I'm really nice...

Yesterday morning this little boy, who is 2 in the picture below but is almost 6 now, was wanting a bowl full of water and some toy animals to swim in the water. I was busy (on the computer, yeah I know, dang computer!) So I told him to use whatever he needed, just don't make a mess. He kept coming up to me asking if he could use this and that and I would just say sure without even looking at what it was he wanted. I did clue in though when he said, "Mom you are being really nice today, like really really nice!"

AHH, thanks Cam, I am really nice aren't I?! And I was until Hayden grabbed the towel that Cameron had two huge bowls of water sitting on and pulled it off the table, I wasn't so NICE then! But I quickly realized that it was my own fault for ignoring him and leaving him to his own devices. So we laughed, the baby played in the water, then we cleaned it up!

A little feminity in my day

The 22nd was my mother-in-laws birthday and I made these cute cupcakes for her.  They were easy and fun to make and brought some PINK into this overly Blue house!  I used a lemon cupcake recipe that I saw on Ultimate Recipe Showdown on Food Network and I came up with the lemon buttercream frosting on my own.  They were DELICIOUS!!!

The flowers are made out of Gum...10 pieces per flower so I only made five!

The hearts are made out of white chocolate that I colored pink. 

I had so much fun making these and still love looking at them in my kitchen window that I think I will try a new design for Colby's birthday. Or I might wait for Valentines Day since Colby's b-day is also my b-day and I shouldn't have to make my own cake!! (although I have for the last 8 years made my own cake...so I probably will again :(

Time spent with family...priceless...

How do you go wrong when you can spend New Years Eve with your favorite cousins at a fun dance in SJ?! Colb and Cam had a blast at the dance, not dancing however but collecting ballons and hats and horns. Oh, and being with their cousins.

When these three boys get together it's, it's, it's, well, PURE HEAVEN for Colby. Tuff and Dawson are two of his favorite people, and being able to roam around a dance with them for two hours was like being in paradise for Colb. He acts so big and mature and like way too cool for mom when he is with them. It's too bad he only gets to see them a few times a year. Actually, maybe it's a good thing, but for his sake I'll say it's too bad!

I'm not sure how many balloons Cameron ended up with at the end of the dance, but I had to plead with him to leave most of them there!

This sweet little princess fell asleep on my lap about 10 minutes after we got to the dance. She slept until I woke her up just a couple minutes before midnight. The look she gave me for waking her up could have stopped traffic, she was such a grouch! I am trying to get Kent and Lisa to let her come and live with me for awhile, she is ALL GIRL and we need a little of that around here!

Playing on GPa's new perfectly stacked wood pile is what my boys, especially Cameron look forward to the most about being in SJ. Having Jordan and Addison and Bayli and Maison and Tuff and JJ all there was, according to Cameron, "the most fun he has ever had in his whole life."

(click on the word new to find out why Gpa has a new wood pile then go to cjanerun.com and nieniedialogues.blogspot.com to be updated on the victims.)

Nana and her sisters. In my life, I will always look up to and admire these three women. I will try and be like them and will tell my children about them. They are a testimony of family, of love, of strength. They burried four brothers and a sister-in-law, their parents, and now all three have burried their husbands. They have always been the best of friends and love each other endlessly. My Nana was in the best hands when Nin and Ruth finally got to SJ, you could see her relief to have them there. Though I don't have a sister I have learned alot about how to be one by watching these ladies!

This was the first time in ten or more years that all the Heap cousins have been together. It was really great to see them all and spend time together.

In this picture we are missing 6 great grandkids and there are 4 more due in a few months. Nana just lights up when these kids come around, she loves them so much!

SUPER BOWL...........WAAHOO

I have to say that I am amazed and so excited for Arizona and the Cardinals. I remember when the Cards came to Arizona I think I was about 9 years old. Thats how long in coming a trip to the Super Bowl has been, because you all know how long ago it was that I was 9!!!!

GO CARDINALS!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Hayder Baby, dun dun dun...

We sing, to the tune of Sweet Caroline, "Sweet Hayder Baby dun dun dun, you are just the sweetest boy." While I have a minute to Blog instead of do anyone of the 1million things I could be doing while the baby is sleeping, I thought I would put down in writing just how sweet and amazing this baby is. He has been sick the last 10 days or so and finally last night we took him to the Dr. and confirmed our suspicions that he Does have and ear infection. It has been really hard to have him be sick because my normally Happy Happy entertain himself baby has been really really fussy, and wants to be held all day.
I have however really enjoyed the times that he crawls up to me and clings to my leg until I pick him up.

