Ok, We Are Alive

Ok, we are alive. I know, I know, it's been way too long since last we posted. But we do have a good excuse. Our family laptop was misbehaving. It took awhile to fix it up good. Now it's running like a champ again. My work laptop blocks all social networking sites so there was nuttin' I could do about it. I'm trying to talk Trish into posting. I think it might happen...might happen.

The bottom line is we're just busy. We are currently math tutors for Michaela. Mom and dad are tag teaming her every day so she can get her math done. It's really important for her to get all of her work done. So we spend lots of time with her right now.

Hannah is excited about her birthday coming up. She just handed me the details for the party. We are holding it on Saturday. She really, really, really wants an mp3 player. We'll see. She's having friends over to eat homemade pizza, play games, and watch a movie. It'll be awesome!

I'm way excited because this Saturday night I am taking Brandon and one of his little friends named Jackson and his dad to a Jazz game. The Jazz are playing the Nuggets and it's going to be awesome. Yesterday Hannah pushed the intercom button on the phone and was hiding in the bathroom. She would send secret messages to people in the house as they came into the kitchen. She said in her best English accent, "Hello Mr. Poe. This is count Olaf. I'm calling to discuss the offer of the orphans. What were their names? Oh yeah, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. I'm calling because I accept your offer. And I'm coming by at 6:00 to pick them up." Of course Brandon absolutely freaked out. He was really scared because he thought Count Olaf was coming to our house. He was running around screaming. Hannah had to calm him down, saying it really wasn't Count Olaf. Eventually he thought it was funny.

Personally I think the funniest moment was when Hannah "called" and told Katie it was the Princess Academy School calling to invite her to attend princess school. Katie was so excited until poor little Hannah had to break the bad news: it wasn't really the Princess Academy; she had called to be funny. Katie was so sad she said, "Oh I wanted to go to the princess school so bad!" The other night Katie was saying our evening family prayer. She went through the normal litany of bless the family, bless the missionaries, and so on. Then she got to the prophet. She said, "And bless president Monson so he can get his homework done." It was hard to restrain ourselves but Lily and I managed not to laugh. Afterward I said to her, "I didn't realize he was stilling doing homework."

Sara is just mischief incarnate. There is no other way to explain her. This is not a polite story but a funny one just the same. We were reading scriptures the other night and she was sitting on my lap. She let a fart right on me. Oh, it smelled terrible. I plugged my nose and said, "Oh you farted on me." Sara looked up with those darling little eyes and said, "I didn't fart on you daddy my bum did." What do you say to that?!

Lex-Lex is just too cute. She keeps us on our toes with her smiles and constant shows of affection. It's been so sweet because for once the first word out of one of the Mason family children has not been dadda but it's been momma. It's been so nice to watch Trish be so excited and for me to see that sweet bond between mother and daughter developing.

One good piece of news for me, I finally (after the sixth attempt and a year-and-a-half of waiting and working) got approval for my dissertation topic on Friday. It is such a relief to be able to move forward. It's been a long time in the coming. Now I'm not so sure that I really want to have approval. It just means I have a whole lot of work to do! Well, actually it's a good thing. We really want to be done. And this is a step in the right direction finally to finish something we started so long ago. Lily and I were talking about it the other day. When we began this process when I started on my Master's degree we had only two children. In other words, they all really don't know anything different than dad in school. What a blessing it will be finally to have some closure on this long but important chapter in the Mason family's life.

Best of all is what Trish is doing for the kids. They really are her life right now. It has been a total inspiration to watch her working with them. Being the mother of six is no small feat. She has so much to do and with me being so busy with work, school, and calling so often the lion's share of the family's needs rests on her. I have to admit I am amazed by her faith and dedication. Hats off to the woman of my dreams. I am so impressed with all she does. Two of her interests right now are the Biggest Loser and American Idol. We DVR both and watch them together. Biggest Loser has motivated both of us to eat healthier food and exercise more. I have lost 24 lbs. Lily is getting into shape (dieting while nursing is not a good idea). As for American Idol we love a number of contestants. Brooke White, Carly Smithson, and Syesha Mercado are our favorite female vocals. As for the guys we love, love, love David Archuleta. We also really like Michael Johns and David Hernandez. One fun piece of trivia...we have wondered if David Archuleta is LDS. Friday we saw one of our friends who teaches seminary at Murray and he said he teaches David (better said, he taught him before Idol). That's great. We just love his spirit and great attitude. Go David!

Well, take care everyone. We love you. Until next time,

The Mason's