An awakening

We were one the road yesterday and both the boys had been napping in the car. We decided that it was time to wake them up so they would go to bed that night. We stopped in Altoona about 30 minutes from our house to run a few errands. I saw the pet store and thought that it might provide a good and pleasant distraction to being woke up.

Well we started out with Parker having wet pants. It was dark and cold outside as I am rummaging through the diaper bag for a change of clothes for him. Preston was getting impatient that I was beside him and not picking him up. I couldn't find underwear, so I told Jim to just put pants on him.

We venture into the pet store. Preston immediately warms up to the rabbits and birds. Parker is still whining a little, I try to get him to find some of the animals hiding in their houses (like the guinea pig or the lizzards) I spotted a big colorful bird that I thought would be fun for the boys to see. We had some friends that had a large bird similar to this and she would talk, and dance. So I am over there dancing for the bird hoping to get her to do something fun for us. Well the bird decides to squawk. Parker started crying and then Preston started crying. We immediately headed for the fish, a much quieter animal to observe. Well the bird kept going at it, each time the boys would cry and carry on. We tried to get them to pick out a new toy for Stanely, nothing was working. Jim took the boys out of the store while I finished up.

I came home to research what type of bird we had seen. It looks like a cockatoo, but with color. Planet pets says "a small bird that talks well, but can be noisy. it's voice can break glass" or make little boys cry and cover their ears.


The bird on the left looks the one we saw.

The best part was when we got home and Parker was getting ready for bed he realized he wasn't wearing any underwear and says "Hey no underwear, where my underwear?"

No more birds for us, I think we will stick to kitties.

Page Down for 1st hair cut

Attention faithful readers I goofed. I somehow managed to post a new blog on Preston's hair cut below the Trick or Treating. So just page down to see my latest entry. I couldn't figure out how to change the order they show up on the blog.

Trick or Treat!

Jim asked Parker if he wanted to be a cat, a bat or a rat for Halloween. Parker selected a bat. I bought him some ears, but of course they were played with before the big night and could not be found on the big night. He wore black with a homemade black felt wings.

Now to explain a little more about the picture. Each day includes many times going over the itinerary of the days events. He knew this was the night to dress up. We had to run an errand about 3 in the afternoon, the perfect time that always makes Parker sleepy in the car. Ahhh sleep, that will have to be another blog entry. So he falls asleep and I decided he couldn't sleep through Trick or treat night so we woke him. This was the result--- He was not a happy camper. Not sure it was worth it to wake him up.




Preston saw the camera out and wanted his picture taken too.

In our area we are actually assigned a time to go trick or treating. It is always the last Thursday of the month of October from 6-8 pm. We follow the schedule of Tyrone and they follow the schedule of Altoona. Jim and I believe this is done to cut down on the amount of mischief that teenagers can get into on Trick or treat night.

Being the small town that it is, it is a social event as well. Not only are you getting candy, but folks will say come in and want to chat a little while (all the time that you are losing time to get more candy) We only went to the neighbors that we know and the old ladies from the fire hall. The church down the road also offered some treats. Our neighbors don't get many trick or treaters so they would often give us double candy (and candy for Preston and Mom) so that they wouldn't eat it themselves. There aren't many young folks in our area, and if there are I think they head to the developed areas to get more candy.





Yes I dressed up too. I love Halloween and am still a kid at heart for this holiday. I sported my cap and gown from WVU. My flapper costume isn't real warm and I had too many interuptions to get one that I had been sewing on for awhile. We had extra fabric from the bat wings, so preston got a cape too.

The first couple of houses Parker was not a happy camper, but after about the 3rd one he was catching on and couldn't wait to get to the next house for more sweets.

By the way we still have Halloween candy left. Jim and I picked through for the good stuff and then were rationing it out for Parker. Then I put it in the closet and well out of sight out of mind, plus it is getting picked over. Maybe I need to reward some good behaviour with a treat.

First Hair Cut

Preston had the most beautiful hair. I wasn't sure if I was ready to give him his first haircut. But a few comments about my little girl and then it seemed to be getting in his eyes and making him sweat. I made up my mind it was time for a hair cut. So we took plenty of "before" pictures and of course I saved a lock of hair.

I had help on the entertaining area so that he would sit still.



The back view. Isn't this the most gorgeous hair. I loved looking at it and making it curly.


He cooperated pretty good. It is definitely a different look for him and now there should be no mistaking that he is a little boy.

Parker of course was there to supervise and ask questions about Preston's hair cut.

And the view from the back along with big brother's checking it out.

Our Trip to the Zoo

We love animals and wanted to take the boys to the zoo. Jim was real busy with work during the summer months, so the first available date was the last week of October. We stayed with some friends in Fredricksburg (thanks John and Rachelle) and combined it with a trip to the temple and IKEA. I think we picked the coldest day to go to the zoo. I only packed light jackets and even I was cold by the end.( I tend to run hot blooded in case you didn't know)
Parker's favorite exhibit was the pandas. We couldn't see them from outside, but the exhibit has an indoor feature. There happened to be a volunteer inside that taught us a lot of information about the panda. You could see them inside and one of them kept running from room to room.
Towards the end of the trip we realized we hadn't taken many pictures. This was a mosiac in front of the visitor's center that we posed for a picture. There were no passerby's at the time to take a family picture, so I posed with the boys.




Jim wanted it to look like the man was whispering in his ear, too bad I didn't situate him just right to capture that on film.

Jim's turn with the boys. I should probably add that we got see the elephants being fed. We also got a little lesson on the elephants, but I don't recall a whole lot as I am writing this.
The birds have their own house. I snapped this pictures. We also saw flamingos outside. That seemed to catch the attention of both boys.

By the end of the trip we had 2 tired boys and 2 tired parents as well. It was a fun day. We love the zoo. We were sad not to see any giraffes. Can't wait until it warms up to go again.

A momentous day for the Rayburn's

Both Boys went to their classes at Church!!!

This was a first for us. Jim and I were able to go to Sunday School and Young Women's without the distractions of cherrios, books, toys or trying to keep the boys quiet!!

Parker went to primary and Preston went to nursery. Last week the boys were still recovering from colds, but this week they were healthy. Jim took Parker to primary and then he took Preston to nursery. I sat with Parker until sharing time began and then left. I heard one whine. Preston did great and had fun playing with the other kids. They said he only made a noise if someone took his toy.

I think there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Making Applesauce

I am a little slow in my blog updates. It took me forever to upload the pictures from my camera. I made applesauce in November with my Grandma Belva and Parker. Grandma helped in all parts of the process. Her first job was to cut the apples, she was really fast.
Parker loved to "Smash and Crash" a term from one of his favorite books. After the apples cook they go into the strainer that separates the skins and seeds and out comes applesauce.

We ended up doing 3 bushels of apples on this day. I think we made about 25 quarts and a little left over for eating.
It was a long day and I was wore out by the end. Parker only looks somewhat wore out here. Thanks Grandma for helping. We couldn't have done it without you. She cut the apples, stirred them on the stove, made sure the scrap bowl didn't over flow and was wonderful company the entire time.