Roller Coaster

So, we go to the local St. Barnabas carnival on Friday, June 20th...it is a yearly tradition with Aunt Siggy and Uncle Perry....and a fun time to get carny food, including a funnel cake...YUM! We park and ride the school bus over which Mason LOVED. Levi is in the snugli and is a happy camper. We eat some food and then head over to the rides...this is the first year that Mason will be able to go on something besides the Merry go 'Round with Mom and Dad. Tim takes Mason around to show himthe rides and then they wait in the monster line for tickets.

Tickets in hand, we head over to the first ride...on the way, I get stopped by a friend from high school and start chatting. The next thing I hear is Tim saying, "Honey, bring the camera...Mason's about to go!" So I walk over and find that my dear husband has put my baby...my precious baby boy...on the kiddie roller coaster for his first ride by himself...EVER! They had not watched this ride....and I quickly protest....but everyone, Aunt Siggy and Uncle Perry included, squelch my motherly gut instincts and assure me that I am overreacting and that Mason is FINE.

And he did do fine, the first two times around with his head jerking violently around every turn...holding on for dear life. I actually have tears in my eyes watching him...what must he be thinking, feeling??? His trusted parents put him on this ride and sent him off to his demise with smiles???

On the third trip around, Mason starts crying.....and then tries to stand up. His life flashes before my eyes and I start yelling, "Stop the ride, stop the ride!" .... In the chaos, the friendly carny operator, did not stop the ride and sent my crying, standing up son around a 4th time....I am now SCREAMING....and, as the train enters the station, he finally stopped the ride and pulled Mason out and handed him over the railing to Daddy.... PHEW!! Tim felt terrible...and Mason kept saying, "Too fast" "I didn't like it"...so we decided to forego any more rides for the day and headed to the slide, where he could ride on our laps...he loved that!

Hopefully he won't be scarred for life....and will be willing to try rides again....

Lesson to take away :: Moms, trust your gut. You know your baby better than ANYONE....

Waiting to go....

Do you see how BIG the other boys and girls are that are on this ride???

Little does he know what he is in for...

Whoa!! Look how LITTLE he is compared to the other kids...and all by himself...

Sliding with Daddy..

Again! Again!

Mommy's turn....Mommy was terrified walking up those stairs!!

Aunt Siggy and Levi!

Mommy and Mason...

Cheesy smiles...

My Little Jumparoo

We got our Jumparoo back two days ago and put Mr. Levi in it....he knew just what to do and was jumping and twirling in no time. He squeals with delight....and now prefers the jumparoo to the exersaucer.....look at those leg muscles!!

Big Brother the Protector :: When I put Levi in the Jumparoo for the first time, Mason was all up in arms....he kept telling me that Levi was 'too little' to be jumping around like that....I had to reassure him, that Levi is getting bigger...that he isn't that little baby that came home from the hospital anymore....and that pretty soon he'll be crawling and then walking like cuzzy Luke...

And I am so glad that I got to capture Mason saying, "Hold me a second" and "I need my blankie" ... these are 2 very common phrases in the morning....after naps....after an injury....when feeling jealous....or scared....or tired....or cuddly....other fun phrases:

"Guys, Guys"
"yeah, I think so..."

"it disappeared"

"macaroni-oni-oni"

"sit on my lap" (meaning mommy or daddy's lap)

"Mommy, where are you?"

HULK!

My sis found this AWESOME outfit for Levi at a bag sale, I think....
So, Auntie Em, these are for you....

this is my best HULK face...

Tickle Toes

Look at these precious piggies:

Fun story> So this morning....I was just finishing nursing Levi and Tim + Mason came up to say hello....We were asking Mason what his name was and he was answering, "Mason BEST!" and then we asked Mason what Levi's name was and he said, "E-I!" and we said what is Levi's last name...and he said, "E-I-E-I-Ohhhhhhhhh!" Hilarious!

Daddy's Day Wknd, Continued

Some more pics from the day at the beach....we are so blessed that Tim's parents live in the Shores....it's like going on vacation whenever we go over there!! Mason at the beach

This is the life....3 boys + a boat

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Then on Sunday, we drove out to Tim's Aunt Sherel's house in Madison Township for another LOVERLY day. We bid Tim's cousin Ed farewell as he is moving to Austin, TX....and some of Tim's family got to meet Levi for the first time. Mason ran around with his cousin Logan, who was sporting the same buzz cut....they got to go swimming and play with Aunts Brittany and Lindsay. There was more awesome food, including pizza (Mason's fave) and pesto bread from Grandma Bella's pizza shop.

Cousin Ed meets Levi

Cousin Kerry + her 3 year old Logan meet Levi

Grandma Bella + Levi -- he really was happy until he heard my voice....

Aunt Brit makes giant bubbles for Mason + Logan

Levi chillin' in the bumbo...Mason calls him 'Bumbo Boy'

Daddy's Day Wknd

We had a super busy Father's Day Weekend. We went to Dad & Linda's to celebrate with them on Saturday. It was a GORGEOUS day....Mason didn't stop going the entire time...from throwing rocks into the 'sea' with Uncle Brandon, to swimming at the beach (this boy has NO fear of the water), to a boat ride with Grandpap, Daddy, and Uncle Brandon.

Levi was a gem. He loved playing on the blanket under the umbrella at the beach, showing off his rolling over skills, and just being a generally happy baby--which is a miracle in and of itself.

We then went back to their house for delicious boca burgers with Linda's 'special sauce', potato salad, baked beans, and corn....YUMMY! We are so lucky to have such good cooks in the fam!!

Uncle Brandon and Mason throwing rocks into the 'sea' at Dad & Linda's house

Grandma Linda soaking in some rays with Baby Levi, aka Chunker Monk

Skin on skin w/ Daddy

Levi wishes Daddy Happy Father's Day for the first time

My Cowboys

It doesn't get more midwestern than this!

Diapers on the line....domestic bliss!

Summer's Here!

With temps in the 90s, it seems like we went straight from winter to the dog days of summer. So, the pool is out and the hair had to come off of Mr. Mason. With a little brownie bribe, we talked him into letting us do it. We usually go see Miss Katie, but she is due with her little girl any day now...

Memorial Day

Auntie Em & Uncle Dan Come to Ohio w/ Cuzzy Luke

Happy Anniversary, Grams & Gramps