I know it has been forever since my last post and I am sorry! I have been busy this past month and it is getting harder and harder to find the time to post.

We did have a great vacation at Myrtle Beach with 15 of our closest friends earlier this month! The beach was lots of fun and the kids and adults really enjoyed the week. Caroline and I were both sad that Daddy didn't get to go with us though...maybe next year.

We are now getting ready for Caroline's iCarly birthday party this weekend. It is so hard to believe on August 4th she will be 6.

Can you believe it is already July? Our parents were right when they told us," the older you get the faster time flies." I am sure everyone is busy getting ready for the 4th and we hope everyone has a very happy and safe one!!! I think we are just going to hang out around the house and grill and probably make some homemade ice cream. Oh yeah, and go to the fireworks!

Well I haven't posted in a few weeks...sorry. We haven't been doing to much on the weekends...trying to take a break. Caroline is definitely enjoying her summer!!! I think she goes swimming everyday. She is now a level 2 gymnast, so that means more time at the gym. Thank goodness it is not every week though. She has also started on her new solo dance, it is a ballet to, " I Can Only Imagine." I think it is going to be really good. She enjoys dancing so much!!!

Still trying to get over the fact that my friend Capers is in heaven now. His wife had a major heart attack last Monday night and as of yesterday she had not been released from the hospital...please pray for her and the rest of the family.

On a brighter side, Caroline spent the night away at her best friend Jessica's house for the first time last Friday night. Everyone told be to be prepared to receive a phone call from her begging to come home and I did! It was so hard not to jump in the car and go get her...in Lyons...but I knew she was just tired and would fall asleep within seconds of the phone call. Sure enough, not even 5 minutes later Jessica's mom text me to let me know she had fallen asleep and was ok. Since all was well with her, Cliff and I got up Saturday morning and enjoyed a few hours fishing together...I don't think we had been fishing by ourselves since Caroline has been born. And of course, I caught the biggest one! Later that night we attended Molly's dance recital...she did so good...we are so proud of her!

A Friend Remembered

What should have been a day of fun and relaxation turned to tragedy and sorrow. It all started with a phone call I received this morning around 8 o'clock. My friend Capers Phillips had been killed late Sunday night. I could not believe what my ears were hearing...it couldn't be true...I had just seen him Friday! I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with Mr. Capers Friday...he had picked me up a remote for my garage while in Augusta on a doctors visit...of course I fussed about the price and then Mr. Capers joked about the fact that even though he had built my house 2 1/2 years ago I still thought that he should fix everything that went wrong...we always enjoyed teasing each other and I am really going to miss him! My heart is broken and I pray for Ms. Deloris and the rest of the family to find peace and healing with God by their side.

Mr. Capers I hope there is a race track in heaven!

Dancer of the Year!

Caroline's was named Dancer of the Year Saturday night at her dance recital. She did such a good job on both of her solos and her 3 duos. She was very excited when she got her pink trophy!

Caroline doing her "I'm Cute" tap dance solo!

Caroline and her dance instructor Ms. Cherry

Today is Caroline's last day of kindergarten and she is sad :-( ...she says she doesn't want to go to the 1st grade...she wants to go to Miss Beverly's class tomorrow...I tried to tell her that tomorrow was Saturday. I can't believe the school year is already over!!! It seems like only yesterday I was getting her ready for the first day...now I'm sad. She is growing up so fast!

Can you believe how cold it has been this week? We had to pull out winter clothes for Caroline. Can you believe she only has 1 1/2 more days of school left? She is so excited about Miss Haley keeping her this summer! I hope Miss Haley is up to the challenge!

Well, our weekend was some what low key. Friday night we went over to the Hammock's for food, fun, and cards...thanks Robin for bringing the frozen drink maker. Saturday we had the annual Thompson BBQ at the pond behind mom's...lots of fun! And, Sunday we attend church at Mt. Shady Baptist and really enjoyed the sermon. Afterwards, we headed over to mom's for a great lunch...sorry about the banana pudding...you know I only use instant pudding mix when I make mine. For Supper Club we ate at Zaxby's courtesy of the Hammocks...they said something about being at the farm all day and not having time to cook...we know they just took the easy way out!!!

