All about "Mia"

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.
"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.

6 going on 26

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).  

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. 

Noah 6 year stats:
47 3/4 in tall (88%)
52.6 lbs (78%)
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.

The Artist

 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?

6th birthday continues

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!

Happy 6th Birthday Noah!

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!

2nd stripe

This 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!

Nana visits

It 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. 

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!

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!

Family Divided

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!

Keepsake from Christmas

The kids made t-shirts to remember their time together.  It was fun to see their creativity come out!

Merry Christmas from NJ!

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!

Kids opening their stocking gifts from the treasure box

Grandma and Grandpa opened their custom towels with the kids art work

Christmas Eve PJs

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!  

Annual thank you photo shoot

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!