{Mama's tell all // Adios diapers!}

Me: Mason why did you spill your soda?

Mason: I didn't Mama. I peed

Linking up with:

That Southern Mama

Every Day Thoughts

The Rambling Llama

The So-Called Homemaker

For Mama's Tell All...

Oh man, potty training feels like many moons ago, but I still remember it. And as much as I hate to say it {because I know how difficult it can be} we got really, really lucky in the potty training department. Mason was potty trained at 33 months and it only took 4ish days with only 4 or so accidents. We were very blessed, though, that his school helped with the process. This particular school broke up the rooms like so; newborn-12 months, 12-24 mths, 2's, 3's, Pre-K. And they start potty training them in the twos classroom when they show interest. And again, we were blessed that Mason was ready at this time. I think a big factor was seeing his friends go potty {at school} and he wanted to be big like them! And honestly, I've heard that boys are just easier to potty train than girls. I can't attest to that since I don't have a little girl {Heaven help me if I ever do!}, but I can say Mason was pretty darn easy. 

Here's what worked for us...

He has to be ready...

Make sure they are 100 % ready first and foremost. If they're not ready and you push it you will only bring upon yourself many of tears, stress and frustration. I remember taking Mason to his two year well check and his sweet doctor asking me if he had any interest in potty training. I told her that there have been a couple of times when Mason wanted to potty, but nothing ever happened. She told me to not push it and just let him tell me when he was ready. She said if he's not ready and you push it then it will just be a long journey of basically trading diapers for pull-ups. Boys are stubborn and hard-headed {well, most} and want to do things when they are ready to. She was SO right! 

Talk it up...

Once they show interest start talking it up really good! How cool potty training is and what a big boy/girl they would be if they used the potty. 

Picking out a potty...

Let them decide if they want to use a little potty their size, or if they want the little ring that sits on the big potty. Mason of course didn't care one bit for a tot-sized potty. He wanted to use the big one like Daddy. 

Picking out undies...

Let them pick out their own big boy undies! They will be more inclined to wear them if they picked them out. Super heroes and Ninja Turtles are a big plus in a little boy's world!!

Avoid pull-ups...

Skip the pull-ups! I know!!! Sounds crazy. But it worked for us! I only bought one pack of pull-ups and used only two or three of them. I put one on Mason the first night. And he just peed in it instead of waking up to go potty. So I stopped using them. I had a talk with him and told him that he is wearing big boy undies and if he feels like he needs to go potty he needed to wake up to go. And that was that! To me pull-ups are basically a big boy diaper. For 2 years they have pottied in a diaper and why would a pull-up feel any different? 

Little reminders...

Tell him to go potty every 15 minutes or so, even if it's just one tiny drop. 

Praise...

A little praise goes a long way! Make a really big deal about it when he goes potty in the toilet!! Do a dance, clap, jump up and down, whatever works!!

Other little tidbits for potty training little boys...

Let them pee on trees. It's fun! And takes them to a whole other level of big boy status. But, stress the importance of only doing that at home. Ya know, so they don't do it on the playground at school.

Put a cheerio in the toilet and have them aim at it! 

Always carry extra clothes with you. It may take them a minute to remember they are in big boy undies and need to potty and it may be too late.

Something Mason's school did with the little boys...they made them sit down to potty regardless if it was going #1 or #2. That way they didn't have to think about if they needed to sit or stand each time. Saved quite a few accidents! Now of course Mason knows the difference, but potty training is overwhelming enough...every little thing helps.

Just find what works for you and go with it! And if you have a little boy get ready to clean up a lot of messes. They pee everywhere and on everything. 

What tips and advice do you have for potty training? Was it easy or hard for you?

{Our love story // Part 2}

part one // here

Nathan and I continued to date all throughout High School. We were pretty much tied at the hip. In school we were no longer just Nathan or just Crystal ...we were Nathan & Crystal. Nathan came to all of my cheerleading events and I proudly wore my "baseball babe" shirt with Nate's name and jersey number on it to every one of his games. We got in trouble for kissing in the halls more times than I can count. We spent every waking moment together and when we were apart were sure to be on the phone together, or paging each other with a "143" {remember that? 143 meaning I love you}. I don't even know how many times we fell asleep on the phone. Crazy.in.love.

