Walking Field Trip

Yesterday was a busy morning - Cameron and I were able to go on a walking field trip with Parker's 2nd grade class.  We walked all the way down to Peterson's grocery store first.

There was a lot of potential for visiting the grocery store to be interesting, but I will say it most definitely was not.  The lady in the bakery did show the kids how she made frosting roses, but the rest of the workers just talked and they didn't get to go in the back or anything. 

Case in point - Cameron playing games on the old phone became the most entertaining thing!  

IFA was next, and that was a little better.  The kids at least all got to touch the two day old baby chicks and then pet the bunnies there.  The lady giving the "tour" was better about moving quickly and showing things, so the kids weren't as antsy.

 We then went across the street to Fongo Bongo Games, and thankfully the owner there realized he had a large group of 2nd graders coming to his store.  He had set up many tables and had several games out, and the employees helped the kids play.  Parker played a few games and had a great time.  Cameron was pretty tired at this point, so we were glad to walk home after this. 

He hasn't napped for some time now, but he did fall asleep in the hall yesterday afternoon!

D.A.R.E. Graduation

 

Kenzers shaking hands with police officers at her D.A.R.E. graduation this morning. 

After all of the 5th graders were announced, they sang a song.  (Kenzie is on the far left, 3rd row back in the gray sweater).

I've had this song stuck in my head all day!  They sang that chorus over and over again.  Here it is just once at the end of the clip.  Feel free to watch it repeatedly to get the same effect!

Cutest kid up there!  The 5th graders then all got to walk with the police officers down to Texas Roadhouse for lunch.  I was jealous of that part!  

Parker is 8!

 Yesterday morning Parker was up (not too early, actually, probably due to being tired from Lagoon) and ready to open his presents!  He had some powdered sugar donuts to start his exciting day, and then he got right to work opening everything.

He was happy with each and every present he opened, and made this face of excitement each time.  As he held up this book of mazes, he informed us that he had already solved the maze on the cover.  He's a smart kid!

 

 In front of his pile of new games and toys, and also new scriptures, which he was very excited about.

Cameron and Parker both enjoyed Parker's light up race track.  Later in the day they turned off the kitchen lights and were really impressed, but even in the daytime they sat and watched the cars go around for the longest time!  Daddy did a good job picking that one out.

After church he had "The Parkee Special" for dinner (chicken cordon bleu, couscous, and corn on the cob) and for dessert he had declared he wanted, "Chocolate brownies with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting!"  Lots of milk (and ice cream) to wash them down, too! Parker then watched the new movie he'd gotten from his grandparents, Inside Out, and finally went to bed happy.  He declared it to be a good birthday.  He is a great kid to have around.  He makes us laugh and makes us think.  All day at Lagoon he was asking questions ("Mom, what's your estimate of how many rides are in this park?") but he also told me, when the Sky Ride stopped temporarily and we were up high looking down at the park, "Mom, I'm glad it stopped because now I have more time to snuggle with you!"  He is a sweet, thoughtful little boy.  He loves it when I tell him we're happy he's in our family.  He likes to then say, "It wouldn't be the same without me!"  That sure is true.  Happy Birthday to my Parkee Bud!

Lagoon

Yesterday we went to Lagoon (or "a-goon" as Cameron calls it)!  Chris and I hadn't been in 12 years, and the kiddos had never gone to any amusement park before.  My work paid for our tickets and provided dinner in a pavilion, which was a nice perk.  As we were getting ready to leave, it was very rainy at home.  I was feeling so disappointed that our one Lagoon day was going to be rained out.  As we arrived at the park and exited the car, the wind was freezing!  I was so glad that it died down quickly, and the rain cleared up.  It only drizzled a few times during the day, and the temperature was actually pretty decent with a sweater on.  Hooray!

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Daddy and the kiddos on the teacups.  This was the first ride they went on, and they were so excited!  After this, Kenzie and Parker went off to ride a roller coaster with Daddy and I took Cameron to the little kid area. 

Pure happiness!

 We watched YouTube videos of the rides to get the kids excited, and Cameron really wanted to ring the bell on the Baby Boats.  He told me again and again that he was going to drive the boat and ring the bell.  

Kenzie and Parker were so excited to go on the roller coaster, The Bat, with Daddy, but the YouTube videos did not prepare them for the actual thing.  Chris said as soon as the ride started, Parker exclaimed, "I don't like this!" He was a little freaked out.  They both claimed they had fun, but later I had to beg Kenzie to ride it with me, and Parker wouldn't go again.

 

I suppose it's okay that these rides were more Parker's speed.  He's growing up too quickly as it is!  He had fun joining Cameron for a helicopter ride. 

We went on a ride called the Jumping Dragon later, and Kenzie was really nervous.  It just went around in circles (too quickly, in my opinion) and then went backwards.  Kenzie and Parker laughed and laughed, declared it their favorite ride, and then later went on it again (Daddy and Mommy watched from a bench that second time! Ugh!). 

