Things to Celebrate

April is/was a busy month...

- trying to recover from Spring Break...
which wasn't really a break at all (but you all know about that)!

- cleaning and cleaning and cleaning all the mud from all the rain!

- Easter and all the egg hunt practices
(some moms have t-ball or soccer...but me, I have egg hunt practice)

- wiping noses every 2 seconds from sinus infections (mine and Mason's)

- LIFE - sometimes you have to wonder what you're here for and what your purpose is... and me...well... I'm reading The Purpose Driven Life (for the 2nd time) hoping and praying that maybe one of these days I'll be living to my fullest potential. Truly - I know God is challenging me to trust Him with EVERYTHING in my life and lean not on my own understanding, but man oh man is it hard! Thanks to those of you who continue to pray for all of us at the Windy M! Life is good - just seems that some days are "tests"... and the other days are preparing you for the tests - just wish God had a direct line to me that said "hey - this is practice for the real thing that is coming your way in approximately 2.5 days"
Anyway - just know that I believe God is good! - ALL the time!! - and my learning curve continues to change and grow - daily, if not hourly!


More importantly - Shannon (Ian's 30-something sister) and Bama (Ian's 91 year old grandma) had birthdays this month that didn't get "celebrated" on the blog on their actual birthdays... so...

Here's to you two GREAT ladies - who inspire me to be a better person, to live honestly, and to love like I've never loved before! I'm thankful for you Murdock women and am blessed to have you as my "family" - enjoy life and know that you are loved so very much!!

True Confessions of a New Mom

How many mothers do you know who train their child to hunt/pick up Easter Eggs?
I think I rate very high on the scale among the most "pathetic"!
BUT ... I wanted Mason to have some success at the Easter Egg Hunt (without my help)...
SOOOO.... Mason and I spent the week "practicing" around the house and in the yard and he loved every minute of it- especially when he found the eggs with the goldfish inside!!
I think the practice paid off as far as the "picking up" of the eggs - he found 2 beautiful eggs that he promptly placed in his basket and seemed to be content with that! Way To Go Mason!!

Here are a few photos of our fun times together!!

2 AM

Mason rarely wakes up during the night, but there are occasions when he does and won't go back to sleep without some comforting from mom or dad.
Monday night Ian and I both woke up when we heard a loud "thud." My first thought was that Mason had fallen out of his crib, but the thud wasn't that loud and at 2:00 in the morning I really wasn't sure of anything except that I was tired and my child was awake.
I go rushing into his room as he continues to scream... and I mean SCREAM! and quickly lift him up. He still doesn't stop crying, and in my tired state I didn't even think to turn the light on to "look" him over... so I take him into our room, lay him in the middle of the bed and he falls sound asleep. Weird - I know, but I was too tired to really think about the situation or why he was crying, I was just happy he was sleeping!
The next morning a small hand is patting my face saying "ma" quietly... and here is what I see...

so - somehow, someway, without falling out of his crib...
he winds up with a SHINER!
I can't believe I didn't even try to look and see what was wrong... Oh well, I'm sure it's not the worst thing that will ever happen... and I'm sure it won't be his last shiner!

WOW

Isn't the new title/banner awesome!?!

Thanks Shannon for making it work.

I'm so very thankful for your design knowledge and expertise!


I also had to post a couple of photos I took of my friend Susan's baby Alexis. Isn't she a cutie?! Wish I could get Mason to hold still for more than 4 seconds to get a decent Easter picture of him... oh well, maybe this weekend!

Take Me Out of the...

BATHTUB!!

...well, maybe not!
One of our favorite places to be is the bathtub.
We splash, we sing, we talk to the ducks, we drink the bath water,and we always have a SMILE on our face...
well, almost always...until it's time to get out!
Here are a few of my favorites from the weekend -
hope they make you laugh or at least smile.

Birthday Girl

She's Six, She's Sassy, and She's Got Spunk!

Happy Birthday Leslie!

We hope your birthday was fantastic and that you know how very, very special you are sweet girl! Continue to live life to the fullest -
laughing a lot,
loving with your whole heart,
and filling our lives with your contagious smile!

