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!

Emergency Preparedness

I was reminding Mason when he got in the shower tonight to wash his armpits really good.

"Your girlfriend won't stick around if you've got stinky pits." I said jokingly.

"I know. But don't worry, I keep a couple of extra girls on the side. Ya know, just in case."

I'm glad he's thinking ahead but I hope he scrubs his armpits even if he does have a back up plan.

When did I get so OLD?

These are Mason and Mia's school pictures from earlier this school year. Back in the Fall when they brought them home I remember being truly SHOCKED at how old they have gotten. Which seems odd because I still feel like I'm in my early 20's. Why do you think your mind chooses to stay in your 20's when every glance in the mirror tells you otherwise? Maybe we don't actually see those changes in the mirror over time. The minds way of treating us kindly, maybe?

The other day Mason came home and informed me that they are doing County reports in school and he's been assigned Iron County. I remember my 4th grade County report. I was assigned Garfield County and was STOKED because I loved Garfield the cartoon cat and couldn't wait to put a big picture of him on my poster even though the 2 are not relative. But I digress. Here's how the conversation went;

Me: "That's fun! Are you doing a report and a poster? That's what I remember doing in 4th grade."

Mason: "Yeah. We're doing the report at school but the poster we do at home."

Me: "Ok, so do we need to write a letter to the County Seat and ask them to send us some brochures and information?"

Mason:..............blank stare........."Huh?"

Me: a brief description of writing to the County Seat to get info for the report and stuff we can use on the poster.

Mason: .....with a small eye roll and a bit of disgust (or pity)......."No Mom, ...we just Google it."

My thought: Well of course you do...duh!

No more looking things up in Encyclopedia Brittanica or the World Book. And of course, no more writing to the county seat for info to use in your 4th grade County report.

I am getting OLD!

Happy Anniversary

Today it's been 14 years.

A lot has happened in those years. Most of it really great! Some of it not so much. Either way, I'm glad it's been with you Babe! Thanks for being the perfect guy for me. Things that make you the perfect guy? Well let see....You forgive me easily (this was a must in the future husband category since I tend to screw up often). You're not afraid to be affectionate (which I sometimes struggle to be). You tell our kids (and me) several times a day how much you love them. You do more laundry than I do (yeah ladies, that's right, he does!). You scrub the bathrooms for me a lot. You have a great sense of humor (more so when you're not trying, but I've already told you that). You tell me all the time how beautiful you think I am (this is always nice to hear but sometimes hard to believe. Especially now that the wrinkles and gray are getting more prevalent). Our kids will never doubt that their Dad thinks they are the greatest, most talented and most beautiful (as you should! Every little girl (and boy I'm sure) needs to know their Daddy thinks they're beautiful. Because one day, they'll question it themselves). My list could go on and on.

I love who you are and I love who you're always working to be. I love you more now then I did 14 years ago! Who would have thought that was possible?

This was our cute surprise Mason did for us while we were out. What a stud! Thanks Mase, we love you!!!!

Love you Mattie....here's to a gazillion more!

PARTAY!

Ok, no more excuses. Blue Monday's over and it's back to the grind.

A couple of weekends ago Amber and Gary were out of town and we got to have Annie and Livie stay with us. To say the kids were excited would be an UNDERSTATEMENT! Today I found a "To Do List" Mason had made for that Friday when they spent the night. This is what it said;Wake up

Get dressed

Go to school

Get off the bus with Annie and Livie at our house after school

Have snacks

Play the Wii

Eat dinner

Pop popcorn

Play the Wii all night long

Stay up as late as we can

Go to bed about 1 or 1:30

Wake up

Eat breakfast

Play the Wii

They did play the Wii even more than his list suggested. For 8 straight hours Friday night (I know what kind of Mom that makes me but big deal, they were having fun). They all slept in the family room. The girls on the air mattress and Mason on the couch. They had me move all the couches in so they completely surrounded the mattress. They went to bed at midnight(because I made them. By that point I figured I should do something to act like the adult).

In the morning I left for a bridal shower and Mattie made the troops a hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausage and bacon.

I don't think our Wii has ever been played that much. They all got along really well and we had a blast with our overnight guest!

Blue Monday

Got the blues? Officially today is the most depressing day of the year. Not by my standards and opinion but seriously. It even has a name...Blue Monday. January leaves a bit to be desired and I guess by the 4th Monday of the month most of the planet is in agreement. Ask your local psychologist. It's for real. Nice to know there's a reason why I don't want anyone to touch me but I want to be swallowed in a giant hug, why it's taking me so long to get through the book I'm currently reading, why there's a very high chance that I won't even get out of my pj's today. Huh.

*To try to combat my blue mood I've decided to look at the bright side of life and make a list of some of the things I'm thankful for. Here goes:

Movies my kids will watch repeatedly

ponytails

fleece pj's

fleece blankets

drive-thru's

microwaves

kids who play together

junk food (just enough, not too much so you get sick)

Mattie

my kids

tomorrow (to give me a chance to start fresh)

*I'm giving myself a break today but tomorrow is no longer Blue Monday. I vow to get my tooshy out of my pj's, and get back to the rigamaroll (is that even a word?)!