Our Garden

We worked really hard to plant our garden. We planted tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, watermelon, cantaloupe, carrots and cabbage. This was our first garden so we knew we would learn a lot from this experience. We ended up with a lot of potatoes, tomatoes and carrots. I think next time we will start a little sooner (we started late b/c we moved in at the end of March). One of the best parts about the garden was the family time it created for us. Drake loved to help us in the garden in the evenings. The weather was nice in the evenings so when BJ got home from work we would be outside working in the garden/yard until it was time to put Drake down to bed. We got to know our neighbors better because they were out in their yards also.

Drake loved to eat the carrots straight from the garden. We would pick them and then wash them off with the garden hose.

Home in California

Drake loves Grandpa and Grandma!

Grandpa and Grandma Parkinson at their home in Folsom. We were watching a movie together.

We went to Keri's house in Pittsburg while we were visiting in California. It is nice to have her close to mom and dad so we can see her family when we visit them. Drake loved playing at their house. Keri has 5 kids - 4 boys. Drake was in heaven with all the toys and kids to play with.

Grandpa with Cole and Drake. Cole is only 4 months older than Drake. They are good buddies.

Drake and Dallin

Big Smile! Drake loved to play with Dallin while we were in California for Tanner's wedding reception. I hope that Drake can grow up just like Tanner and Dallin.

Drake and his cousins

At Tanner and Kate's reception in CA there was a cute table and bench set up next to the family"line." Drake thought they were the neatest things ever. He loved that the bench because it was just his size. It was actually kind of nice because he would sit on it for awhile at a time and then I was able to talk to people.
Cute boy!

Drake and Kelsi. Poor Kelsi is the only girl cousin. Maybe someday we'll have some more! Look at all that blonde hair! Kelsi is so sweet and really is a great older sister to her many younger brothers. She will be an awesome mother one day.

Drake and Caleb. Those two were crazy together. Drake thought he was in "boy" heaven with Keri's 4 boys. I think it took a week for him to finally calm down after we got back to Cincinnati.

Look at those smiles....somewhat mischievious!

Tanner and Kate's reception in CA

It was really fun to go back to California and see friends and family at the reception. Grandma and Grandpa Parkinson, Gayle and Spencer Parkinson, & Brad and Nancy Muncy & family were all there to celebrate! The reception and luncheon was at a new chapel in Folsom and it went really well. My mom did a beautiful job decorating...with the help of some friends and ward members. There was a live bird in a birdhouse, live harp music, and really yummy treats. Tanner and Kate are so happy. It was fun to celebrate this wonderful occasion together. Just a side note....BJ wasn't really there...he was "photoshopped" into the picture :)

Here are the 4 kids! Dallin, Joni, Keri, and Tanner. We had a wonderful time being together.

I love my sister. We have so much fun together. She is an amazing mother/person and I have so much to learn from her. My sister has such a great heart and it seems that anything she touches turns to "gold!" My mom and my sister give me such great advice, especially about parenting, I would be lost without them.

Site seeing and visiting Tesia in D.C.

Tesia was living in Washington D.C. for an internship over the summer for law school. She worked for the S.E.C. We were really excited to be able to visit her while we were out there for Tanner's wedding. Drake was so excited because Tesia brought him some skittles. Whenever he eats skittles he talks about Tesia. Tesia was our tour guide around the city. It was really nice to spend time with her and see D.C.
Tesia was excited to take us to the science museum. Drake loved the airplanes!

There are so many things to see in Washington D.C. We needed to spend a few more days there to see everything we wanted to. I love seeing the different monuments and hold a special place in my heart for those who have made it possible and those who continue to make it possible for us to live in a free country.

More of Tanner and Kate's Wedding

This picture is so sweet! Drake loves his grandma and grandpa!
Brady Stathem, Tanner & Dallin Parkinson. Handsome boys! Dallin is the only eligible bachelor now!

Tanner and Kate's Wedding

BJ, Drake, and I traveled to Washington D.C. for Tanner and Kate's wedding. We were excited that we only had to fly for about an hour to see family. Since we have moved to Cincinnati it takes all day to travel to see family on the West Coast. We love Kate and her family and are so happy that she is now a part of ours. Tanner and Kate are perfect for each other. Her family lives in Virginia (close to D.C.) which fits Tanner perfectly because he is so patriotic and has such a profound love and respect for this country. They are like "two peas in a pod!" They are a beautiful couple and will conquer the world together.

I love this picture! They are so cute there! You can tell on Tanner's face that nothing in the world matters to him at that moment except that Kate is next to him....so cute!

Tanner and Kate were sealed together for eternity in the L.D.S. Washington D.C. temple. It is a beautiful temple. It is funny b/c Keri and Chris were sealed there when they were married. Chris's family is from Virginia Beach. It was a "walk down memory lane" for them watching Tanner and Kate get sealed in the very same temple they were sealed in. This temple is one of my favorites. When our family lived in Virginia Beach for 4 years this was the temple my parents would go to. I was too young to go inside back then so it was nice to be able to see the inside this time. It is beautiful and of course so peaceful. Kate's younger sister watched Drake during Tanner and Kate's sealing. It was really nice to sit next to BJ and be in the temple with our family and friends.

Unfortunately in this picture Drake isn't too excited about standing still. He wanted to get down and run around....I don't blame him...it was a long day! The colors Kate picked out for her wedding were beautiful. It all came together really nice. Her reception was held at a beautiful white mansion. There was a separate area for dancing and eating. The food was so yummy and beautifully displayed.

I really miss living close to the "boys." I used to see them at least 3-4 times a month when we were all living in Utah. It was really hard to leave them. They are such great examples to Drake. Maybe someday we can all live close to each other!

Fun with family in the Hotel

These boys (Drake and Cole) were best buddies. They were quite a pair. What Drake couldn't do...Cole could...this was a definite recipe for disaster. It was funny to watch them together. Drake and Cole were always trying to get into the elevators to go for a ride. Drake couldn't reach the buttons to open the doors so Cole would push them and the two of them would run into the elevator as fast as they could. Fortunately we caught them before anyone got away!

We were able to enjoy a little relaxation before Tanner and Kate's reception. We all had so much fun together. This was a great reunion. We don't get to all be together very often. I love being with my family...they are my best friends!

Look at these good looking boys! It was hot outside so it felt really good to get in the water.