The Big Apple

I HEART NYC :) I heart NYC more in the winter time. This past weekend I went with my mom, sister, and mother-in-law to the BIG APPLE! We had such a great time. I love going when it is cold and even when it snows! However, it was not too cold of weather this time.....last January when Jenny, Laura, Kristen and I went it was -9 wind chill FREEZING!!! We arrived Friday and jumped off the plane and headed to Canal street. We then went back to the hotel to get ready for our nice dinner out at STKhouse! What an AMAZING dinner! I think we can all say our favorite was the steak fries....oh and of course our steaks :) Then after dinner we headed to The View restaurant and lounge for Dessert! The View is in the Marriott Marquis and it rotates with views of Times Square! The next day, like always, we woke up EARLY and headed out for more shopping, sight seeing, and EATING :) We finally headed back to the hotel, Hyatt Grand Central, and got ready for the theatre. We went to see Grease. I loved all the music..I was kinda disappointed that the play did not follow the story and was different than the movie...OH WELL I still had a great time. After the theatre we headed to Carmines for a post theatre dinner at 11:00pm :) Then we decided it was about time to head back to get ready for flight home the next day. Before we left on Sunday, we ate at a diner called Pershing square...GREAT BREAKFAST!! Sunday was by far the COLDEST day we were there. We all had a BLAST and await our next trip to NYC...hopefully around Christmas time :)

Standing in the taxi line

Our UPGRADED room...View of The Chrysler Building (don't know if I would really call this an UPGRADE)

Standing in the Hyatt lobby

Sisters :)

Eating a hot dog on Canal Street YUMMMMMM :)

Times Square

Our visit to Fox News...it was OFF air :(

My sister, mom, and me

Before the theatre


the fam
Grease....was not too happy with this show, but loved the music
Our Grease Souvenirs
Our last dinner at Carmines before we left :(

The Miracle Worker

Mason wakes up from his second nap a little cranky. He only wants to be held, doesn't want any snack, won't play with his toys, and FUSSES! Ever since he was 3 months old Mason has had this video Sesame Street's Sing Along. He has never really been one to be STILL....EVER!! He's always on the go and into EVERYTHING. Well recently Sesame Street's Sing Along is just what Mason has needed. After his second nap one day I took him to watch Sesame Street's Sing Along. Let me tell you the tears stopped flowing, the smile came back, and he danced and watched the video for the WHOLE 30 minutes. MIRACLE :) Now after his second nap he asks to watch his video...he leads us to the DVD player and starts to dance ;) Well this morning I was playing it while I got ready for the day. We left the room it was playing and went to my bathroom to finish getting ready. We could still hear the movie from our bathroom. Oh....did I mention I have all the songs MEMORIZED....apparently so does Mason. Well the saxaphone started playing the song Old McDonald Had A Farm. Right when Mason heard the music he ran to the room and started singing E-I-E-I.....before the words even came on. (He doesn't have the -O- part down yet :) What a smart cutie I have on my hands!

Come Clean

Ok....I am copying this from a person I BLOG STALK :)

Time to come clean Blog Stalkers!! It was fun for a while watching my stat counter rise everyday, but now I am CURIOUS! It all started over Christmas. We went to Sunday Church...and low and behold I saw this girl standing a far. I was racking my brain "who is that...I know her...how do I know her...WHO IS SHE?" Then it hit me...it was a girl who I Blog Stalk!! So crazy running into someone you have never met, but know you "know" them especially when they aren't even from Katy. SMALL WORLD!! Thank goodness she has seen my blog too and I was not the only one!! Marcus thinks I am crazy reading other's blogs that I don't know....He will walk in and say WHO IS THAT? I simply answer "I don't know" :) I love reading about other cuties around the same age as Mason and I love getting IDEAS mostly!! Anyways, come clean WHO ARE YOU?

Knock Knock.....WHO'S THERE?

Katy Police!!! WHAT!! That's right...the other afternoon we had a stern knock at our front door. I thought for a moment...who in the world??? Well Marcus, Mason and I went to open the door to find a Katy Police officer standing there. Yep....Mason with phone in hand had called the police. The officer wanted, for precautionary reasons, to take a look around the house....IT WAS MIDDAY! So he took a look around and WE TOOK THE PHONE FROM MASON :) and replaced it with his PLAY cell phone. I was happy to know they only took a few minutes to get to us! BUT, calling the police is ONLY for emergencies.

