Parker's 1st Birthday!!

Well, today was my 1st birthday. That's right people, my day! It started out just like any other day. I woke up with poop in my diaper, and a smile on my face. Then I realized everyone seemed to be making quite a fuss over me... even more so than usual. As daddy was loading Kaden up to go to school I heard Kade say, "Mommy, make sure Parker has a special day okay." It was then I realized that this was going to be a good day. Mommy made me some birthday cakes, with monkey's on them... not sure what that's all about? I'm a completely mellow child.

Anyways, onto breakfast. After a couple bowls of strawberries and cheerio's I was full, so I started hucking food off my tray. That usually gets mom's attention pretty quick. Then she spiffed me up and took me outside to play. She put me on a nice blanket on the grass, but are you kidding me, I was not about to sit back and watch the clouds float by... there were things to do, rocks to climb, and bark to eat!
I helped Mom go get Kade from preschool. Ya- I know I have dirt drool around my mouth. Cut me some slack, I'm a baby for crying out loud!!
I spent some time in the buck... My mom chases me around trying to dress me, but I'm way too fast. It takes her a while.

When I woke up from my nap all my family started showing up. I'm talkin' everyone was there. They all started kissing and hugging me, and saying, "Happy Birthday Parker!" I was feeling pretty special. Mission accomplished Kade.

We all ate lots of yummy food.

Kole and Kade are so cool. They love to play with me. One day they are going to teach me all kinds of cool boy stuff. Can't wait!

That's me and my mom... she's pretty cool too.

All those big kids were running around and being crazy. Can't wait till I can do that too...

Me and Soph found a plate of food someone had left behind... you know what they say, "finder's keeper's- loser's weeper's."

Then everyone gathered around and sang to me. Man, I really wanted to grab that candle, but my dumb mom wouldn't let me. She never let's me have any fun.

Well, I think she was feeling kind of bad that she didn't let me have that candle, so to make up for it she gave me my own stinkin' cake. It was seriously awesome!

Ooohh... that frosting was soooo good...

I only threw up a little... then my aunt Steph had this really sweet necklace, and she let me sit on her lap and play with it! It was really cool.

Here's me with my Mom & Dad... they're always telling me how precious I am.

All in all I'd have to say it was a great day. Thanks to all of my family for making it so special.

Love,

Parker

Happy Easter

Well the Easter Bunny came... he brought kisses... and hid eggs... and candy of other sorts. It was a great surprise. The kids came down and jumped into bed with us bright and early. We snuggled, and talked about Jesus. And about his resurrection.

Then the kids rushed around in search of the hidden goods.
Parker was fascinated with that green grass from the baskets... let's just say, it was EVERYWHERE!!
After all of the loot was divided equally among the baskets, we were onto breakfast.
Of course, the oven pancake had to match the occasion.

Our little Easter bunny enjoying his breakfast...

This was my sheepish attempt to get a picture of the kids after church (yes, when lunch was on the brain, and pictures were the LAST thing anyone wanted to do). I wasn't smart enough to get them together before. Man, that Kaden is one handsome devil.

These two together is about the cutest thing EVER!!

Rylie actually hammed it up... after I bribed the living daylights out of her! What an angel, but boy, she really does not like her picture taken right now.

We spent the evening out at Gramy & Papa's house. We had a delicious dinner, visited with Grandma Sparrow, and enjoyed some Easter festivities. Sorry about the overhaul of pictures. There were too many cute ones I couldn't leave out.

The girls hunting for eggs.

Kaden doing some serious hunting.

We had such a great Easter. I am so thankful for the opportunity we had to celebrate this special day. I am so thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ. For his life, his example, and his atoning sacrifice that we might all return to live with him again.

Happy Easter!!

Easter Party

We celebrated Easter with my family on Saturday night. We had such a great time. We had our usual Chinese & Pizza take-out on the menu. I know you are probably thinking "Does Chinese food and pizza really go together?" And the answer is "no," but we are crazy enough to love it! The kids had an egg hunt in the basement and made a haul!! There definitely is not a shortage of sugar at our house!!

All 6 grand kids around one little table...

so darling.
Mimi made a bunny cake for everyone, it was oh so delicious!
Parker and Mimi
Me and my sweet Grandma

Grandma getting hugs from Rylie and Gracie...

Thanks Mimi & Papa for the fun Easter party!! We love you!

