Bridget stopped over at Andy's before she drove back to San Antonio, so she could hold and love on Anna Kate.

Daddy took me over to Mimz house to spend the evening and night.

I played with Debra and Lewis' two grandchildren, ages 4 and 6.  We played nicely outside and inside.  We played with my Nerf guns.  We rode my bike and my police car.

Daddy and Mommy put up my little Christmas tree.

Bridget had to go to work in downtown Houston. 
Grandma, Mommy, and I went shopping.  I have started collecting decorations for my own little tree.  I have three Power Rangers and a Darth Vadar ornaments.

At home I played with Carson.

Anna Kate had her picture taken with Cowboy Kringle.  She was perfectly happy in his arms.  I bet next year she will be crying when she is in Santa's arms. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY! 

And Happy Thanksgiving!  I have a lot to be thankful for: A family that loves me so very very much, friends, a home, food, clothing, toys, my health, living in this county, and lots of happy days.

I called Daddy to wish him a Happy Birthday.  He and Mimz are going to be at Uncle Scott and Aunt Jill's home with a lot of their friends for Thanksgiving.    Next I called Barbara to tell her and my great grandparents I was ready for them to drive to Grandma's house.   I knew they would arrive around 10am so when it was almost 10, Mommy and I went outside and sat on the driveway to wait for them.
I still had on a new pair of pj's that Grandma had bought for me.  Grandma had made Monkey Bread, which she does every Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Between the seven of us we ate it all.  Barbara brought my bike and helmet from her house so after getting dressed Mommy and Barbara watched me ride my bike on the street, around the nearby cul-de-sac and back.  There were maybe five cars that drove by, but I always stopped and got way to the side of the road, when a car came near, and the cars always move way over also.

I had a knock-off Lego's kit, Bridget and Grandma helped me put the little cars together.  Everyone played with my Nerf gun.  We had a soldier standing on a chair and we all took target practice.  If I am not mistaken I am the only person to hit the target.  We only had four bullets... two of them are in the roof gutter.  Papa will have to get them for me when he gets home.

Barbara and I played Foosball.  We both are just learning and we don't know any tricks, so we just had fun playing together. 

We had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner, with all the regular foods.  I tried the cranberry sauce and I liked it.  We kept the dinner simple, so it was not a big deal to clean up the kitchen.  Mommy took a nap, while everyone else watched the Dallas Cowboy's.

I got the bright idea that I wanted to go swimming.  Everyone said it was too cold, but I assured them I had put my hand in the water and it was not too cold.  Grandma said I could get in the hot tub.  But I had other ideas.  Grandma, Bridget, and Barbara came outside to watch me.

 I wanted to get in the big pool.  They said I could step on the first or second step, but I jumped in.

  It was cold and I immediately swam to the side and got out.  I guess Grandma knows best.  I striped off my swim trunks and wrapped up in a towel and ran inside to tell GGM and Mommy that I jumped into the pool and it was too cold to swim.  I think that was the most memorable part of this day.

Oh, a funny thing:  Barbara brought my calendar with her so I could mark off the day.  Mommy and I were doing this, when Mommy go so very confused.  Something was very wrong.  The dates were not matching up with what she had in her head.  It was the right month, November, .... the year was wrong!  We were using a 2013 calendar!  We all laughed.  Barbara said she probably would not have noticed until it got closer to Christmas.  She told me she would find a current calendar and we could start again.

  I found a pack of cinnamon flavored gum and Bridget remembered something they did as young teenagers.  She licked a gum wrapper and stuck it on my forehead.  In a couple of minutes it started getting warm.  I don't know why, but it did.  I'll have to remember that trick. 

Barbara and my great-grandparents left so they could get home just before dark.   The rest of us went to Wal-Mart.  Grandma bought me a scooter for her house.  I rode it all around inside her house.  It was a very good day.

I woke up early and got to tell Bridget to have a good day before she left for work.  She is going to work in Houston today and Friday, so she can be here for Thanksgiving and to attend a wedding on Saturday.

