-Mow weeds in forest and out by fruit trees!
-Clean up all garbage & misc. debris
-Cut out around trees so it is easy to mow (especially pines out by swing set)
-Cut branches from pine trees (making them more uniform & so it will make mowing easier)
-Weed fabric under swing set and also edge, then fill with pea gravel
-Cut around trees out front by driveway instead of putting bark and weed fabric
-Add more bark to house flower beds
-Buy shrubs and perennials for house beds
-Build Arbor to finish off backyard entrance
-Get enough gravel to make the driveway nice
School without a Janitor?
I wrote this for a school essay contest. We were suppose to write in 100 words or less Who makes Kershaw a Great School and Why?
What would school be like without a Janitor?
By, Alexis Parker
What would happen if you came to school and found a big mess? Have you ever wondered how many helpful things our janitor does to keep our school clean? If the garbages never got taken out, our school would smell foul. Once I saw Mr. Chandler fixing a sink in the bathroom. What would it be like if we couldn’t wash our hands before we ate lunch or after we went to the bathroom? We would all get sick. I am glad that he puts paper towels in our bathrooms and makes sure there is soap too.
Thanks, Mr. Chandler!
Comments:
Dad said…
Sounds like a great essay to me, it’s great to hear that you are thanking him for doing the “thankless job”
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 9:39:23 PM
Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…
That was a very thoughtful essay. Being thankful for those who help keep our world clean and neat is a real sign of maturity and goodness. Lots of people never notice the work of these people their whole lives. Even garbage men, street cleaners, and Moms fit in this categories. Keep up the good work Lexie.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:25:32 AM
michelle said…
What a thoughtful essay! It’s good to be appreciated-keep on being thankful and you will always be a happy person!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:50:02 PM
Aunt Anne said…
I love your essay! It is always good to count our blessings…it helps us be more selfless. Way to be!
Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:35:42 AM
Holes
What a priceless sight to have all of my capable kids helping me dig holes to plant trees. Even Olivia was in on the action, she wasn’t always taking dirt out but she was moving it back and forth. Someday they will all look back and love the trees that we planted and are able to climb.
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Comments:
Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…
Ah, the wonderful blessing of hard work. It is magic in learning to become capable people. We will be excited to sip lemonade under those trees with you someday.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 2:39:28 AM
Jana said…
I love the pictures… Mason looks thrilled and Olivia has some serious sag in her pants,but it’s good to see them all out there working together git’n r done!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008 6:45:24 AM
Anne said…
I too love having my kids work right along side me. Keep on teaching them and you will have some hard workers just like yourself!
Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:37:09 AM
Cinco De Mayo
In true Parker spirit Jodi cranked out some awesome Mexican eats tonight. She had the kitchen all decked out with festive ornaments, even some soothing Latino background music. It was great food and a great party. The kids especially loved the sombreros. We wish Paulo could have stayed to teach us some spanish and eat with us, and we all commented on how we missed Grandpa and Grandma Parker. Wonder what they ate for the occasion?
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LEGS
I have been thinking about how lucky I am to have two working legs! Sometimes they are thick, and I always am hoping to have them more thin. Years have made them stretch in places I’d rather they didn’t. The years have also brought on unsightly varicoses and a few aches and pains and a bulge around my ankles…
BUT
These legs have been good to me and take me where I need to go. I have tried to imagine what life would be like without legs – I don’t like it! I am happy they let me run them around without a fight. I have been able to see and be in beautiful places because of my legs. I have also been able to accomplish things with my legs I just didn’t think they could do.
Today take a moment with me to be grateful for your two legs.
Comments:
John said…
Three cheers for legs. I am a fan of them myself. I like the eyeball and skin too. Thanks for being grateful.
Monday, May 05, 2008 3:46:19 PM
Anne said…
Thanks for reminding me about my blessing of my two legs! I am grateful for my legs. I think I will enjoy them twice as much tonight on a fun fhe bike ride with the family.
Monday, May 05, 2008 4:07:04 PM
MzB said…
I just finished a great book. “Driving Bell and the Butterfly”. It is about a man after a CVA Cardiovascular accident (STROKE). It was very humbling and reminded me how blessed I am to have a working body.It would be great for your book club or just a summer read.
Monday, May 05, 2008 5:11:06 PM
Dad and Mom Parker said…
I always complain about my legs, they’re too fat at the ankles, but they sure do take me lots of places. I’m grateful you remindered me that we are never happy, with what we should be very grateful for. Thanks!!!
Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:07:52 AM
Like Father like Son
It was great to see the excitement in Mason as he would jump his bike. Made me reflect on days when I was younger. Lance and I would jump just about anything we could find, Tonka Trucks, Garbage Cans, Siblings, Cars. Lance even jumped a ditch, you will have to ask him about that one. I need to add that John taught Lance and I what not to do when he popped a wheelie just after replacing the front tire, that one cost him a couple front teeth :-). Anyway I just had to smile when Mason jumped over Lily, Alexis and Myself all at the same time. We didn’t get a shot but it did happen.
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Comments:
John said…
The best part of those pictures is Jodi and Her mom pulling the “bruce” pose with their mouths. I also loved the cowboy boots you were wearing. It is great to see Mason acting like his dad. He will be just fine if he keeps copying you. Great Blog. I am still laughing at those pictures and remembering some great bike jumps.
Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:47:48 AM
Mom and Dad Parker said…
If a son is going to be like his father, It’s a good thing that the father is a man of honor and kindness. These are fun memories.
Sunday, May 04, 2008 3:25:00 PM
Anne said…
Looks like fun! Those are some of Lance’s favorite times with you and John. Just be careful!