From then on it was typical high school stuff; banquets, homecomings, proms, tournaments, Friday night lights, etc.  And somehow after a year or so I talked my daddy into letting me go on camping trips and vacations with the Hall family. They were all the time going somewhere and doing something and Nathan and I hated being apart. We were good kids and our parents trusted us! We slept in separate beds in the camper with the whole family. 


We made it through our High School years even with me graduating a year before him. It was hard, but we did it. After HS we went to the same college and even worked for the same company. Still inseparable. People thought it would harm us spending so much time together, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We just enjoy each other's company that much. 

Nathan and I weren't ones to go out to bars or anything. We never really got into that during our college years like most of our friends. I mean, we loved to go sit on a patio and listen to live music, but never were bar hoppers. But one night we were invited to a birthday party that ended up at a bar and Nate is almost positive that's where everything went down. 

Nathan got sick {really sick} with bacterial meningitis and our lives were turned upside down...

...to be continued

{Weekend Wrap-up // Six Flags, Antique Alley and Bluebonnet Festival}

Happy Monday!! Man, the weekend flewwwww by too quick. And I really stunk at taking pictures this weekend, too. Ugh! Even though I don't have the pictures, we had a pretty fabulous weekend.

Friday was our annual school district night out at Six Flags. The park is only open to the employees and their families for this night. Last year {here} we had a blast! We could basically walk up to any ride and had no wait/line. This year we rode 3 rides and a typhoon came! They shut down all but like 4 things {Runaway Mountain which is indoors, the train, antique cars and the carousel}. We hopped on the train and rode it for a couple of round trips all the while getting soaked by the storm! We still enjoyed it, but would have loved to be able to do more. Good thing we have Disney in like 34 days or something like that!!





Saturday morning Nate woke up early to help his dad with a few things & hit the gym while Mason and I got ready for the day. We went with his brother and girlfriend and her cousin to Antique Alley and the Bluebonnet Festival. And guess what? I forgot my dang camera. I was so disappointed! Antique Alley was good, but super crowded. We only went to 2 of the 3 towns and were ready to call it quits! But not before I snagged a wooden sign {in turquoise} that says "In the morning when I rise give me Jesus" and also a feed sack that says "Sweet Tea & Jesus". LOVE!!! 



Next was the Bluebonnet festival in Ennis. They had bouncehouses, a petting zoo, games, vendors selling all kinds of things, and food, etc. It was neat to walk around and check it all out! After the festival we drove the bluebonnet trail again! I just love taking the back country roads. That evening we had supper & snowcones with some sweet friends.




Sunday we were able to meet up with our best friends, the Browers! And got to meet their newest addition to the family! He is as sweet as can be!! We had a nice lunch and hung out and talked for a bit. 




How was your weekend?

{Texas Bluebonnets // Bristol Bluebonnet Trail}

Good morning and Happy Friday!!

We were supposed to have 2 T-ball games last night, but it rained and lightened {for all of 5 minutes} just before the games and they called them. My parents, sister and 2 nephews were already on their way into town to watch Mason's games so we met them for supper instead. After supper we got Mason a vanilla milkshake and Nate and I got a protein shake and were on our way. Nate passed the entrance to our neighborhood and I knew he had a plan!! He drove us out to the Bristol area to see bluebonnets!! 



In case you didn't know...bluebonnets are a HUGE deal here in Texas!! Every year around this time you see families everywhere out taking pictures in them. you have about a 3-4 week span where you can do this. That's all! I just love this time of year!! Click {here} to see our Bluebonnet post from last year. 

It was after 7 when we started the trail, so we were racing the sunset. But, we didn't mind. The views were AMAZING!!! And the sky was amazing, too. We fell in love with the area and felt like we were in the Texas Hill Country at times! There were so many nice homes and ranches. We half-joked about selling our house and moving over there. 

We didn't take any pictures of Mason because he was in his T-Ball uniform. And also because we plan to go to the actual Bluebonnet festival this weekend. We will be ready for pictures then! Also, these were all taken on my iPhone. I will take my big camera when we go back. 



