Parkinson Family: Christmas 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday this year. To head off the season, I was in charge of the program for the ward party on December 9th. I put together a musical program with characters dressed up from the nativity who sang musical numbers, including two songs from the Forgotten Carols. We also had a nativity scene and a narrator dressed as a Roman Centurion who spoke in-between the musical numbers. It was a lot of work for me to put it together but rewarding, too. I learned a lot from the experience. I was also glad to have it over. (I wish I had a few pictures to show from the program). After the program, we had dinner and then a surprise visitor came to the church. The kids lined up to sit on his lap and get a candy cane.

As you can see, not everyone was thrilled
to sit on Santa Claus's lap.

A few days later, when I was tucking Heidi in bed, I asked her, "So, what do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?" She said, "A candy cane." "Oh, really? Anything else?" and all she would say was "a candy cane". I thought, "Wow! I guess I shouldn't push that one! Give it a few years and she'll have a list a mile long." How fun that they are thrilled with the simple pleasures of life!

We enjoyed a nice Christmas at home with our family. We have had fun the last few years establishing our own traditions. We took a trip down to Salt Lake on Dec 22nd to visit extended family. We went to my grandma Schulz's Christmas party and then also visited my Oma and Opa Michel. It was great to see all of them. We also stopped in to visit Aaron's grandpa Christensen. His wife just passed away in September and she is greatly missed. We met up with Aaron's brothers and parents at Temple Square where we enjoyed the Christmas lights.

On Christmas Eve we had a nice dinner and a program with our kids and with Aaron's parents and brother Ryan. Erika and Kyle played songs on the piano, we sang some Christmas songs and then acted out the nativity while Aaron did the narration.

Jared loves to climb into things and if he's lucky,
his siblings will push him around.

Jared was figuring out the whole "opening presents" thing
and just happy with a few small gifts.

Heidi was loving opening presents.
They all got new pajamas for Christmas.

Erika and Kyle were the most excited about the Wii and couldn't wait to play it.

Erika, Kyle, and Heidi each also got a scooter from Santa Claus (the rest was from mom and dad and grandma and grandpa).

After church we took some pictures in front of the Christmas tree while everyone was still dressed up.

We had a nice turkey dinner and then just enjoyed playing with our new toys and spending time together. It was such a great break! We enjoyed relaxing and being with family. One thing that was different this year was the lack of snow outside, but we found other things to do to have fun.

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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."