Parker's Timeline Project and other Artistic Ventures

Parker had an assignment for her kindergarten class to complete a timeline of her life. The only criteria were to include three major events: birth, something in between, and the present.  Pretty simple, right?  Sure!  No problem!!  I started going through the files of pictures, and whoa!  The memories and nostalgia of it all was a little overwhelming!  How could I possibly break her life into 3 major events?!?  The more I dug through our photos and started reminiscing, the bigger the project became.  It was hard to narrow it down!!  I know it was waaaay more than she needed to have, but it was such a FUN project to get involved in together.  It took a tiny bit of the guilt over the fact that she doesn't have a baby book away (AAAHHHH, the shame, the horror!!) and helped me to catch a new appreciation and perspective for this sweet girl of mine. 

She is one in a million!  Love her!!

Here are a few pieces from her "winter collection!!" Anyone who knows me well knows that I love the seasonal/holiday decor in my house.  I have loved how Parker helps keep me decorated with plenty of seasonal themed art for my door and fridge.

Each month, her teacher has them "write the room" with the different seasonal things going on.  I love these!!  I'm not sure if you can see it really well, but her drawing and writing are both coming along really well.

A Good Day

We took a trip to visit Grandpa and go to the temple in January and celebrate Addie and Mark's birthdays. It was so nice to be able to get away from our regular routine and lift our spirits. 

This big 3 year old girl loves her some ketchup!!

I am always struck at how closely I feel Mom's spirit when I visit Dad now.  I have no doubt they still have similar conversations to the ones they had before, and that he can still hear her calling down the stairs to him to remind him to run to the post office or come upstairs and EAT!  Haha!  Something as simple as putting up her seasonal decorations or even throwing in a load of laundry makes me feel closer to her, and I am grateful for the memories I am able to have of her while I am there and how it lifts my spirit each time.

We had some time on Saturday to go and visit the cemetery.  We had a good conversation while we were there.  It was really good for me and I think it was for Dad too.  

In particular, I am grateful for the time I get to spend with DAD now.  I didn't always get the same one-on-one experiences with Dad that I did with Mom while we would make these weekend visits, and so now I feel like we are able to really develop and cultivate our relationship which has given me a new appreciation and realization of Heavenly Father's plan.  This time with him is a gift.  It's meant for a divine purpose.  It will help strengthen our relationship so that it CAN and WILL last throughout the eternities.  I am grateful for the spirit whispering to my soul these simple truths.  Or maybe it's Mom nudging us all in the direction that we need to go...onward and upward...together...until we reach our final "seats" in heaven where there will be "No Empty Chairs."
 It was a good day.  

Mark's Forty-Second Birthday

This guy just keeps getting better with age...

It doesn't take much to make his happy either. 

As long as he's got his girls to come home to...

Some good books to read...

And something chocolately and sweet baked with love...

He's a happy guy. 
And we are oh, so grateful for him!!  Happy birthday MSB, here's to another great year!

Midland Stake Holiday Ball

We've been here 3 Christmas's now, and this was my first experience attending the "Ball".  Maryn and Avery went last year...we dropped them off and ran for the hills!  Haha! Obviously, Mark and I have other ideas of what a "good time" entails. :) 

Anyway, they came home after last year's "Ball" and said it was so much more than just a dance.  There were floor shows with music and dance.  It sounded interesting enough.  Plus, Parker got wind of the fancy dance where she could wear her fanciest dress and it was all over after that. We. Were. Going.

So we went.  The girls got fancied up.  They looked so pretty. 

Mark and I wore festive-looking Church clothes.  Haha.  No pictures required!

It was fun.  There was a great crowd (stake event) and the floor shows did not disappoint.  Parker had a blast, running around, and dancing her little hiney off with her friends.  She even asked a couple "older boys" to dance!  That girl!  The older two boogied with their buddies too.  Classic Stake Dance style.  These are important experiences in the life of a teenage girl. 

Would I go again next year?  Eh.  Still on the fence.

Christmas Morn

My theme for Christmas this year comes from a poem written by Christina Rossetti:
"What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I'd bring him a lamb.
If I were a Wiseman, I'd do my part. What can I give him? I'll give him my heart."

This has been an especially spiritual Christmas for me this year.  Early on this month, we decided as a family to give someone the gift of us this year.  It made it that much more special for me, and I think everyone had a really positive experience with it. 

I am so grateful for my Savior, who was born into the world to save all of mankind. He was meek and humble, but mighty and powerful to save us all. The least I can do to show my gratitude and love for Him and my Heavenly Father who was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son, is to love and serve their children. 

I can start with the people in my own home.  I love them all so much.

The magic is real.

Christmas Eve

We drove down to Jeff and Amy's for Christmas Eve.  We met up with the Griswolds and Grandpa for our traditional dinner of lasagna with all the trimmings.  It was delightful!

The weather was so mellow that the drive was a cinch.  No ice, no snow, just dry roads there and back!  I'll take it!

We ate dinner and then did a little program with Christmas carols done on the jingle bells, a little musical concert with Grandpa, Maryn, and Ian on instruments, a white elephant gift exchange, a live Nativity (Parker was Mary!), and then opening some gifts for one another at the end.  It was so nice.  I'm just sad that I didn't get any pictures.

After we got back to Midland, the girls jumped into their own Christmas jammies, sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn, put out cookies and milk for Santa, and headed to bed.

Hopefully for a LONGer winter's nap!

Parker's Christmas Party

My girls had to go to school the week of Christmas!  I don't know what kind of racket Midland is pulling this year, but it's not good!  We actually don't get out of school until 6/16/16 this year to boot!  It's a crime, I tell ya!  It's definitely thrown us off our schedule of making things festive before Christmas, that's for sure.

Anyway, I was able to help out in Parker's classroom for the Christmas party.  It was fun!  I just love her teacher, Mrs. Burks.  She always has fun activities for the kids and healthy snacks, which I think is hilarious!  My assignment was cheese and crackers, someone else brought carrots and ranch.  I think the only sugary treat were powdered sugar donut hole "snowballs".  :)

So many fun memories!