Parkinson Family: July 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

Erika's 9th Birthday

Erika getting ready to take the big plunge at the end of the waterside.

We celebrated Erika's ninth birthday on July 24th. It was a different one for Aaron and I this year because she had spent the weekend at Oma and Opa's house with Kyle and Heidi and a few of their other cousins and had a blast. But, she woke up on her birthday morning at their house, not ours.

One exciting thing for Erika was the opportunity to go on a horseback ride up in the canyon with Oma and Opa that morning. She got to ride and control her own horse and she really liked that.

Jared was worn out after a busy day and decided
Opa's lap would be the perfect place for a nap.

In the afternoon, we met Oma and Opa with the kids at a pool in Ogden called "North Shore Aquatic Center." I was impressed with the pool- it was really nice with lots of fun things for the kids to play on and do. They especially loved the big waterside. Heidi just kept wanting us to take her on it over and over again.

For her birthday this year, Erika wanted me to make her a "firework cake" so I did my best. We are happy to have Erika in our family and can't believe how fast she is growing up!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Oh My, July!

How many kids can you fit on a swing? Apparently A LOT!

Well, it has been a fun summer so far. We haven't really gotten out and done as much as we normally do, just because there is less you can do with a newborn. But, we have still had fun close to home and enjoyed a more relaxed pace.

Heidi loves her new baby brother Jordan and helps me take good care of him.

Over the weekend before the 4th of July, we had a reunion with my family up at the cabin at Strawberry reservoir. We had such a great time- I just wish I would've taken more pictures.

Heidi and Jared riding the motorcycle with Opa

Erika and Kyle had a great time playing with their cousins there. Erika and Lucy enjoyed just sitting and playing Barbies together. Kyle loved going out and catching crawdads and fishing in the lake. They all had fun riding on the boat and being pulled behind the boat on the tube. We are grateful for a good family and for the chance to spend time with them!

Once upon a time... there was a daddy and two of his boys...

While the bigger kids were out on the lake, Jared had a blast playing in the foot bath.

We also spent the 4th of July at Oma and Opa's house. In the morning, they had the annual neighborhood parade and the kids got to ride the horses.

Jared and Aaron on the motorcyle

At the park, there was a clown who was making fun balloon creations for the kids. We enjoyed a great breakfast, then we headed back to Oma and Opa's house to relax. The kids spent several hours swimming in Oma's pool. Then, of course, we had to go to see the Sandy city fireworks that night. It was an action- packed week!

Kyle, Logan, and Gabe enjoying the water.

Erika practicing her diving skills

Monday, July 23, 2012

Homemade Almond Joys

Almond Balls:

1 C corn syrup

3 C marshmallows

Combine and stir over medium heat. When melted, remove and add:

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

Stir in 1 C slivered almonds (or you can press a whole almond into the top of each ball).

Then stir in 14 oz bag shredded coconut.

Scoop mixture into balls and place on wax paper. If it is too sticky, spread it out thin on wax paper before rolling, stick it in the fridge for a while, then try again.

Dipping chocolate: Put 1 bag chocolate chips and 1 Tbsp crisco into a large bowl, heat in microwave for 30 sec, then take out and stir. Repeat this until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Dip the balls in the chocolate and then chill in the fridge on wax paper. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They are better eaten when cool.

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."