As soon as Mommy dropped me off at Barbara's I was ready to eat breakfast.  I had pancakes.  While Barbara and I brushed our teeth, we noticed how I am getting taller, so we measured me: 45 1/2 inches or 3 feet 9 and 1/2 inches (87 percentile).  I weighed 43.7 pounds ( 65 percentile) dressed but without shoes.

 I wanted to build again, so that is what we did.

We rebuilt the same tower, bridge, tunnel.  I have good hand-eye coordination.

We marked another day off the calendar, making it one day closer to Christmas.

We also changed a wall wooden calendar, that GGM and Barbara made 20 years ago, to December.  I know we did this a few days early, but I probably won't be over here any more this month.  We put on special pieces for PaPa's birthday and for Christmas. 

GGM is so good about remembering to put eye drops in GGF's eyes three times a day.  I would like to put the drops in his eyes.  I think I could do it.  I have watched her and it looks like it would be easy to do.

We played with Car Town for a short time, then we decided it was warm enough to play outside.  Outside we laid out my baseball bases and we played baseball for almost an hour.  I am getting good about being a good sport when GGM or Barbara score a run.

Barbara pulled out an old stuffed turkey that she and GGM make lots and lots of years ago.  GGM doesn't like it so Barbara and I just kept it upstairs for us to enjoy.  I already knew what the waddle is on turkeys.  Now I know what the snood is.  We watched a show about wild turkeys.  I found out that wild turkeys can fly and they are very smart.

GGM fixed us some fried catfish for lunch.  I would not even try a bite.  At lunch time, Grandma arrived.  She was in town to run two errands.  She called my mom to see if I could run the errands with her and then go up to the lake with her.  Mom said I could go on the errands, but she would have to let her know about my going up to the lake.  I took Barbara's iPad so I would have something to entertain myself .... if I didn't fall asleep on the drive.

I did get to go home with Grandma.  We played in her front yard until Mommy arrived, then Mommy played with me, while Grandma went inside to work on Thanksgiving dinner preparations.

Grandma and I played soccer, football, and several made-up games.  It is too bad that it gets dark so very early because we have to go inside to play and because I get sleepy early.

I got to take a bath in Grandma's big bathtub.  By 8:30pm I climbed the stairs, with Barbara's iPad in my hand, ready to get in bed with Mommy.  Bridget is spending the evening with friends and will be here in the morning.

Grandma called Barbara to say she didn't get all of the Thanksgiving dinner preparations done that she wanted to because she had to play with me all afternoon.  Barbara said, "Oh, GGM and I know how that is!  Now you understand why we don't get everything done!"  Every day Barbara thinks about how much work mother's have to do every day, every day, every day, for years and years and years.    

I knew Barbara and GGM would be all mine all day today.  I didn't have school and they didn't have Anna Kate to care for.  I didn't want just one of them to play with me at a time, I wanted both of them.

I didn't want breakfast until I had played for about an hour, then I was hungry and I ate Bran Flakes cereal and a homemade bran muffin with GGM while Barbara cut up celery and onion for Thanksgiving dishes.  Sometimes I won't let Barbara take my picture, like when she snapped this photo.

Sometimes, I am very willing for Barbara to take my picture.  A funny thing: when I am going to play in the backyard, I always go out through the garage, put on my helmet and ride my bike to the backyard.  It is less than 50 feet, but I just like doing it that way.

GGM and I went outside to set up the bases so we could play baseball, when Uncle Brad opened up his garage.  I quickly put on my helmet and rode over to his house to see if we could go for a ride.  He wanted to but said he couldn't for two reasons:  1) His bike was in the bicycle shop and 2) he was going out of town.  Ah, too bad.

The three of us played baseball but again it requires a lot of running and my ladies tire out quickly.  Barbara says that is why mothers have their children when they are young and have plenty of pep.

