The days have been warm and we've been trying our hardest to get out and enjoy the sunshine! Sunday, Mason challenged me to take a photo of him that was in focus while he was riding his bike. Pffttt. He must think I'm some kind of amateur. Okay, so the focus is a bit softer on my subject than I prefer, but out of focus? I think not.

Just Hanging Around...

The handsome Mason made his debut into this world 8 years ago and has kept Brian and I on our toes ever since. He's funny, talented, smart and full of surprises! We celebrated by having friends over and had a chocolate dipping station, gifts and games. Happy Birthday!!!

Locks of Love

It as a 2.5 year journey, but my hair was finally long enough cut, and donate, to Locks of Love a few weeks ago. I received this in my inbox this afternoon! Awe, shucks!

The Amazing Callie

The family packed up a few weeks ago and headed west for Christmas – Callie included. This would be Callie's first car ride longer than 6 hours, and I was a little nervous. She and Mason snuggled and slept well on the first leg of our trip and entertained themselves well on the second. Whew!

Callie was definitely in her element in Central Kansas. She had fields to run in, cats to chase and Grandpa to love on her. She was in heaven.

She was well camouflaged in the corn stalks. We've always wondered exactly what kind of mix she is – perhaps she has a little white-tailed deer in her.

When we got her out on the open country road, she got a good run in. A gal has to stay fit, you know.

I think she already misses the farm.

Zombies, Mummies and Donuts. Oh My!

City life can be amazing – everything conveniently located; but the suburbs is where it's at. I can honestly say that we live in a neighborhood that everyone knows everyone. We get a little slice of the Midwest right in our cul-de-sac. Glorious!

We were invited to the neighborhood Halloween party this year (we had just moved in last year). Kids came from near and far for games, prizes and a copious amounts of food.

Games included the mummy wrap – for kids young and not-so-young alike.

Mason volunteered to be wrapped.

I don't think any amount of toilet paper will keep his chatter at bay, though.

Super heroes, princesses and moms helped cover him from head to toe in toilet paper.

Breaking free is the best part.

This game was new to me. Donuts were tied to strings and the kids had to eat them without using their hands.

Oh, the humanity!

I think this was fun for everyone, too! Mason struggled a bit at first.

He clearly didn't have a good time. Poor kid never has any fun.

He finally got the hang of it...

...well, the part about getting the powdered sugar all over his face, anyway.

The Death of Frankenstein

One evening, last October, Frankenstein mysteriously appeared in our yard. Mason loved it!

He took great pride in Frankenstein and was excited to plug him in each and every evening.

We got a lot of laughs out of Callie's barking when Frankenstein was filling with air. It never ceased to be amusing.

This year, Frankenstein seemed more like a neighborhood punching bag. The boys enjoyed coming over to abuse him by pulling on his arms or punching him in the gut. Poor guy.

Bodie and Mason were in the yard raking leaves and started taking pot shots at Frankenstein.

They managed to end up on top of him! He was absolutely defenseless.

He tried to fight back, though.

The boys were too much for him to take.

And the boys won. Farewell, Frankenstein!

Our Neighbors Have the Coolest Stuff!

Our neighbor has 3 children: 2 teenaged boys and a daughter who is a few years older than Mason. Mason plays at their house on a daily basis. Sometimes he brings home things the two boys have outgrown and sometimes he brings home a crafting project. Sometimes, he bursts through the door and insists I come over to take a look at what's going on outside.

Over the weekend, Mason was excited to show me the hornet's nest in the neighbor's tree. I had to admit I was curious about it, so I went over to check it out. I'd never actually seen one that was still active with hornets – a little creepy.

I was able to get a bird's eye view with the help of a ladder and my trusty zoom lens. Nature never ceases to amaze me! It's hard to believe something so small can create something so large – not to mention that it's really beautiful!

The hornets buzzed around me as I snapped a few photos, but didn't seem alarmed that I was there. Whew! Once the weather cools off, the hornets will leave and the nest can be removed. I'm curious to see where the neighbors will display the nest. It's a real keeper!

Betrothed

I rarely pass up an opportunity to go to the beach. So, when the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone by attending a Taekwondo tournament AND going to the beach arose, I jumped! I was able to swindle a friend from work (and his family) into going with us and splitting the cost of a condo on the beach. Well done. The condo was beautiful, conveniently located and had a fully functional kitchen – which saved this cheapskate a ton of cash! Love it.

