SPRING BREAK

LAST WEEK WAS SPRING BREAK AND WE HAD A FUN WEEK. FIRST ON MONDAY WE SLEPT IN AND JUST ENJOYED THE DAY OF WATCHING TV AND DOING NOTHING.

THEN ON TUESDAY CHARLEE HAD SOCCER PRACTICE, REILLY HAD SCOUTS, AND WE CLEANED HOUSE.

WEDNESDAY WE WENT TO THE ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER. WE HAD SCIENCE CLASS IN THE MORNING, CALLED 'HIDE AND SEEK', IT WAS ALL ABOUT CAMOUFLAGE, HOW ANIMALS INTERACT, AND ABOUT PREDATOR AND PREY. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. REILLY'S FAVORITE PART WAS LOOKING AT AND TOUCHING THE SKULLS AND THE ANIMAL PELTS. THEN WE WENT TO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY CLASS NEXT, IT A VERY SHORT CLASS AND WE RETURNED HOME WITH 3 PAINTED LADY CATERPILLARS AND A NET CAGE TO KEEP THEM IN, IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING WATCHING GO THROUGH METAMORPHOSIS. THEY HAVE JUST SPUN THEIR CHRYSALIS.

WE SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY IN THE SCIENCE CENTER. MY FAVORITE PART WAS THE FORCES OF NATURE, IT IS VERY INTERACTIVE. THAT NIGHT WE HAD REILLY'S SOCCER PRACTICE.

THURSDAY WE CLEANED HOUSE AGAIN, AND CHARLEE HAD SOCCER.

FRIDAY WE WENT TO THE AIR SHOW AT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE. IT WAS REALLY FUN. WE WERE THERE FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS AND LOVED IT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN WATCHING THE KIDS AND BRENDEN GET SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE AIRCRAFT.

SATURDAY AGAIN WAS SOCCER GAME DAY. CHARLEE'S TEAM WON AND I SAW LOTS OF IMPROVEMENT IN HER, SHE'S IS GETTING OVER BEING SCARED OF GETTING KICKED. REILLY'S TEAM LOST, BUT HIS TEAM IS A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER THAN LAST WEEK. HE IS DOING GREAT.

THAT WAS OUR SPRING BREAK!!!!!!!!!

Twilight

OK - I admit it, I watched 'TWILIGHT' twice in one day.

I am addicted!!!

I love it!!!

SOCCER

OK, THIS SOCCER THING IS TAKING MUCH MORE TIME THAN I REMEMBERED. WE CAN SCHEDULE NOTHING FOR OUR SATURDAYS. ALMOST ALL OF OUR GAMES ARE LIKE AN HOUR APART. FOR EXAMPLE CHARLEE'S GAME WAS AT 9AM AND WE HAD TO BE THERE BY 8:30, SO WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE BY 8:10 BECAUSE IT'S 20 MINUTES TO VERRADO FROM OUR HOME. THEN REILLY'S GAME WASN'T UNTIL 11AM AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO ANYTHING, ONLY 30 MINUTES. ENOUGH COMPLAINING ALREADY!!! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND BOTH CHILDREN DID WELL AND HAD FUN. CHARLEE'S TEAM WON, AND SHE ASSISTED WITH A GOAL. SHE WAS REALLY GOOD. REILLY'S TEAM LOST, BUT REILLY SAVED A LOT OF BALLS FROM GOING INTO THE GOAL. HE LIKES PLAYING DEFENSE. WE ARE SO PROUD OF THEM AND THEIR EFFORT IN LEARNING A NEW SPORT.

MY CAMERA DIED AND THEN THE EXTRA BATTERIES DIDN'T WORK, SO THESE ARE FROM MY PHONE, AT FULL MAGNIFICATION, SO THEY ARE REALLY GRAINY AND BLURRY. AND EVERYTIME I STARTED TO WATCH THE GAME I WOULD LOSE TRACK OF WHAT I WAS DOING, SO IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT YOU GET THE PICTURE. ENJOY!

REILLY'S TEAM: THE CREW

CHARLEE'S TEAM: RAIL HAWKS

Charlee is 10!!!!!

CHARLEE CHRISTINA RIGGS

I can't believe my baby girl is 10 years old today. It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with her and sitting next to Olga in Relief Society and having her be the first one to feel her move. (Of course, we both bawled).
Charlee was born at 11:54 pm on March 11, 1999 at Luke Air force Base Hospital in Glendale, Arizona. She was a whopping 8 lbs 4 oz and 21 inches long.
Charlee was a full 14 day's late, (she has always had her own time table). We were in the hospital for 3 days before she was born because she kept laying on her cord and going into distress, the midwife said if she doesn't come tonight we would do a c-section in the morning. Of course Miss Charlee decided to come at the last minute, 11:54pm. The first thing she did when she was born was to bite the nurse. (stubborn girl).
We had several other names picked out for Charlee, but none of them fit her, so after 2 days the doctor and nurse came in and we couldn't go home until we named her. So Brenden went home prayed, and I prayed at the hospital. I had a dream that we discussed calling her Charlee and then in the morning Brenden came in and said " why don't we call her Charlee." So the Lord told us her name and that is how we named Miss Charlee.

He knew she was totally unique!!!

