Happy Monday Morning

A daily routine to have brother/sister snuggle time.  

The high school science class has many furry critters.  This is Butt Cheeks.  Of course, HS student named. 

JT is wearing his fishing hat at a basketball game in Shelby. 

Jaydyn's new dress up outfit.  

JT couldn't decide if he was mad or glad standing up. This is the mad moment, which did quickly turn to the happy moment. 

Happy Monday Eve!  These past few days, the temperatures have dropped and the snow has been coming down.  What a great day to stay indoors, snuggle with a blanket and watch the Super Bowl.  

Hard to believe that JT is already 7 months old and crawling all over the place. He's starting to pull himself up on most things he can grab onto and at the stage where he has no concept that if he crawls off the bed head first, that he will fall.  So, nap times are floor based and all eyes on baby at all times.  We've seen a preview of his temper when we are not feeding him quick enough as he throws his whole body, including hands and head back, and lets out the highest pitch squeal that we've ever heard. 

Jaydyn is doing great as she continues to learn skills for kindergarten such as writing her whole name, learning letter sounds, and knowing her street address which would be much easier if we'd stop moving.   The other day, we made cookie dough icecream and she decided it would be nice to share it with a widowed grandma the lives across the street from us and one other neighbor.  That was a proud parent moment to watch her come up with the idea, write her name on a note and hand deliver.  Glad to see 5 years of harping on good manners and the act of doing things for others has finally paid off!  

Justin is getting his man cave set up and starting to tie flies for spring and summer fishing which will be here in no time flat!  We are filling our big house rental quite nicely with some of Justin's furniture making.  So far, he's made craft room cubbies, man cave lockers, fly tying bench, and a computer table.  He's almost completed the dining room table and then he will move onto coat, hats, glove holders, bookcase, laundry basket shelves, and more craft room cubbies.   Jaydyn and I are very thankful for his carpentry skills as we continue to add to our list of furniture.  

I am very glad to have mine and Jaydyn's craft room set up.  Looking forward to getting back into machine sewing and expanding my vocabulary as I attempt to cut and sew shapes of fabric together in hopes that something recognizable turns out in the end.  With winter sports nearing an end and spring sports starting shortly, never a dull moment at the school on the weekends.  

We continue to be thankful as a family for each other and are fortunate and blessed with good health and love all around us.  We pray for our friends and family to have the same and glad to frenquently communicate with all.  

Until next time, live each moment to the fullest!

Love,

4 J Masons

Good Monday morning family and friends

We are settling in as anticipated with the move back to Montana.  Very happy to report that all 102 boxes have now arrived and very thankful for ALL the help and love we had during the move.  We are very blessed to have amazing family and friends to assist with everything from painting, cleaning,  and packing in Alaska as well as MT family and friends preceiving/storing our boxes, hauling our goods to Shelby from Butte, and assisting in unpacking and setting up our rental house so we could quickly continue a home structure for our kiddos.  Thank you again everyone for your prayers, assistance, love and support in helping us get closer to our family!!!  We truly are forever appreciative.

The family is doing great!  We have been able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with our family in Butte and visit our long time friends in the Silver Bow neighborhood.  Mimi is turning 91 this month and feeling fortunate to be closer to her to celebrate the special birthday.    As many of you know, we had to change to plan B in moving all of our goods, vehicles and family back to Montana and very pleased to share that Justin's dad, Dave, is cancer free once again.  Very thankful that Justin was able to be in Montana during Dave's recovery and also get more of Linda's home cookin'.   When we arrived in Shelby, luck had it that it was still hunting season so we had our first visitors, David, Erik, Ryan, and Kinz come and visit for a weekend.  Since then, Justin has been able to get out ice fishing for walleye on several occasions nearby. Some days, we are reminded of the cold temps that we grew to accept in Alaska, now experiencing some in Shelby with -30 temps and high winds as much as 80 mph. 

Jaydyn has been practicing her letters and writing her name quite nicely.  She stated the other day that she wished her name was as short and JT's so she wouldn't have to write as many letters when putting her name on things.  She seems to have gotten over the name thing since Christmas and is super excited about the items she received for Christmas from both of her grandparents.   Tonight, she was dressed up in her princess clothes from Grandma and Grandpa Mason and was playing with her new doll house from Grandma and Grandpa Decker.   On Friday, Justin said that he saw her for a total of an hour and the rest of the time she was in her room playing with all of her new toys and dress up clothes.  Thank you to everyone that made her day!  

JT is starting to crawl so we had to do a quick baby proofing of the house this weekend.  As if the crawling isn't enough, tonight he pulled himself to a standing position by holding onto one of his stationary toys.  He's a happy little guy and thinks his sister is the best thing on the planet.  At this point, Jaydyn thinks he's pretty cool too!  She is super great with him and he is completely entertained by her.  This past week, JT went in for his 6 month checkup and is growing like a weed.  He now weighs 18 pounds and is 26 inches long.  No teeth yet, and man does he wish he had them.  He is extremely interested and vocal about wanting to eat what we are eating.   He's a good eater and only blows bubbles and spits out peas.  Go figure, his sister still pushes her peas around on her plate and avoids them like the plague.

I am able to walk to work each day, as we live a block away from the school.  The job is great.  I am quite amazed at how smooth the transition went due to coming into a school system mid year.  The kids and staff are awesome and want to be there.  Feeling sooo blessed to be able to leave my previous position on a good note and come into another positive environment.   So far, each day has been different and I have a lot of work to do, but looking forward to the challenge.  One of my highlights each day is that Justin and the kids come over and we eat lunch with the students.  What are great thing to have family in the school and the kids and staff that welcome them open-armed.

With only 5 days into the new year, already I  am incredibly humbled and blessed for what we have.  My goal for this year is to be committed to more communication to our families and dear friends.  Looking forward to the next time I can share our family updates with you!


Until next time, keep smiling and enjoy your time with the people around you. 

Love,

Jeni, Justin, Jaydyn and JT