Winter pictures from our backyard

Tony & Deborah rent our mobile home from us. The mobile home is about 1/4 mile behind our house. Even though it's close, they have a different view of the mountains and too bad they see our barn, but still have a view of the mountains. Thanks so much Deborah for sharing the pictures with me. You can see how much snow we HAD, and then after a night of rain and wind... the rainbow greeted us and look... no more snow!

Trey is Looking for the STAR

While we were out playing in the sports court, Trey found Bob's cane (from his accident). Trey got it off the shelf and said "Mom, I'm a Shepard, lets go look for Baby Jesus" So sweet to think that Trey knew what Christmas was all about. Through the barn sliding door the moon was shining through. Trey said, "Look mom, there is the star" (Actually it was the moon, but we were all playing pretend with him) Then right in the middle of the court he got down low and said, "The baby Jesus, isn't he cute?" (Just like he talks to Tian) It was a tender moment!

Two little monkeys take over the bed

Two nights in a row Trey found himself in our bed. Then Derek hearing Trey and not wanting to feel left out came up and joined the party. Good thing our bed can sleep 4!!! Finally Bob and I decided we weren't thrilled with the lack of space and Curious George on T.V. so we surrendered and let the boys take over our bed! (Yes Alisha it was a blog moment!)

Grandpa Can't Get Enough of Tian

Bob was the official Tian babysitter. Not only did he hold him all Christmas morning (Whoops Bob, he's eating the paper), after church on Sunday Tian was Bobs little guy. If Bob wasn't in the kitchen cooking or cleaning, he was on the couch playing with Tian... They both loved it!

The "frightful" Christmas Story

Rebecca's favorite Christmas movie is The Christmas Story. You know, the one with the little boy and the BB Gun "don't shoot your eye out" Well Trey was sitting on the couch watching it as we were finishing up dinner. All of the sudden the movie came to the part where the boy got his tongue stuck to the pole and the fire department had to come. We looked over at Trey and this is how we found him.
(I can guarantee he will never put his tongue on anything!!!)

Trey's not the only one rocking out

Bob was having fun with Tian. We had the new "system" set up and it was all Bob could do to sit. He had to get up and "rock out". Tian loved it.

Rock Star Trey

Trey asked if he could listen to Taylor's music.(His poor ears, I wonder what ray gay tunes were playing... I know that's not how you spell that type of music but it made me laugh typing it in that way) Trey didn't care that he had an audience, he was just having fun rocking out.

Pickle, Pickle, Trey found the Pickle!

A German tradition that Rebecca and I thought would be fun. We did it our own style.
Rebecca had heard about how the German people hide a pickle in their Christmas tree, and the first one to find it on Christmas morning gets to open the first gift. The finder is suppose to have great luck and prosperity in the coming year. (I read also that the person who found the pickle then hides it and the others look for it)
The problem was finding an ornament pickle. Worse comes to worse we would pull out a dill pickle out of the fridge. But at the last minute I found a store that had 3 pickles left. I think I was the last to hear about this tradition. Trey was most excited to look for it Christmas morning. We practiced on Christmas Eve... my idea... and of course that meant that Trey wanted to open a gift. Luckily we talked him into finding his first gift.. the one he'd open if he was the first to find the pickle. Until next year!!!

The things you can do in snow

With all the new snow, we adventured outdoors (left Bob inside to play with Tian) to play in the snow. The snowman was first, and then the snow-fort/hill came next. Trey tried a snow angel, but he isn't heavy enough to make a dent out of the snow. We had so much fun being outside and enjoying the white stuff.

Graffiti in the snow

Rebecca and I had more fun than Trey. I had read ideas on painting snow and making colored snowballs, but hadn't tried it. I mixed everything together and took it outside. Trey squirt a few times.. Derek tried it too, but it was Rebecca and I that had the most fun.
The big boys were building the snowman and the fort/hill, and Bob was inside feeding Tian. I decided to have some fun. A little note for Bob. Rebecca joined after me.
Hope you like our artistic graffiti.

