Ran out of Space

So I'm pretty lazy and don't edit any of my photos before uploading them and I've run out of my 1 GB free space that blogger gives you. Since I'm hosting two other sites with LOTS of room to spare, I'm moving this blog. It's just a trial for now, I'll redirect the URL when I decide to make it permanent if it meets my usability and speed requirements. So, you an keep following The Masten Effect here:

The NEW Masten Effect

Pumpkins Away

Picking the perfect pumpkins at Houston Garden Center.

Gutting them for Jack-o-lanterns. Zoey really enjoyed this part this year. Ian reluctantly agreed to grab a few handfuls but then went his own way to do other things. Zoey actually helped carve this year with the little saws. It was hard work for her, but she wouldn't give up. She was very proud of her work. I didn't take a picture but she chose a cat design to carve into the pumpkin.

And then there is November 1st, which is almost as great as October 31st. Pumpkin Stew, Braised Mustard Greens with Bacon, and Pumpkin Pie. Mmmm fall food is so yummy.

Symphony of the Goddesses

Every now and then the Houston Symphony puts on a video game related show. We haven't gone in the past but this time it was Specifically a Legend of Zelda concert. I've always enjoyed the Zelda games. I've only played the Gameboy/DS ones but I watched my brothers play the NES and SNES ones and watched Brandon play one on the Wii. The music is great, but in a full orchestra concert, it was AMAZING! I decided to splurge a little and buy some really nice seats and it was totally worth it. They played several medleys spanning several games. They did a few specific songs. Then to top it off we got 3 encore songs! Yay! It was fabulous. Brandon must have liked it because he bought a t-shirt and wore it the next day, WITHOUT washing it first. If you know Brandon, that is saying something. I think next time they do a video game concert, we'll go again.

Happy 4th of July, Texas Style

For my fireworks deprived friend and family in Maryland, Utah and Arizona: Brandon burned enough pyrotechnics for all of you.

We had a great holiday filled with friends, family, food and fireworks. The 4 essential Fs of Independence Day. Many thanks to all those who did fight and continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

Splish Splash

We don't go to the pool very often, or even take out the kiddy pool in the backyard so this is quite the treat.

My little babies are so big!

Spraying the water hose is definitely the favorite thing to do.

And then there's Peggy Sue and Ollie who follow me EVERYWHERE. Mom, Dad, you can come get your dogs now, they're driving me batty! haha!

Until We Meet Again

Last weekend we made an unscheduled visit to Louisiana because my grandfather had passed away. I was really shocked because I didn't realize he was in bad health, and really his passing was unexpected. Paw Paw Paul and I were never really close, he wasn't a particularly affectionate grandfather, but I do remember him with great fondness and love. Some of my favorite traits and memories about him:

He was an amazing gardener with so much knowledge
His skills were wide and versatile
He always said, "Plant a fruit tree and you'll never go hungry!"
He loved to talk! And I liked to listen.
His laugh was unique and fun

The service was simple and beautiful and I'm glad I had the chance to attend. I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel, that though he is no longer here in mortality, that his spirit lives on and that we will be able to see each other again.

100 Posts and 7 Years Ago

I thought it would be fitting to make my 100th post be about Brandon and my's 7th anniversary! I count my blessings every day, and my fabulous, handsome, wonderful, amazing husband is always at the top of that list!

Happy Anniversary to my Darling!

Houston Pony Meet 2012

The last pony meet I have been to before this one I think was 2006 in Maryland. I went with me dearest MIL and we had a grand 'ol time. Since the kids have come along, I haven't done much in the way of pony collecting. I have been really out of the loop but I caught wind of this meet and decided Zoey was old enough to enjoy it so I could use her as an excuse to go. I didn't even tell her about it until the night before (to bribe her to go to bed). We referred to it as the Pony Party. She was pretty excited. As I expected she was really shy when we got there. I think she was a little confused at the fact that she was the only kid there. As people showed up her eyes got wider and wider as the ponies began to make their appearance. We all talked and laughed, watched Friendship is Magic, ate lots of goodies, colored, and best of all, played games and bought ponies!

The meet from a 3 year old's point of view.

Zoey plays with some of her new ponies she bought (with mom's money, lol). She must have had about 20 new additions to her herd. Most of those being the McDonald's ponies she won in the raffle and blind bag ponies, but she loves them!

Ponies for sale.

One of her Pony Plinko prizes.

Me and Zoey with our favorite new ponies.

Pony Plinko. Our host did an amazing job with this game, it was quite popular! I kinda wanted to buy the game itself!

More people and ponies, just all havin' a good time.

Zoey mesmerized by FiM.

Didnt get to take a photo of the cake before it got attacked!

Rainbow cookies were Zoey's favorite, I'm pretty sure she ate at least five. My favorite were the lemon bars!

Once she won this color with water activity book she was pretty content for quite a while. We left around 2:30 when she started getting restless. She lasted much longer than I expected.

The few things I bought for myself, except the twins I won in the raffle, woohoo! And my absolute favorite purchase, the hand dyed roving! Look at that stuff, isn't it beautiful?!

