J Parker Family - jparkerfamily

Check the pictures tab for the most current photos, Scrapbook Pages tab for layouts (photos with stories) and the Calendar tab for what events we have going on by date/time.

Busy Month

Lots of B-days and anniversary's this month. Joseph has opted for Pump-it-up for his birthday party (6 already...man time flies!)

School Started

Well, Joseph started school last Wednesday (12th). It was quite an event. Even now, almost a week later, he's not real happy about going. He's scared and shy and quiet and I think just really stressed about the whole thing. We're doing all we can to curb most of that, but it's not easy. Plus, he's bored...they color all day. He can read at 2nd grade level, so he's a little bored with coloring pictures. They are in the process of testing them, so we'll see what happens after that process is completed.

Summer almost over?

I can't believe how fast time flies. It's now the last week of July and we're getting ready for school to start. All supplies are purchased, uniforms bought...lunches being thought about...etc. So, this week Joseph is home with Daddy or over at the Happy Hayes house (when Daddy is working). Next week (8/3-8/7) he has Sports Camp all week at the Tom Kuyper (Basketball focused) camp which is right close to where Momma works. The following week on Monday 8/10, there is Kinder Open House at 6pm, then school starts on Wednesday 8/12. Time is just going by waaaaay to fast!!

Joseph loses 2nd tooth

Tuesday June 16th -- In the car on the way home from Swimming lessons. He's been messing with the tooth all day. He can feel the "pointy" part on the bottom (the roots). I tell him, it's going to fall out today or tomorrow. It was today! He said the tooth fairy was going to bring him 2 quarters. He woke me up Wednesday morning to announce that the tooth fairy brought him double what he thought, she brought 4 quarters.

Joseph loses first tooth 6/1

Joseph lost his first tooth yesterday (6/1) at Basketball camp. Coach Tom Kuyper was in charge of holding it -- Joseph had put it in a little treasure chest that the dentist had given him and I sent in his lunchbox since I knew the tooth was loose and just a matter of time. When I got to Joe's basketball camp, they're "hands in" ending cheer was, "1, 2, 3 -- Joseph's tooth".. Then Coach Tom pulled the treasure chest out of his pocket, handed it to me and said "Now Mommy is in charge of the tooth". What does a first tooth go for these days...???? The answer is $5.00 -- I remember getting quarters for my teeth.... darn inflation!!

Last weekend

Joseph had soccer & basketball on Saturday. Then we went to the pool for a couple hours.

Sunday - church, grocery shopping while the boys went to Yoga and then we went to see the new movie "UP"

Desert Botanical Garden

We went to the DBG Sunday 5/24. The Chihuly (blown glass) and Butterfly pavilion exhibits were going on. See Blog page for info on Joseph's adventure game and photos on the Pictues tab. (One album of photos by Joseph & one album of Mommy's)

Mother's Day Follow up

Mani - Pedi's were good. Love the massaging chair!! Sunday dinner (which Joseph & John shopped for on Saturday, but John & I cooked on Sunday) consisted of... Grilled Shrimp, Grilled Cod, Grilled Pork Chops & Grilled Ahi Tuna. Fresh Beets, Steamed Broccoli and Home-Made Lemon Risotto. (I handled the stove top while John grilled) -- I had also made a tomatillo sauce the evening before to use instead of Tarter Sauce and also was good with the pork chops.

Joseph delivered a lunch bag to me in bed Sunday morning. (hand decorated, of course). Inside was a small bottle of Sugar Scrub (vanilla scented) that they had made at school (and decorated the bottle too). So, he & I moved to the shower so we could "try it out" (it's oily)... To make a long story short, we keep a 5 gallon bucket in our shower to catch the extra water (recycle..put it on plants). Joseph started playing in the bucket, so I had to go get my camera. (See pictures Tab and find album called April/May to see the joyous time a 5 year old can have in a bucket of water!)

Joseph's Summer Activites

See calendar page for daily schedule...but here it is in a nutshell. This is starting in JUNE!!

Tennis, T-Ball & Soccer will be done for this session (and we're taking the summer off of those sports). There is a week-long INTENSIVE basketball camp that Joseph is going to June 1-5th. He took a little Mini-camp of this back in Jan/Feb and he (and we) loved it, so we sprang for the whole day-all week program!! (I mean, you're only a kid once, right). Then that same week swimming classes start in the evenings (Mon-Thurs). Swimming goes all June & July (8 weeks)...but we'll take off 2 weeks when we go to Ohio for vacation since he'll miss most of those classes. The week after the Basketball Camp is over, his summer basketball league starts. That's 10 weeks of actual games on Saturdays (and practice one day a week...which I'm not sure how we're going to do because of swimming). So sprinkle in a few other family events, like vacation and the Circus and we're full for the summer!

Joe Graduates (& future plans)

May 20th at 11am, Joseph will be in his first Graduation ceremony. Ok, so it's only Pre-Kinder, but nonetheless, we are all very excited. He's been telling us every night about how they practice what they're going to do. I'll take pics & post them here. -- Plans for next year - Joseph will be going to Full-Day Kindergarten at Challenge Charter School. I've discussed with them his academics, as we need to be sure he's challenged next year (Currently he's reading at a 2nd grade level). They have assured me they will make sure he gets more challenging or extra ciriculum to keep his interest. School starts August 12th. Can you believe that? When I turned in all the paperwork (& $) last week, as I was walking to my car, I got all choked up and then sat in my car and cried for a few minutes. My little baby isn't a baby anymore...he's going to go to school!!

Mothers Day Plans

This weekend is mother's day. John can't surprise me...plus I hate it. So, we discussed his plan and this is what we're doing. Myself & Ruthie (his mom) are going to get mani/pedi's on Saturday. Then on Sunday, John & Joseph are making dinner. Surf & Turf is on the menu. Baked Fish & Shrimp for us healthy eaters and pork chops for a little indulgence. Not sure what side dishes are planned. I know I'm making a tomatillo sauce for the fish...but I think that may be the extent of my involvement. Reviews of the weekend & meal to follow.