Keeping Up With the Joneses

Lately Mason wants a cup of water (and a straw if I can talk him into it) all of the time and likes to blow bubbles in it. The straw makes it less messy. When I ask him what he is doing, he says "I'm practicing for swimming lessons."

This morning for dinner I made homemade Mac and Cheese and we had peas and carrots with it. When I put the vegetables in Mason's plate he said "I don't eat vegetables ". Well, he's always loved peas and carrots and I think he just said that because it is what his cousin William says, so I said "but all big boys love vegetables . I know Sir Toppham Hat and all the conductors in Sodor love vegetables ." He said okay so I thought we were good. But then he proceeded to scoop out all his peas and carrots, put them next to his plate, and said "daddy, can you get Sir Toppham Hat a spoon so he can eat his vegetables ?"

Mason's obsession with Thomas has been taken to a whole new level. He now has an imaginary friend named "Sir Topham Hatt" (the conducter of the Thomas railroad). It is particularly difficult at mealtime, as Sir Topham Hatt has to have his own food. If we refuse and just give Mason food, he gives it to Sir Topham Hatt and won't eat. This morning we had muffins, and Mason came over and got two, then took them over to the bar (Sir Topham Hatt will only eat on a stool at the bar). He ate his, then came back and got 2 more and gave another one to Sir Topham Hatt. Then we needed juice for Sir Topham Hatt. Then he needed a napkin. Then a jellybean. Finally, Mason needed to go help Sir Topham Hatt wash his hands. This has been going on for about a week now and I'm wondering how much longer it will last.

We can't believe how much Myles eats. After the last 3 years struggling to get anything in Mason's mouth, we are amazed that Myles screams if he doesn't get to eat exactly what we are eating. On Sunday Marshall made mashed potatos (I was sick but Marshall did a great job), and Myles had already finished his baby food dinner so we didn't think anything of not giving him any. Boy, did he freak out. As soon as he saw Marshall and Mason eating theirs he started screaming and flailing about. Marshall couldn't figure out what was wrong so he picked him up from his high chair and Myles did a nose dive right for the potatos. All in all, he must have eaten at last a cup of potatos that night. Yesterday when Mason woke up from his nap I gave him vanilla pudding while I fed Myles his applesauce. Myles was just fine and loving the applesauce until he saw Mason's pudding and then again started screaming and bouncing up and down. I gave him a taste of the pudding and then tri...

Mason has been really into chapstick lately because his lips are constantly peeling and gross. So I taught him how to put chapstick just on his lips and thought he was doing really well until he accidently used my lip gloss instead. He had no idea he looked like this and just thought it was regular chapstick until I showed him in the mirror and he thought it was pretty funny. Mason and Myles in the cute hats grandma made them.

Mason started swimming lessons yesterday and was so excited! The second he woke up he wanted to try on his swim suit and we could hardly get him to eat breakfast because he was so excited. We got there a few minutes early and he was bouncing up and down because he couldn't wait to get in the pool. When he finally did, he was in heaven! There were 4 kids in his class, and 2 started crying within the first few minutes. Mason, however was laughing and kicking the whole time!

Last Sunday we had a few minutes before church (now that it doesn't start until 1) so I thought we would take a few picutres. Mason is now the oldest boy in nursery and was a little upset that he couldn't go to Sunbeams, though he assured me that he would be a "good example" to the younger kids.

This morning when Marshall's alarm went off we heard Myles laughing in his crib, but we didn't get him because it sounded like he was fine. After Marshall showered, he went in to check on Myles, and there were 2 little boys in the crib! Sometime during the night Mason had gone into Myles' room and gotten in the crib with him (he can climb in by himself). So we don't know how long they were in there together, but it seemed like they slept just fine.

Myles almost constantly smiles, but it is impossible to get a good picture of him because as soon as the light on the camera flashes he makes this funny face. But he loves his rocking horse and the second picture is a good shot of 2 of his 4 teeth.

On Thursday my cousin Juliet and her son Lincoln came over to play trains. Lincoln is almost as obsessed with trains as Mason is, and they did pretty well sharing considering they are only two. We had a fun time. Lincoln tackling Myles. He started off giving him a hug and then sort of fell over. Myles didn't mind.

On New Year's Eve we went to Kim and Rusty's for a New Year's Eve and Birthday party for their daughter Katie. Marshall had given me this cool cake pan for Christmas, so I tried it out by making Katie's birthday cake. I think it turned out cute, and I can't wait to make more of them.