Bradford and Heather have a beautiful 3-year old daughter, Amberly, who also enjoys going to the beach. Mason doesn't know it yet, but they are destined for each other. She instantly gravitated toward him and he was incredibly patient with her! This girl knew good genes when she saw them. We'll have to arrange something in about 20 years. Look for that post...

Grand Master Lee's Tournament: Battle on the Beach 2010

Grand Master Lee is the highest belt rank in the ATA organization and hosts his own tournament every year in Panama City, FL: The Battle on the Beach. Given that this will be the last year he hosts this tournament before retirement, Mason and I wanted to check it out.

It's not difficult to find Grand Master Lee in a packed house – just follow the masses of people. Mason and his friend, Solomon, were two of the lucky ones that were able to get their belts signed before they were called to their rings for competition.

Mason was able to get some practice time in beforehand after spotting an empty ring. His form looked as good as it ever has. Look at that middle stance!

Mason placed 2nd in forms and 2nd in sparring! We'll be using those medals for dinner plates.

Grand Master Lee set up shop in the hallway to give autographs and take photos with the competitors. He's incredibly gracious and signed anything you put in front of him. The next Grand Master has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Who says taekwondo is just a bunch of kids hitting and kicking? I couldn't think of a better place to hold a tournament or a better organization to be a part of.

Hello?

Anyone out there? Am I talking to myself?

Honeydew Popsicle

I received a Zoku popsicle maker for my birthday this year and so far, we've had some interestingly flavored popsicles: strawberry/pineapple, blueberry, blackberry/pineapple and regular strawberry. I bought a honeydew at Publix last week and it was tasty, but a bit overripe and squishy. Solution: make popsicles, of course!

The recipe was simple enough, but the popsicles are very decadent. Who would have thought something as simple as a honeydew melon would make such a rich popsicle? Eating an entire popsicle is really difficult and, when he couldn't finish his, Mason offered it to Callie.

I would have never thought a dog would enjoy a honeydew anything, let alone a popsicle. She finished Mason's and, for the sake of documentation, we pulled another out of the freezer just for her.

She was extremely suspicious about the camera, so Brian (her true love) had to hold the popsicle for her in order for me to photograph. It was pure amusement for all of us.

She watched me the entire time she licked...

and she ate the whole thing! Wow, her tongue is long!

And In the Beginning...

Over the last 8 months, our family has had an educational epiphany. The epiphany is this: Some children don't learn well in a public school system-type environment, and Mason is one of those children. He began going to a homeschool co-op in January of this year and has really blossomed academically, emotionally and spiritually.

We are fortunate to have found an environment in which Mason can learn what 2nd graders should be learning (and then some) as well as receive spiritual guidance through weekly Bible lessons. This week, he learned about the beginning. A good place to start, right?


And, of course, on the 7th day God rested. No need to illustrate God lounging on the couch that day, I suppose.

Summer's Ending Soon...

Where has the summer gone? Didn't school JUST let out? Brian heads to Kansas next weekend for his cousin Charles' wedding. Mason and I head to Panama City for a Labor Day taekwondo tournament and then, it's back to the regular grind. Stay tuned...more end-of-the-summer photos to come.

ATA Intra-School Tournament

The ATA intra-school tournament was this past Saturday and students from all over the Atlanta area came with their game-faces on to compete in forms, sparring and weapons. As always, Mason was prepared and knew, and performed, his 44-move form spectacularly. His score 7-7-8.

I posted this photo, not to show off mason's stance or concentration, because the "oh crap" face on the kid watching is priceless.

After every student went through their forms, there was a 3-way tie in scoring. Just when I thought I couldn't be MORE nervous! All three students had another chance to show their stuff. Mason wowed the judges (and me) with a different form the second time. Man, that kid has a good memory!

Sparring is not Mason's forte, but he did very well in his first, and only round. It's hard for mama bear not to come out when someone is kicking Mason in the head, but that's what sparring is all about. The final score was 4-5, so he held his own until the very end. Well done, indeed!

After all the excitement, nervousness and judging was over, Mason took 1st in forms overall and didn't place in sparring. A good day!

The smile on his face is enough to make any mother proud – win OR lose. The bonus to those trophies is that they are bendable and posable. Fun!