CHRISTMAS CARD 2012

Howdy To All: Dec. 2011 Here at the Parker home, we have been very blessed this year, with good health, safety, love and lots and lots of family, fun time. Jared still works side by side with his father Lane at the Smithfield Livestock Auction and at the Logan River Ranch. He also has a few of his own irons in the fire, which we call Slash JP Livestock. This enterprise includes horse selling-leasing-shoeing, our own livestock and auctioneering. He remains in the Varsity Scout program in our ward and loves this calling. He is always cheerful, loving and happy when he comes home from work, so we know he LOVES what he does for a living and loves the ones he has the pleasure to work with. Amy remains a stay at home mom, and is also usually cheerful, loving and happy (haha) when she gets off work as well, so we know she LOVES what she does and loves the ones she too has the privilege to work for. I am in the Cub Scouts in our ward and really love the program and watching the boys gain LIFE SKILLS. Jared & I were able to get away this July, just the two of us and it was WONDERFUL. We just got in the car and drove wherever, stopped wherever, slept wherever, etc. We just had a great time being together, alone and seeing places we have never been. We hope to do it again, soon. “Ty” has had a big year. He turned 12 and received the Priesthood in August, which was amazing. He was surrounded by many worthy priesthood holders who he loves very much. He started 6th grade and also started showing a new horse this summer. Ty, as always, is a joy to be around, he is very willing to help and is an Honor Roll student at school, he’s also a reader and always has a book with him. We are so proud of him and the young man he is becoming. He is an excellent example to our other children and those around him. “Virgil” will be 10 in January, and along with Ty, will pass up his mom this year in height. (which isn’t hard) V is a super busy young man, he showed lambs at the fair, started 4th grade and also rode a few new horses this summer in different competitions and did very well. V also enjoys building stuff and using his hands, he is always working on something new and it is usually for someone else, he is super caring, giving and loving. He also is an excellent student and his teacher often tells us that he is the one that is a friend to everyone. Such a great young man Virgil is growing up to be. “Waylon” is 7 1/2 years old and is so excited about turning 8 so that he can be baptized in May. As you can tell by our family picture, Waylon is a happy little boy. He is always smiling, playing or participating in something fun. He played soccer this spring and is really becoming a good little player. He became more aggressive this year which was a breakthrough for him. He also rode his horse in the Ranch Roping Competitions this summer and really did well and enjoyed it so much. Waylon is our little love bug and seems to catch everyone’s eye; family, teachers, friends and GIRLS. He is such a good student and a very good listener. “Shadie” will be 6 in January. She started Kindergarten this fall and is loving every minute of it. She, along with all the kids has a great teacher that has taught her so much, she has really taken a liking to reading. This fall she too started the Ranch Roping and placed at the final competition and had a blast. She is a very happy little girl that loves spending time with her older brothers, inside or outside, it doesn’t mater. Shadie did take a header this summer off of her horse and Aunt Sarah had to put some stitches in her head, but all is well and she rode her horse again the next morning. She is a great big sister and plays well with everyone. “Maggie” Well, Mags will be 3 in January, and I’m pretty sure that says it all. Although she is so dang cute and can be so sweet at times, she is quite the hand full. She is very independent and likes being able to do things for herself. Many people that know Maggie often ask Jared and I if they can take her home, we say “Sure you can: you’ll bring her back, but sure you can”. Maggie loves riding horses, playing with her dolls and chasing Roanie around the house (sometimes in play, sometimes not). She really is a fun little girl that has her daddy (like all his girls) and many others wrapped around her fingers. “Roanie” is now 18 months old and is a TEASER. Now you know why Maggie chases her around the house. She is full of life and loves being a very active little girl. She never walks anywhere, it is always at a run. She doesn’t talk very much, but she makes sure she you know she is there. She was in her first horse show this summer, on “FRED” and really likes being horse back or around any animal. Lady (one of our dogs that sits on the back porch of our house) is Roanie’s best friend. She uses her as a pillow and for riding practise. Roanie just started nursery and is doing ok, but we are blessed to have great nursery leaders that help make her happy. Well our 2011 year has been a whirlwind of fun and we have all enjoyed every minute of it. Just a few things we think you should know is 1- Fred (our faithful Mule) passed away in October. Although he passed away peacefully and without having to suffer, which we feel blessed for, but we do miss him and Maggie says she can’t wait to ride him in heaven where he can run faster. He was such a great mule for all of our children to learn how to ride on, we do miss him a lot. 2- We thought you would also like to know that we are anxiousley awaiting the arrival of our 7th child in June. We are excited to have this new addition coming to our very blessed family this coming summer and will let you all know when and who (boy/girl) arrives. As we finish every year, we often look back and count our many blessings, for us there are too many to keep track of but we would like to thank our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ for each and everyone of them. As we all celebrate this very special time of year, may we all try to keep in our hearts, all that they have done for each and everyone of us. We love you all very much and hope to hear from you all soon. Love: Jared, Amy, Ty, Virgil, Waylon, Shadie, Maggie & Roanie Parker 307 S. 100 W. Providence, UT. 84332 ~ 435-753-2261 ~ www.thejaredparkerclan.blogspot.com