Parkinson Family: Erika's 8th birthday

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Erika's 8th birthday

We celebrated Erika's eighth birthday on July 24th. She had a great day. It was a Sunday and we had just spent the whole weekend prior camping. She got a nice new bike and helmet.

Oma and Opa got her a set of new scriptures with her name on it. They were able to watch her open her present over the internet on skype (they are on their mission in Vietnam).

I thought some of these pictures were so funny- the kids were trying so hard!

Since this is a big birthday for her, we had a party with a bunch of friends. Now, I don't mean to brag, but Aaron and I are dang good party planners. We don't let the kids have a party every year, just at the landmark ages- 5, 8, 12, 16. (That's the plan, anyway). I put a lot of work into getting ready for the party and I think it was a success.

Erika wanted her party to be a water party, and we had the perfect weather for it. We had a slip 'n slide, waterslide (on the swingset), and jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler under it. After this, we had a bucket relay race with water. Then, we had a treasure hunt around the yard and the kids ended up each getting a prize at the end. We had some water balloon games with a toss and then a huge water fight.

After the water fun, we had a pinata. Don't ask about the signifigance of the chinese girl for a pinata, because there is none. We were in a rush at the store and they only had 5 to choose from and I let Erika choose. (I had started to think I would have to make one myself and that could have been kind of crazy). The kids had a blast hitting the pinata and then scrambling around for candy.

I made this "book cake" at Erika's request because she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to read!!! If I don't know where Erika is, I can usually find her on the couch in the living room reading a book.

What a fun dad- he wasn't afraid to get out there and get wet with the kids.

Overall, I think Erika had a great birthday and it was a lot of fun. We are so thankful for the good friends she has been able to make in such a wonderful neighborhood. After the party was over, Aaron and I were both exhausted!! Doing a party takes a lot of work, especially with 15 energetic kids. We're glad they all had fun!

1 comment:

VickiAugust 8, 2011 at 2:14 PM
Hooray... I have been patiently awaiting pictures from Erika's birthday party. What a fun, fun time and great memory for Erika and all her friends. These are moments she will never forget and when she's a parent will be even more grateful and understanding of your sacrifices to make this happen. Good job mom and dad... THE CAKE IS DARLING!!!!!
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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."