Today Parker was so sweet. When Maddie wouldn't stop crying during her nap time, he said, "Oh! I will sing her a song!" (See video) I think his favorite part was singing, "And down will come Maddie, cradle and all."
At his own nap time, he took my hand and placed it on his face. He squeezed it between his cheek and shoulder and said, "I'm your cuddlebug." Then he said he wanted to give me a hug and kiss. When I told him to have sweet dreams, he actually answered, "I will." (He usually says, "I won't! I will have bad dreams!") I don't know what made him so loving today, but I'll take it!
12/14/09
12/9/09
Why we need to move home
Well, one of the many reasons....
Today, Parker stood at the front window, perplexed.
"Momma, why none kiddos are out? The sun is out!"
Never mind that it is below freezing. When you live in Seattle, if the sun is out, you are out. Parker learned this rule quickly, and now he wants to apply it. In the freezing cold.
Ah, Kentucky, I miss you!
Today, Parker stood at the front window, perplexed.
"Momma, why none kiddos are out? The sun is out!"
Never mind that it is below freezing. When you live in Seattle, if the sun is out, you are out. Parker learned this rule quickly, and now he wants to apply it. In the freezing cold.
Ah, Kentucky, I miss you!
12/8/09
Proud Every Day II - DINKS
We used to be D.I.N.K.S...you know, double-income-no-kids. I am embarrassed to admit that I have no idea how I spent all of that money. Now that I am a stay-at-home-mom and we have two more mouths to feed, things are very different. Our spending money is now a drop in the bucket in comparison to just a few years ago (but I promise I'm not complaining - just read on).
Aaron used to invest in a lot of "stuff." He was way into everything...every sport, every hobby. And he had every piece of gear imaginable. Recently, he decided to sell some pricey mountaineering gear. He didn't make a big deal out of it, but he basically felt it wouldn't be responsible for him to go mountaineering when he was the sole provider for three other people. It made me sad (for him) and proud (of him) at the same time. He never complained.
Tonight we learned about a family in our church that is experiencing a rough time. You just wouldn't believe their story if I told you. You know the saying, "When it rains, it pours"? Well let's just say it's been monsoon season at their house for over a year.
When I talked to Aaron about it tonight, asking if he thought we could do anything to help them, he pulled out a huge wad of cash. He said he had been saving his spending money for a few months now and combined with the money from his mountaineering gear, we should be able to help them out.
If you've been keeping up with my posts, you may recall Aaron said Parker made him proud every day. Well, I know where Parker gets his huge heart, and his daddy makes me proud every day.
Aaron used to invest in a lot of "stuff." He was way into everything...every sport, every hobby. And he had every piece of gear imaginable. Recently, he decided to sell some pricey mountaineering gear. He didn't make a big deal out of it, but he basically felt it wouldn't be responsible for him to go mountaineering when he was the sole provider for three other people. It made me sad (for him) and proud (of him) at the same time. He never complained.
Tonight we learned about a family in our church that is experiencing a rough time. You just wouldn't believe their story if I told you. You know the saying, "When it rains, it pours"? Well let's just say it's been monsoon season at their house for over a year.
When I talked to Aaron about it tonight, asking if he thought we could do anything to help them, he pulled out a huge wad of cash. He said he had been saving his spending money for a few months now and combined with the money from his mountaineering gear, we should be able to help them out.
If you've been keeping up with my posts, you may recall Aaron said Parker made him proud every day. Well, I know where Parker gets his huge heart, and his daddy makes me proud every day.
12/7/09
Funny Day
All day Parker was saying some pretty funny stuff...
On the way to the gym -
P: I'm so sad, Mommy.
M: Why?
P: Because I left my blankie at home.
M: Oh, I'm sorry bud.
P: Well, maybe some candy or a candy bar might make me feel better.
M: Sorry, we don't have any of that right now.
P: We could stop by Fred Meyer on the way to the gym and get some...Would that be a great idea?
M: No, it wouldn't.
P: Yes it would! Because I love those [candy and candy bars]!!
I am beginning to think he left his blanket at home on purpose in order to get a consolation prize.
Later, I heard a very deep voice from the backseat of the van:
"What would you like for Christmas?"
He had donned the Mr. Potato Head Santa beard (complete with bright red lips). It fit his little head perfectly!
M: Are you Santa?
P: Yes. What would you like?
