NYC, here he comes!

OK, quick post.  So the pie baking begins again.  Here is our latest peach pies.  Heaven they were.  Peach has never been my very favorite pie but now it might be.  Except for maybe the strawberry rhubarb pie I made a week later.  If you didn't know about this, Mason and I make 10 pies a week and sell them on Facebook ("like" our page at Mason's Homemade Pies)  It's a ton of work but we've gotten it down to a good schedule and we do a darn good job. Why do we do this?  Scroll down.

This kid.  He's really better at the piano than the cello, but I convinced him to try orchestra back in 6th grade.  Best move ever.  Is this orchestra the best ever?  Um, no.  However, for whatever reason, he has gotten the orchestra bug.  He  loves the kids, he loves the teacher, he loves everything about it.  He cares when the others in the cello section are playing wrong notes or not paying attention.  He cares!  He likes to make music with others!  This is huge!  Also, as a parent it makes me feel good that he's involved in this.  When seeing news reports of teens in trouble with drugs, illegal activities, or other youth misdemeanors, have you EVER heard of any of them playing in the school orchestra?  Neither have I.  Not that these are perfect kids, but still.  

We found out this week that this spring the orchestra is going on a trip to NYC.  This is fabulous news.  Last year the orchestra went to Disney, and Matt and I have agreed that this was a huge turning point with Mason.  He became more responsible, more respectful, more productive, and I think his social skills went up, too.  His grades went up as well.  He got his first phone (a lame hand-me-down of Matt's), but it calls and texts!  Mason has done a great job with the limits and rules that accompany his phone ownership.  Anyway, the cost of this trip to NY is even more than Disney so we agreed to pay the first deposit and then Mason has to earn the rest himself.  He is really getting good at this and doing most of the work and cleanup with the pies himself, so it's turned out to be a good little venture altogether.  Also, as his mom I'm just grateful to do something that traps him in the kitchen with me so we can spend time together!  A little lame but true.