Happy Birthday, Mike!

Mike's birthday sent him flashing back to 1992 when he was snowed in for his special day. Colorado got about 6 inches of snow in our area but varying amounts across the Denver Metro area effectively shut down anything exciting, including the beer cruise Mike was planning on attending. Instead, he opened his gifts and then had the day to himself -working on his train layout a bit, reading and making his own dinner ( at his request!) He cooked up some very tasty ribs and we cut into the cake Mack and I made. Once the dishes were cleared, though, Mack , who had been battling a viral infection, spiked another fever and , upon inspection, we noticed her throat looking suspiciously like a strep infection had invaded. After a little deliberation, Mike decided he would take his girl to The Children's Hospital ER ( It was the Long family's 3rd trip there in two months) . It wasn't the place he planned to spend his birthday but I know there is no place he'd rather be. The rapid Strep test was negative so Mike and Mack stocked up on popsicles and headed home. All cozied into bed that night, Mike said " 33 feels a lot like 34",a very "Mike "thing to say :)

Mason enjoying Mike's cooking

11 Months

Mason is 11 months! Here's a run down of his new tricks:

Stair climbing
Self feeding
Expert Cruiser
Climbing into things ( like the bathtub)
Making driving noises as he pushes his cars and trucks

Favorite pastimes:
Knocking down his sisters towers
" feeding" people things
Bouncing balls
Stalking the Trash guys
Watching the happenings on the street from the screen door
Demolition of any kind
Mashing food into his hair

We are just over a week away from our big trip to Michigan, Mason's first big trip...anywhere! I have a feeling the month of April will fly by and we'll be celebrating our little one year old before we know it!

Trash Day

Trash day is suddenly worthy of tons of excitement around our house. Mason can be playing, totally involved in what he's doing, but when the trash truck pulls up, he hurries over to the door or window and watches until the truck drives out of site, chattering and screeching all the while. Lucky for Mason, he gets to watch on our trash day and the neighbors!

Birthday fun continues

Mack got so many thoughtful gifts for her birthday and we're having so much fun trying all of them out!

My brother and his family got Mack a scrap booking kit that kept her busy for two hours. I think we have a future paper crafter!


Andy and Andrea sent Mack a gift card and she picked out a dinosaur excavating kit. With in minutes of it's arrival, she had it open and was carefully dusting and tapping away at a hidden T-rex. She was all business with her safety goggles on . When those clouded up with dust, she decided her swim goggles would feel better. An hour later, she had this beauty free!

Suck 'em up!

My sister, Nicole, found a gift that had Mackenzie written all over it for her birthday. All the kids were jealous when Mack unwrapped this bug vacuum! Not only does it suck up the wiggly creatures before they can skitter away, but as soon as the bug is inside the canister, a switch is flipped and the bug is safely sealed inside behind a magnifying glass! This has provided a few afternoons of fun:

First worm of the year!

Not to be left out, Mason tagged along with us while we scouted for bugs ( and by " tagged along" I mean fussed and cried REAL tears until I just couldn't deny him). Last week, he played in the sand box for the first time and since then  is set on having his hands and...mouth.. dirty as much as possible.

Another milestone

 Guess who's got her very first loose tooth?

There's a whole lotta wigglin' goin on over here, and eating of crunchy foods. Mackenzie cannot wait to place her pearly white underneath her pillow. We've got a ways to go but I think we'll be visited by the tooth fairy soon!

Countin down

Yet another count down in underway in the Long house. We are less than two weeks out from our departure for Michigan!  With an ever growing list of people and places to see, we are getting pretty antsy!