M: Well, some candy would be nice. Could I have some candy?
P: Of course you may! As soon as we get back, I will go to my toy shop and build some for you!
A few minutes later we were passing a temple.
M: Parker, look at the roof of that building - it's purple!
P: That's odd.
M: Odd? Where did you learn the word 'odd'?
P: I guess I learned it at school.
M: When did you go to school?
P: When I was 4. I'm this many (holding up 10 fingers).
M: I don't remember taking you to school...How did you get there?
P: I drove.
Then tonight I saw him digging way up in his nose.
M: Do you need a tissue? (I was hoping this would be a rhetorical question.)
P: No. These are just pickin' boogers.
As opposed to the blowing kind???
On the way to the gym -
P: I'm so sad, Mommy.
M: Why?
P: Because I left my blankie at home.
M: Oh, I'm sorry bud.
P: Well, maybe some candy or a candy bar might make me feel better.
M: Sorry, we don't have any of that right now.
P: We could stop by Fred Meyer on the way to the gym and get some...Would that be a great idea?
M: No, it wouldn't.
P: Yes it would! Because I love those [candy and candy bars]!!
I am beginning to think he left his blanket at home on purpose in order to get a consolation prize.
Later, I heard a very deep voice from the backseat of the van:
"What would you like for Christmas?"
He had donned the Mr. Potato Head Santa beard (complete with bright red lips). It fit his little head perfectly!
M: Are you Santa?
P: Yes. What would you like?
M: Well, some candy would be nice. Could I have some candy?
P: Of course you may! As soon as we get back, I will go to my toy shop and build some for you!
A few minutes later we were passing a temple.
M: Parker, look at the roof of that building - it's purple!
P: That's odd.
M: Odd? Where did you learn the word 'odd'?
P: I guess I learned it at school.
M: When did you go to school?
P: When I was 4. I'm this many (holding up 10 fingers).
M: I don't remember taking you to school...How did you get there?
P: I drove.
Then tonight I saw him digging way up in his nose.
M: Do you need a tissue? (I was hoping this would be a rhetorical question.)
P: No. These are just pickin' boogers.
As opposed to the blowing kind???
12/5/09
Christmas is cancelled
Well, it almost was.
Tonight we went to the Country Village. It is a collection of shops/boutiques near where we live. Definitely has a country feel, from the kettle corn stand, to the breakfast anytime cafe, to the mini train rides pulled by a tractor. We love it there. Last year, we happened upon a really fun Country Village tradition...Santa descending from the roof of the toy store. He climbed aboard his rickety sleigh (metal frame only) and was pulled by lighted deer, with Rudolph lighting the way. A short cable ride later, he landed just beyond the duck pond amidst a crowd of awestruck children.
This year we arrived early and picked the perfect vantage point. As before, Santa appeared on the store's rooftop and waved to his fans. He climbed aboard his sleigh and began his short ride. As he passed over our heads, we decided to follow him. We migrated toward the pond, where the unthinkable occurred - his sleigh just stopped...right above the water, just a few feet from the surface. The children gasped. The sleigh rocked from side to side as poor Santa held on for dear life. After some shouting, the sleigh began to move backward and upward. They let him go again, and again, he just stopped. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Maddie was on my shoulders, and I nearly dropped her. Aaron and I couldn't help speculating about poor Santa getting electrocuted in the pond (thanks to the lighted deer), the ensuing chaos, a generation of traumatized children, etc. We were trying to use language above Parker's head, so as not to upset him. As the drama continued (they pulled him back and forth three more times before he finally landed safely on the other side of the pond), we became louder and louder with belly laughs and jokes about Santa's demise.
On the way home, Parker worriedly asked, "Momma, why Santa almost fall in the water?" I explained Santa was a funny guy and was just playing a joke on all of us.
I sure hope he bought it!
Tonight we went to the Country Village. It is a collection of shops/boutiques near where we live. Definitely has a country feel, from the kettle corn stand, to the breakfast anytime cafe, to the mini train rides pulled by a tractor. We love it there. Last year, we happened upon a really fun Country Village tradition...Santa descending from the roof of the toy store. He climbed aboard his rickety sleigh (metal frame only) and was pulled by lighted deer, with Rudolph lighting the way. A short cable ride later, he landed just beyond the duck pond amidst a crowd of awestruck children.
