Eric Ode

A couple of days ago Eric Ode came to our school. He is a writer/songwriter. I have known him for 6+ years and Grammy and Grampy are friends with his parents. Anyway, he came and did an assembly. During this, he was talking about how he wrote the song called "I love my shoes", and he mentioned his sister. Eric said, "I love my sister. Right, MacKenzie?" The question made everyone in 5th grade turn their chairs around to stare at me. It also turned my face tomato red. My friend, Morgan, was sitting next to me and laughing her head off because of this. Yesterday, several people asked how I knew "the guy at the assembly." I will never forget this embarassing (but kind of funny) moment.

All about me

I live with two mom's one sister and some exchange students. We got three their name's were Felix,Borja,Basti! I play soccer, baskitball and swing baceball. Soccer is my favorite! One of my Mom's LOVE'S taking pictures! The other mom works at Nordstrom! We are adapting a little brother. I have to be the middle child! THE END ~Mason

Huddle up

We went to Ethiopian food last night with Randy, Sary-Jo, Janel and the boys. Kenzie and Mason had questions for the boys about life in Ethiopia and the transition to the US. Mason is really thinking about his new brother and what life will be like for him. The boys were great, very open and excited for us, and answered at least this round of questions.

First picture, I say "please get close so I can take a picture."

Second picture, it happens "naturally".

Jack-o-lantern

Somebody's got his costume ready for Halloween...paint his head orange and we're set. This time he asked me to pull it. I gave it a good twist and it was almost out. I asked to take a picture, but it was too bloody, so he wiped and posed again. Then I no longer saw the tooth. We found it on the carpet--he had pulled it with the tissue wipe. I think I still get credit for that pull since it's the only one I've had any success at.

He's testing the TF again. Just heard him say he wants to keep it. I suspect that means he will sneak it into the pillow after he goes to bed. No way he's giving up the two bucks...he's just getting better at tricking us.

San Diego pictures "Mason's blog"

This is Mason. I am going to tell you about my blog. I just spent a week in San Diego. I got to go with my best friend! My favorite part was swimming and playing on the beach.

 Me!

"My sister"

Borja

cece

mom

cece

La Jolla

Cindy took a bunch of pictures of the wildlife at La Jolla. Here are a few favorites.

Ducky

Magic Morning

We got up early this Tuesday morning to open the park. We had a "magic morning" pass, which we thought got us into rides, but only gives you the option of eating or shopping early. Not so magical. But we did end up as the first ones there when the park opened. We were the very first riders on California Screaming. No lines, so we went twice. We also did Tower of Terror twice, Space Mountain and a couple of spins through Splash Mountain. The only wait was Space Mountain so we packed in a lot in one morning.

We also practiced looking for the camera and showing our best fright faces.

Missing children

Mason and Wil got up at 6:45 to go to breakfast with Saul, then head to the park when it opened. At about 9 they went missing. Stories vary but the adult version says that the two boys started wandering on their own. They went to an ice cream vendor, borrowed the phone, and called Whitney. She didn't hear it but they left a message. Then they went to a person who worked at the park and turned themselves in. The lady called me. I asked if she could keep them a while longer, or if there was any way to make it more miserable to make sure the lesson set in. It's Disneyland and they sell everything else, but no. So we took our time and eventually found them in "child services," the place they take the kids "whose parents have gotten lost." The guard saw us coming said "lose kids?" I said yes. He said "two eight year old boys?" We said "yes." He said "Mason and Wil?" Evidently they had made themselves known.

I told them that one of the consequences was letting me take their picture behind bars.

Princess MacKenzie

Perhaps because of parental influence, but Kenzie has never been big on princesses. I was a little surprised when she jumped on the opportunity to have the full princess pampering at Saloon Boopity Boo or whatever it is. Anyway, Gabi, Cecelia and Kenzie were each transformed into beautiful princesses.

Self portrait on the Matterhorn

Four musketeers

Beach bum

Mason said to me, as he ended a frisbee session with a random man and was about to start a soccer game with another, "see....THIS is why we should live on the beach".... As if I don't understand!!

Tough guys

Wil and Mason were trying to strike a pose but the giggles got in the way.

Posing with dolphins

We walked to the end of the pier on Pacific Beach and a pod,of dolphins were with us the whole time. You'll have to use your imagination for the picture.

Disney Crew (minus the teenage sleeper)

California Adventure

We spent most of the day at California Adventure, finishing dinner at 10. We are tired but had a great day. What is a kid's better vacation than with a great big brother and your best friends? This one will go in the record books for sure. We only lost one kid (Wil) for a max of 20 minutes. Considering there are 11 of us that spent the day here, I think we are over 99%.