Author: Stephen and Jodi

Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry


JT One Month OldWow – What a month! What did my family ever do without me around? I am the most popular person around here – boy are they all proud of me. I am filling out some of my clothes too!

One of my past times these days is tooting and burping (just like my brother). Only mom thinks it is definitely more appropriate for me to do it! Sometimes my family has to ask around to see “who did it” because I can make sounds just like the big guys. Big sounds can come in small packages.

Oh ya, Dad finally got to witness and partake of one of my “showers” – he now feels like he is part of the club.

And tonight I got to go on a date with mom and dad. I even pleased them by drinking up my entire bottle!

Life is good here…

Comments:

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Go get ’em, JT.
Sunday, March 30, 2008 10:35:22 AM

Stacie said…

He fits the mold! What a great thing to have a new baby in your home! It adds a special feeling to the home I think!
Sunday, March 30, 2008 10:06:57 PM

Anne said…

Oh, he is so cute! I wish I could hold him! Give him a little hug for me! Keep on keeping us updated!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:03:12 AM

jana said…

he is too precious! glad he is here.Mason has a lot more to teach him!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:47:44 AM

Steph said…

Someone better step in and teach him manners before Mason teaches him everything he knows. What a handsome little guy. Matt and Parker can’t wait to come play with him and Mason.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 9:34:35 AM

Anything to save a buck or $300


Jodi ran in to grab some milk and came back out to the car and told me that there was no way she was waiting in those lines. Today at Albertsons they had Kellogg’s cereal on special for .57 cents a box. When she told me about the deal, I just couldn’t resist.

So Jodi took the rest of the family to finish off the errands while Mason and I ran in there and grabbed 4 cases plus 7 more – you had to buy them in lots of 7. As we were standing there in line we noticed a few people had apple jacks, we couldn’t find them anywhere in the store. So I had Mason wait in line while I scoured the store for any stray boxes. I was able to locate 5 of them and rushed back up to the cart to check out.

It was quite the experience. Now we have 70 boxes of several different flavors of cereal. The total savings was almost $300 well worth the waiting in line. Plus I loved the rush of it.

AGAIN!!!!!

We are out of school again!(no surprise)It is bad weather in Idaho!

Comments:

Amy said…

What? On March 27th? I wonder how many days in June you’re going to have to make it up… :-). Be wary of Spring flooding too.
Thursday, March 27, 2008 6:45:20 PM

Jana said…

I know we need the moisture and all but please tell the farmers to think of the children!! (and their mothers that have been inside for the last 6 months) It could be worse right?!
Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:13:40 PM

Easter in the Snow


It all started on Saturday, the day before Easter. We were excited about going to an Easter Egg hunt. After checking out the information in the newspaper, we decided to go over to Madison High School parking lot. Whoever was in charge decided it was too cold and snowy for a traditional hunt so they made a line up of about 4 people who handed candy out of a plastic bag…the candy wasn’t even in an easter egg?! It felt a little like Halloween. Though our children were happy with the candy, they still felt slighted on the hunt. Stephen told them we could go check out the Easter Egg hunt in Sugar City (mind you they both started at 10 am). We zoomed over to Smith Park in Sugar City and they literally ran out of the car and tried to snag some eggs. It was quite a site – one I have never experienced…the children were running to find eggs across the field of frozen snow. They didn’t get too many eggs, but they had fun. A boy in Alexis’ school class gave her and Mason a large Soccer Egg each – I thought that was nice. He must have read the story from the Children’s Friend.

Sunday we went to church…it felt nice for me because I haven’t been for so long! (Three Weeks) I almost regretted that I went when I got several tactfully disapproving comments about bringing my baby out in RSV season. I decided to not be offended – even though I am feeling somewhat like a bad mother. Oh, well – to each his own, right? After church we had dinner and invited Tara and her boyfriend Jordi over. The kid crew had much fun enjoying their company.

After dinner, we journeyed over to Ryon and Jana’s and “rolled” some hard boiled eggs…Rhett won the event! Stacie and Jana also hid some eggs in the basement for the easter egg hunt…Alexis was excited to find the golden egg. Jana also made some very cute cupcakes and a delicious torte to eat for the festivities. To top it all off we played a quick game of tennis on the Wii.

Fun Days!

Three Weeks Yesterday


Look at me! I am growing fast and staying awake more often to my family’s delight. I have also given mom more than a few “showers” when she changes my diaper or gives me a bath. I have even shocked everyone with my projectile vomiting, which has occurred about once a day for the past week. I am now 7 lbs 6 oz and 20″ long.