Sunday, May 04, 2008 8:14:31 PM
Jana said…
I loved those days you were the best big brother growing up! I love going down memory lane. Thanks for the fun times. I guess you were always a cowboy at heart…cowboy up you nut!!
Sunday, May 04, 2008 9:45:57 PM
Stephanie said…
Those are great pictures, do you have one with the box on wheels you pulled? I loved that neighborhood! I am with John on the pictures with Pat and Jodi. Awesome!
Monday, May 05, 2008 10:04:19 AM
MzB said…
Stephen, I had the same dirt bike as you. I will look for a picture. Nice jumping Mason, your mom looks like she is excited your are jumping your sisters.
Monday, May 05, 2008 5:16:14 PM
Amy Baldwin said…
Okay, that is a little too frightening for me to have someone jump over children on his bike. I have too much of my father in me. Although I wouldn’t have put it past my brothers to do something like that.
Sunday, May 18, 2008 3:08:47 PM
Stunt Man
Mason was bringing quite the crowd tonight at Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin’s house in Orem. I call it the snow ball affect, he started to jump his $1 bike off the curbs, and before you know it we were hunting for some plywood to make things a little more exciting. There were cars and neighbors stopping and cheering. He bought this bike last year at a garage sale in their neighborhood.
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Comments:
Uncle John said…
Go Mason. We need to go riding sometime. You look like a natural. Remember, “If you have done it before, you can do it again”. (That was our slogan to help us get confidence when jumping bikes.
Saturday, May 03, 2008 8:51:18 AM
Grandpa and Grandma Parker said…
Sometimes you can really get a good deal for $1.00. Good job Mason.
Sunday, May 04, 2008 9:44:38 AM
Aunt Anne said…
Wow, Mason you look like you got the skill! Just don’t land on anyone! Keep having fun.
Sunday, May 04, 2008 8:16:32 PM
sami said…
sounds like fun…
Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:18:01 PM
Uncle Lance said…
Nice air Mason! You’re dad and I used to make some pretty big jumps back in the day. We need to plan a Moab trip one day with the boys when you boys get a little older lots of good jumps there. Take care
Sunday, May 04, 2008 10:29:06 PM
Stephanie said…
Matt can’t wait to jump bikes with you. Way to go Mas. The tool box is a great leverage for the perfect jump.
Monday, May 05, 2008 10:07:28 AM
Welcome to May
Woke up this morning to January 1st. Mason said, “we only had 1 day of summer and now it is winter again.” At least we can have a snowball fight.
Comments:
John said…
Wild Days in Rexburg! At least you can save on lawn mowing time and enjoy the thrill of a snowball hitting your ear.
Thursday, May 01, 2008 5:28:08 PM
Stacie said…
I was shocked to say the least! But the afternoon was nice ey!
Friday, May 02, 2008 8:47:34 AM
Mom and Dad said…
The people here are amazed and feel pity for us. We live here at 90′ above sea level about the same latitude as San Francisco. Don’t put away the winter coats yet.
Friday, May 02, 2008 1:06:17 PM
jana said…
I was amazed myself to wake up and go walking in a snow storm!
Friday, May 02, 2008 9:11:46 PM
May Menu
Just finished my menu for May …
Comments:
Mom and Dad Parker said…
We saw your menu and want to come to Sunday dinner!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:10:37 PM
Paulo said…
mmm. i like the cinco de mayo meal. You know i will be in town that day?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 5:09:33 PM
MzB said…
You are killing me! A blog tribute to your super meal planning skills is coming soon. Your monthly menu was the topic at the park on monday.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 8:37:00 PM
Stacie said…
Thanks man! You do all the work and we bennefit! What a gal!
Friday, May 02, 2008 8:49:08 AM
jana said…
Thanks…I think you eat a lot better than we do but I will improvise and try to use your mad planning skills!
Friday, May 02, 2008 9:13:30 PM
Sleep Reading
One of the stories you can read about from Kids National Geographic.This morning I got off the treadmill at 7:10 and walked past Mason’s bedroom noticing that he was still in bed. I instantly was on the prowl wondering why he was still asleep, the bus comes at 7:30! Alexis walked past and said, “Mom, don’t wake him up – he was up until midnight reading.” I asked Mason what he was reading that was so good, (when I put him to bed last night he was hiding under his covers and mad at all of us because we made him sit still while we were watching American Idol) he looked at me confused and said, “I don’t know”. I am thinking how could you not know? Alexis claims she heard his pages turning and his light was on. Huh? I wonder what really happened…As a side note, he has loved reading his Kids National Geographic Magazine that Grandpa Baldwin subscribed for him! He reads it at least 3 nights a week for at least an hour at a time. The kid loves to learn and always has questions – just don’t make him watch a “stupid” television show and be quiet!
Comments:
Stephen said…
It pays off though, he got a 240 on his ISAT last week.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:26:40 AM
Grandma and Grandpa Parker said…
We have a hard time watching American Idol too.
I used to love to read my “Weekly Reader” I got in school each week. Keep up the good work Mason, but get some good sleep too.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:07:03 PM
Paulo said…
That is great.I love the National Geographic. I used to read Grandpa’s old ones and now I have kind of inherited them and use them in my classroom. They have great pictures and are interesting. I am thinking of subscribing to the magazine it would be nice to have some current articles.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 5:07:03 PM
Aunt Susan said…
Mason, I used to read under my covers, about a book a night until great-grandma told me I was ruining my eyes, so I haven’t read many books since. (I think the real reason I had to stop reading at night was because the light bulb burned a little hole in the top sheet and —-well , I got the razor strap. Love you,
Friday, May 02, 2008 12:16:53 PM