  
Have you taken Bluebonnet pics this year? Also, do you watermark your pictures? I normally don't, but have had people stealing my pics lately. :(

{Texas Gallery Wall Art DIY}

Yesterday I was reading Beth's blog about her gallery wall and she inspired me to start working on some pieces for ours. I love how she had her state framed and on her wall and knew that I had to have a Texas for ours!! So I gathered the supplies and got to work! 

Supplies - 
Frame - already had. It's a 10 x 10 from Hobby Lobby
Chalk paint in color "Lake" - Target {similar}
Background - you could use scrapbook paper, but I used drawer liner from the dollar section at Target. It was adhesive and worked perfectly
Texas print - made using picmonkey




First I painted the frame with the chalk paint so that it could be drying while I worked on the rest of the project. Did you know that Target has chalk paint now? I was so happy when I stumbled upon it yesterday! I live in a tiny town and when I ask places if they carry chalk paint they either look at me like I am crazy or they take me to chalkboard paint. ha! Anyhow, Target has it now. And it's on a fabulous aisle full of wood letters, burlap everything, painted mason jars, etc. I could have bought everything on that aisle!!

While the paint was drying on the frame I started working on the Texas print. I downloaded the font called Stateface and used the letter q to make a Texas. I used Picmonkey to make it the color and size that I wanted and saved to my computer. Then I just printed it out on cardstock and cut it out.

For the background I used drawer liner adhesive paper that I found in the Target dollar section. It worked perfect! I took the back of the frame out and used it to determine how much of the adhesive paper to cut out. Then I just took the backing off the adhesive paper and laid it down flat, pressed the back of the frame to it and then trimmed around the edges. Then I glued my Texas to that. I ended up using a red Texas to go with the theme of our house.




I will have to re-do this one because my Texas is not centered and it bothers me. I realized I was going to be late to Zumba so I started rushing! 

Do you have a state art in your gallery wall? Do you have a gallery wall? Leave your link, I'd love to see yours if you have one.

{He said what?! // Things my four year old says}

One of my favorite things has always been reading about things that kids say! They're so darn funny, almost never have a filter, and have a pretty neat perspective about things. I try to document everything Mason says, but it's hard because he's so dang witty. He's constantly saying or doing something that makes us laugh. Every time I ask Nate to remind me what Mason had said that day his response is always, "which time?" We can't keep up! Oh and when his teacher says "you're not gonna believe what Mason said today" I get a little nervous. You just never know with this kid. Seriously.

Oh how I love being his Mama.

...

>>> Look Mama, it's your favorite Chip & Jayyonna Gaines {Chip and JoAnna from Fixer Upper}

>>> Mom next time you go to the barber shop can you get your hair long instead of short?

>>> Mason wanted to play restaurant so he started making me some food. He looks at me and says.... Guess you're gonna have to go through the drive thru since you're still in your pajamas!!

>>> Me: I love you to the moon
Mase: but it's day time 
Me: yeah but there is no sun out
Mase: or moon. Mom can we just start saying I love you to Heaven? Because Heaven is always there.

>>> Welcome to YOO NORK YOO NORK {singing}

>>> Mase: Mama the devil is trying to make me say bad words

Me: Oh yeah? What is he trying to make you say? {side note - bad words to him are words like stupid, shut up, etc.}

Mase: Oh no, I'm not saying it...I am interrupting him!!!!

>>> When I get bigger I'm going to make an invention...a robot that wipes my bottom so I don't have to

>>> Mom, I may have a wallet and my own phone, but I am still your little kid. 

>>> Whoa Mom, you're skinnier. {yelling and I mean yelling when I picked him up in the child area after Zumba one day}

>>> Me: Mason how did you get to be almost FIVE years old? Weren't you just my tiny little baby?
Mase: Well, I just live fast Mom. 

>>> Mom do you think the Ninja Turtles will ever leave New York City and come to Waxahachie?

>>> Mason had called me "mom"...
Me: Mason why do you call me mom now instead of Mommy?
Mase: Mommy is for 1's, 2's and 3 year olds. Not for 4 year olds.

>>> Mom I love you all the way to outer space and back to earff. I love you 16. No wait more than that. I love you 116.

>>> Nate: Mason when are you going to start eating healthy like Mama and Daddy?
Mason: {without hesitation} When I'm 18.

