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....

Class Room

Hard at work

Reilly Cartoonized

Reilly is doing great with the home schooling. I am always amazed at how well it is going!!:)
The only difficulity we were having was school was at the kitchen table, and next to the door. OK so distraction gallore! So when Julie put her desk on the WVS blog (Thanks Julie). The light went on and I thought it would be perfect for a school desk in the office.

Flag Ceremony

SCOUTS FLAG CEREMONY

On Tuesday February 10. Brenden was asked to help with the flag ceremony for Reilly's Cub Scout Troop. He's a Wolf. He arranged for some airmen to come and do a flag ceremony. It was awesome and I think the boy's will remember it for a long time. They all learned how to fold the flag and then each had a turn to raise and lower the flag. What an awesome memory!

Creative Cooking

Charlee proud of her Yummy chocolate chip cookies.
1st time taking them out of the stove. (This air is burning my skin)

The Great Baker!!!

On Saturday, Charlee decided she wanted to make cookies all by herself, well with me supervising. She had a wonderful time and really learned a lot. (especially when it came to doubling everything).

She did a great job and they were very yummy.

I had to hide some of the cookies so B and C could take them on Monday to work and school.

Cranky

I had to post this, Reilly was sick all last week with a high fever and a cold. This was one day he was especially miserable and cranky. He didn't want anyone to bother him.

PINEWOOD DERBY

THE BATTLESHIP
AWARD: MOST UNUSUAL CAR!!

REILLY AND HIS FRIEND M

REILLY AND HIS 'BATTLESHIP' CAR

ON JANUARY 27, 2009 TUESDAY. REILLY PARTICIPATED IN HIS FIRST PINEWOOD DERBY RACE. WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND CREATIVITY HE PUT INTO IT. WE ASKED HIM WHEN HE FIRST STARTED 'DO YOU WANT A FAST CAR TO WIN OR DO YOU WANT A COOL LOOKING CAR'. HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND DECIDED HE WANTED A 'COOL LOOKING' CAR, SO AFTER LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON THE INTERNET, HE DECIDED HE WANTED A 'BATTLESHIP' CAR. BRENDEN HELPED HIM CUT IT OUT (THANKS FOR THE TOOL USE AND ASSISTANCE BJ) THEN REILLY SANDED IT AND SANDED IT AND PAINTED IT AND SANDED IT SOME MORE. THEN DAD HELPED REILLY PUT ON THE WHEELS AND THEN THEY TOOK THE GUN POWDER OUT OF BULLETS (THEN THEY BURNED THE GUN POWDER!!) AND REILLY PUT THEM ON HIS BATTLESHIP.THEN PUT COTTON BALLS FOR THE SMOKE AS THEY LAUNCHED.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF HIM AND ALL OF HIS HARD WORK.

I LOVED THE WAY THE LEADERS HAD THE BOYS DO A DRIVERS TEST AND GAVE THEM LICENCE'S AND THEN WE ALL GOT PIT PASSES. IT WAS A GREAT TIME FOR ALL.

POCOHONTAS

MY DAUGHTER C. WANTED TO SLEEP IN THE TENT HER GRANDMA BERTA MADE FOR THE KIDS FOR CHRISTMAS. I TOLD HER IT WAS WAY TO COLD OUTSIDE TO SLEEP IN A TENT AND SHE GAVE ME A CRAZY LOOK AND SAID SHE WANTED TO SET IT UP IN HER ROOM. SHE HAS SLEPT THE LAST 2 NIGHTS ON HER FLOOR IN THE TENT. I HAVE TAKEN TO CALLing HER POCOHOTAS. THIS TENT HAD BEEN SO MUCH FUN FOR THE KIDS, REILLY WILL SET IT UP IN HIS ROOM AND WILL HAVE A LEGO CITY INSIDE OF IT, OR CHARLEE HAS SET IT UP IN HER ROOM AND PUT ALL HER PILLOWS IN IT TO HAVE A READING CORNER. THEY HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WITH IT. THANKS GRANDMA BERTA

TREES

Reilly,Charlee and Brenden playing with the (blurry) Lizard.

A hitch-hiker from working on the trees.
Brenden and his little hitch-hiker buddy.


A few months ago we had to cut down one tree on the east side of our house because it was so diseased and the middle was hallow, but we were like no big deal we still have this other tree to shade the front of the house, but on Friday evening we were out front and I just put my hand on this other tree and it moved. So after calling Brenden over to look at it and having it move several feet we decided it was enough of a hazard to take it out immediately. All he had to do was put a chain around it and it fell over (scary), we dragged it to the lot next door to be taken care of later. It was Friday night and it was now dark, and we had family coming over soon (always love having Lauri, Jack and baby Parker stay with us). Then Saturday morning we had tennis for the children and my cousins funeral (we will miss you Gayle) and then we spent the remainder of the day visiting with family and friends. After church on Sunday, Brenden and the kids went outside and cut the tree apart to put in the back of the truck. Brenden said it was mainly hollow too. I guess for a tree to have leaves, it only needs the bark intact. So now we are checking the rest of the trees, because we have ones that are bigger than our house. Hopefully we won't lose anymore of our huge shade trees.

BUBBLES

SO WE HAVE BEEN HOMESCHOOLING REILLY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND IT IS GOING VERY WELL. WE ARE HAVING FUN FINDING OTHER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. THIS WEDNESDAY WE WENT TO THE ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER FOR THEIR SCIENCE CLASSES AND THE CHILDREN HAD A WONDERFUL TIME. (WE TOOK CHARLEE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THIS) THIS ONE WAS ON WATER TENSION, AND IT WAS GREAT, EVEN I LEARNED A LOT. THEY HAD FUN AT THE END BEING ENCASED IN A BUBBLE.

REILLY'S PICTURE TURNED OUT, CHARLEE'S BUBBLE JUST POPPED.

LAUGHTER

I just had to take these pictures of Brenden and Reilly, they were on the couch playing video games this week and all of a sudden I hear them laughing. It was so funny to watch them having so much fun together.

HOCKEY GAME

THIS PAST WEEKEND THE 10th OF JANUARY, WE WENT TO THE HOCKEY GAME WITH BJ'S FAMILY . WE HAD SO, SO MUCH FUN WITH THEM. THE GAME WAS GREAT AND ALL THE KIDS WERE AWESOME. THE KIDS WERE ALL EXCITED WHEN WE GOT THERE AND THEY WERE GIVING OUT LITTLE HOCKEY BEARS.

I JUST WISH WE HAD REMEMBERED TO TAKE PICTURES.

GO COYOTES