Sledding, and snowman making

On the 22nd we got a whopper of a winter storm. As mentioned in a previous post it took Clay all day to shovel the walks, and we ended up with over a foot of snow. Perfect snowman making snow. The kids and Clay made this cute snowman...I was watching them out the window while I was working *sigh*. It was so cute, I had to take a picture, and then, I realized it was the cutest, armless, snowman. We got this cute "snowman making" kit from Aunt Sonya a couple of years ago for Christmas...the kids were so excited to use them this year. However, no one remembered to put arms in the poor snowman. Oh well, there is always next time!

Halle pulling her sled up the hill, she looked so cute, she has this little snowboard jacket (not that she snowboards or anything like that, it was just cute, and pink...the most important things when picking out your wardrobe!) She was a little apprehensive (sp?) the first few times, and then once she got the hang of it, she was a maniac.

We took the kids sledding on the best. hill. ever. It is in a park, and there were only like 2 other people there. It has about 6 different hills that you can go down. The kids had a blast! I even went, and that is saying a lot. I used to love playing in the snow as a child...yet as I am aging...and my body is starting to shut down (because of old age), I don't love playing in the snow anymore. period. BUT, to not be the party pooper that I usually am, I got all dressed up in my snow gear, that is brand new, and never worn (not because I just got it, because in the fall when I think about playing in the snow with my kids, and taking them sledding sounds so much more appealing than what is actually ends up being in December at 12 degrees) and headed up the hill to play with the kids. Clay actually ended up being the party pooper this time, and spent most of his time in the truck...warming up...weenie! There is actually a picture of me taken while sledding, but I will spare you the sight of me dressed up like the abominable snowman. I will just leave you with pictures of the cute children that I have!

Cayden getting ready for the big hill!


Kylee (she really isn't a cone head, her hat was just a little higher on her head than it should have been...) just mastering the hill!

Fall Break

This last weekend was fall break for the kids, they had last Thursday through Monday off. We had a few fun things planned, because we weren't going anywhere, we wanted to do some fun things!

On Thursday we went to see the movie "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", the kids though it was cute and funny...I on the other hand...though about what we could have done with the $25 we spent on tickets and popcorn... But, this wasn't about me, it was about the kids having fun!

Friday was a day where I had to work, so we hung out here, and the kids played with friends, and earned some money. Clay had been pulling out all of the flowers, and the kids picked them all up and loaded them on the trailer. They wanted to go to Target and buy some toys.

Saturday was nice, because we didn't have soccer, or football, so we all slept in until 8:30. It was HEAVEN!!! Then the kids and I ran some errands and took them to spend their gift cards to Borders, and buy their stuff at Target. Then we went to Costco and bought a couple of movies to watch. Clay bought "Iron Man", and watched that by him self...and then we bought the movie "Emma Smith". We watched that Sunday for family night. It was a really good movie, the kids enjoyed it, and it was a good eye opener for them to see what Joseph Smith and his family went through. It made them realized how blessed they are, and what a comfortable life they live.

Monday we decided to load everyone up and head down to Thanksgiving Point to the scarecrow festival. The kids came home with coupons for a free admission ($10 value), so it was going to only cost us $5 for me, and I found a coupon for $1 off. So, we decided for $4, we couldn't do anything else that fun. It was kind of a fair/carnival, and all of the proceeds went to help this "troubled youth" school. The kids had a blast. There was bounce houses, carnival games, face painting, rock climbing, a train ride, and the best was a bungee/trampoline ride. Now, you are probably expecting some cool pictures...that would be a big fat negative. I got there, all happy that I had remembered my camera, pulled it out to get a picture of the kids...and the battery was at home charging! I SUCK! But, regardless of not a single picture of the fun time we had, we did have a blast. The kids really enjoyed everything we did, and were so appreciative of all of it! I am thankful that my kids aren't hard to please!!!

The Annual Halk Walk

Every year the Elementary school that my kids attend has 1 fund raiser, it is a fundraiser that my kids really love. They collect donations, either per lap, or flat donations. Then they walk/run/jog around a track for 1 hour. They raise enough money to help buy things for the school, as well as give money to the teachers to help them out as well. My kids really look forward to this every year.

Kylee, and Cayden are VERY COMPETITIVE!!! They always try to get the most laps in their class, usually there is a prize for that person. This year however, they were told to take it easy...

Kylee had a soccer game in Bountiful, and Cayden had a football scrimmage, and hasn't been feeling great for over a month. They still had fun, and both of them did awesome!

Right before they started, I got this picture of Kylee and her friend Maren. They had fun "chatting" as they ran together! This was Kylee's last Halk Walk, and it was really sad for her. I have a feeling we are going to have a lot of lasts this year. I makes me sad to think that she is growing up so dang fast...they all are for that matter! Luckily she is a good girl!
Here is Cayden and a bunch of his friends, they are so funny how "pumped" they get before this thing!

Halle Had her first Halk Walk, this is Halle and her friend Autumn posing before they started!

Look how cute they are holding hands...they held hands the whole time they walked.

Here they are talking a water break in between the laps. They all had a fun time, but boy were they ALL tired last night! I don't think any of them said a word after their head hit the pillow!

Playing catch up...

To start off...we, I mean Clay just purchased one of these!!!

