This year was a milestone year for Mason's birthday. He turned the big 1-0! That's double digits folks! Together we decided that this would be a good age to transition from having big friend birthday parties to doing a special outing with just one friend. Mason was completely on board with this because all he wanted for his birthday was a Gordon Hayward jersey and to go to a Jazz game with his best buddy, Daniel. Since his birthday falls right during the NBA playoffs and we were unsure what the availability and cost of tickets would be, we let Mason choose a game at the end of the regular season that he would like to go to. He chose the Wizards' game to which Scott got 4 tickets which made it possible for Miles to tag along which he was pretty excited about. Grandma gave Mason his dream Gordon Hayward jersey as an early birthday present so he was all decked out and ready to go. They started off the birthday celebration by stopping by Mr. E's to pick up a grab bag for each of the boys to open on the way up to the game. Of course when Mr. E heard they were headed to the Jazz game he gave them each a Gordon Hayward card they could try to get signed. They got the arena early so they could watch the team warm up and were hoping to get an autograph or two. They weren't successful getting any autographs, but that didn't dampen their excitement to being seeing the players practicing up close. Scott tells me that the game consistent of a constant stream of great commentary between the three boys. He said everyone around them was thoroughly entertained listening to these young boys, especially Miles, who know so much about the players and the game. They came up with the chant "Swat lake city" for Rudy Gobert every time he got a block.
Just when Mason thought his birthday couldn't get any better he got the surprise of his life. I had posted a picture of the boys at the game on instagram and shortly after got a call from my friend, Nicole (Hill) Gerulat. Her sister, Natalie, is married to one of the Jazz coaches and they were at the game that night. Nicole asked if the boys would like to go down in the tunnel after the game and meet the players as they came out of the locker room. So Scott and the boys went down after the game and got to hang out and talk with Raul Neto who was injured and didn't play in the game. The got to see Joe Johnson, Trey Lyles, and Derek Favors gave them a wave as he passed by. Dante Exum, Joe Ingles and Jeff Withy stopped and talked to them a bit and autographed their programs. Joe Ingles teased Daniel and gave him a hard time about wearing a BYU sweatshirt because he's a big Ute fan. Then the highlight of the night came when Rudy Gobert came out and they got to talk to him, get his autograph, and even snap a picture with him. He is HUGE! He makes Scott look like a little boy next to him. Unfortunately George Hill and Gordon Hayward stayed in the locker room watching the end of a big upset during the Womens NCAA tournament and so they weren't able to see them before it was time for everyone to go, but after seeing and meeting so many other players you won't hear any of these boys complain one bit. Pretty much all of Mason's wildest dreams came true for his birthday thanks to Nicole and Natalie.
As if all of that wasn't enough, when Mason's actual birthday weekend came around and the Jazz were in the playoffs we let him invite some of his buddies from school over for a late night to watch the Jazz vs the Clippers. It made for a very wild, crazy, and LOUD night!
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| Mason, David, Brody, and Treg |
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| Grandma Nancy gave Mason a "pizza" for his birthday |
Mason has grown up so much that last year and I can see that my days of him being a young boy are quickly coming to an end. We still have our fair share of difficulties with Mason, but at the end of the day he is a pretty good kid with a big heart and I am proud to be his mom.
10-year-old Mason
*Has become the biggest sports fanatic. When it comes to football Mason can talk for days about the Eagles and Carson Wentz. With Basketball it is the Jazz with Gordon Hayward and Rudy Gobert. He wants to play basketball at Duke University - but if for some reason they don't want him then he will play football at BYU and then go to the NFL.
*While he is sure that he will be a professional athlete someday, I think he is greater potential of being a sports caster. He is such a student of the game and knows everything their is to know about the sport, teams, and players and is as good as most callers at commentating the games.
*He continues to have some serious brain power and does amazingly well academically at school. Still working on some of his behavioral and social skills at school, but he has actually made tremendous progress in those areas this year.
*Mason's anxiety has really peaked this last year with our move and switching schools mid-year. We are starting to get a handle on it and help him develop the coping skills he needs.
*Mason is quite possibly the skinniest 10-year-old alive, but he is still so stinkin' handsome.
