our Valentine's Day together

I wish I could say that I did something fun & crafty in preparation for Valentine's Day with Parker this year; but alas, I didn't even think about it (well, I did, but then I opted to not do anything for it!) As a matter of fact, our Valentine's gifts to each other are still wrapped in the storage room. (gasp!) :) We're celebrating Vday gifts this weekend when we get back from Texas. Last week was a busy week.

We did, however, have a funfilled day with friends. First, we went to church, where Clay & I did our Couples Spotlight presentation. It was fun putting the Powerpoint presentation together & gathering pictures from when we were first dating & engaged. After Sunday School, Clay went in the church service while I had the nursery. We then met with 3 other couples after church for lunch at D. Brian's in Eden Prairie. Kristen & Craig live fairly close to Eden Prairie & had invited us over for some sledding time over at a park by their house after lunch, so onward we went! Parker had a blast going down the hill with everyone & even went once by himself (this was a pretty big hill so I was impressed!)

Kristen & Parker taking a turn down the hill!

Craig taking Parker for a round!

Cute prego Kelli & Brent! Kelli obviously just watched in on the fun...it was a good thing she did though...after about 45 min of being out there, Brent got daring & went down "the jumps" & didn't land so well. I'm pretty sure he's ok now, but yeah, it took him a while to get up & make the walk up the hill. He was going to the chiropracter today. Hope you feel better soon, Brent!

After Brent moaned & groaned on the ground for more than a few minutes, Clay & Craig realized he wasn't joking & ran down to check on him. Poor Brent....and Kelli! Kelli was standing at the top of the hill just shaking her head. :)

Parker took a nap on the way home & for a little bit into the early evening. Clay ran to check a movie out for me (Time Traveler's Wife) & then went with Mike, a friend from our Sunday School class to see the U of M Golden Gophers vs Iowa in a wrestling match. Iowa clobbered MN so the guys were a little disappointed but had a good time. I enjoyed relaxing on the couch after Parker was asleep & watching a girlie movie. I really like Rachel McAdams, so I wanted to see it. I cried. It was good; not one I would own though. I bet I would've liked the book better actually.

(It is 5:48 pm. I put on Parker's Classic Chip n Dale Disney movie that he got for Christmas, so that I could get this blog done...I am loving listening to his little laughs when the characters do something funny. He has run in here twice already to tell me something or wanting something, but runs back in the living room when he hears something interesting happening!)

We got back a little over an hour ago from the MN Zoo. I took some fun pictures & will share about our afternoon adventure there tomorrow! :0 Stay warm this evening! I hear MS is getting snow! I know my friends & family are saying Whoohoo!!! ;)

pink showers, frosty snow, family treats, & growing up!

Yesterday, a few girls from our Sunday School class threw a baby shower for Kelli, who is expecting her first baby next month! It was so much fun sprinkling pink into the apartment...obviously, we see a lot of blue around here! :)

Decorations were simple I made pink & green tissue paper pom poms to hang, as I did for Parker's birthday party. The cake was FABULOUS...for refreshments, guests enjoyed a fruit tray of strawberries & grapes, marinated cheese (a recipe a girlfriend of mine recommended from Southern Living...it is so yummy I can hardly stand it!), pink & white peanut butter mm's, and a raspberry sherbet punch.

Kelli received many fun gifts to help prepare the nursery for their "little peanut" that is due to arrive in a few weeks. We played two games: "Guess how big her tummy is!" with string & Baby word scramble! There were several other "prego" moms there & one girl who just had a baby a few weeks ago! Baby talk was filling the air!!! :) Thanks to my sweet hubby & Brent for taking Parker out on a guy's adventure while we girls had our party!

This is what it has been looking like around here...lots of snow & ice! I have to say that the sights have been beautiful...if it wasn't so cold it would be a true winter wonderland! In the mornings, the branches are covered in frosty snow.

It was a fun surprise when this landed on our doorstep last week! Not only did I have fun putting all the juicy steaks & meats away in our freezer, but the dry ice experiment in the sink entertained Parker on & off for about a half an hour!

