September already

I've felt like the summers have gone by faster the last two years.  I suppose its partly because we are busier than we were before now that the kids are older and more active.  Part of the fleeting summer is the difference between summer in Seattle and every other summer I've experience in various places across the country.

Utah: Hot, dry, mosquitos, heavily scented with sage and sunflowers, comfortable in the shade.

Texas: Hot, humid, sunny, deafening hum of cicadas, Blue Bell ice-cream.

Indiana: Hot, humid, rain in the middle of the night, fireflies, make-up melting off women's faces in the 10:00 a.m. sunshine at the park, tomatoes growing like weeds.

Then there is Seattle: In June there are a few days of glorious sun where the city shuts down as people flock to any un-timbered area to bask in the sun.  The rain finally stops July 5th (I have the rainy 4th of July pics to prove it) and we have sun.  Highs of 75, lows of 55, a week or two of 80+ somewhere before September.  Mountain biking.  Sun shining through the trees and lighting up the undergrowth like The Emerald City.  We put box fans in the windows after dinner to cool down the house (no AC needed).

Now summer is over.  September and even most of October are pleasant but I wish I was so tired of summer heat that I could beg for the coolness of fall.

Will can ride a bike!

At the beginning of summer Carter finally figured out how to ride a bike.  Now at the end of summer Will did too.  So proud of my little monkey.  Will and Carter were both playing at the Draxler's house when Will went up to Nate and said he was ready to ride without training wheels, could he please take them off? Nate asked if Will had ever ridden without training wheels and Will said no, but he was ready.  Nate said okay and held the seat for a few steps before Will told him to let go.

Will has always had an iron will and I think this example only solidifies my perception of him.

I changed the picture!

Check out my computer skills, I changed the picture on the header!  Notice the title 'Parke Family" coincidently lined up on Katie's fireplace mantle?  hehe.  I think it looks like vinyl lettering put there on purpose.

Utah Wedding Visit

Our trip has been pretty busy and we're only half into it.  We woke up at 4:30 am on Friday to catch our flight.  When we landed Scott picked us up and we went to his house for lunch.  The kids played together for a little while and then we went to Gram's house to unpack and take a nap.  Then, in a hurry we got ready for Jeff and Santa's wedding reception.  We had a few pictures before the reception started and the kids helped a little with bustling cake around to the guests.  At one point Charlie and I noticed the music had changed from simple guitar and piano music to piano and guitar Christmas music.  I grabbed my iPod and we hijacked the sound system.  We turned on some salsa to liven things up a bit and got our salsa groove on.

William's benadryl induced nap after a wasp sting on his cheek.

Charlie's parents with Jeff  and Santa

The kids with one of the horses in downtown Ogden

Bonnie and Brianna

On Saturday we went to the ceremony in Salt Lake.  While waiting for the ceremony a temple worker got on the microphone 4 different times to ask everyone to be reverent.  The noise level would settle down for a minute and climb back up again.  There were three other wedding parties there so the room was full and I'm sure reverence requests are pretty normal, however, Monica in her usual witty mood started making jokes.  She said if she were in charge she would use threats like "You wanna see your loved one get married today?  Then you'd better be quiet." Then she reminded me that Christ used a whip in the temple and maybe our crowd needed one too.  The really funny moment was when the temple worker announced, "We are now ready for the Lord---er---the Lloyd Wedding." We found it quite hard to contain the snickering and were all quite glad at the thought that we were waiting in the temple when The Lord was due to arrive.  Later that night we had a pizza party so the kids could get to know their new cousin, Lidsan a little bit better.  She is a sweet and loving girl and we really like her.

Sunday after church we had a BBQ at Scott and Katie's house before Charlie and Lidsan flew to their homes.  We planned on having family pictures taken but a huge rainstorm blew in.  Aunt Carol took a few pictures in front of the fireplace.  I was surprised we could fit the whole clan in the space.  We kept the kids happy by tossing marshmallows in their mouths like little seals performing tricks.

Monday we intended to go swimming or fishing but there was thunder and lightning again so we took the kids to the mall to play while Katie and I went shopping.  Later that night we had a birthday party for my family since 3 out of 4 of us just had a birthday.  Carter got some presents too.  I can't believe he will have a birthday in just 3 months.  We had the Parkes, Grandpa Lund and Katie and Scott and the cousins.  It was fun to sing happy birthday to so many people.