I was so excited to start spinning after my crash course at the meet that I threw together a makeshift spindle. It's pretty ghetto but it still gets the job done. I'm pretty awful at spinning, but I guess practice makes perfect. I can't wait to get my real spindle in the mail. My arm hurts like crazy today from all the unfamiliar effort of drafting and spinning on a drop spindle.

We had a really great time and hope we can go to another meet in the future. Maybe next time I'll be better versed in the ponies. Either way, pony people are lots of fun to be around!

Spoiled

Sometimes you just gotta give the kids a treat to make it through a shopping trip. For Zoey, she chose some bubbles. For Ian....

Nothin's sweeter than a crown of fresh broccoli.

Memorial Camping

Our neighbors and good friends invited us to go camping with them the Friday before memorial day weekend. I like camping, I always have, but it sure can be miserable when it's so hot outside. I don't remember that ever bothering me as a kid...or maybe my parents were just smart enough to never go camping when it was so hot. We decided to drive up to Lake Livingston state park and camp there. The place was totally booked, but we only planned one night anyway since we all had to be back for church on Sunday, Brandon and I were due to give talks in sacrament meeting.

Ian was well targeted by the bugs, notice the large lump
on his forehead and the Dopey ear.

The kids really seemed to have a good time playing in the woods, finding bugs and sticks and making giant piles of leaves, bark, and sticks to throw into the fire (which we never let them, haha). The adults tried to have some fun but with half of us not feeling too great and kids constantly needing attention, it was difficult to fit in a card game, but we had good company all the same.

On Saturday after breaking down camp we had a picnic lunch at the lake, it was really pretty and nice and breezy. Too bad the kids started melting down before we could rent canoes and spend a little time there. Ian was asleep before we even got back on the highway. Oh well, at only an hour away, we can make plenty more camping trips in the future,

Ian is just oozing with enthusiasm. He had just been woken from a nap.

I'm a Little Girly Sometimes

Usually at the incessant insistence of my 3.5 year old.

*GASP!* That's a Turtle!

A couple days ago Brandon and I were just catching up on some shows on the DVR. Lowla had been out barking in the back yard like she does. Some nights she is more annoying about it than others. She came trotting into the living room and deposited a turtle on the floor at our feet. Brandon sprang to its rescue.

The critter is all sucked into his shell, obviously terrified that death by wiener dog mutt is near.

Never seen a turtle covered in moss like this. He was pretty big, I surprised Lowla was even able to carry him around.

After some pictures Brandon released him in the front yard. Haven't seen him since.

More Maryland

In addition to Easter celebrations, we got to do lots more fun things while visiting MaMaw and PopPop Masten.

Trip to the Balimore National Aquarium: Take 1.

No admission but a flat tire and parking fees for hour 1.5 hour trip.

Uncle Lance entertains the kids while the tire is changed. 

Shopping:

My favorite store EVER: Ollies Bargain Outlet. Seriously, how could you not love that guy, look at him! We always find lots of books and other cheap good stuff here. It's a must visit on every trip to MD, even though it's actually in Delaware. I hope they build one here some day. We also went to some salvage shop in Preston, MD where we found a few little trinkets. I bought a Bake Pops pan and was amazed that it actually worked really well. I just need a good scratch recipe to use rather than a box mix.

Thermite: So hot it BURNS!

I think the discussion started something with making ferrite, a magnetic liquid, and then that turned to thermite, and before we knew it Brandon was ordering 16 lbs of the stuff to burn things. I guess when fireworks are illegal, you turn to something worse. Maybe they should just legalize fireworks.

Four tablespoons of Thermite (aluminum dust and iron oxide), ignited with a strip of magnesium.

Sorry for the shaky camera work, It was really cold out there!

The burning of the dancing robot. I wasn't there for this and the video wasn't all that interesting.

Baltimore National Aquarium: Take Two.

Lots of fish to see. Their "Wings in the Water" display was very cool and the whole building was a really neat set up.

It was suuuuuper crowded in some spots though. Here is Ian watching an eel swim around.

Zoey mesmerized by fish and picking a winner.

In the rainforest section they had other animals than just aquatic life.

The whole building is set up in a sort of one-way tour and this is the final descent back to the lobby. Lots of coral and sharks to see.

In the annex was the jellyfish invasion. Probably my favorite part.

Yeah, this was the best photo of the three I took, haha.

Uncle Sean Rides:

Horse back Sean was fun, but the favorite was definitely shoulder rides.

More Thermite:

Yes, just about the whole trip revolved around ways to burn the thermite, things to burn and the big project was how to shape the molten product of the reaction into a "MASTEN" plaque.

I was really hoping lighting thermite in this Coke bottle would have worked, but it didn't.

Masten plaque take three: FAIL. Oh well, it was lots of fun burninating everything.

We were sure sad to leave and Zoey couldn't decide for sure if she wanted to stay and live with MaMaw and PopPop or come home with Mommy and Daddy. She still occasionally asks where MaMaw and PopPop are. Can't wait to go back, and next time we'll make sure to consult the fish when they'll be in and ready to be caught cause I need a fishing fix!