2010 for MASON

Mason's a regular 'manchild' these days; taller than his mom, eating like a horse, mouth full of braces and head full of curly hair. He is smart, creative, thoughtful and GOOD. What more could a mother ask for?

Mason's laugh is still the most contagious in our family; and thankfully we get to hear it pretty often around our house.

Mason and John have had a lot of fun scouting together this year. John has been lucky to be Mason's youth leader, and Mason has been lucky to have his dad be his guide.

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too bad the blue suede shoes had to be returned with the costume, with the sideburns and Mason's deep southern drawl he made for a pretty good Elvis.

The Rugby team takes a bow after a fantastic performance

We failed to produce a family 'newsletter' this year updating friends and bragging about our kids. So i thought I'd use this forum to share with you the privileges and blessings I enjoy as the mother of the Graham 6. Oldest to Youngest....one kid each day all week long.

MASON had an amazing 2010 if I do say so myself. This year he experienced 9th grade, which in our neck of the woods is still part of Jr. High. He was selected to play the part of Pharoah in the school's production of "Joseph" and did a great job (we still hear him break into the Elvis sometimes even though Joseph ended clear last March!). Mason piggybacked his musical debut with his rugby debut as well, playing scrum half for Highland. We took his commitment lightly, which was a mistake; Mason showed a willingness to finish the season strong and is looking forward to next season, dreaming that somehow he will grow 5 inches and gain 50 lbs. before the first Monday in March....

A busy spring was followed by an even busier summer; Mason worked for his PARENTS for the month of June, converting the back yard's 30 year old pond into a gravel patio for our outdoor dining table. It was grueling work for Mason, and very challenging work for his mother-who expects her oldest son to work hard (VERY hard) if he is to be paid from the family coffers. Mason also enjoyed a summer rugby camp, a week long experience at BYU attending their "Especially for Youth" program and had a blast at a two week leadership camp called Quick Water Ranch. Quick Water high- lights included stitches in his finger, rounding up pigs, sleeping out on the mountain side and doing community service.

Quickwater ended and so did summer. After a short family vacation Mason was registered for HIGH SCHOOL and now attends Olympus High as a Sophomore (10th Grade). His schedule is impressive with Physics, Honors English,Intermediate Algebra and, his least favorite, Men's Chorus. His grades are pretty good (I disclosed to John recently that though I constantly ride Mason about doing better and raising his GPA he currently has grades that were higher than his mother's ever had been in High School; my only excuse is that I held part time jobs all through my High School career. And plus, I'm not as smart as my posterity). We are proud of Mason and all he does to achieve in his academic career.

Mason worked this fall to complete his Eagle Scout award, and participated in the school's Musical "Curtains". His greatest accomplishment this year, though, has been his ability to take out the trash without complaint. This is something that endears Mason most to his mother these days!

Mason still dreams of drawing comics, and is really a boy at heart. He would be very happy if we could turn back the clock and give him 4 more years to 'grow up'. Even in the face of that peter pan scenario, he is maturing and growing very nicely. His height has made it so I've had to look up to him for the past year or so, but these days I'd say I look up to him in more ways than one. He is a boy who is willing to become a good man; and those kinds of boys are hard to come by.