tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71354629755186576272024-03-12T23:19:10.629-05:00Life's a journey, not a destination.This is our journey of life. One that is filled with much joy and happiness as well as many challenges. We want to share with you all that make up who we are, where we have been, and where life is taking us.The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.comBlogger508125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-33482912572461373582015-02-17T12:25:00.001-06:002015-02-17T12:25:19.392-06:00Weather contrastLast week we had a 70 degree day. It was out of the blue and it was amazing. The car washes were packed, the parks were packed and there numerous smiles! We checked out a new park and soaked up the vitamin D. Ahhhhhh, it was so nice!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lwG9R1GmiG8/VOOHjaeMW5I/AAAAAAAADiU/lzISq3FrUfo/s640/blogger-image-383761647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lwG9R1GmiG8/VOOHjaeMW5I/AAAAAAAADiU/lzISq3FrUfo/s640/blogger-image-383761647.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I1up9M3pRjE/VOOHfQpb9VI/AAAAAAAADiE/eitmsCrJGy4/s640/blogger-image-524379699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I1up9M3pRjE/VOOHfQpb9VI/AAAAAAAADiE/eitmsCrJGy4/s640/blogger-image-524379699.jpg"></a></div>Now, a week later we are playing in snow! The kids had their snowball fights, school delays and fun. What a great winter. It has been so full of surprises! <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2W4g9apeDrs/VOOHhvTe03I/AAAAAAAADiM/Dk69oP2cOFo/s640/blogger-image-160901572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2W4g9apeDrs/VOOHhvTe03I/AAAAAAAADiM/Dk69oP2cOFo/s640/blogger-image-160901572.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4EqLtr4YWeY/VOOHeITmEEI/AAAAAAAADh8/HQmOLjHnu0I/s640/blogger-image--2083923839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4EqLtr4YWeY/VOOHeITmEEI/AAAAAAAADh8/HQmOLjHnu0I/s640/blogger-image--2083923839.jpg"></a></div>The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-47235086852470574492015-01-26T13:17:00.000-06:002015-01-26T13:17:00.314-06:00All about "Mia"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just wanted to record some things about this big girl. She has really grown into her own person. She loves to dress up still. She has about 15 costumes of all arrays and is known to transformer numerous times during the day. Maleah enjoys playing cars, legos and swords with Noah, but also enjoys her barbies, dolls and make up. The perfect mix. She is very strong willed. She know what she wants and will do anything to get it. She has a sweet tooth. She loves art and music. She likes to walk through the house dressed as ELSA from Frozen and perform "Let it go". She will put on her tutu and dance ballet in the living room. She quit napping at age two, but still really needs one. She wakes up at 6:30 most mornings and that is when the rest of the world must wake too. She is partially potty trained, but has no desire to be bribed or talked into the other 50% of it. Ideas need to be her's and she will do it herself. When she is upset, she loves to fake cry. Acting may be in her distant future. Time out or "break time" is something she frequents. She is quick to love you on her terms. She wants to be just like big brother. She can't wait to go to school next year and has requested that we put her in dance. She loves her long hair and is very protective of it-approved trims only! She enjoys doing school work at home. She likes starbucks dates with mom. She loves jokes, especially anything to do with farting or her woopy cushion. (Thanks to the boys in the house) She wears a size 5/6. Weighs roughly 35lbs. Likes her nails painted pink. Still sucks her thumb and carries the blankie aka "the web" around everywhere. She rides her yellow kitty bike with training wheels and her grin is priceless. She can be addicted to technology if she has it her way. She is a blessing. She melts my heart with her random "I love you mom" lines. She has a smile that reflects the sun. She only answers you if you call her "mia," as she has informed us that Maleah is not what she likes to me called. <br />
"Mia" keeps us on our toes and brightens my day. I love having her home with me this year and the time I get to share with her. The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-34442980211833147232015-01-24T12:59:00.000-06:002015-01-24T12:59:00.322-06:006 going on 26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I look at this big boy who is more than half of my height and eating me out of house and home and wonder where the past 6 years have gone. Everyone told me that once I had kids time with speed up. I get it. It really does. You blink and they double in size (or maybe I am shrinking). </div>
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I remember the first year of Noah's life. Caulic that turned out to be silent reflux, lots of crying (on both of our parts) and many moments of snuggles and laughter. Back then, I couldn't even imagine the future if I had tried. But, here I am, in the future-6 years later. And I am standing in awe. I wish I could go back and tell my past self that it is true. That the rough moments, the moments that seem to never end really do. To hold on to them. To hold on the every tear, moment of trial, and smile. To not worry so much about the distant future and worry more about if I smooched those chubby checks enough. There has come a time now that I am still his mama, but my role is different. And I know that is will continue to mold and change as he grows. So I am promising to recognize this and to mold and grow with him. </div>
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Noah 6 year stats:<br />
47 3/4 in tall (88%)<br />
52.6 lbs (78%)<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Noah is really enjoying school and doing well in it. He continues to have quite the imagination. And loves to build. He says that right now he wants to build stuff when he gets older. He has a clever mind and a witty sense of humor. He always keeps us on our toes. And his hugs melt me right in my place.</span><br />
