Alice in Wonderland

Erika had the opportunity of performing with the Old Barn Theatre this year and it was a great experience for her.  This was our first experience doing a play with this theatre.   As with the Garland Children's Theatre, it is a non-profit organization all run by volunteers.  It is run by a board of directors in an attempt to provide positive experiences for the actors and good entertainment for the community.  Ticket sales and donations keep the program going.   I would've loved to do it with her, but with a new baby it wasn't possible this year.  Someday!  It was quite a bit different than the Garland Children's Theatre in that a lot more was required of Erika.  It is a bit more professionally done and required a lot more practices.  This was a "Jr" production, so it was almost all children in the play, another reason there were a lot more practices.  I was very lucky, though, because there were about 6 other families in my ward who also did the play and so we were able to carpool and take turns helping at the practices.  It is located in Collinston, Utah, about 10 min away.

Erika was the Cheshire Cat, at least a part of the Cheshire cat- the tail :)  She was on stage almost the whole show and did so great at memorizing her lines.  

It was so fun to watch her perform.   We are so proud of her for her hard work!  

Aaron's parents came to watch Erika the closing night of the show on June 27th and Kyle got to stay with them while Aaron and I headed up to Rexburg for the day with our 4 other kids.   Aaron really enjoyed seeing his old classmates and reliving some memories there.   

They had a couples dinner in the evening at Sugar Salem High School.  We left Jared, Heidi, and Jordan with Aaron's aunt Renee and took Kaylee with us.  

We also got to spend a few hours with Grandma Parkinson in the afternoon.  This was the first time she has ever seen Kaylee.  Last summer when we came up to her house, I was pregnant.  

A Day in the Life of a Parkinson...

Kaylee is well-loved by her older brothers

I guess over the last 4 1/2 months, there haven't really been any big events to take pictures of so I haven't updated my blog since Christmas.  But, as I have looked through my photos, most of them have been of just everyday things with the kids.    Between diapers and baby food and potty training, here are a few little clips of everyday life at our house...

We spent January and February watching Kyle play basketball with Tremonton City.  

If you want to know anything about the Northwest Indians, talk to this kid!

Need I say more?

My boys like to arrange their cars by color...

Showing off her school project.  Thanks, Daddy!  

On Feb 4th, Heidi lost her first tooth!

On Feb 11th, while Aaron was at his Stake Presidency meetings,  I went over to the seminary with the kids and "Heart-Attacked" his classroom.  The kids had a lot of fun decorating it!!  Aaron also loved his surprise when he went into work the next morning.   

That weekend was President's Day Weekend.  (Feb 14-17)  We went up to Boise to spend some time with Aaron's parents.  I regret not getting more pictures there.  Here are a few of my favorites from when we were at POJO's.  The kids had a great time playing games and going on rides.   We also enjoyed playing at the park, swimming in the pool at the hotel, and going out to dinner for Aaron's birthday.  

Mother and son watching the kids play

Feb 28th I helped to do a baby shower for my sister-in-law Alisa at my mom's house.  

March 3rd and 5th Erika and I took our Hunter's Safety Class together at the Logan Shooting Range.  It took a lot of time to do all the reading online and take the tests.  We were both glad to have it done.  I thought the class was actually pretty fun and I enjoyed learning everything.  I especially enjoyed doing it with Erika.  And, I liked shooting guns more than I thought I would.  

A few days after St. Patrick's Day, I looked out the window to see Jared snapping pictures of Lucky with my phone and just giggling.  He had put a little hat on Lucky that he got at preschool and the poor dog was just patiently enduring.  That same day, Jared did his kindergarten roundup and aced it!!!  Yeah, Jared :) (Hence the name tag on his shirt)  Also notice the "fort" the kids made behind Jared.  

Our little future chef displaying the bread he made at preschool

Heidi and Jared just got done riding their bikes and Jared is showing off his ant farm 
that he got for Christmas (and we finally got the ants, and they were still alive at the time...).

Last but not least, our adorable little Kaylee:  She has been such a delight!   She is such a smiley, sweet little baby.  We are so blessed to have her in our family.  

Christmas 2013

Heidi, tickled to sit on Santa's lap and talk to him.  :)

This past Christmas seemed like it arrived much too quickly, although I had been preparing for it months before.  Christmas is such a big holiday for us, and it is so much fun!  Just before Thanksgiving Erika had her Tavaci Christmas concert and at the end a special guest arrived to see the kids.  Of course, our kids wanted to wait in the long line to see Santa!  

Jared said he wanted to see Santa, but once he got there, he wasn't so sure...  Sorry, Santa!

Notice that Erika didn't take a turn.  She hasn't wanted to for the last couple years.
Hmmm...  She hasn't said why, but I have my guesses...

Just 2 days after Jeremy's wedding, on December 23rd, we went back down to Salt Lake for my parents' Christmas party with my siblings.  We would've just stayed down there all weekend, but I am the ward Choir director and had to be to our ward on Sunday to lead the choir.  

