One for Jack...

This picture was taking on Thanksgiving afternoon.  I wanted a new family picture, which most of you received with our letter a couple of weeks ago, and we got a few extras that I love.  This is one of those.  That day, Jack got it into his head that he wanted to wear a tie like Kyle -- although, Kyle was not wearing a tie that day.  Kyle gave him this one and he wore it for most of the day.  Molly took this picture of us.  I know that Jack is not smiling but I still like the "look" of the picture.  He looks so old in this one.  But enough of that rambling ... Today the kids are off of school for a teacher grading day.  Back in my day, the teachers had to grader on the weekend or after school.  I do not remember them taking a day to grade.  But enough of that rambling ... Molly is at a friend's house for a playdate, and Jack and I are at home.  As I was fixing his lunch, I told him it was like old times ... like when he was a baby and it was just the two of us.  Of course, he could not talk with me.  He pointed out that there were smiles and coos, but no conversation.  I teased him that there was no "mom can i please have one more handful of cheezits, etc!"  We both laughed.  Jack is still "recovering" from being sick.  This has made him more loving and wanting to snuggle with me more.  I have cherished it because he does not always want a hug from his mom.  Needless to say ... we are enjoying the house with just the two of us.!  Kyle is in Washington for presbytery, by the way!

Another picture of Molly ...

So ... Molly has found a hat that she LOVES!  One of her classmates' mom has been knitting these hats and decided to sell them.  Molly jumped at the chance to match her friends and asked for one.  She picked the color.  I was not a joyful purchaser because in my mind I knew that I could knit her one.  However, I took a step back from myself and pondered.  IF I MADE IT, she would NOT wear it.  We are in one of those stages where she will ask me a question for my opinion and do the opposite of what I say.  For the most part, it does not hurt my feelings ... it just makes me shake my head and chuckle under my breath.  She definitely is her own person with MANY opinions.  It is fun to see her come into herself ... for the most part.  She has worn this hat for the last four days straight ... including sleeping it. I think it is a hit!

Molly lost another tooth...

Molly wanted to loose her front tooth at school.  I could not completely understand why .... I guess it was to get attention and recognition in the loss of a tooth by classmates.  Well, it did not happen that way.  We pulled it at home with true Molly dramatics!  Fast forward a couple of weeks .... I went to pick the kids up from school and she came running out to me.  There it was ... a toothy grin!  She had lost the other front tooth AT SCHOOL and doing it by herself.  She said that she was wiggling it all day at school and then there it was on her desk.  She did not even have to pull it.  She got to put it in the special tooth necklace they give them to bring home.  Molly was so happy that day.

On another note, Jack is home sick today with a fever and throwing up.  We are thinking it is the flu and praying that the rest of don't get it and he does not have to suffer long!  Here is to our Friday ... what does yours look like?

New Year's resolution...

...or something like that.  I really don't care for new year resolutions, but in my Christmas letter to you all I mentioned that I was going to TRY and have a new blog entry every week so that it would keep everyone on pins and needles as to the happenings of the Parker family (she said with a smile and a little cheeky giggle!)

So here it is ... the first entry of the new year.  There are no pictures to be had yet, and not even a picture taken of Christmas day sadly.  You will have to be satisfied with my words alone.  I was washing dishes just a moment ago and thinking about what I might write today.  This is what I came up with ... what happened today with us.  Well ... Kyle is at work.  The kids are still on Christmas break.

Jack and I did some research on the state of Georgia.  He is first up on the state reports a week after he returns to school.  They have to create a sandwich board with facts on a state of their choosing ... he chose Georgia.  There are some facts out there.  Did you know that they are the 8th highest in population?  Did you know that the state bird is the brown thrasher?  Did you know that it is the leading state east of the Mississippi in production of lumber and pulpwood?  Did you know that it was the 4th to become a state?  Did you know that it is where Jasper Johns is from?  Do you know who Jasper Johns is?  Did you know that is was named in honor of King George II?  And lastly, did you know that it has 4.5 million acres of freshwater wetlands?  I knew none of this until today!  About the only thing I knew is that it was the peach state and that is because of its license plate.  Here is to state reports in third grade....

Yesterday, Molly and I spent some time finishing up the coloring of some wonderful shrinky dinks.  She was given this set for her birthday and we, sadly, just got around to finishing it.  Today, we put them in the oven.  We watched them shrink, curl, dance around, and then finally flatten out.  It was kind of color to watch.  Jack even got into it!  We let them cool, and then Molly went to town decorating and putting the finishing touches on the "set."  She has been singing and thoroughly enjoying herself as she does it ... she even has done some talking to herself and the fairies.  I am waiting for the project to be done so that we can snap some pictures.  It is a really fun fairy garden set ... so much to do and not just one activity.  Well done aunt, uncle, and cousins on a a well purchased birthday gift.  Here is to crafting time at home....

Until next week ...