Pre-Christmas Festivities and a Trip to Virginia

First of all I thought I'd show you why I have been pretty absent in the blogging world lately. I've been working on probably the biggest project I've undertaken so far. In the past when I've gone through hard times I've found it helpful to keep myself busy on a project. After one of my miscarriages I made this topper of a Christmas quilt and it helped me get through that difficult time. Well, after I made this about 4 years ago it sat in a box because I didn't know how to quilt it and I thought tying it would look funny on this particular quilt. I found it again when we moved this time and decided I'd pull it out again and get it finished. When we went through Sacramento Jared's very talented Grandma taught me how to quilt it by hand. It's a long, tedious process but I'm actually really enjoying it! Anyway, when I found out about my Aunt having cancer I really hoped I could finish it so I could pass it along and maybe it would help her get through this hard time. Then, I decided to go to Virginia which really cut my timeline short so I've been working on it like crazy! I didn't get it quite done in time for my trip but I was able to bring it and show it to her. I should be able to get it done by the new year, though, so I'm pretty excited about that! Anyway, I have some family members that wanted to see it, so here it is:

It's for a full size bed, but it also works just as a lap quilt

I don't know if you can see or not, but see those tiny white stitches that outline everything? Yeah, that's what I've been working on that takes absolutely forever!

My favorite part has been the stencils and designs you can add, though. The stars are my favorites. Can you see it in the corner? The holly and leaves going down the sides are another story, though. I sort of hate them only because they take a long time and are a lot harder to do.

Anyway, enough of that. Hopefully when I get this done I'll be back! Next, I just have some funny pictures from an FHE my family did after Thanksgiving. We made rice krispie treat Christmas trees and everyone decorated their own. I just thought it was funny because everyone's personalities totally came out in their trees. My Dad's started with a smiley face...

Mine looked like it had been in a knife fight. I couldn't get the stupid squeezable frosting to stay in place and I was too impatient to try and fix it. Apparently decorating rice krispie trees is NOT a talent of mine. I'm pretty good at eating it, though :)

My dad's kept evolving. His then had a frowning face on the other side and I think it changed nationalities.

My sister Ashley's was AMAZING! Hers actually looked like a real tree! I also like Brody's face in the back of this picture. He snuck in :)

My sisters and nephew Brendan. We are funny...

A picture of the adorable capes my sister in-law Kelsey made for my boys. They LOVE them and Brody wears it everywhere.

Now on to my trip to Virginia... Parker was a very good boy on the plane mainly because Delta hooked me up with a row to myself on both legs of my flight out there. So he just played like this and didn't sleep a wink for all 6 hours of flying.

He became best friends with every man he met. He's a guys guy like Brody. He snuggled up to my cousin's brother in-law Ryan to watch some football.

My Aunt Mickey and Uncle Jon took us out to Middleburg, Virginia to a restaurant called the Red Fox Inn. It's also a hotel and this place was adorable! Middleburg has a lot of high-end shops, etc. so it was really fun to just walk around and spend time with them. This is the Red Fox Inn: (highly recommended!)

Mickey, Parker, and I outside of one of the shops

We were also able to go to the D.C. temple and see a concert, the lights, and Nativity. Unfortunately it was raining and my camera died so the only picture I have is from my phone. You get the idea :) It was truly beautiful. Jared served part of his mission at the D.C. temple at Christmastime so he was a little jealous but happy we got to experience it :)

Mickey, my cousin Christy, and me in the Visitors Center

Parker LOVED Uncle Jon

I loved getting to spend time with my cousins. I've lived with her family several times while she was on bedrest with pregnancies so I am very close to her and her 4 kiddos. I thought her home was so pretty all decorated for the holidays. She has a beautiful home anyway, but it just made it feel so cozy. They were going to decorate the tree the night I was leaving so it's not decorated but oh my did it smell good. I forgot how nice it was to sit by the fire, smell a Christmas tree, and read a book. I was spoiled for a few days for sure :)

We got to attend to Christmas party at Jared's parents ward this past weekend. Brody asked Santa just for "presents"

Parker couldn't take his eyes off of Santa

The four of us with the big guy. Just a cute side story....When we were driving to the Church Jared was asking Brody, "Do you know who's going to be at Church Brody?!" to which Brody replied, "Uncle Sammy?!" That is only funny because Sammy has been on a mission for 19 months and Brody asks about him all the time. He'll be excited for May when we get to see Sam again!

