The Masterson Family

Sisterly stroll

2012-03-08T03:14:00.006-08:00

With Tieg developing more strength in his neck, back and head, we took on our umbrella stroller two weekends ago as the girls and Doug were outside. It was a success, he enjoyed it and as you can see... so did his sisters.

In fact, I think they may have loved it more than him in that it was like pushing a LIVE doll around our driveway, etc. Needless to say, lots of rules were involved regarding how fragile he still is, the speed of the stroller, driving techniques (no sharp corners) and more. Yikes... I was on pins and needles for awhile.

Not to mention the sisterly bickering that took place at times over who's turn it was. Yep, Tieg is a lucky boy to have so many willing chauffeurs, baby sitters and more in our household.

I displayed a somewhat close-up of him too on this occasion. Note the camouflage to balance or at the least, tone down the pink :)

"Strollers are a two in one combo - a friend or foe, depending on how they are used" ~ Anonymous

Bed invaders

2012-03-04T21:12:00.003-08:00

Here's a picture you may see more often than DM and I would like to admit in our household. At least one girl, namely Cara, and possibly two joining us in the middle of the night and claiming a spot in our bed.

It's actually rare that Kate comes in to slumber... but then there is Cara. She probably ends up sleeping with us about 4 times a week by crawling in our bed in the middle of the night.

We've talked about ways to get rid or at the least, strongly discourage it, but admittedly, neither of us has the heart to do it. We even have a book we bought about it collecting dust in a corner.

Cara finds such comfort in sharing our bed and provided she can find an ear to massage (will mention more about this in a future post) and a warm spot between us two, she falls fast asleep. Although we have had elbow throwing, milk requests and more on occasion.

We figure the time will come soon enough that she no longer searches us out at night to cuddle, etc. As a side note - it is pretty sweet to watch Kate and Cara sleep :)

FIVE! Happy Birthday, Kate!

2012-03-03T04:21:00.004-08:00

Today is a magical day in our household as Kate turns FIVE. In may sound trite, but seriously, where has the time gone? It's hard to think that just five short years ago DM and I were blessed with the arrival of Kate, not knowing what a tremendous treat we were in store for. She is an amazing girl and we are so proud to be her parents.

Just like the other years, this one has been a tremendous year for Kate. She started preschool, became a big sister AGAIN, can now write and recognize letters and numbers, has a great sign language "vocabulary" and more.

She is an incredibly caring girl - to the point that DM and I have to remind her of what our parental responsibilities are and she just needs to be a kid. We often have parents tell us how Kate looks out for their kids and is really a friend to everyone.

Her biggest concern today is that Cara will have a gift to open too - she wants to make sure that she gets something for Cara so she can enjoy the day as well and not feel left out. As for shopping for her, she's a tough one at times in that she tends to like general things (i.e. arts and crafts), but doesn't collect a whole lot. AND her taste in style is ever changing.

She is a HUGE fan of God, noting her one complaint about Sunday School is that it isn't long enough. She's REALLY curious about heaven and gets serious sometimes when we read stories from her children's bible. Her mind is a true sponge in every sense of the word and she is constantly looking for information and has become a person into her own - having her own opinion, sharing her own thoughts and really, expressing herself through how she sees things.

Kate is a crafter - she LOVES crafts and could honestly stay occupied with one project or another all day. She has a caring side for dolls, but isn't obsessed with them. She wants responsibility - often making her bed and is frustrated at times when she sees that there is nothing else she can help with. She likes to bury herself in covers and sleep in in mornings. The ultimate day in her classroom (besides getting bling) is being designated as the helper for the day.

Today we celebrate you, Kate - thank you for opening our eyes to a love we never knew before and with each year that passes, being blessed with knowing you and the person you will become. May you continue to flourish with new discoveries and wonders, have your soul nourished and continue to grow into a wonderful, kind and loving person. We love you not for just the person you are, but who you will be. You are a true blessing.

We have forgone the days of playing hooky as Kate is in preschool now and luckily, for us this year her birthday is on a Saturday. Not sure of our complete plan yet as we have left the majority of it up to Kate in which she has told us, "I will decide what we should do in the morning." I know a meal (lunch or dinner) is in the works with our family and hopefully some park playtime. Will post details of our day in a future blog.

A party with her friends, etc. will be held later in the year when it warms up. Although she did celebrate her birthday on Thursday at her morning school and will have another celebration at the academy on Monday in the afternoon. Between the two small events, DM and I will have bought about 70 cookies or cupcakes. Yikes!

Note: this picture was taken last Sunday at the park.

Happy birthday sweet Kate - here's to you as we celebrate five amazing years of you in the world.

Owie!

2012-03-01T03:40:00.004-08:00

Not sure how it happened, but Cara is hooked on band aids and neosporin. Regardless how big or small the spill, fall or hit is... her response is always, "band aid and neosporin" - usually with a quick run toward the bathroom to get the needed supplies.

A charter-themed treatment with strawberry shortcake, sponge bob or other favorite is plus as well.

On Monday, this remedy came in handy as Cara had her first big spill at school where she fell down the steps going up to the slide and injured her chin (see picture below).

The school called thinking she may have bitten through her lip (luckily that wasn't the case) and by the time DM got there she was running around laughing, letting everyone know as she put it... "I OK, I OK, I OK."

Only tear that was shed was when she found out she wasn't going to the doctor (they give out small toys).

"I'm stuck on Band-Aids, and Band-Aids are stuck on me" - Band-Aid jingle

Birthday season?

2012-02-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here's what we've been trying to balance as a family lately - what seems to be an endless stream of birthday invites, thus attendance. The girls (especially Kate) are at an age now where kids have birthday parties with friends galore.

Yikes - although I refer to it as a season, we're not so sure in that they don't show any sign of letting up. Typically, one of us stays home with Tieg while the other one "takes one for the team" so to speak and endures a two to three hour plunge into a wild world of kids, toys, crafts, sweets, games and more.

Admittedly, I am also hesitant to go - but once I get there, I am SO glad we made the effort because it's fun to watch the girls interact with their friends and be part of some one's special day.

Pictured are the girls sporting some of the masks they made at a recent monster themed birthday party.

CARa

2012-02-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

Cara LOVES her cars. She can maneuver one of the ride alongs (pictured) with her feet like nobody's business. Fred Flinstone has nothing on her! In fact, you will find her often "driving" from one place to another in our household (from the kitchen to the bathroom, etc) and gets uber upset if you mess up her parking job.

One morning DM and I awoke to hearing Cara's car cruise around our house at 5 a.m. We were thankful that she came and got into bed with us after a few minutes rather than us having to drag her out and hoping she'd fall asleep again.

For Christmas, we got her a large truck that could hold other cars. She loves to push it around the house and even likes a good crash once in awhile.

"Racing for me was about energy management' - Frank Shorter

PS: Although the title is not how Cara's name is pronounced, I couldn't resist. :)

Dog days

2012-02-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

It's hard to imagine that Owen used to growl at the crib when we first brought Kate home and would place her in it. And now look at him! The big lug can't keep himself away... and on the same token, the kids like it too. Tieg seems intrigued by Owen - after all he gets almost daily close shots of him- from below.

In addition, Owen has managed to sneak in a few tongue lashes on Tieg too - something the girls enjoy and I imagine Tieg will some day too.

As for the other dogs, they are fine too - but nothing like Owen. Owen isn't discouraged by cries or chaos really... rather he lets his curiosity get the best of him and is always open if an opportunity for loving strikes and a warm blanket nonetheless.

On a bittersweet note - Tieg is officially 3 months today and is growing like a weed. He's approximately 15 pounds and has a healthy appetite. He has a great laugh (he's going to need a sense of humor in our household) and smiles for miles. I am hoping to get the laugh on tape soon to post.

Checking in...

2012-02-09T02:16:00.000-08:00

Well... things are going at a rather rapid pace at the Masterson household these days. Needless to say with 3 kids 4 and under, life is never boring :). Here's one of Tieg's favorite past times - hanging out in his crib, checking out the mobile and having visitors nonstop to make sure he's okay and still content.

He gets used to his crib this way (still sleeps in his pack in play in our room) and enjoys some entertainment, etc. Cara tends to be the biggest "supervisor" of all with Kate being a close second. It's interesting in that Cara has taken the status of being a big sister to a whole new level. When I pick her up at school, etc. she always wants to show Tieg to her friends and teachers. In fact, she one day chased a kid down the hall in hopes of pulling him back to adore Tieg :). The kid didn't give in, which irritated Cara that much more.

Although I've already blogged about it - I thought the smiley picture of Tieg was worth including. We're treated to a grin of his at least on a hourly basis (when he's awake) these days - a blessing worth noting.

Straight G's!

2012-02-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

DM and I had our first parent/teacher conference ever... with Kate's preschool teacher. Admittedly, it was a little weird for us in that it brought the reality that yes, we really have a preschooler in the household. :)

Kate's teacher gave an amazing "review" of Kate - noting that she is a wonderful girl, very smart and has no concerns when it's time for her to move to kindergarten. She talked about how well behaved she is and that she is a top student in class. Wow, although we knew Kate had done well... we weren't prepared for such a glowing review.

Kate got straight "G's" on her report card - "G" stands for "Good Progress" while "W" stands for "Working on Skill". Kate was rated or tested in approx. 60 areas for her report card - some are behaviors while others are knowledge. Some of the highlights - she can count to 39; she obeys rules; knows her colors; recognizes many numbers 1 - 20; knows the sounds of the majority of the letters in the alphabet and more.

Her teacher also awarded her numerous smiley faces by the "G's" to serve as a sign of her doing or knowing something "extra" or really well. She also noted on the card that Kate is "a pleasure to be around."

So now through all my oozing... you can see how proud DM and I are of Kate. She's an amazing kid and we love her so. It didn't take a report card to tell us that... but confirmations along the way of her growing spirit is always a plus.

THANKFUL, part 4

2012-01-23T02:18:00.000-08:00

Dear God: What an amazing God you are! We are often taken back at the beauty and gifts you have surrounded us with and chosen for us to receive.

We continue to be amazed and incredibly thankful for your blessings. Thank you for our family and especially, our THREE kids who give us so much joy, laughter and love. They remind us daily of the gift of discovery and the enjoyment of learning.

