FHE Laundry Basketball


Stephen grabbed the camera to document this for posterity sake

Usually on Monday Night I still haven’t gotten my laundry folded that I washed on Saturday. It just sits pooling in the laundry room crying to be folded. Earlier this year, I got a brainstorm one Monday after school –  Laundry Basketball. Of course my  kids (like all kids) need to be tricked into working so I told them to grab their laundry basket – we were going to play some basketball. I told them to be ready to catch anything that belonged to them.  I would toss up the first thing my hands laid on from the mountainous pile and they would swoosh in to collect their item. It was the start of something really good for me and them. Sometimes Stephen even plays. This past Monday, we found ourselves in the above mentioned laundry predicament so I explained that for our FHE activity we would be playing laundry basketball. There were moans and groans (they now have come to realize the trick involved), but they grabbed their baskets and we played.  By the end of the process I had 5 silly, happy, giggly children. They were all wearing a pair of underwear on their heads as they walked down the stairs to put it away.

I have now come to realize that I am a true Parker – they can make any type of work sound fun by calling it a "party". Maybe that is why my husband is a workaholic?


Most times JT causes more damage than help
Those are Olivia’s underwear – hope this doesn’t embarrass her

You Get What You Pay For


Yes! GOOD!

You really do sometimes… GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

Yesterday I had the privilege of getting my hair cut. It is very stressful for my husband to hear how much it costs him when I do this. For a man with NO hair it must be pretty hard to swallow (he he – I just like to tease you a little Stephen).  I guess me getting my hair cut and colored makes up for him not doing it at all. While we are talking about Stephen…. I usually ask him the night before I get a cut for input. Almost every time he says, "I like long hair – it shows discipline", and I usually come home with my hair cut short – until yesterday. I decided to try it (grow my hair out). With the help of the following two items I just might be able to do it and like it…

#1 – When I began getting my hair cut at this particular spot I noticed the flat iron used on my hair at the end of the style did a fabulous job, my stylist told me she loved the CHI brand flat iron. You know what I did? I went home dreaming and scheming of a way to get one in my possession. Lucky for me Mother’s Day was coming up (2008) and I had a perfect request…after much convincing and finding a good deal, Stephen found me a new one on EBay. It came and I have never been the same. It is smooth – literally and figuritively.Before the CHI I used other various flat irons that only made my hair frizzier or  were only a temporary fix for keeping my crazy hair straight and in control. I love my CHI – ask anyone in my family. Last year when I went to France and Portugal it didn’t work in the outlets … I was beside myself – SERIOUSLY! I was panicked more than I thought I would be and so happy to come home to my outlets. (I am sounding really vain here, but really what’s a girl to do with frizzy hair and lots of pictures in front of old castles, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre?) At the beginning of this year I had another panic moment when I plugged in my CHI and it didn’t turn on! STRESS, especially since it was Sunday. Of course Stephen, the man who can fix anything, came to my rescue. He cut off a cord from some blow dryer and spliced it together with my original cord. LOVE THAT MAN! Now I can fix my hair in the kitchen while it’s plugged in my bathroom (not really – but the cord is exceptionally long).

#2 – Kendra hot spray "protect and finish". It is amazing – I really love it. I just spent the past 3 weeks using an imposter "protect and finish" that I bought from Sally Beauty Supply. It really didn’t do a good job and it was only a couple of dollars less. I realized that it was NOT worth the sacrifice of saving a couple of bucks.I really shouldn’t go without Kendra – unless I want frizzy hair.

Well with these two product I am ready to start my adventure of growing 4 to 5 more inches of hair. Long hair here we come! I hope I can be patient and "disciplined" enough…wish me luck.

Comments:

michelle said…

Good luck with that-I have never made it. Those products sound great.
Thursday, October 22, 2009 4:46:06 PM

Stephen said…

You are a funny girl.
Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:39:57 PM

Pumpkin Carving 2009

Saturday night came and we participated in the annual Parker Pumpkin Carving at Rick and Stacie’s house. We had lots of fun and there were plenty of interesting pumpkins to look at when it was all over. This traditional Pumpkin Carving has evolved as we have had more kids and many were old enough to carve their own. This was Lily’s first year of carving her own from start to finish. Thanks to the Puzey’s for sharing the pumpkins from their garden. Next year we plan to plant our own patch – we are really excited about that!

