Molly in black and white...

Easter Sunday 2011...

In case you did not notice, the color theme for the Parker family today was blue! (Everybody say ... "ahhhh!")

A couple more pictures...

When we got home from the hunt, I realized that I did not have a picture of the two of them together. So ... I had them pose in the backyard.

I included this picture because I love Jack's face in it. It tells me how he really feels about me taking so many pictures that day!

Easter Egg Hunt 2011...

Saturday we had our Easter egg hunt with church kids. We decided that our backyard was too small to host this year, so we headed out of town a little ways to some church friends house where there is more than enough room to run around - they even had some real chickens!! It was a day that could not be beat. It was 65 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. We were so excited. The kids had a great time. I did not get great pictures of the actual hunt because they move too fast for me to get them in focus. Oh well!

These are some of Jack's buddies. Noah is in the middle and is always trying to give Jack a kiss goodbye. Jack usually tries to escape, but this time he was caught - and I caught it too!

Molly with one of her eggs and candy!

Right before the hunt started, I wanted to capture Molly with the camera. This is what she gave me. I will not go into to the parenting that needed to be addressed in this moment of sticking her tongue out at me.

There was this huge tree that was great for climbing. There was wood nailed to the side so that one could climb it easier. Jack was ready to get to the top. I love this picture! He was a little scared about coming down. It took some coaxing to get him back to ground. He was at the top telling me that he couldn't climb down. Of course, I was at the bottom telling him that in fact he could do it and he had to do it because he could not spend the rest of his life up there in the tree!

Jack is driving...

There is nothing to be said about this! One just have to look and smile ....

Kyle's birthday...

Kyle had a birthday a few weeks ago. It was a quiet birthday, but a good one. It was on a Monday, so he already had the day off. We did our usual routine in the morning with the gym and coffee. The kids had the day off of school, so they were with us. After the coffee, we came home. Kyle went to work in the yard. The kids and I were inside doing house stuff. I suggested they each make a picture for Kyle for his below. The pictures below are what he was presented with when they were done! Each one shows a little bit about who they are, so ... enjoy and smile as you think of Jack and Molly!

This one is Molly's picture. She is learning to spell by sounding words out. It reads ... "this is daddy. he is as tall as a monster" (Notice 2 things ... 1. she still sees her dad as really tall 2. he has really really knobby knees!)

This one is Jack's picture. In the middle there is a gray Millennium Falcon shooting red lasers and it has blue lights in the back. In the upper left hand corner is a Tie Fighter shooting green lasers at the Millennium Falcon. Darth Vader is the black guy in the upper middle of the picture - he too is fighting someone. At the bottom, there is Chew Bacca, who is the brown hairy creature with blue eyes. The guy in the left bottom corner is Obi Wan Knobi - I believe. All things Star Wars!

Jack's crash...

Awhile ago Jack and Kyle went on a bike ride while Molly and I went to visit a friend up near Portland. When we returned the above is what we got to see on the inside of Jack's knee. He crashed twice that day on the bike ride. Kyle said that he was very brave and did not even cry. However, there were MANY tears the following days as it healed. It is amazing to watch kids heal - they do it so very quickly. We have not had to have stitches yet in our house, but this is one of the worst injuries we have had. I am happy to say that he is healed and not scared to get back on the bike!

Jack

Day #2...

... of complete sunshine and really warm weather (70 degrees!).

So ... the windows to the house are open, Jack went to school in shorts, the sunglasses have been dug out of the abyss, everyone is looking up to soak in the extra vitamin D, I am wearing capris today, we are bbq - ing brats tonight for dinner with baked beans, and the list could go on.

I was really excited about this weather thinking we have turned the corner and spring is here, which in reality it is here. However, I was brought back to reality by remembering a couple of Junes ago that the high for most of the month was 5o degrees and it rained ALOT! So while I love this weather, I am keeping it in check that we could very quickly return to some typical Pacific Northwest weather in a drop of a hat!