Flying with Brett

Flight certificate

Tuesday we  went to iFly.  The boys were thrilled to skydive in the wind tunnel with Uncle Brett.  Will had never done it before and Carter could barely remember.  He was not yet 4 when he went last.  Brianna was a little nervous of the flight suits so she snuggled with Monica.  I sat on the bench with the boys while they waited for their turn.  Will did great with both of his turns.  Carter was a little more nervous and told Brett to keep a good grip on him.  Both boys flew up high with Brett and Carter stood and did a flip. Carter was a little shaken right after he got out of the tunnel but perked up when he got some attention for doing a trick. We got an icecream cone with Papa and then went back home to play.  Later that night, Bonnie, Ashley and I had a Zumba class.  It was fun but super tough.

Carter tried coming through the doggie door
just as the dog decided to go through.

Wednesday we went to Salt Lake.  We went to the Church History Museum to see the new kids' exhibit.  They played in Nephi's boat, felt the weight of the Golden Plates, pretended to cook dinner for the missionaries, dressed up, and built a temple from blocks.  Then we went to Aunt Mary's house for a visit and lunch.  The kids had a great time playing with Mary's dogs and dominos, snacking on cookies and juice boxes.  Mary told me about their horse, Lady who was a racehorse when she was young.  When they bought Lady she was too old for racing and breeding but when Mary tried to ride Lady in the Peach Days Parade, Lady tried to gallop to get in front of all the other horses.  Grandpa had to hold Lady's reins tight and walk her the length of the parade because Mary couldn't hold her back.

Kids with Bodie

Mary said she was the smart book reader in their family, Dad was the perfect child who never did anything wrong, and Dan was the favorite or the family mascot as the baby and the swimmer.  Mary talked about Grandma's ability to make friends very quickly.  Grandma made friends with the people sitting next to her in less time than it took to ride a tram to the end of Oceanside Pier.  She knew (and chatted with) everyone she saw at the grocery store and could work her connections to her advantage. Grandpa was in Brigham City looking for a place to live and Brigham City was booming with new jobs at Thiokol.  The houses that were listed were rented the same day they posted. Grandma, still living in Wisconsin, called a man she knew at the newspaper in Wisconsin.  He called his friend who worked at the Brigham newspaper and the friend let Grandpa view the newspaper before it was released so he could have the first chance to call on the rentals.

Filling pots with Grandma and Tom.

Will stomping on bales of peat moss.

Teaching my girl how to make soil.

Thursday we went to the greenhouse.  The boys were thrilled to fill pots for poinsettias and make soil.  At one point Carter told me he could handle putting the pots on the filling machine by himself and I could take a break.  I told him that we were farmers and farmers don't take breaks until the work is done!  He looked at me with eyes wide and and exclaimed "We're farmers?!" I said yes and he puffed up with pride.  Later I overheard him repeating his new work ethic to William.  We went to Grandma Schramm's house for lunch and the kids had a grand time playing with the toys.  They love playing with Grandma's extensive set of antique little people and town.  They had rootbeer floats according to tradition.  Less traditional was Grandma and Grandpa's mix of flavors--Raspberry cheesecake ice cream with root beer.  Carol says at least this time it wasn't mint ice cream.  We visited with Aunt Janice and RJ and helped tried to sort out a mixed up delivery of wedding flowers.  Papa babysat both my kids and Katie's that night while we went to Carol's house to help decorate for the wedding.

Brianna laying on the carpet-bed in the playhouse
Katie's kids made in the barn

The kids love the vintage Little People town.

Brianna playing with Grandma Schramm

Friday Katie brought over a swimming pool and the kids splashed and played all day.  Carter complained of being cold in the shade so I made an obstacle course with things found in the garage.  All the kids loved it, but Adam and Carter could run it the best. The kids and I went to Bonnie's house to ride horses.  Brianna was nervous but was willing to ride with Bonnie.  The boys had a great time and Carter even rode without complaint when it started to rain really hard. Katie's kids slept over again at Grandma's house that night while we had a sibling dinner.  We had a grand time teasing and talking together.  I missed Charlie, but he was keeping busy at home in Seattle by himself.

Carter lost his tooth while we were at the wedding luncheon.

Today is Saturday.  We will head to the wedding luncheon and reception later today.  Tomorrow is Bonnie's baby blessing and Monday we go home!  Then maybe I'll post some pictures!