sports team.  He did tee ball last year and basketball this winter but wouldn't take a picture with the team; heck, I was just happy he finally agreed to wear the team shirt.  But he finally took a picture with the team and it's so cute.

Paige loves going to watch Mason play and will tell me multiple times that she sees him saying, "Deer bee bees."  That's what she calls Mason.  She will cheer for him when I tell her to but mostly plays on our blanket and picks the grass.  One time when we went she was really tired and decided to lay down for a rest with her princesses; which resulted in her being about 90% asleep for most of his practice.

I love that they play together really well almost all the time.  I think it's funny that when we go outside to play and it's really nice they always end up in the car.  They love to play in the car together and take turns driving places.

They can never get enough of throwing rocks.

And they love playing at the fire-pole park as Mason calls it and they love to sit by each other inside this tunnel, usually while I'm the monster trying to get them.

I frequently find both mine and their dirty clothes baskets dumped out so they can put their bed stuff in them to play or read books.

Mason has been the best workout buddy with me.

 Sometimes he shows me some really good moves like the backward push-ups he created. 

These kids are fun, active, unique, clever, adventurous, happy, exhausting, sweet and make me one happy Mom.

Pre-Easter Fun

This year Easter was really low-key.

Brianne and the girls were on Spring Brake and came up on Thursday, Mason was so excited and had a hard time waiting for them while they stopped at Gi Gi's and was so anxious we invited ourselves out to lunch with them at McDonald's where they had a great time and Paige was showered with attention from Kaylin I didn't even bother to worry about her up in the play-place.

While they were here they got to come to his tee ball game and cheer for him.  The girls made sure that Paige was warm even if they weren't.

They had a lot of fun playing outside and downstairs together.  They hung the plastic eggs on the tree in memory of Grandpa Reid.

And we had a little egg hunt for them, which of course they loved.  Grandma B put money in the eggs she hid at her house and Gi Gi brought some to put in their baskets; spoiled, happy kids.

They had to leave Friday night to get home for things but it was fun to see them Easter weekend; and my kids love spending time with their cousins.

Paige turned 2

Well it happened she turned 2.

Christopher was out of town on her actual birthday so we decided to celebrate it the Saturday after and she would have no idea.  On her birthday she had a doctors appointment so I took her in for a check up and luckily she didn't have to get any shots.  Here are her stats from her appointment.

Weight:  26lbs 15.5oz (56%)

Height:  2 ft 11 inches (88%)

Head Circumference: 19.5 inches (95%)

Sine they were both good at the doctors we went and got donuts; I'm not surprised she was good since she didn't have to get any shots but I still appreciated it.

Paige really liked her money and thought it was pretty amazing that it was all hers.

For her birthday celebration we put up some streamers and made the cake that she picked out at the store.  We played with toys, danced to music and ate lots of cake and ice cream.

Paige didn't want to blow out her candles, she knows how to, but I think she got nervous and embarrassed.

Here are some things about Paige:

-She loves to copy people, Mason most of all
-Paige loves anything that is small, and uses a baby voice when showing us what she has
-She loves to run around at night before bedtime yelling and laughing
-She refused to sit in the highchair any longer and will only sit in a chair or on a stool
-She loves running around the park after the older kids
-She recently went into the play place at McDonald's, was up there for 25 minutes before finding her way down the slide at the top and she had pooped. I 'm just glad I didn't have to go up there and get her.
-When we put her in time-out she opens up the door and yells at us, then closes the door again
-She loves to eat her snacks on the floor in corners
-When you remind her or tell her to chew her food she always covers her mouth with her hand
-I love that she calls princesses "Pa pass," and Mason is stilled called, "Be bees."

I think she'll have more of the terrible two's than Mason did, but it totally fits her personality.  She is a spunky, independent, silly, sassy, opinionated, and brave little girl.  Love you Paige!