Mason's first haircut!

He could have gone longer without one, but he had some very long curls going on behind his ears and on top of his head. At "school" he has even gotten pony tails put in his hair (by request) when the girls were getting their hair done too. So today was the day. I googled and found a place that looked like a lot of fun. We settled on lions and tigers and hair.

When we walked in they had Mason play for a while to get comfortable. Train tables, a tunnel type playing area with big wooden blocks and trucks, and a play kitchen in back.

Here he is getting in the chair, not looking so sure of what is going on.

Magic cape going on, and a fun basket of toys - Elmo, bob the builder, and many i didn't recognize:

At first they cut off they big curls so that we could save them:

Eventually Mason ignored the cutting and got to playing with the stuff in the basket

We got a certificate:

And the finished product:

(check back...he is napping right now)

The start to Mason's 2nd Birthday

Mason work up asking to play with trains. So we figured this was the perfect time to give him half of his presents...since they were trains! He understands opening presents now, but he does ask for help in getting them started.

Wyatt was very interested in what Mason was doing. Mason was happy to show Wyatt his toys, but did not want to give Wyatt one to play with. Oh the fun of sharing that will develop once Wyatt starts reaching for and wanting toys.

Mason is opening his new Thomas back pack that was picked out at The day out with Thomas

Proud backpack owner trying it out...although he is reluctant to put things in it yet. He is still carrying his treasures in his hands.

Mason's favorite breakfast food...and well food in general is waffles. So this being a birthday breakfast it needed a little embellishment: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, sprinkles, a little vanilla ice cream, and of course syrup. We put a candle on top and sang happy birthday. I was getting ready to tell him how to blow out the candle, and he did it on his own without any prompting!

Here is the birthday boy enjoying his wonderful birthday breakfast. And with a breakfast like this, who has time to use a fork?

This is the first birthday that we celebrated where it has felt like it has been understood. I don't know if Mason gets that this day is the day he was born - but he understands that today is about him and special. It is so wonderful to be able to make him smile and laugh with something as simple as sprinkles. It makes me so sad for the kids out there who don't have this ability to have parents to make them laugh and celebrate and love them. All of the kids who are waiting for adoptive or foster homes.

A day out with Thomas!

A while ago i heard about a couple of really neat train events, and Mason was mildly interested in trains then. We signed up for the day out with Thomas thinking it would be fun...well he has since gotten a train table and become obsessed with Thomas. This was probably one of the best ways we could have kicked off his birthday week! If you haven't heard of it check out A day out with Thomas and the venue where it was held Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton, CA (Santa Cruz mountains) which is a great place to go to ride trains, even when Thomas isn't visiting. We are thinking of going camping and taking the train from the redwoods to the boardwalk!

My parents came up from Monterey to meet us. Mason is just short of two years old here, and Wyatt is 11 weeks, yes he is huge - almost off the charts and bigger than many 6 month olds. For 30 minutes after Thomas pulls into the station you are able to pose for photos with him, and of course we did!

In addition to riding Thomas they had all kinds of stations set up!

The stick your face into a silly picture station:

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The ever popular face painting, Mason's first

Not too shockingly, train tables. I was shocked however at how all the toddlers who did not know each other shared the trains and got along with each other.

There was an art station with coloring book type papers to color/paint, and they had stamps to use...on yourself of course!

They had an electric train set up:

Sir Toppenhat was there, looking a bit strange if I do say so:

Then the main event. We were in the very last car, and the only covered car. While you are on the train they give you a Jr. Conductor certificate! Mason loved the 25 minute ride through the redwoods:

We skipped the temporary tattoo station because there was a line, and honestly Mason didn't have any skin available to get one :) I don't have a picture of the BARN that was turned into a store. They had everything Thomas you could imagine. It worked out perfectly for us since a certain little man has his second birthday coming up.

Mason had his first creamsicle that his Grandpa bought him. Mason wasn't too sure of this whole cold thing.But to be fair he is getting his molars in and his teeth are sensitive now.

and here is Wyatt enjoying a full belly

On our way out we had to sit on the inflatable Percy, who Mason knows by name.

So all in all, it was an awesome day. I highly recommend it to parents of all toddlers - both boys and girls will enjoy it, but especially Thomas fans. We spent probably about 4 hours there, but you could do it in 2 or 6. We for sure will be back for this next year, and we may even be visiting roaring camp before Thomas comes back.

In case you forget our birth order

I'm the big brother. I have a shirt to prove it. I also like to yell alot these days:

I'm the little brother, my shirt says so.

We like hanging out together:

Cheese Factory

Looking for a small adventure today we headed out to the cheese factory, about 15 minutes from my house.

They have a grassy picnic area and a lake - perfect for a two year old to explore and run around for an hour or two. It was so nice out there today, quiet and breezy!

I have no idea if these wheels have any use in cheese making- but they are on a pivot of some sort, and on a cement track. Mason enjoyed pushing them around, and walking along the track:

Then we headed over the lake area. We walked across a bridge, played on fallen logs, heard crows cawing, and ran up and down hills:

Since Wyatt is always attached to me in the Moby he doesn't get in too many photos of our adventures:

Mason kept saying choo-choo and I had no idea why...until I looked at the shape of this tank. He learned today that this is a propane tank. But I can see how through his eyes it would be a train car...right shape!