{Fall Bucketlist // Nature Walk}

Happy Wednesday! We checked another item off of our Fall 2014 Bucketlist yesterday...



Yesterday on the way to pick up Mason from school I had an urge to take him to the park and on a Nature walk. I was in jeans and a blouse in 96 degree heat, but I was not going to let that stop me {yes, it hit 96/98 yesterday...in October. Texas! Ugh!}. Once we got in the car I asked Mason if he would like to go to the park and he couldn't contain his excitement. He was bouncing up and down and smiling ear to ear! 

I love to see my sweet boy so happy!

We went to an old historic park in our town that we love so much. There are many trails and a lot of the park is shaded {win win}. Mason and I didn't find much on our nature walk, but we had the greatest time. We found a stick we plan to use for a later project, tons of acorns and some pretty yellow leaves. We like to find the acorns with 'hats' on and draw faces on them! Mason gets a huge kick out of it. 

We didn't go too far into the trail since it was just he & I {and I wasn't carrying my pistol...oops}. We were in a great area...but you just never know what can be lurking in the woods. Plus, I've seen one too many scary movies in my days...
 
About 5 minutes into our park trip Mason says... 

"Mama, can we have this date every day?"

I couldn't even handle the sweetness!

 Also linking up with Ashley & Jess for it's the little things

...


FALL 2014 BUCKETLIST

+ visit the pumpkin patch

+ go on a hayride

+ make caramel apples

+ decorate my porch {crates, hay, pumpkins, etc}

+ carve pumpkins

+ make fall crafts

+ decorate the house for fall

+ pick out halloween costumes

+ stay in a cabin somewhere

+ make a thankful tree

+ share the Thanksgiving story with Mason

+ find a corn maze

+ bake fall goodies

+ go to fall festivals

+ go to an aggie football game

+ roast marshmallows

+ lots of fires in our chiminea

+ go apple pickin'

+ have a scary {but mason friendly} movie night

+ make lots of crock pot meals

+ do my bible study on the porch

+ host a fall party/get together

+ make a pumpkin chunkin' game

+ stock up on my favorite fall scentsy bars

+ take a scenic drive {where the leaves actually turn pretty colors}

+ go to the farmers market

+ go on a nature walk

+ take fall pictures of mason

What's on your Fall Bucketlist this year?

{Things I keep in my purse at all times...for my 4 year old}

4 year old must haves by crystal-stowell-hall featuring sun care

Marimekko Yellow notepad A4, $18 / Apple - iPad mini with Retina display - Design, $450 / Sun care / chino shorts / uniform polo / aviator sunglasses / Vintage Monster Truck Grave Digger Photo Print, Wall Decor, Playroom...

Wipes // I may not be changing diapers anymore...but I still use wipes! And lots of them. Boys are messy. 

Sunscreen // Mason is very fair-skinned and we live in Texas. Need I say more?! 

Band-aids // Boys are mischievous and adventurous and you never know when you might need to cover a skinned knee.

Ring Pop // Keeps Mason occupied for a while and a little quieter when needed too! 

Note pad & crayons or a pen // Mason loves to draw. Comes in handy on longer than normal car trips or sitting in a waiting area, etc.

Change of clothes // boys are messy.

Some toys // self explanitory

Sunglasses //

iPad // we never leave the house without it! 

What do you keep in your bag?

{Mother's Day 2014}

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Friday afternoon Mason and Nate were in Mason's room getting ready and I walked in and Mason says, "We're not doing anything Mama. We're not going anywhere." I immediately knew they had something up their sleeve! I just wasn't sure what. A few minutes later Nate comes in my office and says he's taking Mason to get a haircut. 

They got back an hour or so later and Mason comes in and shows me his new Spiderman watch and says, "I got it at the haircutting place" haha - little stinker! 

Nate had taken Mason to go pick out some Mother's Day gifts for me. He did great for a couple of hours and then I heard him whispering to his dad about giving them to me. So he did! 

He picked them out all by himself and he was so darn proud! And he did great. He got me a precious ring with a pink heart on it and a silver "love" heart necklace. So sweet!




 
Saturday we went to a Mother's Day banquet at Nate's Grandmother's church. It was nice...but I didn't take a single picture! 