I have enjoyed reading to him for what seems like hours on end....the same books over and over...he loves any book with lions, tigers or bears...he will even growl at each new page.

Hayden's favorite movie is Baby Noah, the one with all the animals. He gets so excited and twirls his little feet and arches his eyebrows in anticipation!

Hayden has a favorite blankey that goes everywhere with him, I think it's cute, he's the first of my kids to be attached to anything. Maybe when he is three and still needs it it won't be so cute, but for now we indulge him with his blankey. He never took a pacifier but sucked on his tongue instead. We know he is tired when he grabs his blankey and sucks his tongue. I know I will miss it when he stops doing it!

Just before I put him down for his nap I sat on the floor with him to read a book, he brought his blankey and laid his head down on my lap. It was such a sweet moment that I want to remember that's what prompted this post! He also loves to play with phones and remotes, anything that has buttons to push. This is a picture of him talking on the phone!

My Papa Heap

The Independent

Basketball great Verl Heap dies at 84By:

Andy Staten, The Independent

01/01/2009

Verl Heap addresses high school senior athletes and their parents and coaches after receiving the Paving the Way Award at the All American Banquet in Mesa in 2002.

ST. JOHNS - The state of Arizona lost one of its all-time greatest sports figures last week.

Parley Verl Heap, 84, died peacefully at his St. Johns home Christmas Eve. Heap was a standout basketball player at St. Johns High School, at Arizona State University (1942 and 1945-48 - punctuated by a stint in the Air Force during World War II), in the Basketball Association of America (now the NBA) and American Basketball League. After his pro career he returned to ASU as a basketball assistant. Then after two years at Duncan High School, he returned to St. Johns where he became one of the state's winningest high school basketball coaches. He was born Sept. 6, 1924, in St. Johns, to Parley and Leona Heap. At a young age he learned to garden, irrigate and work on the family's farm. At age 10 he began working for his uncles on their farms and ranches and quickly learned how to do most anything there was to do. He became a good hand at both farming and ranching but ranch work was his favorite. He soon became a good horseman and loved working with cattle. Later on he learned to rope and enjoyed team roping with his friends and sons until just a few years before his death.In school, Verl enjoyed many things including basketball and music. He sang in the choir and played a trumpet in the band. And through many hours of practice, he became a real standout at basketball where he made his high school varsity team as a sophomore.During the Great Depression years of the 1930s and '40s, St. Johns, like many schools from northern Arizona, did not make the long trip to Tucson for the state tournament, so many outstanding players, including Heap, were not selected for post-season honors.But his hard work in basketball soon paid off as he received a full-ride scholarship to play basketball at Arizona State. While at ASU he quickly became an important part of the basketball program, leading his team in scoring the first three games of his collegiate career. At the end of his freshman year in college he enlisted in the Air Force and served his country during World War II as a B17 pilot. While in the service, he married his sweetheart, Dawn Sherwood, also from St. Johns. After the war, they returned to ASU where he resumed his education and his basketball career. Upon his return to ASU basketball, he started every game and finished with a 15-points-per-game scoring average. Heap led the Sun Devils in rebounds his final two years at ASU. He was a All-Border Conference First Team pick, averaging 23 points per game, during the 1946-47 season. He led the Sun Devils to the National Basketball Tournament during the 1947-48 season and was named the tournament's Outstanding Player. He was also a member of the National Honor Society while at ASU. After his college days, Verl signed a contract to play professional basketball, becoming one of the first two players from the state to play pro basketball. He signed and played in what was then the Basketball Association of America. He first played for the Providence, Rhode Island Steamrollers and later with the American Basketball League's Wilkes-Barre Barons of Pennsylvania. He quickly became a starter and a standout with both teams.While playing for the Steamrollers, Heap played against teams which still exist today, such as the New York Knicks and Minneapolis Lakers."I was a post player in college, but was a wing forward in the pro league," Heap said in a 1999 interview with The Independent. "There weren't a lot of great midmen in the game then. George Mikan (of the Lakers) was the best big man in the game. He was like a Kareem Abdul Jabbar of his time."After a short career as a professional basketball player, he returned to Arizona where he could raise a family and pursue the other things he loved. He first went back to ASU where he worked as an assistant basketball coach. Then, in 1951, he went to Duncan High School for two years and following that he returned to his hometown of St. Johns where he took up farming and ranching again and