Lastly, Brody got up to sing with all of the primary kids even though he didn't know the song. However at the last few words he joined along by falling on the floor because they said "asleep on the hay". Funny Brody. Also, he seems to have grown lately. That little girl next to him is in Kindergarten. She may be small, but still he's getting a little too big for my liking considering he's just a few months older than 3. I used to think I had until he was about 12 before he outgrew me, but I'm starting to think it may be before then. Sigh...

Well, that's probably it before Christmas so I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!

Blog Neglect

Well, it's been a while since I last posted, hasn't it? We've been really enjoying our vacation in California. Since I don't have Jared's Mac most of my pictures aren't loading correctly so you'll get to see them later. Here is a sampling, though, with the pictures that actually did work. We stopped in Sacramento first and spent some time with Jared's Gramma and Papa. Parker and Brody loved being there of course!

Parker and the man he's named after--Papa Donn. They're big buddies!

Aunt Kelsey was sweet enough to tote Parker all around. He loved it! This is with Brock on a little swing that Erik put together.

We opened some Christmas presents from Lance, Kelsey, and the boys. One of Parker's was a tissue box that he got to unload! He made sure each piece was ripped to shreds! I just love this picture because I think Erik was enjoying it as much as Parker!

Reading with Aunt Katie! She's moving to Park City this weekend and working at the Park City ski resort, so if any of you go there you may see her!

We celebrated Grandma and Papa Musick's 60th wedding anniversary with them! It was great seeing all of Jared's extended family and spending time with G-gma and P-pops. They are such a great example to all of us and we love them very much!

We've adventured out to see some Christmas lights...

Brody discovered that vacuuming is really fun--especially when you stick it on your shirt!

Parker's way of helping with the vacuum. He follows along behind it pushing it on it's way.

Lastly, Mr. Parker has his first shiner. He's a rough and tumble kind of guy and this particular time fell over into the leg of his highchair just right that it gave him a little bit of a black eye. It actually looks better here than it has been. He's a funny little one and keeps us all on our toes! I'm a little nervous to take this guy on a plane across the country... Here he's also sporting his new "Super Parker" cape that Aunt Kelsey made for him. Again, I have better pictures coming...

Well, that's it for this post. Like I said I have more fun things to blog about, I just don't have the pictures right now! I'm going to Virginia on Thursday and then back up to Bakersfield for a week or so where we'll get to meet back up with Jared and see the people in Bakersfield we haven't seen yet (Katrena--I haven't forgotten our ice cream date and your birthday!) He's been studying hard for finals! We love you and miss you Jared :) Have a great rest of your week!

The Apple That Doesn't Fall Too Far...

In the last 48 hours I've taken these three pictures... (Brody)

Closer up of Brody (who also got a haircut!)

And Jared...

You'd think we didn't have beds and that I run the busiest household ever where the only time they can find time to sleep is when they pass out on the floor! This was actually a first for Brody. He's transitioning to a no-nap sleep schedule (sad day for Mom) but this particular day he just couldn't make it until bed time. He passed out about 4 o'clock. I love that he went and got his puppy, though, to bring with him to sleep in the living room. I think Puppy deserves his own post someday. He's been Brody's best bud since he was a baby. Last night when he came in my room in the middle of the night he even brought a tiny pillow just for puppy to join me in my bed. Needless to say they both got sent back to their room with their pillows (it was 2 a.m.) Jared on the other hand has been known to fall asleep like this. His Mom has a picture of him sleeping on the kitchen floor in the middle of the evening rush when all of his siblings were bustling around. His Dad has this same ability. It is not uncommon for the family to be sitting around talking/laughing and after a while Randy's eyes will have closed and he's in dreamland. The 3 of them (Randy, Jared, and Brody) really are so much alike it's hilarious! That picture of Jared was actually taken while both boys were screaming (Brody's been sick and Parker had shots today...it's been a long week) and crawling all around him. I think this is his way of taking a mental time-out. And Tuesdays he has a 7:40 a.m. class. Poor guy. Is it Thanksgiving break yet?!