Thank you for our friends and for all those we hold dear - including our four-legged creatures, big and small. Thank you for continuing to provide for us and keeping us safe and healthy. Thank you for the beauty and presence of nature. Thank you for miracles and the creation of life. Amen.

---
So this year I am pretty late in my thankful post in that I typically blog in November regarding giving thanks, but this year it was delayed by the arrival of our precious baby boy and the fact that I didn't have a complete kid picture (one of all three of them) to use. But... time does wonders and I managed to get a photo a few weeks or so that was perfect for this post.

We are thankful. Doug and I often talk about our blessings and how we have managed to ride the tide on many things and come out better for it. We are in true awe of our kids and being blessed beyond belief with each one of them. We thank God often... daily, sometimes hourly for what he has given us and trust in him, with our whole heart - knowing he is the way, the truth and the light.

Our kids are our greatest joy and accomplishment - we celebrate with them at their feats as well as hurt when they hurt in their struggles. Guiding souls isn't easy and yet it is a profound experience that we are so thankful to have daily. Thank you God, for all our blessings.

He smiles!

2012-01-19T03:32:00.000-08:00

Just in the past two weeks or so, Tieg has come to life with a TON of smiles and lots to say (often cooing, softly screaming, moaning and more) when talked to/held.

He is so much fun and the girls, although always loving, are encouraged that he actually will do more than sleep :). Not that much more yet... but he's progressing. He is starting to show interest in some of the beginner toys and is a true snuggler.

Although this picture shows a slight smile, I keep working on getting a picture of the real deal. Admittedly, I often get so caught up on him that I forget to capture his expressions, etc. on film.

Morning greeting

2012-01-13T04:50:00.000-08:00

The girls are the sweetest big sisters EVER. They make sure to greet Tieg every morning, regardless of his activity (eating, sleeping, awake, etc.).

The only downside of this is that typically a small argument takes place regarding who is closest to Tieg, who greets him first, who he's smiling at and more.

Nothing like taking a precious moment and making it grounds for another sisterly competition. Too funny. I guess you need to appreciate the love for him involved to look past some of the bickering.

Cool rider

2012-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

Check out this chickie!

When Santa delivered a brand, new bike to her we expected it might take awhile for her to get the hang of it and yet, it was something that really seemed to come natural to her.

The first day, she was lead around and helped with the foot/leg work; the second day she was pushed from behind some still receiving some direction and assistance with the legs and steering; and then, THEN on ONLY the third day she took off - on her own, with no assistance and even maneuvered correctly. It was as if she could fly, honest.

She was so pleased with herself and has definitely taken her accomplishment in stride. Her smile says it all. We were amazed and could not believe how fast she took it up. Her new thing these days is noting that she's a "big sister" when she does certain actions and makes certain accomplishments. Riding a bike may have been on her big sister list, but regardless it is definitely a mark of independence for her.

Kate can ride too and has taken it up more since Cara now joins her. However, for Kate it more appears to pass the time, where Cara shows true dedication and again, accomplishment.

"If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on" ~ Lance Armstrong

A place in the sun

2012-01-05T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here's where you will find Tieg basking most mornings... in the sun, relatively close to a window in our living room. DM started to do this after he would feed him, noting what I was told when I was in the hospital with Tieg due to jaudice - when they are full and warm, they stay still (referring to his position in the incubator).

And tah-duh, the theory has held true. Although he is showing more signs of life these days in that he's awake more often, coos and even smiles (something I am still trying to catch on camera).

Lastly, YES those are pink blankets you see with him - having two sisters ahead of him, he has plenty of it in his bedding, etc. No shame here - just a warm baby who is very much loved. :)

A New Year's Post - And the Bear Snores On!

2012-01-04T02:17:00.000-08:00

As an attempt to wrap up my holiday blogging... here's the last (I think) of our events which was also a highlight: Kate being the star in the performance of "Bear Snores On" during her class Christmas presentation at the academy.

It was based on the book, "Bear Snores On" which is basically about a bear in hibernation as the other animals use its cave as a place to get warm and party only for the bear to eventually awaken, be mad that they missed the festivities and then join in the celebration after all.

Now I know I am biased, but Kate was AMAZING. She had her snore down pat and was able to "perform" in the end (being the center of attention and acting out some things) in front of everyone. We were so proud of her... and I think Cara even got a kick out of being related to the star of the show.

The pictures are of Kate showing the cave were she snored and slept during the play (notice her bear sign) ... as well as one of her and Cara afterward.

Christmas program

2011-12-30T01:56:00.000-08:00

If you're tired of hearing about our holidays - don't read on :) DM and I were also treated to a fun Christmas program at the girls school which Kate attends in the morning (before going to the academy) and Cara attends all day. This was Cara's first year for the performance and Kate's third.

Kate was a seasoned pro - she did well last year, but this year was no sweat. She got up in front of a room full of people with all the other kids and belted out those tunes like no one's business.

Cara also did well - she got up and stayed up in front of everyone, but the lights, people and feeling of being overwhelmed got to her and all she could do was look cute. Which she did VERY well by the way.

The girls had been practicing songs at home and did well... it's fun that they were able to perform and practice together. I also caught video of their performance and hope to post it relatively soon - provided we get a new computer.

Graham Cracker Houses

2011-12-29T03:57:00.000-08:00

As one way to celebrate the holidays, we did graham cracker houses this year. Truth be told, the girls enjoyed "snacking" from their abundant candy selection/dishes than actually thriving on the house decorating. Regardless, they had fun and stayed busy for quite awhile.

Cara favored gummy bears and M&Ms while Kate leaned more toward the NutterButters and Skittles. :)

We saved their houses for them to resume decorating anytime they wanted... and yet, to this day they remained untouched and really, pretty much undecorated. We expected them to at least go back once - even if it was an attempt to get more candy.

Santa wishes & Christmas Day

2011-12-27T23:37:00.000-08:00

Kate and Cara chose the opportune time to visit Santa during their Christmas program at school. Cara asked for a bike... while Kate wanted Barbies and a Santa doll. DM and I were taken back with Kate's request in that it seemed so unlike her. In fact, we were thinking maybe some other girl at school wanted the Barbies and Kate was just replicating. But... at any rate, we waited to see if Santa accommodated one or both desires.

Christmas came and Santa left a bike, doll, art set and pillow pet in addition to stocking stuff for Cara and she was THRILLED. She loves her bike and was pretty excited overall. He left the same items for Kate... but instead of a bike, she got a Hello Kitty scooter. Hmmm... her reception was luke warm in that as soon as she saw it she asked DM and me, "Here... you want to put this in the garage?" This is SO like Kate. But, overall she seemed satisfied with her items.

What she really enjoyed was opening the gifts - something she has been looking forward to since the first one was placed under the tree. Her and Cara really enjoyed it and between them received an Aquadoodle (one of Kate's favorite), dolls, stuffed animals, clothes, cupcake making materials and more.

Life is a (CHRISTmas) parade!

2011-12-15T07:27:00.001-08:00

We bundled up and headed to the Light Parade in downtown this past weekend. DM and I were kind of hesitant in that it is usually rather cold. But luckily, this year it wasn't too bad - and the girls as always had a great time. Both of them are really into the meaning of Christmas this year as well as knowing who the big guy in red is.

There were a few Santas in the parade which of course prompted THE question, "How can so many Santas be in the parade, isn't there just ONE?" in which we informed them that sometimes his elves help out because it's hard to be every place at once. They were satisfied.

But, the one Santa... the one we knew was Santa because he had a real beard, etc. ... pointed at the girls as he rode by and gave them a thumbs up. Whoa... they were so excited and KNEW he must know who they are and must have good things planned. Kate was sure it was because she had gotten so many bling at school... while Cara was just content in knowing he knew she was a good girl. :)

So much fun... needless to say, Christmas morning is going to be a really enjoyable time at our house. I don't know who's more excited - DM and me or the girls.

First bath!

2011-12-12T02:45:00.000-08:00

Tieg lost the last of his umbilical cord a week ago last Thursday which allowed him to finally indulge in one of life's most simple, but relaxing essentials on Monday (12/5) - a bath. He wasn't too sure at first - letting me know of his discontent with a few screams... but soon realized he could get use to it and actually really enjoyed it.

The girls are looking forward to the day when he can join them in the big bath tub.

Here's a photo to mark the occasion - with a glimpse of his Hercules move and good looks :)

Giving Thanks...

2011-12-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

As part of Kate's preschool this year, we attended a Thanksgiving program in which she sang, signed (as in sign language) and acted various Thanksgiving Day - themed things. It was wonderful. I was especially touched when they read a book that all the kids contributed to and Kate's page had that she was thankful for her mom and dad, sister and NEW baby brother and that she likes to go places with us.

She did GREAT and was the ONLY "ax carrier" in one of the songs - something that she thought was pretty neat. The shirt is done with her handprint... and she made the hat, etc.

Although it's not a surprise, I am behind in blogging and hope to catch up - I still need to do our THANKFUL prayer and a few other items that are on my list. In the meantime, know that the Masterson clan is happy, health and well... thankful for each other and the love that we share.

Mellow yellow

2011-11-22T10:14:00.000-08:00

Questioning Tieg's lack of interest in nursing, led me back to talking to a few nurses a mere day or so after we came home. A few conversations, one pediatrician and numerous frustrating and upsetting moments later finally equated to this - Tieg in phototherapy last Thursday night at the hospital to take care of a rather elevated jaundice/belly ruben level.

It was hard to see him like this at first, but DM reminded me that many rockstars would kill for this kind of sun treatment :)

None of our other kids had ever experienced this and it wasn't even a concern when Tieg left the hospital originally... but, thankfully we found the answers and I could even "bunk" with him at the hospital - keeping a rather rigorous schedule of waking, feeding and putting him back (so to speak) every three hours.

We came home late Friday night and have been able to settle in since then - it's been nice to be home AND have Tieg eating and sleeping well for the most part. Needless to say, the girls were beyond THRILLED to have him home too. We have quickly become a complete family of five!

He ain't heavy, he's my brother - welcome Tieg Douglass!

2011-11-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

Our family welcomed Tieg Douglass Masterson early Sunday, November 13 - he was born at 4:40 a.m. in a somewhat rare Arizona rainy day and was immediately inspected to make sure he was indeed a BOY! A wonderful baby boy...

