Valentines Day

Here are some picture highlights from Valentines day.

Allie got a Fancy Nancy book

These cute pants that I found at DI.  They had hearts all over them-perfect for the day.

This Strawberry Shortcake water bottle.  It pretty much was a huge hit.  I love it when that happens.

Here is Brai looking at her loot.

After it was all unpacked.

 Greg had gotten up early that morning and made me a candlelight breakfast of all my favs: fried eggs, bacon, toast and jam and cheese.  We ate almost all of it alone until Allie woke up.  She saw the candles and thought they were so cool.  She asked if I would lite a candle for every meal she ate after (for 2 days).  Here is the girls at breakfast.

I love this picture.

It's a Miracle

After the basketball tournament was over we all went to Greg's parents new house in Monroe (have I mentioned how much we love the new house-so much room and I covet the kitchen).  Let me just explain what it is usually like when the whole Parsons clan gets together:

-kids running around and screaming and laughing and crying
-adults screaming over the children to hear each other
-and sports-lots and lots of watching sports (especially golf-SNORE).
-the men usually watch sports, the women sometimes do crafts and mostly watch the children
-oh and surfing the internet-someone is always surfing the web

It pretty much has been that way since I married into the family.  I am getting used to tuning out some kind of sports program.  But (and this is a BIG BUT) this time a miracle occurred.  It came in the form of Just Dance 2 for Kids to play on the Wii (don't worry those of you who don't know what that means).  It is a game that you play that is on the TV and shows kids dancing to different songs and you have to try and copy their moves (that is the readers digest version).  Well Grandma bought it for Kylie (9) to try to see if she wanted it for her birthday.  That got all the kids up dancing.  But the real miracle is that prior to this the men were watching the All-Star Basketball game and they turned it off so the kids could dance.  After the kids danced a couple of songs all the moms took a turn, but only because the men promised they would if we did.  And yep-I have videos to prove it.  (please excuse my laughing in the background but this was hilarious).  

Untitled from Heather Parsons on Vimeo.

Untitled from Heather Parsons on Vimeo.
And they even had fun.  Greg danced for like 5 different songs.  Ryan danced more on his own too.  I have never seen anything like this in my 4 years of marriage.  We all had a blast.  It was the best time we have had together yet-in my opinion.
Here is Allie dancing.  She of course was only in her panties by the end of the night (I don't know who she gets that from :))

Untitled from Heather Parsons on Vimeo.
And here are a few more pics.

This is when we convinced Grandma to join in.

I love how in this picture they are all doing something different though they are all supposed to be doing the same moves.

No-Grandpa Stan is not an invalid-we convinced him to try too-only he just danced in his chair (and I think he had fun too).

All I have to say is this has got to become a Parsons tradition because it was so fun.  Lets make more traditions-what do you say Parsons?

L-E-T-S-G-O

I took these videos of the girls before we left for the state tournament.  Allie is a really good cheerleader!!

Girls State Basketball in Review

It has come to an end-I can't believe it.  I still feel like it might be a dream.  I am no longer a basketball widow.  And, probably much to the shock of my husband and family-I am going to miss it a bit.  The girls on the varsity team were so outstanding this year.  They have really restored my faith in the American Teenager that is for sure. 

Well here are the highlights from the tournament (yep and not an actual picture of any basketball stuff-who had time when I was chasing my two munchins around).  Greg's team took 6th.  They could have gone all the way and deserved too but a terrible injury to one player 45seconds into the first game really hurt them.  Still they played so well and won on the last day which is a first for Greg's team.  We are very proud of them.  And now to the other important stuff: what did my girls wear?  I made them these outfits:

I found this shirt at DI and just added the words on the back.

This is pretty much how Allie spent all 4 days at the tournament-cleaning the floor with her own clothing.  She spent most of the time rolling on the floor and walking around barefoot.  I didn't even worry about it-it was not worth my energy to try and make her do differently.

I think Brailie was in a daze the entire time.  Poor thing was so sleep deprived and exhausted.  She did great though.