Well here it is Friday and I haven't even told you about last weekend. Friday night we helped host a shower for a friend of ours who is getting married. Caroline and the other kids had so much fun. It was also Pine Tree Festival weekend!!! Caroline had to ride in the parade Saturday since she won her school pageant.

Here Caroline is before the parade at our house.

Caroline is on the train and ready to ride in the parade.

Boy, was it hot!!! After the parade me , Caroline, momma, and Shannon went out to the rec. dept to see the arts and crafts and of course, the food vendors. We were really impressed with everything. Cliff finally returned home from fishing and met us out there and we walked around for another hour or so. The heat finally got the best of us and we had to go home. But of course, our weekend was not complete without having some of our friends and family over for supper, drinks, card playing, and Wii playing. Sunday was Mother's Day and I hope of you had a great one. We went to my Grandma King's and had a delicious meal and spent some quality time with the family. Caroline and I always take a picture on Mother's Day to put in her room each year so we had our usual photo session at Grandma's too.

One of our Mother's Day pictures.

Caroline thought her Daddy needed a spanking.

Our princess and her Daddy!

Later we had mom, Robert, Ben, Tashia, Allana, Kayanna, and Kanyon over for supper. Those twins are handful...we love them so much!

This weekend was so much fun! Friday night Gannon came over and ate supper with us and we all played the Wii. Bragg and Kendrick were suppose to come too but Kendrick had a bad day at work so she wasn't feeling up to it.

Saturday we got up and went to the library for a Daughter's of the American Revolution ceremony where they honored Great Grandpa James Mason, Great Uncle Fred, Great Uncle Charles, Great Uncle Jack, and Great Uncle Leonard for their service in the different wars. It was a very nice ceremony and afterwards we all got to go into the room full of war memorabilia and have pictures made.

Papa James in World War II holding a bomb!

After that Caroline and I were off to get her hair and make-up done for the Miss Statesboro pageant where she won mini supreme...you go girl!!! While we were pageanting Cliff and Bobby were fishing and caught just enough fish for supper...boy were they good!

This is Caroline's biggest trophy yet.

After church Sunday we went to mom's for a great lunch! When we finished there we went home loaded up the 4-wheeler and headed to meet the Hammock's at the farm to ride. We had so much fun...we can't wait to do it again!!! After all that riding and a lot of dirt flying we went to the Wiggins' for Supper Club. I hope we didn't make them mad, arriving 30 minutes late and dirty too!!! The food was delicious and it was nice to see everyone...we have such great friends!

Now we look forward to a busy week ahead and an even busier weekend!!!

It's Friday and I haven't even told you about last weekend. Saturday Caroline was in the Pine Tree Festival beauty pageant and got 1st runner for the second year in a row...maybe next year will be her year to win!

Here is our princess!

Allana was also in the pageant and looked great and model the best she ever had but did not come back...I don't know what was wrong with the judges!

Sunday Caroline was asked by a friend of ours to escort his niece during her Mission Recognition Service...Acteens...at the First Baptist Church. Cliff, Caroline, and I had never been to this ceremony before but it was very touching.

Here is Caroline with her Queen...Rebecca.

I would like to say thanks for all the well wishes and prayers from everyone. Cliff, Caroline, and I are so blessed to have all of you in our lives. According to the doctor everything went well Tuesday. I will get the pathology report results next Thursday when mom and I go to see Dr. Smith. I do feel better and hope to return to work tomorrow. I actually have Caroline home with me today...she started running fever yesterday afternoon. Hopefully her doctor will just call her in something.
On a lighter note...Caroline did great at her dance competition. She won 3 golds (1 for her tap solo, 1 for her ballet duo, and 1 for her jazz duo) and was chosen as a DTI dance ambassador. We are told that there are only 10-30 chosen from each competition, so we were very excited. After the competition on Saturday we went down to the coast to visit Grandma Lota, Papa Chuck, Great Grandma Smith, and Great Grandpa Smith for some much needed rest. We always have a great time when were there and we really hate to leave.