Cameron getting ready to ride the Jumping Dragon.  He was so brave!  Chris was ahead of us, so he kept looking back to see how Cameron was doing, and we both were laughing at how Cameron had a big smile on his face.  When the ride stopped its forward spin, Cameron immediately exclaimed, "Backwards!"  He knew what was coming next!  He went on the little kid coaster twice and another family coaster (which I worried would be too fast for him).  He closed his eyes when it went really quickly, but he never cried, and once it was over he cackled and said, "That was fun!"  He probably would have ridden more coasters with us, but he was too short for most of them.

Cameron getting ready to drive a car, which was the other ride he really wanted to go on.  I loved the thumbs up he gave Parker, who was behind him in line.

 

This face says, "Yeah, I'm getting a little too old for this."  The cars were pretty slow for Parker.  

Here's Daddy and Kenzie and Parker on the Wild Mouse.  It is jerky, but tame, so we thought it would be a better option for the kiddos.  Apparently it was still a little too scary for them, though.  They were done with roller coasters after this!

We stuck to family rides after that.  We rode the ferris wheel and took the Sky Ride across the park several times. Here we were about to ride the train.  Parker is cheering and Cameron is "smiling" about it.  

We actually got to sit next to each other on the train!  Usually Chris and I were trying to help the kids on any given ride. 

For a second, Kenzie and Cameron were holding hands on the train.  I thought it was sweet.

Riding the carousel.

After dinner in the pavilion, we walked around Pioneer Village for a bit.  We never did make it into the Town Hall because this peacock stood in the way for the longest time! 

Some baby geese walking along.  Kenzie wanted me to take a picture (well, I was going to anyways, but she did ask). 

Kenzie and Parker thought the old phones and phone booth were funny.  Cameron was starting to get a bit antsy, so we went on the log ride together.  Parker didn't enjoy getting a little wet, so in order to convince him to go on Rattlesnake Rapids with us, I had to get out the ponchos.

About to get on the ride!  (Chris had his phone in a baggie to protect it, so that's why this is a bit blurry.) We were glad for the ponchos, though.  We would have been soaked otherwise.  Cameron didn't want to wear one, so Chris sat with him and covered him near big rapids and waterfalls.  After this, we rode the Sky Ride across the park one last time and headed out because the kids were starting to say their feet hurt.  It was a little after 8:00pm when we left, and we had arrived at about 10:30am.  I was very impressed with how well they all did with such a long day!   

Parker's Birthday Party

 

Tonight Parker had his little birthday party.  He invited just three of his closest buddies to join him to see The Angry Birds movie.  (I tried to talk him out of it!  It looked so boring... but I'm not a 7 or 8 year old boy!)  They were all excited.

 

 A bunch of goofballs!

Chris lighting the candle.  Even though there were only a few kids, their rendition of "Happy Birthday" was still ear-splitting!  Cameron belted it out with the rest of them, too! 

Everyone enjoying some cake and ice cream before we left for the theater.

 

Here they are with their bags of popcorn, settled in watching the previews before it started.  I was bored out of my mind, but Parker cackled through the whole thing.  Later he told me it was the best birthday party he's ever had, so it was worth sitting through to make him happy!

Fire Pit

 This weekend we pulled out the fire pit twice to roast marshmallows and get rid of all the little twigs in the yard.  The kids were a little excited!

This was so sweet.  Parker and Cameron laying on the grass together, with Parker pointing out the Big Dipper.

Jessie & Mitchell's Wedding

Saturday we went out to Grantsville to attend our niece Jessie's wedding.  As weddings notoriously do not start on time, we milled about for a while taking pictures and watching Cameron get progressively dirtier before it began. 

Pretty Kenzie (I did not check her outfit before we left, and she's also wearing rainbow sandals! Funny kid.). 

My cute boys.

 Yep.  I loved that they both made the same silly face!

Cameron loves to be outside.  He loved running around and exploring the area.

Josh and Daniel, brothers of the bride.  So cute in their suspenders.

Tatum and Parker, both also working on getting quite dirty!

 Kenzie and Camille hanging out while Camille practiced her song over and over (and over).  Camille and Megan played their violins for the ceremony.  They both were quite nervous but they did very well.

Me taking a picture of Hannah taking a picture back towards me.  Also Grandma and Grandpa.

Mr. & Mrs. Goodworth!

Hayden following Cameron about as we waited for pictures.  

Aww...

 

I was teasing Arnie about his old man glasses at the luncheon. 

Cameron fell asleep so quickly as we headed home.  We didn't even try to stay for the reception because it had already been such a long day.  Cameron slept the whole way home, then he went inside and laid down on his bed and slept for another hour!  He still went to bed on time that night, too. Weddings are tiring!