Category: Mason

Super SpudOne of the benefits of moving back to this neck of the woods is Potato Harvest (Spud Harvest to me, my dad calls potatoes spuds). Sugar City school district had this entire past week out for harvest break and we also get a full week next week and then the following Monday! It is nice to sleep in a little later and be more relaxed for a few weeks.

The potato truck drivers for Huskinson’s farm drive across the entrance to our driveway. There is a weigh station located there (in case you haven’t noticed). Anyway, potatoes have been falling off of the heavily loaded trucks to Mason and Lily’s delight. They gather them up.

Mason has created some pretty cute Spud Creatures with them! He used pebbles for the eyes and mouth and twigs for arms and legs. This morning I caught him cutting into some fabric in the laundry room.

Long live the Spuds! I always say, if I could only pick one food to survive on for the rest of my life it would be the potato.

What a happy potato!

Mason introduced his friend to his spud creations. His friend, Parker, made a bear.

Mason made a bull for Super Spud to ride on.

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

The people here are really amazed at the size of those potatoes in the previous blog. It’s good that Mason is not letting them go to waste.
Saturday, October 04, 2008 1:32:57 AM

HayHay said…

That’s so creative, looks fun!!

Saturday, October 04, 2008 3:09:25 PM

Aunt Jana said…

I love harvest time too!! keep making those spud men. Maybe your dad and Ryon could make a spud gun!(if that’s ok with your mom)
Saturday, October 04, 2008 4:46:27 PM

Amy Baldwin said…

Spuds are in the genes I would say. My children have those Idaho spud genes from their father.
Friday, October 10, 2008 12:41:02 PM

The Snake whispererWe went for a little bike ride over to the nature park during my lunch hour today and within seconds of being there Mason came a running with excitement. Here is some of the excitement from my iPhone video. The little boys there called it a Vibra, Paul can translate that one for us.

Part of the crowd that loved the snake

Back to where he belongs….

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Nice little snake, Jodi seemed pretty courageous considering her feelings for animals around her. The catch and release seems the best way to go. Thanks for the blog. One of my old missionary companions told me that he could tell a lot about a man by how he treated animals.
Thursday, October 02, 2008 12:26:06 AM

Pablo said…

La vibra is a snake if you didn’t know or la serpiente. Vibra is what they say in Mexico. Hopefully Mason practico su espanol con los ninos.
Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:38:51 AM

Aunt Jana said…

Mason when I was in 2nd grade we lived out in Hibbard,and there were lots of frogs and snakes in the field so at recess I would take my purse and catch all kinds of critters to scare the other girls.I loved catching snakes and frogs too when I was your age. Fun times.
Thursday, October 02, 2008 8:53:51 AM

Profe. Parker said…

Hearing you speak Spanish reminds me of a taxi ride in Bolivia. Mucho gusto! Keep up the practice you’ll be fluent in no time. Pero se dice Como te llamas, no Como te llamo. That means What do you call me? or What did she/he call you? Instead of What is your name? Little Spanish lesson for all.
Friday, October 03, 2008 11:38:19 AM

Amy Baldwin said…

Those boys are really confused. “Why is that white man speaking our language to us? Doesn’t he only know English?”
Friday, October 10, 2008 12:42:38 PM

I went to parent/teacher’s conference this past week, are you ready for the good news? Mason got straight As and one B. The B was in writing. He just needed to turn this paper in to get an A. His teacher is nice when it comes to turning in missing assignments and gives full credit.

Kershaw Elementary has this thing called ABBIT (As and Bs because I Try). If students get As and Bs on their report cards, they earn an ABBIT card which entitles them to various free items. Alexis and I told Mason about this card and it has been working its magic since school began. He is really excited about earning the free admission to Green Canyon – I told him we could take the family if he and Alexis earned ABBIT cards. This has been such a growing year for Mason. He gets his homework done and even turns it in! All for the sake of earning that ABBIT card.

Also, the other morning he set his alarm clock for 6 am so he could practice the piano before school. Will wonders ever cease? This has been such a happy change from last year’s attitude.

Anyway, you should take the time to read his great thoughts on when he met…his little brother. It makes my heart smile :).