We had been so unsure that we were actually having a boy, it was the first thing I asked after ensuring he was in good health, etc. Regardless of sex though, we are thrilled to have another child - and the girls are so in love with their brother (as you can see).

He is already so loved, adored and looked after - with the girls constantly asking where "baby Tieg" is. As for Doug and me, it's a very surreal experience - in that we are beyond blessed to have three beautiful souls in the world to guide, nurture, love and watch grow.

The first few days as expected have been on the chaotic side - with the biggest accomplishment being that DM and I are taking it in stride. Not sure when it will stop, when a routine will be established and more. Rather, we're just focused on day by day and ensuring that needs are met.

More details will come regarding Tieg's arrival and our family's adjustment I'm sure - but we are looking forward to the ride in so many ways and are really focusing on enjoying it. We know days are fleeting... kids grow fast and as DM reminds me in the most chaotic or "hairy" moments - "it's temporary"... a thought that makes me thankful at times and yet incredibly sad at others (depending on the situation).

"Babies are a blessing from God for they exist because of him as do we. Life is created and those that can see the beauty and appreciate the creation among them are those that have the vision of God before them to enjoy, relish and redeem" ~ Unknown

Stand out student

2011-11-10T18:31:00.001-08:00

Kate continues to be an AMAZING student - getting an "outstanding" pretty much every day in school. As mentioned before, when you are REALLY good, you also get a "bling" in her class - they are the little jewels you can see on her clip.

Just this week, they had to send her clothes pin clip home with her because she had too many and they needed to start her over. Seriously! She had received a whopping 10 (the most of anyone in the class) where her entire name ended up covered.

Behavior isn't the only way Kate has figured out how to stand out at her school. She has taken the uniform code at school to a whole other level to maintain her individuality - she has figured out that the kids wear grey the least - thus, she wears grey EVERY day, knowing that she'll be one of the few OR even better, the ONLY one wearing that color. In fact, the days she is the only one in grey are her favorites. We've returned all of her blue and red shirts and exchanged them for grey to keep up with her trend.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Potty break

2011-11-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, we started to get serious with Cara and potty training. It was obvious that our casual approach with it was not working in that rather than adopting the bathroom as the place to go, Cara would rather let us know as soon as she went in her diaper for us to take care of her.

So, Saturday morning we set the timer, put her in a pair of training underwear and promptly asked/took her to the restroom every 2 hours - regardless of where we were, what we were doing, etc.

The results: she has taken to it like a champ! We've had a few accidents, etc. of course.... but all in all, she's taken to it and we've never looked back. She also went binkiless about a month and a half ago. Although we take pride and maybe some relief in some of her new habits, immediately watching your "baby" grow up is not always easy.

Sorry for the rather solemn picture - needless to say, Cara takes this pretty seriously... sans the celebration post-potty :)

Halloween delight

2011-11-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

As Halloween approached this year we had a crazy schedule - Pumpkin Festival (complete with a trick or treat trail) followed by a trunk or treat at a church on Friday, trunk or treat at the girls' school/daycare on Saturday, a break on Sunday and then finally, full-fledged trick or treating complete with a church festival on the actual day.

Needless to say, the Masterson girls made their mark on various events.

We made their costumes this year as Kate said she wanted to be a pumpkin princess, which didn't really come to fruition vision-wise, but Kate said she loved the way she looked, which was all that mattered. We created tutus, the girls decorated crowns and got to pick their own shirts to wear - wings from last year's costumes topped off the look.

They had a lot of fun this year and each event seemed to have the right amount of candy in that they would come home with about a half-bucket each - enough to feel that the goal was accomplished, but controllable :).

We decorated pumpkins Sunday night too - a little later than most years, but still got it done. Kate requested a pumpkin with a circle for one eye, a rectangle for the other, a square nose and a frown. I tried to convince her otherwise with no such luck. Cara stuck to the traditional pumpkin look - however the highlight for both of them was being able to write on them :)

"On Hallowe'en the thing you must do; Is pretend that nothing can frighten you; And if somethin' scares you and you want to run; Just let on like it's Hallowe'en fun"~Author Unknown

Cara's first PROFESSIONAL haircut

2011-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

With her locks finally somewhat long for a "balanced" clip, I decided to take Cara for her first professional haircut last week - to make up for the cut Kate had given her in April. I wasn't sure what to expect, but Cara was AMAZING... she did so well. She was terribly quiet, but regardless of nerves, she still sat still, listened to direction and more.

When I sat her down, I explained to the woman what had happened (with Kate clipping her hair, etc.)... with her saying back to me, "Oh... so you have let her go to school and stuff like this?" as she hesitantly touched her hair and looked confused.

Hmmm.... I wanted to say, "newsflash, I even had professional photos taken with her like this :)" But... moved on. As you can see Cara ended up with a terribly cute somewhat short haircut so it can grow out appropriately now. Although I am biased, she pulled of the bad haircut just fine too - that's our girl!

"A new haircut can make a girl feel brand new... at least for the day..." ~ Anonymous

Oh, deer!

2011-10-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... here was the highlight of DM's weekend - his first Arizona deer which he hunted a mere 10 - 15 miles from our house in the Hualapai mountains. Pretty impressive alright, he was somewhat pessimistic, but left at 5:30 a.m. to return by 11 with a rather good size 4x4.

As Doug knows, I tolerate it and am not always crazy about his love for hunting - but, I will say his "catch" was rather impressive and I was surprised at how the girls handled the head, carcass and all... In fact, Kate I think would have kissed the head if she could. She was pretty fascinated by it.

Notice Doug processed it, etc. at home (pictured) and certainly kept the girls busy.

Dog tired

2011-10-21T19:14:00.001-07:00

We're back and with an ever-so-adorable photo of Cara resting on Oliver. She actually fell asleep on him and we eventually ended up carrying her to bed. She's very good at loving on all our boys... a little too much sometimes where we have to remind her that they are old and she needs to be gentle.

Stay tuned for more events and happenings. One major advancement in our household... we're now diaper free (at least for a little while anyway :)

Mama Cara

2011-10-07T20:03:00.001-07:00

Cara LOVES her dolls - she loves to walk them, lay them down for a nap, change diapers, feed them and more. She often brings one to you to be dressed or changed and is concerned when one is "upset" or "misbehaves."

When we allow her to tour the toy section of any store, she is attracted to the dolls and often asks for them to be removed from the boxes so she can take care of and hold them.

If this is any indication as to how she will interact with and play with her little brother, he's going to be smothered with love and affection - as if we didn't know this already :)

County Fair, part two

2011-09-30T19:23:00.002-07:00

The girls have been terribly interested in riding a train for awhile and spotted this ride at the fair from the outside gates - a train with a caboose - just their size.

They were so excited and DM and I had a few nail-biting moments until we saw that Cara barely met the height requirement. They were so funny going around and around AND around in the train ...

smiles the whole time and just starring straight ahead. Tickled doesn't even come close to describing it.

We also visited the

petting zoo which the girls also enjoyed. Cara eventually got a little shy and wanted to be held, etc. But all in all it was a great, rather inexpensive experience. Enjoy the pictures and the snow cone faces :)

As a side and rather sad note, my car was ransacked with my camera taken this past week. Thus, we're on the hunt for a replacement... we hope to be back in the game as soon as possible, in that cell phone pictures just don't cut it.

Fair WIN!

2011-09-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Kate entered two prized possessions... creations of her own the first time EVER in the fair this year and she's a winner! It was so touching to see her LOVE her ribbons and be SO proud of herself (as were we).

In fact, she plans on taking her pictures with her along with the ribbons for show and tell tomorrow at preschool. AND she's already dreaming and scheming about what she'll do next year for the fair.

Perhaps even better? When we went to go pick up her art work we found that her winnings included a whopping $2 (not to mention that she already got into the fair for free)! Dollar store here she comes :) She was so excited and it really was icing on the already amazing cake. Next year, we're sure Cara will also enter.

For now, we can report that we have a prize-winning artist (soon to be artists we're sure with Cara) living among us.

Sibling excitement

2011-09-23T18:20:00.001-07:00

Here's Kate and Cara showing a quick glimpse of what our family is expecting in around TWO short months - a baby! The girls are pretty excited that they are not only getting a sibling... but a brother soon.

DM and I expected a girl from day one when we knew we were going to have another child - we had a good list of names, girl clothes and felt rather comfortable in having girls (go figure!).

So when the ultrasound tech said BOY, we were completely taken back and it's taken awhile to adjust to the excitement. Kate wanted a baby brother from the start and we had prepared her for otherwise... noting that we would have whatever GOD wanted us to - but, all in all, we thought it would be a girl. Thus, when we told them, Kate immediately decided she would get to name him since she was right all along. The list has been interesting with her first two suggestions being "Daily" and "Bam Bam."

Truth be known you never know ... DM and I can't find a name. It's not that we can't decide - we can't find one.

We always played with the idea of having three and honestly don't care what sex he is - we're thrilled to be adding to our family and can't wait to meet him.

OUTSTANDING behavior :)

2011-09-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Bragging alert :). One of the things Kate first noticed about preschool is that it had a reward or behavior chart... that tracks how you behave during class. DM and I told her we were proud of her as long as she behaved well AND the clothes pin didn't go down - if it stayed in the middle or climbed, we would be pleased.

She has done extremely well and within a week had climbed all the way to the top - with only one other kid ... out of 19! She also has begun to earn "bling" which are the gems on the pin... and has made it to outstanding three times... with being SO, SO good that the teacher even wore her pin on her sleeve one day.

We are so proud of her - as she is of herself. In all honesty - not all the kids have made such strides in being top of the list and getting so many gems.

"Behavior is what a man does- embraced by what he thinks, feels or believes" ~ Anonymous

Summertime sister update

2011-09-16T18:21:00.000-07:00

Although it is starting to cool down here (thank goodness) - there is still plenty of time to have fun in warm, sunny weather with a smidge of fall to the air. Here's a favorite of photo of mine taken in June.

Kate is such a good big sister - we can't emphasize it enough. Cara is still tough at times, but coming around. Kate is helps her learn new things, coaches her and more. Kate is really thriving at preschool - loves her teacher, enjoys the learning centers and computers. Not to mention are projects.