 Here are a couple of other highlights:
-Allie fell out of the hotel bed twice on the first night.  She has never done that before.  The first time was during a power outage.  I was in the bathroom and heard the thud and the screaming and told Greg he had to get her because I couldn't see to make my way back quickly.  He comforted her and eventually put her back to bed.  The second time the power had come back on so when I picked her up off the floor I noticed that there were two dark spots on her bed and so I took her to the bathroom by the light and saw that her whole mouth was covered in dry blood.  She had cut her lip open the first time but we didn't know because we couldn't see. 
-Brailie found her voice every night and entertained us with all sorts of mouth noises for at least an hour every time we put her to bed.
-Brailie found everything she could reach within minutes of us arriving in the hotel and had the phone buttons pressed, the tv on, the Kleenex box emptied and the buttons on the safe all pressed.  The phonebook was taken to unknown places and my purse was emptied.  It was really fun being in the hotel with a 16 month old.
-Allie pretty much disowned me as a mother and told me she would be going everywhere with the basketball team on the bus and I couldn't come.  She did decide I was cool when we went swimming.

 She even got brave and got out of her floaty ring and just played in the water without any floaties. 

I just think this picture of Brai is cute.

 Then the cousins came on Friday.  That was so fun for Allie.  She had a blast with them.  Here are some pictures I tried to take of them.  It was next to impossible to get one of them all holding still.  These are my favs.

 I love how they are all looking at Nathan in this picture.



Nathan, Rylee, Kinsey and Allie.



Polka Dancing

A little while ago while I was making some things on Smilebox I was browsing through their music selection and came across these songs.  I nearly burst into tears because these were the songs of my childhood and I can see my dad sitting with his accordion, shoulders and head swaying, foot tapping as he played these so we could dance.  If only I could go back in time I would ask Heavenly Father to let me sit in on a dance or two where he and my aunt used to play in their younger years.  I would be thrilled beyond belief just to hear him play in his prime.  I had to see what Allie would do when she heard the same sweet songs.  These are for you Dad and Auntie Helen and of course my mom who has always encouraged us to dance.

Jumping on the bed

I just want to clarify that I don't usually encourage her to jump in her bed but it was just so cute I wanted to get it on video so I kept asking her to do it.  Miss Allie could care less how I feel about jumping on the bed-it is not something I really lose sleep over.

Journal #5

What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done?  When I was a Freshman in college at BYU I took a outdoor recreation class (mostly because I was really good at trying to find fun classes rather than ones that required a lot of work).  One of the activities we had to do was to build and sleep in a snow cave over night.  Let me just tell you that this was both the most adventurous thing I have ever done and one of the worst things I have ever done and hope to never do again.  First we drove up in the mountains, then snow shoed into a canyon.  The boys and girls were separated and we had to build a huge mound of snow.  I was fresh off the farm and pretty much the only one who knew how to use a shovel so guess who got that job?  Next we had to hollow out the mound to make the cave.  I was fresh off the farm and pretty much the only one who knew how to use a shovel and had any strength and experience with snow so guess who got that job?  By the time the thing was hollowed out we were supposed to eat.  I was tired and wet and frozen.  I didn't have any proper snow gear at college with me and the things that I had borrowed just didn't cut it.  I didn't feel like eating my Dinty Moore Beef Stew (which I wasn't thrilled about eating prior to building and hollowing out a snow cave) so instead I changed into dry cloths, lit my 24 hour candle (which only last half the night p.s.) and tired to go to sleep.  Have you ever slept in a snow cave?  Ya well it is like an igloo I guess and I was terrified the whole night that it would collapse on me, plus I was laying on an angle because i choose the one spot I hadn't leveled quite well and I was worried my 24 hour candle may start my sleeping bag on fire (though it was soaked through so I don't think it was even possible).  We got up at the break of dawn.  I had some granola bars I had packed and was the first one up the hill to get back in the van and get the heck out of there.  Did I mention I did all this to impress a boy that I was in love with who was on a mission.  Ya, he never gave any indication that he thought it was cool.  At least it makes for a good story. 

