New Looks!

We'll start with the kids' bedroom (which has been in a previous post)!  We left the wall color the same, but added some 'firework' decals to the walls.  Mason had the choice of a pink/orange combo, or purple/green, and he chose purple for the baby, and green for his bed! 

Also this week, one of the racecars got a new look as well!  The black A-mod (previously with green & blue in it) has been changed to a flourescent red/orange scheme.  This was the one he took to Florida this past winter, so it was due for a new body....(well, new sides anyway).  As always, thanks to Greg George Grafix out of Princeton for the cool new look!

Papa Steve and Mason's cousin, Sophia, came over to check it out, and started a race of their own...

Pit stop.........

Ryan's Race

Since Monday's are tough enough already, I'm keeping this post to a minimum!  Thursday, we raced at Willmar, where Shane finished 2nd with the MWM, and 8th with the A-mod.  Friday was a special night at Princeton because it was "Ryan's Race"... A race in memory of Ryan Thom, family member of the 2R & 4R race team of Stan Thom & Steve Alsaker.  They put together a race at the end of the evening for the MWM's where Shane picked up the win (along with $1,000).  They also gave out tons of other awards & prizes, and we were grateful that they did so much work/effort to put the event together!

Saturday we raced at Brainerd, where Shane won the MWM feature and finished 2nd in the A-mod.  Shane also had the chance to drive the 44Y Super Stock and finished 6th in that class!  Sorry I didn't get any pics...No camera along!  But I did manage to steal some from Ashley's facebook :)

Corey and Mason in Brandon's hornet!

Mason and Ashley with her 1st place trophy!

Also, before I go.... Congrats to Studanski Racing on their newest pitcrew member!! Ryan and Rachel Studanski welcomed baby Jessica last Monday (July 19)!  And look at all that beautiful hair!

Getting Ready for Baby!

Well, I am approaching 26 weeks of pregnancy (rougly 14 to go)! I don't know why when talking about pregnancy you go by weeks, but in months, I am 6 down, with 3 to go!  So with the event nearing, I've been trying to figure out sleeping arrangements, and get the things needed to care for a newborn!  Mason and his new sister will share a room for a couple years....Yep, you read right, siblings will share a room! I know, pretty uncommon in this day and age...  And a boy/girl combo? I should be ashamed!  Ha!  You might be thinking that Mason can move upstairs (cuz he's old enough), well I don't think he is, and I'll move him when I'm good and ready! :) And when he comes in my room in the middle of night to sleep on the floor next to me, I will let him!  Because I know that when he gets older, he's not always going to want his mommy!  So I will cherish the time he does want me!  I mean, really, do you honestly know of any teenage boys that still want to sleep in their parents' room?! :) 

Anyway, the crib bedding came in the mail the other day, so I was setting it all up, and cleaning out the dresser & closet to make room for more clothes & shoes.... And noticed, someone must be sensing a little less attention.............

Yep, as I washed/folded pink clothes, someone played guns in the baby crib!

(Can you seen him off to the left, with his pistol sticking out near the front?!)

And a few days later, as I sewed curtains (which I don't like now that I have them done...so will be making new ones) and hung wall decoration.... He pretended to nap like a baby, and asked me to get him a bottle ("but just water in it, mom")! 

And so far, we have not decided on a definite name for our baby girl, but have narrowed the list of 15 down to 4!  Shane says anything over 6 letters is too long, I haven't liked any name he's come up with, some of our choices come with interesting intials, and well, basically, we just can't agree on one!!  I'm sure I will ultimately convince him to like my favorite (after all, I'm the one doing all the work)!!  And if Mason had it his way, she'd be called "Foxy" (off of a movie) or "Ashley Mehrwerth" (cuz she races a hornet, and is Corey's sister)!

And this is the first belly shot that I have of this pregnancy (25 weeks)... Geez woman!...Get with the program!!!  Most women take one like every 4 weeks...Oops!

Race Weekend Recap: This past week we raced Thursday at Willmar, where Shane placed 3rd in the MWM and 5th in the Mod.   Friday we raced at Princeton where Shane won with the MWM and finished 7th with the Mod.  Saturday, Brainerd had cancelled due to rain, so we thought we'd try Ogilvie Raceway... The A-mod heats were just starting, when so was the rain.... So they were also forced to cancel as strong storms were coming!

Monster Trucks and Boats

As I mentioned in the previous post, Mason & I went to see the monster trucks at the Benton County Fairgrounds.  Other than waiting in line to get in for an hour, and waiting in the pizza line for a half hour, we had a pretty good time!  Mason really enjoyed it...Me, not so much! It was too much dinkin' around for what the price was. 