Cara loves Kate - but, also enjoys a good brawl. She likes to talk about her "preschool" because Kate goes to preschool. Her speech is improving and she is really coming into her own. She still loves to mix her food together and cause mischief. She is SO close to counting correctly all the way to 20.

Their favorite activity together is perhaps doing art projects... but most likely, it's chasing each other around the house. Not out favorite activity, but it certainly brings the wild out in them - and they enjoy it.

Stay tuned, I am terribly behind, but have lots of fun things ahead.

Waitress, sous chef Kate

2011-09-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

When we get home from work and school these days... Kate runs to her room, shuts her door, changes into another set of clothes (out of her school uniform) and puts on a Home Depot apron (that formerly belonged to Harry the Chimp) - all with the intention of coming to help fix dinner, feed Cara and more.

If you kindly let her know that you don't have anything for her right now ... or she finishes what you asked her to do before you have something else ready - she's ticked and highly disappointed. Yikes - the pressure. Not sure where she came up with the routine... but, we're thrilled she wants to help. Now only if it seemed a little more relaxed.

We're very proud of her though and have asked her to slow down in growing... but she always replies, "I can't... God grows me every day." :)

The continuation of Dougwina

2011-08-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Wow - Cara is definitely two and feeling her oats. She knows what she likes, what she doesn't and when it is flat out her way or the highway.

She likes to do things by herself - this includes putting toothpaste on her toothbrush, using the restroom (still working on consistency), brushing her teeth, putting on shoes, sing and more. When doing things herself become a little overwhelming or unmanageable, Cara definitely lets you know as well.

Cara is sometimes difficult - just to be difficult - like trying to insist on standing up in the bath, standing on puzzle pieces when Kate is trying to put one together or facing backward in her car seat so you can't buckle her.

She is pictured here with her favorite sunglasses which she wears to school often and is greeted accordingly :).

She is the most loving handful of trouble you will ever meet in that she still wants to be held a lot, loves to massage ears (will talk more about this in another blog), likes to snuggle when she wants to and more. She can be the most sensitive girl and yet, definitely has an edge to her. Reminds me a lot of DM :)

Summertime rocket

2011-08-26T19:40:00.001-07:00

We've spent a good amount of our summer in the backyard - enjoying the swing set, playing in sprinklers and watching the girls on the slip in slide. The rocket was a fast favorite when it came to outdoor play in the it blasts off with a quick push of a lever and provides a good spray of water too.

As you can see, they had a pretty good time taking turns in being the "pilot" and running from the take off :)

Water play has been one of the highlights of our summer - something the girls have really thrived on.

A day of firsts

2011-08-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, August 22 marked Kate's first day in preschool at the local academy. She was so, SO excited as were Doug and me in that we really thought it was time for Kate to meet new people, have a structured classroom and more - plus, the academy is THE school in town for kids to go and has a waiting list for kids to get in, so we were thrilled when Kate made the selection.

Her first day was great and she had a lot of good things to say. Admittedly, the next few days were met with tears and sadness of anxiety and possibly change as I departed which left me a wreck too - crying as I left. But, this week has been a ton better and Kate, although a little anxious has been happy to go the last two days. In fact, she just had her first show and tell yesterday and from what we understand, she did AMAZING showing her sea shells from our vacation in Ventura.

She's also made some major accomplishments in the classroom award system for behavior which I'll blog, etc. in the future and is starting to make some friends, but has yet to really know all the kids and still seems a little hesitant.

Pictured: Kate by her coat hook during orientation and her in her school uniform (her excitement doesn't show :) - she has to wear an academy shirt with a collar Monday - Wednesday and then gets to wear an academy t-shirt on Thursday (no school on Fridays). She also has to have closed-toed shoes and her bottoms/pants must be navy blue.
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Cara also had an exciting Monday last week when she moved up the next level in their school/daycare where they eat with the "big kids," play on the "big playground" and more. It was a little scary for us, but one of the sweetest things is that now her and Kate spend their recesses together and eat in the same lunch room. Kate watched out for her before ... but now can really be protective as well as a great friend.

When we asked Kate the first day if she saw Cara and how she was doing, Kate said, "Yeah, she's good... we just showed her around and stuff today." It's nice that every day that I pick Kate up from school to take her to the academy, I get to hear how Cara is doing too.

I would have LOVED to share a picture or two of Cara's special day as well - but she was not in the picture taking mood, thus what I got wasn't on the cheery side :).

WOW - DM and I can't believe how fast time has gone and already marvel at their accomplishments and progress and what is to come. We are so proud of both of them and know we have a life changing year ahead in so many ways. We love them so.

Sleeping siblings

2011-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest sleeping arrangements in our house - the girls occasionally sharing a bed. It has yet to last a whole night and in fact, one night we ended up with BOTH of them in our bed because Cara woke Kate up only for them to venture down the hall and climb into bed with us.

Regardless, it's neat they want to share the same bed sometimes in that they are honestly the best of friends and yet, can fight like cats and dogs too.
On another note, it's been a big week in the Masterson household - will post pictures and updates soon :)

Double the trouble

2011-08-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

Cara recently started adopting two binkies (when she could find them) as a way to get noticed.

In fact, she often calls to you when she has more than one to joke around - she entertains herself easily this way.

Weaning her from them may be in the near future, but DM and I are big believers in just taking it as it comes and looking for cues that it may be time to make them disappear.

She doesn't take them to school - and seems more needy for them at night time... so we may start there.

Regardless, we know she'll be a big girl soon enough.

Girls with gills

2011-08-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

The month of July was filled with swimming lessons for us. Kate went Monday - Friday every weekday while Cara and I enlisted in the second two weeks of July for a parent/tot swim. Needless to say, it was quite interesting with me getting off of work at 5 - and swim lessons beginning at 5:20. Regardless, the girls and I did pretty good and they loved it.

Kate honestly spent more time below the water than above it in swim - constantly dunking herself, etc. until the instructor would work with her on various swimming techniques. Cara's class was just getting more used to the water - she did great and would go under each lesson, grab toys in the water and more.

DM and I have talked about the girls taking swim lessons at a gym close by throughout the winter season. We're thinking Kate might be able to swim on her own next spring with a few more lessons and the instructor thought Cara could advance to the next level (without a parent) next summer with a little more practice.

So, we'll see - regardless, it has been fun to see both of them develop such a love for the water and enjoy swimming so much.

PS: Due to being in the water or chasing Cara, I barely got any photos - thus the ones used are from our vacation to Ventura in July :)

Scientists

2011-08-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

Our family went to the Lied Children's Museum in Las Vegas last weekend and ended up leaving with a year-long family membership so we can attend throughout the year.

The girls loved it - it had two floors of fun, experiments and learning. Some of the favorites were a bubble exhibit (pictured), outdoor fire safety/camping, crafts and more.

Not to mention a pretend grocery store where the girls could shop and use the cash register. It was a true success ... AND DM and I didn't mind it either :)

"Science does not know its debt to imagination" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cara counting :)

2011-07-31T19:21:00.001-07:00

Here's our sweet Cara counting 1 - 10. She's quite confident about it and we continue to work on the pronunciation. Like any proud parent, we are convinced she is one smart cookie :) She can also sing her ABC's.

Life is GRAND!

2011-07-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Doug's cousin and her daughter, Megan, are visiting from Minnesota for a few days - with one of our guaranteed day trips being the Grand Canyon yesterday. As always, the canyon was amazing and the weather was fortunately a little overcast too which helped with the heat. The kids were really good on the drive which also involved a stop over in Williams at a 60s diner and more.

This trip marked Cara's first trip to the Canyon and Kate's second - although her first was at the North Rim (not South) when Cara was still in the womb. They enjoyed the photo ops and ice cream more than anything, but nonetheless it was trip worth documenting.

Sea shell Kate

2011-07-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Here's Kate with her collection of sea shells she found after TWO days of waiting to find some amazing shells. She was so relieved and happy to find the treasures she had dreamed about ... exotic, colorful shells as she looked early one morning on the beach.

And in all honesty, I don't know who enjoyed it more - Kate or us in that it was so much fun and kind of touching to watch her find the shells and think about the color and shape of each.

We're hoping to make so jewelry (necklaces) out of a few in the near future - so she can show her precious gems at school. This activity was one of the highlights of our trip.

Stay tuned - I'll be straying from our beach trip soon and on to other happenings.

Names in the sand

2011-07-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

We wanted to capture each of the girls ages while we were at the beach - not to mention having the chance at a few super cute pose or two and came up with the following.

Kate was cooperative the first day and Cara we finally got to work with us the very last day.

We figure it will make for great memories for years to come - not to mention allow us one more way to document the trip.

Lean on me

2011-07-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my favorites taken at the ocean - Cara going through her typical morning routine by the big blue.

For whatever reason, she always took awhile to adjust every morning we got there, but always came around and would end up running and playing eventually.

In the meantime though, lots of love, tenderness and understanding were in order regarding her needs. In fact, DM and I felt like we were walking on egg shells for awhile until she finally showed interest in being on her own or exploring the beach with Kate.

"Lean on me... when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend (always), I'll help you carry on..." Bill Withers

Life is a beach

2011-07-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

For the 4th of July long weekend Doug and I decided to pack up the car and take the girls on a road trip to one of our favorite destinations - the ocean! It had been a long three years since we visited (time flies) and the trip marked Kate's second trip to the ocean and Cara's very first.

Conclusion: we had a ton of fun and it was so worth it. We decided to make the most of it and drive through the night on the way there - this allowed us to have an extra day at the beach... and a much happier Cara.

We spent every morning at the ocean and every afternoon with some pool time as well as light shopping, dinner, etc.

Perhaps most importantly is Kate had her craving for sea shells satisfied - she longed to find not only shells, but amazing shells. We weren't really aware of her need for such unique findings until we saw her second day on the beach go relatively unfruitful - the same small, meager, gray and tan shells appeared.

Thus, we helped Mother Nature out (and Kate) the next day which led her to finding some terrific shells.

Cara also enjoyed the beach, but in true style spent each morning getting used to the ocean and water - sometimes whining with unease at the sight of the water, etc. - only to eventually get down and be unstoppable.

