Diamond Star Pageants

Well pageant day went off without a hitch. It turned out great. We ended up with 14 contestants. 5 judges and an evening full of entertainment. We entered all four of the kids in my pageant. It was so much fun. Each of the kids got a crown, a trophy, and a sash. The baby winner was Hayden. The overall Diamond Supreme was BROOKE!!! It was crazy. I had a tough time with it due to me being the director. The judges scores were all so different but they each scored her well. She was so excited when she won. The pics say it all.

New Fall Pictures

We always take the kids up the canyon during fall to have pictures done for them. I have a really hard time paying for an indoor picture when there are such beautiful views outside. The leaves were absolutely beautiful. What is funny is the littlest, Hayden was so cute and the oldest Brooke, we got maybe one good one of her out of about 500 pictures. Oh how they have grown.

Brooke is now 6 and in the first grade. She is definately a girl. She loves to be pretty and really enjoys her friends and being alone.

DJ is now 4. He still loves trains and trucks. He has a major facination with anything that tows. Trailers, boats, campers, diesels. It's crazy.

Peydon is 4 also. He is still really into "High School Musical." He is the still the short one of the bunch.

Hayden is now 1 and is a major trouble. He loves to play hide and seek and is a great hider. He also hides things that you find 2-3 months later.

They are such great kids and we love them very much

Camping 2009

June 2009 -We went fishing during the break of the rain.

June 2009 - You know when you have to wear a coat in the middle of June it's not warm.

June 2009 - Camping was fun but very rainy and very wet.

June 2009 - Hiding from the rain in the makeshift shelter Damien made for us.

Brooke was constantly wet. She wanted to ride her bike in the middle of the rainstorms.

DJ, our pyro maniac standing at the fire.

July 2009 - Jaci and Brooke chilling in grandma's tent.

He was trying to fix something. There is barely any DJ left at all.

The kids had to have a bath after their mud puddle bike riding.

They created a huge mud puddle and learning if they put DJ's bike in it, they could just spin the back wheel and it would spray them with mud. It was sooooo funny.

Poor Jaci was freezing.

Brooke trying to get sprayed.

The little devils made a mud puddle in our camp site that was huge.

Shaun and the kids chasing the mice that were all over our campsite.

All day long we heard, can we start a fire now.

Tasha, Shaun, and Peydon came to visit us.

Camping food, YUM YUM!!!

So this year for camping, Damien went with us once and then this last time I took the kids. Cathy came up also. The first trip we went on was in June when we were getting pounded by the rain. We had put it off for three weeks and finally decided we should go. It was sooo muddy and rainy. We got there on Friday and it was ok to set up the tents. Then late afternoon it clouded up. We didn't get anymore rain that night till about 3 in the morning. It rained till probably 9:30 or so. We got up and Damien jimmy rigged us a shelter from the rain. That was nice. The kids would go ride their bikes every rain break we got. It was funny. It rained on and off all day Saturday. Sunday we woke up to find blue skies, but guess what? It was time to pack up. We packed up to get home and it start to rain. It was fun but we could have done it without the rain. It was nice to have Damien home and to go camping with us.

In July, Cathy and me decided to go camp. It was sooooo fun. It was beautiful weather. We weren't overly hot or cold. The kids were able to play to their hearts content this time. They rode bikes, fished, ate, made a huge mud puddle that they rode their bikes through and chased the mice that were all over the place up there. Cathy found a mouse in her tent the second night. We laughed hysterically. What a great time.

Brooke wasn't so sure about swinging with Allie.

Peydon loved Allie. This is his "new friend."

The baby would just giggle when he was swinging. He loved it.

Julie, she was so exhausted after their crazy past three months.

Drew just chillin in the shade.

It was so nice getting to see Drew and Julie and their family this past weekend. They were here following Lorren's wedding on Thursday. They have been in Utah about a month and so they were leaving three days after we got to see them. It's been probably a year since we have seen them. They live in Florida so it is tough to come back to Utah. We miss them dearly when they are gone. Nick was able to come too which is so great. He is out of trouble which is good. How they have grown.

Aren't they cute kids!!
The three siblings, Laura, Jason, and DJ.

4 generations!

Mom Kathy and DJ!!

Me and Chunky monkey!

Ok so Peydon kicked off his shoe and lost it in the weeds below the tramp. It took 2 hours and 5 people looking to finally find that stupid shoe.

Aunt Alona and Uncle Lamont. These are my dad's aunt and uncle from Arizona. I think the last time we saw them was like 10+ years ago.

So my dad's aunt and uncle decided to come into town and surprise my grandma and grandpa Parkin. They arrived and Aunt Alona called grandma Parkin on the phone and was talking to her like she was still in Arizona. Lamont snuck inside and walked around the corner to put grandma into utter shock that they were really there in Salt Lake. She was so excited. It worked out perfectly. We had a nice lunch at dad and Kathy's. Jason and Britney, one of Kathy's kids, from Oregon were in town too. Poor Britney is soooooo sick. She is pregnant with her third and about due but is soooooo sick. It was great getting to see Aunt Alona and Uncle Lamont. It was even more exciting seeing Jason and Britney. We haven't seen them since the wedding. It was a very nice day.