As Promised, Mason's 1st Birthday

We celebrated Mason's first birthday with a family barbecue at our house.  For Mason's "first" cake, I wanted to make sure I made and decorated it.  I was happy with the result, considering this was my first decorating endeavor!

It didn't take Mason long to get into the cake (after some finger-licking encouragement from Aunt Tasha...I didn't get any photos of this hilarious moment, but we do have some video that will crack us up for years to come).

After lunch and cake, it was present time.  And BOY did Mason's grandparents, aunts and uncles SPOIL him in only the best way.  Cars, trucks, blocks, etc.  It was awesome to watch Mason enjoy it all.  Thank you again, family!

Daddy and Mommy got the big boy a Cozy Coupe car.  He hasn't gotten in to riding in it just yet, but we're sure he will soon.

Grandpa & Grandma Steiner got Mason the coolest tractor (just like one of Grandpa's), but Mason managed to break off the rear view mirror and half-broke the door handle.  I guess that's why they say it's 8+.  If I didn't know any better, I'd think by the expression on his face that he KNEW he was breaking his new toy...  I think he was actually disgruntled that we weren't taking it out. Who knows what damage he would have done, then!

Aunt Tasha got Mason his first house--a Neat & Tidy Cottage.  

And Grandma Gaines got Mason his first electric car!  Lightning McQueen...

This week, Mason has gotten pretty good at driving his car, but he keeps pulling the steering wheel out!  He's better accelerating than steering.  Thank goodness we're only talking about 2 mph!

In the interest of space and me getting to bed sooner than later, I didn't post pictures of Mason with every one of his birthday gifts.  On the entire birthday weekend, I think I took 500 photos.  I'm click-happy. 

These are just cute pictures of Mason running around with the watering can.  He gets so much joy from every day objects.

Here's a cute picture of Daddy and Grandma.  Tony sure looks like his mama!

And Grandpa with Leo...

And Mason and Leo getting along swimmingly...

Good job, Mason!

Grandmas proudly watching their first grandson.

And us with our squirmy little birthday boy!

It was a great 1st birthday for our big boy!

Farmer's Market Bruschetta

Ok, so this isn't a post on Mason's birthday.  But I just thought this was too pretty not to post.  Most of the ingredients in this bruschetta came from the Farmer's Market...various cherry tomatoes, French baguette, basil.  Yum!

Hot July Fun

The month of July has been SUPER hot here in mid-MO.  We beat the heat with lot of fun activities--Going Bonkers, baby pool, and playing in the sprinkler.

During our week off earlier in the month [of July], we took Mason to Bonkers.  If nothing else, he loved running back and forth and screaming.  He also enjoyed a little bouncing and climbing.  I think if we took him back now (about a month later), he'd be having even more fun because he's even better on his feet.

Mason has enjoyed a little time in the kiddie pool.  You can tell by his lack of significant tan that he hasn't spent too many days "by the pool," though.

Mason LOVED playing in the sprinkler.  Tony had been doing an excellent job keeping our yard halfway green, but with the 100+ degree temperatures of the past couple weeks it's hardly been worth the effort.

Like daddy, like son...I love the facial expressions in this one.

Mason loves giving high fives.

It seems like there was something else we did during the month of July...hmm, what could it have been???  Oh, of course...Mason's 1st BIRTHDAY!!!  I'll be posting pictures from that big event momentarily(ish).

Spaghetti-Face Mase

Mason loves spaghetti.  Grandma Steiner had a little leftover spaghetti available for Mason to try during our recent visit.  (The high chair Mason's sitting in was my mom's high chair, so it was pretty neat for Mason to get to use it, just as I did as a baby.  The lack of safety features were a little less neat, notably, as Mason managed to slide his way out the bottom of the chair!)

I guess he was done!

We also had spaghetti at home recently.  Mason stained his face orange with sauce.

I wonder if he realizes there's a noodle on his nose...?

What a good eater...I think.  It's hard to tell how much gets eaten and how much ends up smeared across his face and the floor!  Needless to say, the high chair cover required a machine-washing after this meal.

Transitions at Day Care & Father's Day Fun

We were all sad to see Mason's favorite teacher leave this month.  I made sure to get a picture of Mason with Ms. (now Mrs.) Whitney on her last day.  You can tell they are pretty fond of one another.  She was a wonderful first teacher for Mason.

This month marked Tony's first Father's Day.  Mason "signed" a card for daddy with his signature scribbles.

Leo and his mommy and daddy came over for a barbecue with us on Father's Day.  Look at big ol' Leo sitting up so well at 5 1/2 months old (or so)!

Ashley was telling us about how Leo holds his arms behind him, and it looks like he's doing just that in this picture.  Maybe he holds his arms back to act as a counterbalance for his big, cute cheekies!

Look at those baby blues!

Leo was getting a kick out of me bouncing back and forth with the music [that Mason was dancing to...you just can't photograph dancing effectively; MUST use video camera more often] and making some crazy noise in his face.  It was adorable.  He's got such a sweet, happy personality.

Leo loves watching Mason, but I don't think he knows what to think of our little wild man.  Mason is a very loud, boisterous "talker."  On several instances on Father's Day, Mason talked/yelled in Leo's face, and the poor little guy got the saddest face and let out the most pitiful cry each time.

Tony with the boys...it looks like they're up in smoke, but I think the lens on my camera was fogged over after coming out of the air conditioning.

Proud papas goofing off with the nephews.

Time for bed!