Ups and downs

         For Mason's 10th birthday we went out into the desert south of St. George and let the kids loose.  With a bike theme, my original thought to do cupcakes and to put finger bikes on top for party favors but after looking for hours in all of the cheep stores, I found nothing to put on top of cupcakes that didn't cost $15.00 each. Standing in my kitchen I set my mind search for a ssolution.  It hit me. "That would be cool" I said aloud.  Kade and his friends looking at me like I was crazy.  I told them my idea.  Three12year old boys ok'd the idea so I knew it WOULD be cool.  This was the final product. 

If you can't tell, its a bike chain

Birthday boy Mason and best friend Izak "Come on mom, take the picture so that we can go"

Porter went down almost every hill the big kids did. He couldn't get up this hill.  Thank goodness he had an assistant, Grandma, to help him haul his bike up the hill. 

Ryan, Kade, and Grandma

The dads (Alex, Ben, Ryan) had just as much fun as the kids did.  They ended up taking the older boys on a 3 mile trail ride.



"Mom, watch me." Porter said



Matthew and his friend Colton, also our neighbor, looking for flags that were hidden so that they could get an arm sweat band

Watering hole/Grandstand

How many bikes can you fit into the back of a truck?  15 bikes in this truck.

          The kids were thrilled with the party favors, their own water bottles to keep and arm  sweat bands.
          If you judge a party on how much fun people had and how much time spent there, this one was a hit.  We were there for 6hrs returning with  exhausted kids with cute sunburned cheeks. 

Rock and Roll

 As I sat bloging last night I was inspired to learn how to take better pictures.  Who better to practice on than my own kids.  So before Mason could call his freind to play I made him be my first subject.  I wanted to practice on settings and lighting and other things.  He insisted I take pictures of him with him rollerblading.  I thought perfect.  Motion shots.  I took lots of pictures.  Thanks to digital camera's you can see instantly your screw up and can delete them. I managed to get him to do a few still shots. 



Porter was my next subject.  He came up stairs bragging about getting 99% on guitar in Rock Band. If that is not a true rocker I don't know what is. 

This is going to be so much fun. 

Snowman season

  Porter needed work on his bow so we went over to Grandpa Fox's. Grandpa got out his archery stuff, explaining things to Porter the whole time. They put the thingys, thats what I call it, on the string to hold the arrow from going up or down so aiming would be propper. After they completed the task they took it out to try it out. Grandpa had the perfect target, a melting snowman. Porter delighted at the thought and took aim. Hitting him. After a few shots and some fun talk with Grandpa Porter took the arrows out of the snowman, fidgeted with them for a bit, I asked if he wanted me to hold them he said "Nope I am just trying to wipe off the blood." I looked down and the "blood", snow,  he was trying to wipe off just kept twisting around the arrow. I just laughed. Grandpa helped him wipe the blood off the arrow, smiling the whole time, like a proud Grandpa who's grandson just got himself a two point snowman 

  .

Snowman Crew

No lawn shall be without a SNOWMAN.

Great end to 2010.

Spending time with freinds is a great way to see off the old year and bring in a new.  Angie had us all over to her house for games, food and fun.  It was fun. 

Kids playing "Apples to Apples"
(Kade, Josh, Logan, Daisy)

Kids playing "Sorry Sliders"
(Kyle, Quincy, Noah, Julie)

It lasts the whole day!

It last the whole day! After we get up and play with all the toys Santa has brought we get to go to each Grandma's house.  We get to open more presents and spend time with out cousins.  What a great day!



Porter reading his book "YUCK that's not a monster"



Mason is excited with his pants.  Since he is growing so fast he has none that fit him.  Yeah!

Kade opening the stuffed animal rice bag from Grandma Fox.  Warm and snugly. 



The construction of the fastest slot car track ever.  Careful around those turns.



Christmas morning

Happy day.  Mason's favorite gift, a new turtle.  Kade's favorite gift, Scribble Naughts a DS game.  Porter's favorite gift RC truck.  They were happy with ALL of their gifts but those are the ones they spent the most time with.

White Christmas

         We have to travel to get a white Christmas but it is worth it.  We, the whole St. George crew,  met Dad Turley and Amy up at Jess and Greg's cabin to exchange presents.  It is so much fun.  We get Christmas and get to play in the snow.  What a treat.  My kids wouldn't have any other opportunity to play in the snow, it isn't one of the things I grew up enjoying, but I sure enjoy it now.  Making sled trails with the kids and letting them  talk me into doing some crazy things.  Getting to spend one on one time with them and watching them create memories with their cousins is very fun. 

 

Solomon and Mason trying to build a snow cave.

   
 

Jessica getting the Iasac and Kyle ready to go down the hill.

 

Josh provided pick up service.



What goes down must come back up. Its just alot easier this way.



Three out of the 6 females.

Four  out of 14 males.  Holy COW!!!
(Logan, Josh, Kade, Ryan)



Kade

As were waiting at the car for the ride home, we weren't in the car, NO, No.  There was a big snow drift they had to play in before the ride home and they hadn't had a chance to make snow angles yet. 



Porter

Mason

Rollerskating Santa is an ELF!

At the ward Christmas party, Santa makes his entrance on roller skates.  As he skated through the tables weaving in and out he shakes his bells.  Mason comes running up to me "Mom, when Santa tripped I saw up his pant leg and it wasn't a leg it was stilts.  He is a ELF, not Santa!"  I thought that he would be crushed that the real one didn't come, but without a note of worry on my face he continued, "When he bumped into a chair some stuffing fell out. It is an Elf mom, SERIOUS!"  I kept my composure and said " He must be special to get to come here tonight and skate so that Santa wont get hurt so close to Christmas."   Bright eyes glowing "Yeah" he replied.
      "Santa will be right back after he takes off his skates" the announcer said.  Just as he said that the REAL Santa came in.  The other was definitely and elf because this guy was REAL!!!  Porter came over and I was nervous again at such a drastic change in the two different Santas.  Mason relayed the story and Porter was instantly convinced.  So in line we stand. 
    Mason being threatened earlier in the day wanted me to stand with him.  We watched all the kids.  Some happy, others screaming.  I don't know what Santa said but I wish we could visit him once a week.  My kids where like angels that next week.  Mason especially saying thing to the others like "boys lets not fight" or "do you think we can help mom"  I about passed out each time.  Thanks Santa!

 Porter is thinking about what Santa is saying or is he remembering more to add to the "want" list. After all he has been waiting a long time for this.

Mason asked for a Nerf gun and a happy family (aka world peace).  You get brownie points for mentioning your family and a guy can use all he can get.  Love this kid. 

Cosmic Powers, iddy biddy working space.

Ryan is amazing when running these big machines.   The final picture will be taken after it stops raining.