Author: Stephen and Jodi

The Only Thing Better Than Hairspary, That’s Me!


We have a ritual daily request from Olivia after breakfast these days. As soon as the older kids leave for the bus and the counter is cleaned up from breakfast a little voice comes over to me and says, “I wanna listen to ‘Hairsray’.” I usually always indulge this pleasure as it is just as fun for me to listen to the soundtrack. I sit at the computer and scrapbook and Olivia (Lily often joins in)walks around and around the kitchen table for the entire soundtrack to finish (o.k. we do veto a few of the songs because of bad lyrics). Today Lily kicked things up a notch and made a Hairspray Walk. They drew pictures and placed them around the table and asked me to stop the music randomly. Pretty fun morning fun.

Comments:

Grandpa & Grandma P said…

Olivia you and Lily are so cute and such good friends aren’t you lucky to have big sisters and a great mom too.
Thursday, February 21, 2008 1:04:52 AM

Stacie said…

That looks like a lot of fun! Way to go mom!
Thursday, February 21, 2008 1:38:34 PM

Aunt Anne said…

I love listening to Hairspray songs to! Sounds fun to me!
Thursday, February 21, 2008 3:24:53 PM

Kassie said…

That is so cute!! I think that Olivia will be a Musician one day!!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 10:50:25 AM

Our Southern adopted grandparents


We met friends from my dad’s mission (he taught them the gospel and baptized them) the last time we were in Texas. They are now our official adopted grandparents from the south. They send us letters and gifts quite often now. We sure do enjoy them, and the gifts are great too. Thank you grandma and grandpa Wright from Gilmer Texas.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!


From Jodi to her main squeezeWe all got a little something special today for valentines day. The kids even received one from the Wrights (a great family that I baptized while in Texas) tons of fun.

Comments:

tio pablo said…

mason I expect some Spanish from you now that you have Spanish For Dummies! vale! lo puedes practicar con tu padre.
Thursday, February 14, 2008 8:17:18 PM

Dad & Mom P. said…

We loved the squeeze. It reminded us of Aunt Dot, maybe Jodi’s getting a little “fiesty”, go Jodi. I need a book like Mason, speaking Portugese for Dummies.
Friday, February 15, 2008 2:13:55 AM

Anne said…

Looks fun and love the squeeze!
Friday, February 15, 2008 10:19:30 AM

Stacie said…

Stephen, do you still not have a robe!
Saturday, February 16, 2008 9:48:33 PM

she’s big like i didn’t know


She came last night (the Valentine Fairy) and gave me a valentine. And she turned our milk pink. Yesterday after school Lexi told me about her, I even got to talk to her on the phone. She’s nice and really quiet. My mom took a picture of the Valentine Fairy and she looks big like I didn’t know. I thought she was going to be small with wings. We fed her cookies and left her two notes. Alexis knows her and is her friend and that is cool. She even looks like my sister, but she has a heart crown and it’s really beautiful. I want her to come again next year. She is really kind. We woke up at 6:28 am to see is she really came – and she did! Alexis also made pink heart pancakes for breakfast and dad mad pink coconut syrup – it was very cool. I can’t wait to go to school and see all of the valentine’s that people are going to give to me. I am giving out Barbie Island Princess Valentines.

Comments:

aunt jana said…

Wow! Cool we have never met her either maybe send her our way next year! She sounds like she was very nice to you this year.
Thursday, February 14, 2008 10:42:11 AM

michelle said…

Lily-you are so lucky-I think you are having the best valentine!
Thursday, February 14, 2008 12:45:49 PM

Aunt Amy said…

The Valentine Fairy didn’t show up to our house until this afternoon. I guess she got caught in the snowstorm down here last night… 🙂
Thursday, February 14, 2008 8:43:57 PM

Aunt Anne said…

So fun!
Friday, February 15, 2008 10:20:29 AM

Temple Dedication

Today at 11:30 am I got to go see the dedication broadcast at our Stake Center. I went with my dad, mom, and brother. For about 45 minutes we waited for it to start, it felt like a long time. My favorite talk was by President Monson. He talked about how a little girl’s mother died and left seven kids. He went to the viewing and the littlest recognized him. He got tears in his eyes and she told him not to cry because her mom taught her that her family was forever – and her mom always told the truth. I am glad I got to go! It made me feel special and that Heavenly Father loves me. I want to go to the temple someday.

Comments:

Haley said…

I was so jealous when I heard a couple in are ward got to go!!! I even more jealous now that I hear you got to go!!!!!
Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:55:13 PM

Grandpa Baldwin said…

We are very pleased with you and your testimony, Alexis. We are happy that you were able to participate in the dedication of the Rexburg Temple. I, too, can’t wait until you can go.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 5:24:22 PM

Uncle John said…

I will be there at your wedding in the temple someday. Keep on planning and working towards it. It is one of the best goals a person can have.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 9:20:58 PM

Aunt Amy said…

That’s really great that you were able to go to a Temple Dedication. When they dedicated the Timpanogas Temple by us, Bridget wasn’t even born yet. I had her a few weeks later. So you’re really priveleged to be able to go.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:46:39 PM

