Milestones

Well the happy day has finally arrived. Matt
and I bit the bullet, so to speak, and decided
to retire the Ford Contour. We've had this car
for 12 years, LONG past it's vibrant days!
After researching what we could sell it for...lol
...we decided that we would benefit more, and
feel less guilty, if we donated it to the Kidney
Foundation. Matt and I have had some good
memories with this old dog. This was the first
car for both of us with a/c. We bought this car
before we had kids but it was the car we bought
Mason home from the hospital in. It's old and
used up, but boy it's got a lot of good memories
for us.

Tuesday February 10th was the big day! Along
came the tow truck and with Myself, Mia and
Madden watching intently, they hooked up the
car. I have to admit it made me a little sad to
see it go. Poor thing with it's dent in the front
drivers side from Matt's Mom. The dent in the
front passenger side from Matt himself. The dent
in the rear from Matt backing into a co-workers
truck. The mis-matched drivers side mirror from
Matt backing out of the garage too quickly. One
front hubcap missing...Matt lost it of course :)
The passanger headrest missing The vice grips
attached to the drivers inside door so as to assist
in rolling down the window......need I go on?
WHITE TRASH?!!
As I write this I realize why Matt's been mentioning
to me for YEARS that we need a new car.
Sorry Honey!

I'm sorry to break this to all you ladies out there,

but I married the greatest guy on the planet! You

can all stop looking for him or hoping that one day

your husband will be just that. Because I found him

and he's ALL MINE!!

February 9th was our 13th anniversary. WOW, time

really does fly! We went out the Friday before to

dinner along with our good friends the Bailey's. Their

anniversary is a few days before ours and the last

couple of years we've gone out together to celebrate.

We ate at Macaroni Grill which is one of mine and Matt's

favorites. The evening and the company were GREAT!

13 years has gone by fast and we've added some really

cute kids to our family in the meantime. Sometimes I

feel totally unworthy of the life I have. I can honestly say

Mattie is my hero and my inspiration. He is someone who

is always trying to better himself and I admire that.

He works really hard for our family and then comes

home and deals with all of us. Then he usually has a lot

of homework (only 3 more weeks BABY!!!). What a man!

So like I said, I married the greatest guy out there!!

Just so everyone knows it!!

Mattie got me a FruitFlowers bouqet. Chocolate

covered strawberries & cherries...what could

a girl want more? The kids couldn't get enough

(who am I kidding, neither could I). It was as

yummy as it looks!

What a great guy!! Thanks for the sweet gesture

and for a great 13 years! I look forward the the

next 70 to go!!

Mason, Mason, Mason.....need I say more?

Mason: "Hey Mom, we had library today and guess what Mrs Checketts (the Librarian) showed us?"
Me: "What?"
Mason: "She got this new book, she can't let us check it out until she gets 3 more copies, but it's called How To Talk To Girls (HUGE smile on his face!!).
Me: "Oh yeah?"
Mason: "Yeah, and she let me read it during library time. I read the first chapter. It was AWESOME!!!!"
Me: "What did the book say? Is it a chapter book, or a picture book?
Mason: "It's a chapter book. I read the first chapter. It was so cool!!
Me: "What was the first chapter about?"
Mason: "There is a summary at the end of each chapter, and at the end of chapter one the summary says (this next part he says with a smug smile and his eyebrows moving up and down as he talks) "If a girl says Hi back....you're off to a good start!""
Me: laughing...and laughing....and laughing...
I suppose I should be concerned but I just couldn't stop laughing. He continued on to say how excited he was to be able to check it out as soon as she gets 3 copies. I have no doubt he'll be checking each library day to see if it's available. To tell the truth, I'm a bit excited to see what this book is offering my 8 year old :)

Last week as I was tucking the kids in bed, I turned off the boys light and was shutting the door when Mason stopped me.
Mason: "Hey Mom, guess what I found out today at school?"
Me: "What?"
Mason: "MEGAN LIKES ME!"
Me: "Really, that's cool. How did you find out?:
Mason: "Her friend told me. Isn't that cool cause I've liked her ever since the START of 3rd grade!"
Me: "Yeah buddy, that's really cool. Did you say anything to her?"
Mason: "No I don't talk to her. But I think this means I should get her something super cool for Valentines Day."

And so it begins. Who am I kidding, with him it's never stopped. I think he's had his eye on one girl or another since Kiddie Kollege. Should I be concerned? I'm not. The truth is, it's just very entertaining! What a great kid.

He gave a talk in Primary on Sunday. Willingly and without getting upset. We ar so proud of him for this. He has such a hard time getting up in front of people in any setting so this was a big deal. I had to promise I wouldn't come in and listen to him (so I stood in the hall and listened, where I couldn't be seen, of course). Matt got to go in but I guess I make him too nervous. I'm willing to miss out on seeing him if he's willing to do it. This is a huge step for our little guy! We love you!

Mason earned his Wolf badge!!! just short of his 9th birthday. You can blame the close call on his Mom, as I'm still trying to figure out how to fit scout projects in with housework, homework, and life in general. I better figure it out quick, it's not going to get any easier from here. He also earned 7 arrows and 4 beads that night as well. WOW! He has some really great scout leaders to thank for most of it. He loves going to scouts and has done some really fun things. They planted their own little gardens at their leaders house and took care of it all summer long. He had some nice squash and cucumbers to show for it. They have gone to see the buffalo, gone to Antelope Island, gone to museums, etc. He's having such a good time!

At pack meeting they sent him on a cute scavanger hunt. Each clue allowed him to tell a little bit about what he did to earn his wolf. He was a little shy about reading the clues out loud but it was really fun for him. We are so proud of him! Next month it's on to the Bear Den and more badges. Mom better get moving!