I showed GGM my globe and showed her that I remembered where the equator, north and south poles and the other places I learned last week.  I am so very good at remembering everything.

 Barbara brought out the Pattern Blocks and I showed her how I could make the flower...

and cart patterns.  They wanted to keep playing with this but I wanted to get to Car Town.  Oh, they are so tired of Car Town.  Barbara was the speeder and GGM and I were the police chasing her.  They either get dizzy going round and round the town or they get tired when they speed all over the Big TV room.  They suggest us having a party or cars going to the grocery store, the doctor, school...anything except speeding cars.  But I rule when it comes to Car Town play.

I laid on Barbara's bed while watching an episode of Handy Mandy, first time I have watched that show in a long time.  It is Barbara's favorite cartoon.  I like it too.  Then we played an old favorite game of mine: Fireman, which is played on Barbara's bed.  We played that game for about an hour and I never tire of playing, except we got hungry so we quit.

I cut paper on the living room floor while GGM did some embroidery work. 

 For some reason over here, I always have to pick up things when we finish with them.  We don't have that rule at my house... and my toys are everywhere.  Barbara says if I want to play with something,  I will know where it is at her house.  She hopes picking up after myself will become a habit.

I wanted to take a bath, but when I got in there I decided I would rather take a shower.  I got to turn on the water, adjust the water temperature, and turn on the shower.  I played with my soldiers, pretending it was raining.  I put in the tub stopper so I could pretend I was in the ocean.   I got to turn off the shower too.  I know the important thing is to make sure the water is not too hot.

 I spent a lot of time playing with this building set.  It takes a steady hand to put these together.  Sometimes I am a little bit to rough and it comes apart, so I have to put it back together in places.

We baked our 15 pound turkey today.  The only thing I did was salt and pepper it before it was put in the oven.  I wanted to help carve it, but I had to go home before we got to start that project.

Bridget drove to my house this evening after she got off work.  Mommy, Bridget, and I set up our Christmas tree and put on the lights.  We will put on decorations another day.  It is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

I woke up at 6:45a and crawled into Mimz bed.  When I was really ready to wake up I was full of energy and I played hard all morning long.

I have played with Pattern blocks before, but lost interest quickly, but Mimz gave them to me to play with again, and I had a great time with them.  I made several patterns.  I guess I am at the right age for that activity.

Mimz took me to my first 3D movie late this morning.  It was a Disney movie with a lot of action.  Mimz said she went to a 3D movie when she was a girl and they have improved.  The glasses have certainly changed and the quality is very clear now. 

Happy 80th birthday, Grammie.

Aunt Lisa and Uncle Dan invited about 20 people to a surprise birthday party for Grammie.

Mommy, Grandma, and Barbara went shopping for some clothes to take on their Alaskan cruise that is planned for this June.   I spent the afternoon with Daddy over at Mimz' home.

Daddy grilled while I played with Peyton and Brook.  

Daddy fixed bacon and eggs for my breakfast.  I played while he cooked. It sure smelled good.

Mommy and I went to the Woodland's mall to do some shopping.

 I got to ride the Carousel...

 ...which I always enjoy. 

 As we were leaving we noticed Santa Claus sitting waiting for children to come visit him.  I was so ready for this.  I sat nicely on his lap and smiled big for the picture.  When he asked me what I wanted, I had a hard time thinking of anything (does that mean I have all I need?).  I said Power Rangers.  I already have plenty of Power Rangers, but that was the first thing I could think of.
After we left, I asked Mommy how Santa Claus could remember me and what I asked for.  I found it almost unbelievable.

This was an odd day.  Nothing was routine.  GGM had a bad sore throat and they didn't want her to take care of Anna Kate, so for the first time Anna Kate rode along to take me to school. 

Barbara brought her into my house and Anna Kate sat on the sofa with me to get our picture taken.
I got to eat pizza at school today.

