Santa surprise

Saturday morning we were perusing the toy aisle at walmart and Santa was walking around. He came right up to our buggy and Mason had his back to him. I asked Mason if he knew that man and he gasped and said SANTA!!! He stood up in the buggy and gave him a big hug! ( a little side note... This was the rattiest Santa I've ever seen, I'm pretty sure it's the same guy who greets us at the door!). He was so surprised and it was such a sweet unexpected moment!


We still plan on taking him to Bass Pro to get a real picture with Santa sometime soon!
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Tree decorating

Saturday afternoon was spent decorating the house and putting up the Christmas tree. Mason was mildly interested, but he did help put up a few ornaments! Maddie was taking them down, she will be helpful after Christmas!


I love Mason's face here. I can just here him telling Maddie no no!









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Thanksgiving 2011

This year Mark had to work so we spent Thanksgiving at Shana's house. After we had lunch the kids and I loaded up and headed to the fire station!
We weren't there but 10 minutes and they had to leave. So the kids and I watched tv and waited for them to get back. Luckily they weren't gone long. We spent the rest of the time playing ping pong and crawling after Maddie!











Not sure what this face was all about, but it made me laugh!


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Maddie is 11 months old!

Wow oh Wow how can my baby be 11 months old! In just a few short weeks she will be turning one! Here is what Maddie girl has been up to.....

Maddie is into everything! She is super fast and so quiet! She pulls up to everything and will let go. She hasn't taken any steps yet but I know we are getting close.


Maddie got her first tooth on 11-11-11! I tried getting a picture but have had no luck.
She says mama, dada, and bubba. She babbles alot of sounds too but who knows what she is really saying. She has also started to wave bye-bye. She can be pretty selective with those!



Maddie is eating pretty much all table foods. She loves pretty much anything that we give her.
She is still not sleeping through the night but, I'm hoping that will change any time now!



My baby is getting so big and constantly changing! She has the cutest laugh and a smile that will warm your heart! My love for her grows daily and am so blessed to have her in our lives!
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Busy Busy Weekend

We have had such a busy weekend and the week is not looking to be any slower. I felt like we spent most of the time driving but we still managed to have fun. While we were in the metroplex this weekend we got to eat lunch with the fam. Shana took us to Gattitown, which is a Chucky Cheese on steroids! The kids and adults had a great time.
Maddie and Mason loved the merry go round.


Kind of blurry but it's the only one of Mason on the ride.





Mason played lots of fun games.



I even beat mark at air hockey 3 times in a row. He did beat me at basketball, but I'm pretty proud because I never beat him at anything!!
After lunch mom took the kids and Mark and I enjoyed the whole evening to ourselves! It was wonderful, but we kept saying to each other we missed the kiddos!
I wish I had gotten a pic of Mason and Mikayla together this weekend. Mason just loves her and Mikayla is always so sweet to do what Mason wants to do! I'm so glad they are best buds, cousin love is just priceless!!
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Fire Safety

A few weeks ago Mark went to Mason's daycare to talk about fire safety with the kids.  He talked about basic fire safety like stop,drop and roll, dialing 911 and how not to hide if there is a fire in your house.

He brought all his gear and explained the purpose of each piece.  He then tried it on for them so that they could see and not be scared.

The kids asked all kinds of silly questions like what they were getting for christmas and if they could have his cell phone. It was quite humorous and Mark just rolled with the punches and did a great job.

The kids loved him especially since he brought them each a fire helmet of their own to take home!

Mason was so proud to show off his daddy!! Mark did such a great job, I'm sure they will want him back next year!

Picture Day at school

Today is picture day at school and Mason left the house this morning looking like such a little stud!!! His daddy taught him how to pose with his hands in his pockets!


Maddie was looking rather cute too!!


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Trick or Treat!!

On Halloween we took Mason and Maddie into Blooming Grove to trick or treat.  This was the first time that Mason got to go trick or treating door to door.  Of course that meant that we also had to take the "fire truck" that Mark had worked so hard on to show off!!  Mark was able to get off work just to take us!!

Here is the finished fire truck with graphics and a pump panel

 Jr. Firefighter Mason

 Me and the sweetest little dalmation!  And yes someone did ask me if she was a real dog!

 Mason enjoyed bouncing in the bounce house at the local church festival

 Daddy and his baby girl!

 Already into the goods!!  Caught her red handed!!

Although Mason did like trick or treating, he really enjoyed passing out candy at Jacque's house to all the kids.  At one point all of the candy was gone, so he went and got his basket and started passing it out to the trick or treaters.  It was quite the evening! Lots of fun memories!!

2011 Halloween Party!!

Saturday was the annual Sims' Halloween bash!!! It was a carnival theme and there was a ton of food, games and a big blow up slide. We had such a fun time, minus the part of the husband being sick, but he was a trooper and dressed up anyways to take us to the party!  He worked so hard for two weeks to make us a fire truck out of the four wheeler.  He had actual working lights and a siren on this bad boy.  He did such an awesome job!!

The party started at 5:30 so we waited a few minutes to make sure everyone was at the party.  We then all hopped on the fire truck and turned the lights and siren on and headed through the creek to the party.  Everyone was standing outside and was able to see us arrive.  They all were suprised because they didn't know what we had planned.  It was so fun to see everyone's reaction.  They all really seemed to like the fire truck!

Mark, Mason and I were firefighters and Maddie was our little dalmation!

 Queen of England, Germanfest woman(lol I don't remember what she called herself, sorry Shana!), Princess Kate and firefighter

 She wore her costume all night without a fuss!  It did help that it kept her really warm!

 This slide did not phase her the least bit, she showed no emotion whatsoever!

Petting Zoo....

Last weekend we met up with Mark's side of the family at a petting zoo/ farm. They had a bunch of baby animals that were so cute! Mason was a little nervous at first to actually touch the animals but he eventually warmed up. Here are some pictures from our visit!

                                      Nana and Pops with the grandkids!

                                    Mark, Mason and Aunt D in the goat pin

                                                 Enjoying the hayride!

                              Lily and Mason were so sweet to each other!

                           Mason being brave and touching the baby calf!

                                           My little pumpkin...aka Maddie!