Cameron turns 1!!!

While my family was visiting for Christmas, we had a small birthday party for Cameron at Chuck E Cheese.  Cameron turned one and I am so happy that he is in our family.  I have learned that they grow so fast that I just cherish having a baby.  Even though he has been my most difficult baby, I wouldn't change anything about it.  Cameron brings so much joy, innocence, and love to our family.  He generally gets along with his brothers and I can tell that Jet and Dash both love him a lot.  They love to laugh at the silly things he does or when he throws food or does naughty things that he gets away with because he is still a baby.
Here are some unique characteristics about Cameron

 He is a very tall guy for his age and about average weight.
He is a picky eater (one day he likes bananas and the next he doesn't)
He can say the words: mine, momma, dadda, banana, bye, hi, ball, and cheese
He is so cute when he gets mad, but sometimes he can be a big grump
Walks everywhere and loves to follow his brothers
Loves playing outside.
Takes one nap a day
Loves animals and our dog Cody ( sometimes he does a cute bark like a dog)
Loves to climb onto the kitchen table (very annoying)
Doesn't go to bed until like 10:30 at night (also very annoying)
He has two dimples, lady killer looks
He is very blonde, a towhead as he has been called
Loves to play peek a boo and can do it himself

I love Cameron so much and I know he will learn a lot from his brothers and Dad and be a great man someday.

before 1st haircut

After 1st haircut

Christmas!

This past Christtmas we stayed in Utah and my family came to us.  I am not sure when the last time my parents or siblings had a white Christmas, but Utah didn't disappoint.  It was freezing here in Utah and we took advantage of the snow by going tubing among other activities.  One of my favorite activities we did was the polar express train out on the Heber historic railway.  My brother Aaron and brother Freddy and his fiance couldn't make it and we missed them.  Christmas is always a challenge for me when it comes to giving presents to my kids.  My kids already have so many toys, but I love to see them happy when they get a new toy.  Kids have zero expectations and I see Christmas as an opportunity to show them it is better to give than to receive and also to avoid making Christmas about what they get Christmas morning.  They truly are clean slates and so I can determine what Christmas is and show them the true meaning.  Here are some pictures of our Christmas adventures.

Visiting with Santa on Polar Express

Making Christmas Cookies

Ready to see lights on temple square.

Cameron ready to go tubing

My brother Ted ready to race down the hill

Jet Exreme Tubing in Park City

 So this past year a new event opened up at the Olympic Park in Park City called extreme tubing. You basically tube down the long steep landing hills of the ski jumps.  They had a small hill for the kids and a large hill for the adults. My sister and her husband were able to go down the big hill but right before my dad and were about to go up on the lift a lady had not been able to stop and flew over the snow banks that were at the bottom of the hill to stop people and was injured.  They shut down the extreme tubing because it was so dangerous.  It actually was a relief to me, I did not want what happened to that lady to happen to me.  Instead my Dad and I went down the zipline, which was fun, but definitely not as dangerous.  It was so freezing and we waited so long, I think we were both more excited to get inside and warm up.

My Dad and me at the top of the zipline.

Even though it was a little stressful hosting my family and unfortunately the drama that goes on with being with my family kept us all from being together for a few days, I was glad to be in Utah for Christmas and that we were able to share the beauty of Utah and the unique winter activities it has to offer.