{Beaver's Bend}

A few days after Christmas we took a camping trip to Beaver's Bend. It's a nice camping resort nestled in the Kiamichi Mountains of OK. Beaver's Bend holds a lot of precious memories for Nathan and I. It's the first {long} trip I ever went on with Nathan and his family {almost 15 years ago!!}. We usually go the week after Christmas every year. This was Mason's first time to go to Beaver's Bend and we were excited to share "our place" with him. {Not sure why we skipped 2 years, but it makes me sad that we did.}

This year Nate's parent's rented us a little cabin. That was lovely since we have a toddler. We had a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Nate's parents and his youngest brother stayed in their camper just around the way from us.

We didn't do a whole lot but eat, hang out and enjoy the beautiful scenery! But it was relaxing and just what we needed after the holidays. One of our favorite things to do at Beaver's Bend {besides fish} is drive around and look at all the animals. There are tons of deer everywhere, and most of them are not skiddish. Mason really enjoyed it!! We saw deer, racoons, rabbits, birds and squirrels. Oh and somewhere along the way we saw buffalo.

Mason's new words coming out of this trip:

Tabin = Cabin

Dat-toon = Racoon

Deyah = Deer

Fuffalo = Buffalo

Oh man I could just listen to him say Fuffalo over and over and over!!

Beaver's Bend - you never disappoint!!!

I took a gazillion pictures...but all with my point and shoot. My big camera is still being repaired!!

{Oh Christmas...}

I miss you already...

Well...I put away all the Christmas decorations over the weekend and it made me a little sad! This is my favorite time of year and I am sad that it's over for another year!

 

Mason and I ventured out to Target on Saturday and I found an aisle of Christmas stuff for 90% off. Yes please! We got all kinds of stuff. I love doing this and each Christmas opening my ornament box to see all the goodies I got on clearance!!

Total savings of $98.56

Ohhh yea!

Another thing I will miss?

This cutie...in Christmas jammies...standing in front of the glow of the Christmas tree.

{Remembering 2011}

I have to say, 2011 was pretty good to us! 

January -

My first birthday as a Mommy

Mason's first stockshow (big deal in our family) 

Mason is saying Mama and Dada consistently

Attended lots of softball games

First snow for Mason

Mason's first kiss (New Years) other than Mommy

February - 
First tooth broke through
Another snow day, shut down streets for days
First Valentine's Day
Obsession for tractors started showing

March - 
Traveled to Abilene for Kloe's birthday
First real sickness - Dr appt led to ER trip that evening (Ear Infection)

April - 
Mason's first Ranger Game to attend
Started Crawling
First Bluebonnet Pictures (A Texas Thing)
1st Easter (also spent at a Ranger game)

May - 
Got the "epic" Aviator shades
First Mother's Day
First Birthday
Started introducing more solids

June -
Mason started school

July -
First event @ School - 4th of July Parade
Camped at Canton for 4th of July
Mason's first vacation to the beach

August - 
Mason got the Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease
I had a drastic hair change
Mason moved to toddler class at school

September - 
Camped at Cleburne State Park for Labor Day
Mason got a stomach bug that landed us at Children's Hospital for an overnight stay
First (and hopefully last) Seizure

October - 
Mason started seeing a new Pediatrician
1st Halloween to dress up and trick or treat
Fall festival @ school
Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

November - 
My Nikon died!
Moved to a new Office

December -
Converted crib to toddler bed
Santa
Mason had to have breathing treatments for over 2 weeks
Mason's first camping trip to Beaver's Bend


Goodbye 2011, you were good to us
2012 Bring it!!

{Christmas at home}

Nathan and I were beyond excited to play "Santa Claus" this year! Mason was only 7 months old last year and didn't have much of a clue what was going on. This year he was starting to get it.

And?

He thinks that Santa Claus is one cool guy {one that is going nite nite until next year, ha}.

Christmas Eve night I prepared all of the toys that "Santa" would bring while Nate worked on the big gift. 

The one that took almost 2 hours to put together. It seriously was in hundreds of little pieces. I read online that it was difficult to put together, but thought "How card could it be?". Well, husband can tell ya!! :)

Mason slept until almost 10 on Sunday morning! I was so anxious for him to wake up! The first site I saw of him stirring I was sure to yell out a big "Merry Christmas"! haha!

Here is a video of him walking into the living room on Christmas morning!!

I can't even tell you the joy it brought to my heart to see him so happy and excited.

Christmas evening we hung out at home and it was really nice!

{Christmas with Family}

Christmas was so nice this year and not stressful like it sometimes can be.
Dividing holiday time between 2 families can sometimes be hard.
We got lucky this year...it just worked out!!

Christmas Eve morning/afternoon we spent with Nate's family/Grandparents in GP. That evening we had Christmas with my family @ my mom and dads house. Christmas day we spent the morning at our house and then to the Halls for the early afternoon/afternoon. That evening we hung out at home.

I didn't take as many pictures as I normally would because my camera is still in the shop and my point and shoot just isn't fast enough!!

Great times!!

{Mason's got moves}

{Merry Christmas Eve Eve to me}

So, the Friday before Christmas Eve I was driving to work...on a very dark, desolate 2 lane road when a truck came into my lane. Naturally I swerved over as far away from the truck as I could....and I hit a guard-rail. 

The truck didn't stop.

Merry Christmas to you too rude guy!!!

And my car??

{Crazy Hair}

Think he needs a haircut?

Yea, me too!

I finally have his dad on board!!!!

I may have to act quick before he changes his mind though.

This is seriously what he looks like every time he wakes up. Not even kidding.

Thank God for Johnson's - No More Tangles spray!!!!

{One sickness after another}

My poor sweet boy!! Couldn't catch a break there for a while. It started with Strep throat...which was going around like crazy. Everyone I talked to had it, or knew someone that did. The dr said that almost every patient they'd seen in the last couple weeks was for strep. 

Anyhow, Mason had it and was on an antibiotic for a week and a half. Once we thought he was over that he started getting a horrible cough. That was on a Saturday and by the end of the weekend it hadn't gotten any better. I also noticed that his breathing was getting tight. We went to the dr Monday morning and he had Bronchiolitis. {viral infection in the lungs} They gave him a breathing treatment there at the office and that was complete torture. I was there by myself because Nate had to work. Mason fought the breathing treatment with every last muscle he had. It scared him and he had never had anything like that before. 

I was certain that he didn't get much of the medication...but much to my surprise his lungs responded very well to the treatment. So off we went with a breathing machine! He had to do treatments for over 2 weeks. It got easier and better with each treatment. We found that if we distracted him he took it better! 

And when we thought he was getting better from the treatments we had 2 nights of absolutely no sleep. He couldn't get comfortable and cried and whined. I knew it was his ears. Nate took him to the Dr the next day and sure enough, double ear infection. His dr said that was usually the next step after the Bronchiolitis. 

I am so thankful that Mason responds well to medication. After a couple doses you wouldn't even know that he had an ear infection! And has been sleeping great since then.

I am also thankful that he was feeling well for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!

{MIA}

So, apparently I took a blogging break. Not on purpose, though,

It's been pretty crazy around here and I will catch up soon.

First strep throat....then Bronchiolitus....then double ear infections...yep, fun stuff! ha

And then there was Christmas and vacation!! 

I promise to catch up really soon!!

This picture cracks me up!