Parkinson Family: January 2011

Friday, January 21, 2011

Our First Christmas at Home

I know we're almost a month out, but I wanted to share a few photos from our first Christmas at home. Yes, this was our VERY FIRST Christmas in our own home and we were so excited to create our own traditions. Every year since our marriage, we have spent Christmas Eve and Day at either of our parents' houses out of a suitcase. It has been great to make memories there, but when our kids started asking, "When are we going to have Christmas at our house?" we knew it was time to do it on our own. Aaron's parents and brother did come and stay here through the holiday, which was wonderful. They are pretty-much empty-nesters and so now they get to come and enjoy our celebration.

Aaron's parents arrived on Christmas Eve in the afternoon. We were still finishing our gift-wrapping and getting the house ready when they came. We had one of our favorite meals for dinner- homemade fettucine alfredo with shrimp and chicken. Then, after dinner we had a little program. Erika and Kyle sang a song, Erika and I played a piano duet of "Jingle Bells" (which she had played at the school talent show a few weeks prior) and then I sang "Oh Holy Night".

Mary holding baby Jesus

Doesn't she look the part of an angel?

Then, we had the kids dress up for a nativity program. While Aaron read the story, the kids acted it out. They also did a little flannel-board story of it. The kids were really excited about this because it was their first Christmas present- a Bible and Book of Mormon flannel board set. (I think mommy was the most excited about this!) After the program, we sang some songs and then the kids each got to open one gift (which were all books) and then we went to bed! Oh, we also remembered to put out a few cookies and hot chocolate for Santa and we sprinkled some oats out on the driveway for the reindeer.

Here is the note Erika left for Santa:

Christmas morning, the kids waited patiently downstairs until mom and dad were ready. Then, the fun began of opening presents. We enjoyed a nice relaxing morning opening gifts and then had a great breakfast of sticky buns and eggs and sausage. I think the kids were all very happy with the gifts from Santa and mom and dad.

Kyle got a marble tower.

Erika was surprised by a new barbie house built by her dad.

Jared had the most fun playing with (and eating) the wrapping.

After breakfast, we headed out and went sledding. This was a challenge because there wasn't much snow. We had to drive over the mountain towards Logan to find some. We found a great spot by Wellsville close to the road so grandma and grandpa could even shuttle us up the hill with the car! We had a great time! It was a beautiful sunny day.

Uncle Ryan making a run with all the kids.

A beautiful view of cache valley and the mountains.

When we got home, we had a delicious turkey dinner. Then, we watched a movie together, "Despicable Me", one that has recently come out. After that, Christmas was over and we headed off to bed. It was great to have grandma and grandpa here to share it with us. It was a very memorable Christmas!

We didn't get around to making our gingerbread house until the week after Christmas, but that's okay, right?

Sunday, January 16, 2011

First Hunting Trip

On December 4th, Aaron had the opportunity of taking Kyle hunting for his first time. Kyle was so excited about it! He talks nonstop about hunting and fishing with his dad. (This is a dream come true for Aaron, too.) They went with my dad and brothers to a pheasant farm in the area (Northern Utah- Corinne area?). They bought 20 pheasants and were able to hit 16 of them. We kept about 10 of the pheasants for our family. After Aaron prepared the meat (that's his job :) I cooked it up and it tasted really quite good. Kyle had a blast on their hunting trip and can't wait to go again.

Parkinson funnies

Nov 2012- Aaron was watching football on TV and Jared came out saying, "I want to go watch grass!"

Dec 2011- Heidi said one morning, "Mom, there's frosting on the house!" (on a cold day when frost was on the house).

June 2, 2011- Driving in the car Kyle said to his sister, "If you don't learn to talk, Jesus will make you talk Spanish." (He explained later that he actually meant sign language. That's how he thought it worked.)

Feb 28, 2011- Kyle said, "I don't like to have babysitters because they are only supposed to take care of babies!" Then we explained that they can take care of bigger kids too.

Dec 15, 2010- Kyle said, "I know how they make egg nog. First they dump in the eggs and mix them around. Then they put in the nog..."

Oct 20, 2010- Kyle said, "Mom, is some cheese blue?" I said it is called blue cheese but isn't really that blue. He said, "Well, then does it taste like blueberries?" I love all the questions he asks about how the world works- He's really trying to figure things out.

Oct 7, 2010- We were driving by Arctic Circle and Kyle said, "Is that the hamburger hut? I like that hut." I am wondering if he was remembering a time when we went to "Pizza Hut".

Aug 12, 2010- We were driving by a farm where there was a big fire burning up the field and Kyle said, "Dad, is that where the indians live?"

Aug 8, 2010- We were driving in the car and Kyle said, "Dad, I think I 'm truck-sick." "You mean car sick?" "No, truck sick- when you're sick in the truck."

Aug 2, 2010- We were headed off to a doctor's appointment for the baby and he was crying. Kyle said, "Mom, I think he's crying because you said he is going to get a shot."

June 28, 2010- The other day at dinner it was Heidi's turn to pray and daddy was helping her. She was just repeating everything word for word when he got to "Please bless it.." and said it 3 times. Finally I had to open my eyes to see what the hold up was. Well, little Heidi was just stuffing spaghetti in her mouth as fast as she could and it was hanging out all over. We all just bust up laughing. I guess she just couldn't wait any longer!

May 19, 2010- On the way home from the hospital after seeing their new baby brother, Erika said, "When I was born mom and dad said that I looked blue." Kyle said, "And when I was born I was pink and red. "

Dec 9,2009- The other day we were eating dinner and Kyle didn't want to eat. He said, "I don't like to eat aliens!" We told him there were no aliens in his dinner. Then, realizing what he was talking about, I said, "You mean onions?" He kept calling onions "aliens" and we got a kick out of it.

Nov 20, 2009- Erika lost another tooth at school today. Kyle said to her, "Erika, when my tooth gets loose and comes out, I'll give mine to you."

Oct 10, 2009- Today Erika said, "Mom, someday when I'm older, I want to get that recipe from you!"

Sept 9, 2009- We couldn't find our puppy anywhere and had driven all over the neighborhood to find him. Finally about 2 hours later Kyle showed up holding him and I said, "Where did you find him?" He said, "In the killer-box". "The what?" "The cooler-box". He had stuck him in a cooler in our backyard and forgotten about it. We were glad he was okay!! I felt terrible and gave him some extra TLC for a little while.

Sept 4, 2009- Erika said tonight, "You know what my favorite thing is about school? It's lunch... and learning... and break!" We said, "Isn't that the whole thing?"

Aug 17,2009- We were camping and had brought all our bikes. As we were leaving camp for a little while, Aaron commented that it might have been wise to bring a chain to lock up our bikes so they wouldn't get stolen. Erika said, "Or, we could have just brought a sign that said, 'DON'T STEAL!'".

July 12, 2009- Today at church Kyle looked at my Young Women's Medallion and said, "Mom, is that you on the necklace?"

July 3, 2009- Kyle had been sleeping down in Erika's room with some friends and came upstairs before we went to bed. He said, "Mom, there was some noise down there. I think it was the tooth fairy, coming to get the loose tooth."