Sunday started out anything but pleasant! Mason was so crabby and we ended up missing our annual Mother's Day lunch! Bummer. A couple hours later and we still couldn't talk him into doing lunch. He asked if he could go to his Nana's instead. So Nate and I went and had lunch and did our grocery shopping. That evening Nate's parents cooked supper for us.

But that evening Mason totally redeemed his bad behavior...he told me -

"Mama I love you. I love you a lot. I love you like my Daddy loves you."

And then I melted into a great big puddle on the floor!!!

I love that my husband shows Mason how to love without even trying, just by doing. I am one blessed woman!!

How was your Mother's Day & weekend?

{It's the Little Things - Week 12 - Thank you for loving me}

Linking up with Ashley and Jess for It's the Little Things - week 12.

Parenting Mason has been anything but easy lately. I feel like I am constantly getting on to him for his behavior. And at the end of the day I either feel majorly defeated or disappointed in my actions in trying to control his behavior. I don't like to raise my voice...but what do you do with a child that doesn't listen? 

{It's the little things - Week 2 - A Mother's Love}

Linking up with Ashley and Jess for week 2 of It's the Little Things.

Last year for Mother's Day my boys got me the "Mother's Love" ring from James Avery. And just as I do my wedding ring, I have worn it every day since. I only take it off to clean it. On the ring finger of each hand I have a beautiful reminder of the two biggest blessings in my life; marriage and motherhood.

At least once a week since they gave it to me Mason will come sit in my lap and trace his little pointer finger around my ring and ask me to tell him the story of my ring. How he makes the right side and I make the left side and together we make a heart because we 'love each utter so much'. 

And he will tell other people the story of my ring, given any opportunity.

It sets this Mama's heart on fire.

The bond I have with my little guy is unbelievable.

{My Sweet Mama's Boy}

Last night I was lying down with Mason, winding down to go to sleep. He dropped his puppy and his blanket and put both of his hands on each side of my face. He started gently sweeping my face with his sweet little hands. Then he would wrap both of his arms around me and embrace me with a sweet little hug. And then back to my face. This went on for five or so minutes. 

No words were said.

No words were needed.

I could feel all of his love for me. How much he needs me.

I am the luckiest.

And I love being a Mama.

{Instilling manners in a toddler}

Yes ma'am.

No sir.

Please. Thank you. You're welcome.

Manners are important in our household. Very important. We have always worked hard to make sure Mason knows and uses manners. It's been a challenge for sure. He will do really good and then go to school with 19 other three year olds in his class saying "Yeah" and "uh huh" and come home doing the same. We just stayed consistent and would remind him the kind way to say things. 

I've seen a few looks thrown our way during the process when we've corrected Mason and made him say Yes Ma'am or Yes Sir. But, I am okay with that. If he doesn't say it to us why in the world would he say it to anyone else? 

Well, I am proud to say that he now uses his manners without us having to tell him or correct him. And he points out when others do not use their manners.  

What worked for us?

- Consistency! Consistency! Consistency!!
- We say Yes sir/No Sir, please, thank you, excuse me, etc when we talk to Mason
- We also do this when Nathan and I talk to each other or to anyone else so that Mason can hear and see that we do
- Correcting him when he says "yeah" or "Uh-huh". We tell him that those are ugly words.
- Acknowledge his good actions with tons of praise!


This past weekend we were at Antique Alley and Mason and a man crossed paths. Mason said "excuse me". The man stopped in his tracks and turned to me and asked, "Did he just say excuse me?" I said "yes sir" and he just looked at me for a minute and said "Wow! You are raising a good one." 

The pride that filled me right then and there was so much I thought I might burst.

And then the other day I heard Mason playing with some toys and he was was even using his manners while playing!!!

Goodness, I love this boy and I love being his Mama!!!!

Is there anything sweeter than a toddler that has manners? Oh man it just melts my heart. 

{If I weren't a boy mom}

If I weren't a boy mom I wouldn't know things such as...

How bad it hurts to step on a hotwheel. 

Finding rocks and bugs in pockets of jeans and shorts.

How to dodge that {inacurate} little built in sprinkler.

What Monster Jam is.

 I wouldn't know how to make a mohawk {around a good ol' cowlick}

That there are zombies everywhere...and I mean everywhere.

The wrath of legos.

Dirty faces and stinky toots. All day everyday.