Aunt Anne said…

Lexy, that sounds so special. What a neat experiecne for you that you can look back on all through your life…and cherish. Whenever you see the Rexburg temple it will be a wonderful reminder of the spirit you felt seeing the dedication! I hope you will always cherish the memory!
Monday, February 11, 2008 10:10:45 AM

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Alexis, you are a fine young lady. I’m happy that you work so hard to be a good person.
Monday, February 11, 2008 3:54:40 PM

Rexburg Temple Dedication

I went to the dedication of the Rexburg Temple at my Stake Center. We had to get there early or else we would not get to go inside. There were lots of cars so we had to park far away and walk…I fell down on my bum. When we got inside we able to get front row seats! We got to see the prophet, President Monson. It was cool and I had a good feeling. I got to take my handkerchief that I got for Christmas from Primary. We waved it back and forth saying words. I am glad I got to go. It makes me want to go back to the temple someday.

Comments:

Haley said…

That’s so cool!!! Especially the hankerchief part!
Sunday, February 10, 2008 2:58:43 PM

Grandpa Baldwin said…

Mason, It would have been awesome to have been there with you to waive a while handkerchief. I’m glad that you want to return to the temple and that you had a good feeling about your experience. I’m sure we will get to go with you when you are getting ready for your mission in a few short years.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:05:27 PM

Uncle John said…

Great Job Mason. Bummer about the Bum. I hope you never forget the day you had today.

Sunday, February 10, 2008 9:23:14 PM

Amy said…

That is really cool Mason. I haven’t even seen President Monson in person. You have and you’re younger than me!
Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:51:02 PM

steph said…

I still have my handkerchief from the Timpanogos Temple dedication, what a great feeling.
Monday, February 11, 2008 12:31:42 AM

Aunt Anne said…

Wow…I wish I could have been there with you! I got to go to the San Diego temple dedication and it was the first time I felt the spirit so strong. I am grateful that I can go to the temple with Uncle Lance and feel that spirit often. I know you will enjoy it too when you go to the temple.
Monday, February 11, 2008 10:13:29 AM

Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…

Mason, I’m glad you got to go to the dedication. That great feeling is one you always want to remember so you’ll be able to go back to the temple someday for even more special feelings. We’re proud of you, and the great young man you are becoming. Keep helping your mom and dad too.
Monday, February 11, 2008 4:01:37 PM

Riley said…

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 7:07:12 PM

Father and Son


Tonight while Jodi, Lily and Alexis were at the Temple celebration Mason pulled out the model car he bought last summer at a garage sale. We have been talking about building it for months, the time had come. It was a little tricky since we were missing a few key pieces like the right front strut assembly. We made one out of the extra plastics. It was fun to spend time together one on one. Mason was just so excited the entire time.

See a need, fill a need


Olivia just out the blue grabbed the broom and dust pan and began sweeping the kitchen floor. I was so impressed I had to grab the camera and snap a shot or two of it. She is such a fun little girl, she makes me smile 1000 times a day.


some hip pants there

Comments:

Mom and Dad Parker said…

More is caught than is taught. You’re a good example, so she finds joy in what you do. Onward and upward.
Saturday, February 09, 2008 12:43:50 AM

Haley said…

That is so cute!!!
Saturday, February 09, 2008 10:10:58 AM

Anne said…

She is teaching us again the power of examples!
Saturday, February 09, 2008 9:34:26 PM

Grandpa Baldwin said…

Awesome! We love having Olivia in our family. She makes us all a little happier, expecially when she smiles.
Sunday, February 10, 2008 6:10:13 PM

Steph said…

Maybe she will teach Brooke a thing or two when we move back. Her next need is a belt or more chocolate cake.
Monday, February 11, 2008 12:27:48 AM

We did it!


The GangWhat a bunch of troopers, we all slept out last night in the snow cave we dug. I was surprised that everyone made it all night. I have seen scouts that just couldn’t hack it. Even Lily was happy in the morning, and wanted to stay longer. They all want to sleep out tonight again…good thing it is Sunday tomorrow. It was 9F outside but inside the cave it was a toasty 36F. We all had a great time, tough kids there.

Comments:

John said…

Nice work. You guys are ready to go move into the cabin on the hill and live off the land. That sounds like a great time and some good memories.
Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:13:10 AM

Steph said…

Looks cozy!
Sunday, February 03, 2008 1:26:53 PM

Jana said…

Looks like we needed your help building ours!!The kids pooped out so It didn’t get as big as we hoped! What a fun dad. Still building fun things eh?
Monday, February 04, 2008 11:22:18 AM

Anne said…

What a fun memory!
Monday, February 04, 2008 12:37:03 PM

Dad said…

Lokks like grat fun and good survival skills. You are a great family.
We still can’t seem to send ou own blog, but we can comment on others
Tuesday, February 05, 2008 2:24:59 AM

Stacie said…

Way to enjoy the snow! Good times!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008 9:52:12 PM

Aunt Susan said…

It never occurred to me that we could sleep outside in the winter! It would be a lot safer and quiter here than in the summertime.
Friday, February 08, 2008 2:25:03 PM

Amy said…

I don’t know…I think you’re all crazy. I’ll wait for a disaster when I have no choice but to sleep in a snow cave… 🙂
Sunday, February 10, 2008 10:26:16 PM