Our Christmas...

A last minute group shot that turned out great!

Molly not so excited about having her picture taken while wearing her new helmet. She has warmed up to it and loves wearing it around the house and while riding her bike!

Jack opening his new ant farm gift from Aunt Caroline and Uncle Jason. We are waiting with much anticipation for the ants to arrive!

A pre-Christmas Eve service picture of the kids. I love our kids!

Getting a deposit back...

This past Friday we hosted our annual church Christmas open house. It was a good time, and we had a good turnout. It was tiring, and we realized that for next year we are going to do it earlier in December instead of the week before Christmas. Our week was entirely too busy!

Well, we had many soda cans and beer bottles from the party. We would normally recycle such items, but since we had such a large quantity I thought I would be earthy and resourceful and take them down the street and get our deposit back. Kyle laughed and shook his head at me, but I was determined.

I had never done such a thing before. I was quite proud of myself, and walked out of the grocery store with a whole $3.60 - enough for my girlie coffee drink!

Molly, the performer...

Molly had her first school performance this week. She was great, and really enjoyed being up there. They sang two songs, and one had 10 verses to it! Our friend, Davina, made her dress. We took our friend, JT, to the performance so I wanted to get a picture of them together before the big "show" and this is what we got - I think they look cute together.

Jack also had his school performance, but I forgot the camera so no pictures! Sorry. He also did a great job!

Sleeping kids...

The other night I came home and Kyle was telling me that he had taken some pictures of the kids sleeping. I thought it was a little odd, and then I found these on the camera. First, I find it pretty great that they didn't wake up to the flash - they were really sound asleep! Second, they are both really snuggled in their beds.

Here's too sleeping like a child tonight - hopefully!

Molly, the baker...

Molly has really wanted to be a part of the cookie making process this holiday season. I was trying a new recipe this year, so I told her that she could help me decorate these cookies after I had baked them. She was so excited to be putting the sprinkles on the cookies.

My kids, the storm troopers...

Our friend's son let Jack borrow his storm trooper helmet and gun this past weekend. Jack could not have been more excited. It was fun to watch both of them play with the toys, and use their imaginations - although there was some fighting over who got to play with them and for how long! I had to snap these pictures for many reasons...

1. notice the Oregon hat that Jack so careful place ON TOP of the trooper helmet.

2. notice that Molly is holding the gun AND baby besty, so she is not only a fighter but continues to be a mommy to the baby.

i hope these make you smile!

A Good Effort...

Well tonight i was sitting down in the family room after the kids were in bed to finish up our Christmas cards, and I noticed a mistake in the letter. i had read it and reread it and reread it again, and i didn't catch my big mistake.

i left out my grandfather's passing this past year! Can you believe it?

i had typed the first draft of the letter and it had a combo sentence about losing both of my grandparents this year, then i edited the letter and forgot to mention his memorial service in the final product.

So...to my parents, i am sorry. i loved him just as much, and am truly embarrassed that i forgot. to myself, shame on me. next time, proof read it a fourth time.

Here is to next year!

In the spirit of pictures...

So today after we got home from church, we were looking at the pictures that I took of the kids signing at church. They wanted to take more pictures, so I said sure. They each got a turn. Jack went first and wanted to take a picture of me and Molly. So of course, Molly wanted to take one of Jack and me. Here are two results of what they took. They had such fun, and I must say they got some good pictures of each other with me. I will cherish them!

Christmas children's choir...

This morning the kids sang at church. They sang three songs, and did wonderful. Davina made a CD of her singing the songs and provided a copy to each of the families to practice while at home. We made a practice to listen to the CD twice a day - once on the way to school and once on the way home from school. By this morning, the kids knew all the verses. Kyle and I were proud of all the kids. They did a great job. Molly looked at me to take a few pictures, but Jack told me after the service that he was a "little camera shy" this morning and did not want his picture taken. He was concentrating on singing! He was also busy having his hands in his pockets and pulling up his pants to his high waist so that he looked like an old man with his pants too high. Also at one point he picked his nose, which I tried to capture with a picture but was a little too late.

Anyway, enjoy the pictures...

A first for me...

Well, I did it this morning!

