December 15th Birthday lunch at Arnie's

 We celebrated Grandma Carol's and Sophelia's birthdays at Arnie's

per tradition.  Mason really liked the chocolate milk.

 

 Cheesing it with mommy.

 

 Cheesing it with Daravia.

 

The family hard at work.  Grandma Carol and Sophelia got small birthday cakes.

December 12th Toyland and Spring Lake Aquatic Center

 Mason and Grandma Carol played in Toyland with his "raised"

Lightning McQueen and other vehicles from the Cars movie.

 

 OK.  Part of the deal was using the Fisher-Price barn as a garage for his cars........

 

 Grandma, grandpa, and Mason went to the family swim area at the

Spring Lake Aquatic Center in the evening.  Mason liked the little

slide into the shallow water.

 

 The little kids come down the slide, hit the cushion, and bounce

into the water.  Mason also tried running up the wet slippery

slide and wiped out several times.

 

 Here grandpa helps Mason reach the ropes above the water obstacle course.

 

Mason and grandma chill in the shallow end of the pool.  A big

overhead bucket would periodically dump several hundred gallons

of water in front of them causing a small tidal wave.

 

November 29 Day with Grandma

Grandma does Thursdays and today brought Mason to Muskegon

for a late breakfast of 5 eggs and fruit. 

One of grandma's many stuffed moose supervised the meal.

 

Mason now has a tricycle that an adult can help maneuver. 

Grandma and the new biker. 

Inspecting grandma's outside Christmas lights.

Mason really likes the mirror now that he is tall enough to see himself. 

Lots of faces. 

More. 

With a dog nose. 

Even John Deere tractors can be "tipped" by Mater.

November 24 Thanksgiving Trip Family Pictures at the Farm

The whole family traveled to Eastern Illinois to the Kendrick Family Farm.  Each family had

pictures taken,

 

 Here is great-grandpa with all of the grandsons and great grandsons.  This was by far the

best picture of Mason as he had a quality total melt-down.

 

Mason and Hudson play downstairs at Uncle Eds' house with Erika.



November 22 Thanksgiving Trip Playtime

Mason and Hudson play at the table while waiting for Thanksgiving lunch.

 

Back in the room the two-year-olds share an etch-a-sketch.

 

 There is some instruction going on here, but it is hard to follow..........

 

After yet more swimming with grandma and grandpa, the adult kids go to a movie and the grandsons

have a bedtime snack of various crackers - CHEERS!



November 21 Thanksgiving Trip at the Mower Shop

 Mason and his cousins visited Great Uncle Randy's mower shop.

Here Mason explains his new "Frightening McBean" to Aidan.

 

Uncle Randy shows the boys the shop cat "Mower".

 

 The four boys cousins try out the zero turn equipment.  Mason and

Hudson discuss all the new features.........

 

 Anything with a steering wheel is a winner in Mason's book.

 

Aidan trys on safety equipment while Mason drives a large 30 horwepower tractor.

 

 The four cousins in action again.

 

 And if you want a guaranteed picture, just tell them to act goofy......

 

 The two-year-olds took turns pulling each other in the Stihl wagon.

 

 There was, however, much discussion on whose turn it was to pull the wagon......

 

 On your mark, get set, go..........  The boys race on old junk Cub Cadet mowers.

 

 It was a popular race  twisting the steering wheel, pulling all the levers, making noises, and

laughing at each other.

 

And the last one to get off the tractors was...............

November 21 Thanksgiving trip Swimming at Motel

 The first day of our Thanksgiving trip to Illinois, Mason and daddy swim at the motel pool in Macomb while we visit great-grandma Donna.

 

 Mason swims in his suit over to his football.  Even though he has a

a full top of flotation, he is so dense he barely stays up.

 

Mason prepares to jump into the pool to his mom.

 

 Look out! We land with a lot of splash.

 

Mason and the cousins swam five times in three days.

Mason with Aidan, Caleb, and Hudson.



November 14th River Crossing Mall

Very serious stuff playing with Thomas the Train set at Barnes and Noble. 
Not many train pieces left so we will see if we can find some to donate to the store. 

Next we went to the playground.  Mason is a climber now and worked hard to get up on many of the little theme platforms. 

On top of the log.  This one took a lot of balance because the surface

was round and slippery. 

We even go down the slide on our tummy. 

Our favorite vehicle to play in is the ice cream truck. 

The tongue in action making noises in the police car. 

Cranking the Mickey Mouse car hard. 

He picked the bunny to ride on the carousel.