While I was at school, Barbara and Anna Kate took GGM to a doctor's appointment to find out that she did not have strep throat, just a bad sore throat.  Anna Kate stayed in car with Barbara.  GGM had not come out of the doctor's office, so they left to come pick me up from school.  Anna Kate slept the entire trip.  She sure is a good baby.
I was ready to get home because I knew Brad was off work today and he said we could go for a bike ride.  The drive from school to Tomball took FOREVER because of the traffic, rain, construction and more traffic.We didn't have to wait on GGM, she was waiting for us.

When we got home, Brad was not home.... so sad.  We took Anna Kate upstairs, still keeping her away from GGM.  I had some homework to do, so Barbara and I colored a turkey and talked about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving.  We were waiting for Anna Kate to fall asleep, so Barbara and I could go pick up a prescription for GGM.  GGF watched sleeping AK, the 15 minutes we were gone.

Barbara had a gift for me: a globe.  She has been wanting us to study the Earth.  We found Houston, then Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nigeria, the North and South poles, and the equator.  We will keep studying so we can both learn some new things.

We had to quit studying my globe because Brad arrived home.  I was so excited, knocking on the window to get Brad's attention.  He waved back.  I said, "I'm out of here!" and I scampered down the stairs and out the door as fast I my legs would carry me.  Brad needed to go inside for a bit, so I just rode up and down my street (just the dead-end part of the street.) until he came back outside so we could go for a ride.  It was just misting a little bit of rain, but not enough to keep us from riding. 


When we got back, we both worked on waxing his old convertible.  When we finished it was sort of dark and Mommy was on her way get me.  Mommy took me to McDonald's for a Happy Meal.

I was so very good all day.  I just wanted more attention from Barbara than she had time to give me, since GGM was staying in her room and not available to help with Anna Kate or me. 

I was in bed by 8pm and didn't wake up until 7 this morning and I was starving, so the very first thing I did was eat breakfast.  I told Mimz I would like a pair of house shoes, so she will shop for a pair for me.

I was ready for school early and was really looking forward to see my friends.  I have enjoyed going to School in the Pines since I was 18 months old.  I think I started only going two days a week, then three days a week, and now I go Monday through Friday from 9 to 1.  Some of the children in my class have been with me this entire time.

 Mimz took me to the mall.  We had a great time.  I ran, jumped, and climbed in the playground.

 It is an indoor playground so the weather is always perfect to play on this playground.

 Mimz treated me to an ice cream cone.

 Daddy has to take mashed potatoes and gravy to work tomorrow for his office Thanksgiving dinner.  I helped cut up the potatoes.  Daddy also was taking a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.  While Mimz was there picking it up, she thought of my GGF and how much he likes cheesecake, so she bought him a beautiful piece.  Daddy and I took it over to him on our way home.  When we drove up, Brad was just getting home, so he came over to talk to Daddy, GGF, and me.  It was dark and we could not go for a bike ride.  We didn't stay but for a few minutes.  After we left GGF invited Brad inside so he could share his cheesecake.  Barbara filled a "boat" for Brad to take home and enjoy.  I heard later that both GGF and Brad enjoyed Mimz' gift. Great Grandpa appreciated Mimz thoughtfulness.
  

November 19, 2014
I had been happy all morning.  Mommy took me to Mimz home.  Mimz had fixed me a bowl of apple and cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast and had it sitting in the microwave.  All of a sudden I decided I was not going to eat. Mimz said okay and she went outside to talk to Junior about the flowers he was going to plant.  When she came back inside, I ran to her with a big smile saying I could smell the oatmeal but I couldn't find it.  I said the good smell made me hungry.  By the time oatmeal was on the table, I was starving.  I ate every bite.   The rest of the morning went smoothly and I did all of my morning routine without complaining.

School was routine today.

I had a fun afternoon playing with Peyton and Brook.  Later Skyler and Know came over.  The five of us had a very fast and funny soccer game.  We played until dark.  I was so tired I had a hard time holding my head up at the dinner table.  I was in bed by 8pm. 