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

That is a great little paper, Mason. You have a fine natural ability to think do things, and now you are even writing them. Your dad was always inspired by goals too. Good luck getting your ABBIT card, and JT is surely thankful for a good big brother.
Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:09:36 AM

Grandma Baldwin said…

Mason, you are an amazing big brother! I’ve watched how good you are to JT. He has a great example of how to treat people. He will always be glad to have you as his big brother.
Friday, November 07, 2008 1:45:40 PM

This little fella makes me smile … he came home from school and was more excited to show me this cute creation than tell me he got 100% on his spelling pre-test (he even got ALL of the challenge words correct)! I love this potato that says “grown in Idaho” and I’m proud to be raising a boy who can say he “grew up in Idaho.” Incidentally he just made this for fun during free time at school today?! FYI the potato has a piece of wheat in his mouth – Mason has been interested in the mechanics of wheat these days. He told Stephen he might make a wife for this little potato while the rest of the class takes the spelling test. Can’t wait to meet her.

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Sounds like you are getting a good start in school this year. It;s so fun to see people do good things of their own free will. It make teaching and learning fun. Keep it up. We’re proud of you.
Friday, September 05, 2008 12:16:51 AM

Anne said…

Cool potato head Mason! Keep on being creative and you will always be happy!
Friday, September 05, 2008 6:23:52 AM

Steph said…

Way to go IDAHO!
Saturday, September 06, 2008 8:40:04 PM

Mason is now a 9 1/2 year old fourth grader. I thought I would make note on some of the changes that I’ve noticed.

First – I decided to teach Mason piano lessons this year to save a few pennies. (now though, I have consented to trade teaching piano with my friend Diana Puzey. So that will be his official teacher.) Anyway, we had a great piano lesson last week. I found out that Mason’s favorite part of school is art. I explained how music is like art – the notes paint the picture in your mind of what the composer wants you to envision. He caught on to this and we found a song called Little Leapin’ Lizards. He loved it. Later that night after FHE was ending he asked, “Can I play my song for everyone?” Stephen and I looked at each other dumbfounded. This is not like Mason to want to volunteer to play the piano let a lone play in front of people! He did it and we were so happy and proud.

I have also noticed that Mason is being more responsible with his homework. He understands that when he works hard in class, he will have less/no work to bring home! He even tries to do it on the bus. And when he does come home with it, he has been good to just get it done!

He also admitted that he thinks that a girl is cute…

A few months ago Mason was supposed to give the scripture in Primary. I completely forgot about it. (I’m even in the presidency?!) I was sitting in Primary when all of the sudden Mason stood up and delivered his scripture flawlessly. He had picked his favorite scripture (1 Nephi 3:7) out and spoke clearly and even ended it appropriately! I was so impressed…Mason used to cry when he had to give a talk in primary and would only do it after much persuasion and bribery! He said he did not like all of the people looking at him. He has come a long way!!!

This has also been a year of growth in the soccer department. He has always been a great little player…but participated in soccer because he was, again, persuaded! (Change/not know what to expect has always been hard on him since Sunbeams)Well this year, he is excited about soccer and is trying so hard to get better. He has come close several times with scoring his own goal and has assisted in helping the team score many goals.

He plays so well with Olivia and is sweet to watch with JT. He gives Olivia piggy back rides, plays legos, jumps, makes her paper origami, reads her stories…He is gentle with JT and doesn’t complain when he is asked to help out with his brother. He also enjoys playing spies, riding bikes, and jumping on the trampoline with Lily and Alexis.

He is a good friend to have around.

Saturday the Cub Scouts from pack #254 held a Bike Rally. They had a pancake and egg breakfast. They whipped up the batter with a drill and blending attachment. Mason thought it was great. Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin were up for a visit so got to come with us!

A police officer came and taught the cub scouts how important bike helmets are and then they all got to learn bike techniques and safety. The guy in charge of repairs was really cute. Mason and his dad loved the big pile of gravel that was in the church parking lot – while all of the other bikers were having a race, they decided to see how much air they could get.

I love Mason in his shades – he is really cool!

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Since you will be spending a lot of time on a bike, learning bike safety is very important. We always want to think of safety first when we are playing hard.

