Tarred and Flustered

This weekend was interesting. Scoutmaster Charlie had the Klondike winter camp Friday night, where he had fun with the Boy Scouts, and also Tommy and Eric. (Varsity and Venture) There’s a pretty nice campground in Heber Valley with cabins. Saturday afternoon, Charlie had to help bro Calvin with his car, which was broken down somewhere in West Valley. They got tar all over them, which, we learned, does indeed burn your skin off. Charlie “washed” most of it off with gasoline, but still has patches of black on his forearms. Jeffy and Lincoln had fun playing with their cousins, Kanella and Connor, Saturday afternoon/evening. They’re about the same ages, and seemed to get along pretty well. It was a bit of a madhouse though. Nothing like four little kids running through the house on a Saturday night!  : ) Good thing I had Singing Time all figured out for Sunday! (Not)

What’s that thing people say?

“Calgon, take me away!” 😄

A Leisurely Drive

Monday night, Charlie and I were heading over to Macey's to pick up a couple of things, when out of nowhere, I came upon, and ran over, a street sign that had been left lying in the middle of the road. It was pretty dark out, and I didn't see it until it was too late. Charlie had been on the phone with somebody from work, so we'd decided to trade places, and have me drive so he could concentrate on the conversation. Odd how things work out. . .

Once we figured out what was going on, I stopped the car, Charlie hopped out and somehow detached the heavy metal pole and mangled sign from the underside of our car. I backed it off, and he carried the whole mess across the street and out of the way. Fortunately for us, (I guess), a highway patrolman happened to see the whole thing, chased down the guy who'd hit the sign, and called for a city policeman to come file a report. The good thing is, if there is any damage done, now we're covered; bad side, it there isn't, we just lost a good hour of valuable time waiting for the cops, and now our insurance will probably go up regardless. Sigh. Ain't life grand! 😊

When you least expect it. . .

Christmas Memories!

Christmas with the Masons! We had great fun traveling to Missouri for Christmas! Packed up the Suburban, kids and presents and all, and headed east. A fabulous trip over all. . . Good food, friends, relations. . . lots of presents! And that beast of a truck almost made it all the way back to Utah without giving us fits! As it was, the fan motor on our heater blew out somewhere in Wyoming when we were heading back home. In December. Charlie ended up scraping sculpted ice off the windshield with a credit card, as he was driving, because the man WOULDN'T STOP! He actually drove straight through, -24 hours- straight through, both ways. Thank heaven for caffeine, I guess. . . But on the upside, there were some good memories made! Tommy really enjoyed walking through random gas stations in his bathrobe and bedroom slippers, Clint actually took pictures of the beautiful ice formations on his window in the back of the truck, and we gained a greater appreciation for the pioneers' adventures. (struggles) in the frigid mountain west. We all grew closer, as we were forced to snuggle up together to keep warm. Back home, after further investigation, we learned that we could have fixed the heater in the Suburban by taking the time to pause and purchase a two dollar FUSE! Can you say speechless?! I was at a loss for words. But these types of experiences do make the best stories. . . : ) Good times. I think  the best part of the trip overall was the time we got to spend with family members that we rarely get to see, and especially our little cousin, Adriana, up from Texas. Such a cutie! Lincoln was missing her for days! Stockings, gingerbread houses, Grandpa reading the Christmas story, little kidlets dressing up and reenacting the 'manger scene,' the big turkey dinner. . . All of these things add up to the tradition that is Christmas! : ) Christmas memories! Candy canes, babies, ribbons and bows, a sparkling tree. . . All beautiful, but none so memorable as the sparkle in the shining eyes of a little child. Brings you back to the true meaning of our Holiday celebration. May we always remember the babe in Bethlehem and the magic that he brings. : )

Rivers

‘Tis the Season

'Tis the Season, Everyone!

Well, here we go! Christmas time again! 😊 Off to Missouri this year to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Hope everything goes well. . . Here’s to a flawless Holiday travel experience!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas! 😊🎄🎅

Mason Family Christmas Letter 2009

Well, boys and girls, another year has gone by, and here we are at Christmastime again!

This year it’s, “Over the Rockies and through Nebraska, to Grandmother’s house we goooooo! The "beast" knows the way to Omaha, through the hopefully clear highway roooa-oaaaaads!”

Yes, we’re heading back east to the mid-west! 😊 America’s heartland, where the Tanner Family has made their home for a grand total of 27 years now!

2009 has been a year full of adventure for us, as would probably be expected, with 4 teenagers and 3 little kids in the house. . .