Mason’s pumpkin was voted "pumpkin with the smallest smile".

Lily’s pumpkin was voted "worst breath pumpkin".

Olivia’s pumpkin was voted "smallest face pumpkin".

Alexis’ pumpkin was voted "most likely to start a fire".

JT thought Uncle Ricks tools were very interesting and had fun hanging out with birthday boy, Cooper, in a metal basket and also the in saw dust. A little boy’s dream!

One more fun fall memory to bottle up in our souls and perserve until next year.


Jana carved Jodi’s favorite (the Grinch)

October Birthdays (just missing Sami from Utah)

Comments:

michelle said…

What a fun time-I am impressed with the creativity going on
! Wish we could have joined y’all.
Monday, October 19, 2009 1:07:05 PM

Patricia said…

This sure looks like a fun activity. There are lots of interesting and creative pumpkins! The best part is the memories you are creating. They’ll be with you forever!
Friday, October 23, 2009 9:37:03 AM

Two Weeks til Trick or Treat Day

2 WEEK COUNT DOWN

Just a reminder that we have 2 weeks left until trick or treat day, and I’m talking about the exercise campaign – NOT THE CANDY silly!

It is sure to be a fun and memorable Halloween Day FOR SURE. I’m even toying with the idea of wearing some sort of costumey thing too just because I can. To think that I will be able to justify one extra fun size almond joy that evening makes me actually eager to run the 13.1 mile goal I set for myself. (so it’s not ALL about the health right?) Oh, and let us not forget the registration fee/prize – new boots for me (Yes I bought them and they are waiting in my closet)!

The half-marathon run will begin at 10:30 am – let me know if you want to join us for our 2+ hour conversation (I am hoping to find some new random conversation topics from the John Tesh Radio Show) and I’ll fill you in on the route details. There will also be fitness activities planned after lunch, which my children will be participating in- probably to begin at 1:30. These will include a 13.1 mile bike ride pass the Rexburg Temple, and  5K and 10K walks or runs – depending on who is interested in what.

We think we might order shirts for those participating in the activities in our town, but need a head count – so leave a comment below and give us a number if you are interested in a shirt. WE WILL ORDER THEM THIS COMING MONDAY so please act quickly. The graphic we hope to use is what you see above.  Come to think of it, while you’re leaving your comment – it would be good to get a number going on how many to plan on for each activity, so if you could leave a number for that too it would be good. Thanks!

If you won’t be joining us here in our town, but WILL BE "trick or treating" for your health in your neck of the woods – let us know how it goes and HAVE LOTS OF FUN! I really want to see your pictures via email, please?

JODI

Opportunity Cost


This is one of my favorite pictures! The sun is setting on this chapter of my life and I am glad this picture was taken because of Jana’s suggestion!

The time has come to share a wonderful post written by one of the people I don’t really know, but feel like I know because I read her blog posts often. I discovered this blogger (CJane) when I saw her on the Today Show talking about her sister, Stephanie (nieniedialouges), whom survived a horrific plane crash last year. Stephanie is now left with skin grafts and an inspiring outlook on life – maybe you saw her on Oprah last week? Her blog is quite amazing to read as well. The post cjane wrote yesterday put my feelings into words perfectly, it is entitled "A Heavy Meal"!Click here to check it out. She has an amazing writing style that I find extremely enjoyable! These sisters are making a difference in many lives as they share their day to day struggles by using their testimonies of the gospel (which they attribute to making it through another day). They have used their "fame" to do good and be missionaries in their own right.

When cjane talks about her fight from yesterday’s post- I recognized it. It manifested itself to me when I actually realized that I was fighting for the wrong team this past Monday.

