Parker is 5!

Parker is 5. The time has gone so quickly. I can't believe I have a 5 year old. I am all about celebrating and Parker got a few celebrations during his birthday month.

His actual birthday occurred while we were at the beach. We went for ice cream at this yummy place. And then we enjoyed the ice cream so much, we back every night after wards.

The pictures below are the party with close friends and family. Parker wanted to have Lenna and Matthew over for his party. Lenna watches the boys for us on occasion and the boys just love her.
I like to cook a meal and serve all their favorite foods. Parker selected ham, broccoli, and pickles. We added some others so the meal would be a little more balanced.
Parker also asked to have a birthday party with friends. Being in preschool you get your first taste of birthday parties and it is a fun time. We invited everyone from his class. 2 showed up. I had planned an outdoor party and then it clouded up and rained. So we moved the party indoors. It worked out fine. He still had a great time.


I made these cute cars for party favors. The boys thought these were so neat.
I let them decorate their own cup cakes. It ended in a frosting eating experience.
Parker loves playing with his brother. He loves anything with wheels. He enjoys watching tv. Parker is always asking how things work and what we are doing.

A brief Good Mom Moment

The job of mother is tough job. I tend to get wrapped up in the day to day tasks of feeding them, making sure they are dry, get their rest, and other basic needs met. If you ask me about being a Mom I will usually be honest and tell you that my boys run circles around me and that I am frazzled. This is true. So the other day I had a good Mom moment where I thought to myself..... this is fun! This isn't so bad. Maybe I will survive after all.

Parker got a new bike for his birthday and wanted to go for a ride. I enjoy riding my bike. Jim took Preston so it was just me and Parker. He was able to do it himself. He had so much fun! He laughed and had smile on his face the entire time. At that moment I relaxed and thought this is fun. I am enjoying this part of being a Mom.

Just wanted to share my happy thoughts.

Playing together

There are few moments when I hear laughter or just the sound of cars playing on the floor and I peek my head in to see both boys playing together. This always brings a smile to my face. I feel like maybe things will get easier and they can entertain each other, but often these moments are short lived. I enjoy then while they are happening.


Yes Preston is actually pulling Parker in the laundry basket!This is a car ramp that Jim made for the boys. They were rolling the cars down and I was rolling them back. They love to play this.

Lilly's Purple plastic purse

So I decided to give Parker another chance at a play. My Mom met us in Altoona and she brought my neice along, Lilly. We saw "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse."

I didn't buy my tickets until the day of and only starting talking to Parker about a few hours before the show. This time we were early. We got our tickets, used the restroom and returned outside to wait for Grandma and Lilly to arrive.
It is blurry because Parker was jumping up and down.

Grandma arrived just in time. Parker was so excited. Well we get to our seats and the lady mentions we are in for a treat. There was a misprint in the time. Some places had 7, some had 7:30. So we get to listen to a comedian for 30 minutes so that those coming at 7:30 wouldn't miss the show. Well that was just great! (The kids were too young to get his jokes, he was ok, but I wasn't rolling on the floor or anything) This also added to the time the kids had to sit still. In hindsight we should of took them outside to run a few laps and then they would have enjoyed the play.

Before the show began Lilly went through Grandma's Green purse for chapstick.


Parker did his usual asking questions about what was happening. About halfway through he is telling me he is tired and wants to go home. Lilly had wandered out into the aisle and was hovering over the balcony. This was making Grandma nervous.

We survived till the end and then went to Sheetz for ice cream sandwiches.

Did I mention Lilly had to bring her purple purse, shamrock hat, jacket and book into the show. Sounds like something I would do. You never know when you might get cold or bored. She is so cute.

Hide

For some reason my boys think that when someone comes you are supposed to hide and the person coming in the door is to find you.

Parker will do this most of the time when Jim comes home from work and when I return from something.

So last night I walk in the door and Jim says "where's Parker"? Preston greets me at the door and says "hide" I thought he was saying "hi", but Jim pointed out he was saying hide. So he grins and starts trotting off down the hallway leading me to where Parker was hiding. It was so cute.

A recap on the Dukes

We went to Tractor Supply and found matchbox size cars of the General Lee and a police car. The boys have had them for less than 24 hours and they have played non stop with the "movers" and "roscoe's car". Parker calls it the movers because Bo and Luke wore coveralls in one episode like the movers wear on their show on Disney.