Second runner up in the most adventurous things category is the blind date I went on with the man I have nick named "Slimbo Jimbo."  My friend Ashlee and her boss decided to set me up on a blind date with a guy named Jim.  He was a country guy and I was big into that type of guy when I was in college and just after.  I think this actually took place when I was living in Logan.  Anyway Ash told me that he was quite a bit older than me but her boss was married to a lady a lot younger than him and they were so happy and I was desperate and open minded so I said okay.  We talked on the phone (he sounded hickish).  We arranged to meet at Hogi Yogi and then go to my favorite place to country dance.  All the way there as I was driving I was thinking of the worst case scenario: He would be bald, have a handle bar mustache and a pot belly.  I was 3 for 3.  We went dancing; he asked how old I was.  I told him 24.  He said he was much older than me.  I guessed he was 40...nope 46 (YA-that is A LOT older than me).  Our age combined made us the oldest people at the dance that night.  He also let me know that he was in the process of getting a divorce (not divorced yet-just separated..."Great a still married, 46 year old with a handle bar mustache!!")  He said it had something to do with his wife leaving and taking his prized goat or pig and hiding it somewhere along with some other animals.  I think I ended the date with a high five.  He called the next day-I let it go to voice mail.  I never called back.

Happy Valentines Day

Another collage by Smilebox

Allie Dancing

I know you are probably tired of the Allie dancing videos (well not my mom-that I know for sure).  This one just shows how much more rhythm she is getting all the time.  And I don't know where the break dancing moves came from (Greg must of taught her while I wasn't home).

Coloring

Brailie was in heaven-I actually let her have the colors.  You can see by the look on her face that she was enjoying every minute of coloring freedom.  I usually don't let her get them because she eats them, throws them everywhere and did I mention that she eats them.  Well on this morning (Feb 9th) they were making a Happy Birthday card for Grandma so I let them both work. 

 

Allie was so into coloring this morning-she hasn't been like that for a while.

Brailie would color for a second then toss the crayon over her head and get a new one.

Love this-with both laying on the floor.

This picture makes her look older



Allie colors with her tongue stuck out a bit just like Daniel used to do.



Time for Prayers

We decided to work harder at trying to get reverence right with child number 2.  We have started much younger than we did with Allie and I think we might be making some progress.  Brailie is one of the most observant children.  She picks up on all kinds of things whether you want her to or not.  We have been working with Allie on folding her arms during prayers and Brailie just picked it up herself.  Isn't this about the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Some other girls we love

So those of you who know me really well probably know that I kind of have a love/hate relationship with basketball.  My husband on the other hand has a TRUE LOVE relationship with basketball.  The basketball season to me seems longer than anything else: school year, summer break, baseball.  My husband is Dedicated with a capital D to being a coach.  I have to admit that there are times with I feel a bit green with envy towards these girls who get to spend what seems to be more time with my husband than me or my girls during the season.  However this year I have particularly grown to love this group of basketball girls more than any others.  Maybe it is because I taught almost all of them when I taught for one year in Green River and also because they are just great girls.  They love my family, they are friendly and kind, they say "thank you", they listen to their coach more than to anyone in the stands and they work so hard.  This year, the team feels more like family.   That made today (Feb 5th) a bit of a bitter sweet day.  It was the last home game of the season but also the last home game of some wonderful Senior basketball players.

This is the whole Varsity team this year.

The Senior girls with their moms.  Kelsee #24 on the end only played basketball this year so she was not on the varsity team, but Greg had her dress for this game so she could also be recognized as a Senior. 

The girls gave us these pans of cinnamon rolls as a thank you.  I will be posting about them momentarily.

Hugging his girls.  I think Greg and I would both agree that we would be happy to call any of these seniors our daughter.

Greg with his "other girls"

Greg with all of his girls.

  

Greg with Melissa, Sarah and Cady.  He has mentored them since they were freshmen.  I remember that because we were just newly married at that time.  We love these girls.

Now I am not going to lie and say I won't be glad when the season is done for the year but it will be sad to not get to spend time with wonderful teenagers.  This world needs more of them.

