Grandpa Gus

Parker bears a great name.  His middle name is August after Grandpa Gus.  I hope he is never forgotten as Parker bears his name with pride.  I love Grandpa Gus.  On October 22, 2009 Grandpa slipped peacefully home and back with Grandma Glenna.  It makes me happy to know that they are together again and I am sure that reunion was sweet!  That is what makes our loss easier.  I miss him and his laugh, nonstop teasing, and gentle love he gave to all of us!  He is one amazing man who made our lives his priority!  I'm sure he and Grandma will still be cheering us on!  I love you Grandpa and can't wait to see you again!

Together with their infant daughter, Cathy again!

Thank goodness for family!

The stong pallbearers

Janitor, Sumo Wrestler,DJ, or Mike Tyson?

Last years horse costume for Parker was a tribute to Castle Dale as Parker celebrated his first Halloween.  Approaching his second Halloween we seem to have a few more options.  Here are some "possible" sneak peaks at what Parker may be for Halloween.  Here are the candidates!

Whether it be at home or at a church, these tools are perfect for our little janitor

A favorite stance we often find Parker in, which only leaves a few options, catcher? or sumo wrestler?

DJ Parker and his tunes!

What Parker turns to for comfort - an ear.  Sounds more like a Boxing career in the future!

Fifteen Months and Flyin' High

Throw the chest out and stick the arms out like so and off Parker goes as he reached 15 months last Saturday.  Everything seems to be on the up and up as he recently graduated to a front facing car seat (a historic moment we know).  A whole new world has been opened up to him though he still views the back of his eyes on most road trips.

Emery County on Display

Castle Dale will never be considered a site for hosting Olympic games.  It is not really a place that too many people plan vacations for.  And for a lot of people it is a place that they may never even drive through.  Despite it's location and limited attractions, Castle Dale has a lot to offer and so when family came to town we put on the best show possible.  Here were some of the highlights.

Fun with Grandpa's noises and horse rides

A ride in the wheelbarrow courtesy of Melissa

Bike rides for Spencer and McKenna

Sitting around the campfire with Grandma

Time to get reacquainted

A fishin' trip to Ferron Reservoir 

To top it all off we had some good home cookin' thanks to Melissa and a trip to see the Zebra's that are in town.  You will have to come to Castle Dale to see these for yourselves!

Fun in the big city!

We country folk here love to get out and get away once in a while.  Parker and I decided to ride with Britt back to Salt Lake last Monday, Oct. 5th, to be with my Mom and Dad at the apartment. Grandpa Gus had taken a nasty fall on Saturday and broke his femur just below his hip.  So, I wanted to be able to be there and visit as much as we could in the hospital.  Of course Devin couldn't come so it was just the babe and I for an adventure in the big city.  

We had a lot of time in that apartment and enjoyed being with Grandma Vicki, Grandpa Carl, Britt, and cousin Mia.  We even got to see Christian on Monday and Carson on Thursday night and Friday.  It was one loaded week.  Parker learned his way quickly around the apt. and the hospital, too.  He was a great shopper, cook, babysitter, and entertainer.

Here are some adventures in the great APARTMENT:

Watching the tube with Aunt Britt

Story time with Grandpa Carl

Red Robin eating pals - Uncle Christian (He didn't want to leave him that night)

He was so sweet with little Mia.  He wanted to lay by her.  He was so soft and cute.  He gave her the head but and knucks many times throughout the week.

Cooking dinner with Grandma Vicki

Fun new places to sit - under the sink...

... and under the chair.

and sweet rides in the box with Grandma

Uncle Carson was so good to let him play with his ear.  

Life was grand and the biggest worry for him was when is the next meal.  It was good times and crazy times, so it is good to also be home again and back into our routine.  Whatever that was!

Books!

Melissa has been great to read to Parker from day one.  She has fed him a steady diet of the classics of Dr. Seuss to the new age picture books and my personal favorite "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" by Mo Williams.  So far his favorite seems to be "Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb" and it doesn't seem to matter who reads it to him.  The latest was Grandpa Carl and it was "classic".

Cartoons!

Remember growing up with the classics, "The Smurfs", "The Flintsones", "Tom & Jerry", and "Popeye"?  Those were the days when Saturdays meant cartoons!  Cartoons have lost their luster due to filth and adult humor. I found myself longing for those days of fun and adventure and hoping that there could be something that Parker could and would want to watch.  

Flipping through the channels one day Melissa found a Jim Hensen cartoon called "Sid the Science Kid".  It is great.  It is funny and educational and even has a catchy tune that we find ourself singing every now and then.  It is so good that I find myself longing to watch it before I go to work but glad that Parker can have his first "Cartoon".

We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet

In the hymn, We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet there is a phrase that stands out to me, "When dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us, and threaten our peace to destroy." Today was one of those days when literally the "dark clouds" hung o'er us, though the dark clouds came in the form of storm clouds that opened and poured out rain and hail. Concluding that verse of the hymn, "There is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh." Over the past few days Parker has taught us how to watch General Conference and that truly there are Prophets on the earth that provide deliverance in dark and troublesome times. Here are a few tips from Parker:

Find a good seat and relax

Grab a snack

Find a conference buddy

Grab some more snacks

Get a close up view (it doesn't hurt to have a big screen! Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!)

And when it seems like you have had too much conference and you need some "ponder" time.  Take a drive through the streets of Spring Glen and Helper.  It seemed to work for me and Parker.