<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-62093845259769295152015-01-22T12:45:00.000-06:002015-01-22T12:45:00.298-06:00The Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maleah really enjoys painting and drawing these days. I love when she decides to make a masterpiece! The picture below is suppose to be of me. I think it is close resemblance, don't you?<br />
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-44280017647856790472015-01-21T12:40:00.002-06:002015-01-21T12:40:45.438-06:006th birthday continues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
To complete this birthday boy's celebration we had one last party…Even Maleah got a gift. Noah requested ice cream instead of cake and he got some great gifts from Nana and G-Pa, us and Grandma and Grandpa. Whew! If his 6th year of life is anything like his birthday week, we are certainly in for a fantastic year!</div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-23171393873964574892015-01-21T12:22:00.002-06:002015-01-21T12:22:56.952-06:00Happy 6th Birthday Noah!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Noah decided he wanted to have a transformer party this year. It has been a few years since we did the "birthday party" thing, so I thought we would go for it. He has made quite a few friends at school and most of which live right here in our neighborhood. My mom was able to make it out for the event, which made it even extra special. So, on January 10th at 2:30 we had 14 very excited children here who transformed into bumble bee and optimus prime. They ate cupcakes and snacks, played toss the gear and walked the gear walk. Noah had a great time. It was smooth even with the chaos of nerf guns and swords. (Which were hidden and found!) I think this was a birthday to remember!<br /><br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-50225420209284622762015-01-17T06:57:00.001-06:002015-01-17T06:57:34.117-06:002nd stripeThis excited boy earned his 2nd stripe in martial arts tonight. He did a great job and you can really see the growth in him. Way to go noah!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CyjoSQt1bqg/VLpcGIH4VpI/AAAAAAAADdw/ETQrlo6EAJ8/s640/blogger-image--807723997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CyjoSQt1bqg/VLpcGIH4VpI/AAAAAAAADdw/ETQrlo6EAJ8/s640/blogger-image--807723997.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lksilFutPro/VLpcJguI2FI/AAAAAAAADeA/CfAu86L0xyk/s640/blogger-image--192262671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lksilFutPro/VLpcJguI2FI/AAAAAAAADeA/CfAu86L0xyk/s640/blogger-image--192262671.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_Z2bjdnyOiU/VLpcH-tkQXI/AAAAAAAADd4/BJvaC5jlsVs/s640/blogger-image-818636171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_Z2bjdnyOiU/VLpcH-tkQXI/AAAAAAAADd4/BJvaC5jlsVs/s640/blogger-image-818636171.jpg"></a></div>The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-9364128679397194152015-01-17T06:55:00.001-06:002015-01-17T06:55:01.226-06:00Nana visitsIt never gets old having this wonderful lady visit! It is always a treat to have my mom visit. The kids also love their nana time. <div>We had an eventful visit this time including hosting Noah's 6th birthday with 14 kids! Nana was a huge help orchestrating this event. Of course their was lots of coffee drinking, chatting and crafting. The kids got their snuggles and special time. Noah even had school delays every day she was here!</div><div>I miss being near my family so much. At least when nana comes to visit she brings a slice of home! Thank you for visiting nana!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I_gjwLTp0Vs/VLpboqcD_lI/AAAAAAAADdo/-5KcRSK2ebU/s640/blogger-image-1880553022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-I_gjwLTp0Vs/VLpboqcD_lI/AAAAAAAADdo/-5KcRSK2ebU/s640/blogger-image-1880553022.jpg"></a></div></div>The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-62509583208992316702015-01-07T06:00:00.000-06:002015-01-07T06:00:02.102-06:00Family Divided<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Maybe this is our problem….can ducks and beavers really get along? I guess time will tell. But, for now the ducks still have them out numbered!</div>
The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-69961875647567309212015-01-06T15:00:00.000-06:002015-01-06T15:00:01.541-06:00Keepsake from Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The kids made t-shirts to remember their time together. It was fun to see their creativity come out!</div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-64239278681348455782015-01-05T15:00:00.000-06:002015-01-05T15:00:00.906-06:00Merry Christmas from NJ!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This year we were able to spend Christmas for the first time with the whole Parker-Gates clan! It was very special. Grandma and Grandpa flew in and we were able to drive over to Aunt Chrystal's house. The cousins had non-stop fun for four days! We had a very relaxing Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning was action packed. As you can see, there was a lot of work to do under that tree. Santa also left a nice little stash in a treasure box for the kids to dig through! We sure enjoyed all the food and fun!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids opening their stocking gifts from the treasure box</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma and Grandpa opened their custom towels with the kids art work</td></tr>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-53195010835239854932015-01-03T15:00:00.000-06:002015-01-03T15:00:03.846-06:00Christmas Eve PJs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Every year Grandma Parker works many hours to make custom pjs for each of the grandkids. This is something I especially look forward to. She puts so much time and effort into them; you can just feel the love radiate out of them! This year was a very special Christmas because we were all able to be together. It was so much fun to watch them open them all up and I think they went very well. The kids put them right on as soon as they opened them! </div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-61706913024368927832015-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:002015-01-03T06:00:05.459-06:00Annual thank you photo shoot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Part of the Parker tradition in this house is to take thank you photos for our thank you cards. Here is a sneak peak of what we got. The kids did a great job and there were certainly too many to pick from!<br />