For my Parker

Dear Parker,

In honor of your first birthday, I want to write down a few of my favorite things about you so I don't forget them when you grow up. You are a very special baby to your Mom. You came to this world during some very difficult times in our family and in the world in general. You are a ray of sunshine and can brighten any day. Even for people that have never met you. At Grandpa's work a sweet lady had your picture posted in her cubicle because if she was ever having a bad day she said all she had to do was look at your sweet face and she couldn't be upset. You are a bundle of energy and your little brain is always thinking. I have a few extra additions to my stove (covers on the handles) that I had to add this week because you were intent on turning on the gas on the stove. I have to watch you constantly as you try to climb out of carts at stores, turn the water hotter in the tub, flush things down the toilet, etc. You keep me on my toes! You think your big brother is the funniest person in the world and laugh at him all the time. You copy everything he does. You are very curious and figure things out a little too quickly for your Mom's taste. You just barely turned 1 and yesterday you figured out how to open and go through doors. Your mommy is in big trouble as one of your favorite rooms in the bathroom. Mommy has to put the trash, toilet paper, etc. up on the counter when we're in there because otherwise you empty them out while laughing. It's a common sight for my kitchen floor to be covered in the contents of my drawers and cupboards. Thank you for liking to pick things back up so far (for now!). You like to throw things away in the garbage (magnets from the fridge, measuring cups/spoons, etc.) We have had to move the garbage out of your reach and you don't like that very much. You love pictures on the wall and will spend most of your time with us pointing to them and telling us about them. We can't quite understand you yet, but you have a lot to say! I'm looking forward to when we can hear what's going on in that brain of yours. You say 5 words so far: Mom, Dad, Thank You, and Jesus. You love to be outside and look outside. You like to play with cars with your big brother. You LOVE your Dad. You cry hysterically when he walks more than 6 ft. away from you. You have a little temper that is pretty entertaining. You love music and dancing. You like to eat and take it very seriously, however you are getting a little picky in that department. You are so much fun to have around and I really don't remember what life was like before you were here. We love you very much and are very grateful that you came to our family. The odds were against you but you fought to get here. You must've really wanted to come to Earth. Thank you for that and for being such a sweet little boy. Let's stay that way, okay? (please remember that when you're two!) Big kisses!! Muah!

Love,

Mama

This is what you look like when you're laughing really hard :)

Being ONE is so much fun!

Parker turned ONE this last week! We had a fun filled weekend with MiMi (Jared's Mom) here for Parker's big day. Mimi was very sweet and took us out to eat on Parker's actual birthday. It was sure nice to not have to cook and the food was delicious! Thank you so much Mimi! Parker took time to ride on a saddle while we waited. He actually loved this silly thing. He kept pointing at it to get back on!

He got some fun presents for his birthday! Mimi brought him this adorable hat and little squeaker shoes. If you haven't seen them before they are really fun! They squeak when they walk and Parker couldn't stop staring at his feet. They do have a little off switch for church and things which I thought was a nice little feature. Since Parker doesn't quite walk yet he likes to just stand in them and tap one foot up and down.

Trying to figure out how to walk in shoes!

One day we took a LONG 4 mile walk with Mimi. We went by the Boise State Football Stadium while they were getting ready to play Hawaii. The people here really are nuts about Boise State. It was fun to see a little bit of the craziness! The trees and fallen leaves were just beautiful. We decided to take a couple pictures in them. It was a little tough to get Parker to cooperate, though, because he likes to do this:

Brody did his best to hold him down!

A beautiful picture with a beautiful Mimi and the boys :)

We ran across the Nature Center on our walk and took some time to enjoy it. I just liked this picture of my little inquisitive 3 year old.

Brody loves the fish and loved showing Mimi even more!

Next thing we knew there was a deer in the bushes

I really couldn't get over how pretty these yellow leaves everywhere were. They just blanketed the ground almost like untouched snow. They were undisturbed, peaceful, and so pretty to look at! I'm so glad we got to enjoy them before the winter. The fall here is pretty much amazing!

On to our birthday cupcake experience. He was interested in the fire...

But thought the cupcake itself was gag worthy

"If I cover my eyes maybe they think I'm sleeping and won't force me to eat that TERRIBLE cupcake!" He was just not a fan.

Last just a couple pictures of our little rascal. I'm going to have to post another post when I have more time and share some of the funny stories of this little boy. He is very busy, into everything, and quite entertaining. Last night he got out of the bath before Brody. He seized the opportunity to go claim Brody's bed, drink, and puppy. He NEVER tries this when Brody's around, so it's just really funny to see how early they figure out what they can get away with!

Mr. Mischief

However, you can't get mad at this cute face!

Happy first birthday buddy, we love you!!