Here is a condensed version of this particular fight: I have been trying to find more time to read – because you know how a mother’s personal time is sucked up by all of the necessaries that go to running a household! My justification came when I thought about how this book would be life inspiring and is such a good classic book, "To Kill a Mockingbird". How can I  not make time for such good things? I started my fight, thinking that I deserved some time to read. I eventually started getting grouchy about it and became resentful of the necessaries (dishes, another meal, homework, sweeping the floor). Then a beautiful thing happened while folding laundry Monday and re-listening to conference talks. I heard Elder Bednar say, "In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting. Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

After hearing that for the second time, I realized (with some apparent divine intervention), "It is not time for reading – it is time for holding, playing, teaching, talking, and loving." This is the battle I’m in now…the reading can come later.  Arming myself with the right weapons for battle is the key. Giving up something good for something better is a smart lesson in economics and mothering.

Comments:

Trevin and Stephanie said…

Thank, I really needed to hear this. We can have a party and watch “To Kill a Mocking Bird” I bought it thinking my kids would love it and it turned out to be too deep for their simple minds.

I hope I can keep this thought in mind for the next 10 years. Thanks. We are so blessed with what we have.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:45:50 PM

Bruce and Sharon said…

Good thoughts!! Time goes so quickly and soon you see that the kids are all grown up and you can’t really remember the bad times just the good time you spent being there with them. But some days are really a fight. Keep hanging in there.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 6:18:21 AM

michelle said…

Thanks for the reminder Jodi. I think we all get in that struggle and its good to look at what is really important NOW.
Friday, October 16, 2009 8:45:42 AM

Opposition in all things

I came home for lunch to do Jodi a favor and get the riding lawn mower started.   I graveled to myself upon finding the battery dead, most likely my fault for leaving the key on. I had to jump it from my tractor, after it started I noticed the front tire was low on air so I thought I would top it off.  I pulled up to the house and parked it in front of the garage door.  As I jumped off to open the door I must have bumped the mower into drive because it went jolting forward into the garage door.  It plowed right through like a hot knife through soft butter.  At first I was in shock like that couldn’t have just happened.  Then it turned to that sick feeling you get when you know you just spent a bunch of money you didn’t want to spend, for something you didn’t want to buy (again).

Just to top it off Jodi must have heard the mower out there so she pushed the opener to open the door for me.  Next thing I knew the door was in pieces hanging in the air the track completely bent in half and 3 panels looked like crumpled aluminum foil.  I said to myself, "I could have done without that."  Like Dad always says, "there needs to be opposition in all things."  Sometimes I create too much opposition for myself, or maybe i just need a license to drive a lawn mower!

Comments:

michelle said…

I can’t believe that. I’m sorry about your door. Way to have a good attitude. It will probably be one of those stories your kids tell their kids and everyone will have a good chuckle about.
Friday, October 16, 2009 8:40:45 AM

Patricia said…

Stephen, so sorry to hear about the door. Isn’t it crazy how things happen? What a story. All in all, I am so pleased at how kind and good you are to Jodi. Thanks for being such a good husband for her. I know she appreciates you. I hope she tells you often. Good luck with everything. Mom Baldwin
Saturday, October 17, 2009 9:45:56 PM

New Hymn for the Latter-Day Saint Woman

My mom emailed this to me today and I got a chuckle from it…maybe you will too?

"As Latter-day Saint women, we are practically obsessed with anxiously engaging ourselves in good causes. Maybe it’s subliminal.

Glancing through the hymnal last Sunday I noted that as sisters in Zion, we who are called to serve are all enlisted to go marching, marching forward because the world has need of willing men to all press on scattering sunshine. We wonder if we have done any good in the world today because we have been given much and want to do what is right, keep the commandments, press forward with the Saints, choose the right, and put our shoulders to the wheel going where He wants us to go. However, as the morning breaks high on the mountain top, truth reflects upon our senses, and while we still believe that sweet is the work, we also realize that we have work enough to do ere the sun goes down. And thus we ask Thee ere we part, where can we turn for peace?"

 

My Eternal Family

Conference is now over for another 6 months and our little family is making our way home from a great weekend.

Because we were on harvest break we wanted to doing something a little extra special and a trip to Utah seemed to fit best. I personally love to visit Utah because of nostalgic reasons and also because we have so many people we love to see and visit with. Stephen likes that part but isn’t a fan of traffic and city life so much, so he was very happy that his brother John threw their bikes (along with Mason’s) in the back of his truck for a ride at Yellow Fork Canyon. He said it was a blast, a great workout going up with a sweet payback coming down. He said he had to work hard to keep up with Mason. John said Mason is as skilled as any adult he has ridden with – that made Mason feel cool.