Charlie has passed the 17-year mile marker with Coca-Cola, and is now serving as Systems Administrator with the IS Department. He was given the job of Stake Scoutmaster in May, ran a marathon and a half this summer, and continues to fill his schedule with school and family responsibilities. Charlie wears many hats, and wears them well. 😊 He has a full plate, but yet somehow manages to ‘make it happen’ every day for the Mason Family. We depend on him greatly. Earlier this year, Charlie got his eyes fixed, and for the first time in 25 years, doesn’t have to wear glasses!

Amy was able to attend both her 20-year high school reunions this year, in Missouri and Charlottesville, and greatly enjoyed showing Charlie where she grew up in Virginia. She took a couple of classes at the community college, for the first time in as many years, and has learned, without a doubt, that Mommies with 7 children really don’t have time for school, especially math! 😉 Still singing with the kids in Primary Class at church, and wishing her babies weren’t growing up so fast. . . .

Laena graduated from high school in June, and after batting around several options, and having fun at her last EFY, she decided to spend some time in Rexburg this fall at BYU-Idaho. Yay! She is currently learning the ins and outs, the ups and downs, of college life, way up there in the frozen North! She got to serve as Ward Choir Director, an experience which proved enriching and entertaining. 😊 Laena drove up to Seattle in the spring, on Choir Tour, with her Mama and four busloads of friends! Our first trip to beautiful Northwest America! 😊

Clinton finished up his Eagle Scout project, a blood drive for the Red Cross, back in March, and will soon receive his award. 😎 He’s been working at Westland Elementary this year, as a custodian, and has also been spending a fair amount of time over at a certain neighbor girl's house after school. 😊 We are proud to announce that Clint made the Honor Roll last quarter, and seems to be enjoying his Senior year at West Jordan High! With the ACT, Driver’s Ed, the big birthday and graduation coming up, he has a lot to look forward to!

Eric, (or Ricky, as the Binky likes to call him), is also lined up to receive his Eagle Scout award in the next couple of months. He really worked hard on his Food Drive project last spring, enlisting the neighborhood in a worthy cause that undoubtedly helped the community. Eric is such a light in our home! 😊 We are so proud of him, and all the good work that he does, at home, at work, and at school. Eric was able to spend some time camping down at The Narrows in August with the neighborhood youth. He’ll soon hit his 2 year mark as a valued employee at the local movie theatre.

Tommy has been busy with middle school, martial arts, and his first job as a sweeper at Majestic Elementary, where Aleia and Jeffy go to school. He’s also been working on learning more about the cello, the piano, and girls! 😄 Tommy has grown several inches these past couple of years, and is almost as tall as his Dad! Could my Hunny Baby be . . growing up. . ? (sniff, sniff) Scout camp, EFY, and Youth Conference in Southern Utah spiced up Tommy’s summer. This fall, he was privileged to sing with the regional Young Men’s Choir in General Conference! Adventures that he will undoubtedly look back upon with fondness. 😊

Aleia is loving 4th grade and her fabulous teacher, Miss Jeppson! As usual, our Rosebud is a ball of fire, insisting on games, parties, and projects that would exhaust even the most patient and energetic of parents. 😊💖 Her second year of piano lessons is coming along nicely. Lea really likes to play those Christmas songs! She’s a loving little girl who attracts many friends, at Activity Days and everywhere she goes. 😊 Acting class has taken the place of dance. We’re excited to see her performance at the end of the school year!

Jefferson played some Tee Ball earlier this spring, and has been enrolled in the Spanish Immersion Program at his school for the past few months. He’s picking it up fast, but I’m still not sure if he needs to be bilingual at this point. The good news is: He loves his teacher! 😊 Jeffy (Vuffy) also loves to play with his best friend, Evan. They tear through the house, in search of new and exciting adventures with Binky and Lea! It's fun to watch their antics! : ) Jeffy’s an energetic little boy, always ready for whatever lies ahead.

Lincoln (Binky) hit the ripe old age of 3 in October, at which point we thought it best to cut off his beautiful baby curls, and proclaim him an official ‘little boy’. (sob, sniffle) It was downright painful to say goodbye to all those precious, strawberry-blond ringlets. 😞 Our Binky is growing up fast! His first day of Primary was last week, and he's learning new words and talking to us more and more every day. All boy, that one is! 😄 His giggle just lights up a room. 💙

We hope you have all had a great year, and wish you a happy 2010!

Merry Christmas, and have a terrific Holiday Season! 😊💖🎄⭐

Love, The Masons