Mason's Birthday

Mason was a little bummed to have his birthday fall on a Sunday this year. We made the best of it and I think it was a success. After we were all ready for church we got the kids together to give Mason his gifts. We thought it was a good chance for a picture of them all since they're seldom cleaned up like this at the same time.
He got a new DS to replace the one that's broken. He also got a new game for it. He got a gift card for Game Stop from Grandpa Tiny and Grandma Cindy and money from Grandma Merlene. The Friday before Grandma and Grandpa Elggren came by and gave him some great books (Grandma always finds the best books. I LOVE IT!). They weren't around on Sunday because they went to California with Amber & Gary, Russ & Laura and Brad & Jayme. We had a lot of family come by for ice cream and cake and our great friends the Bailey's came too. It was a lot of fun.

This is his Mario mushroom cake. As you can see the chocolate cake dropped a bit from under the mushroom cap. This cake proved to be a bit more challenging than I had anticipated. I didn't find out until after all the guest had left but apparently Mason doesn't like cake with fondant on it so he never even had a piece of his own birthday cake. Sad. I felt so bad that I made him a smaller version the following day that wasn't covered in fondant, just frosting. This one was a much easier task.

I still can't believe he's 10!!!

How is it Possible You're 10?!

Wow Kid! You've got my head spinning a bit by growing up so fast. Some days I think I'd like to stop you and keep you this age forever. I've thought that at every age. Then you grow older and bring something even more exciting into our lives and I wouldn't change it for the world.

I still remember vividly the day you were born. It was a Tuesday, about 7:30am. Emergency C-section and all 8lbs 6oz of you looked so healthy and strong. We were so scared when they couldn't figure out what was wrong with your heart. It would beat regularly for a while and then drop dramatically. Up and down. Up and down. I slept deeply through most of it with the help of heavy medication but Dad was there for it all. He was so scared and so instinctively protective. That evening they took you to Primary Children's so the doctors there could try to figure out how to help. After seeing you safely to the NICU, Dad slept at home that night and I slept in my hospital bed in Layton. Who would have thought we would spend our first night as a new family in completely separate places. Dad and I both shed a large amount of tears that night. It's so amazing how you entered our lives and in an instant we felt we couldn't live without you.

Thanks to the power of prayer and the many, many amazing doctors who teamed up to help you, the Friday after you were born they operated to put in a pacemaker to help your heart beat regularly.

AND LOOK AT YOU NOW!!!

I know what you are. You're strong. You're creative. You're questioning and thought-full. You're so funny!! You're handsome. You're deeply loving. You're sensitive. You're smart. Very, very smart! You're a lesson in every moment for me.

Tonight as I read the birthday notes from your school class I cried. They see the same things I do. You're friendly, you're kind and you're amazing!

How lucky Dad and I are to watch it all take place.

Happy Birthday Mason

We love you!