We Ain't Ones to Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth or Anything

So, as our Christmas season ramped up to it's max Christmas-Morning-Celebrate-a-Thon, we wanted to do a little giving around the neighborhood. Nothing much, just the usual Mormon culture influenced plate-o-goodies: a few iced sugar cookies, a couple rice crispy treats, some no fail ginger snaps, a scoop of bright colored Christmas candies and two to three cookie airplane treats that needed to be explained upon delivery because they could have easily been mistaken for a number of other things--namely a cigar with a peice of gum strapped to it.

Due to the fact that it is nigh unto impossible for a mother of 3 INTENSLY curious and helpful children--and a very grabby baby--to put together a plate of cookies that have not: been licked, been sneezed on, or been touched by dirty hands that were just licked or sneezed on; and that does not contain: sand, half of a container of sprinkles, or the contents of someones pocket, we kept the list down to a handful of neighbors so mom could stay vigilant over the goodies until they were safe in the neighbors home for consumption/discard as they so chose (it's totally the thought that counts).

Well, delivery proved to be fun for all of us and the neighbors appeared grateful for our humble offering. But little did we know how grateful and generous one cute little family from across the cul-de-sac really was. Upon returning home from our post-Christmas-wedding-snow-extravaganza a week into January the mother and daughter of the family slipped by with a little card. We invited them in and chatted for a while and they explained that they had tried to bring this by before but we were gone. We, of course, thanked them and opened the card later to find this:

Super nice right? Super, super nice and thoughtful, but the front of the card looked like this:

As you may have guessed by the title of this blog, they made a little mistake on our last name. Regift? We wouldn't mind, but we prefer to chalk it up to Jared's name being mistaken for Jerry, then being mistaken for his last name. It's happened before (to someone probably). We didn't let it bother us much last week as we went for the appetizer combo, lasagna plate, seafood pasta, and one kiddie meal to share between the 4 kids (it's not our fault the kids refuse to eat at restaurants). We would, however, enjoy some advice on how to break the name mistake to the neighbors sweetly so we can stay on their Christmas list for next year. Please comment with some great ideas for us!

You May Have Doubted

but I've gone and done it. The Christmas pics I pinky promised I would post. Now . . . for your viewing pleasure, I present: our family!
This is what Christmas at the Parkers------and a week with the Ercanbracks for my bro. Creighton's wedding----looks like.
(My thanks goes out to Tim and Mary who posted pics on Facebook so I could swipe a few!)

A very dark shot of our tree which was used as a hiding place, dancing partner, and a weapon (tree lights are obviously meant to be mini light-sabers), and looked much better in the dark from about Dec. 2nd on.

Showin some Andrus charm!

Afton prayed for weeks about Christmas. "Thank you that Santa is coming to town." and then afterward "thank you that we got TONZ a presents."--I love this age at Christmas.

The elephant was cast as the donkey and really made the whole thing come to life.

Davie didn't enjoy his role as the little lamb this year, as it was past his bedtime, and the cotton ball taped to his bottom didn't last long either.

I don't know how we are going to top the costumes next year. This year set a really high standard.

I have to say I was very impressed with their reverence for the nativity, and it was neat to feel of the Spirit on Christmas Eve.

Santa got a tempting spread this year! Can you tell which ones Lindsey decorated (licked), can you tell which one the Big J submitted (sprinkles).

This year Jared, er, Santa's other little helper, taught me the strategy of proper present placement throughout the room, to maximize the feeling of gift abundance on Christmas morning.

First bikes/plastic trikes that ARE called BIKES to almost 3 yr olds.

After a full day of reveling in new toys Aftie fell asleep like this in her bed.
Thank you Santie Claus, thank you--after another year of being told during every toy request at Target, "Maybe you could ask for that for Christmas," it didn't take much to help these kids feel like the luckiest kids on the block. As for me, my favorite presents were also the kid's new toys. Now (and for the next 2 months) there are fewer requests to watch TV, and more self-entertained kiddos. There is more outside play, vitamin D straight from the sun, and tired kids at the end of the day. And lest we remember just the presents this year, let's remember that our little brood, especially Deej and Afton, are understanding more and more of the meaning of the Savior's birth and how that night so long ago affects us all today.---


Then, at 2 am on the day after Christmas we woke up super early so I could get lost on the way to Utah (adding another 100 miles) for a week with my family and a beautiful wedding. Welcome to the crazy Ercanbrack way of life Michelle.

Cousin Violet let us share her celebration of 3 years with her.

There were several Dance-a-thons.

Just squeezing in a little work between the ceremony and pictures.

A romping gala with some of the High School buddies.


Bowling down at the B Y.

Bowling for burgers! I actually won (with the help of the bumpers), it was a first for me.

