Our Mas is turning 5 years old!

I cannot believe we are celebrating Mason's 5th birthday...

I mean, realistically we've been celebrating his birthDAY for about the past TWO WEEKS [but hey, your only 5 once, right?]! We begin the birthday of all birthday celebrations with our trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Mas is very much as you can tell from my last post into anything armed forces related, whether it's the army, navy, green beret...you name it. So, we thought that he would think it was just the coolest thing ever to be able to walk around and explore a REAL aircraft carrier, battleship and submarine. It was a quick and exhausting trip [mainly because Nash is just starting to hit the terrible two's and can be a little bit of a beast here lately] but it was totally worth it to see how excited Mas was to get to see everything! He not only got to explore the ships, he also got to experience a flight simulator, climb in and all over different fighter jets and got to check out what a green beret base camp looks like. 

In his words "This is the best day of my life"

He was so excited!

Nash right by his Bubba's side like always

My handsome little sailor!

We were only there for two days so we tried to make the most of the time we had, we spent pretty much the first day at Patriots Point and then after catching a quick nap headed over to the Noisy Oyster for dinner [my husband cannot be within five miles of the ocean and not crave oysters]. The next morning, we did a little walking to just sight see and let Mas play in the water fountain in downtown Charleston which he enjoyed before we headed to lunch over at Justine's [if you remember my last post about Charleston, we ate here and it was the SHIT <---in a totally good way. So, we HAD to go back for seconds]. After filling our bellies with sweet tea, fried chicken, mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, shrimp and grits...

You get the point. It's a miracle we didn't fall into a food coma.

Next stop, the aquarium!

Lucky for us the aquarium was free that day ((SCORE)) and parking was only a buck [you really can't beat that. Not even with a stick, it is such a good deal] Only thing was everyone else knew it was free that day too, so we had to contend with the long lines and large crowds, but Mas seemed to enjoy it so it was worth it in the end. Nash on the only hand, spent the entire time we were there like this...

First trip to the aquarium...fail.

Sadly, by the time we finished up at the aquarium it was time to head back home. But we will definitely be going back, it is just such a fun city!

Since we've been home it has quieted down just a bit with Mas getting back into the routine of soccer practice twice a week and of course kindergarten [I am still coming to the realization that I now have a child in elementary school]. But it didn't stay calm for very long...

We also took Mas to a Braves game on his actual birthday in hopes to getting him on the jumbo...and you know we did! Check out his awesome sign that he held up for everyone in the park to see!

What a way to end a fun-filled Birthday week but as spending time as a family doing something that we all enjoy so much! Love these boys with all I have!

It's Been a Minute...

So...it has definitely been a minute since I have blogged! It has just been so crazy around our house this last couple of weeks and free time [what the hell is that?!]...so...where to begin...

Well, for starters my sweet little boy is officially a KINDERGARTNER! <-- WhAt?!?! When did this happen?!?! I swear just yesterday we were potty training this kid and now look at him...he's almost an adult [or at least that's how it feels].

Isn't he just the most handsome kid you've ever seen? Yes. Yes he is. 

It was pretty funny, I was working on the chalkboard sign for his first day photos and when I told him it was time for him to fill in the blanks I said "okay, so tell me what you want to be when you grow up?" and he said "I want to be an army man...no no a green beret". He has officially proven without a doubt that he is his father's child. Really. So...not a fireman or policeman or president or any other common answer from most kids?! I am all of a sudden excited to find out what he'll want to be next year!

Look at that big boy!

Anyways, his first day was a complete success and he has been loving school, I love that now we can sit down for dinner and I can listen to him tell me about what he learned, new friends he's made and things that he is looking forward too. 

We also decided to finally get a dog, Mas has been asking for one for about a year now and we've just been kinda putting it off [For good reason. Puppy training sucks]. But my husband finally talked me into it so the search began. We decided that we wanted an older dog, maybe two or three years old that was already house broken...makes perfect sense right? So, this is what we ended up with...

Meet Hendrix

Our 8 week old toy Schnauzer.

Yes...I know. We totally went against the grain on this one...but he was so damn adorable that it caused a momentary lapse in reasoning and all of a sudden I forgot all about puppy potty training and was caught in his crashing waves of cuteness which pulled me towards him, put him in my arms and then the deal was done.  

But it was totally worth it because both boys are completely in love with him and the training has actually not been bad at all, he is a smart breed so he has caught on pretty quick to the way things run around here.

As for his name...Mason vote was for "Jouster Spike" [Okay. I give him points for originality]. But we went with Hendrix...for obvious reasons...he's black and is totally rocking a fro [plus, Mommy got veto on naming the next baby boy Hendrix...so I had to settle for it as the dog's name]. <-- the sacrifices I make.

We have also been filling our weekends with non-stop activities...park playgrounds, drive in movies and Silverback soccer games up in Atlanta. Both boys really enjoy the games but Mas has turned into a full fledged HOOLIGAN.

Pictured below is proof...and yes he is singing and drumming along with the chants.

Speaking of soccer...

Mason's soccer season has started again and we are so excited to see his progress this season over last, first practice was last night and he totally killed it!

Of course...Nash loves this time of the year too. he really gets into watching Mas out on the field and I even caught him clapping and yelling "Bubba" during practice!

But he can't enjoy Bubba's practice without first jacking Mommy's drink.

And finally...

The best news of all over these past few weeks...

I GOT A NEW JOB!

I know this happens to people everyday around the world, but I have been very unhappy for a long time and have truly been praying for a chance to escape and accept a better opportunity. Well, that opportunity came knocking last week and I jumped on it! Not only am I going to be expanding my job duties, but I am also going to have the opportunity now to complete a designation for my license that I have been wanting to work on plus the added bonus of better benefits and a $13,000 RAISE....wHaT WoOt WoOt! 

Life is good.

As always we have tons of stuff planned over the next few months including Mas's birthday trip to the battleships in Charleston, my long weekend trip to Florida to see Depeche Mode in concert with my best girlfriends for September, then in October I have the Nine Inch Nails concert plus our week cruise out of the country and finally a short trip to Alabama for my husband's college graduation ceremony [and that just takes us through the end of October]...damn...do we ever stop?
 No. And that's how I like it!