January 5, 2002

This day 6 years ago I married my wonderful husband and most AMAZING father, Marcus! We celebrated our anniversary this year with a night out. We had a great dinner at Americas and hotel stay at the Intercontinental Hotel. (thanks priceline.com $60...what a steal) My parents came to stay with the lil guy while we enjoyed our night....thanks bunches!! WOW 6 wonderful years...(actually more since we dated for 3 1/2 before we got engaged :) many memories, a son we are so thankful for, I just can't wait to see what the next 6+ years holds for us. Each year gets better and better!! Marcus, THANK YOU for putting up with me, taking care of Mason and me, and giving our family more than we could ever dream of!



Memorable Moments from the past 6 years: We were talking during our night out remembering the "memorable moments" in our marriage....it was fun to see what moments stuck out in my head and the ones Marcus remembered. Most of the funny ones were from our first year of Marriage!!!!



My most memorable moment:
I came home in January (shortly after the honeymoon) from getting my hair cut. Marcus was on the phone when I got home. It was CHASE credit card calling to verify the money that has been spent on the credit card. The CHASE employee was JUST CHECKING because in the last few days there had been more activity on the credit card than there had been in the past several months!!



Marcus' most memorable moment:
We decided to take a Saturday trip to Galveston to see the beach. We loaded up the cooler, towels, and headed down to the beach. Ever since high school I get REALLY bad fever blisters due to stress, sun, or extreme cold weather. I made sure I packed my lip balm SPF 30!! Well we got to the beach....laid around for a while, then decided we were gunna call it a day and go to dinner and head back home. Well if you know me.....you know I am one WHITE gal. I don't tan easily. You probably know where this is going. I was so concerned about getting a fever blister I did not pack any sun screen for me. If you know Marcus he looks like a different breed when he gets in the sun if you know what I mean. Long story short...I was a LOBSTER!! I could only take COLD showers, could barley move. I know it had to be a 3rd degree burn :) Anyways, I learned my lesson and will never burn like that again. I think I peeled 5 layers of skin off in the weeks to come.


Like I said before...I get fever blisters EASILY!! We headed off to Jamaica to stay where we stayed on our honeymoon! I learned quickly...TAKE SUNSCREEN. Well this time I was so concerned with scorching myself again...I did not apply my lip balm quite as often as I should have. By the end of our trip I had 6...yes 6 or more blisters that filled my whole bottom lip! I was know as BUBBA GUMP that trip :( Since then we have traveled to many beaches and I have learned my lessons...no LOBSTER and no BUBBA GUMP lips :)


Of course...one of the most memorable moments OF ALL....When I found out I was pregnant. We hadn't tried for too long and was so excited on January 12th to realize we were gunna have a baby!! My pregnancy was a roller coaster of emotions and Marcus was there for me every step....my morning/evening/day/ALL THE TIME sickness, my worrying through my first trimester due to a few scary situations, THE DELIVERY from you know where, and then my long road to recovery. I could not have done it without him by my side! (however next time NO EPIDURAL for me)


Watching my husband be the best father anyone could ask for. He is naturally a pro!! Marcus walks in the door from work....Mason drops everything and runs to him....I love that. (he also forgets about mama when daddeeeee is around) I love their special bond!

Yes...there are many many many more I could be here for a long while typing our most memorable moments. I love you, Marcus! Thank you for all the memories you have given me and the many more we will make together.

On to Antigua this summer....one of our gifts to each other.....a trip during the summer.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas started last Friday! Marcus' parents came to Houston and we celebrated Christmas with them over the weekend. We had such a great time and enjoyed their company. Then on Christmas Eve we drove to Austin to be with my family on Christmas Day. We had a wonderful time in Austin and it was great to see all the family. Christmas is our most favorite time of the year!! Here are a few pics of Mason's second Christmas.

Visiting Santa at La Centerra...The more we visited Santa the less Mason was scared of him...I was pointing to his hat....Mason LOVES HATS!!
My TWO handsome men before church!

Sunday, December 23rd: Christmas with the Schultz

We went to this shopping center in Katy called La Centerra over the weekend. To get a few last minute gifts :) They had many festive events going on througout the week and on Saturday night they had "SINGING SANTAS" I thought this would be fun for Mason....singing Santas.....but when we went to hear them sing...It was 1 Santa and he and his band weren't even singing Chrismtas Carols when we arrived they were singing "IF YOU LIKE PINA COLADAS.....HO HO HO.....GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN....HO HO HO" Yes the 1 singing santa was only singing the HO HO HO part!

Opening gifts on Sunday afternoon!!

