Mason, Mason, Mason

I know I have been journaling a lot about Mason but I can't help it! A lot is happening with him lately. First off his Football team won the championship game last Saturday! YAY! Sadly I wasn't at the game (running Ragar) but had a play-by-play from Ron. The last game in the tournament was a close one the score was 14 to 12 (Packers in the lead) when Mason missed a game winning touchdown catch. (He was a little sad about it) However, we still won the game and Mason did earn a 2 point conversion and was a "flag pulling MACHINE!" Ron said it was crazy! Mason is starting offense for this team and doesn't get a whole lot of defense time but in this particular game he played D for a little while. Ron said he had play after play of not even really running just immediately snatching the flags, boom-boom-boom. Very fun to watch Ron replay it all!

 So proud of his 1st place metal!

I met with Mason's 1st grade teacher this week and LOVED every minute of our conversation! Ms. Rother is so sweet. At the beginning of the year my opinion/impression of her was not super high. I felt like she was an older teacher that mentally was retired but financially needed to still teach. Her patience wears a little thin, and she raises her voice a lot. HOWEVER, after weeks of helping in the class and observing I really like her. I really do admire ANYONE willing and able to teach elementary education. It takes a special person to do that work. Mason on the other hand, has LOVED her (almost literally) from the beginning. I think secretly he had or has a crush on her.

Last week Mason came home from school gushing about Ms. Rother. And I quote "Ms. Rother SAVED my life today!" He then went on to explain that I hadn't paid for school lunches (oops!) and when you don't pay 2 days in a row they just give you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. So, Ms. Rother being the saint she is, paid for his lunch that day. Well, when I heard this I wrote a note to his teacher thanking her, repaying her, and explaining Mason's gratitude as well. At our parent-teacher-conference she just went on and on about how she loved his story and showed everyone the card I wrote as proof that she had saved a life. We had a good laugh. 

Mason is doing so much better at reading I'm so proud. He actually enjoys it now! When we go to the library we leave with like 30 "level 2" books. Now to most moms with 7 yr. olds this may not seem like a big deal but to me this is HUGE!! It's so fun to see the wheels turning with him. When we get back from the library he will sit and read through at least 5 books immediately. (Full Disclosure: I'm sure the fact that I have him read 10 books to "earn" having a friend over has NOTHING to do with his increased desire to read. lol)

Ms. Rother discussed his classroom behaviors and that he still needs to improve on. "Not talking" being at the top of the list (I confessed he gets that from me). She told me that very day at school he had earned the "sunshine student" award and it was sitting on his desk but later in the afternoon it was taken away from him because he was gabbing and chatting loudly. She felt really bad taking it away from him and was tearing up as she explained this to me. She told herself "You have to treat him like all the other kids. You can't say anything. You have to treat him the same" How sweet is she?!? Basically telling me that she favors him but can't show it. She explained that later that same day Mason ran up to her and gave her a hug that just made her break down and cry. He tries so hard to be good but in the end I think his short attention span and the social butterfly in him takes over. I'm very happy with where Mason is at socially, emotionally, mentally and physically. Couldn't ask for a more perfect 7 seven year old!

His zest for life and daring personality just amaze me!

Rocky is growing!

Well, Rocky has survived and lived with us for a couple months now. I have to admit he's not as high maintenance as I worried he would be. We clean his cage out almost once a week, give him baths, feed him crickets (daily), turn on his "sun light" every morning and "nightlight" every evening. I'm going to try to be better about measuring him monthly. I know he has grown at least an inch since we got him in December. 

Measured February 1, 2014

 Right now he is up to about 12 crickets a day (probably would eat more if I gave it to him but I'm cheap and stingy.) I try to "dust" the crickets with Calcium and Vitamins before feeding them to him (it's a little more time consuming but good for him). The kids love it when Ron catches a moth and feeds it to Rocky he will jump in the air to catch it and munch on it.

We bath Rocky about once a month. I was surprised at how much he seemed to be enjoying his "shower". Rocky is so spoiled. He has his own toothbrush, towel, and soap only used by him and kept FAR FAR away from our toothbrushes!

His "night light" is red and slightly creepy. Ron and I often go check on Rocky at night because he sleeps in the most random positions and places.