She also didn't like the sand - on her feet was okay, but any where else caused major problems ... sometimes tears. Poor kid, sand's not the easiest to get rid of at the beach.

As for Doug and me, we loved it .... the beach was about a half an hour or so from where we got married and had a chance to tour the area some with girls.

Not to mention, we are huge fans of the beach ourselves and were sad to go - but promised to return much sooner next time around. Enjoy the blog heavy post. More pictures will follow in the next few days too.

"On the beach, you can live in bliss," - Dennis Wilson (Beach Boys)

Oh.... Reilly

2011-06-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

We had an addition to our family 10 months or so ago when DM was driving in the desert for lunch and came across a dog with a tattered leash in the middle of nowhere.

In no time, Doug loaded him up, took him back to work and brought him home with both of us swearing we'd find a home for him. After all, we already have 3.

However, he soon became known as Reilly and after a few failed attempts to relocate him and watching the continuing, growing affection of our girls - Reilly remains.

It's been ages since we've had a puppy and honestly Reilly is a ton of work - but, as you can see the girls sure love him and he's rather sweet on them too. Kate is especially keen on him. We still have hopes of finding him preferably a ranch to wonder on and still a comfy home to sleep in at night. Wish us luck - it's not only finding a great home... but continuing to convince Kate and Cara that Reilly would be better somewhere else.

"The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic" ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Kate's name game

2011-06-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here's Kate - proudly displaying her letters she can write (not all of them) as well her name ... refer to the right hand of the paper and you'll see "K-A-T-E." She's pretty excited that this time has finally come and she can now write and occasionally spell.

With this development has come a rather large interest in math and how things add up. She'll often throw a lot of numbers to Doug and/or me and ask how much at the end. She's also working on lowercase and writing numbers as well. It's as if a whole new world has been opened to her to discover.

VBS - God is WILD about you!

2011-06-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

One of the things Kate loves about summer.... vacation bible school. She can't wait for it and always has so much fun. This year she dove in with both feet and learned songs, dances, worked on crafts and more. WOW! She relished every minute of it. Cara was able to participate sometimes too and enjoyed story time and most of all (I think) playing with all the kids.

Here's a picture of the girls on the last day, not to mention a quick clip of what Kate learned at VBS and promptly taught Cara. In case you don't quite understand, Kate says, "God made you!" and both of them reply, "Thank you God!"

Big girl bed!

2011-06-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was Cara's first real test in her big girl bed - conveniently located on the bottom bunk of where Kate sleeps. And the results: she slept through the night. YAHOO!

Second night she ended up in our bed around 2 a.m. ... and the third night I ended up in bed with her for about 10 - 20 minutes for her to fall asleep again. But... since then she has slept through the night consistently and really seems to enjoy the extra space and sharing a room with Kate.

In many aspects, it's hard to believe Cara has transitioned and is a full-fledged toddler. Her speech is developing rapidly, she wants to do everything herself and has a growing interest in abandoning her diaper for using the restroom. Wow - where did the time go?

As a side note... and small confession, I did mention to DM this week that I kind of missed her being in our bed more often. Sleep is nice... but time is fleeting and DM and I certainly realize that.

Sweet dreams, girls - may you share a lot of loving sisterly moments rooming together.

Some day, I hope to get around to posting a few pics of the room DM and I remodeled for them :)

Vacation season

2011-06-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here's the start of our summer vacation season. YAHOO! The girls taking a dip in the pool at a hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Kate was super excited and anxious to go in the water right away.... whereas Cara was ... ummmm.... more hesitant and cried outside the pool for a good 10 - 15 minutes at first until I finally threw all caution to the wind and grabbed her to carry her around the pool.

Amazingly, my risk paid off and she enjoyed it. However... swimming lessons are in the works next month.

We indulged in three days and two nights of sun and fun along with a visit to see my grandpa. The girls, especially Kate, LOVE hotels. They love the breakfasts, the big beds, swimming daily and more. Dinners out are a bonus, not to mention the shopping. They are quite the pair.

Also pictured is Kate solo in the pool and Cara in sunglasses while we traveled - this was taken during the only SMALL time she was happy... unfortunately, she's not much for the car seat these days no matter what we try.

We're hoping to tackle the ocean, Flagstaff and hopefully St. George before summer is over - even if we have to travel at night to avoid Cara's unhappy moments.

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in" ~ Robert Orben

First-time fisher(wo)man

2011-06-04T22:35:00.001-07:00

There's a private property about 30 minutes or so from town that partners with Arizona Game and Fish every year to offer a kids free fish day - they stock the private pond with various fish, lend out fishing poles if you need them and let the kids go at it.

So... off we went with the entire family in tow to experience Kate's first-time as a fisherman. She did okay.... but may still be a little young for the patience it requires.

Nonetheless we were happy it was rewarding experience for her in that she did manage to snag one fish in which was thrown back because of its size. Doug and Kate actually discussed it - but she had no qualms about throwing it back AND Doug and I were for it in that we weren't sure if she was ready for the cleaning process.

We have a lot of hope that we'll be able to do more family excursions outside as Kate and Cara grow, so this will be one of many chances Kate (and Cara) will have to catch a fish or two.

"May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it" ~Irish Blessing

YOU are MY sunshine

2011-06-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

Here's Kate singing "You are my sunshine" at the preschool graduation last week - she did an amazing job... and also sang "This little light of mine" and "Mr. Flap Jack." Admittedly, "You are my sunshine" is a family favorite of ours. I apologize for the shaky video sometimes in advance ( I was trying to sneak in and get positioned :) - however this was the best clip I got of her in that you can actually hear her voice.

It's hard for us to believe that next year Kate will be one of the kids graduating (gasp!) - where has the time gone? Unbelievable - and yet, we are so excited for her to join preschool at the Academy... she is SO ready for it.

As a bonus, I included an ever-so-precious photo of Cara at the graduation. :) Angel voices, paired with lots of love and pride for our girls made it a perfect night.

Happy Belated Easter!

2011-05-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Confession: In reviewing my latest blog entries, I realized I never posted Easter pictures or a small brief. It's a MUST... so happy belated Easter from the Masterson girls. :) They awoke Easter morning to baskets that the bunny had left as well as hidden eggs (sort of) throughout the living room and entry. Kate was SO excited and hollered every time she found one - where Cara just screamed :). We enjoyed a day of church (he has risen!), family and a feast fit for an Easter celebration. As you can see, the girls may have had the most fun in dying eggs - although finding them (instead of the plastic candy eggs) got a whole other... not so great reaction. Needless to say, CANDY is always preferred.
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" ~ John 11:25-26

Cara birthday follow-up

2011-05-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

Although my post said it all... I think, I thought you'd all enjoy a few follow-up photos and a video. Cara chose a dark blue cupcake to dig into and obviously enjoyed the celebration.

Cara's third or forth time of having "Happy Birthday" sung to her. To this day, she still looks at people and says, "Happy? Happy?" which in her words ... is a request to sing "Happy Birthday" to her and of course, is accommodated.

Woo-hoo... Cara is two!

2011-05-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today, a little after 1 - our family was blessed with the arrival of Cara Dean. The first glimpse we saw of her was a pouty lip followed by good-size cry and finally peace, with the opportunity to inspect what a precious and beautiful baby she was and continues to be. To watch Cara grow and change has been one of amazement, pride and pure joy. She is such a character.

I sometimes refer to her as my "sweet and sour" in that she can be the sweetest, kindest, gentlest little girl one minute... caressing your face and nuzzling your neck and ear and then all of a sudden... SMACK! Your slapped in the face followed by a smirk and a loud laugh of enjoyment ... all at the hands of Cara. Her moods overall are about the same too... everything is fine and happy and at the flip of a switch the sky might be falling and she is one unhappy camper.

One day, we're convinced she will take on the world - even at the mere age of two she will take on anyone that gets in her way or that she perceives as wronged her ... not only verbally, but physically. She's got her own sense of style - with a strong draw to shoes and hats. She's pictured here not only in her birthday outfit... but also with her wearing her hat earlier in the day. DM bought it for her a few weeks ago and Cara has worn it pretty much non-stop since. It's even camouflage on one side (no comment).

She is an extremely tactile kid... loves cuddling and still doesn't sleep through the night (you read that right). Most of the time, six out of seven nights she's up sometime - either talking, calling one of us or just restless. She visits us in bed most mornings, only to fall asleep sometimes for another hour or more if we're lucky :)

Her vocabulary is growing rapidly... and lshe oves Cailou the cartoon (or as DM calls him, "the silly little french boy," dolls, books and animals. To have Cara is to have a loving handful of trouble and mischief ... bruises and scrapes seem to find her on a regular basis, she loves to unload the bookcase just for fun, finds joy in chasing the dogs around with the toy mop or a fast shopping cart and isn't detoured or discouraged with conflict - all while being incredibly loving and affectionate.

Right now she is into giving cow kisses (kissing while saying moo) and also gives the occasional dinosaur kiss (roaring before kissing). She loves to be tickled and chased and at times, has been known to cause chaos in hopes that you'll come after her.

She is such a treat in so many ways.

Today we celebrate you, Cara - how we love your laugh, feisty nature and sweet smile. Thank you for your curiosity and love of life. With each year that passes, we are blessed with knowing you and the person you will become. May you continue to flourish with new discoveries and wonders, have your soul nourished and continue to grow into a wonderful, kind and loving person. We love you not for just the person you are, but who you will be. You are a true blessing.
We continued our annual tradition today and played hookie with a visit to the Dollar Store and more as well as fabulous birthday bash with strawberry ice cream and "beach-styled" cupcakes.

Stay tuned for more birthday photos as time allows. One thing to note: Cara could not get enough of having "Happy Birthday" sung to her... we accommodated as much as we could :) Thanks to everyone that made it such a special day for her.

Best friends

2011-05-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

Here's Kate with her best friend, Brooke. They have grown up together in school and although DM and I weren't originally friends with her parents really, we've started to know each other better. Brooke is always the first friend to be invited anywhere and at the top of Kate's party list.

They've also shared conversations of sneaking out together and having sleepovers. Needless to say, the former is a little scary and we've since had to monitor discussions a little more. Brooke was also the first friend ever that came over for a play date without a parent.

Brooke and Kate will go to separate preschools next year, so we'll see what happens. But regardless, we are thankful Kate has such good friends.