Helping Uncle Monte open gifts

Mason loved his Kangaroo Climber....He SLID the WHOLE time while we opened gifts :)

Can you tell how much he loved his slide ;)

Another one of Mason's favorite places....siting in a BOX watching Daddio and Ganny D open their gifts ;) Another fun toy Mason plays with....he loves all the noises and the music it plays

December 24-25th: Christmas with my family

Mason LOVES his new chair!! It fits perfectly in his room next to daddy's chair ;) He loved to climb into the chair and just LOUNGE around.....and if you know my son HE IS NOT A LOUNGER...he can hardly sit still!!
Papa helping Mason open his Thomas the Train set and Tonka trucks!
Aunt Jenny pushing Mason around the house and outside in his new car!! Mason and I go to pump it up about 2 times a week...in their toddler room they have smaller sized jumping castles, slides and THESE CARS!! Many times when we go he just rides in the cars....so THANKS AUNT PAT for the CAR. Mason goes to the back door and says CAR when he wants to go ride in the car....too cute ;) It is getting chilli outside...gunna have to bundle up!
Playin' around in dadeeeeee's boots!!
Loving the back of my dad's truck!

OOPS!!! Mason pulled out all the wipes :)
Opening a gift on Christmas Eve

*We had such a great Christmas....Thanks for everything

ONE AMAZING GIFT!! Jenny's husband's sister has ONE AMAZING GIFT! Carrie hand draws portraits. She drew Mason from this picture below and Jenny, Paul, and Kylie gave this to us this Christmas! JUST LOOK AT THIS PORTRAIT! Carrie is GIFTED!! Visit her website at: http://www.cwportraits.com/ to see more of her AMAZING work!

ONE AMAZING GIFT: Below is the portrait Carrie drew of Mason! I can't wait to frame it and display it at our new home! I LOVE IT!! Another great thing about this gift....Carrie will scan and print off copies for you to give to others. I have a copy for you Ganny-D and Daddio...you will be amazed how Mason comes to life from this picture!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We were ELFED :)

Click below :)

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1473140893

Sold out in MINUTES!!!!

That's right! Hannah Montana is coming to Austin in January. You might say, "And why do you care?!?" Well my sister's daughter is in 3rd grade and would LOVE to go to the concert. From previous concerts Hannah Montana had performed in Houston and ALL over I knew the concert would sell out in minutes unless you want to pay the BIG BUCKS....and when I say big bucks I saw a group of 10 tix for $17,000!!! CRAZY!! It was in a box suite, but $1000 per ticket...I DON'T THINK SO. Well Jenny called and asked me and a few other friends to help her get tix like the rest of the common folk. (Thanks Whitney....even though the website was not accessable!!!) The tickets went on sale at 10:00am this morning. So around 9:15 I set up the computer with the website and my phones with the box office numbers. I just knew I was going to be the one to SCORE the unattainable tickets!! Well 10:00 rolls around and all I heard in my ear was a busy signal over and over and over again. And, well the website refreshed itself after every minute and IF you were lucky it would refresh itself to the MAIN page where you could buy the tickets. Well after a long 15 minutes of trying Jenny calls me!! SHE GOT THROUGH and got 4 tickets ON THE FLOOR for $66.00 a piece to see Hannah Montana. I was never the LUCKY one :( I was sooo pumped that she got them for Kylie....I just know she will light up on Christmas when she gets them in her stocking. The plan was Jenny, Paul, Kylie and a friend to go to the concert. However....I am 27 going on 14....and if Paul doesn't want to go I will GLADLY take his place. I have to see what all the HYPE is about... and I doubt Mason will ever want to go see Hannah Montana...he may think she is cute, but no dice....we probably won't be buying him and tickets to see her....but who knows!!

Marcus on the other hand.....If you know my husband.....BUY low and SELL high!! He wanted me to keep trying to get through to buy some tickets to sell higher since we knew it would be a sold out show. After I hung up with my sister...my computer refreshed to the MAIN page to buy tickets......I thought I MUST be lucky after all. Well, needless to say it must have already been sold out because when I went to purchase the tickets they weren't available in ANY price range. OH well!! Kylie is getting her tickets and that is all that matters ;)

You Be The Judge

So...what do you think....is My Heritage Look-alike Meter correct? I will let you be the judge ;) All I know is I have TWO VERY HANDSOME MEN!!!!