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I hope all of you enjoyed your Easter...we sure did! Caroline hunted eggs 5 times this weekend. First, she started off at school Friday...where she found 58 eggs...according to her. Saturday morning she was invited to an annual Easter egg party and hunt by one of her close friends. It was so much fun! There was a big slide and a train for the kids to ride on, lots of eggs to hunt, and a table full of food and candy.

Caroline didn't want to have her picture made with the Easter bunny but I finally talked her into it.

Then it was back to the train.

Later Saturday afternoon Caroline was invited to a tea party and egg hunt hosted by Miss Gail and Miss Johnna. The back of Miss Gail's house was decorated beautifully and the weather was just as nice. When the girls arrived they were given pearl necklaces and boas to put on and there were several hats to choose from. There were small tables set up all around with beautiful china cups and saucers for the girls. The older girls served the younger ones hot tea with sugar cubes and lemon and they also served them little finger foods to nibble on. If the tea was too hot for the younger ones Miss Gail had raspberry tea with frozen grapes for a back up... she thinks of everything. After the girls finished eating Miss Gail gathered all the girls for a photo and story. She told them of the true meaning of Easter and and how each one of them can make a difference in someones lives. Then, it was off to hunt eggs...about 500 of them. Caroline and Molly had so much fun! Caroline told me that she wanted her birthday party to be just like the tea party...boy do I have my work cut out for me. Maybe I can talk Miss Gail in to hosting it for me...LOL!

Here is Caroline and Molly enjoying their tea and finger foods.

Miss Gail really had their attention with her story about the true meaning of Easter.

Here are all the ladies and a few gents.

I had to have a picture made with my little lady!

Don't you just love the hat!

Sunday...we had a wonderful lunch at Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Mason's house. After we ate the kids got to hunt eggs and boy did they have fun.

Look at these clowns!

For supper we went to mom's to eat and hunt eggs with Allana, Kanyon, and Kayanna. It is always an adventure when the twins are around...they are my brother Ben's payback!!!

Kayanna really enjoyed looking for eggs in Granny's flower bed.

Kanyon was serious about his egg hunting!

We had a great EASTER and hope all of you did too!!!

We had our first...actually our second if you count the one we missed this past Saturday...t-ball game yesterday afternoon. It was an adventure to say the least. This year our team is made up of mostly 3 year olds...need I say more. Caroline, Jessica, and Ally are the only 5 & 6 years old and boy are they ball hogs. You see, for the previous 2 years they had been pushed and shoved by all the other big kids on the team when the ball was hit and finally they are the big kids. It was a lot of fun watching them all play and I can't wait to see what the next game brings.

Is it Monday already? We had another busy weekend. Friday night Crystal, Eric, Molly, Shannon, and Robin came over for pizza and cards. Eric had taught all of them a new card game a few weeks ago so they taught me and we all love it!!! It's hard to believe that we didn't even turn the Wii on. Saturday Caroline had a pageant.

Check out that crown!

She won Overall Supreme 0-6...we were so proud of her. Later that night Bragg, Kendrick, Eric, Crystal, and Molly met us at Ware's for a delicious supper and then we were off to our house for a little Wii fun!!! Kendrick was new to the Wii, so we had to break her in...we sure hope she enjoyed it. Sunday was our Supper Club night and we ended up serving boston butt, macaroni & cheese, corn, baked beans, and brownies with ice cream. It was a fun night and would not have been complete without a few competitions on the Wii.

I will start off by saying, I am a bad mother! Caroline was in her school beauty pageant this past Friday night and I didn't even take my camera. I always get so nervous when she does a pageant locally and I thought maybe I would be more relaxed if I didn't take my camera...I was still nervous!!! The school asked that everyone dress in their Sunday best and we did Caroline's hair down...no pageant dress, no hair piece, no glitz...not our typical pageant. But of course, we still thought Caroline was beautiful...we think she is beautiful everyday. There were 33 girls in the pageant...K-2...and everyone of them pretty. Caroline came back in the top 10 and you would have thought that I would have relaxed...but I didn't. Then they opened the curtains and there she stood in the top 5...I am still not relaxed!!! They called 4th runner up, then third, then second...I am still not relaxed...then first...I scream...our BABY has won!!! We were all so proud of her!!! Then it hit me...I don't even have my camera with me...bad mother. A friend of ours was taking pictures in the audience so I am hoping I can get a copy of them and maybe put some on our blog.