Clay & I are blessed to have such wonderful family that loves to spoil us so! I hope this is not taken as bragging when I write about this; I am just truly thankful for our family & appreciate everything they do for us. They are so good to send us treats such as this & others such as restaurant gift cards, new books for Parker, clothes for the upcoming season & the growing boy...THANK YOU to our family who loves us the way you do!!! We love each of you too!

A couple of weeks ago, Parker "moved up" to the Toddler Two's room at Kindercare. Several days ago, when I went to go pick him up, I peeked in the door to see this...group time. Before I ran to grab my camera out of the car, the first thing I saw was Parker sitting like a big boy cross-legged on the floor with his sweet little hands folded in his lap. (Yes, I got choked up!) When I came back, camera-in-arms, I still was able to capture a sweet picture of the boys enjoying storytime. (The class is broken up into 2 sections because it is so large. There are lots of girls too, but for some reason on this special day, group time consisted of all boys.)

I love these little peeks into his world!

Fun but rough week ended:

Last week, Clay was gone all but Monday & Saturday (remember that the week and a half prior Clay didn't see Parker at all because we were in MS & he was flying). Let's just say that by Thursday Parker was done with mommy & mommy was all but done with Parker. :)

As much as I thrive (most of the time) on our fast-paced & crazy schedule, I am really looking forward to our days slowing down here in the next couple of weeks. I will also be thankful when Parker's sleep time gets back on a regular routine (a few weeks ago he started waking up at 5am & then again at 5:30 every morning...previously he had begun sleeping in till 7am...Hallelujah! Can we please go back to that...I'll take 6:30!!) An extra hour of sleep makes such a difference for me in the morning!!

Parker & I stay busy even when our feet are planted on MN ground, but busy in a different way. Busy doing whatever we feel like doing on those mornings...going to the zoo & the children's museum, walking at the mall on super chilly days, taking home-cooked meals to & visiting with our friends who have recently received a new addition to their family...

I am also anxious to get in some much needed therapy (ahem), I mean scrapbooking time. ;) It has been a little while! Thank goodness for this blog! :)

I hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day! I'll post soon on our adventures for the "love day!"

one wintry day

Monday was a big snow day for us here. Clay, Parker & I decided to take off early in the morning & have some fun in the "white stuff."

It is exciting to see the changes in our little man as time passes. At the first of the season, Parker was timid of snow; now you can hear him calling, "More, More!" before he even reaches the bottom of the hill on his little sled!

I love how he is willing to try new things...with mama & daddy's help of course! :)

Did I mention Clay is ready (ahem, for the last couple of months, he has only mentioned it every other time we have walked outside) to get him on the ski slopes?

P.S. This morning I asked Parker what he wanted to wear to school...he pulled his lime green & red Santa shirt out first, followed by his green froggy rain boots...no pants I might add! ha! No, he did not get to wear those to school today. I would have let him put them on & then taken a picture, but I was afraid I would never get them off! ha ha!

trains, marbles, pizza & more!!!

It's snowing outside my window...you know, the big, fluffy kind...I love it. The streets, buildings, signs...everything is blanketed in white. I would love to try & get some cool pictures to share with ya'll later today.

This morning while I was changing Parker's diaper he wanted to hold one of his mini airplanes. While he was lying there, he started making "Vroom, Vroom" sounds. Next, he said, "Vroom Vroom Daddy."
Mama: "Does Daddy fly airplanes, Parker."
Parker: "Yep."
Parker: a bunch of jibberish I couldn't quite make out then..."Nana." "Vroom Vroom....more jibberish..."Waadee" (for Rassie)...."vroom" with some exaggerated flight motions "a Poppie."

Parker was telling me all the people he wanted to fly to see today...I thought it was so cute that he called out each of the grandparents' names!

