Senses

I haven't blogged for quite some time...  So, we will see how this goes :)  Mason is constantly doing and saying things that make me laugh and amaze me at the same time.  About 6 months ago, Mason discovered the sense of smell.  So the last 6 months has been spent explaining smell, and that some smells stink and others are pretty!!  During a parade this summer...  Mason raised the question... as he always does ...  "What's that smell like?"  and I respond as always  "I don't know Mason, what does that smell like?"  Mason then said "It smells like horse and poop!"  He was right, it did smell like wet manure.  Then a couple of weeks ago, as we are walking out of our usual food joint (McDonalds)  Mason asks "What's that smell like?"..  and I, having heard this question a gazillion times... was annoyed but managed to must muster out "I don't know Mason, what does that smell like?"  and he responded with Poop and Feet...  Once again, RIGHT it did smell like that...  Why is it that every McDonalds must have a sewer opening right outside their front door.  Do they want to deter people from eating at their facility?  Or, do they think that after having a delicious Big Mac meal, that you will walk outside, barf up the recently ate food, and then re-enter to divulge in more of their low fat recipes?..   Just a thought!!  Anyways...   Last weekend we were on our way to Salt Lake.  When we arrived at our destination..  I proceeded to put some perfume on.....   Bet you can't guess what Mason asked?....   ding ding ding... You're right!!  he asked "What's that smell like?"....  uggggggghhhhh...  I've answered too many questions today, and he is now going to tell me that I smell like poop...  so I didn't answer...   Silly me, like that will stop him from asking again...  "Hey mom, What's that smell like?"  In my super annoyed and frustrated voice I say "I don't know Mason... You tell me!"  and in the most angelic voice, he responded with...  "It smells like Pretty Mom" 

March for Mason... May 2, 2010

March for Mason was another huge success!!  We are sooooo grateful to our wonderful family and friends who supported us, whether through a donation or showing up to walk in the SNOW!!!

Marchers

 Mason Sipple

Jodi Sipple

Sheila Howard

Nanette Barrett

Leora Ivie

Cindy Turner

Tenneil Turner

Chris Atkins

Cameron Atkins

Chance Atkins

Cariann Atkins

Barbara Nelson

Roger Nelson

Wendy Allred

Amanda Allred

Joe Comstock (Amanda's friend)

Marcia Eyre

AnnieMcEwan

Emilee Eyre

Joseph Eyre

(Joseph and Emily's children)

And a thanks for those who donated....  Leora Ivie, Sheila Howard, Chris Atkins, Lisa Blackett, Wade Sipple, Michelle Young, Cindy Turner, Todd and Danyel Erick, Emilee and Joseph Eyre, Julee Eyre, Carmen Lizarraga, Wanda Lubag, Steve Montgomery, Chris and Tanya Morene, Cindy Morton, Steve Pappas,  Erik Swanson....  Total Raised: $560.00  WooHoo

VIP

Ms. Aagard (Mason's Kindergarten Teacher) made one very big mistake this year!!!  She left Mason's VIP week until the end of the school year.  So don't think that Mason just forgot about his VIP week.  He has been reminding the entire class all year, that his VIP week was May 10th.  Well, his teachers were very relieved when May 10th finally came around, so they didn't have to hear about it anymore.  As part of his VIP week, Mason brought home a questionaire to fill out...  I will not post all of the questions, but one question/answer was too cute not to share......

Mom:  Mason, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Mason:  I want to be really tall :)

Playoffs Baby!!!

On April 23, 2010, Mason and I had the opportunity to go to one of the playoff games for the Utah Jazz.  It was game two of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets!  Mason had never been to a Jazz game and was super excited to go.  I was a little nervous to tell you the truth!  What if he wasn't able to handle the game, because of the noise and we had to leave after spending all that money!!!   But as always... I say.... There has to be a first!!  We won't know until we try it.  Mason had to wear both of his Jazz shirts and if he had had a Jazz flag, that would have gone along too. He was so excited to be inside the Arena!  The only time that mason had a difficult time, was when they announced the players and set the fireworks off inside the arena.  For some reason, he just can't handle fireworks.  Even with his earmuffs on!!  But we made it through the fireworks and Mason cheered loud for his Jazz.  After half time, Mason and I went for a walk.  While we were out, we had the opportunity to have our picture taken with Thurl Bailey.  Mason even got Thurl's autograph on the back of his Jazz Jersey...   The night was fantastic... We made it through the entire game and   the Jazz won!!!!

Silly Spongebob!!!!