THE LONE KINDERGARTENERS

Tonight was Caroline's kindergarten play...The Lone Kindergarteners - LKs Save the Day! They all did so good!!! It was the cutest play!

Meet Mrs. Rabbit

Caroline's line was - Oh Boy, that was fun! I just LOVE birthday parties.

She also closed the play with, Good night everyone and I hope you don't forget to pick us up in the gym.

Another weekend has come and almost gone. Caroline did great at her gymnastics meet in Thomaston Saturday. She won 2 golds...balance beam and floor...and 2 silvers...uneven bars and vault. Caroline also had the highest all round score in her age group. The whole team did a great job!!! We are so proud of all of them and Dedra...the head coach...told us that they were all moving up to Level 2. This means more practice and more gymnastic meets.

Caroline with her medals and goody bag.

It's so hard to believe out little girl can swing on this BIG bar. Coach Dedra is watching on to make sure she does her routine right and gets her new dismount that she just learned last Thursday.

Bailey, Caroline and Kylie right before the competition starts.

Our GYM STARS with Coach Dedra and Coach Margo.

Way to go girls!!!

And I couldn't close this post out without a picture of Cliff and his turkey that he shot this morning. Even though opening day of turkey season was yesterday he gave it up to go see his little girl compete...Thanks Daddy!!!

I finally feel better...thank goodness. I hope I never have that again...whatever it was. Thanks to all who wished me well.

I forgot to mention in my last post that Caroline's dance company entertained at one of our school pageants last Thursday night and at our local nursing home last Friday night. Caroline also got to do her solo jazz dance for the first time at the nursing home...way to go girl!!!

Check out this costume...she is ready to DISCO!!!

Now we are already gearing up for the weekend. Caroline has another gymnastics meet Saturday in Thomaston and we really hope she does good...GO GET 'EM GIRL!!! Cliff and I always enjoy watching her compete. Hopefully I will get some good photos to post.

Hi all! Sorry I haven't posted in a while...we have so busy. I have been under the weather this weekend but Cliff and Caroline have taken good care of me. And, yes it was our anniversary yesterday...what a way to spend it. I hope it's not the bad flu going around...say a little prayer please. Even though I felt like crap and it was freezing outside we went to Gannon's 8th birthday party, probably not the smartest thing to do. When we got back home I crawled into the bed and put a sheet, 3 blankets, and a comforter on me trying to warm up. After a few hours of restless sleep I got up and we went to watch Allana in her school beauty pageant...she look beautiful...and she placed 4th. After we left the pageant...me still feeling crappy...Cliff and Caroline dropped me off at home, so I could crawl back into bed again, and they went over to have some fun at the Hammocks. There was no need for them to be miserable with me at home. I was told they learned a new card game and enjoyed eating a lot of Crystal's friendship bread.
Today was a little better for me but not great. I did go to mom's to eat lunch...haven't eaten anything since yesterday at Gannon's party...and she made checken pot pie and it was delicious. We then came home and I rested until it was time to go to the Hammocks for supper club. Another good meal as usual. I have now gotten Cliff and Caroline in the bed and I guess I will head to the chaise lounge to sleep tonight. I hope it's a better day tomorrow!

Where has the time gone...it's already Wednesday, again! We had another fun weekend. Friday night, Crystal, Eric, Molly, Shannon, & Robin all came over to eat supper, drink, and play the Wii. We have so much fun when we get together!!! Saturday I went to Claxton to judge a pageant and Cliff volunteered to take Caroline to a birthday party in Statesboro at Splash in the B'oro. I definitely got the better end of the deal. See, the party was a pool party and it was under the dome (a blow up top they attach to the pool during the winter so they can have indoor pool parties) and Cliff said it was so HOT!!! Thanks, daddy for taking her...you know I love you. And, then it was Sunday...Cliff's birthday...Caroline has been waiting and planning for this for a few months now. I tried to tell her that grown ups didn't have parties like little kids do but she made a list of people to invite anyway. Since supper club was at the Griners and we have 2 other friends that have birthdays this week we decided to do cake and ice cream there. Stacy & Kevin had a small for each of them...Cliff, Beth, & Dana...and Caroline got to help her Daddy blow out his candles, so she was happy.