I wanted to share our Saturday morning outing to St. Paul with ya'll. A friend of mine had invited us to join them for a toddler adventure to Choo Choo Bob's Train Store, a fantasy land for train lovers of all ages. They were having storytime & music time for the children; the store probably had 50+ children in there at one point while there. There were two birthday parties going on back in the Birthday Junction, toddlers & young school age children playing around the 6 Thomas the Train Display tables, & kids sitting & listening to the exciting train stories & songs up front with Engineer Paul (Parker kept wanting to climb up on the train display tables up front & play with the miniature characters & trains!).
The store itself is filled with any kind of train toy, train book, train game, & collector trains imaginable for kids, adults, and collectors. Choo Choo Bob's even has its own tv show & dvd collections for kids!
It's a really neat place...I would recommend checking it out if you live near the St. Paul area!
Parker & Greta playing at one of the train stations.
After playing awhile at Choo Choo Bob's, we left for Wonderment, a toy & craft store in St. Paul that consists of natural toys & creative pastimes for children & their families. Along with the store itself, they offer art/craft classes for children of all ages starting at 2 1/2 & up to adults. The marble runs caught Parker & Clay's attention & held it until time to leave for lunch! :)

We enjoyed lunch at this fabulous little place called D'Amico & Sons on Grand St. in St Paul. For my meal I chose a Roast Turkey sandwich with Avocado. Parker & Clay decided on wood-fired neapolitan pepperoni pizzas...they were delish! I liked my choice of sandwich, but I must say those pizzas are to die for!!!! Parker even shared a little of his with his mama; wasn't that sweet! ;)

Parker loved driving down the big, hill on Grand as we headed back home; it always grants you a beautiful view of St. Paul. The picture doesn't do justice (& we were about halfway down the hill), but it's fun to take a ride down it every now & then just for the view.

our trip to ms in summary...

Did you miss me?!? :) I meant to post more while in MS, but when I got down there I realized I left my camera cord (you know, the one that links the camera to the computer?) back at home.

I would love to sit & type out a detailed story of all the fun things Parker & I did in MS for the 8 days we were there, but it is Sunday afternoon & this is my first chance with time on the computer since I returned to Minne on Friday afternoon. As you can see, I'm a little behind...

Rest assured, we had a fabulous time visiting with family & friends...& even managed to squeeze in a little R&R! Just in the first 4 days, we helped with 2 baby showers, visited with great-grandparents, grandparents, great-aunts & uncles, cousins, friends, met with Mary Kay customers, visited my old school & had lunch in the cafeteria with the children, played with vintage toys, & collected family memorabilia & pictures for our family history albums. I am so thankful for the time that we had down there. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip that sum up our activities.

Carrie & Ashley at Terra's shower:

Ashley, Carrie & Terra at Natalie's shower:

Terra & Carrie

Supper at Crackerbarrel with Granddaddy, Nana & Aunt Kathi...thanks for my Bulldog gear Aunt Kathi & Alyssa!! (I do think some of our Rebel Fans in the family will have something to say about this though!) :)
This vintage car belonged to Poppie (Clay's daddy) when he was a little boy. It was given to Poppie by his grandmother (Faye's mom)..Parker's great, great grandmother. Parker is having such a time playing with it!!! I am amazed at the great condition it is in! Makes you wonder why they quit building toys with the "stuff" they used to!

Collected bits of memorabilia for our family history albums...what a treasure hunt this was! I was like a kid in a candy store!

Took a walk down to Mama Sam & Shorty's garden in Oxford. Parker enjoyed this first outing "down the hill" to see the dogs, the four wheelers & shed, the garden & more fun outdoor boy toys!!! It was special to see the two of them walking hand in hand down the hill. This brought back many childhood memories for me.

Parker meeting another cousin for the first time...thanks for coming to see us Sam!

Getting into mud & puddles in Rassie's front yard & neighborhood. I should have packed the rain boots & gear for this trip! I believe it rained all but 2 days we were there. ha!

Visiting Rassie & her children in her classroom at school...they loved listening to Parker talk! They wanted him to continue repeating "Rassie" which sounds like "Wahdie."