I took Jack to school in my pajamas. Now, mind you I did not get out of the car but I thought it was one of those moments in my life. I can hear Kyle in my ear saying how he can't believe that I did not get dressed. I was coming right back home to shower for the day, so I thought why bother getting out of the warm comfy clothes just to come home and change again!

Molly was also in her pajamas with me, so it was a team effort.

Here is to laziness, and the fact that I can just drop Jack off at school and not leave my warm heated seat car!

Another funny kid interaction...

About a week and a half ago the kids received a belated birthday card from their great-grandmother. They were so excited to be getting something in the mail. They were lucky this year, too! They each received $3 to spend on anything. Jack's reaction, "Mom, can I buy a star wars lego with $3?" I kindly replied that he could not - it was not enough. He was okay with that because he knew there would be something else he could buy. I can't recall what Molly wanted to buy with her new found wealth. The kids toted around the money and the cards the rest of the day.

Well on Sunday, the kids got it in their minds - from me mentioning it - that it would be great to go to our local favorite mexican eatery. I was tired from a busy week, and did not have dinner planned that night. Then, we decided that we didn't need to spend the money afterall. It would be better to save it for another day. To our amazement, the kids suggested that they could pay for their own meal with the money they received from Granny. Kyle and I looked at each other with a smile and a look of amusement, and decided well why not. It was good for the kids to see that they did not have to buy a toy to have enjoyment from money they received as a gift from someone.

It was wonderful to watch their faces as they actually handed the money to the waiter that night. They enjoyed their meal more than ever. They were worried a little that it would not be enough to buy their meal. The waiter said that if it was not enough, then they could go in the back and wash dishes. They were not happy about that idea. We assured them that if it was not enough, then we could cover the difference.

Funny comment...

So I was watching a couple of extra kids this afternoon for my friend, which meant two extra kids at lunch time. The kids are older and use to each other now after having been around each other so much. They play surprisingly well together for most of the time. I made lunch and asked them to come to the table. They were eating away, and this is what I heard while I was at the kitchen sink - and it made me smile and giggle to myself...

J.T. - "So, Jack, what do you think of kindergarten?"

Jack - "It's okay"

J.T. is 3 and a half. I have heard him ask questions like this before to other people. I always find it amusing and wonderful when kids discover how to ask questions that seem like they should be beyond their years but really they aren't. J.T. is very aware of things like this, and that is only one thing that I love about him. I also love Jack's response, because he is one that tires of questions like this even if it is the only that is asked at the time. He does not think about things like this in the abstract. He is in the moment.

Oh the joys of children!

I love to run!

I have many thoughts as to why I love to run...too many to share, too boring to share.

Just let it be known that I have fallen in love with running.

Christmas time is here...

Today, i officially felt it!

It is Christmas season!

Yesterday, we got our Christmas tree. We got the things from the attic, and by end of the night the house was decorated for Christmas time. Before we put the kids down, we had read our nightly advent reading. Sunday was the beginning of advent at church, so the church also got decorated during the weekend. The last couple of days have been colder, foggy, gray, and very wintery. I have been in the mood to finish up shopping, bake cookies (looking for new recipes), and thinking about what Christmas dinner will be made of this year!

I am ready!

Thanksgiving, a little late...

No pictures were taken, so my words will have to provide your mental picture of the Parker's Thanksgiving 2009!

It was a great day. It started with a run for me with my running partner, Davina. It was a beautiful morning, and a energizing way to start a lazy day. Next on the agenda was an annual Cascade Turkey Bowl football game. The exciting thing about this year was that Jack got to play. He got to snap the ball, and tackle his friend that is the same age. Noah's mom and I stood on the sidelines smiling and laughing at the two of them tackle/wrestling each other the whole game. No one was hurt, and a good time was had by all there!

We came home to clean up, have a long relaxing nap, and the time for turkey dinner. Our friends, the Perrets, came over for a quiet dinner. The food was delicious, and the kids were great. For all the time it takes to prepare the dinner, we ate in record time. We ended the evening with kids in bed and the adults relaxing in front of a movie.

It was a quiet holiday. Family was missed, but we enjoyed friends.

We hope you all had a good time with family/friends and were able to reflect on what you are thankful for this holiday season.