Dictionary.com

My boys have discovered dictionary.com. Now before you imagine scholarly young children looking up meanings to difficult words and expanding their vocabulary, let me explain just WHY they love the website. They discovered that when you look up a word, not only are you provided with the definition, but there is also an icon that, when clicked, speaks the pronunciation. There are two words that I have heard over and over and over tonight. Follow these links and then click on the little volume icon after the syllable breakdown of the word. Welcome to the life of a mom in a house full of boys!
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=diarrhea
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/poo%20poo

A Torch!?

Mason just called me at work, and I think it's worthy of a blog post. Here's how the conversation went:

Mason: Hi, mom. Remember when Marcus did that experiment at Grammy's? He had...(at this point I'm only half listening because Mason often calls me at work and rambles on until I tell him I have to get back to work. I thought that's how this conversation was shaping up)...ice, tin foil and a torch...
Me: WHAT?
Mason: You know - ice, tin foil and a torch. I have all of those things laid out, but I can't remember what other things I need.
Me: A Torch?! Where's Grandma??!!
Mason: Putting the baby to sleep in his crib.
Grandma: I'm here, I'm here. The torch doesn't work, and he's trying to talk me in to giving him the one that's up on the shelf (that would be Blake's heavy duty shop torch!). Don't worry - everything's under control.

Under control - with Mason in the picture - yeah right! Life at the Baysinger house - never dull.

Volume Control

My friend, Sharon, shares a hilarious story on her blog about a three year old in a public restroom, and it made me think of a funny Mason story. Imagine that!

When Mason was about three, it seemed that every single time we went in to the Family Christian bookstore, he would have to use their restroom. AND - it was always a #2 trip - never just a quick potty. I'll never forget one time in particular. It was almost closing time, and the employees were all in the back of the store right outside the restroom. I was inside with Mason as he was completing the task at hand. Out of blue, in full Mason volume he shouts, "MOM...we don't EAT poop!" I was mortified. I turned up my own volume and said, "Why would you say that? No one's eating poop!" I opened the door a bit to make sure EVERYONE could hear and said again, "No one's eating poop!" At that point, the store manager walked by, and I have a feeling he hadn't heard Mason's original comment based on the look of complete bewilderment on his face.

I hurried Mason out the door leaving our intended purchases behind - along with any sliver of pride I had left. What possessed that child to have to poop every time we went in that store, I'll never know. I'm just thankful that stage is over, but I still avoid eye contact with the store manager whenever I'm shopping there. It's not that difficult - he seems to be avoiding me for some reason, too!

Happy Easter

Because lots and lots of visitors attend our church on Easter morning - not to mention the Creasters (attend on Christmas and Easter only) - we opted to attend the 8 am service today. The fact that 8 am attenders were lured with donuts was by no means a factor in our decision...I promise!

Mason was eating one of the aforementioned donuts during the worship service when Max spotted it. He began pointing and saying "dee" which is his all-inclusive word for anything he wants. Mason generously gave him a very small bite and Max was hooked. He began aggressively signing the word "more", and because I was so proud of him for using his sign language skills, I let him keep signing and eating donut bites. After about 5 bites, Mason decided he was done sharing and stuffed the ENTIRE amount of remaining donut into his mouth. No kidding - it was over 1/2 the donut! There was an older couple sitting behind us, and the man got so tickled he was laughing out loud.

I didn't mean to disrupt the Easter service. But since most people at the early 8 am service are old time believers anyway - I think it was OK. Plus - don't tell me that God doesn't get tickled at two brothers fighting over a donut...especially when one of the brothers ends up with chipmunk cheeks!

Baysinger Firsts

This weekend, Marcus had his first official date! Kaylie is a friend from school, but it looks like they're taking it to the next level! I got to act as chaperone...which means I sat in the backseat as Marcus drove to the dinner destination, got out and drove myself home, drove back to pick them up and then got back in the backseat. Marcus took her to the country club for dinner - he said he wanted to start by setting the bar high. He was such a gentleman - opening her door and such. She is a sweet, Christian girl. I love her and already have wedding invitations picked out!

Today Max kicked a ball for the first time. I'm sure he could have done it before, but he really gave it a good kick today and it was so fun to watch him chase it and keep kicking! He also said his first two word sentence. He was looking at a photo of Marcus and said, "Dat Bubba". Precious!

Now...why is it that Mason's first is the wildest, funniest first? Why does this child test my patience every single day? Why, why,why? Max had a doctor's appointment and Mason went along. As we were in the little waiting room, I was trying to keep Max out of the hazardous waste, and when I turned around Mason had climbed up on the exam table, pulled out the stirrups (yes...those stirrups) and was lying on his back, knees bent with his feet in them! I shrieked because the site was just so bizarre. Mason is now upset because of the look on my face, so he gets down and slams them back in the table (metal on metal = loud). I'm just thankful that the doctor didn't come in right then. When he finally did come in, he said he was going to look in Max's mouth, and went toward the tongue depressors. Mason said, "You're welcome to just use one of these", and he pulled out a bunch that he'd swiped from the canister. I hope those don't end up on our bill!

More Mason

Mason: Is it illegal to kiss girls?
Uncle John: (laughing) Why?
Mason: There's a policeman at my school, and he's been watching me.

Mason: How do you get old?
Me: What do you mean?
Mason: Like - how does your skin go from being young and normal to old and crunchy?

If the students in Mason's preschool class get all of their table work done, then they get to play in various centers. Mason NEVER gets his table work done because he visits and daydreams.
Me: Did you get to play in centers today?
Mason: Yes.
Me: That's great - you got your table work done!
Mason: No - I snuck in.

Me: When you play at school, do you play with the boys or girls?
Mason: I play with the girls when they play house.
Me: Do you help protect them against the bad guys?
Mason: No way - I AM the bad guy!

Spring Break

Spring Break at the Baysingers...

• My brother, his wife and daughter along with my boys and I took a minivan ride to visit our dad near the Lake of the Ozarks. It was a short visit, but a good visit. Max had their house destroyed within the first 5 minutes of the visit, and I'm sure they'll have to call in a housekeeping service to restore things.
  
• We stayed at a resort that looked lovely on the website. I guess the website must have been built in 1985, though.
  
• There was some sort of concert going on in a ballroom near our room, so I was lulled to sleep with a combination of Max's crying and a bad rendition of "Moon River".
  
• I have always and will always love a good outlet mall. Osage Beach has a great outlet mall and I came home with receipts to prove it...well - I destroyed the receipts, but I have a closet full of stuff to prove it.
• Max's bottom DOES NOT double as a credit card machine, though Mason attempted to swipe his room key card to find out. Debit or credit? Poor Max - it's tough being the baby.
• Mason is a daredevil and proved it on the water slides at our hotel. Yes - there was an indoor water park!
  
• I will always be a small town girl at heart. ElDorado Springs, Missouri could be my new hometown. There was a small grocery store in which you could actually FIND the things you want - unlike our new Dillons that sells furniture and vacuum cleaners, for pete's sake! And when we stopped at Sonic, I noticed that almost every car had its windows rolled down and the occupants were visiting with the people in the cars next to them. So small town.