coached and taught school for more than 30 years.While coaching at Duncan and St. Johns, he compiled an amazing record of 592 wins and 168 losses. His 592 wins was the state's second most for any coach when he retired in 1984 (and his 536 at St. Johns was the most for any coach at one school). His teams were region or conference champions more than 20 times, state runners-up six times and state champions eight times. His Redskins also won 20 or more games during 13 seasons, won 44 straight games in 1976-77 and made three consecutive state title game appearances from 1972-74.He is also a long time member of the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was inducted into the ASU Athletics Hall of Fame.In 2002, Heap and longtime coaching friend and rival Marlin LeSueur of Round Valley were honored with the Paving the Way Award at the All American Banquet in Mesa. The Paving the Way award is awarded to high school coaches and educators who have "paved the way" for countless others.Heap said in the 1999 interview that coaching and working with the boys on the high school basketball teams has been the most satisfying thing he has gotten out of the sport. He also commented on the many changes he has seen in the sport over the previous six decades."The three-point shot has changed the game," Heap said. "Now everything's geared to shoot threes instead of trying to get the best shot close to the basket. The emphasis is on offense. When you get to the state playoffs, teams will play defense. The fans want more offense."You have a different kind of player now. They considered it more of a privilege to play then. Now if a coach disciplines pretty hard, he loses players. Now they say 'big deal, I'll go do something else."Also, there were no girls in sports - all the emphasis was on the boys' play. Now in high schools there is a girls team in each sport. It was inevitable it would happen. They do and should have equal opportunity."Later in his retirement years, Heap enjoyed watching his grandchildren and their teammates play basketball. Although he would occasionally make it to a Suns game, he always loved the high school game the most."I'd rather watch high school games. The pros have their own set of rules. It is such a money thing. Did you ever see Michael Jordan foul out of a game? The fans want to see him."And on the inside big men can kill each other. I think that takes away from the game - to be skillful to play the game - to have all that body contact."Verl was an active and devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he served in many capacities throughout his life. He was a farmer and rancher and devoted husband and father, friend and neighbor. He loved and supported his family with all his heart and they all love him very much.He was preceded in death by his parents Parley and Leona Heap, a sister Peggy (Larry) Stradling and his oldest son Gary (Lila) Heap.Survivors include: His wife of 64 years, Dawn Sherwood Heap; daughter, LeAnn (George) Proctor; son, Jimmy (Jenny) Heap; son, Roger (Terri) Heap, daughter, Eileen (Darrell) Lindsey; brothers, Theo (Gloria) Heap and Ronald (Bobbie) Heap; and sisters, Mary Ellen (Barry) Webb and Lakay (Joey) Grant; 18 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Jan. 3 at 11 a.m. with a viewing one hour before at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Down Town Chapel, in St. Johns. There will also be a viewing at Burnham Mortuary in St. Johns on Friday, January 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Information can be found at www.burnhammortuary.comEDITOR'S NOTE - Verl's son Roger Heap contributed to this article.http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2264&dept_id=505964&newsid=20232659&PAG=461&rfi=9

It's our birthday month

January is the month of Colby's birthday and mine so thats why I have the birthday background. My Colby turns 8 this year, holy cow, how is he 8 already?!!

It's Snowing

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.

MY THREE BOYS

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!

WHITE CHRISTMAS

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!!!

Frosting Tree from Whoville

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. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

If you didn't get a Christmas card from us I'm sorry, I could print 20 or 40 and I just didn't need 40 but 20 was not enough so I had to be selective in whom I sent them to, family first right?.  So consider this from us to all of you, thanks for caring about us enough to read our blog. We hope that your holidays are VERY MERRY and BRIGHT!!   After the 15 inches of additional snow that we got today, bringing our total to about 27 inches, we have no doubt that we will have a WHITE CHRISTMAS!

All Snug In their Beds

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!! 

I didn't even wake them up when I took these pictures tonight!

Christmas Vacation

For some reason I have not had the motivation to do any posting lately, and I think a Christmas Vacation is what I need.   I am working on my Christmas card which I will post soon, but after that I will be off until the new year.  

Happy Birthday to Mark

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MARK!!!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hayden turns ONE!!!!!

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.