As a side note... the picture is of Kate and Brooke showing their best friend necklaces that Brooke gave Kate for her birthday. Each of them have a half of a whole heart.

"The hardest part about being friends is loving you so much" ~ Anonymous

Screech

2011-05-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Although Cara's vocabulary is growing rapidly, she has a rather specific way of letting you know her discontent... at that is by a loud, obnoxious screech/scream of sorts. Here, in the video, she has toned it down some since she knew she was being watched. Nonetheless, you get the idea. :)

Farmer Doug & ranch hand Kate

2011-05-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well, we got our act together this year... or I should say that Doug did and planted our first garden. We borrowed a massive tiller from some friends and were able to churn some serious dirt and eventually plant vegetables and fruit for the summer.

We started out rather conservatively, but Doug has since been bitten by the gardening bug and seems to have thrown pretty much everything in the dirt to grow. We have corn, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, artichoke, carrots, watermelon, sugar snap peas AND garlic.

Kate has especially enjoyed it so far and we do have some serious sprouts - but haven't been able to enjoy the fruits of Doug's and Kate's labor yet. Hopefully we'll soon be able to negate the grocery store and enjoy our own homegrown goods.

"Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart" ~Russell Page

Home Improvement

2011-04-29T18:16:00.000-07:00

Having tackled several home improvement projects, we've become regular customers at Home Depot - where we've also caught on to the craft/project Saturday they have for kids the first Saturday of every month.

The girls enjoy it and it's some good bonding time for all of us - here they have tackled a school bus pencil box and a picture frame. Granted, sometimes DM and me end up doing a fair share of what we've taken on due to the girls being more interested in the tools, people, etc. Note: Cara running around with a hammer is a tad scary :)

PS: Check out the SUPER cute aprons the girls got!

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one" ~Jane Howard

Second birthday celebration

2011-04-22T18:14:00.000-07:00

We had a second birthday celebration for Kate so she could celebrate with her friends AND it gave us a chance to enjoy her actual birthday with just her... So, April 9 was the day.

Kate was so excited - we had close to 100 balloons, a bounce house on order, princess cake fit for a... well, princess and plenty of outdoor activities.

And yet, it SNOWED. More like a blizzard to some Arizonans... truth be told if I had any idea it was going to be THAT bad, I would have postponed. But, by the time the weather went south so to speak... it was too late.

So, we had 9 kids and their parents in our house - with a Little Tikes playground of sorts complete with slides in our living room, games in the toy room, cake and ice cream in the main entry... and for the parents a fire in the fireplace. It was pure chaos at its best, but Kate SO enjoyed it and so did all the kids. Plus, snow was kind of a unique attraction to most... after all, it was April in Arizona.

It, too, will go down as a memory - but next year, I think we'll be eyeing even later in the year to hopefully avoid weird weather.

"Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world" ~ Anonymous

Unanticipated first cut

2011-04-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

Cara received her VERY first haircut yesterday afternoon... by none other than her sister, Kate. Shows you what a pair of child crafting scissors and trust will do to a girl. Evidence showed (seen and gathered by Doug) that Kate had Cara sit down in front of the french doors in the play room to possibly watch nature as ALL her curls were clipped - with not one long strand left. Total time out of site (heard not seen) - maybe 10 - 15 minutes.

The hair was enough to fill up a sandwich bag - as Doug was careful to save for me.

Kate did some trimming on her bangs - but it was one small clump and she left longer hair underneath... so she managed to do okay with the turnout.

When Kate was done, she walked to where Doug was and announced that she had cut Cara's hair - rather contently. It was only upon seeing Cara AND all the hair in the trash that the reality sank in. There have been plenty of tears - Kate cried... but I certainly joined her ... and a strong ban on scissors in the house. I have included pictures of Cara's new do (which is exactly the way Kate cut it) as well as what her hair was like the day before - those are her VERY first pigtails by the way.

Ahhh.... a memory in the making.

Earrings for Cara

2011-04-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Kate's not the only that has caught the fever for earrings... Cara has taken on a liking all her own to them. And luckily... we've been offered a creative solution - "hook earrings" that can fit over the top of ears. She loves them and feels rather special when wearing such an accessory.

If you look closely in the picture, you can see how they fit on the top of her ear. Mind you, the earrings won't stay on long for rough play... but all in all it is a great solution for the time being.

Cara is about a month a way from turning two and we are in sheer amazement how quick the time has flown and how big she is getting. Stay tuned for plenty more updates - I've been a little slow in blogging in that I am competing with Doug getting to his online classes. No need to tell you what takes priority - in which we all support.

First dentist appointment

2011-04-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Cara had her first EVER dentist appointment on March 19 - and to no surprise of ours, her teeth are perfect... as much as they can tell anyway :) She was super good for the appointment and even got a yellow toothbrush with a yellow suction cup bottom to boot. I took a few photos at the dentist office, but Cara was having none of it - the best I could do was a bath shot that evening... she was anxious to show her new toothbrush. Here's to many positive experiences at the dentist.

A wish come true - pierced!

2011-04-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here's how the last day of our vacation ended... Kate getting her ears pierced. We explained to her what it would be like: a BIG pinch on each ear and then a sting for awhile. She was persistent and talked about it a fair amount on our trip.

Thus, March 16 we walked Kate up to an ear piercing booth... they prepped her ears and on the count of three - both ears were pierced at once. Check out this beauty :)

She didn't shed a tear - although she was a little stunned... I looked at her as they pierced her ears and her eyes got really big and watery - but not a drop ever "leaked." She just starred in the mirror for awhile after it was done... looking at them over and over again almost in amazement that it was actually done. For a week or so she asked us if she could take them out a few times a day, but that has eased and now we very seldom (if at all actually) get a request for their removal.

She's got the prettiest little ears - not to mention a pretty face to boot. In addition, last weekend we went to a store to have a her feet measured (she's a big size 11 now) and then let her pick out her own shoes. She opted for the Sketchers twinkle toes - they glow/sparkle/glitter when she walks.

It was quite the sight to see her walk into school the first day with those on - I guess there were even some tears at nap time because she had to take them off (they were too bright for the kids - even under the blanket). Kate is truly a girl coming into her own - I can't believe how she has grown.

Wet suit required

2011-03-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

While we were in California, Doug was able to contact an old friend from his animal training days and we got into a CLOSED amusement park to see some amazing water animals. Not to mention some four-legged wild creatures as well - as you can see , it was quite the treat and a once in a lifetime experience. We got to go behind the scenes, have personal one on one time with the dolphins, a walrus, a killer whale, sea lions and more. As a side note, there was rain throughout our visit - thus the reason we are soaked. Regardless, we had a great time.

Root beer restaurant

2011-03-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

A common request in our house: root beer. That's not to say it happens that often... but, when the occasion arises the girls really soak (or in this case slurp) it up. Thus, when we were in northern California we had to take the opportunity to visit the very FIRST A & W root beer restaurant.

This was something Kate had been dreaming of since our relatives mentioned it... for months she mentioned the "root beer restaurant."

And, I can easily say it fulfilled every and all expectations of hers - Cara enjoyed herself too :)
Nothing like sitting down to corn dog nibblers (yeah, the name sat a little wrong with me too) and not just root beer... but root beer FLOATS - paired with fries and an occasional hamburger here and there.

Needless to say we left with full bellies and memories of the good ol' days with original root beer in big frosty mugs. They even had a neat jukebox :)

"Root beer is great for a sweet tooth and sweet kids - minus the burping," - Anonymous

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-20T21:35:00.000-07:00

We took spring break in full stride this year and flew to San Francisco where we rented a car and drove to Lodi, CA (about 90 miles) to meet up with family and enjoy a few days in northern California. We had a great time ... with a few special highlights I'll touch on in future posts. But, for the time being, I thought a preview would do (sorry for the funky layout) - with plenty glimpses of the girls, of course :)

Kate enjoyed time pool-side with Harrison. It was too cold to swim... but, Harrison did eventually do a cannonball in the water which really amazed Kate.

We visited Krispy Kreme (a first for the girls) where we indulged in doughnuts and being treated to chocolate milk. The girls even entertained me with a doughnut kiss.

Smores made the menu one night - quite the fun family affair with everyone involved!

Cara spent a fair amount of time on the swing set... which included a bucket seat that seemed to have her name on it.

We stopped by a small amuzement park after a visit to the Lodi Zoo - the girls are getting used to modeling for me anytime we find a wood cut-out. I can't resist.

Kate relished accomplishments on the swing set - she worked on climbing the wall while using the rope during our days. Not to mention, Kate and Cara LOVED the trampoline they had. Both were pretty nervous their first and second time out, but found their comfort level eventually.

The end. Kate enjoyed the sites on the airport tram (pictured here in San Francisco). Both the girls were pretty good travelers. Kate really soaked up the experience - enjoying the plane ride (even ordering her own drink on the flight), walking on the moving walkway, mastering the escalator (sort of), various elevators, ramps and stairs AND more. Cara also seemed to be rather observant... however, let us know she was not fond of flying by putting her feet on the window and on the inside of the airplane numerous times and saying "OUT!" MANY times. EEK! Needless to say, we were glad when our flying was over and Cara's feet were securely on the ground. :)

Stay tuned - more fun-filled spring break moments to come.

Kate's birthday recap

2011-03-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

Here's how the day ended - celebratory singing with a purple, double-stacked cake and only candles standing in the way of the official designation of Kate being FOUR.

The day was filled with fun activities - we visited the yogurt shop where Kate got a balloon and carte blanche on the toppings, shopping at the Dollar Store, playing at the park with unlimited time on the swings and a brand NEW rosy-red party dress that she wore everywhere with her silver spark shoes.

The night capped with the cake and the unwrapping of gifts which included clothes, a hoppy ball, wheel boards, a pipe cleaner craft set (more impressive than you would think), an art set, helmets and more. Relatives also had a candy basket and a balloon bouquet delivered during the day which made the day all that more special - not to mention a super cute backpack. Thanks to everyone that made the day so special for her.

One of Kate's birthday wishes that wasn't fulfilled (yet) is for her to get her ears pierced. Something she came up with on her own - we'll see how it goes.

Happy birthday sweet Kate - we can't believe you are four. What a life it is with you in the world.