And one of these! It is wicked awesome!!! 2 weeks ago we were at a soccer tournament up in Centervile, and these people from Sony were there. They travel all over the country to youth sporting events, and set up a huge booth. They have cameras that you can "rent" (for free) during the games, you take all of the photos that you want, and then you bring the camera back, they download all of the pictures onto a disk, and then give it to you. Well, we did it, and we were sold! I have wanted a really nice camera for quite a while. I wasn't thinking quite this nice, but Clay really wanted to get one that we could take good pictures of the kids in their various sporting events. Well, long story short, he bit the bullet, and purchased it! I am really excited, they even give you a free class on how to use it! So...none of the pictures from this post are from that camera, but just watch out, the next ones from games are going to be awesome...or at least that is what they say!!!

So, now on to the post about my cute family!

I haven't posted in quite a while...except saying that I was going to make my blog private, which Emily convinced me not to do, for now!?! I have been so crazy busy...so here is a QUICK reeeeeee-cap of what has been going on in our lives!

Can you see that little stud running WAY ahead of the defenders??? That would be MY little stud of a son...Cayden!! He played on the turf field up at Juan Diego HS last Saturday. It was way cool to watch him, he had a pass play, (at this age, they aren't really common, because they hardly ever catch the ball!) he caught it, and ran it in 60 yards for a touch down!!! He was so stinking proud of himself, and he is faster than greased lightning! I love watching him do so well at something that he loves! (too bad I didn't have my new camera at that game, you could have seen him much better!)

This would be my dear, sweet, little... I mean really way too big for this bike Halle! She finally gave in and learned how to ride a bike! She is nothing like Kylee, and has been terrified of learning how to ride this dumb little thing! She looked so silly, because she has the longest legs, and with the seat up as high as it goes...she kind of looks like one of those clowns in the circus!!! But, regardless of my 1 long legged child, she is so PROUD of herself!!! WTG Hal!

We had an "end of summer" bbq at our house last Sunday night. My grandparents haven't ever been over here, so we invited them along for the event! They just celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss...or in their case, grandma getting pissy with my grandpa, and him just smiling along with it! What a smart man!

Here are Kylee & grandma...I think Kylee was afraid that she had something in her braces...she wouldn't smile!

Holy schmuck! I can't believe that I am posting this nasty picture of my toe...I am in desperate need to a pedicure...if only! But, I had to show you my darling toes! Meg does such an awesome job, she is so dang talented! This is black, with blue flowers, and then she went over the blue flowers with black lines! It is way cute in person...guess you'll have to see for yourself!

So, there you have it, a quick recap of some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks! Wish me luck with the camera!

Liberty Land...who thunk?

Obviously I have a lot of catching up to do, so here was our last "adventure" we had of the summer. I took the kids to "Liberty Land", you can see it right off the freeway in Lehi. Clay says that it won't stay in business for more than 1 year, and with the sight of how busy it was, he is probably right, but the kids had a BLAST!

It is a little amusement park, with a roller coaster, bumper boats, rock climbing, miniature golfing, ferris wheel...you get the idea. The kids had so much fun, and if I would have been smart enough and bought unlimited passes, we could have spent the whole day there!

Cayden getting ready for the race track

Kylee & Halle trying to figure out the bumper boats

Halle on the airplane ride...yes, she is the only person on it!

The roller coaster, Halle even went on it, and LOVED it! Kids after my own heart...Clay hates them!

Notice...not another person there! There was 1 other family that came as we were leaving!

What a fun day to end the summer vacation!

Cute Feet, and Football...

Ok, new toe nails calls for a picture. They are so CUTE!!! Jessi, Kylee, Halle, and I made the big trek to Spanish Fork. We had Meg to our toenails again, and might I say...SO CUTE!!! I went last, because I couldn't make up my stinking mind! Halle got cute watermelons on hers, Jessi did my favorite, I was going to copy her, until Kylee told me I copy EVERYTHING that Jessi does...

So what did I do...I copied KYLEE!!! Anyway, they are so cute, and I have already had a million compliments on them!

SO FREAKING CUTE!!!

The next part of this post is about Cayden, and his new found football career. He is so dang cute, I can hardly stand it. When he gets all decked out in his pads, helmet and mouth guard...I just melt! His coach's are big fat jerks, and I can't even go watch, because I want to punch them in the face. They are those guys who are completely living out their lives through their 3rd grade sons. Total LOSERS! Cayden isn't too fond of them, but I am trying to think positively. He loves it!!!

Here he is in his football stance!

Getting ready to run!

Look how cute he looks...I mean look how TOUGH he looks!

What a STUD!!!!!!!

Our lives are now completely consumed with soccer, football, and more soccer (Halle is starting next week ;)) Fun times at the Parke home!!!

The FUN PARKE!!!

We have had an event filled week, thus the lack of updates! This last week we went to the Highland Fling, our cities summer celebration. We went to the parade that morning, and then Kylee's soccer team was doing a fundraiser there. Needless to say, we spent 14 hours there!!! I have never ached like I did on Sunday morning.

Kylee was a trooper, and hung out with her team, sold watermelon & soda's. It wasn't a huge success, but they had a blast doing it! She even saw the cute boy that she has a crush on!!! Oh to be that age, and have cute crushes! She is growing up so fast!

Here are some pictures of the grand event!

Some of the girls at the booth!

Every year the fire trucks come and squirt the kids off for 20 minutes...Cayden was totally up for it!

Watching the fireworks...it looks like kylee has something on her rear, but it is just a speck on the picture...;)

I love this kid...here he is watching the fireworks!