{Our Love Story // Part 1 // How we met & started dating}

The other day I had a friend surprised that Nathan and I had started dating at the ages of 14 & 15 {going on 19 years this November} and then asked if I have ever shared our story here on the blog. And no, I sure haven't. Not on purpose, just never have. So here goes...

Nathan and I went to the same high school. He was a baseball player and I was a cheerleader and we had many mutual friends. I had known of him because he dated a fellow cheerleader of mine the year before...but i didn't know him. 

One of my best friends & I were walking to the car one day after school and Nathan ran up and started walking beside my friend. She slowed down a bit to talk to him and I stayed a few steps ahead. He was whispering to her and she couldn't hear him and just kept saying "huh? what?". I had heard him and couldn't help but giggle. So I turned around and said, "Would you like my phone number?" {repeating what he was trying to ask my friend} I was sure I embarrassed him! His face was bright red, but he still said yes. So I gave it to him. 

And the rest is history...haha...

{Five on Friday // Opening Day, Laughter, and other things}

Happy finally Friday!!! I'm not here today...because...

{O N E} 

IT'S O P E N I N G D A Y!!!! I love our tradition of going to opening day!! Hello spring, hello baseball and hopefully #hellowincolumn #gorangers

I wrote this last year on opening day...and man is it true! I just love being at the Ballpark!

There's just something unexplainable about tailgating from the parking lot looking at Ranger stadium and the anticipation of going in! And then once you're in there...oh man the atmosphere is unbeatable! The smell of ballpark food, the sound of the baseball hitting off the bat or into a glove, the hustle and bustle of everyone trying to find their seats, the plethora of red and blue shirts, the hootin' and hollerin, the rolling out of the American and Texas Flags, the National Anthem, the fly over, the game, God Bless America during the 7th inning, the fireworks that go off after a homerun, the dot race...I just love it.




{T W O}

Is there anything greater than a child's laughter?  I think not! This picture makes my heart swell and makes me so darn happy! Little boys are good for the soul. God knew what he was doing when he made me a boy mama. 




{T H R E E}

It's no secret around here that Nathan and I are big time fans of the show Fixer Upper and Chip & JoAnna Gaines. I found this video while scrolling through FB the other day and highly recommend it. Makes me love them anymore. Love her testimony. Link here

{F O U R}

I have a love/hate relationship with the app TimeHop. I love to see old pictures over the years...but it's also so bittersweet. It reminds me just how much of a baby Mason isn't anymore!! He's growing too fast. At least I have these sweet pictures, right?

This was actually almost FIVE years ago. 

{F I V E}

In case you missed it...

On Monday I posted about our weekend at Texas Antique Fair in Round Top & Warrenton TX and how we met some famous people, including an American Hero {here}

Wednesday I linked up with Emily @ Ember Grey for A Grateful Heart {here}

Thursday was all about the men behind the blog {here}

PS - 

31 days until Kindergarten Round-up/Registration {wahhhh}
42 days until PreK graduation {wahhhhhhhhhhh}
44 days until Disney {yeah!!!!!!}
45 days until Mason is FIVE!!!! {wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh}

{Guys behind the blog // April 2015 edition}

from Betsy's Guys behind the blog series

April's questions:


Q // Has Starbucks ever spellled your name wrong on a cup? If yes, what's the craziest way that someone has spelled it?

Nate: Really? I cant even pronounce half the stuff they sell there.

note: needless to say, he never goes there. 

Q // Who would play your wife/fiance/girlfriend in a movie or TV show about your lives?

Nate: Jennifer Lawrence!

Q // What is your proudest accomplishment? 

Nate: Being with my wife for over half of our lives and still being passionately in love with her and having an awesome son.

Q // What is your favorite holiday and why? 

Nate: Christmas, because I get two weeks off paid and get to spend all of it with my family.

Q // What is your favorite breed of dog?  If you don't have a favorite breed, describe the characteristics of your ideal dog (or cat)!

Nate:  Labs


In other news...I've had several people ask me if I've ever shared our story here on the blog. I haven't...but it's coming soon! 

{A Grateful Heart}

Linking up with Emily @ Ember Grey for a Grateful Heart

Happy Wednesday!! I'm struggling this week. In a funk, for sure. I blame it on the holidays and all of the Easter festivities!! It all started Sunday when my parents ordered pizzas for lunch. I limited myself to 2 small slices, but still...pizza! And I've snuck a few pieces of candy here and there. And now my body is hating me. I'm tired, have no energy, and just feel blah! #thestruggle

But, I'm declaring today is the day I am going to pull out of this funk!! No more junk food, back to my diet, and back to putting my all into exercising. Now, if i could just quit yawning... 