Christmas Favorites

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags are easier but I love wrapping gifts in paper!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial WITH LIGHTS ALREADY ON IT!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually around Thanksgiving...when family is there to help ;)

4. When do you take the tree down the tree? One year it was in March!! But usually right after Christmas or the New Year

5. Do you like egg nog? NO!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My 10 speed bike that was ran over the very same day I got it :)

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

8. Hardest person to buy for? MARCUS!!! famous quote "Don't get me anything"

9. Easiest person to buy for? ME :) now Mason :)

10.Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail (they are on their way)

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I am picking my battles...so not going to mention :)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street....The Grench Who Stole Christmas

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No....regifted YES!!

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? SWEETS....Hot Chocolate

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored....but love Clear

16. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Usually travel...but now with Mason we will stay home so he can get Santa on Christmas day at home :)

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Yes

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? P.J opened on Christmas eve...the rest Christmas Day

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year? They start putting decorations up way before Halloween!!!!

21 Favorite ornament theme or color? Red and Gold

22. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Ham, turkey, dressing

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A healthy family in the New Year/s to come

Smarty Pants

I know ALL moms think their child is smart....and they are!! It amazes me everyday how much Mason has learned in his short lil life. For instance:

Today:

Mason walks into the kitchen while I am cooking (YES that amazes me too...me cooking :)

He goes straight for the refrigerator points at it then says:

Mason: JUICE

Mom: Well go get your cup (in the living room with dad)

Mason leaves the the kitchen. I did not think he would come back...he had just had a full cup of milk.

Mason walks back CUP IN HAND and hands it to me!! Then says:

Mason: JUICE

I stand amazed at how much my lil guy knows, learns, comprehends just at 15months. I just had a conversation with my son and he totally understood!! What a big boy! I wonder just how much more he understands, but chooses not to listen to me :)

Here are some of the other things Mason is doing:

• Get me his shoes in the laundry room when he wants to go outside


• Go get his shoes out of his drawer when I say go get your shoes (HE LOVES HIS SHOES)


• Point at his snacks when he is hungry


• Gone to get his ball when I ask for it.


• Points to all the dogs, hats, cars, noses, ears in books, on t.v., or when we are out


• Comes to get my hand and takes me to what he wants


• Points at pictures and calls mama and dada while he points at us


• Blows kisses (my favorite)

As time goes by faster each month it amazes me to see how much Mason changes, grows and learns. We are forever blessed by this lil guy.

Fun Website

http://www.emailsanta.com/



Katy, TexasUnited States
#1, Rudolph WayNorth Pole,
CanadaHOHOHO
Friday, November 30, 2007

What a nice surprise Mason!
Thank you for sending me your email all the way from Katy! The Net sure is wonderful because now I can get emails from Katy and around the world in the blink of an eye. Even Rudolph gets emails... from pets! Why, here's Rudolph right now! HO!! Ho!! ho!! He just asked me to say 'Hi!' to you!
Well bless my whiskers, Mason! I still remember bringing you your very first Christmas present and here you are 1 years old already! I hope you are getting excited about Christmas because I am really looking forward to visiting your home! Rudolph said he's really excited about visiting your home too! I also hear you've been a REALLY REALLY good boy. (Of course, you won't mind if I do a little checking, will you? HO!! Ho!! ho!!).
Cookies? COOKIES?!? Did you say cookies?! Yum!! You know, I get asked a lot what kind of cookies I like best. Of course, I love *all* kinds of cookies, but what I like the most is when you leave me the kind of treats that *you* like best. (That way it's like we're sharing them!).
Let's see what you put in your letter for Christmas wishes: 1. car; 2. dog and; 3. hat. HO!! Ho!! ho!! I see you'd like a special little friend for Christmas! Whether you want a real puppy or just a pretend one, caring for a puppy takes a lot of work and love! Santa and Rudolph want to make sure all pets are loved and cared for (just like you!) so, just to be sure, we'll have to check with your family to make sure its ok with everyone. I hope you'll talk to your family about getting a puppy too. But remember, just because I can't bring you a puppy this year doesn't mean you don't deserve one. Sometimes the puppy you want needs extra special care or pets aren't allowed where you live. Of course, if you do get a puppy for Christmas, the two of you will have to email Rudolph every year to let him know how you're doing!
Oh! Oh! I guess I better go because one of the elves just unplugged the Northern Lights again! Take care Mason and don't forget to come back and visit me here at EmailSanta.com on Christmas Eve!! And remember... only 25 more sleeps until Christmas!!

With All My Heart,
Santa Clause

P.S. YUM! Those sure were some tasty goodies you sent me in your letter Mason! I hope its okay that I shared them with everyone here. You should see how fast they disappeared! Oh, wait! You CAN! HO!! Ho!! ho!!