I was such a happy, agreeable boy this morning.  That sure makes it easy for Mommy, Barbara, and Mimz to get me ready for school.  It was 38 degrees outside when it was time for Barbara to take me to school, so I chose to wear my big heavy coat and my beanie and my black gloves.  I now have three pairs of gloves in my school backpack.  They are stuffed in three different pockets.  Now I can always find them and have a choice of which ones I want to wear.

I took my lunch to school but didn't eat it.  We had our Thanksgiving Feast at school so I ate that instead of my lunch.

 I brought home a Pilgrim's vest,

a Pilgrim's hat,

 and an Indian's feathered headband, all things I made while learning about Thanksgiving at school.

As usual on the drive home from school, I asked if Uncle Brad was home since it was Tuesday and he often is off on Tuesdays.  The answer was that he was.  I was so very happy because that meant I probably would get to go on a bike ride with him.  But before we got home, we had to go to Randle's to get an ingredient for some recipe.  I wanted Barbara to drop me off at home before going to the grocery store, but she wouldn't.  She said GGM was busy taking care of Anna Kate and could not be outside to watch me, so I would just have to wait a few more minutes.

Brad was at home.  He was working in the yard, but he was ready to stop so we could go for a ride.  We had a plan: a ride in the neighborhood, come back to work in the yard some more, then a long ride to the park.  I was game for that.  I am so good at riding my new bike.  I know I have to mind Brad while on these rides for my own safety.  He is the adult and knows how to watch for cars and keep me safe.

I helped rake up tons of pine needles. 

When we finished, we were off for our long ride to the park.  I also get to play in the playground.  I wore my heavy coat, because it was medium cool.

Back home I rode my bike around my deadend street.  Grandma came over for about 15 minutes.  She held Anna Kate for a couple minutes, talked business with Barbara and GGF, then she had a few minutes to play baseball with me. 

I showed her how I can toss the ball in the air, swing the bat, and hit the ball.   After she left Barbara came out to play baseball with me.  We played a long time, until we started getting cold.  The sun was starting to go down and the temperature was dropping.

Anna Kate had a ten minute melt down.  We think she must have had a tummy ache.  Poor baby girl.  Hope that doesn't happen again.  I don't like to see her crying and probably hurting.  She can't tell us what is wrong, so we just had to guess.

Kristan came to get her baby and I told her about my day: Thanksgiving Feast, two bike rides, working in the yard, playing baseball, and listening to Anna Kate cry so very hard and our not knowing how to make her feel better.   Kristan was interested in all the things I talked about.

While we waited for Mommy to come get me, we played basketball.  GGM sat in her computer chair and I tried to shoot the ball over her head and behind her chair to score.  She just had to get the ball to hit the opposite wall to score.  I think the final score was 9 to 2, my favor.

Oh, I had a stack of four games, to take home, so Mommy, Daddy, and I could play them.  I will have to show them how to play.

Routine morning:  Mommy took me to Mimz, Mimz took me to school.  We had some time before we had to leave for school, so Mimz and I worked on my Lego kit.  We didn't finish, so Mimz decided she would pick me up from school and keep me the rest of the afternoon, so we could work on the Lego kit more and just have more time together.

Mimz noticed that my upper middle teeth are almost completely worn down.  We will have to talk with the dentist to see what we need to do to keep this from happening to my adult teeth.  Maybe I will need a sleep guard.


While I was at school Mimz bought some pansies for Junior to plant in her yard, got some keys made, and got her car inspected.   We went on a bike ride.  I was not too cold, but I think Mimz was so we didn't ride too long.  After surgery you get cold easily.

I finished the Fire Station Lego kit that was a birthday gift from Hank.  I played with it this afternoon.  At some point we will take it apart, put all the pieces and the instructions in the box and then rebuild it at a later date.

 I really wanted to climb a tree today.  The only tree Mimz had that I could climb was this crepe myrtle.


 

It was a rainy day.  We just stayed home.  Mommy is going to get some games, puzzles, blocks, etc  from Grandma and from Barbara so I will have them to play with at my house. 

