It's Been Awhile Update

I see it has been awhile since I have posted. Rather than feeling completely over whelmed with trying to catch up and write about what has been going on for the last six months. I will just a post a few of my favorite pictures and move on. I am hoping to keep things more up-to-date and document what is going on in our crazy busy lives. School takes up most of my time and can be overwhelming.

 

 

July Vacation to Red Fish Lake, Idaho with Kyle & Misty's family

 

 

Craters of the Moon

 

Fishing at Massacre Rock in Idaho

 

Parker walking in a parade behind BIG BLUE.

 

Thanksgiving with my kiddos. I am very thankful for the joy they bring to my life.

 

Kids are easily entertained. Thanksgiving.

 

Thanksgiving on the farm. All the Vea 2nd cousins.

 

Decorating the Christmas Tree. Kind of nice I didn't have to do much.

 

Maisie celebrating her birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Julander's.

 

One of my favorite pictures of me and Maisie. Shopping in Kohl's.

 

New Year's Eve fun. 

 

I Love watching Parker read. His favorite books right now are Geronimo Stilton.

 

Parker and Tyson enjoying their first sleepover. They were both so excited.

 

Celebrating Leap Year.

Parker turns 9

My baby is nine. How has the time flown by so fast? He was so excited for his birthday he could hardly stand it. Rather than buying and wrapping his presents, we went to Walmart and he got to pick out which Lego set he got. He didn't care that he didn't have a present to open. He is such a Lego fanatic. I am not sure what I am going to do with all these Lego's once he is over this stage.

Maisie's 11th Birthday

I can tell that Maisie is growing up. She didn't know what she wanted for her birthday. This is partial my fault, because I spoil her rotten. When you have everything you want it is hard to think of things that you want. I told her I didn't have anything for her birthday and that turned into a big two year old fit. I was partially kidding, but it was partially true. I realized that everything I had bought for her was for Christmas. I asked what she wanted and she couldn't think of anything, but she wanted to be able to open something. I took her to Kohl's to pick out a coat. She didn't want a coat, but I didn't know what else to get her. She finally was happy with getting a coat for her birthday. On her birthday, I gave her a pair of boot slippers that she had seen in the black friday ads. She didn't know I had gotten those, so she was happy with that surprise. 

For her birthday party, she invited her friends Sadie and Olivia to go swimming at Mountain Crest. They swam for about an hour then we stopped by McDonald's and got hot cocoa and then they decorated cupcakes as owls. They are such silly girls. They enjoyed the rest of the evening hanging out in her room. Laughing and giggling.

Parker's Birthday - 7 Years Old

We have been waiting for this day for a long time. Parker has been counting the months and then the days to his birthday. It just could not get here soon enough. He went to bed the night before with such a big smile on his face, cause he knew when he woke up that it was his birthday. It was so fun seeing the excitement in his eyes. When I woke him up on his birthday by singing to him "Happy Birthday" he had the biggest smile on his face. You could just see in his eyes that he couldn't believe the day was finally here. When we got to my office he had to make sure that everyone knew it was his birthday. When he told Beth, the dean, it was his birthday she pulled out of her pocket the change she had just received from buying her coffee, $4. You have never seen a boy so excited and so grateful for receiving $4. He gave her a great big hug. After he left for school, Beth says to me, "I have never seen a boy so excited over $4.00." He is one grateful little boy. 

I bought a salad at our new cafe, Emma's Nook, and took it over to school and ate lunch with him. It just made his day. 

He had to wait until 7:30 when dad got home to open his presents. I thought it was going to be pure torture, but I tried to keep his little mind occupied. We stopped at Twizlberry and had frozen yogurt for his birthday and then when we got home he went and played with a couple of neighbor kids and that kept him happy for awhile. He came home at 7:00 and only had a half hour to wait before he got to open his presents. When Eric opened the door, he couldn't wait another minute. He had to open his presents. He got all he asked for. Michaelangelo, Shredder, Splinter, and April from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He kept giving me hugs and telling me, "Thank you, Mom." Eric had to tease him, cause he didn't thank him. He knows who really bought them. LOL. He was happy as a jay bird. He had the best birthday ever. 

My Dearest Parker,

I can not believe my baby is growing up. I look at you and can not believe you are already 7. You are suppose to be my little boy forever. The years have gone by way too fast. You are growing into such a handsome, smart, young man. I love that you enjoy reading and are getting really good at it. You really enjoy school and have made some great friends. You love playing with your friends both at school and in the neighborhood. You will play with the boys in the neighborhood any chance you get. 

You love toys. I usually do not have a clean front room for very long. The coffee tableand floor are always covered in your toys. You just love to play. None of your toys go unplayed with. You manage to mix and match all your toys while playing. Your blocks have become guns, dinosaurs, transformers, jumps for your cars and monster trucks, or anything else you can come up. Your new favorite is Ninja Turtles. Your imagination and creativeness is amazing. You also love playing games on your tablet. 

You are such an amazing, fun boy. I truly am grateful I am your mom. I love you to the moon and back. 

Love Mom