We love you Les!

Back in the Saddle Again

Hello from the Windy M!
We are alive and doing very well!
So sorry about the lack of "blogging" during spring break...

This is a somewhat short review of our 10 days of break...
QUESTION: Why is it called a break when you really do more than usual??
Anyway - here goes:

Thursday 3/23 Mason wakes up with a sinus infection that has moved to his eyes... Dr. Earl advises us in what to do to care for him (with the help of Amoxil and eye drops). Also says that our "big boy" is 28.8 lbs 33.5" tall and is in the 99% in height and weight - I think he will be a lot like his dad... tall and always outside!


Saturday 3/25
Rain Rain Go Away - Come Again Another Day! It poured all day... thought we lived in the valley. We had a very sick calf that needed to be taken to the vet so I met Ian with the "pet porter" in the back of my pick-up and did my best to get the poor thing to Steven before 12. He's happy and healthy now - thank goodness!

Sunday 3/26
Left the house at 7:00 am heading for the Cox's branding. What fun what fun! Mason got to play with two of his favorite little friends Jenna & Taryn (1 week older than Mason). He loved watching everything and kept mooing with the cows and calves as he sat in his backpack - out of the way of the chaos :) Also had fun wagon rides and loved throwing things out as fast as I could put them back in.





Monday 3/27
Mason and I watched Alexis for an hour or so - man oh man do I have an appreciation for moms of more than one child - I know I'll be able to do it when I have to - but it was hard work!
We also spent the afternoon in Walla Walla with Shannon, Robert and Liam! What a treat! Lunch was great, play time for the cousins was fun, and the walk in Pioneer Park to see the birds and ducks was Awesome! Thanks Shannon & Liam!



Tuesday 3/28
Angela and I made lunch for our good friend Alberta. She is such a neat lady who gives us both encouragement, support and is so full of wisdom. Mason and Dylan got to play with Uncle Noah, and by 12:00 we were all exhausted!

Thursday 3/30
Went to "Mom's Coffee Group" with the girls and kids. It's fun to watch Mason interact with the kids - they're all about 4 months apart and each one brings his/her unique personality... I'm happy to see that Mason is learning "some" boundaries and is responding to things I tell him aren't ok. Hopefully that lasts!
Met Shannon & Liam at Costco - I'm sure you can picture it... 2 moms, 2 kids, 2 diaper bags, 3 carts... controlled chaos at it's finest! We got everything on our "lists" and loaded the vehicles and kids and then headed our seperate ways. Again - a lot of fun ... but exhausting!
Had a wonderful dinner with Darrin, Ang & Dylan that was made by Sheila from church. It was delicious! Thanks Ditchen family for the great meal!

Friday 3/31
Allergy season is upon us and I am miserable. Mason isn't feeling 100% either but I still decide that I can make it to John & Neely's bbq! Mason was so tired, I couldn't think because my head was pounding so hard, Ian worked late and couldn't come... so what should have been fun, ended up being a quickly eaten hamburger, an embarrased/tired mom, a cranky/crying kid, and friends who understood completely! Big shout out to the Kirwans!

Saturday 4/1
Still feeling the allergies and not happy about it! At my moment of desperation, Kirsten came to the rescue letting me know what ingredients/drugs would work best for my symptoms! It's wonderful to have a sister that's a nurse is all I can say!
Mason got new duds from Papa & Mimzy - so stylin' in the new sweaters!
Neely, Tiffany & I had a great dinner and went hot-tubbing! Very relaxing and good to visit with old friends!
My wonderful husband kept Mason at home and they had a "boys" night together!

Sunday 4/2
Enjoyed church... enjoyed my afternoon at home... enjoyed Aunt Barbara coming to visit and stay the night... and enjoyed my last night of spring vacation.

Hope everyone is well and finding time to be still & quiet in the chaos of life!
I did get to read some great inspirations from a few of my books and love the fact that I'm blessed beyond measure with good health, a great family and lots of love!