Oh those blessed cinnamon rolls

I think these might be the ticket to getting Green River some national recognition....as the fattest small town in the USA.  These glorious things are called, "Trevor's Cinnamon Rolls."  They are pretty much the best cinnamon roll I have ever had (even better-way better than mine).  They are like 3-4 inches in height and loaded with cream cheese frosting.  The seniors on the Varisty basketball team gave us a pan of 6 of these as a thank you to Greg (curse them for bringing such temptations into my house).  Last time we had these I had to tell Greg to take them away from me because I could not stop eating them.   Even you can see from this picture that half of one is missing (that was me and you better believe I took the picture and ate the rest).  These are sold at nearly every home basketball game, the local restaurant sells these and you can order them for various PTA functions.  I don't know if there is anyone in GR who has not had one.  If there is it is only a matter of time before they will be tempted as all the rest of us and be doomed to have your mouth water until you satisfy the craving.  Thanks Trevor for sharing your culinary talents with our little town and making us all a little plumper.

The hug

Brailie learned how to officially hug-arms outstretched and wrapped around someone.  Allie had her practice at least 10 times in a row.  Each time she held out her arms just as cute as ever.  What little sweeties.

What's happening over at Small Fry & Co.

I am asuming that everyone that reads this blog also reads my Small Fry blog.  Right now I am doing a sew along project to make these Valentines outfits.  These are just a few of the "candid" shots from my little photo shoot with the girls.

Getting a little culture in our lives

 The weather here turned cold and so we were stuck in the house for a few days.  Needing something "new and exciting" I decided to take the girls to the local museum for "An Adventure."  I hadn't been there before but Greg said it was interesting and I thought, if nothing else the girls could run around.  It is a river history museum (I know sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry) but we went.  Pretty much as soon as we began "exploring" things began to decline at a rapid pace.  First there was, what Allie affectionately named "the hello guy" (a wax figurine of a man on a boat-and I will side with Allie on this one, he was rather scary looking).  Well it had one of those things that you can push to make it talk (and in this case move-doubly scary when he already looks scary).  I made the mistake of pushing the button, that sent Allie into a tizzy screaming to turn him off.  I quickly moved us to another room which was great until we had to go back into the main room to use the elevator to get downstairs.  She caught one glimpse of the "hello guy" and was glued to my leg.  She hates elevators already so getting into it next was not improving the trip but downstairs we went.  Now we have never seen dinosaurs before (I was afraid they might be too scary and I was right) and we will not be seeing dinosaurs again for a while either.  These are the dinosaurs they have:

 When we moved closer to look at this "little one" Allie turned and noticed that the big one was staring her right in the face, teeth and all and she was begging to leave.

 I noticed a room with these old boats in it and distracted us in there for a while.  The girls seemed to like looking at the boats, but then again they were also fascinated with the blinds on the windows.

 Brailie started to make an escape towards the dinosaurs since I had let her out of the stroller and I decided rather than have a full dinosaur replica be destroyed by a pro like her we had better head back upstairs (yep...in the elevator).  We exited on level 1 and Allie immediately started whimpering that she didn't want to see the "hello guy" and suddenly she was extremely hungry for lunch.  I told her there were some baskets in another corner to see and we weaved our way to those trying to avoid the scary guy when what do we come face to face with?  Another scary guy dressed as a mountain man.  Well that did it, we had to leave-there was no adventure left to be had.  We breezed by the gift shop where Allie handled the rocks display and Brai was trying to reach for anything she could get her hands on and we were out of there.  The ladies asked if we had seen the bear.  I said no but thought that we probably couldn't have handled any more trauma in one visit anyway and told them we would come back some other time to see it, like when Allie is 5.  We headed out into the bitter cold where Allie insisted we look at the river.

And pretty much that was the most exciting part of the whole trip.  Note to self: next time skip the museum and just look at the water.  On the way home Allie said, "Mama, next time lets go to the store and post office but not the guzeum.  I don't like the 'hello guy'."  Yes Allie I think I caught that.