A Snowy Birthday

Get ready for a lot of pictures!  Bryce has been planning since last summer to go to Pinetop for his birthday since his birthday always falls close, if not on, the holiday weekend.  He also wanted to take a friend and invited his friend, Hayden Candland to join us.  Lindsay and Boyd came up from Tucson, and we invited Dan's sister, Sue Robinson, to come too.  We had a houseful, and it was lots of fun.

On Saturday, even though Bryce's birthday was two days away, Hayden couldn't wait to give Bryce his present.  So we let Bryce open Hayden's present and saved the rest for later.   Hayden gave Bryce a knife - I mean a KNIFE!

These boys have gotten so interested in knives through scouting, that they sometimes talk of nothing else (except cars). 

Since I'm seldom in the pictures, here is me (Michelle) enjoying some relaxation too.

Those boys are still grinning about the knife.

On Saturday we suited up for some fun in the snow at the cinder pit a short drive from the cabin.  Sue bundled up and prepared to tube down the slopes - which she did (and if I could figure out how to put video on here, you could see proof).



Bryce enjoyed his day in the snow.  There was sledding on torpedo sleds, tubes, tube trains, and lots of wipe outs.

Dan had fun on the slopes too.

Everyone decided the tubes give the best ride.

Lindsay and Boyd joined in many tube trains.

Aren't they a cute couple?

Adam has a great time on the sleds too.  Today he joined mom as a spectator after a few runs.

Bryce and Hayden sled down every hill they could find, even hidden hills.

Later that afternoon we had Bryce's birthday dinner (we stretched his birth-day into a birth-weekend).  He requested Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes (like Cheesecake Factory) which we served along with Sweet Pork Salad (Costa Vida style).  Here is the kitchen crew.

On Sunday after church the boys went out to build a snowman.  Isn't he cute?  (So are the boys.)

Adam built his own snowman, who was saluting, so Adam is imitating his snowman.

After the snowman building came snow fort building in preparation for a snowball fight.  Bryce and Hayden are standing in their fort and Adam is behind them.  

It still wasn't Bryce's birthday, but Sunday night we celebrated with Key Lime Pie (none of us are fond of birthday cake) and presents.  Since there were several of us, we made two pies!

A little something for that shadow that is appearing on Bryce's upper lip.  It's an electric razor if you can't tell from the picture.

Then on Monday morning the boys decided to have a little pool tournament and another quick run to the cinder pit for some more tubing.  A couple hours later they arrived back at the cabin with one tube in shreds and another with a repairable hole. 

Adam opted out of sledding and elected to stay home and work on his ice cave.  Pretty impressive.

Adam even stockpiled some snowballs in case any fights ensued later.

Then it was time to pack up and go home.  Good-bye Mr. Snowman.  Hope to see you soon.