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-13644105326341718922015-01-02T14:41:00.000-06:002015-01-02T15:15:09.647-06:00Projects on the cheap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been working on decorating on the cheap. A challenge to myself to repurpose things and have fun doing it. Pintrest usually becomes the first place I look for ideas. As my dad would call it "Pins I stole." I simply say "repined with a twist". And, some of these projects I create on my own. It does take practice!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a broken coat stand that was missing the coat stand pole. I glued it back together and added some paint and ta-da! I have been looking for the perfect umbrella stand for awhile and now I have it! Project cost $3</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have a huge basement full of white walls that I needed to temporarily give some life too. Here I took scrapbooking paper and taped it up to make wall paper in the kids play area. It really brightened the area. Project cost $5</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is all completed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This flower and paper plane mobile was a fun project. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just had to add this because her face is too cute. She was pretty excited about all the organization happening in the play area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the reading area. I painted the shadows this past summer and I think they do a nice touch.</td></tr>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-35254641360962938582014-12-13T06:17:00.001-06:002014-12-13T06:17:44.431-06:00Gingerbread housesIt's not too often that maleah and I get to volunteer in Noah's class together. Yesterday we got to help them make gingerbread houses. It was so much fun. I think noah especially enjoyed the fact that we were there. And Maleah loved being like the big kids. Needless to say there was lots of candy eating, frosting wearing and smiles. I feel so blessed to be a stay at home mom that can be apart of my kids special school moments. This is what I have been waiting for!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f5Skxgotcv0/VIwuX9KONqI/AAAAAAAADVI/6YfDdz2NKq4/s640/blogger-image--2053057607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f5Skxgotcv0/VIwuX9KONqI/AAAAAAAADVI/6YfDdz2NKq4/s640/blogger-image--2053057607.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mJN2O_ybAl8/VIwuZokjVYI/AAAAAAAADVQ/_aquc8zt1eE/s640/blogger-image--1781234048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mJN2O_ybAl8/VIwuZokjVYI/AAAAAAAADVQ/_aquc8zt1eE/s640/blogger-image--1781234048.jpg"></a></div>The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-54405962124582596522014-12-09T13:58:00.000-06:002014-12-09T13:58:00.357-06:00December board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the bulletin board I did for the month of december for Noah's school. The snowman is made out of cups. He took some time to figure out. The kids and staff really seem to enjoy him!</div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-22360904556994976672014-12-07T13:56:00.000-06:002014-12-07T13:56:00.085-06:00New Bikes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For Maleah's 3rd birthday and our move we had promised the kids new bikes. (That was 6 months ago!) Then the summer went flying by and they started asking where their bikes were…so here they are! They are loving every second and it is great to see them playing together! </div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-15857709664036434612014-12-06T13:48:00.000-06:002014-12-09T14:18:49.613-06:001st Haircut<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I feel like the parent of extremes! Noah had his first haircut at 2 months old and now Maleah is having her's at…wait for it…3 YEARS old! It has been a process in the making with a failed attempt and lots of bribery. Maleah was convinced that haircuts where only for boys (even though My hair is shoulder length and she sees me get it done) and it was not going to happen for her! We spent a couple of weeks prepping her about the "trim" she would receive and how wonderful she will look. Oh, and she got a couple of My little pony toys. Whatever works. She did it, and it was such a great experience! </div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-56694632944905183342014-12-05T17:30:00.000-06:002014-12-05T17:30:01.621-06:00Thanksgiving 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This year we drove to NJ to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Chrystal, Uncle Greg and the cousins. It was an eventful 3 days, not just for all the playing the kids did, but because it snowed! They made a snowman, threw some snowballs, and did some sledding. It was really a site to see the fun that they were having. And, on top of all the fun, we had lots of great food!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maleah's version of sledding</td></tr>
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Game night: kids vs parents. Any guesses on who won?</div>