Parker wanted to take them the Church and to bed. I think we allowed him to have them in the car, but not inside the church.

We gave Parker the General Lee and Preston the police car. Preston has taken ownership of his car and will say "mine" anytime Parker tries to take it. We are trying to teach them to share and take turns. It was a great $6 spent!

The Princess and the Pea

Jim and I have always enjoyed going to plays and wanted to share that experience with our boys. Last year we had season tickets to the family theatre series at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona. It was a lot of fun and we figured if we started while they were young perhaps they would share this same interest with us.

Preston doesn't do well at live performances, the applause bothers him or the sitting still part. So we decided that Mom and Parker would go and Dad could watch Preston. So Parker and I went to the The Princess and the Pea.

Parker was unfamiliar with the story. The day of the event I told him we were going to see The Princess and the Pea and summed up the story so that he would have an idea of what was happening.

We were traveling from my folk's house so we had an hour drive. Parker managed to fall asleep on the way. He doesn't wake up real happy. The cold weather helped to jolt him awake. We arrived at starting time, luckily they were still selling tickets so the show was running a little behind. Parker used the restroom and then we found our seats. We were in the middle of aisle so we had to climb over several people.

Well part way into the show Parker tells me he needs to use the bathroom again. So we crawl over the people at the other end this time. When we return I decide we will sit in the empty row in front of us. 5 minutes later he tells me wants to go home, he has to go to the bathroom and he is tired. I make him wait it out until the end, not to mention our coats were still in the row behind us with people that would have to crawl over to get our coats to even leave early.

Afterwards we went for ice cream at the Meadows. They had it decorated in 50's memoriablia. Parker especially liked sitting in the little car.

After this experience I decided maybe he was too young to enjoy the arts, but when I asked him if he liked it and wanted to go again he said yes. I am giving him a second chance this coming week when "Lilly's purple plastic purse" will be showing.

The Money Conversation

So my day is often filled with a running commentary as I like to call it. Parker talks to me all day long. The few times that I get tired of talking he will say "Mommy talk to me."

The other day he was asking where Daddy was. I replied that he was at work. He then asks me why daddy is at work. I proceed to tell him that Daddy goes to work to make money so that we can pay our bills. I tried explaining that is cost money to turn on the lights, heat and water. This did not seem to be getting through so I tried a different approach.

I asked him where money came from and he said "Your purse." You gotta love it. I thought it was real cute. I then tried to describe how daddy's money goes in the bank account and mommy goes to the bank to get money.

Read me a story

I try to read to my boys every day. Yesterday as I was reading to Parker, my voice started to go as I have a cold right now. I said to Parker, "Why don't you read to Mommy". I was expecting him to tell me the general story or tell me about the pictures. My little boy who is 3 1/2 recited most of the story to me. I couldn't believe my ears. I would point to a word and ask him if he knew what word it was and he had no clue. So he has memorized the books. Amazing to me. Even the books from the library that have only been read a handful of times he knew. Wow.

I wonder how much he has picked up from TV or music in the background. I now really believe that their little minds are sponges absorbing everything around them.

This is one of the books he "read" to me.

A Day in the snow

I like to post pictures with my blog articles and you know how you take the pictures and then it takes awhile to get them off your camera and actually do anything with them. It hasn't snowed anytime recently, but a few weeks ago we had some snow.

The night before the big storm I headed into Wal-mart to buy another snow shovel. Parker likes to help. We got another full size so that it actually does something. I also picked up a sled.

Dad took both boys sled riding. This is the way to go sled riding.
Although sometimes you needed to hold on real tight.

They went several times during the day. Parker would get cold and come inside and then ask to go back out. Here are some night pictures. We discovered our back yard has the perfect hill for a 3 year old to go sled riding on.

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.

Blessing the food

So tonight when we sat down to eat Parker said the blessing on the prayer. Jim helped him. Here's how it went.

Jim: Dear Heavenly Father
Parker: Heaven Father
Jim: Thank you for this day,
Parker: Thank you day,
Jim: Bless the food
Parker: Bless food
Jim: That is will nourish and strengthen us (In my opinion this is a mouthful for adults, let alone a 3 year old)
Parker: that nursery
Jim: In the name of Jesus Christ
Parker : Amen

I just thought it was so cute to him try to say nourish. He is familiar with nursery, but not nourish.