It's Wednesday already and I haven't even told you about our past weekend. It started off with a blast. Friday night Eric, Crystal , and Molly came over for supper...we had Eric's favorite, TACOS...and then we played the Wii. Cliff actually beat Crystal at cow racing...it was a shock!!! However, our night ended early...Crystal got a migraine...I never new how fast those things came on...and Caroline had to get to bed early, since she had a gymnastics meet in Statesboro the next morning.

The gymnastics meet went GREAT!!! Caroline had an audience this time...her granny Sandra, grandma Lota, papa Bobby, great grandma Emily, and great grandpa James came to see her compete. I think she does better when she has an audience to show out for. We could not have been more proud of her...she got 1st on vault, balance beam, and bars, 3rd on floor, and 2nd all-around. She did things at the competition that she had not even been able to do in practice. The coach and me both told her that we expect even more from her now.

Caroline with all her medals!!!

Later Saturday night we went to Shannon's birthday party. The kids sure were wild...or should I say some kids. Caroline and I left about 9:30 but Cliff stayed and played cards with everyone until 11:30...at least he only lost $2.75. Sunday I picked Gannon up from granny's so he and Caroline could play together at the house...Gannon really enjoyed the Wii...he later told his daddy and granny that he wanted one for his birthday. And, to end our weekend we had supper club in Dellwood and ate all the left overs from Shannon's party the night before.

Wow, what a weekend. Caroline did great at her gymnastics meet...she placed 3rd on floor exercise. We were so proud of her...she did not fall on any of her 4 exercises.
Caroline and Bailey are excited about their 1st competition!

You can tell Caroline is concentrating very hard so she will stay on the beam.

After finishing in Roswell we headed to the coast...boy did we do a lot of riding Saturday. We had a good time visiting granny Lota, papa Chuck, mama Smith, and papa Smith. Unfortunately, we did not get to go fishing...it was too cold and windy. But, we did get in some much needed rest! We came back home Monday and had a Birthday supper for papa Robert at his and grandma Sandra's house with Gannon, Tashia, Ben, Allana, Kanyon, Kayanna, and Bragg...it was delicious!!!

Well the weekend is almost here and we have another busy one. We will get a very early start tomorrow around 6:00 a.m. Caroline has her 1st Gym Star gymnastics competition in Roswell and we have to be there by 10:45 ready to stretch. Just ask me if I am nervous and it's still Friday...imagine tomorrow!!! Luckily Caroline got her kick over last night at practice...we were all so excited! I just pray she stays relaxed and confident and does her very best! After the competition is over we are heading to the coast to spend time with Mama and Papa Smith and Granny Lota and Papa Chuck. I sure hope we get to go fishing!!! HINT HINT.

I hope all of you have a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I hope all of you have gotten your Valentines ready. Caroline did the ones for her classmates Monday and we made the goody bags for all of them Tuesday night and sent them to school yesterday morning. They are having their party today at school...I'm sure she will be all sugared up. She also made homemade Valentines for her grandparents and great-grandparents...she worked on them for 2 nights...it was a lot of fun.

Tonight Caroline is off to gymnastics training for a hour and a half...hopefully she can work off her sugar high. Then she says she is going to spend the night at her dance instructor's, Ms. Cherry's, house with a few of the other girls from dance. She has never spent the night away from home except with my mother or Cliff's mother, so I am a little worried about it...will she stay or will I be picking her up. I know Cliff is hoping she will stay :-)

The weekend is over and it's back to the real world. We had a great weekend. Caroline enjoyed fun gym Friday night...there were 38 girls there. The party Caroline was invited to Saturday was a lot of fun...they had everything decorated so cute...hay bales, cowboy hats, bandannas, paint your own horse and they even had a horse to ride. The theme for the party was horses so I put Caroline on a pair of jeans with a white button up top, a snake skin looking belt with a big buckle and her boots and then I braid her hair and put ribbons at the end...she was too CUTE! Here's a picture I took in the car with my phone as we were leaving the house...I wish I would have taken a full view.