Charlee at 2 months. In her Blessing Dress

Charlee this year 2009, 4 th Grade

Charlee December 2008, we Love our Ice cream

Summer 2008

2008 grade 4


2008 End of grade 3

Summer 2007

Grade 3, 2007

Grade 2, 2006

Baptism Dress, March 2007


2007, Grade 2

1 st Grade 2005

T-Ball 2006

Funny Face

Charlee, Reilly with cousins Braedon, & Mckinnley

Mexico, Charlee is 3 or 4

Charlee 3 yrs, Reilly 1 1/2 yrs

Charlee at Easter Age 3

Bubble Girl

2004

2004, 5 years old

2004

Charlee and her cousin Hallie 2004

2004 Kindergarten

Charlee and her money

The Butterfly Queen

Charlee and her cousin, lovin the babies already

2003 Step to the Rhythm

Monster Girl, Look at the claws and the tail!!!

2009 FAVORITES

Food - Pizza

Dessert- Ice cream and cookies

Color - light blue

Sport - Soccer and Basketball

Activity - Scrapbook

and Getting Toe Nails done with Mom

Flying High!!!

Of Course Charlee Bug's was a Lady bug

Reilly's is a Crazy Lizard

Oh no, it's on the roof, our only mishap.

Today was the perfect day for flying kites and we are trying not to watch TV as much. So I got out our trusty kites and said let's fly kites until it's time for soccer. I really didn't think we would fly kites for over on hour. We usually give up after about a 1/2 hour. But Charlee and Reilly got them up and were having such a wonderful time we were almost late for soccer. Then Charlee took her kite and flew it with some cute kids at the park where Reilly's team was practicing.

What a wonderful Day!!!!

Blue and Gold - Scouts

Reilly and his poster of Colorado

Reilly and his cake

Neat decorations

Reilly's Troop #199 had Blue and Gold Bouquet last week. March 3, 2009 Tuesday. It was a fun dinner of Hot dogs, Nachos and Chili. We also had a ton of cakes. Every boy had to make one for a special award. All were very cute and creative. They all also made a display, poster of a state (other than Arizona). Of course, Reilly chose Colorado. He loves it there. We had a great time learning about this state. (we would all love to move there). And it was fun teaching him how to organize a poster. He and all the boy's did a wonderful job.

Making a Cake for Blue and Gold

Reilly's Avalanche
Focused on putting the cherry's on just right

Cool Whip we LOVE Cool Whip

Reilly had to make a cake for Blue and Gold, by himself. He did a very good job of it, all I did was take the cake out of the oven and cut them flat. He did a great job and it was Yummy. He did get a little over zealous with the cool whip and we had a little avalanche. We just put that side to the back.

From My Sister Lauri to Our Mother

I loved this so much on my sisters blog that I had to copy it!!!

This is so wonderful, I am so glad Lauri took the time to write it, it is exactly how I feel.

Love you Mom!!!

My Mom, A Beautiful Woman
Several sisters in our ward were asked to help with the Relief Society lesson today. We were to write a few words about the most beautiful woman we know and bring a picture of her. I chose my mom. These are some of the qualities and talents that make my mom amazing! I love you mom!

Good Cook
Sews - Last summer she made me two nightgowns that I love!
Crochets - We ALL love the afghans she has made us! When we are wrapped in an afghan she has made, we are wrapped in her love.

She has crocheted a blessing dress for each granddaughter.
Family is a priority - She has dinner EVERY Sunday to keep our family connected!
When my dad comes home from work she takes the time to talk with him about his day
Supportive
Accepts others as they are
Manages money well
Organized
Makes Birthdays and Holidays a special occasion - On our birthday we would have our favorite dinner and our favorite dessert! Holidays were always fun! On Valentine’s Day we would come home from school to find a surprise or treat.
Values Education - My mom graduated from Nursing School in 1966. Throughout my growing up years, my mom took college courses and would read for enjoyment and knowledge.
Committed to her marriage and honors the institution of marriage. For years, my mom and dad went on a date EVERY Friday night!
Has a testimony of the gospel and strives to live the teachings of the gospel
She put her role as a wife and mother above everything else
Mother of 7 Children - 6 Girls & 1 Boy
Grandmother of 13 Grandchildren

David & Roberta Parker

Married August 6, 1965
My mom made her own wedding dress!

Charlee Christina Riggs
Mom crocheted Charlee's blessing dress

May 1999

Parker Family Picture

Picture taken at the Mesa Arizona Temple

December 2007

New Favorite Saying

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All Creatures Great and Small

All Things Wise and Wonderful

The Lord God Made Them All.

Isaac Newton and his Laws of Motion

Charlee was surprised by her experiment.

Reilly making a face at me.

This week we went to our science class at the AZ Science Center. We are really enjoying them. We go about twice a month. This time it was on the Laws of Motion. They did several fun experiments and we were very surprised by one. Charlee's face is great in this one.

SOCCER

Charlee and Reilly are both on Soccer teams (Parks and Rec) this year.

Charlee is a RAILHAWK and is on a 10-12 year old team. Her birthday is a few days before the cutoff. She is the only one on her team that is young and inexperienced. The rest of her team are 11/12 years old and most of them have played club Soccer before. She is getting thrown into the fire, but I have noticed she is learning a ton. She comes home from Soccer and is so sore, she has been going straight into a hot bath and then to bed. I had to give her Advil this morning because she was so sore. (poor baby)

Reilly is a CREW. He is on an 8-10 year old team. His coach is a friend from our ward, and there are several member of our ward on our team. He is having a wonderful time learning and playing with other kids. He is also sleeping really well at night.

Of course, practice couldn't be on the same night, so Monday through Thursday we are gone for a couple of hours. It is only for a few months and we are all having fun.

More pictures to come....