Monday, August 23, 2010

Merwin Mecca

J/K! Can't end summer posts without ode to the waterfall that caps the creek near our cabin:) Quarterback weekend will be next--Speaking of which, Brooke took Jake and Boett up when we weren't there in July, so I had promised Cole that we'd go again! His wish came true when more cousins came into town since Zac was ready for action as well...Dane wanted to join us in addition to being Tiffin's first attempt. Grandpa Gar is always willing to lead the way so Meg and I put our youngest down for naps then grabbed Wes to make the group complete since Mike was resting up for his marathon this past Sat-WTG Dr Uffens! We do appreciate Mom, Rach & Boop holding down the fort in our absence although wasn't the same without them!
It's kinda like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" as far as the route is concerned, so I really noticed some beautiful spots along the way. Of course, I'm not just one to take pics o' scenery so had to add Parker boys:)

I have gone up @ least two dozen?! times @ my ripe ole' age, but never subjected myself to refreshing dip in the pool @ our final destination knowing full well how chilly it is en route let alone the lake itself. Wanted to have another picture with my daddy @ the top though as I've never done this hike without him:) Exciting to follow in his footsteps though by helping my own sons!But I'm always up to try the natural rock slides on way back down-For some reason, I don't mind if I freeze my rear off since I can afford to lose some lbs on my lower half:) Please disregard that not to mention how chubby my cheeks look in like every single pic-ugh! Obvious that I haven't paid attention to what I've been eating lately; I will blame it on mom for always feeding us so well during week @ Merwin:/ But anyway, I convinced a few to join me.














As I mentioned the landscape always seems to change a bit from year to year, so our main mini waterfall that we used to brave is actually gone. Here Grandpa/Uncle Gar is initiating the boys with a replacement:) He's pointing out Dane underneath before it's Cole's turn!














Meagan and I have kids close in age except youngest who are a year apart. Difference for older 2: Zac & Cole=3 mos./Dane & Tiffin=1 wk! Glad the Websters could come up again; always makes for a memorable time in August!
So great to Ali back as well for first time in what? 5 yrs?! Not pictured: Getting back up on a ski (after 3 yr hiatus for me @ least!) & a Fab Nurtz tourney around midnight on one o' few nights that I didn't crash when the kids were sent to bed:) The rest of you out-o'-st cousins who couldn't make it are in big trouble and better mark it on your 2011 calendars now...we seriously missed you! Sad to say, it's gonna get harder even for all 5 sisters to be together in one summer week, but oh so worth it!! Not possible without mom & dad's hospitality, for which we are ever so grateful!
ps Cousins Paige n' Anna are lil' fish now too, but will prob be a few more summers before able to make the hike! So Cole entertained 'em in the yard with some rousing rounds literally of Ring Around the Rosy-that song will never be same for me after someone alluded to true meaning when we resorted to it during nursery, but they were cute together @ the cabin:)

Monday, August 9, 2010

CGP's #8 on 8/8!!!!!!!!

Heading down to Provo over Labor Day weekend for Tale of 2 Jakes (just a teaser for next post), but it meant we got special permission to have Cole's baptism on his very birthday since that's what it's all about when you turn 8:)Despite confusion between camera 1 & camera 2, wanted to picture Parker men with Grandpa & Grandma Parker visiting from UT-Luke is kinda a "one n' done" guy, so was halfway outta this pic; however, we had to capture all of the grandkids together before they spread cross country from NV to KY not to mention Aunt Brooke heads back to Y. Special that all could make it to Cole's special day since soon my boys will be only ones in the Great NoWest! But we enjoyed quality bonding while it lasted...


Brotherly love:) One of Cole's biggest fans is his medium bro! For the record, I don't know what I'd do without him on rare weekend am when I get to sleep in courtesy of his help with small bro as well! He is such a great large bro!