But afterwards, he got to meet 'Heartbreaker' and 'Martial Law'

(His 2 favorites), and they signed his shirt!

Sunday we went out on the lake/river, and tried some fishing, and swimming.  We went fishing under the train bridge (with no luck), but had a laugh as the train came over us.  It was extremely loud, and surprised the heck out of Mason (and myself).  He nearly fell right out of the boat, trying to hit the floor as fast as he could.  Then we cruised to the river to do some swimming. (Even this beached whale found a way into the water...luckily for you, there are no pics to prove it! ;)

If you're looking for race results, scroll down to the previous post.........

Ethanol Tour

This past week Shane and Dale Mathison headed out for the Corn Grower's Ethanol Series for Midwest Mods.  Tuesday was the start of the tour, at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, where Shane started 13th and finished 2nd.  Wednesday was racing at Madison Speedway in Madison, MN (which he usually only gets to once a year) and started 12th in the feature and finished 2nd.  The reason he was starting so far back in the feature is because of his 'poor' draw & heat race finish.  Thursday was the final show of the tour, which was held at KRA in Willmar.  Going into the evening, Brian Haben was 5 points ahead of Shane and Justin Jones (who were tied for 2nd).  So it came down to how they finished that night's feature.  Haben drew the pole with Shane starting right behind him.... Shane had a bit of an advantage being that he runs there weekly, and he ended up winning the feature, putting him in the lead of the Ethanol Tour Points! 

The special "Charlie Nelson" trophy!
And yes, Mason wears his Dale Mathison shirt backwards, so that HE can see the car!

Aside from the Ethanol Tour, they also raced A-mods at Willmar, where Shane won the feature with that car.  Friday we had planned on not racing at all, and taking Mason to the Monster trucks at the Benton County Fairgrounds...Well, somehow Shane got a bug up his butt to go to Ada, MN's (Norman County Raceway).  He finished 1st with the MWM, and 5th with the A-mod.  Mason & I still went to the Monster trucks with Sonja & Skyeler, and had a fun (but hectic) time!  We also raced Saturday in Brainerd, where Shane finished 6th with the MWM and 7th? in the A-mod.

Saturday, Shane came in the house, and told me to come look at my son.... This is what I found when I went out to the garage! :) He's gonna be a good help in a few years!

Happy 4th of July!

As tradition would have it (well, since 2006) we raced the Minnesota Modified Nationals at Viking Speedway in Alexandria this weekend.  This year Shane started 2nd in his heat and finished 2nd, which was not good enough to qualify because the format is done by passing points (and he didn't pass anyone :)  So, the next day he started front row of a consi and won it, so thankfully made the big show!  He started 14th, was up to 8th for a while, and fell back to 11th... which is where he finished the 60 lap race!  Congrats to Scot Danziesen on taking home the $7,000!  They also ran MWM's where he finished 3rd on Friday and 2nd on Saturday.

Prior to the Mod Nationals, we raced KRA in Willmar on Wednesday, where Shane won with the MWM and finished 2nd in the A-mod.

Waiting for the fireworks to start!

Sunday and Monday we had off from racing... so Sunday was spent unpacking, cleaning the hauler out, doing laundry, and getting ready to head back to work (BLAH)...  We also went to the fireworks in St. Cloud.  Monday we played in the kiddie pool while Shane worked on the cars, then took a pontoon ride with the neighbor!  I didn't bring my camera with, but Mason was swimming like a fish (with a life jacket, of course) in the 15ft waters of the Mississippi!  He had a blast!  I had to keep reminding him to relax, cause he thought his hands and feet had to kick a hundred times a minute to stay a float! 

And since Shane was the one to take him in the water, and show him how to swim underneath the pontoon, he had to do everything Shane did the rest of the day... Not sure if that's good or bad! Me and Mason came out to the garage and Mason said 'Dad, why do you have your shirt off?' 'Cuz I'm hot'. So of course Mason says 'yeah, i'm hot too' and takes his shirt off! And even at bedtime, had to wear just boxers (like dad) and wouldn't put on his pajamas, and had to eat the same bedtime snack (chocolate icecream bar...even if vanilla was what he originally wanted)!!

Trying to organize Mason's room, Mason found this cool halloween costume from Noah, that he thought he'd wear all evening while riding his bike and sweating his butt off in the process! And I don't know why he doesn't have shoes on in any pics....well, probably cause he rarely wears them!

This week is the ethanol challenge series for the midwest mod, so we will be racing Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sat this week!