I've been looking forward to this day.  It's a Guy Day.  Well, before Guy Day started, Mommy took me to get a heavy coat because my heavy coat from last year is too small and we are having a cold front with temperatures in the low 30s.  We also bought me a beanie to keep my head warm.

Daddy and I both got hair cuts this morning.

Daddy and I went to Big Mason's soccer game so I really needed that heavy coat.

In fact, Daddy was afraid I would still be cold so he put his coat on top of my own.  He said he was fine without his coat.

Look at that big trophy Big Mason earned!

We spend the rest of the day at Big Mason's house with Big Mason's dad watching football and just hanging out having Guy Time.

 Today was an interesting day for Anna Kate.  OU and Texas Tech played each other today.  Uncle Andy is an OU fan, Aunt Kristan is a Texas Tech graduate, so she was going to be a winner no matter what!

I really like to pick out what clothes I will wear.  Generally I am given a choice between two shirts and two pairs of underwear and maybe pants. I don't always make the best choices but I get to wear what I want.  No reason to battle over clothes.

You would not believe the amount of playground gravel I bring home in my shoes.  This came out of one shoe today.  Barbara tells me to empty my shoes over the trashcan instead of ripping them off and letting the mulch fall on the floor.   This is when she says, "Child!"

We stopped at Panda Express on our way home from school.  Grandpa got his normal Honey Walnut Shrimp plus he tried Orange Chicken.  I tried the chicken and I ended up eating five pieces of it.

Today we were pretty wild playing Dream Snatchers, Dodge Ball, Football, and Car Town.  We haven't played rough and tough games since Anna Kate "came to town."  And I don't mind.  But I sure had fun playing wild and rough today in the Big TV room.

Barbara and GGM have been shocking me the past few days.  They told me about static electricity and showed me how I could rub my clothes against the sofa as I walked around it, then very slightly touch their skin and "Yikes!"  We must have done that a couple dozen times.  We tried to rub a balloon against our hair and make it stand on end but that didn't work as well as it should have. 
********
Barbara is writing this:  "Mason just amazes me.  I know I am very very prejudice, but he seems to have such a great memory.  Today he came up to me while I was at my computer.  We were talking about computers and I asked if he remembered us using a web cam.  "Yes, we talked to GGM and GGF."  I asked if he remembered what his favorite thing to ask them was?  "Yes, do you have on shoes and socks? and they would have to lift up their feet to show me.  And I would show them my feet, which were never without either socks or both socks and shoes."  Then I reminded him that he used to say something several times during a conversation that would always make my parents laugh out loud, but I couldn't think of what it was at that moment.  He said, "Bush!"  He was right.  I couldn't recall but he sure did.  He wanted to know why they would laugh at the word "Bush."  I said they laughed because it made him happy.  He got a silly look on his face, like "why would that make me happy?"

He would have been three years old then, but he still remembered those things.  How amazing is that?   He does things like that all the time.  I sure wish I could see him in a classroom so I could see if he is as bright as I think he is.   

Another example of his memory.  At his birthday party Sept 20th, he was given a Lego's kit.  He was given lots of gifts, so I took the Lego's kit and hid it, thinking he didn't need it right then.  Well, today he spied that kit.  He said, "Is that for Christmas and I was not supposed to see it?"   I said I was saving it for later.  He said, "Oh, please couldn't we do it now?"  I told him we don't play Lego's over here any more because we don't want Baby Girl to find a dropped piece.  He said, "She is not here today.  Please can we work it?"  So I got it down off the closet shelf.  He said, "Hey, this is the present Hank gave me for my birthday."  Remember his birthday was almost two months ago and he saw this present for about 30 seconds when he removed the wrapping paper.  And he still knew this.   
*********

We didn't finish building the Lego Kit before Mommy came to pick me up, so we boxed it up and I'll take it over to Mimz house to finish it. 

 I did 95 % of the work all by myself.