Bookworm

2011-03-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

This little girl sure loves her books these days. She often grabs a book and comes to you with one demand, "read" which is exactly what she says... sort of - often missing the "ed" and just saying "re." After one book, she will find the next and the next AND the next.

She loves to point out items and seems typically attracted to books about babies - with her current favorite being "Baby Dear."

Here she is shopping the playroom's book collection - one of her favorite activities.

"A dirty book is rarely dusty" ~Author Unknown

The BIG 4 - Happy Birthday, Kate!

2011-03-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Kate was born four years ago tonight - blessing Doug and I two of the most precious titles on earth... mom and dad (papa). It has been quite the four years and sometimes even more so - quite the year.

Kate continues to develop an amazing personality and still embraces a very caring heart with heavy "sides" of confidence (opinionated sometimes), curiosity and a sense of humor.

She is into princesses, rainbows, crafts, Sponge Bob, cops/police, the outdoors and is "flirting" with the idea of sleepovers. She is an AMAZING big sister and takes care of Cara almost to a fault - we've been told by teachers at school that she often inquires if Cara ate her lunch and asks how she's doing. Kate is super patient with her.

She knows right from wrong and likes to point situations out where either apply. She can count to 15 and likes doing physical tricks - flips and more. She loves God and is into the idea of reading ... often telling stories while flipping through books in hopes that she will truly be able to read the words some day.

Kate is destined for another big year ahead... she'll start preschool at the local academy and is now eligible for a lot of local activities. We've talked to her about soccer, karate and dance, however she has also mentioned gymnastics and tumbling. It will be interesting to see what she takes to and how she develops as a result of new experiences and new things to try.

It's been said that an individual's core foundation is formed by the mere age of 4... wow, she is guaranteed to be an exceptional kid (no favoritism here).

Today we celebrate you, Kate - thank you for opening our eyes to a love we never knew before and with each year that passes, being blessed with knowing you and the person you will become. May you continue to flourish with new discoveries and wonders, have your soul nourished and continue to grow into a wonderful, kind and loving person. We love you not for just the person you are, but who you will be. You are a true blessing.

*The picture was taken yesterday after Kate had been to school AND came home early :). She got a new princess shirt and took pink cupcakes with green gummy bears (per her request) to her class yesterday to celebrate.

Today, we're continuing our annual ritual of playing hooky with shopping and other festivities planned. Stay tuned for post-party pictures!

For the love of Cops

2011-02-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

Kate has a fascination with cops - no joke. She likes to watch the show, Cops on TV when it's more of the "arresting the guy who stole the bike" and at times, begs for us to patrol the streets at night looking for cops who may have someone pulled over. :)

In fact, one night we found "a scene" where Kate wanted DM to turn around and roll the window down in hopes that she could hear, "Get down on the ground!"

Ha, ha... Doug and I are amused and THANKFUL that she seems discouraged from behaving badly with her interest in cops. Here she is getting "fingerprinted" - but really prefers being on the other side so to speak.

Foodie

2011-02-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

Cara has become a true menace when it comes to any meal.

Before you know it, she's building her own concoction often made of the liquid she was given to drink mixed or "dipped in" with the main dish.

She's poured milk in with her yogurt and sloppy joe, ate ice water dumped on rice and peas and indulged in spaghetti with milk, fig Newton (combined) and a hint of carrot on the side.

Admittedly, we try to kindly discourage and typically end up ignoring the behavior (if Kate can resist smirking) because Cara definitely enjoys an audience. On the bright side, she normally finishes a good portion of whatever she has mixed AND does add a rather quiet humor to the dinner table.

Bon Appetit!

Pocket protector

2011-02-18T17:15:00.000-08:00

First requirement of Kate's wardrobe these days: pockets. If it doesn't have pockets in it - chances are Kate won't wear it. A jacket doesn't count either. Specifically... typically... the pants have to have pockets - the more the merrier.

Her cries for and protection of pockets have been actually going on for awhile now, with us going to just about any means to make sure her clothes have pockets.

We have found that this demand is a result from her treasure hunting that I've talked about in other posts. Regardless, it shows no signs of slowing down and in fact, I'm not sure how to handle ever-so-precious sun dresses this summer. Wish us luck!

Sweeties

2011-02-14T18:01:00.001-08:00

Here's our Valentines that we are treated to 24/7/365 - complete with special shirts, pink Tu-Tus and glitter shoes. Needless to say, WE are spoiled.

It was a great day in the Masterson household... the girls awoke to new lunchboxes, miniature Strawberry Shortcake figurines, teeny stuffed animals, socks and ring pops and were SUPER tickled. Not to mention they took brownies and Valentines to school for special parties.

The thing that touched me the most this day was that in doing Valentines for school, Kate wanted to take one of the ones we had left over and address it to God - which we did. She then asked how we will get it to him and I suggested sending it to the church.

She went further and thought that putting it in the collection plate would be even better - thus, I am expecting a special "donation" next Sunday in the plate. God will be tickled to receive a Valentine with a temporary tattoo addressed just to him :)

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven" ~ Karen Sunde

Castle building

2011-02-09T17:55:00.000-08:00

This is a rather common activity that occurs on weeknights... and sometimes weekends - castle building with Mega Blocks or creating different items with Bristle Blocks. Although there are still some squabbles, Kate and Cara have gotten pretty good at sharing and working together rather than apart.

We can only hope their teamwork has been enhanced with these kinds of efforts.

I'll look to catch up on blogging soon - I have some grand plans which include sharing what Kate requires in her clothing and letting Cara share her voice and some of her favorite words. Stay tuned!

Bunk Bed Buds

2011-02-04T17:22:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we put the girls bunk beds together - we've actually had them for awhile... and Kate has been sleeping on one of the beds, however they weren't together until now.

Whoa... you would have thought it was a major event in the Masterson household.

Kate and Cara were both SO excited - in fact, I couldn't even get a good picture... no matter how HARD I tried (thus, this is the best you are going to get).

Kate has spent every night on the top bunk since they were assembled and Cara is eyeing the big girl bed on the bottom. However, my heart can't take her growing up too soon.. thus it will be a month or two before she joins her big sister.

DM and I are in the process of moving rooms and painting what was going to be our office in that the girls want to share a room... which we think is incredibly sweet and happy to oblige. After all, some day I'm sure they will want to separate as well. Now only if covering the dark turquoise and brown paint that the past owners had in the room (ceiling included) would go faster. :(

Nonetheless... it'll get done.

Cookie smiles

2011-01-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

We had a few get-togethers in December - allowing Kate and Cara to pull out their cookie decorating supplies a few times. Luckily, I think they always looked better than they tasted so we didn't have to fight over them eating them or not.

It was merely the idea of decorating them that got them (especially Kate) excited. They were super cute too - Kate decided to decorate them as faces all on her own... check out the marshmallow smiles and more.

Up!

2011-01-23T19:28:00.000-08:00

The girls and I joined my parents over the weekend and indulged in the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. I thought it would give the girls plenty of "brain food" to see the balloons blown up and take off into the sky - with people on board, nonetheless. Although they seemed to be interested in the balloons and enjoyed the colors... they weren't as fascinated by them as I expected.

However, there were also crafts, vendor booths and more which made for a great day - in 72 degree weather on a supposed-to-be winter's day.

I expect more questions will come up with Kate as she processes what she saw and why... her favorite was a rainbow balloon - while I enjoyed the wooden cutouts that provided for the perfect photo ops, not to mention the amazing scenery.

Painting unity

2011-01-18T19:49:00.001-08:00

The girls teamed up to do their first sisterly painting yesterday .. with Cara taking the lead in beginning the masterpiece and Kate soon joining in. It was very entertaining to watch them not only share, but communicate regarding what the other was doing.

Admittedly, I was surprised that there wasn't a major spat at some point just because there were particular preferences involved on both sides - from what color to use, to brush and more.

Both of them are quite the artist in their own right.

"An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one" ~ Charles Horton Cooley

Elk 411

2011-01-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

Although I've posted about our "elk visitations" before, I thought everyone would enjoy a small snip it of what some of the experiences are like. Chaos at times... with a LARGE side of fun and surprise. As you can see, this is Cara's first true introduction to an elk or two up close. While Kate maintained her excitement, Cara was equally enthused.... that is until one was perhaps a little too pushy. Regardless, we enjoyed it (as usual) immensely. There's no doubt that Cara will warm up to the wild side.... within time.

Au Pair

2011-01-11T19:35:00.000-08:00

Here's Cara in one of her "baby hoarding" moods - right after getting up (which explains her hair :).

Typically, the more dolls the better - she likes to load them up in the stroller (as many as she can find) and take them for a cruise around the house.

There's nothing more upsetting to her than one of them falling out or sometimes even worse... someone reaching in to "help" (aka - big sister deciding she wants to play).

Doug and I think she may be destined to be a mom of multiples in the future - after all, she may be carrying the twin gene thanks to the Pederson side. Or at the least.... an au pair until she works her way through college to become a pediatrician. :)

Elves in waiting

2011-01-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas, there was a lot of preparation - including the girls making one of their most favorite crafts of the season... Santa hats! The details, materials and care that went into these are unbelievable. But it was well worth it... look at the pride displayed in wearing them. Needless to say, they were packed away for next year to be worn and showcased for years to come. I'm confident these are the cutest elves this side of the North Pole and beyond. :)

Sisterly snow play

2011-01-03T19:47:00.000-08:00

For all you non-believers out there - here's a picture heavy post of the most recent snow storms (notice that storm is plural) in northwest Arizona. We're on our THIRD storm... with it lightly snowing today. So, it's nothing like a Midwest or east coast snow storm, but nonetheless they have been most enjoyable for the girls, thus the photographer. It was Cara's first time playing (and sledding) in the snow and Kate is a rather seasoned pro by now :) Although I did capture Kate's first EVER snow angel and their first sled ride as sisters - pretty sweet, alright.

Christmas wrap-up

2010-12-31T20:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas day brought many happy moments... true proof that Santa had visited - missing/half eaten cookies and a cup with only SOME of the milk left. Not to mention all the AMAZING toys under the tree which included a new doll, doll clothes, drawing boards, art supplies and play shoes each for Kate and Cara.