Last minute wrapping up

Trey was watching me wrap up a few last minute things. I told him not to look because I didn't want him to see what I was wrapping for Derek. Trey asked where his present was. I told him his presents were out under the tree. He got this sad look and said, "But I want you to give me a present now" The sad look he was giving me was too much for a softy grandma. So I said, "Alright Trey, you close your eyes and I will wrap something up for you." Seriously, he kept his eyes closed for at least 7 minutes while I scrambled to find something to wrap.Rebecca went in and asked Trey why he had his eyes closed. He told her that he couldn't peek.. and then got this look on his face like "oh, I'm peeking" and then went back to closing his eyes. It was the cutest thing ever.

Magic Reindeer Food

Trey and I started a new tradition! On Christmas Eve we made Magic Reindeer Food. I read the directions and Trey did all the measuring and the shaking of the sparkles. We shook it all up in a Ziploc bag and then got ready to go outside. We bundled up and went out to find the right spot. Trey thought the reindeers would probably rest by the tree, so that would be a good spot. We started sprinkling the food around that area.. then Trey said, "Let's just dump it Grandma." The next morning Trey looked out the window to see if the food was still there.. Guess what? It was gone! Grandma now believes in Santa Claus.. or at least his reindeer!

What did Trey get from Santa?

Rebecca and her family were leaving on Christmas day, so we celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve. Trey doesn't follow calendars like Derek does, so Trey was excited Christmas morning, but Derek was a little confused. Check out Rebecca's blog on her Black Friday purchase, and now you'll see Trey enjoying it. I felt like I was at a circus in our sports court. Not only is there snow that has drifted in, Taylor was showing us his newest tricks on his bike, and Trey is new "behind the wheel".

Oh the weather outside is frightful (but a ton of fun)

With the 6 wheeler set up, and the toboggan and saucer in toe, we adventured (even Tian) out to the hay field. Too much fun!!! Rebecca swore that she felt big rocks under her saucer, bruising her bottom.. but we decided and realized that they were frozen cow pies. Trey and Derek had fun going nice and slow, while Bob attempted to throw Justin and Taylor off as he drove extra fast. Enjoy!

The first video is of Justin & Trey. Then there is one of Rebecca. You'll hear screaming in the background. That would be me trying to video tape and hold Trey on my lap as Bob seems to be going faster than I feel comfortable going. Go ahead and turn down the volume!

While we play.. Derek watches over Trey

When we are busy playing games or having dessert, we'd take turns checking on Trey and Derek. Trey pretty much gets to do whatever he wants. Derek is so accommodating.
I checked on them Sunday night and Derek had turned on his computer and found a game for Trey to play. What a good uncle Derek is!

A few exercises before Christmas dinner

Taylor has a chin up bar in his doorway. Trey was all excited about trying it. With a little help (alright, a ton of lifting) he was able to pull himself up. But to our surprise Rebecca's got the arm muscles. Just wait Rebecca, I'll start practicing. We'll have a match off next time.

Family Night with the Clawson Family

Monday night our friends, Josh & Alisha, Ben & Hannah came for Family Night games.
Before they even got in the house, Josh, Alisha and Ben went sledding behind the 4-wheeler and Alisha even tried out Taylor's giant bike. Hannah helped me set the table and also arrange the snacks.
After Bob's famous Chili, the kids played games,listened to books on tape,tag around the living room and then quieted down watching movies.
We adults got out some games and had a ton of fun.
Sitting by Josh is an experience. I got my abs work out with all the laughing!
(Thanks Josh.. I really didn't need those cards!)
Thanks Clawsons, for coming back to Bend and spending a night with us.