Comments:

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

Wow, we can see you are growing. You are so cute!!!
Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:11:29 AM

Aunt Susan said…

What a handsome little dude. Mark had projectile vomiting-not very fun, I hope you outgrow it VERY soon!
Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:04:04 PM

Jana said…

He is so cute…so glad to see he is healthy and keeping you on your toes! He is a great addition to your little family.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:54:23 PM

Tio Pablo said…

He’s a keeper! Wish I could make it to the blessing.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 9:31:06 PM

Big Sister


Olivia is enjoying her role as a big sister. She thinks it is cool to be like Lily and Alexis. She is willing and eager to help with every task involved in helping Joshua Taylor (that is what she calls him) – even if it is a stinky diaper! Whenever she walks by him she gives him a “tiss” on the head or feet. This morning I was trying to sneak some extra sleep in when I heard Lily and her enter my room. I heard her tell Lily not to touch him (he was asleep) because mom doesn’t want us too! She is a great protector and when she wants to hold him she is always willing to wash her hands. We are proud of her and glad she is in our family.

Comments:

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

You are getting trained for motherhood Moms always need a good helper. Keep it up.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:12:35 AM

jana said…

She is so precious! I love that little girl!
Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:57:09 PM

Aunt Amy said…

Olivia is such a little cutie…
Thursday, March 27, 2008 7:02:36 PM

Spice Girl


Lily is a lover of SALT! She is always wondering where the salt is when a meal is served, and let me tell you she is very generous when she is shaking it. The other day I found her shaking Garlic Salt onto her bowl of microwave popcorn … she is branching out a bit! I’ve decided that her and Stephen go together well – he has a hand on the pepper while she is reaching for the salt. I also must mention that some of her favorite foods are french fries and potato chips. We are definitely going to keep our eye on her – we don’t want her going into cardiac arrest, especially at a young age! She did inform me tonight that celery is her favorite vegetable and she just can’t eat enough of it, sounded like a good direction to steer her in. Gotta “dash”….

Comments:

Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…

Spicey is good. We like our food spicey too. Always remember to eat your vegetables they are so good for you. We can’t find celery here much, so eat some for us too Lily.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 9:15:03 AM

Aunt Susan said…

I love the crunch and munch of celery and Great Grandma Parker salted green apples and grapefuit. She loved Vegies, salt, and most of all-family.
Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:13:11 PM

Aunt jana said…

She is a girl after my own heart! I love salt too!
Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:58:52 PM

Amy Baldwin said…

Just be careful if she also wants a Diet Coke with those french fries…it is a hard habit to break!
Sunday, May 18, 2008 3:01:40 PM

Play-Date With Tara

Yesterday Lily,Mason,and I went to Tara’s apartment.We played play dough,then Tara called Jordi her boyfriend and we talked to his computer and took funny pictures!Then we went to Portor Park we played on the swings with Jessie Tara’s room mate and Jordi gave us underdogs.Me and Jordi did back flips and Tara took pictures.We had snow ball fights and then went back to the apartment.We ate quesidillas and grapes and went home.What a day!

Comments:

Stacie said…

How fun! I am sure that meant alot to Tara that you would go and spend the whole day with her! Quesedilla and grapes sound yummy!
Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:28:00 AM

Mom and Dad Parker said…

Sounds like you had a great time. I can’t wait to see the new Park in town.
Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:46:08 AM

Aunt Jana said…

Cool. How can I get a play date with grapes and quesedillas?! That Tara is pretty cool eh?
Sunday, March 16, 2008 1:14:29 PM

Two weeks old


JT is just growing like a well watered weed. He is getting cuter everyday, we just love the little fella.

Comments:

John said…

Cute as a dandilion or is it a thistle? He’s a keeper.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:21:12 PM

Aunt Susan said…

He’s beautiful. Another miracle! When was he born? How are you all doing-specially Jodi? What a great looking family- heaven on earth.
Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:06:59 AM

Mom and Dad Parker said…

He looks good. It’s nice to see him growing. He looks peaceful. Keep up the good work.
Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:49:28 AM

Stacie said…

I think he looks so much like Stephen! Of course he changes so fast these early days! He is so sweet! How are you hanging in Jo?
Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:19:22 PM

Why is Easter so early this year?

So, we have been wondering why Easter is so early this year (especially when we look out to our yard and see all of this snow!) … here are our findings, just in case anyone else is curious.

“Easter this year is:Sunday March 23, 2008
As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).
* This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
* Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22), but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above). None of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts:
* The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you’re 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around then).
* The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!”

Comments:

John said…

Thanks for the trivia. You are a walking almanac. Happy early Easter.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:24:36 PM

Dad Parker said…

Interesting information. I never heard how they decide when Easter is.
Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:40:13 AM

Patricia says: said…

Thanks for the information about Easter. I wondered why it was so early this year. Those Easter eggs are going to get cold this year.
Thursday, March 13, 2008 10:34:57 AM

Stacie said…

Thanks Jodi! I am wondering why I am going to have to put on boots,gloves, hats and mittens to goto the easter egg hunt! I am glad it only happens every 220 years! Do you think we will ever see our grass again?!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2008 11:13:03 PM