Anyhow, despite the funk I still have lots to be thankful about.

+ spring is here!! hello sunshine!

+ flowers are blooming and birds are singing

+ porch dates with my little man

+ tball practices and games. seriously...there is nothing cuter than a bunch of 3 & 4 year olds in uniforms that swallow them out there playing ball. i love it. 

+ a husband that cooks supper so that I can do all of the other 97 chores before bed and school/work the next day

+ snowcone dates with my boys

+ girlfriends

+ my sweet boy that stops running at tball practice to pick his mommy some flowers. #sorrycoaches

+ speaking of coaches...my husband that puts so much time and heart into coaching these little guys

+ my quaint little town and all of the festivities it has

+ my job that allows me to work at home. i can walk out for a quick breath of the fresh spring air anytime. 

What are you grateful for this week? Do you link up with Emily? If not, I encourage that you do.  

{Weekend Wrap-up // Texas Antique Fair in Round Top & Warrenton}

Happy Monday!!

What an awesome weekend we had!! We left Thursday afternoon for Texas Antique Fair in Round Top/Warrenton, TX. Another item checked off our Texas Bucketlist! It was amazing and Nate and I both agreed that we liked it more than Canton. We are hoping to go back in October! 

Friday morning we woke up and left around 9 for a day full of shopping. We were with a large group (14) which is kind of hard at a place like this. Everyone moves at different paces and wants to see different things. We shopped for a few hours and didn't even put a dent in the miles and miles of stuff! Mason found all kinds of treasures, but Nate and I didn't buy much! It was more about the experience for us this time, I guess. 




After lunch we headed over to Junk Gypsy to check it out! AMAZING!!!! Love that place and could have spent hours there. While out on the lawn we spotted Korie & Rebecca Robertson from Duck Dynasty. Mason was so excited and just had to meet them. He went up to Korie and introduced himself. She asked him if he watched Duck Dynasty and he said Yes ma'am and then she asked his favorite and he told her Willie! She gave him a high five. I didn't even think to take pictures and now I am bummed. When we were leaving we spotted Marcus Luttrell {Lone Survivor} and Willie Robertson out by a bbq pit. So we mosied on over to meet them! They were super nice!! It was one of the highlights of our trip!! 






We celebrated Easter with Nate's family in the camper on Saturday before we left. The Easter Bunny {Nana & Uncle Ty} drew a treasure map and Mason had to follow it in order to find his Easter treasure!! He had a blast doing that and was so excited to find a huge treasure box waiting for him!



We spent Easter Sunday at home and then with my family! If I am being honest, I totally slacked at Easter this year. I blame it on going out of town! I packed Mason a 'travel bag' that could have easily been his Easter basket and then planned on picking up a few things at Round Top. But that didn't happen. So Saturday evening I was at Walmart & Target with the rest of the world looking for things for his Easter basket! Ugh!! I got him a cute outfit {for Disney}, a book, 3 or 4 different lego people, peeps, ring pops, a ninja turtle egg full of stickers and candy, and a few other small things.

At lunch time we went to my parents to celebrate with them. It was too wet and muddy so we had to have our egg hunting festivities inside. The boys didn't mind, though! They even cracked confetti eggs all over each other and had a blast! 




How was your weekend and your Easter?

{It's the Little Things // Daddy's Hat}

Happy Wednesday friends! Linking up with Jess for "It's the Little Things". 

Last week I shared about Mason putting holes in his pants because he wanted to be like Daddy! Well, today is all about Mason and Daddy again. I just love the relationship these two have. 

Nathan always wears a straw hat anytime he does yard work. Well this weekend we were at Home Depot and they had a stack of nice looking straw hats and Nate grabbed one. When we got in the truck Nate asked Mason if he wanted his old hat. You would have though Nate gave him a million bucks {or a million Lego toys}!! He was so excited!! He said, "I'm never going to mess this hat up. I love it." 

And he wore it proudly!! 

They melt me. Over and over. Every.single.day.