Baseball season is well on its way. Today Parker's team played the Rangers. He got to play catcher for the second time and looked so cute in all the gear. 
He is also into sliding into home--knees first! 
Papa Swing and Nana Ann came down from Sacramento to watch. Parker was so excited to have all of his grandparents there. 
Baseball is going great and Parker is having so much fun with his team this year!
Parker is so excited because we have cousins in town! Yesterday, my Aunt Kari and her family arrived from Idaho for a few days. As soon as Parker woke up, he asked to play with "my cousin, Cameron." So right after school Kari, Grandma Lloyd, and the kids came over to play. The kids had a great time playing games, bowling on the Wii, having light saber duels, and eating popsicles. 
Baby Charlie, who pooped out a penny while at my house. 
Grandma got a strike!
Parker had his first official game today, uniforms and all! He had a couple of great hits and made us laugh as he slid into home like a pro. There were a few sweet moments watching one of his teammates, Katie, who has down syndrome. She would signal that she was "Safe!" at each base and blew kisses to all of her fans in the bleachers as we cheered her arrival at home plate. The weather was beautiful (in the 80's) and the ball park smelled of hotdogs and hamburgers. What a great day to play ball!
Parker had his first city league baseball game today. This is his 3rd year playing. The first year, he and his teammates would sit in the outfield doing somersaults and picking flowers. 
Last year, it felt more like football as they would tackle one another to get to the ball. 
This year, they are a lot more focused although they are playing on a real field and it is hard to resist kicking up the dirt. Our first "official" game with uniforms starts next week. 
Tonight we had a Primary Activity to help the kids learn about our new prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Parker's favorite parts were learning the U of U fight song (blasphemy to us BYU Alumni, I know. Don't worry--I taught him our fight song on the way home) and trying salt water taffy for the first time. They learned that President Monson was a Mission President in Canada and how to speak Canadian, eh. 
President Monson loved to play checkers with his children, so they played a game of human checkers.
And each child got to write a message on the banner that was used for the group picture to be sent to the Friend Magazine.
Parker wrote, "Thack (thank) you! Thack you!"
The ever clever prankster, Parker, came up with a great idea to get dad for April Fools. When Justin came home from work, Parker ran up with lotion in his hands and wiped it all over his daddy's hands. Justin, thinking this was the prank, went immediately to wash it off at the kitchen sink, only to discover that Parker had taped down the handle to the spray nozzle, giving him an unexpected shower! Justin was a good sport about it and we all had a good laugh. Happy April Fools!
Actually, Parker did it! After learning last fall that a Wii was beyond Santa's budget, Parker started saving his money to buy one himself. He managed to save money he had earned doing chores, recycling cans and bottles, Christmas money, and birthday money until he got the $250. It was such a great experience for us all. We were able to teach him about saving, staying out of debt, paying tithing, and working hard for something you really want. There were times he was tempted to buy something else, but with a little encouraging, he stuck it out and is so glad he did. After a week long search for a Wii, Justin happened to track one down at Target that had just been delivered. The boys grabbed their shoes and the Wii jar and took off. There were just 2 left by the time they got there. Justin came home with one happy boy and wii have been having fun all afternoon! Wii love it!