The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-11936928876259445192014-12-05T13:45:00.000-06:002014-12-05T13:45:04.053-06:00Merry Christmas 2014...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am ready for Christmas! Yes, this year I actually put stuff up before Turkey Day. I just couldn't help myself. Here are a few shots of stuff I have done. There is, of course, more to come. The kids are already wanting to know when the presents will be under the tree. I am waiting for the elves to come help me with that task!<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-47828329760329856222014-12-05T13:37:00.000-06:002014-12-05T13:37:08.482-06:00Never saw that coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just have to log this as a memory I hope to forget. A few weeks ago I came home to this baby sitting in my kitchen. I was busy putting things away when Mia and the dog were in the kitchen scooting around. Mia says in a giggling voice, "Mom, there is a snake in the kitchen!" To my disbelief, there sure was. It didn't phase her at all. She's totally not related to me! So, I caught it and had Dave take it away. 4 days later we stumbled upon another one in the basement. He was about 2 times bigger than this one. I think I just had a mini stroke! I don't do snakes. We again caught it and I started sleeping with my eyes open. Checking every bed. So I called the pest control company whose sticker was in the basement. This was no help. He walked the house and told me that I had snakes because I have rats and mice in the house. Really? I have never seen an evidence of rodents. Now I was never going to sleep again. Then, he looked at the snake and said that is was probably a copper head. I lost it again! Nightmare city! How could I live here if there were copper heads getting in. (Later we found out it was just a brown snake and nothing serious.)</div>
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The owner and agency handling this house ended up hanging a specialist come out to look at the house. No one really knows how they got in, but could agree on two things: We live in snake central Virginia and they were coming in to stay warm. So, they have begun sealing the garage up and so far, no more have invited themselves in. I can handle a lot of things, but not snakes and spiders. Yuck!</div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-32613775073896692232014-12-05T13:26:00.002-06:002014-12-05T13:26:49.078-06:00First Stripe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
November 21, 2014-Noah is 4 months into MMA. It has been the neatest thing to watch him grow and learn in this experience. When we first signed him up it was a lot of learning how to sit and pay attention, since, this is not a fast paced sport. Now, I can see his discipline and form. Currently he is doing Jiu-jitsu and muay thai. He just tested for his first stripe and it was so much fun to watch. I have a video of him in the ring behind him with his instructor. He was so excited!</div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-35873558064177446982014-12-05T13:21:00.002-06:002014-12-05T13:21:42.770-06:00Bulletin Board<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I wanted to be involved as much as I could at Noah's school so I volunteered to be on the PTO as the bulletin board/advertising person. It has been rewarding to see the kids faces each month as I work on the board. Here is the one that I did for the month of November. </div>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-41730459888710145362014-12-05T13:19:00.002-06:002014-12-05T13:19:59.422-06:00Noah's first fun run<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Novemeber 7, 2014- Noah being in school has been both and adjustment and memorable. It took a couple months to get use to full time school in the public school setting and now he is loving it. He has made a ton of friends and is learning so much. This year he got to do his first Boosterthon fun run. He was very excited to call grandparents and friends to ask for pledges because he could earn free goodies (oh and the school could earn money too!) Here are a few pictures from the day of the run. It was beautiful out, but super cold. Noah ran all 35 laps in under the hour and was one of the first kids done. It doesn't surprise me as he always has so much energy! He was very proud.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noah showing off his cool gadgets from all the pledges he got!</td></tr>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135462975518657627.post-54091416130065275222014-12-05T13:15:00.000-06:002014-12-05T13:15:09.561-06:00Happy Halloween<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was such a memorable Halloween. First off, it was our first year as a family living in a neighborhood. Typically, in our house in Alabama we didn't get kids coming by because we were too far out. So, being in the city and in a neighborhood brought lots of opportunity for both trick-or-treating and giving out goods! My sweet friend Carmen who also lives in this neighborhood had a party so we attended that and then spent the eventing trick-or-treating. Maleah who is always into dressing up, decided last minute to be batgirl. And, what do you know, they had one my size too! It was so much fun dressing up with the kids. Noah, rocked the Optimus Prime costume this year. He was more interested in getting as much candy as possible because he believes that the more candy he has for the candy fairy the bigger his gift will be. So, there are not very many pictures of him as he was on a mission. We also had our friend Ryan Corder visit from Huntsville. He too dressed up and it was a lot of fun having him here. </div>
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I feel like this was the first year that Maleah really got it. She was thrilled. Every house that we went to she would say "Thank you! Happy Halloween to you!" I loved to see the joy on her face. In the end, the kids did very well and enjoyed their time with their friends. Oh, and as for the candy fairy, I think she did well too! The kids were oh so pleased with their new toys waiting for them the next day that they never asked again for the candy. She is my hero…Well, as long as she remembers to toss out the candy!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the kids are enjoying their gifts from the candy fairy!</td></tr>
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<br />The Parkershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11545321147676415051noreply@blogger.com0