This year we arrived early and picked the perfect vantage point. As before, Santa appeared on the store's rooftop and waved to his fans. He climbed aboard his sleigh and began his short ride. As he passed over our heads, we decided to follow him. We migrated toward the pond, where the unthinkable occurred - his sleigh just stopped...right above the water, just a few feet from the surface. The children gasped. The sleigh rocked from side to side as poor Santa held on for dear life. After some shouting, the sleigh began to move backward and upward. They let him go again, and again, he just stopped. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Maddie was on my shoulders, and I nearly dropped her. Aaron and I couldn't help speculating about poor Santa getting electrocuted in the pond (thanks to the lighted deer), the ensuing chaos, a generation of traumatized children, etc. We were trying to use language above Parker's head, so as not to upset him. As the drama continued (they pulled him back and forth three more times before he finally landed safely on the other side of the pond), we became louder and louder with belly laughs and jokes about Santa's demise.
On the way home, Parker worriedly asked, "Momma, why Santa almost fall in the water?" I explained Santa was a funny guy and was just playing a joke on all of us.
I sure hope he bought it!
12/4/09
Proud Every Day
Tonight, my husband said that Parker makes him proud every day. This was moments after Parker had tucked us both in. You see, we were supposed to have a date night, but Maddie got sick, so we rented movies instead. As we curled up on the couch with Parker, he jumped up and said, "Oh! I will get blankets for you, too!" He ran into the other room and returned with two blankets. He placed one over me, carefully tucking it under my feet and then did the same for Aaron. He was so meticulous and loving. It brings tears to my eyes.
While Parker was engrossed in the cartoon, Aaron shared another touching story about what happened at the video store. Aaron had promised Parker his own candy and allowed him to hold it. A few minutes later, Aaron looked down at Parker and noticed his arms were filled with boxes of candy. He asked, "What are you doing with all of that, buddy?"
Parker responded matter-of-factly: "It's for the kiddos who don't have any."
We have been talking a lot lately about people in need, and now Parker looks for opportunities to share what he has with others. His Grammy is right...He is an angel.
While Parker was engrossed in the cartoon, Aaron shared another touching story about what happened at the video store. Aaron had promised Parker his own candy and allowed him to hold it. A few minutes later, Aaron looked down at Parker and noticed his arms were filled with boxes of candy. He asked, "What are you doing with all of that, buddy?"
Parker responded matter-of-factly: "It's for the kiddos who don't have any."
We have been talking a lot lately about people in need, and now Parker looks for opportunities to share what he has with others. His Grammy is right...He is an angel.
12/1/09
Grace
Thank God for grace. Sometimes it takes a 2 year old to show me how to extend it.
If you've read my recent posts, you would know that Parker delights in making messes. Today I found him standing on Maddie's toy kitchenette wiping what looked like red water all over the wall. Upon further inspection, I found a popsicle stick floating in a decorative urn atop the kitchen. He was wiping the popsicle water on the wall, kitchen and himself. I lost it. I yelled; I sent him to his room; I refused to give him toys in his crib for nap time. "Why are you making all these messes?!" I demanded.
He gave me a huge, genuine smile and said, "Just because!" It was said in the same sweet tone a husband might use if he brought flowers home for his wife unexpectedly. It was not malicious in the least. It was "just because."
I tucked him in for nap and sighed, "I love you...Even if I don't like your behavior sometimes." As I turned my back and walked toward his door, I heard him smack his lips and blow. He loves me despite my behavior, too. Thank goodness.
I blew a kiss back.
If you've read my recent posts, you would know that Parker delights in making messes. Today I found him standing on Maddie's toy kitchenette wiping what looked like red water all over the wall. Upon further inspection, I found a popsicle stick floating in a decorative urn atop the kitchen. He was wiping the popsicle water on the wall, kitchen and himself. I lost it. I yelled; I sent him to his room; I refused to give him toys in his crib for nap time. "Why are you making all these messes?!" I demanded.
He gave me a huge, genuine smile and said, "Just because!" It was said in the same sweet tone a husband might use if he brought flowers home for his wife unexpectedly. It was not malicious in the least. It was "just because."
I tucked him in for nap and sighed, "I love you...Even if I don't like your behavior sometimes." As I turned my back and walked toward his door, I heard him smack his lips and blow. He loves me despite my behavior, too. Thank goodness.
I blew a kiss back.
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