Coloring Eggs

Kaden and Rylie had so much fun coloring Easter eggs. They were old enough this year to do most of it on their own. It was so fun to watch them work.

Ry-bug checking on her eggs...
Kaden hard at work... and deep in concentration...

The finished product...

Here comes Peter Cottontail... hoppin' down the bunny trail...

Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way!!

My Loves

Okay, enough about me... let's get back to these three little loves of my life (besides their Daddy). Can I just tell you how much I love being their Mama. Sure they have their moments, but don't we all? They are the most precious people I know.

That angel in the middle turns 1 on Friday. I simply can't believe it. My heart is aching as I have been putting his 'baby' toys away. So now we are preparing for his special day. The big question I am posing right now is, how should I decorate his cake? I mean, he really isn't 'into' anything right now. He pretty much plays with anything and everything (especially those things he isn't supposed to be playing with i.e. sharp knives out of the dishwasher, outlets, toilet water, you get the idea). When we think of Parker one word, or phrase rather, comes to mind and that is 'pure joy.' Now how do I express that on a cake? I'm up for any suggestions.

I will post more on Easter later. I have about a million photos I need to go through, but it was such a wonderful weekend. Conference was amazing as always. My cup is full. I am working on doing better. I love the way conference makes you want to be a better person in every aspect of the word. I am feeling my life coming back into order bit by bit. It feels good to be in some sort of control. I feel very blessed.

Photography 101

You might remember that for my birthday this past year I asked for a new camera. A Nikon D60 SLR, to be exact. And Nic, being the precious pea that he is, gave in and got it for me. (Or it was compensation for the week long hunting trip he went on and left me on my birthday.) One way or another, I got it. Since then, I have been trying to master the art of photography. I have always admired beautiful photography, and it has sort of turned into an obsession of mine. So I signed up for a basic photography class and yesterday was my "graduation" if you will. I feel like I really have learned a lot, and enjoyed learning something new. It has been quite a while since I've been in a classroom type atmosphere and it felt so good to actually use my brain again. (You know what I mean.) I've added to my vocabulary words like aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, ISO, white balance, polarizing filter, UV filter, F-stop, camera raw, just to name a few. I never realized that taking pretty pictures could be so technical. I'm signed up for the advanced class that follows and am looking forward to hopefully continuing to learn and get better. These are my pictures I submitted to our teacher at the end of the course.

I know, I know, I am still an amateur...

Spring Training

The other day I woke up knowing I had 5 miles to run. I knew snow was in the forecast, but was hoping that for some reason it would be a beautiful morning. As I peeked out my shutters, there it was...that white stuff...all over my grass. Yikes!! (as Kade would say) I laid back in my nice warm bed for a minute, but the nagging reminder that my half marathon is not getting any further away got me back out of bed and dressed in my gear. I stretched, poured 2 bowls of honey nut Cheerios's for Kaden and Rylie, and headed out the door. The snow was coming down, but I had been out in worse. I started to run and for the first time in a long while nothing hurt. It felt so good. As I continued on I got lost in thought (and the tunes on my i-pod). The only thing annoying me was the snow blowing into my face. By about the 3rd mile or so I looked down and saw the front of my black sweatshirt was caked with snow. I could feel warm tears running down my cold cheeks. Every once in a while a huge white flake would land on my cheek or the tip of my nose, and then slowly melt away. I was thinking to myself, why do I love this so much? Am I crazy? I should be home in my nice cozy bed, but instead I am out here pounding the pavement in the cold. Fast forward to today. It was beautiful, a little breezy, but such a nice day. I then realized why I train through all of those cold, miserable days. To get to the warm, beautiful days. Days that I head out early in the morning, and watch the sun rise up over the mountains. I never thought it would be, but running is just a part of me that I love so much. I love the sense of accomplishment it gives me. Especially on days that it feels like I've not been able to accomplish much else. Anyways, I am beginning to sense those warmer days becoming more and more prevalent and it makes me so flippin' excited! Can't wait to ditch the ear-muffs, gloves, and sweatshirts... I'm on the lookout for the perfect running skirt. That Salt Lake half is going to be here before I know it. That flu set me back a bit- but I am starting to make some progress again! Yay!

p.s. If anyone is interested in putting in for the St. George Marathon (April 1st) let me know. We can get a whole gang of us together- it would be so much stinkin' (you wonder where my kids get that) fun!!! Think it over :)