Rock Stars Jammin'

Derek loves his play date Wednesdays.
This Wednesday Jake came over with his instrument (if you look at past blogs you'll see Elijah came with his instrument). Jake's was a guitar from the Wii Guitar Hero.
How fun was that to have Derek try out something new!
Thanks Jake for trying to teach Derek and to share your "talent" with Derek!
Jake "You are the champion.... of the world" (Jake sang me his version of that Queen song)

Derek can't wait till Christmas

Derek has been watching me wrap gifts each night and wonders when he'll get to open his. He knows when Christmas is, but just like all of us, he just can't wait for 7 more days. Well, finally I let him open a gift he got from a sweet family in our ward, Rick and Chris Land. I asked permission if it would be o.k. and they said "Absolutely!" A beautiful Bible book! Thank you so much. It is perfect for his reading level, and the pictures are beautiful! A GREAT first gift! Thanks Lands!

Florida has junk mail too!!!

Our dear friend Mema (American Idol #1 Fan Club Member), Niquelle's grandma, sent Derek some junk mail. Wow, the word gets out. All the way from Florida. So sweet Mema. Derek's never gotten a package in a rolled up way, he wasn't quite sure how to open it.
Thank you so much for thinking of him.
Now, for all of you... please, don't send him junk mail... it costs so much to get it all wrapped up and sent... so not only does the mail go to you, it gets recycled back to us as well. Derek knows he is loved, and we appreciate all of you making "his day" with the fun envelopes and such that you send him. He's one happy boy! (If every 16 year old could find such joy in ripping other people's mail!!)

Aunt Donna got what she wanted....

Some of you may know that Aunt Donna re-injured her knee cap... Back to wearing the big metal brace, that she wore last year after breaking her knee cap. We are all so sorry! Anyway, a few weeks ago while Donna and I were talking at a commercial break for Dancing with the Stars,Donna said, "Jill, I know what I want for Christmas." I said, "Really, what is it?" She answered,"I want Derek Hough!" Well, I thought he is a little young, but thought that was a great request. I called Rebecca and told her that we needed to get Derek Hough for Donna. (If you don't watch Dancing with the Stars.. google him and you'll see what a cutie pie he is) We put our heads together and thought... since Donna is spending more time "laying around" this would be a great gift. She received it the other day and loved it. So now Donna can say that she is "sleeping" with Derek Hough every night... (It's a pillow case for those that are thinking otherwise!)

Bicycle Built for... a giant

Taylor is now sporting a new bike. His friend Jimmy put this together and Taylor added his own touch. Can you believe it? Safe...don't you think?! Notice the snow that has drifted into our sports court.. crazy weather! Listen on the video and you might hear the mooing as to say "What the heck is going on in there?"

"Santa Cows"

Tuesday morning the temperature gauge said
-7. Yup, there I was bundled up to go feed the cows in freezing conditions. When I approached the barn, just hearing the cows hoofs crunching the snow made me shiver. They were so excited to see me! The sight of them made me laugh. Their whiskers (yes, they have whiskers) were white, just like Santa Claus. (They were so confused as I turned back to leave for the house) I had to go back to the house to get my camera. Whoops, I had left it in the car. I learned something new, Camera's don't work if they are left in a car at -7 degrees. Thanks to Deborah, our neighbor (and who is smart enough to keep her camera in her house) she at about the same time took a picture of the scene from her place. Thanks Deborah!

Thank you Evan's!!!

Once again Derek was treated to junk mail from Reno, Nevada. Rodney and Patty Evans get great mail. Last week in their junk mail we received a Dream Catcher key chain. This week was gift bags and tissue paper. Amazing the free things that people get in their mail. Thank you so much. Patty wrote a sweet letter on the outside of the envelop. I tried to have Derek speak up so you could hear him reading the note. Turn your volume up. Thanks again Evans!

The Virgin's December Tradition!!!

A few years back Carol & Terry Virgin included Derek in their grandchildren tradition. They give each of the children a Christmas pillow case the first day of December.
Derek is excited to put his Christmas pillow case on each December 1st. We almost forgot.. but we finally put it on December 3rd. Thanks Virgins!!!