The Big Pinewood Derby Race

Parker participated in his third and final Pinewood Derby race for Cub Scouts. This is an event that the Cub Scouts (and Dads) always look forward to. With the help of the Dads (usually), the boys make a car out of a block of pine wood. On the day of the Pinewood Derby, the boys race the cars. It’s a good activity to help them learn about fun competition and good sportsmanship. Stan's always really good about letting Parker do most of the work in making the car. But it's funny to watch the pressure that the Dads put on themselves. The Dads want their son to win just as much as the son wants to win.

As a Wolf (first year in Cub Scouts) in 2007. As the youngest Cub Scout, Parker won first place in 2007. Considering it was our first experience with Pinewood Derby, we were definitely not expecting a win. Parker was so thrilled!!

As a Bear in 2008. Parker was awarded the Good Sportsmanship award. Parker's cousin Grant won first place. We joke that it must be the pants. Grant was wearing the same exact pants that Parker wore when he won the year before. :)

As a Webelo in 2009-Parker's final Pinewood Derby. Here's Parker before the big race.

And the race begins! Each boy got to participate in many races. Here's Jacob Ray, Parker, Jacob Teeples and Andrew Dixon nervously watching their cars race down the track.

Parker and his cousin Grant had to do a tie breaker race! Pressure!!


Lining the cars up on the track.

Another tie breaker race between Parker and Mason Crawford. Mason looked a little nervous. :)

Parker won 3rd place this year. There were about 20 boys who participated in the Pinewood Derby. Parker was so excited to place 3rd.

The Winners: 1st place-Jacob Ray, 2nd place-Tanner Tueller, 3rd place-Parker

Parker and his cousin Grant. Grant had the coolest looking "car"of all (a pencil).


Parker's 3 Pinewood Derby cars

So Parker's Pinewood Derby career comes to an end. 4 more years (when Dallin turns 8) and we get to do it all over again!

How many of Me??

I got this off my cousin Shari's blog. Type in your name and you can find out how many people in the U.S. have your same name. There are only 2 people with the name Crissie Roberts. There are 9 people with the name Cristine Roberts. However, if I had an "h" in Cristine, there would be 893 other people with my name. I like the spelling of my name. :)

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 2 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Student of the Quarter

January 9th was the Student of the Quarter Assembly at Patterson school for the second quarter. Each teacher chooses two students to receive the “STUDENT of the Quarter” award (based on academics) and two students to receive the “STAR of the Quarter” award (based on behavior, citizenship). Parker received the “STUDENT of the Quarter” award this quarter. Yeah Parker! His cousin Elly Peterson also received the “Student of the Quarter” award for her class. Yeah Elly! As a side note, I failed to document back in October that Parker received the “STAR of the Quarter” award for the first quarter. I’m so proud of my kids for doing their best in school. School doesn’t necessarily always come easy for them, but they work hard and both Cassie and Parker received straight A’s this quarter. Cassie received a certificate for being in the Honor Roll with a 4.0 average. We’re so proud of you Cassie and Parker!!

Student of the Quarter-January 2009-And No, Parker didn't forget to get dressed. It was pajama day! :)

Stars of the Quarter-October 2008-Parker and his friend Kaitlyn Zito (Parker and Kaitlyn are also the student council representatives for their class.)

2008 Family Pictures

The Phelps Family

This is a picture of a picture. It's way too big to scan so this will have to do. For Christmas this year, my parents gave us a beautifully framed picture of my whole family (minus the kids). I'm so excited about this picture. I love my family so much. I have 4 brothers and 5 sisters, and 9 wonderful in-laws who I consider brothers and sisters also. Unfortunately, it's hard to see anyone's faces in this picture of a picture, but Left to Right and in order of age is Kent (brother) & Wendy, Starlyn (sister) & Preston, Stan and I, James (brother) & Jolene, Merilana (sister) & Corey, Mom and Dad, Melody (sister) & Matt, Jared (brother) & Tara, Cindy (sister) & Brandon, Tara (sister) & James, and Nathan (brother) & Alicia.

Here are our newest family pictures

The Roberts Family

Our 3 Sweet kids

Cassie-13 Years Old

Parker-10 Years Old

Dallin-4 Years Old

The Boys in the family

The Girls in the family

New Years Eve

Ever since I was little our family has had the tradition of making gingerbread houses. Or rather, I should say that my Mom would make the house and the kids would decorate it with candy. The best part of this tradition is that on New Years Eve we would break the gingerbread house and then gather up pieces of gingerbread and candy to put in our very own bag.

Caught in the Act! Here’s a picture of me when I was 2 trying to sneak a piece of candy off the gingerbread house. Just a little too tempting!

My Mom has continued this tradition with the grandkids. All of the grandkids come to Grammy’s house to decorate the houses and then on New Years Eve the grandkids take turns hitting the gingerbread house with a butter knife (when we were little we used a hammer, however with so many kids needing a turn a butter knife is used so that it takes a little longer to break down). :) The kids get so excited about breaking the gingerbread house on New Years Eve. It’s one of our favorite traditions.

The girls decorated one house, and the boys the other.

New Years Eve-Dallin, Parker, and Jake-Now that's the kind of gingerbread house we like! We don't want to see any gingerbread peeking through the candy!

Even Tanner, the youngest grandchild gets a turn. Looks like he could care less!

Dallin-ready to break this house down!

The girls beat the boys in breaking their house down.

Go, Go, Go!! It's a race to get as much candy in your bag as you can.

The little boys keep going until every piece of candy and gingerbread is taken!

On New Years Eve we also celebrated my nephew's b-day. Kincade turned 1 this New Years Eve. He didn't hesitate at all when his mom put the cake in front of him.

Always making funny faces!

Grammy playing "Zingo" with some of the younger grandkids while the older grandkids and adults were outside having a fierce marshmallow gun war!

Happy 2009!!