Cara also received a musical drawing board of sorts that plays the instrument she selects the same speed she is drawing on the board. Kate was also left a princess bike and rainbow Ellie.

Stockings were overflowing with Sonic cards (they love getting slushies there), toothbrushes, socks, Kleenex, fruit, hair clips, underwear and more.

Although we'd like to say that the bike and other larger items where a hit, Kate was most impressed with things like the stamps and Kleenex that Santa left (can you believe it?). In fact, at school when the teacher heard me over telling another little girl that Santa brought Kate a bike, the teacher said... "Kate, you got a bike?!" ... Kate then replied, "Yeah, and Kleenex for my nose!" Hmmm...

Cara took to the dolls right away that Santa had left, however refused to understand that one of the dolls was for Kate - often screaming when Kate came near one of them. I guess Santa didn't know that Cara wanted twins :). It was truly a wonderful day - we had so much fun and the girls really viewed it as magical.

In fact, the day after Christmas, Kate said... "Awww... I want it to be Christmas all over again."

Although DM and I were both glad when the rush was over, admittedly there was a tinge of sadness that followed because we so enjoyed seeing the girls relish the season - it was incredibly meaningful for both of us.

As we ring in 2011, we have a lot of hopes and plans for the year to come. Kate will be 4 in two short months and Cara will turn the big 2 soon after! Wow, we can't believe it. Doug and I will celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and more. We are thankful for the many blessings in our life and plan to take the new year in stride.

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man," ~ Benjamin Franklin

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

2010-12-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Kate and Cara were treated to a small birthday celebration and of course, cake in honor of Jesus's birthday the next day. They were decked out in their new PJs and all. Although the idea of Santa coming tends to override the true meaning, we are thankful that they can still be reminded.

We also attended church services the same evening in which "Happy Birthday" was sung and cake was provided (although 20+ kids helped blow out the candles, so we stayed away when it came time to sampling the goods).

PS: Christmas activities, etc. to follow in a day or two.

Angel voices

2010-12-22T07:34:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of attending Kate's Christmas Concert this year - in which she actively participated and not just stared in wide-eye amazement as a gazillion parents looked on expecting magic :). Kate did terrific - we were so proud of her as she was of herself. Cara also enjoyed it and wore her holiday's best. Unfortunately, this is just snip it of what we saw (due to people running in front of the camera)... which included most adorable renditions of Jingle Bells, O Christmas Tree and more.

Santa babies

2010-12-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

The girls had their first (annual?) Masterson Mayhem Christmas Party yesterday.

There were eight kids who came and indulged sugar cookie decorating, a candy cane hunt, some playtime... AND a SURPRISE visit from Santa.

EEK! None of the kids were expecting him, so it was an extra special treat, thus an extra special reaction. It was so much fun and DM and I were both touched to see how everyone reacted.

Kate just stared with wide-eye amazement... while Cara was on the shy side of things... but we did manage to get a photo with him - as long as a candy cane was available.

Kate hasn't offered a real wish list this year - explaining (in her own words and thoughts - seriously) that she didn't want to give a list because then Santa may only bring her what was on that list and nothing more. She didn't want to limit him. Further, she didn't want to give a lot of ideas because he might bring her something better than what she was thinking. Yikes - no pressure.

So when Santa showed, Kate provided some ideas with some prompting (admittedly) from me :). But, she also mentioned one thing, the VERY first thing (and pretty unique) that she wanted which we had no clue about. Hmmmm.

Kate went to bed last night thanking God for Santa, only to be crying a few minutes later because she forgot to mention something she wanted. After being comforted and being told that Santa knows what she wants and needs... she settled down and we left. Next we heard, "OH SHOOT!" from her room. When DM inquired, Kate then explained that she forgot to tell Santa about all the kids who hadn't been behaving at her school. :)

Needless to say, Santa's appearance has prompted Kate to think bigger and deeper.

Holiday baking & a cookie thief

2010-12-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

Tis' the season to bake what's become our favorite holiday treat... raspberry thumbprints!

Kate and I attended a cookie exchange at my work this past Monday, thus our baking kicked into full effect Sunday night.

This was the first year that Cara could sample the goods and as you can see, she quickly became a fan as well. In fact, this photo was taken when we caught her in the kitchen alone... she had pulled up her stepping stool and was prepared to take a sweet treat at any expense.

Needless to say, we caved, let her have one and then hid them from then on out. With the exception of baking cupcakes monthly for Sunday School, it doesn't really happen in our house... so this definitely was a great (and fun) occasion.

"Holiday baking can bring a family together and sweetness to days" ~ Unknown

Bat hat

2010-12-15T19:42:00.000-08:00

Rewind back to October please - here's Kate in her handmade bat hat of sorts. She was so incredibly proud of it and at times, would put it on to "fly" around the house.

Make sure to check out the chalk circles and wings. Although the girls made plenty of pumpkin friendly crafts, this was by far the favorite and the lone surviving craft when it was all said and done.

Dougwina

2010-12-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

Ahhh... here's a photo that captures the true essence of Cara in one of her more temperamental and difficult moods. Cara showed a rather loud personality early on when she wouldn't get her way or just plain needed to express some frustration. Typically, a tantrum ensued... or she's been known to just casually hit or do a type of screech with her voice to let you know of her displeasure.

I've heard of stories when DM was younger that resembled some of this behavior so I affectionately started terming Cara "Dougwina" when she was behaving poorly or having some difficulty. Well, the name has slowly taken hold with Kate being able to diagnose Cara's behavior as "Dougwina" with in seconds. Kate will say things like, "She's being a Dougwina, huh?"

Poor Cara, the name might stick after all - something she will be reminded of for years to come. Regardless of her difficulties at times, it's actually gotten kind of funny with DM and me in that we love her so and know that this too will pass. In the meantime, her antics can be quite entertaining.

THANKFUL, part 3

2010-12-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Dear God: We continue to be amazed and incredibly thankful for your blessings. Thank you for our family and especially, our two girls who give us so much joy, laughter and love. They remind us daily of the gift of discovery and the enjoyment of learning.

Thank you for our friends and for all those we hold dear - including our four-legged creatures, big and small. Thank you for continuing to provide for us and keeping us safe. Thank you for the beauty and presence of nature. Thank you for miracles and the creation of life. Amen.
---
Thanksgiving was a great event at the Masterson household this year. We hosted the first turkey dinner at our house with all the trimmings and more. The girls enjoyed visitors and all of us were tuckered by the end of the day. The picture was taken at the small photo session DM helped me with after everyone left to mark the occasion. As you can see, the girls were loopy... however, to be honest - this is one of our more candid, yet sincere pictures. It shows the nature of both girls and their love for fun and mischief.

Kate is screaming in the photo as Cara is showing her tremendous pout. It was quite the day to be thankful... . :)

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." ~W.J. Cameron

Treasure hunting

2010-12-06T20:59:00.000-08:00

Kate and Cara are both into treasure hunting at the moment - Kate is the keeper of findings and considers anything she finds as something to keep, rather than showing any judgement.

So far, one of the most interesting things she has found and kept is a small cocktail sword with her other findings being shiny rocks, buttons, string, large pieces of glitter appliques and more. She's even tricky in that if she fines anything outside of school she wants DM or me to take it home so another kid won't claim it as their own.

Cara is a little more selective when it comes to her hoarding. She mainly sticks to rocks - actually grabbing one out of our front landscape every morning to put into her lunchbox and return home with it at night.

Here the girls are with one of their more greater finds... aquarium rocks that they found dumped in an alley when we took a family walk one night. You would have sworn they were gold - after a complete wash and polish, of course.

Thankful prelude

2010-11-29T18:26:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my blogging traditions, I still plan to post a thankful prayer in the next day or two... but in the meantime wanted to share what DM and I are treated to most nights before dinner. We say prayer as a family before eating as well as at bedtime. But in this case, we asked Kate to do the prayer with Cara so we could catch it on tape. We are reminded everyday of our blessings... here's one of many. Enjoy!

Halloween outtakes

2010-11-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, I've failed to keep up blogging as I take photos so for awhile my posts may not be in order but as adorable and newsworthy as usual. :) For starters... here's some Halloween outtakes of sweet Kate - one of her at the local Fall Festival with her winning cupcake.
In all seriousness, Kate and I participated in the cake walk a good half-an-hour in the wind and cold before she landed on the lucky number. You would have thought we won the lottery with the way I yelled and screamed - jumping up and down with "the winner."

I wanted to abandon the game numerous times and often bribed Kate with stopping by the store and buying her own cupcake.

But, she was relentless... focused and kept her eye on the prize. I knew we could honestly be there all day with never having her number be the winning one, thus I was grateful when my worst fear was cancelled and Kate was a true winner.

And of course... the other photo is of Kate on Halloween when we attended one of the Halloween parties at a local church and she played a game where she found coins in the sand. If you look closely, you can also see the ladybug she got painted on her face at the get together. Her and Cara were quite the party-goers.

Wild Wagon

2010-11-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

Here's how the girls spent some of their weekend time up until about month or so ago - barely dressed and playing outside in their wagon. Who knew that they could have so much fun with a wagon when it was stationary?

However, maybe dolls, drinks and snacks were never figured into the equation. You would be amazed at how many different ways they could play in and with the wagon. Anytime we'd walk out, someone would be "sleeping," "sick," or "taking a ride" while the other one assisted.

Bickering was a common side effect of this activity, but we were impressed at how they could work it out most of the time - that's once Cara figured out that kicking her feet to get more room wasn't an option :).

They continue to grow up amazingly fast and DM and I are REALLY looking forward to the holidays with the girls. Stay tuned - I've been slow to post, but have so much to share - no guarantees that posts will be in order of how things happened, etc. however I am anxious to share the girls developments and just plain fun.

Bread Winner

2010-11-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

Since Cara began walking she has liked to explore our kitchen - most notably finding where our bread is kept along with a few other necessities.

She soon developed the habit of grabbing the bread only to lay on it on the kitchen floor as well as squishing it and more. Needless to say, the slices have turned more into like crumbs... or at the least, about half their size.

But, we've gotten used to our loaves being "kneaded" by Cara and actually enjoy this being one of the many reminders that we have a toddler among us. :)

As a side note, Cara tried the same technique with a box of taco shells... but they didn't survive the loving so much.