Christmas day...

Jack got a nerf gun from Molly, which he has not put down since opening! Molly got some new Fancy Nancy princess shoes, which she has not stopped wearing since opening! We had a grand day full of excitement and friends - the only thing missing was spending some time with family, but there is always next year!

Christmas Eve pajamas, oh my!...

This year was the theme of "Santa's Little Helper," which should have read...Mommy's little helper according to Jack because we do not believe in Santa in the Parker house. It was funny this year - one minute they would say they believed in Santa, and then the next they were saying something about how Kyle and I were the ones to put the presents in the stockings. It really is very confusing here! I had to post all three pictures of Molly, because she was most unhappy about taking the picture in her new pajamas!

Christmas Eve...

I got them to pose before the Christmas Eve service. I LOVE this picture. It makes them seem so old and grown -up!

Snow...

this was the week before Christmas, but i am just now getting around to posting things. the kids loved the snow. it was beautiful, and lots of fun. jack missed a WHOLE week of school because of the snow you see in the pictures! he was sad about not getting to go, but we enjoyed the free time.

Molly & Me...

Post Christmas Open house pictures!

a little sibling love...

A picture is worth...

worth a thousands tears. I had told the kids that if they smiled real big and I got a good picture then they could have a cookie. Needless to say...they did not smile real big. They were not cooperating, so I said no cookie. This is the reaction I got from Molly...(i know what you are thinking...mean, Gretchen. However, i stick to my guns when there are bribes involved!)

Molly as a fish...

Jack built a tower of stone...

Molly as a cowgirl...

Our first Christmas program...

We feel like we have enter that next stage of child rearing with our first ever Christmas program. Jack sang two songs, and did great. He was not nervous, and did the hand motions! We were proud parents that night.

Our Christmas Tree...

Christmas tree lights...

are a laughing matter. Jack was so very excited to decorate the tree last night. After 11 years of marriage, I thought we deserved some new glass balls for the tree. We had, up until this year, decorated the tree every year with the same glass balls I bought our first year of marriage. So...off to Target we went. We came home happy and ready to make the tree pretty. Kyle and Jack started with the lights, and that is when it happened. The first strand was good, then the second strand had some lights out (but we could make due), but the third strand was almost completely out. Changing light bulbs did not help. It is in my opinion that the tree we had a couple of years ago left so much sap that it did something to ruin the lights. We could not make the tree pretty. Jack was very disappointed and was not listening to our perfectly good promise of decorating it tonight. Molly was sick and did not care if we decorated it! I am hear to blog tonight to say that Kyle was the hero and bought new lights. He arrived home from work and we immediately went to work. Kyle hung the lights, and the kids and I hung the ornaments. The tree is beautiful. I will try and get a picture posted soon.

A Christmas tree hunting...

we will go! It was a great place, and lots of fun had by all. Best of all, we got a great tree!!

A car ride for Thanksgiving...

We took a road trip to Portland for Thanksgiving to see Jason, Caroline, Rynn, and Eleanor. Caroline's dad, Bix, was coming from Montana as well. It was a great day with great food, a little rain, lots of laughter from the kids, and a good time with family. There was also the grand excitement of a new dog - the Little's adopted Jake! He was great fun - really mellow - and enjoyed getting some love all day long. Thank you Jason and Caroline for hosting a wonderful day. We loved being with you all!

Fancy Nancy...

Molly was given these new ballet slippers and leg warmers as a birthday gift this past week. She immediately put them on and has not stopped playing with them since. They are the cutest thing. I was a bit surprised that she liked the leg warmers, but wears them all the time. I thought she looked precious in them!

Just a reminder...

Three years ago Kyle and I were blessed with the birth of our daughter, Molly Clark Parker. Kyle and I have loved the name Molly since way before we had kids. Clark is a family name from my mother's side of the family.

A little while ago, Kyle started to call Molly "bear" as a nickname. Kyle is all about the nickname, and always has been. She immediate liked it, and it has stuck. We call her that because she can be sweet and cuddly like a teddy bear, or she can be grumpy and wild like a grizzly bear. She has a lot of personality to show us - one might even venture to say it is a bit of drama!

The other day I was dropping her off at the playcare at the YMCA while I was going to work out. They like the cups and snacks to be labeled. Molly noticed that hers were not labeled, so she asked me to do this. She then proceeded to tell me to write on her snack bag - Molly Parker Bear! I laughed, and did just as she asked. She has referred to herself several times this way when asked what her name is. We think it is great!

Three little monkeys...

...sitting at a train station trying to get a picture!

Grammy came for a visit...

Trying to get a "posed" picture of my two with Grammy was next to impossible, but at least we captured the fact that Grammy travel far to wish us a happy birthday! Thanks for coming Grammy. It was a fantastic surprise - the kids did not know that she was coming. Jack ran to Grammy for an immediate hug and kiss. Molly stared as if to say - are you really here? - but then would not let Grammy put her down the rest of the night! We love you Grammy!

Jack's many faces...

Molly's many faces...

These were taken at the local train station as we were waiting to say goodbye to Grammy from her fun birthday trip to see us!

Jack is 5!...

Jack so enjoyed his birthday party - we had it at a local pizza joint that has an indoor playground! Jack was so excited to finally be turning a "whole hand" as we like to say in our household. He was ready, and so were we. Kyle and I are amazed that we have a five year old. Where does time go? We love you Jack, and can't wait for the next five years of excitement and questions!

Molly is 3!...

I TRIED all weekend long to get a good picture of Miss Molly Parker Bear for the blog, and this is what I got for all the work. I guess I should look at it this way...I got the pictures that show the true Molly - while she is sweet and fun she can also be a bear! We love Molly Clark Parker, and are so excited that she is finally three!