I haven't had a ton of time to post lately, but I certainly don't want this story to be lost...   So, here it goes.   A couple of weeks ago, I had just gotten home from work and was sitting in the bathtub, something I do everyday, while Mason watches T.V.  It's a ritual of sorts...  A SANCTUARY!!!!  Mason has grown to learn that this is Mom's time and to "Please leave her alone" :)  This one particular day, as I sat in my "sanctuary"...  I heard Mason yelling in his room.  At first I couldn't understand what he was saying, but I knew that he was as mad as could be.  He was yelling at imaginary Spongebob!  Apparently, imaginary Spongebob had messed up Mason's room and Mason was letting him have it. He was saying...."I told you no spongebob..you no mess up Mason's room...  You stupid Spongebob...  get back here Spongebob.... I siad NO.....   You clean up this mess NOW!!!!  I was secretly giggling in my "sanctuary".... and for the next 10 minutes, he continued to bawl Spongebob out!..........  then came the hysterical part........   Mason came down the hallway towards the bathroom...  still yelling of course....  opened the bathroom door...   and tossed Spongebob into the toilet and yelled....  "it's back to the chum bucket for you Spongebob!!!"  and then....... he flushed him down the drain!  I guess that will teach Spongebob to not mess Mason's room up again :)  I still don't quite understand what he was getting at, because Mason's room was actually spotless that day.... and I don't know where he got that conversation from, because I've never asked Mason to help clean anything in the house, I've never yelled at him for a messy room or scolded him for anything about his room.  :)  The good part of this is.... At one point when a pediatrician told us some details of Autism....  He said that Mason may never have an imagination or be able to Role Play....  Guess Mason proved that doctor wrong!!!!!!

Mason is ONE TERRIFFIC KID!

Last Tuesday I was going through Mason's backpack when I came across the most amazing thing I've ever seen!  An award had been given to Mason for Terrific Kid of the month.  Each month each class chooses one student as student of the month.  And this month Mason got the award!  I was sooooo proud of him for such an achievement, that I cried!!  Two years ago, I would receive a daily report from Mason's teachers and most of the time it wasn't a pleasant report.  Although they were wonderful and working hard to help Mason, he was uncooperative with them and most of the time "naughty".  He would run from the teachers, wouldn't sit still for any length of time, and was mean to his teachers and the other children.  Everytime I would get a "bad" report, I would cry for my son and wish there was something I could do for him!  Now, I sit in front of a "terrific award" and cry again, although this time I cry out of happiness, not out of sadness!!  Let me say, that I've always known that Mason had it in him, I wasn't selling him short,  but I also wasn't sure that others would see his potential like I did.  Mason has had some amazing teachers and therapists over the years.  Each one of them brought something to the table that helped him get where he is today.  His special education teacher this year has gone above and beyond to make Mason's kindergarten year a success!!  Thank you Mrs. Eyre for your patience, your determination and above all, your Love!!!  We appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Miracles DO Happen :)

Last Friday, a miracle happened.....  Maybe nothing that you would consider a miracle, but it my books, it was nothing short of amazing!  A typical Friday night around our house...  Mason was playing the wii...  I was doing laundry and dishes.  I told him that he would need to do a page of homework and he immediately started  whining and telling me "NO"!!  So that's when mom pulled out the bribery...  btw I'm the QUEEN of Bribery!!  "Mason, if you do one page of homework, then we can go to the store and buy Valentine's for your friends at school".  It worked like a charm.  He jumped up to the counter and started to pick which page he would do.  He picked a page that was double duty, 2 sides of work.....  I thought to myself...  "This will take forever!"  Which means that the idea backfired, because I will have to sit with him for the next half hour and constantly redirect him back to the page and encourage him to do his "BEST" work.  Homework is like pulling teeth for me...  It would be a lot easier with some vallium present :)  Sooooooo I told him to get started while I finished the last couple dishes.  He immediately wrote his name at the top of the sheet and began tracing the number 11 on the first part of the page...  Hmmmm this is going well.  When he finished (without my help btw), he said "mom, what does dat say"?  I went over to the counter and read the directions to him!  DRAW AND COLOR 11 APPLES The phone rang at that point so I handed him the crayons and ran for the phone.  When I came back he had drawn and colored the most beautiful apple I had ever seen!  I was amazed and he was proud.  So I thought...  you're on a roll, don't stop now.  I told him to finish all 11 apples...  Mason worked very hard while I stayed a short distance away pretending to do dishes.  I had never seen him sit in one spot this long, or stay focused on one activity this long and I hadn't once redirected him!   Mason drew 11 apples.... colored all 11 apples...  stopped after he drew the 11th apple....  didn't run from the table once.... didn't spit on me or hit me....  did both sides of the sheet and was actually happy about doing it!  The ending result......   25 MINUTES...  yes you heard me right... 25 MINUTES ...That is how long he sat there doing his homework, by HIMSELF!!!  Truly a miracle.....


On a side note... When Mason was about 3 1/2, he was working with his OT.  Her name was Trisha!  She told me one time that Mason had a very short attention span and they would work on staying focused.  Her GOAL the first week was 1 minute!  I think after many months, they eventually made it up to 3 minutes, but that was after a lot of hard work and someone sitting with him the entire time.  WOW what a long ways he has come.