We'll always BE Thankful for Pres. Hinckley

For the record, the previous post was added prior to the news of Pres. Hinckley's death. Obviously celebrity status has been put in perspective as it should. Like many of you, I can hardly believe that our beloved prophet has passed away!?! I was hoping he could make it to 100, but to tell you the truth, I didn't ever want to hear that he was gone. We received two phone calls with the sad news: one from Cole's preschool teacher shortly followed by a good friend. Tears immediately came to my eyes as I realized the impact & void that would be felt not only by Church members but worldwide with loss of such a great leader & inspired man of God. Chris tried to get update online, but seemingly took forever to confirm details & even then such contrast to media frenzy surrounding Heath Ledger-ironic! I'm glad it was @ least included within the hour on major news servers so he could receive tribute that he deserved with quiet dignity. I took some time after boys in bed to look @ pics. I'm sure I'll read his quotes with extra care in coming months as well. Everyone will really notice in April during Gen. Conf., but the beauty of the gospel & restored Church is the way the current apostles will carry on according to the Lord's will. I love that order & have a testimony of that authority we know as the priesthood! I will miss so many things about Pres. Hinckley...The Poles thought his last name was BHinckley & interestingly enough, that was appropriate for his manner of being so many things to so many people. He exemplified the very adjectives & characteristics that he preached! With my own degree in PR, I was especially aware of the amazing strides he made as the face of the Church in the public eye. He was so articulate & had a great sense of humor. I'll never forget his cute quips & mannerisms, always waving that funny cane towards the end. Once @ BYU devotional that I had privilege of attending in Marriott Center, he knew the camera was on him & ran his fingers through his hair just enough that it would be on the big screen overhead! Here's another memory that captured his ever-positive attitude...
He knew when it was appropriate to be silly & yet no one could ever doubt his unwavering faith & powerful, sincere testimony. My only solace since we can't have him here with us is how much joy he now feels with reunion to his sweet wife Marjorie & without a body to limit his spirit's high energy:)

I know I'll grow to love new prophets in succession & of course, the gospel is still true. But Pres. Hinckley will always hold a special place in my heart & personal testimony of continued revelation! Just as he challenged, I will do my very best to live in a way that I can be like him when I grow up! oh how he is loved & will be missed!!

Wally World

I have to admit, it was my idea. I'm a masochist, what can I say? On KJR(Sports radio) I heard that Wally Szczerbiak, a guard for the Seattle Sonics, and my wife's long-time crush, was gonna be signing autographs at the Southcenter Mall on Saturday for an hour. I called Beck and told her about this chance to be "united with the man of her dreams" leaving open the opportunity for her to say "but I'm married to the man of my dreams!" or "Who needs a really hot professional athlete when I have you, a balding, tooth-making, father of my children?" Sadly, there was none of that (sigh)...Instead our little family went up together to meet Wally, steal a picture or 2, and watch Beck flirt like a school girl. She would tell you that the only reason we went ahead was 'cuz we were already halfway there after picking up our boys from my sister's house in Covington. Whatever?! A jolly-good time was had by everyone, even me, bruised ego and all. But, let it be known, I expect full cooperation from the Mrs. when Jessica Alba comes to town.




After walking the entire length of the mall, we discovered that we'd missed technical cut-off in line by two people!? of course, news like that makes Beck's OCD take over...so we still waited for chance that the line would move faster than the guy thought & we'd make it in remaining half hour to the blessed table. She sent me ahead to take pics. just in case, but we made it after all for an official turn. Too bad Dane was asleep in her arms and I was the Paparazzi. A half-dead Dane cramped Beck's style so much that she requested a retake not knowing if/when the opportunity would arise again. I know, I wondered how many more "retakes" she would want. I'm no cow, but I know when someone's milking it!


Ahhh...that's better...my wife in Wally World...wonderful, huh? She thought so!

Batman Begins

We witnessed the making of a super hero right in our very own living room! Everyone helped in assembling the gear on the birthday boy:)
Of course, Cole had to try it on too!
Even Grandpa Gar & Grandma Neecy got a piece of the action...

Feast or Famine?!

The joy of January birthdays, as Cole was quick to point out, is the abundance of gifts received right away beyond those delivered by Santa Claus to rest of family. Dane opened a plethora of fabulous birthday presents & promised to share with his older brother (who doesn't think he can possibly wait until end o' summer even though we assured him that we only have one b-day apiece each year). Cole should move to Poland where they celebrate name days too:)...However, little does Dane know that he'll have to wait a whole year for it to be his turn again-ugh!
The dinosaur stuff was actually left over from Christmas-oops! & courtesy of a gift certificate from Great Grandpa & Grandma Shaw Thanks Grandpa Gar & Grandma Neecy for fulfilling a dream to own a real light saber:) not to mention a very generous check! not pictured = Cait's willingness to pass on easy-bake oven complete with new meal packets so boys can make their own pizza, mac n' cheese & soft pretzels:) "It's the gift that keeps on giving!" Grandpa & Grandma Parker sent a cool monkey created @ Build-a-Bear in UT with a special message just for Dane! Dad had to get Daners his own batmobile to cruise around the house in style courtesy of E-bay! Aunt Britt sent a great stash of Spiderman & Backyardigan fruit snacks (that were consumed within a week:))as well as a sweet Spiderman disc shooter that Dane used with natural finess!
And we saved the best for last = a handmade (not by mom:)) reversible cape so Dane could be Superman or Batman depending on his mood & deluxe gear including fooper hewo bloves a.k.a. (sound-activated) super hero gloves!!!

Fine Dining for B-day Boy

We, Parkers, have mastered the art & feel no shame in admitting that we pretty much eat our way through major holidays! Thus, we had to partake of all Dane's favorites on his happy 3rd birthday: "D,C,P", "3" & bat-shaped pancakes for starters + juice of course... choc. milk & spiderman mac n' cheese (Cole thinks the shaped kind tastes better for some reason?!) for late lunch after 3 y.o. pics.- don't worry, he wasn't wearing that:)(see kiddiekandids.com; click on "my studio" & type in sitting #: 608003656 + sitting code: 98A85AC 'cuz I can't attach the link?!). not pictured = snack of churro & root beer @ Costco among other errands; I did decline the typical free cookies @ grocery store:)... all to prep. for more food @ family party=make-your-own pizzas, veggies + fabulous b-day cake crafted by dad & your choice of b-day cake or cookies & cream ice cream...





not a whole lotta nutrition involved, but hey! whatever the b-day boy wants to satisfy his palate, eh?:) We did pass on "3"-shaped mylar balloon @ Party City 'cuz it cost $12! If it was edible, we might've splurged:) you can bet, however, that we purchased Batman tablecloth, cups, napkins & plates to finish our fine dining:) apparently Daners felt the old hand-me-down Batman jammies completed the look?! & featured them in every birthday pic. except the professional ones!

Ring in the New Year!