Busy Summer. . .

Hello, Everyone!! It has been one heck of a busy month!! Lots of fun, though. On the 3rd and 4th of July, we went to the Riverton Days celebration. We saw a parade, which was tons of fun. We even got to hear the music that the marching band was playing as it walked by!! Typically we get skipped over-- the drummers are keeping time of course, but we don't get to hear the music. :o) Then on the 4th, we went to the carnival, and enjoyed Riverton's FABULOUS fireworks show!! They dazzle every year-- this year there were 6 times that I thought, "Oh, this must be the finale." I was wrong every time. It was amazing. The kids liked it, too! Ben, who really loved it last year, was a little scared at first (??!!??), but then he enjoyed it at the end. Claire did really great-- she didn't even cry!

The next week, the kids and I went up to spend most of the day at the Evans Family Reunion. It was so much fun!! I was so glad to have all of Ben's cousins there, to play with him. It would have been really difficult, had it not been for them! It was really great to see my family, particularly my extended family whom I have not seen for a VERY long time (years, I don't know how many).

The next weekend, Josh and I and the kids went camping with Josh's Dad. That was so much fun!! Here's a picture of how Ben spent 90% of his time:

I was sure glad that Tony, Josh's dad, had that little shovel!! Also, I am REALLY pleased with my $10 purchase of the dump truck shown here. I can't tell you how much fun Ben has had with that toy this summer! He just can't get enough!!

Here's another shot of Ben with his new favorite toy:

Luckily, it is too big to take to bed with him. He would, if I let him!

Claire also had fun on the camping trip-- Here she is, with her Aunt Lacey's cool shades on:

I was suprised at how long she kept those glasses on!! Isn't she cute?!

The next weekend was the 24th of July-- Fairview Days, with Josh's Mom and her family! It also was busy, but fun. We saw another parade, and we went to the derby (Ben loved watching the cars crash! Two cars got rolled over-- that's a record!), and then after the derby were fireworks!! Ben slept right through. I tried everything to wake him up-- I shook him, I did a blowfish on his cheek, I called his name, and rubbed his head and shoulders, and there was no response. It was amazing! The next day, me and my sisters-in-law took a trip to Ephraim. We visited Polly's Brain Freeze, which is now connected with what used to be Fat Jack's Pizza- it's now Roy's. We stopped in at the Drug and Gift shop, and the Mercantile store. It was a lot of fun to see my old College town. :o) Sometimes I miss the Snow days. . .

Claire is getting so close to crawling now. I can't belive it-- she'll be crawling by the time she's 8 months old, for sure. She gets up on her hands and knees, and rocks back and forth. If she can't get what she needs that way, though, she is also an expert at rolling. She can roll across an entire room, if she sees something she wants!

Ben, much to my surprise, has really shot up in height within the last few weeks-- since we last measured him a month and a half ago, he's grown a full inch!! We'll see if it is enough to put him back on the growth charts.

Josh and I are doing well, also-- We both just got new positions at work! Josh in investments, and I will be helping people in the Lobby at Regence. We both start our new positions in a couple of weeks, and we're really excited!!

This week, I turned the big 2-5, and I realized I'm getting old. Granted, I'm not THAT old. . . But I am old! Last month, when we had Stake Conference, the local Mission President spoke. He asked the elders to come stand up front. My thought process was this, "Look at those young men. It's amazing the amount of work they have, and they're just my age. . . . Wait a minute. . . I'm at LEAST 4 years older than ALL of them!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!" That was the moment that my age really hit me. AIEEEEEEE!!

To be honest, I am not really worried about it. It just strikes me as amazing how quickly the time passes.

Making Great Strides

Yes!! We, at the Mason household are making great strides. Benjamin has tried THREE new foods within the last week—INCREDIBLE!!! He apparently likes grilled chicken marinated in soy sauce, sautéed mushrooms, and olives. What’s more is that these foods did not replace any of the 10 foods that he already eats!

And there was much rejoicing. “Yaaayy. . .”

Benjamin has become a great talker. He’s in the copycat phase right now, where anything I tell Josh, Ben has to tell him too. It’s really funny. He also talks a lot about getting his driver’s license (yikes!!), and an Ipod because he loves ear buds. He’s started telling me the things that he loves, and the things that are his “favite.” He loves his silky blanket, and his bus is his “favite” toy. If I say, “I love this song!” Ben echoes, “I love this song, too, Mama!!”

Claire has started rolling everywhere, but she only likes to do that if Mommy is sitting on the floor playing with her. She pushes herself up with her arms, and can get one leg underneath her. I can tell she’s getting ready to crawl! She can also scream really well. If in the next few months I have to ask you to repeat what you say multiple times, that would be the reason why! She is very much a girl, with her high-pitched, high-volume screams. She has started on baby foods, and it’s hilarious to see her eat. She gets so excited that we almost can’t get it in her mouth because she’s bouncing all over the place! Claire is also very skilled at getting her bouncy chair going—she pumps with her legs, and boy can she bounce! She hasn’t bounced herself out yet, but I have a feeling that she would if I didn’t buckle her in! She’s very cheerful if mommy is in her line of sight. She’s got the cutest smile with adorable dimples!

Watching both of these kids grow and develop is so much fun!! Both Josh and I are really enjoying it. Josh is doing great at Fidelity—he is really enjoying working there, and learning so much about investing, and stock trading. What a great opportunity his job change has been for our family! We have really been blessed. He is also on track to graduate with his bachelor’s degree within the next year—just a few more classes. Wahoo!!

As for me, I am working hard. I’m hoping to go back to school soon—as soon as Josh is done. We decided long ago that it would never work for both of us to go to school at the same time. Josh’s school is priority #1, mine is #2, and that is just fine! I cracked open one of our college algebra books this week, and realized how much I’ve forgotten already! EEEK!!! It’s so easy to just let it go.

We’ll keep the site updated, as things move onward and upward!