I wouldn't know how cool dinosaurs, monster trucks, jeeps, airplanes, spiders, Ninja Turtles, bull frogs, worms, mud, snakes, firetrucks and superheros really are.

Or that camo matches everything.

What a miniature version of my husband is like.

And I would never know the joy of a Mother/Son relationship!!!  Or a love so deep.

What do you love about being a Mother?

{Are you proud of me too, Mom?}

Yesterday {7/10} we were at home hanging out. Nate was cooking dinner and I was asking Mason what he wanted for supper {he never eats the same thing with us because he's so picky}. I scooped him up and kissed him a gazillion times. And as I do everyday I told him how he was my favorite little guy in the whole world. And how much I loved him. And how I was so, so blessed to be his Mama. He looked at me with the sweetest eyes and said,

"Are you proud of me too, Mom?"

My eyes welled with tears. Oh baby boy, if you only knew. If you only knew the pride I hold for you. And that each and every single day it grows. Whether it's a new song you've learned, counting a few numbers more, telling me that a spider has 8 legs, or even saying "actually" before everything. Oh it makes me proud. Everything you do makes me proud. 

Mommy will always be your #1 fan!! Always, baby boy. Always.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

 

{Day 17...favorite photo}

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

Right now these are my favorite photos...

Almost every afternoon after school we hang out on the front porch and just talk and play and take a million pictures. It's my favorite time of the day. And in the two pictures above I actually see similarities in our looks! He usually only ever looks like his Daddy. 

{Day 13...Sorry I'm not Sorry}

First off - Congratulations to Stephany for winning our Mother's Day giveaway! Steph, please get in touch with Emily to get your goodies!!

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Dear Mason,

I'm sorry that I'm not sorry for taking 1,000 too many photos of you a day. I know you sigh and trying to run like the wind every time I get my camera out. But, sweet boy, I promise you {or your future wife} will thank me one day. 

 

So yeah....sorry I'm not sorry!

I love you sweet boy!
Mama 

{Day 1...Me in 250 words}

Day 1, Wednesday: The story of your life in 250 words or less

I'm Crystal Nicole, a born and raised Texan. I made my debut into the world on January 18, 1981 (old, I know). I am the oldest of three kids. Most of my childhood thru my high school years was spent in Cheerleading and Gymnastics. My darling husband, Nathan, and I met and started dating when we were just kids in high school. This November will mark our 17th year together. We married on August 25th of 2006 at Hanging Gardens. Almost the minute after we said "I do" we started looking to get a house out in the "country". In April 2007 we moved into our little piece of paradise. We bought a house on a little over 2 acres and our property backs up to my in-laws property. We share a back gate. I absolutely LOVE being that close to them. And my parents are only a hop, skip and a jump away. Awesome! After over 2 years of trying we found out we were pregnant on September 25th, 2009. Our precious little Mason Lane was born on May 25th, 2010. Nothing compares to that day. Nothing. Becoming a Mother is something I've always wanted to do and seeing Nathan become a Daddy, oh, that just quadrupled my heart in size. We are an outdoorsy type of family who loves traveling, camping, and of course baseball! I have a passion for photography, but haven't quite mastered Photoshop yet. I love all things vintage and turquoise. I dream of living on a large working farm some day. I adore my little family and being a wife and a mother. I'm learning to master toddlerhood....one day at a time. We are blessed beyond measure all praise be to Jesus!

that was 288 words, in case you were wondering!

{Three...in just one month}

I can't believe what I'm about to say. I mean write.

My sweet baby will be THREE in one short month!


Can I freeze time? Bottle up every single bit of you right now? 

Because you. You, baby, are truly amazing. You have the biggest heart, the kindest soul and you love so tender. And yes, you will always be my baby.

My sweetest Mason. I love you. You ignite something in me. Something I could never explain and something I never knew existed until I became a Mother. Your Mother. You make me feel deeper, love harder and overwhelm me with joy. You move me.

And a letter from your Daddy...

Hey bubba,

                

Man almost 3 years!  Wow, where has the time gone?  I look forward to spend time with you every day.  I have never taken you for granted and your momma and I are truly blessed to have you as our son.  You have taught me so much.  I look forward to the times just hanging out with you and listening to your funny stores and imagination.  You are loved by everyone that you meet and are a true people person.  Not sure where you get that from.  I love you to the moon.

 

I love you,

 

Daddy