I just wanted to add that it makes my heart melt when I hear my little boy say the prayer. It is the cutest thing.

Taking a walk

My boys love to go outside and I often need some fresh air and sunlight to make my day go better. Parker is so excited for it to the snow. The other day we had about an inch of snow. So I bundle everybody up and put Preston in the stroller.

I have to wait for Parker to shovel the driveway before we can go for a walk. Then he precedes to bring the shovel along with us on our walk. He was shoveling any remaining snow on the sides of the road or at the edges of driveways. We make it to the flag pole (this is our destination on a small lane behind our house) and he is now tired. So mom carries the shovel and pushes the stroller. Sorry no picture, my hands were full.

Washing feet

So yesterday I sat the boys on the vanity in the bathroom while I was putting on my make up. I did this to keep them out of trouble. They usually don't get to sit up there. When I was finished, Parker was occupied with something so I left him there. I heard water running and went in to check, he was washing his feet in the sink with his socks on. Of course we had somewhere to be and I rushing around. Parker needed another pair of pants and had to go without socks because I only had 1 pair with me. I didn't have my camera to capture this on, so sorry no picture.

Pumpkin Patch

So Ed and Sue wanted to come and see the grandkids and we wanted to take the boys to a pumpkin patch. It fit into our schedules to meet part way at Vale Wood Farms in Loretto PA, just 15 minutes east of Altoona.

We get our milk delivered to our door and this is the farm that it comes from. I thought this would give us the chance to see the operation and know more about the local dairy that we are supporting. By the way, we are very happy customers. Their milk is so good and the ice cream is delicious!


Parker is quite the chatterbox. Each day begins with "where are we going today?" This question continues through out our day. So the all the way to the farm we are discussing what we are going to do, see where the milk come from and see grandma and grandpa Rayburn. When we get there, some of the older trucks are parked there and I thought it would be cute to get his picture with an old milk truck, but instead........He wanted to pose in front of the dump truck!!! Go figure! He loves dirt and dump trucks. Plus Pappy has one just like it.
This was totally geared with kids in mind. You paid a very reasonable admission price of $1 and all the games and activities were free. Parker spent a considerable amount of time in the giant corn box.
He also enjoyed the maze made out of straw set up in the back yard. They had made this tunnel and it was great fun for him to crawl through.
They gave a hay wagon ride complete with information about the farm. It was very informative. Our milk is a level 4. My Father in law gave us a thumbs up, it is the best you can get.
I don't exactly remember what those levels were about. I had never heard of them before and I grew up on a farm with milk cows.

At the end of the day we all had some ice cream and headed our separate ways. Parker wanted a picture with his Grandma Rayburn.

Aunt Rebecca's birthday cake!

Some people will do anything for an excuse to eat sweets. Parker loves birthday celebrations. Birthdays used to be big deal in my family, but I think everyone just got busy and we don't make it a big deal anymore. I used to spend hours, (well almost that long) looking for the perfect birthday card to get someone. We would each get the person a card and sometimes a small gift. The family would gather round for cake and ice cream. It was a lot of fun and we made it an excuse to celebrate! I want to do better the next time around.

Anyway, we made a cake and sang happy birthday to Aunt Rebecca. Parker wanted to know when she was coming to our house for her piece of cake. I am still working on that one to explain how far away Utah is.


This is the cake the next morning. Guess what Parker was doing, while Mom was still sleeping. Yep you guessed it, licking the frosting off.

Parker is my wake up call in the mornings. I sleep until he sleeps. Sometimes he gets into mischief life this particular morning. But it gets better. Another morning I awoke to ......
This!! He licked most of it bare. This was after we ate most of the cake.

Just for fun!

So I am out of fresh pictures and new items to blog about right now. I thought it would be fun to find something a little older. This is Parker learning to walk. He is about 17 months in these pictures. Preston is 15 months right now.


Notice the same "grocery cart?"

My helper

Parker loves to vacuum and he actually does a pretty good job for a 3 year old. If I don't give in he will throw a fit. Fine with me. Hopefully he will also enjoy doing dishes!

Mom's shoes

So we like to play in our hallway. It is the perfect place to roll balls or cars and they are contained. I took off my shoes to give my feet a break and they were the next best toy to my boys. Preston put a lot of effort into trying on Mom's shoes. Of course we made a big deal out of it and took his picture, so Parker had to take a turn too!