White Christmas...

It was a winter wonderland when we arrived in the land of Oz this year. Luckily,we landed in Wichita before another snow storm pounded the city with 8 more inches! Mason was quite amused with the white stuff as he hadn't seen it since we moved to Atlanta 2 1/2 years ago.

The night we arrived in Kansas City it began to snow and we got another 3 inches for Mason to play in. Although this was not Mason's first snow angel, the photo is priceless. Brian and I also made a makeshift sled out of a cardboard box and twine and pulled Mason around the parking lot of my mom's apartment complex.

We had a great holiday that was filled with lots of family and friends! I couldn't think of a better way to spend vacation days from work. I can't wait until next year!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

This is officially the first year that Mason has been excited for the coming of Christmas. Not only is he excited for Santa and what comes along with that, his one Christmas wish was for snow. Let's pray that a warm front doesn't move into Kansas by the time we get there!

Another recent discovery...

I am cleaning out my 2007 photos to make room for 2008 and came across our little fisherman! Mason, Brian and I used to really enjoy fishing at the Athletic Club before Brian took another job at the Country Club of the South.

A Recent Discovery...

While Tiffani and Athena were visiting this past summer they visited Babyland General in Cleveland, GA. I was browsing through my photos this afternoon when I came across this one. I chuckled a little and thought you might too!

Happy Halloween!

It was an eventful Halloween this year! As usual, my office decorated for the trick-or-treaters that stop by from the Atlanta children's shelter. Our department chose a Hogwarts theme from the Harry Potter books. We decked out the entire department with stone wall paper and we all dressed up as wizards and witches. There was a pumpkin carving contest among all of the departments and I won first prize with this monster! A big thanks to extremepumpkins.com for the idea. I should share my half-day off prize with them!

On top of visiting my office donning his veterinarian costume, Mason went door-to-door trick-or-treating for the first time. Apparently, it was the first time Brian had gone door-to-door as well. Mason was so brave! He walked up to each door by himself while Brian and I hung back on the driveways! I'm not sure I would have done that at 4 for any amount of candy that my mom would promise! I am also very sure that we will still have plenty of candy to give to the kids in goody bags at Mason's birthday party in February! Happy Halloween! Till next year...

A Place of Beauty

Albeit far from natural, one can't help but be in awe of how nature can be manipulated to be even more beautiful.

Halloween is coming...ha ha ha!

As you all know, Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year; not because I am a pagan devil worshiper, but because it is the one day of the year that society allows us to become anything our heart desires without fear of being ostracized. Mason, being the ever unique child that we have come to adore, chose to be a "vegenarian" this year. Perhaps in 20, or so, years the world of medicine will welcome another member of my family! Calling Dr. Fleske!







Kids R Kids had a Fall Festival this past Friday. There were games, face painting and a magic show for the kids to enjoy. Don't worry Tiffani, it won't be long before you too can prescribe cotton candy to your patients! To top it off, he washed that cotton candy down with a sprite! Yes, Tiffani, he brushed his teeth, but only after he ate a sugar cookie!

Mason-O-Lantern

Yes, my favorite holiday is upon us once more! Mason and I stopped at the local pumpkin patch today and picked out three of the most beautiful pumpkins I have ever seen.




Mason had a good time picking them out and even got to help by pushing the wheel barrow.








We played games and I even convinced him to stick his head through the pumpkin! Jack-o-Lantern and Halloween costume photos to come...

It's a jungle out there!

We always knew that Mason belonged among the animals!









Zoo Atlanta is a great place to explore the animal kingdom! Of course, Mason favored the giant panda exhibit. There, we saw Mei Lan, the first giant panda to be born in captivity in Atlanta.












We also had fun riding the carousel and the train. I tried to convince him to climb the rock wall, but he wasn't having it!

Firemason...

The children in Mason's class had a great time learning the letter "F" (yes, "F" for Fleske was definitely mentioned). His class learned about emergencies, how to dial 911 and when it is appropriate to do so, and even took a trip to the fire station! They all had a lot of fun taking photos in the driver's seat of the fire truck and used the photo in a project in class.

Stay tuned for the letter "G"! Next week the class is going to Dahlonega to visit the gold mine! I, unfortunately, will not be able to attend. Hopefully I can get some photos from his teacher to post!

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Mason and his class have been learning about fire safety for the past two weeks and this morning, they visited the fire station! They got to see and touch a fireman in full-gear and sit in the driver's seat of the fire truck!

A picture worth 1,000 words...

I have never been a big fan of the "goody bag" that most children give out on their birthdays, but now and then we receive something that makes me giggle.

Sign Language

It is up for debate whether or not I was ever taught the alphabet in sign language, but I do know that when my beautiful Mason came home and knew all of the letters up to the letter "M" and I didn't, I felt pretty darn silly! So, this image is a refresher for all of you who don't recall or were never taught the alphabet in sign language. I hope you all have time to study, because I'm sure Mason will be testing you when Christmas rolls around!

It's been very busy in the Fleske household lately. It was nice to take a Sunday and spend it at the park with Mason. Tell me Dr. Shelton, should I take him to the nearest physician to have those spots looked at?!

Our new addition...

Just when people thought our family would never grow! This little guy must have been the slowest of his buddies since he was nabbed by one of Brian's crew and given to Mason. Of course, his name is Crush (for those of you without kids, it's from "Finding Nemo).











Mason was a little apprehensive at first, but he didn't seem to mind the wiggly turtle legs after a few minutes of holding Crush. Careful! Wash those hands!!! Turtles carry nasties like salmonella!

Have a minute to goof off?

Leave it to Burger King to make your "break time" at work even more fun than eating a burger and fries! You too can simpsonize yourself at http://simpsonizeme.com/

Oodles of Noodles

I love noodles. Give me oodles.
Make a mound up to the sun.
Noodles are my favorite foodles.
I eat noodles by the ton.

Funny little Mason!

I don't know where he comes up with his ideas, but it is true what Bill Cosby has said, "Kids say the darndest things!" Brian, Mason and I were sitting in the living room watching a movie and Mason burst out with, "I wish daddy would turn into a strawberry so that I could eat him." I could not contain my laughter and had to share it with my blog readers.

On a less serious note...

Finally, election debates have been turned over to the voters. The latest election debate was held with questions coming from YouTube videos created by regular Joes rather than television personalities. John Edwards may have won my vote simply by creating his YouTube campaign video set to the music of "Hair". I find it oddly humbling for Edwards to choose this considering how much criticism he has received for paying $400 for a haircut recently. His angle by using the music from "Hair"? "What really matters? You choose". How refreshing.

There's more to Atlanta than traffic...

Yes, the traffic here sucks, but the skyline more than makes up for it (sometimes)!