Moss Family Vacation to St. Pete's Beach

The Moss/Snyder clan

In January, my in-laws suggested a family vacation… We hadn't been on a real vacation since having Mason, so we were definitely due.  This was going to be a trip of firsts: first Moss family of 3 vacation, Mason's first flight on a plane, Mason's first time staying in a hotel, and Mason's first trip to the beach.  Exciting!

The vacation was GREAT!  Even greater than the beach, was that we were surrounded by family!  At any given moment, there were lots of cousins for Mason to play with.  He was in Heaven having so many kids around.  In fact, when we got home, he kept asking if he could play with his "brother's and sister's".  That stung a bit since it's looking like Mason will be an only child.  Richard spent a lot of time with his brothers, Josh and Brad, which was awesome, because Josh and his family live in Boston.  I also got to spend a lot of time chatting with Olivia and Gala, my sister-in-laws.  They are such amazing mom's and such strong women.  Add in my amazing mother-in-law, Val, and I was surrounded by awesome women all week!

Mase loved the air plane ride!  

And he really enjoyed the beach… Until he got sand in his eye and a mouth full of salt water.  But, he got over that quickly and loved building sand castles with his cousins and jumping waves with Dad.

Sea World!  Mase loved it, but this is the face I get now when I try to take a family picture.
He loved the orcas and the sharks.  

I love this picture!  Mason with just a few of his cousins in the pool.  

Pina coladas on the beach.  Yes, please!

The sunsets were amazing!  

Richard, Josh and Brad.
These guys are QUALITY!  

We were even able to sneak away a few nights for a walk on the beach. 

Team Moss!  My favorite picture from the trip.  Look at that huge smile on Mason's face!  Goodness, I am blessed!

My father-in-law, Jimmy, took this picture and I love it!  Reminds me that if God can create  this then he can handle any curve balls that come our way.  Let go, Let God.

Mason loved being right next door to his cousins, Fisher and Jack.

Halloween 2012

*This blog post was copied from The Life and Times of Mason Moss

Halloween 2012 was a great one!  For a week leading up to Halloween, Mason was practicing saying "Trick or Treat, please."  While typically shy, we were really proud how Mase put on his brave face and went trick or treating.  His favorite was anything chocolate.  He also really liked suckers.  One house had a bowl of mixed candy and Mase pointed to a box of Milk Duds and shouted "Rectangle!"  

 Even Superman cries for his Daddy.  

 Ready to save the world... Or at least go collect lots of candy.  

 Mason was so proud of his Superman cape.

Definitely my favorite little super hero!

Say CHEESE!

Well, I recently bought a new to me camera.  I obviously have no formal training.  Mason and Richard have learned to run away when they see me getting it out, but before they learned that, here are a few shots they let me take.  Pictures were taken during the Fall 2012.

Summer 2012

Just a few of my favorite pictures from the summer 2012.  

We spent a lot of time at the pool and on family Jeep rides.  Some of my favorite memories I have from when I was a kid was piling in the brown Jeep Wrangler and going off roading as a family.  I can still remember being ever so excited, anticipating my head bumping up against the roll bar and making a 'ping' sound as it hit the bar crawling over the rocks.  Lucky for you Mason, those roll bars are padded now and you ride in a nice, comfy car seat.  

Richard and I have looked forward to Moss family Jeep rides since before Mason was born.  It was a surreal feeling to be in the Jeep, top down, and look back to see our sweet Mason smiling with the wind blowing his hair.  Bliss!

 Mason enjoying his first popsicle of the summer

 On one of many family Jeep rides

 We spent lots of time at the park; Mason loves to swing

 Richard and Mason preparing for a Jeep ride

 Chilling out at the Halsey's 

 Mason enjoyed several cousin sleep overs at Aunt Jill and Uncle Jack's (Halsey) house

 Looking all patriotic on the 4th of July

 Hanging with mom on a trip to the fish hatchery

 More time spent at the park

Mason and Richard at the zoo.  Pretty sure Mason was going to give the giraffe a cracker, then decided he would eat it himself

Engagement/Wedding pictures

Since we didn't have photographer at our wedding, my friend Nellie took some pictures of us.  See how cool, rested and relaxed we look before having kids?