Genghis Khan's newest recruits. Yeah, they know how to handle a 3 ft ice cycle.

Shopping on a Budget

I just spent the last hour in a very deep conversation with my nearest and dearest. Nothing but his words, needs and interests have been at the foremost of my mind---and which background to choose for my blog. So I tried on 20 or so backgrounds (with my hands and eyes only, again, my mind was totally engaged in our conversation) and ended up with this wild piece. Who knows if it will stay for long, but it was sure fun shopping.

Dallin's Real and Actual Birthday

was on a Sunday. So the wild raging Saturday party had simmered down by then, but the family all pitched in to make the day special for him, (except for Davey who still assumes all clapping and smiling is dedicated just to him). Dallin, thus far, has been a fan of his close-to-Christmas birthday. Here he is with his birthday R/C car that drives up the walls and ceiling:

Just shortly before turning six Dallin reached the real rite of passage for elementary school kiddom--the losing of the first tooth. He is happy enough, and loving the Tooth Fairy kick-backs, but I'm not so sure I'm ready to welcome in the awkward large-tooth, small mouth, pre-braces days of elementary kids. It was a bit sudden for me, and I feel a bit half-hearted to see the cute little teeth go--or to see my cute little boy go.

Deej is Six! (as of Dec 21, 2008) hehe, late post.

How awesome is turning 6? So awesome that you get a one-of-a-kind Death Star birthday cake designed solely by your mom's own creative juices (and the sports ball Wilton cake pan set). So awesome that you get to have the sweetest cousins party known to Gilbert, all-inclusive with a stack o' Hot-N-Readys (sparing no expense for young taste buds), a big jar of Tostito's Salsa con Queso, a hastily glue-gunned graham cracker house for each guest, and a table brimming with sugary cracker house decor. So awesome that the place was decorated with the Star Wars Clone Wars party set and the shining (if not overly-glazed) eyes of children who had eaten a non-stop stream of anti-nutritious substances since walking in the door. ** Special thanks to Dylan Rich who provided each child with a pixie stick that was 2 1/2 ft long and 3/4 inch in diameter for our appetizers. Ya gotta buy somthin at the school store, why not 18 mega-sized pixies to start off your Christmas sugar blitz.** As you may have guessed--this party rocked! Only the best for our Dallin J. He IS sooo cool. {AND he got student of the month for being caring and got to eat lunch on the stage with the principle. Caring and Cool--quite the package.}

The Death Star kind of collapsed, but that was all well received, since it did that on the movie too.

In Another's Shoes

I have become abysmally negligent of this blog. Whenever my thoughts flitted over it's existence during the last month, I simply excused my care with the mantra "it's the holidays!" I intend to do some storytelling and picture posting from our holidays, which I will do in the very near future. But I made it a goal to post tonight, so post I will--until Jared gets back from the Redbox.
Lindsey has instigated a new game in our family. We have played it two or three times now in as many days. It begins by Lindsey telling me that I am not Mom, but that SHE is Mom. Thus, my "gentle words of guidance" to pick up the toys, cannot be adhered to at this time. The question then arises: "then who am I?" Well, I'm told, I am Lindsey, and Afton is Dallin, and Dallin is Dad and Dad is Davey, and Davey is Afton.
The game changes everyone and everything around here. Dallin (Afton) gets to ask Mom (Lindsey) if she can have more juice before dinner, and Lindsey (me) has to ask Mom (Lindsey) if she can "help" cook the beef.
The game lingered on for over an hour last night. And what was the result? Davey working until late and missing dinner. Afton making a mess of her vegetables all over her face and the kitchen floor. Dad complaining that he had to do homework (coloring the matching pictures can be rough at times). Lindsey giving a bath to Mom and Dallin while Afton stood gripping the edge of the tub, bobbing her head up and down until it was her turn. And Davey returning home from work to be corrected numerous times on what names to call whom, until just after he had them secured--at which point the game was abruptly declared adjourned until Lindsey's whim reopens the chaos next time.
Now, if that doesn't make your head spin, go read The Fox in Socks for YOUR bedtime story five times fast.

GGGGGGGGRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . . .

Please click on photo for additional detail

Now you can create a Wolverine School Photo for your own family member!

Step 1:

Mother (or other parental/guardian figure) applies gel liberally to scalp, spiking hair on morning of school picture day in order to camouflage the much-needed-hair-cut status of hair.

Step 2:

Child decides while at school not to have spiky hair and decides to flatten middle-front section using a drinking fountain water/spit combination product.

Now sit down in front of the photographer's blue and gray shaded background, give a little close-lipped smile and. . . . Viola! Your own Wolverine School Photo to enjoy for years to come!

Style modeled by Dallin Jared Parker (a mini-Hugh Jackman in the making, and just as good looking).