We had a fun Christmas party with almost all of my siblings there!   It's a pretty amazing thing when we can all be together and it doesn't happen very often.  My sister was here from California for the wedding so we got to see her for Christmas, too!                                                         The next morning after my parents' party was Dec 24th.  We stayed there till the afternoon.   The kids went on a horseback ride to the gully being pulled behind the horses in sleds.  And, we just hung out the rest of the morning.   Then, we headed back home.  We didn't get home until about 5 pm and Aaron's parents arrived  just before 7, so we had to hurry and unload and prepare dinner.  We had our traditional Fettucine Alfredo for dinner with everyone.  Aaron's brother Ryan and his brother Thayne was also there with his two girls.   It was great to have everyone there!    That night, we read some scriptures about Christ in the Book of Mormon, sang some hymns and shared our feelings about Christ with each other.  

Jared absolutely LOVED the knight costume
he got from Oma and Opa and refused to take
it off until bedtime.  Even when he went to sleep,
he kept his sword by him!  

Kyle showing off his Skylanders.  Just a note-
He chose not to change his mis-matched
PJ's even after mom's warning that someday
he'd be embarrassed by the pictures.. :)

Heidi got her first Lego set- Lego Friends Stables

Erika got the American Girl doll she's always wanted

Christmas morning the kids were so excited to open their presents.  It was busy and messy, but fun too.   After the kids opened their presents, we just hung out and they played.  The kids went out and played in the snow a little, too.  David and Tara arrived just after noon and we had our traditional Christmas dinner with turkey and the works.  Then, that night we had the kids dress up and act out the Nativity Story.   They were so cute!  

Our Nativity reenactment-  Kyle was Joseph, Kaidynce- Mary, Konae- shepherd, Jared- a Roman Centurion (with his knight costume), Erika- an angel, and Heidi- a "wise man" (with the graduation hat on).  

The kids had a lot of fun playing their new "just dance" wii game

On the 26th, the kids had fun making big gingerbread men and a gingerbread house.

Jordan getting some luvs from grandma!

Heid and Aaron showing off the Lego stables they put together.
  (while mommy got an AMAZING nap!)

"Yes, we made this gingerbread house- with a little bit of help from  mom..."

Boise Parkinson Reunion

We had a great time up in Boise from July 24th-28th with the Parkinson family!  This was quite a big deal having all of Aaron's family together.  It had been 3 years since we'd all been together.  The kids were so excited to see their cousins!  We stayed in a hotel and did some fun things around Boise.

Opening presents on Erika's birthday morning

After settling in the hotel, Aaron took Kyle, Heidi, and Jared swimming in the pool while I went to the mall with Erika and Jared.  We were also accompanied by Grandma and Erika's cousin Taylor.  We got to watch Erika get her ears pierced!  That was exciting for her.  We also went to the Build-A-Bear Workshop where grandma paid for Erika to make her own bear.  (something she's always wanted to do).   After that, we met up with everyone and went out to dinner at the restaurant of Erika's choice- Sizzler.  

HAPPY  10TH BIRTHDAY, ERIKA!  WE LOVE YOU!!

Thursday morning we met up with everyone and went and got some nice family pictures at the Boise Train Depot.  It is such a pretty place!  We got some great pictures of everyone! 

Jared and Aaron having a "moment".  I think this picture
captures what a sweet and patient father Aaron is.  

That afternoon, we all headed to Lucky Peak.  What an amazing place!  I never even knew it existed until this trip!  It was the perfect weather, too.  It is a man-made beach up the canyon from Boise with a grassy area and picnic tables and then a beach with fairly shallow water.  (An adult can walk all the way to the deepest part).  The kids had a great time playing in the water and just relaxing!  We flied kites, played ball and just visited.  Jared had a traumatic moment when he got stung by a bee after drimking some soda pop that dripped on his neck, a bee thought it was a sweet spot.  Luckily we were just about ready to leave at that point.  That was his first encounter with a bee and he still talks about it if reminded.   

Taylor, Erika, and Kyle basking in the sun

Looking for little fish with uncle Ryan

A perfect day for kite flying!

On Friday morning, while the guys went golfing, we brave women loaded up all the kids and took them to the zoo.  That was a lot of fun, but exhausting too.  Look at these animals!!   As you can see, they were having so much fun there, so it was worth it.   

As you can see, my little animals love to pose for the camera. 

This one looks like he needs to go back into the egg
until he's ready to hatch, don't you think?

After the zoo, we walked over to the Julia Davis park where mom had rented a pavilion.  We had lunch, played games, did a piñata, and rode the paddle boats on the duck pond.

Kyle and Kaidynce at the park

On Friday evening after the park, we all met up at the chinese buffet we like to frequent whenever we come to Boise.  The next morning, Saturday, we went to the aquarium in Boise.  I was also really impressed with this place, too!  There were a lot of animals that the kids could touch there, including many friendly rays, some starfish and an iguana.   

Jared loved touching the rays!  

After the aquarium we had to say goodbye to Marisa and Sam as they were heading back home.  We then went out to a really fun splash park out in Meridian.  The kids loved it there and played for hours!  I wish I would've gotten a few pictures of Kyle because he was a hoot.  He just got himself drenched!   

Jordan had fun splashing in the puddles by all the drains. 

Aaron trying to take a nap with Jordan- how sweet!  
(Good luck!  We know he's tired, but I don't think he wants to be. )

Thanks everyone for the fun times!  Great memories...