All of our children LOVE Rocky. I do think the novelty of him being a new pet has worn off a little, we need to be better about holding him more. He is a little more jumpy when we hold him so I have to really watch him when the kids hold him, he doesn't stay put as long.
We have only "lost" him once so far. LOL After church about a month ago Mason had asked to hold him, a few mins later I noticed Mason was occupied with something else and Rocky's cage was empty. Frantically I went from kid to kid investigating who had him last. Of course they all denied it so I just started looking for him. Not even 5 mins later, I found him behind the kids toy box. Phew! After this all went down Mason said "Oh-yeah. I set him down on the couch and forgot" LOL We then had a discussion about the 3 Rocky rules which are:
1. Don't get Rocky out of his cage with out Adult permission/supervision
2. Don't ever put Rocky down on anything (i.e. couch, floor, ...etc)
3. ALWAYS wash your hands after holding Rocky

Amazing Saturday

Not sure if I can express exactly what I'm feeling from today. Just a normal simple Saturday, started out with a 5:30am run (I went early so I could be home by 7 for Ron to go to Basketball). Then out the door at 8:40am for Mason's football game. When I got home from my hair appointment this afternoon Ron was working in the backyard trimming the branches on our giant tree. We worked on cutting, trimming and clearing that tree for 3 hours. Such a big chore (and we STILL didn't get ALL of it trimmed back) but I can honestly say this big family activity was the highlight of my week. I watched as my husband cautiously climbed and cut away at branches mindful of us below (Ron at one point while balancing on a branch, jokingly reminded me he had life insurance through work--not funny). I observed my children hard at work helping anyway they could to pick up branches, twigs and leaves. Mason impressed me the MOST. He didn't stop working. He hauled branch after branch out to the trailer with NO COMPLAINTS! He would notice my arms heavy with branches and quickly come to my aid lightening my load and holding the gate open for me. I was on such a high and kept thinking over and over how blessed we are. What more could I want from life than to work side by side with my wonderful family! At one point Ron was praising Mason and offered to get him a special treat and even pay him for being so helpful. Mason stunned me with his response "You don't need to do that. You don't have to pay me." Who are you and what have you done with my Mason?!?! LOL

We finished up the day at the dump (which my kids reminded me constantly how much it stinks) and then dinner at Rumbi's as a family! A normal day but to me a memorable one. Feeling blessed (a little beat-up from the branches and I'll probably be sore tomorrow but I'm happy non-the-less)

  

Poor Noah miscalculated where some stray branches were in Ron's arms. He didn't see it coming.

Noah cracks me up. He loaded a whopping total of like 3 twigs and got tired out. As we were loading up the trailer he looks at all the branches and states "Whoa. That's a big pile of sticks. I did that all by myself"

Mason Moment!

I HAVE to blog about this. Mason brought me to happy tears tonight. Wednesdays are typically very hectic for us. Mason has Music class from 4:40-5:30pm, then we go to cub scouts from 6-7 pm. I'm over the Wolves (8 yr. old boys, and I say "we go" because Ron usually isn't home from work by then so my kids tag along.) THEN at 7pm Ron is off to mutual at the church. This week I was released from cub scouts (I've been called as the Stake Girls Camp Director, I still can't believe it! crazy!) For scouts this week I planned an activity where the boys could meet their new leaders and afterwards I met with the new leaders to discuss the cub scout program and answer any questions they had. It was a little crazy because Ron wasn't home and my kiddos were still awake but I managed. As this new couple were getting ready to leave I introduced them to Mason and told him they would be his cub scout leaders when he turned 8 this year. (I STILL can't believe Mason will be 8 in October) Mason quietly said "Hi" and they left our home.
As I was straightening up and gearing up for bedtime Mason somberly approached me and asked "I thought YOU were going to be my cub scout leader?" As I look at his sweet face my heart melted a little as I notice his teary eyes. I explained to him that I had been released and that wasn't my job anymore. He hugged me and we talked for a bit. I was on cloud nine the rest of the evening! His words kept echoing in my ears "Mom. I want you to be my cub scout leader" I know my kids love me but sometimes it's just nice to have that confirmed. I'm not going to forget tonight for a while! I love this boy and am LOVING watching the young man he is becoming.