PINK CABOOSE

I took these pictures before Christmas, yes I'm quite late in posting them...oh well.

It snowed all day long this day. I think we shoveled and snow blowed (is that a word?) three times. The kids had a blast sledding down the snow bank that the snow plow made at the end of our street. They did have to jump out of the way of the snow plow a few times, which scared me because I wasn't sure if the plow driver would see them.

Hayden loves being outside. He was so cute trying to figure out what the snow was.

As if you all didn't know that I have the cutest, sweetest, smartest, best boys in the world, I thought I would remind you!

As my Great Aunt Ruth from Oregon said last week, "The old mother crow always thinks her little crows are the blackest."

All dressed up for church in their new sweaters. Aren't they handsome?

I love Hayden in this picture! He is talking on the phone. Look at those little lips!

As if we didn't have enough snow already, everyone that wished for a WHITE CHRISTMAS got their wish granted. We had 14 inches of new snow on Christmas Day bringing our total to about 30 inches. Cameron is a great helper when it comes to shoveling and he has been assigned the job of shoveling the steps and side walk. Mark is grateful as ever to have a snow blower and I am grateful that I have boys to shovel so that I don't have to!!!

This was AMAZING!!  I had put this tube of frosting in my pantry and didn't notice until about 24hours later that the lid had popped off and the frosting was dripping onto a can.  It was really pretty cool! It looked like something from a Dr. Seuss book. 

Tonight as I was putting my kids to bed I was having a "nostalgic mom moment" and thinking how blessed we are to have warm beds for our children to sleep in.  We got home late tonight from Grandma's house and the kids were all really tired, they didn't put up a bedtime fight that's how I know they were tired!  After kissing Colb and Cam goodnight I took Hayders in his room and rocked him while he snuggled his favorite blanket and sucked his tongue.  I love those moments with him, he so sweet and cuddly, he loves his bed though and was more than ready to snuggle down into his bed and go to sleep.  Thats when it hit me how greatful I am for all that we have; a snow blower,(Mark and Cam snowblowed/shoveled the driveway at 9pm tonight) warm boots and gloves and coats, more than enough food, a warm cozy home, and soft warm beds.  I don't know if it's just this time of year and my longing for home and Christmas's from my childhood that bring these thoughts to my mind, but I was happy to be able to recognize and reflect on all I have been blessed with.  I can not imagine not having a warm home and warm beds for my kids.  So as a Christmas gift to me, everyone that reads this, kiss your kids as you tuck them into their warm beds and be grateful for all you have.  If you don't have kids-Brant & Kacy-be greatful for your own warm bed! Oh and if you don't live where it snows three feet in three days be grateful for that too!  Merry Christmas!! 

Time has just gone by way to fast. My baby is ONE! I know I am like 10 days late in posting this, oh well.  Colby and Cameron were so excited for Hayden's birthday, Cam couldn't sleep, it was like Christmas! Bright and early on the morning of the 4th the boys were up waiting for Hayden to wake up and open presents.  Cam couldn't wait to see if Hayden could walk now. He thought that because Hayden was one now that he could all of a sudden walk, it was so sweet!   Hayden of course had more fun opening the presents than playing with them!  Colb and Cam got to pick the dinner menu and in true kid fashion they wanted homemade Chicken Nuggets and french fries.  We had Gma and Gpa Davis over for dinner and cake. Hayden wasn't quite sure what to do about the cake.  He looked at it for awhile then stuck his finger in it, but really never DUG IN, he wanted Mark to feed it to him on a fork!  It was a fun day, but I am still having a hard time admitting that my baby is one, I don't like it at all. 

Hayders really enjoyed monkey crawling all over the yard and pointing at everything that interested him! If you have not had the opportunity to see him crawl it's really worth the trip over here to see it!

I am so glad that we enjoyed being outside yesterday because today Winter showed it's cold windy face. It's hard to believe that last year on December 1st we had lots of snow and lots of storms on the way and I was worried that I would go into labor and not be able to make it down the Canyon to the hospital! How has it already been a year?

Everytime we drive down to SJ Mark always says we should stop and let the boys run down the Sandhill just outside of Moab, this year he finally stopped.  The boys LOVED running down the hill and I didn't even mind all of the sand in the shoes and clothes because it was such a much needed break in the long drive.  Mark even climbed up the hill and ran down with them.

Hayden was quite interested in the sand, I thought afterward that I should have taken off his pj's and let his little toes feel it too.  He played with the sand for quite awhile before he finally decided to taste it!

Playing b-ball at Gma's house is something these kids do every time we are there.  I wish there was some way to know how much ball has been played at this spot in the last 15 years.  Colb and Cam are finally getting the hang of it enough to want to actually play!

The above picture is of Hayden with his wife and kids.  My mom has these dolls that the big kids decided to turn into Hayden's wife and kids.  It was funny because Hayders would play with them and give them kisses and the big kids would laugh and laugh!

Turkeys and Pilgrim Hats   Making these Turkeys has been a tradition that I started four years ago, the Pilgrim Hats were new this year.  The kids always have a good time making these and always eat way more than they make!

The above picture I had to include. Let me tell you why... these are my cousins little boys at Nana's on Thanksgiving Day.  Harvey (in the corner) had his backpack of animals that all the other boys wanted to play with but Harvey was not going to share.  They sat there trying to convince him that he really needed to share with his cousins, but Harvey held out and refused.  It was so dang funny.  I think Kimberly has got her work cut out for her with this kid, he is a lot like his dad!

8 of Nana and Papa's 21 Great Grandkids

The picture above is to explain the picture below.    Hayden could not get over seeing the Mountain Lion on the wall at the Zieler's.  He sat there with Uncle Jim for about 20 minutes pointing and shaking and growling at the lion.  It was so dang cute!

9 of the 36 Mineer cousins

Ok, this picture (above) is for Colt's posterity.  Colt has watched every Cowboys game since he was three and can tell you anything you would ever need to know about the Dallas Cowboys.  After this game on Thanksgiving Day, we all sat around playing cards and eating again but Colt sat on the couch re-watching the TIVO'd football game! Every once in a while he would say, "ok, dad watch this play." If Colt does not grow up to work for the Cowboys or ESPN it will be a crying shame. 

These four kids spent hours playing in their fort in Grandpa's new wood pile.  It was so nice to see them playing together so well and using their imaginations!

Look at Maison's hair!!