P.P.S. I've attached a special postmarked copy of your email below so you can print it off and show it to all your friends or put it on your fridge.

Bitter Sweet

Our first home.....4 years later a new baby......and now moving on. If you know me, for a long time I have been wanting to move. I couldn't leave this house fast enough. I was ready to pitch a tent on our land we have on the Brazos. I could fish, WE COULD have survived. Ok, maybe a stretch. I don't think the HOA would have allowed it, but I was ready for something new. A new neighborhood, a bigger place, sidewalks to stroll Mason on, a front yard to play in (ours now is on a busy street), those are just a few things I wanted in our new home. Now that the time is getting near I look at our four walls (ok...i know there are many more) our roof which has kept us safe, and the home Marcus and I made here with our son, and will miss this little house we call home. It was the first home Mason ever knew. He sure does know it well now...where to run...where to hide...where he sleeps...where he takes his bath. It is his territory. I know moving will be a big adjustment for him, not knowing his surroundings, but I know this move is for the best. He will have tons of playing room, running room, hiding room, stairs to climb (we have mastered going up, but not quite down yet!! We will be working on this) a playground, and a pool (we will be enrolling for swimming lessons this summer) all to discover. I will have a work out facility(NO MORE EXCUESES) :) As for now our stuff still fills this house our life is still here, but when the day comes and we have to empty our first home I WILL be saddened, but excited for what lies ahead!

Work in progress:

Spic and Span Clean

My parents came down for a few days to visit Mason. While there were here they not only played non stop they cleaned, dusted, steam cleaned the carpet, scrubed the floors, cleaned upholstery all to help us get ready for our house to be sold! Can I say..."OUR HOUSE WAS DIRRRRTTTYYY" Marcus and I even went to have a nice steak dinner at Perry's Steakhouse. AWESOME steaks!! Thanks for all the help and for entertaining our lil guy:)

Very Thankful!

Mason's second Thanksgiving was full of family, food, football and fun. This year we stayed put and Marcus' parents traveled from Abilene to be with us on this Thanksgiving. (Thank you very much for driving all that way :) We had a big feast, tons of football watching and SHOPPING SHOPPING SHOPPING!! Yes, we ventured out on the day after Thanksgiving to hit the Malls for some great deals, however we seemed to buy the things that were NOT on sale. Mason stayed home with the boys and watched UT get beat by A&M!! The rest of the weekend we hung out and watched the cold rain pour down on Houston.

We did manage to get to Toys R Us for some more Christmas shopping.

There are some many things I am thankful for.....our precious son, my wonderful husband, our amazing families, our awesome friends, and the list could go on and on!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Mason loved his Turkey, Dressing, Mac and Cheese, Potatoes

I had great plans for Mason's Thanksgiving outfit...but dada let him pick out what he was going to wear!!

Mason handing out KISSES to Ganny D....he doesn't hand them out too often..take em' when you can get em'!!

Foundation...Whirlwind Weekends

YEAH!!! The foundation has been poured and next week the framing will go up. I never though I would see the day, but finally....our house is being built! No one told me that building a house could be quite stressful :)...well maybe a few people...but I sure did not listen. Oh well....our house will be on the market this weekend. We are doing a few things this weekend to get it ready to be sold. Since this is not the ideal time to sell....I hope someone will stumble across our house and want to call it theirs. And if they do.....WHERE ON EARTH are we going to go!! We haven't thought that far yet....our house will probably not be ready until March"ish" so if we sell before then we maybe living out of a bag, car, SOMEWHERE for a the time being! I just pray it all goes smoothly :)

On another note....we have been busy! The past few weekends we have spent at weddings and High School Reunions. By the way...I was talking with some of the girls who put Marcus' reunion together and they were saying it could take up to a year of planning just to get all the address together for the reunion. WELL those of you who read my blog and went to HS with me.....DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING BEING DONE FOR OUR HS REUNION NEXT YR? To be honest...I can't quite remember all of our officers who would be in charge.

Mason would have danced all night!! He would run up to the stage where the band was and just stare up at the band and dance ;)

He also loved the chocolate candies

Mom and Mason before he crashed.....SOOO TIRED!! Falling asleep....even with the band jamming out LOUDLY!! If you know my son....this was a miracle ;)
On the way home from our crazy fun weekend! Can you say BED HEAD!! He was pooped!

Now we are back and ready for the holidays....except this crazy weather! Hot one day Cold the next. Mason loves being outside so the weather really has been great for our walks and jogs we take quite often.

As for the next few months I will enjoy the Holiday Season, Pack, and have a 6th Anniversary!!