Michelle P took the rest of us on a fun afternoon to Gardenier’s Village to see the witches. It really got us in a festive mood and gave us fun ideas for home decorations. I love the witch riding the bike over the pond – all of the witches were just so clever! It was UEA in Utah this weekend, which brought out the masses, especially at the Village. We had to park far away, but it really was worth it all (crowd and walk). After visiting the witches we went to Jumping Jacks – a fun bouncy toy place. All of the children loved it from Lexi to JT.

That evening we were able to fit our traditional Friday date in – this week to Cafe Rio! Yummy! Then John and Stephen encouraged Michelle and I to go do a little shopping – imagine that… 🙂 I had fun finding some fun items and Michelle resisted her temptations well.

Saturday we stopped by IKEA (love that store) on our way to visit the Baldwin children and Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin. We couldn’t believe how tall Jed has become, how much facial hair Dallen had grown, how much money Bridget made babysitting, and how fun Abby’s toy room was! It was a VERY QUICK stop, considering we listened to conference and then said good-bye, but great to see everyone. I wish I would have taken our camera in! Lex got to stay a little longer to go shopping with Grandma and Bridget! They met Haley, JT, and I at Jordan Landing where JT had his first shoplifting experience. He threw a bottle of shoe polish in Haley’s bag – we realized the problem when we weren’t too far away. Lex and Haley ran in back in to the store for him.

Stephen went to the Priesthood session with John and then we had a delicious ice cream party!

Today we made our way over to the Babcock home where we were greeted with happy smiles and cute little conference care bags from aunt Michelle B. Kind of funny that on the way to their house Olivia wondered if Aunt Michelle had crayons…well Aunt Michelle got had her covered in that department. Crayons, Conference Packet, and Treats! Livia settled right on Ashely’s lap and we enjoyed conference and the wonderful food for lunch. Ashley made Lily a couple of CDs making her feel special and Jake and Mason had fun teasing Emily and Lex. My sister really makes me giggle – notice the picture of her awesome shoes, usually worn by Jake. She is also just so fun to be around – it would really be great to live close enough to her to go to lunch once in a while. Stephen and Brian loaded up the bunk beds we are toting home for JT and Mason’s room. It has been an adventure in the rain – thank heaven’s for tarp and new trailer lights!

As we listened to conference (particularly Elder Bednar, President Erying, and President Monson) and drove out of the city my heart swelled in gratitude for such a wonderful family – Baldwins and Parkers wherever they may be and who you are, young and old alike, blood relative, and in-law too! Lexi has been crying in the back seat because we have to go home now, and I have come to realize how much of a blessing our good family is to each of us. We have been abundantly blessed with amazing examples of faith, love, and goodness. We are normal families – everything doesn’t always go perfect and minor character flaws are here to keep us learning, trying to be patient, and refining ourselves, but when I stop to look at the grand eternal perspective of things I feel content and satisfied with the prospect of my Eternal Family. In fact, my testimony has been strengthened with the wisdom and understanding of this truth this weekend. We have been learning about Eternal Families in primary this year too- a comforting message.

Comments:

Anne said…

How fun! Wish we could have been in 10 places at once this weekend. Cute photos and fun memories. Hope you get home safe and enjoy the rest of your potato harvest break.
Sunday, October 04, 2009 9:25:23 PM

michelle said…

Thanks for the fun times. I love the photo’s. It was fun spending some time with you.
Monday, October 05, 2009 8:32:56 AM

Trevin and Stephanie said…

That looks like a blast! I love Gardener’s Village in the fall. The leaves down there are spectacular and the company looks great too. Family is a great thing.
Monday, October 05, 2009 6:14:14 PM

Michelle said…

We loved having you stop by – even if it was only for a short time. You need to stay longer next time. We loved seeing your cute family. Loved seeing all the great pictures! Your family always knows how to make the most of their time and in doing fun things together. The memories – priceless! I love you!
Friday, October 16, 2009 10:24:19 PM