Special to see Parker walking down the steps at my old school that I went up & down almost every day for 12 years. He visited the preschool classroom (thanks Mrs. Jan & Mrs. Melanie), ate lunch in the cafeteria with all the other students & ooh'd & aah'd over the gym that mama used to cheer & play basketball in (he just wanted to play ball of course!)

Loved "monkeying" around with all his toys at Rassie's & Grannie & Papa's in Grenada...Parker spent a good bit of time at G & P's house with Nana too (thank ya'll so much for watching the monkey for me so I could get my jobs done!!!). I didn't get any pictures of his playtime there, because most of the time I was running around Grenada getting tasks done while they were gracious enough to chase him around for me!!!
One of my favorite relaxing hours while there was when I was able to sit on mama's couch & look through some of Grandmother's recipes. Special moments like this make each of my MS trips even more memorable...
Another picture from one of the baby showers...didn't Ashley do an amazing job with setting everything up. It truly looked like a picture out of a Southern magazine. I especially loved how so much of the refreshments were featured on McCarty.
Yes, I took a lot of pictures while on the trip. And yes, I only wish this was my camera....one day...one day... :)

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our trip so special & fun! Until next time...

One of the best attractions for little children at an airport is to get a front row view of your airplane...then you can explain to him the process of everyone checking & getting the plane ready for take-off..."see the pilot walking around & checking the plane, Parker," "Look Parker! They are loading our food & drinks on to the plane now!" All the activity amazes them!
Best plane ride activity for a toddler: Stickers & a blank sheet of paper (or blue jeans will work fine too! ;))

so much to write!

Hello from Mississippi!

If ever I am a week or more in between posts it usually means I am a. out of the country b. unable to take pics because my camera is broken or c. we are in Mississippi visiting family & friends! :)

Parker & I flew down last Thursday, after our company left, for some southern family & friend time! We have stayed continuously busy with baby showers, family time, & seeing customers & friends since arriving...and that was all crammed into just 3 days!!! We will be returning soon so watch for fun pictures & a recap of our trip!

I have so many neat things to share!!!

Hunger Initiative & "Quacks" at home

During the month of January, our church is participating in the Hunger Initiative, an event that "heightens awareness regarding global hunger & encourages people throughout the community to take action." Wooddale partners with organizations locally & around the world to tackle issues like hunger & poverty on an ongoing, sustainable basis. There are many ways to have a hand in this cause. Besides helping to pack one million meals in the community, people can opt to donate monetarily ($1 provides 6 meals), pray for the mission, participate in the Solidarity Challenge (an effort to consume less & cut back on spending) and/or a variety of other activities.

Today at church, I was touched as I listened to a mom talk about their experience last year with the Solidarity Challenge in their own home. The part that really brought out emotions for me was when she related it to her own children. After the first meal of the challenge, she said her kids were still hungry...and went to bed crying wanting more food. I immediately put myself in that situation and pictured my son looking at me with sad eyes at the dinner table and asking, "More mama, more?" as he pleads for additional food that he can't have. A little dramatic? Maybe in our personal situation...but for places outside of our home..in another world...nope. It happens to moms every single day. Now, our family will not be participating in the Solidarity Challenge this year (at least not to the strictest degree). However, we are finding other small ways to help out just as much.

I would like to encourage you this week to find a mission/reach-out (whether it be one at your church, an elderly neighbor who could use a visit...anything!) and strive to make a difference in another person's life. There is so much sadness going on in so many parts of this world...I know ya'll have probably been keeping up with the Haiti news...by helping other people who can't help themselves you are making such a difference! Plus, it will make you so happy you'll feel as if you're floating on air!!! :) Remember, little actions can produce BIG results!

And on a little lighter note...this is what I returned home to last night after bathtime! My little "duckie!" He was "quacking" his family up with his laughs, quacks & adorable personality! All I could think of when I stood laughing at the sight was, "Batman, look out! Here comes the Duckman! Quack! Quack!"
Don't you just want to squeeze him & smother him with kisses! :) ...so thankful for his vibrant personality! I just love this little man!

quick weekend pics & update

Having fun with Nana, Aunt KK & Aunt Lacey!!! Yea for family!!!

