Kollege hear I come!

 OK, so I blinked and my adorable, funny little McKay is all grown up and wants to go to College. His senior year of high school he was reluctant to commit to a college and applied to a couple, but defaulted to a community college near our home.  We knew he would be happier on campus at a 4-year college, but we would support his decision.  Then, 3 weeks before school started, he did some research, changed his mind, and enrolled in Southern Utah State University.  Once the decision was made I think everyone felt relieved that this was the better choice for him.  Then it was time to pack up and head out.

He went to a day of orientation and then got to move into his dorm.  We saved all our shopping until we got there because we could only take so much stuff on a plane.

He got his room set up. 

Hung out in the common room.

Met his room mate.

Checked out the Science and Engineering Building

Got a picture taken with his Grandpa.

And rode his scooter all around campus.

And then it was time for Mom to leave. 

 I cried about missing him until I got to the freeway. Then I cried until halfway to St George about missing his piano playing ringing through the house. Don't worry I'll be OK. Oh and he'll be fine, too.

Study hard big guy!

As an Eagle, he can fly

 Before sending McKay off to college, we thought it would be a good idea to finally have his Eagle Court of Honor.  McKay serenaded us while we were setting up.

Since it was after church we provided a light lunch before the ceremony.

And then it was time to begin.

There were many speakers about scouting, the rank of Eagle Scout, and McKay's qualifications for it.  Then Mom got to pin the Eagle pin on McKay.

Then McKay got to pin Mom with the Eagle parent pin.

And pin Dad with the Eagle parent tie tack.

To everyone's surprise, he chose his Mom to give his Eagle Mentor pin to.  It was a really sweet thing for him to do.

And then he had to take the Oath of the Eagle Scout and repeat it along with all the other Eagle Scouts in the room.

I'm so glad we had this opportunity to celebrate and honor the work he has done.  He really deserves it.

 

Parker Family Breakfast Up the Canyon

There have been many times over the years where my family (the Parkers) would go up Millcreek Canyon in Utah for breakfast up the canyon.  The last time we all got together for it was the year before my mom died, 10 years ago.  It's about time we did it again.

First order of business, get a good fire going.  My brother Doug has been dubbed the family pyromaniac since his obsession with fire set the woods ablaze when the family was camping and since he was always getting caught with illegal fireworks as a teenager.  He and David actually split wood by throwing it onto the edge of the cement then got the fire going.

My brother, Scott, manned the skillets and cooked up pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs.

I was the cooking prep team.  Next time we'll remember to bring mixing bowls so we don't have to mix pancake batter in a skillet.

Scott's kids, Danielle and Ethan, volunteered for baby duty and kept Austin and Kadence entertained throwing rocks into the stream.

We were finally ready to start eating.  My Dad and Nell, my step mom, got us started.  10 months ago we thought we were going to lose my Dad, and miraculously here he is.  He's still recovering from a traumatic brain injury, but he's doing so well he even recounted the infamous story of me kicking a cactus as a child.  He's doing so well!

Kadence loved the pancakes and sausage.

Here's the whole crew minus the photographer (me).

Doug is a real photographer and got some great shots.

And then it's time for roasting marshmallows!  This is just a great picture of Scott as he's roasting marshmallows.

Doug shot some posed pictures before we finished up. 

I have pictures of Parker, McKay, Bryson, Danielle, and Ethan in this same tree 10 years ago.

  

What a handsome shot of Ethan.

And what can I say...Danielle is gorgeous.