So many other kind Puyallup friends/fam came out to support Cole-We are so grateful & Wish he could've personally greeted them all not to mention had more pics taken to remember those in attendance just for him! So guess lame attempt now to thank also Aunt Sherry & Uncle Basil, Chad & Kyla Parker, Paul & Ardie VanValkenbergs, rest of Dents, Troy Haueter & kids, Bro Vinson (Primary teacher) & kids, Hoffmans, Sis Johnston (preschool teacher), Carlyles, Bro & Sis Mecum (Scout advisor), Candice Reifschneider & Tammy & Jenny McDonald. Hope I didn't forget anyone!?!
We had 8 white desserts available afterward, but Cole wasn't interested in all of 'em:) Still had to blow out candles on official day eh!?!
ps Our 8 y.o. doesn't know how mom & dad really feel about Scouts yet, so have tried really hard not to squelch his Wolf enthusiasm!?! Once a professional (or his handy grandma who unfortunately freq ends up with anything involving repairs esp sewing kind) gets hold of patches on his shirt, then he'll really be good to go! I seemed to have misplaced my thimble to save my thumbs in the process?! He also managed to pass off nearly all of his Cub prereqs in one sitting so is well on his way:) Only 3 of 'em in his pack, so they really need him!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Building a "Take-Home" Party

So apparently if you want to have a Lego party @ the store, you have to book it on a Sunday am (strike 1) in 2011 (strike 2) @ Bell Square (kinda strike 3 since can only currently fit own children inside the Vue:)-Thus as shown in previous post, we made a fun afternoon of picking up our "Take-Home Party" and mom recently survived the actual deal though I swear doing it @ home is more stressful--talk about pressure when I'm comparing it to my creative friends & their @ home-themed festivities...hmmm-no thanks! I mean, whatever it takes to celebrate my firstborn!
Started out by building scene together that told a story begun by b-day boy while we waited for friends to arrive-Here's aerial view!Then we made the most outta current mess in boys' room by searching for the exclusive birthday brick (perhaps part o' the rip-off that was his pkg deal:) on the table-Dane & Luke, like most little bros, thought party was for them:)Next it was inevitable that we find out which team could build the tallest tower-winner=31 inches without support OR falling one time!T'was a bit crowded so then moved the party downstairs to do relay where they had to sort and transport certain color Legos from mixed bowl to bucket @ other end o' the room-














Needed some sugar in their systems, so decorated Lego figures (courtesy o' sugar cookie cutters from Lego store in Downtown Disney); apparently wasn't insult to Cole's masculinity who also inherited his dad's artistic ability as seen in this naked, yet tan man sporting belt!?!














Offered yellow frosting if they wanted to stay true to form as well as mini m&m's for facial features and pull-apart licorice for hair since we actually included few special girls in Cole's life. Liv decided to ice her tongue instead like Smurfette-that was sweet idea:) Her sister Maren showed off her finished product as well-Always a party with the Dent girls!















Last but not least, everyone worked hard on his/her own Lego creations! Cousin Annie, as youngest party guest, was quite proud of her first set! Meanwhile some of his friends including Seth are acclaimed professional builders, but never seems to get old to whip out those instructions!













Oh yeah, gotta open presents (thanks generous friends & fam) and sing again to the birthday boy:) so we can fit in cake & ice cream before sending 'em all home all revved up!! If you can't tell 'cuz my best intentions/mental pictures rarely translate into actual finished product, it's Lego bricks in shape of 8:) Have to give credit to my father-in-law for frosting in entirety despite his & Chris' vote to head to store bakery instead!
You're welcome Cole, if I do say so myself...and very worth it to show our love--we are so glad you have been in our lives for 8 yrs; however, I, for one, am also grateful I only committed to parties with multiple friends on the even years:)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Past Bedtime!

Luke cracks us all up-mostly in the car while I'm making his older brothers cater to his every whim...But here are some of his antics when he should be asleep already!

FHE with the Hawks


Never made it up to the VMAC to see training camp last summer, so decided it was high time we see what a Seahawks' open practice was all about...A dozen of our family members hopped aboard the shuttle bus from The Landing in Renton to their practice facility right on the water=gorgeous setting that made me all the more excited for football season to begin!!



Of course it was too much to ask for the sun to come out over the weekend, but it was in full force on the hillside overlooking the field. Thus we all benefitted from free water and cheap ice cream treats:)
















My boys took their turn spinning prize wheel and won a trip through Autograph Alley, but alas! Their posters of Hasselbeck and Tatupu remained unsigned since the players are randomly selected each time--10 in all though!



















Our favorite college teams also start practice this weekend, so instead of Hawk starters we bonded with a Husky...and Cougar in the meantime!
Rachel's girls were sportin' the lime green & fit right in...Never mind what was going on behind them:)Worked up an appetite...just ask Huey!
Then it was time to exercise the ole' vocal cords--

Please forgive me for indulging once again with my youngest featuring his 2 current fav pasttimes=Justin Bieber sing-along n' Backyardigans! (Can also be heard freq humming "Float Flutter Fly!" from Quest to the Flying Rock episode:)