Afterwards we went home and waited for Cliff to arrive and surprise Caroline...she had no idea he was coming home...to STAY! She was so excited when she opened the door and he was standing there...her first question was, "do you have a job"...I have raised her right :-). Sunday we went to mom's for lunch...boy was that good. Then we went home to get ready for Supper Club, it was our night to cook and the first time I had cooked for our expanding group...it was a little overwhelming...they're now 18 of us. All went well though, we had spaghetti with garlic bread and for dessert it was chocolate chip cookie dough brownie with ice cream...ummmmm. And, of course we played the "Wii"!

It's finally Friday! Well, we had our 1st PTO volunteer meeting last night. We have recently had a change in the presidency of our schools PTO and I think the new president is going to do an excellent job. Last night she had broken everything up into 4 committees and we were to sign up for the committee we wanted to be on. I stood and watched while others made their choice...still unsure as to which committee I wanted to be on. All the committees started to fill up fast, except for one...FUNDRAISING! There was not one person at the table...I felt bad, so what do I do...I talk a friend of mine into being on the fundraising committee with me. I know all of you are thinking...what was she thinking...but it just kept calling my name. So, I am now the vice-president of fundraising for our PTO! I look at it as an investment into my daughter's future. Cliff and I both want to be involved and know what's going on in our school system and how we can help to improve it. Enough about PTO!

We have another busy weekend ahead of us. Caroline has dancing from 3-5 today and she asked this morning if she could attend fun gym tonight from 6-10...of course I said yes. Tomorrow Caroline has another birthday party to attend and Sunday is our night to cook for our Supper Club. I still haven't decided on the main menu but I do have a new desert I 'm going to try...they don't always turn out like the picture!!! Hopefully I will get some pictures added to our blog this weekend too. Hope you have a fun and safe weekend!

Burrrrrr, it's cold here! When we woke up this morning it was 22 with a windchill of 16. The wind will go right through you. I made sure Caroline and I were dressed warm though.

Just a little recap of our weekend. Caroline was in her first pageant of the new year Saturday and she received 2nd runner up. She is currently learning a new walk and went a little to fast on her circles...but she looked AMAZING!!! I am always so proud of her...win or lose. Then on Sunday we went to mom's for lunch...it sure was delicious. Later Caroline had a birthday party to attend for her friend Faith, who is also her dance partner, at McDonalds. Boy, was that an adventure! For those of you who know me, know that I never let Caroline play at any play areas at resturants...you never know what is in them...I cringe as I right this. So when we get there, what is the first things Caroline ask me to do, if she can go out with all the other children and play on the play area. My first thought, NO, but then the look on her face as she was asking, yes you can go out and play, did I really say those words...who said that....so she went out to play. Then they called all the kids in to eat but McDonald's had for some reason...I can't imagine why...had put out the party favors for the children at each plate. Do you know what it's like to have 15 kids blowing party horns in a room...I thought I was going to loose it!!! Who in their right mind would do that? Children blew their horns while waiting on their food to be distributed out to them, while they were eating, and during gift opening. I was so ready to leave there that I could hardly stand it!!! I finally got all of Caroline's area cleaned up and Faith opened the gift we had brought her and we left...thank goodness. Then is was back to the house for the Supper Bowl party! It was Shannon's supper club week but I offered our house to be used for the party, since we have a play room for the children and a big screen TV. There were only a few of us who were able to make it but we still had fun grilling, eating, watching one of the best bowl games I had seen in awhile, and oh yes, the commercials. What a weekend...we look forward to the next!!!

Welcome

Well, here goes my first post to our blog spot. This is all new to me, so you will have to be patient with me. My friend Crystal has done such an AWESOME job with her family blog and our Supper Club blog that I am a little intimidated. You would think she would just manage my blog for me...hint...hint!

Hi, we are the Masons. I'm Tracy, my husband is Cliff and we are the proud parents of a beautiful princess named Caroline. When Cliff is out of town working Caroline keeps me very busy. We are always on the go...dancing...gymnastics...pageants..and kindergarten. I will fill you in on all those activities later.

I hope you enjoy our blog and reading about our lives in the Mason house!!!