Monday, August 25, 2008 1:47:15 AM

Aunt Jana said…

Fun pack night!! We did that just a few months ago, glad to see you are learning all these fun things in life that keep you safe!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 9:49:48 AM

Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin said…

Mason, we had a great visit spending time with you and your family. You are a special 9 year old with lots of entertaining talents. You can entertain us with riding bikes, catching frogs, making swasp traps, etc., etc. Thanks for being so awesome. We love you!
Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:14:43 PM

Mason came home with a smile, which was a good thing considering his many reservations about starting school up again. He liked his teacher, Mrs. Singleton, and his class and his new school, Kershaw Intermediate School. It helped that he sat by a boy named Karter who could make origami frogs, he made two for Mason! Now that is cool in Mason’s eyes.

Mason told his teacher that he would like to learn how to do division this year. He was glad that his teacher didn’t make him fill up an entire page explaining what he wanted to learn – she said division was good enough. That was the thing that Mason likes best about his teacher. His favorite part of the day was a fun questionnaire – he got to choose one of two things that was his favorite and then color in a person with the color it said. For example this was one of the questions he said was really hard to choose from: Build a tree house or go on a walk through the woods? He decided to choose build a tree house.

He said it will probably be a good year.

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Great job, Mason. Your teacher looks like a wonderful person and a happy teacher. Always do your very best. You will surely be a fine addition to the class. It looks like you gained a little height with your new hair-do. Have a great year.
Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:27:33 PM

Aunt Susan said…

Hey Mason, next time I see you, I can teach you how to fold frogs if you want. I learned in third grade. Have a terrific year. Love,
Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:52:20 AM

Here is a shot of Mason’s soccer team photo – they had a ton of people missing on picture day! He has a great team and they are fun to watch. It seems like this is the age when kids are playing because they really like it and they are understanding the game. We are so glad Mason decided to play this year – he does a great job! He has loved having his cousin Matt on his team. (thanks to Matt, Mason consented to play) We are sad that Matt won’t be able to play for the rest of the games because of his broken wrists!

Their team name is “Bricks”.

Comments:

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

Looks like some fancy foot work. Do your very best.
Sunday, August 17, 2008 3:41:38 PM

Anne said…

Looks like a winning team to me! Have fun and good luck!
Sunday, August 17, 2008 9:30:13 PM

Aunt Jana said…

Way to go Mason..I bet your the fastest kid on the team, have fun,play hard!
Monday, August 18, 2008 9:51:16 AM

Mason and I were installing a trailer jack on our trailer when it slipped off the block and landed on Masons leg. I immediately flashed back to when I was run over by the pickup by my dad. We checked his legs and saw some serious bruising and cuts but nothing broken. Poor Kid, he was in some serious pain but he stayed out to finish the job. Here is a shot a day later.

Comments:

Amy Baldwin said…

Stephen, your childhood is so funny. Run over by your Dad in his pickup?
Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:33:23 PM

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

Yes, lots of fun experiences, and still alive to tell them. Way to hang in there Mason.
Sunday, June 29, 2008 12:05:29 AM

Steph said…

You should make a Mason wear a suit of bubble wrap when he is working with you. Just don’t let him drive yet.
Monday, June 30, 2008 9:44:55 AM

Anne said…

OUCH! So glad you are okay!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:51:49 AM

michelle said…

Good thing your tough! I would not have handled that very well!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:51:29 AM

Mason loved the new Indiana Jones movie! He has since watched the previous three movies. He now thinks he is Indiana Jones. He even wears a coiled up rope hooked onto his belt loop and his two dart guns – always ready for a fight. EVERY DAY! He also prefers to wear socks and long pants so he can slide easier across the floor at home. He really wants to find a cool Indiana Jones hat.

I love Mason’s creative side, he doesn’t sit around waiting for something to happen – he makes it happen. He has created a following of friends that also admire his ability to have fun.

He is getting very excited to have his cousin, Matt move back into town. In fact he even said he only wants to play soccer this August if Matt will be on his team…So, Matt what do you think?

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Paarker said…

Mason seems to be growing into a fine young man. He’ll probably b able to protect the family with all his skills and abilities. He’ll never be bored, if he can make his own fun without TV and commercial entertainment. They say the most interesting people think the most interesting things. Creativity is great!
Thursday, June 26, 2008 1:19:48 AM

Anne said…

I hope you find an Indie hat! They are pretty cool. It is always fun to hear about your adventures and fun creativity.
Friday, June 27, 2008 6:28:04 AM

Matt said…

I’ll be there for sure so save me a good number.
Friday, June 27, 2008 6:29:15 PM