We're headed out to the Mall of America to do a little shopping and have lunch! Hope everyone has a terrific Saturday!!! :)

Happenings from our week

Here's a peek into a portion of Parker's little world this last week...

Playtime at the gym...we can't go for a workout without stopping by the courts to play basketball with Parker!!! He'll jump right into any game that's going on! ha ha!

For Parker's birthday, Clay & I signed him up for Tornado Toddlers at Lifetime. It's a fun, 7 week class for parents & their 1-3 year olds...anyway, each week they have all the exciting toddler gym equipment out with neat balls & toys for the children to play with. Each Tuesday morning, Parker runs straight past the kid stuff & takes off for the closest basketball & basketball goal! At the beginning of each class, chasing him down & getting him interested in the "program" is a little bit of a challenge! He's rather be playing ball with the big boys! :)

Building his first fort...his dad threw in a little assistance here...Parker has been loving it!
Learning and enjoying new adventures at the Minnesota Children's Museum... for Christmas, one of Parker's great-grandparents gifted our family a year's pass to the Children's Museum. We are sooo excited about this gift!!! Currently, the main rotating exhibit is Dinosaurs: Fire & Ice...we spent the majority of our time in this room the other day. Parker liked digging through the "rocks & rubble" & finding fossils. One of the other tasks that was a favorite for him in this room, was moving the trees & creatures around the U.S. Map table (see pic below).

Experience the Best of Both Prehistoric Worlds
The steamy "Land of Fire" connects visitors with prehistoric home of the Triceratops and T-Rex. Children can circle the land in insect costumes and buzz through a volcano with oozing lava. Work through a swampy bog and climb into a Troodon's nest and play with dinosaur eggs.
No coats are needed for a trip across the "Land of Ice" where visitors meet two dinosaurs, a Pachycephalosaurus and Edmontosaurus, who made their homes in the cold climate of Alaska. Climb rocky steps, breeze down an icy slide, and hop across stepping stones in an icy river. text taken from mcm.org

The other neat rotating exhibit that is currently being featured is Out on a Limb. Parker also had fun exploring in this room.

Climb into a treehouse, build a fort, play with light! Have fun exploring the natural world in this original, interactive exhibition. This is your chance to go out on a limb! This imaginative environment is designed to inspire children and their caregivers to learn to explore nature by using their senses. More than simply seeing the beauty of a tree, the exhibit encourages visitors to hear the sounds of the forest, use leaves to make beautiful art, and build big and little structures from bark and limbs.
The whimsical atmosphere of Out on a Limb is created in part by children’s nature-themed artwork that makes up the faux bark and leaf canopy of the centerpiece tree. The individual exhibits, Whirlwind, Light Play, Forest Jam and Gnome Home, further enhance the magical scenery and are tools to enhance exploration. For example, individual activities encourage children to experiment with light and shadow, patterns of leaves, music of the forest, and the effects of the changing seasons. The exhibits also provide practice with the physical skills of climbing and balancing, which helps children to develop self confidence in outdoor play. text taken from mcm.org

At the start of each new year, I like to get re-organized...you know, go through all of your Christmas receipts, throw out & file...that is what I've been up to these past several days. I've had a compilation of "paper stuff" that got on my nerves for the last time! ha ha! In between activities...I tackled some of the piles. I have to say, it felt really good! Still a little more to go, but the bulk of it is behind me! My mind is still currently on the organizing & "action" mode so I apologize for the lack of creative posting today. I am in major "tackling projects" mode right now. :)

It is still VERY cold out, so 99% of our play is indoor. We are so excited to have Nana flying in today for a week long visit...are we so spoiled or what?! All right, we're about to head to the gym for a quick workout..I just wanted to post a few fun pictures of our little man so you would know what we've been up to! It has been a fun week so far!!! :) Hope ya'll are staying warm! (My sis in law called me this morning to tell me that is was 70 degrees down in Texas at 6am today...man, am I jealous!) :)