The Parkers: May 2009

Funny Little Miles

This morning as we were talking about talents:
"Hey Dad, you know what your talent is? You're really good at getting me a drink of water. . . please?"

Yesterday at breakfast:
"Mom, I love you. I hope you're safe. . . while you get up to get me a fork."

Several months ago while potty training in "big boy" undies:
"Hey Mom! These undies have a pocket! And guess what! I looked in the pocket, and do you know what was in there? My pee-pee!"

Playing with the light

I'm taking a photo class for a short time and learning how to use all the bells and whistles on my camera. My biggest challenge, besides lighting, is finding willing subjects.

These two are pretty cute:

(we call this "meatball hands")

but this guy thinks the camera is food:

All I want is somebody to stay still long enough for me to play with the settings and see what does what.

Now it's a game. "You can't get me, Mom!"

This is ridonculous! Just look at me!

Nobody's cooperating! Except, of course, Lucy.

That girl will stop for a picture in a heartbeat.

Hmmm, too bright.

Closer:

Well...

I give up.

Besides, Miles is done.

"Mom, that's enough!!"

Almost there...

We've rounded a corner. Nobody's needed a "new bowl" in 13 hours, so we may *crossing fingers* be done with this.
Miles still looks a little sunken in and skinny, and Tate's moving much slower than usual, but this was yesterday:

And this morning I found this:

If he feels good enough to draw, at least we're not headed to the hospital.

Oh, and have I mentioned how much I love Tate? He begged for this raccoon at Stew Leonard's on Saturday. While I usually say no to toys at the grocery store, he'd been so very nice and we were on a date. I thought it'd end up in the bottom half of the toy bucket by bedtime, but he hasn't let it out of his sight in 3 days. He even makes sure it's not bored while he's taking a shower.

Are we done yet?

Stayed up late ironing Sunday shirts.

Got up and stayed up with sick Miles.

Woke up early to bake cookies for my class.

Tate announced he'd just gotten sick in the bathroom.

Go to church alone only to be sent home 20 minutes later because of a gas leak in the building.

Wash 4 loads of bedding from all the barfies in the house.

Clean out more metal bowls than I can count.

Everyone's still throwing up.

I get it.

4 priesthood blessings from home teachers.

Catch the microwave on fire.

Thunderstorm coming.

Send Jake to CVS for children's rectal tylenol.

Is the day over yet?

Poor, poor Lucy

Poor Lucy is home with the barfies.

Doesn't she look miserable?

Miles is pretty pleased to be sharing in the sick treatment:

Movies in Mom's bed, water on demand, and as many cheerios as he wants.

Oh, the talents that abound in this family...

Who wants an Ice Cream Sunday?

Watch them all in order:

How does this happen?

Last week after school:

Wanna know what's so scary to Tate? He thinks his sister is the Incredible Hulk. You know how he busts out of his clothes when angry?
Look a little closer at Lucy's dress.

When I asked Lucy how this happened or when, her reply was,

"I don't really remember."

What the heck are they doing in Kindergarten these days?

Happy Birthday Dad!

We love you!

Hiking through the desert

Hmm, hiking through the desert. Sounds like punishment, right?
Nope! We do this for fun. (maybe it was the hot AZ sun getting to me)

We dragged Claire and Grandma along with us for a little hike around Roper Lake.

Lucy really wanted to stop for a dip in the natural hot springs until we told her several likely reasons the water is green.

We made sure everyone was well slathered in sunscreen, and we even took extra precautions with this pansy and his lily-white skin.

(Calvin too)

Notice how Claire and Lucy have about the same sized hiney? This is why I refuse to stand next to my sister in stretchy pants.

Unless I have a kid to hide behind.

Ah, it was so lovely to enjoy the nice lush landscape. Just like back in Connecticut.
Actually, it was beautiful and we found some fantastic rocks for our rock tumbler. We had lots of fun, but mostly because anything's better when you've got a noisy toy gun in one hand and Grandma's hand in the other.

It was so exhausting for some, they had to stop and whet their whistle after. Whew!

Over the river and through the woods...

After Disneyland last month, we drove 9 hours to my parents house.

Yep, I said NINE hours.

In a car.

With 4 kids.

We like to live on the edge.

This one was awesome:

Anyway, as I was saying, we spent several days playing in kid heaven. Seriously, they've got it all:

video games

neighbors with stuff to climb on

free head massages

big rusty machines

a dangerous 80 foot drop off

fun grandpas with big toys

mud

(sorry about your lawn, Dad)

crazy people

fun things to jump on

and more crazy people, although, we may have imported some of the crazy ourselves

"I'm quicker than quick, faster than fast, I AM SPEED! Ca-CHOW!"

Well, my baby's already a cub scout (sniff). His very first activity was the Pinewood Derby, and due to the hectic family life we've led this month, we cheated and used a car we already had. Tate did help make this one, so it counts, but next year he's doing it all by himself. We got a few too many "His dad totally made that!" looks.

Jake's mom sent him this snazzy scout shirt for his birthday, and Lucy had to make sure he looked just right. One can't just go bouncing around with other goofy 8 year olds without looking the part.

Shockingly, er, I mean, of course he made it into the final six who get to go to district.
Can't you see the excitement just oozing out of him? He was kind of like that all night, not really caring if his car won.

Fear not, though, lest you think the competitive gene doesn't reside in our family. Little Miss Lu brought hers for the Sibling Race. She was determined to wipe the floor with the competition.