Preschool

I have been thinking a lot lately about putting Parker in preschool and couldn't quite decide what to do. He won't be starting kindergarten until he is almost 6 so we still have 2 full years before that happens. I have heard a lot about pre schools in this area and also the cost of them. That was one thing that really held me back. We can't quite afford something very expensive, but I also felt like I couldn't afford not to put him in to some sort of class. I think he needs the socialization with other kids and a steady routine. He needs something more stimulating and challenging than I feel I can give him at home everyday, especially with another kid around. So I kind of put it on the back burner and didn't really think about it for a while. Well I was talking to my mom the other day and she mentioned that one of our friends really good friends was starting a preschool and she thought Parker might like it. I had seen a few posters for this preschool and had heard of the ladies doing it, but I don't know them personally. So my mom being the great mom that she is called and got all the information for us and even paid for the start up fee and first months class. So Parker is officially signed up for Preschool. When I asked him if he wanted to start going to school he said, "Ya, today?" No not today, and I think he will be asking me everyday until he starts going on Tuesday. We went to the teacher's home, where the preschool will be, last night and she showed Parker all the different things she has and some of the activities she has planned and he said, "I love it" so I think that was a good sign. She is a super nice lady and I know she has great morals and standards. I know that she will do a great job and I trust her with my child. I hope that he plays well with others and does a little maturing. That would be wonderful. I am excited for the 2 hours a day twice a week without him. Isn't that being an awful mom?? I think it would be wonderful if I could go to the store with one less kid, I might be able to get a lot more done, and he will be doing something besides watching cartoons and bugging me. I am sure I will have many updates on his progress and of course pictures from his first day of "School", sniff, sniff. Why do I get emotional about that. I want him to go, but I can't believe my baby is growing up. I am in big trouble when he starts kindergarten I can already tell!

Parker and scissors, not good!

So while I was getting dinner ready on Sunday, Parker came across some scissors that are "his" and decided to take it upon himself to give Paige a little haircut. While doing so he clipped her ear and she began screaming. I didn't see all this happen I just heard her start screaming and saw him with the scissors. Matt immediately put him in time out for 10 minutes and tried to talk to him to see what he had done. Paige continued to scream and made her way over to me and that is when I noticed big drops of blood on my shirt and on her shirt coming from her ear. If anyone has ever cut their ear, you know that they bleed for a long time. Well I ran and got a towel and tried to put some pressure on it to get it to stop bleeding. She didn't like that and kept pulling away, I finally got it under control and her to stop crying and she was fine, like nothing had happened. And as most little kids do she had already forgiven her brother and went to find him. She sat down right next to him in timeout as if to say, "It's okay, I still love you" it was so sweet. I wish I could be more like her and forgive that quickly. Parker sat in his time out and then we had the conversation that no one but mommy cuts hair and daddy can help too, but not kids and definitely not him. He now has no scissor privileges and still remembers what he did. Mostly the part about cutting her ear, I don't think he meant to do that and truly felt bad about making his little sister bleed. Her haircut on the other hand wasn't too bad. At least he didn't cut one of her pony tails off!! There is a short spot right in front of her ear and then a few pieces in the back on top of her head. So she will be just fine and it isn't too noticeable. Luckily her hair is still relatively thin so it blends in well. Every kids seems to do this at one point in their life. I hope Parker got it out of his system and will not try it again!! Oh the drama!!

Sickly, you may not want to read this

Something is in the air around our house and we have all been not feeling very good. It started on Monday night when Paige threw up in the middle of the night. Gross!! I thought maybe she had eaten too much junk, or something that upset her stomach and didn't really think much about it after that. She only threw up the one time and seemed fin the next day. Well Parker spent the majority of Thursday night/Friday morning throwing up...all over my carpets!! I was not happy about that. I tried to tell him the next time you feel like you need to go, run to the bathroom. Well not even 5 minutes later he runs into my room first and starts gagging, then Matt grabbed him and ran him to the bathroom. WHY!!! Why can't he just go in there first and then come in and tell us he doesn't feel good. I don't get it. Well we finally got smart and just put him in bed with us with a bucket right beside the bed with a towel over the sheets so that Matt could help him immediately. What a long night, Matt called into work and got the day off (sick day...might as well use them) and was home Friday to help out with the clean up of sheets, towels, and floors! Well good thing he was home because I caught the bug and wasn't feeling well the entire day. After having my face in the porcelain thrown a few too many times Matt called in another day. (he is so great about helping out). I still felt yucky in the evening, I don't get sick that often, but when I do it is awful. I felt so horrible and I knew that I had to get feeling better for the sake of my family and all the things I needed to accomplish this weekend. So I asked Matt to give me a blessing. Matt and my dad were able to give me a blessing. I felt so much better, just peace of mind knowing that the Lord would bless me through my faith. I was able to get some sleep and woke up this morning feeling so much better. Still not 100% but quite a bit better. We were able to get the house clean and work on a few projects. It felt good to have clean house after the whole week we had. Fresh smelling sheets and clean floors sure are nice. I decided that I really like having Matt home on Saturdays, too bad that won't hardly happen. I am hoping that I am back to normal tomorrow for church because I have sharing time. I am also hoping Matt escaped the bug and won't be sick in the morning because there is nothing worse than a sick man!!!!

Reaping the Rewards

I am starting to believe that all of our hard work on getting a garden together this Spring will be paying off. I picked my first zucchini last night and made two loaves of zucchini bread this morning. I have about 10 tomatoes almost ready to be picked, some corn on it's way, 3 heads of cabbage, and some pumpkins. It might be worth all the work and fuss to enjoy a few fresh items home grown. I don't think our spot was quite big enough, maybe we will have to make room in another area next year. Now that I know that I can grow a garden I might get ambitious next year and really do a lot. I was surprised that the vegetables survived the two hail storms we had and seemed to recover quite well. There is something really wonderful about truly enjoying the fruits or your labor!!

Day like this...

I was looking through some pictures and was reminded of how wonderful it is to be a mother. I know that sometimes it is difficult and some days my kids do drive me crazy, but I DO love them. I am so grateful that I am blessed and given the opportunity to be a mom to 2 healthy kids. Kids that are smart, funny, noisy, talkative, and very energetic! I know they are growing up so quickly and the days seem to go by faster and faster I am trying to remember all the little things, some things more important than others. I hope my kids to know that they are loved and that they can always feel safe and loved in their home!

Parker sees me taking pictures and instantly wants one taken of him. I hardly ever get a picture where he isn't saying "cheese" and this is one of the times when I was too slow to capture him in the moment of what he was doing. He saw the camera and turned and said "cheese" but he sure is cute.


I am a little bit of a sneaky mom, when I find something that will contain, entertain or amuse my children I abuse it. Well this day I had put Paige in this chair, which she can't get out of on her own, for a little while hoping to get some chores accomplished. When I went to check on her she was completely zonked out. Her poor neck seemed a little kinked, but I was afraid to move her. She took about an hour nap in this little chair and I was able to accomplish more than I thought I would.


My kids love milk, they would drink it more than any other liquid, especially Parker, this morning they were having a cup of milk and watching cartoons and Parker climbed up in the chair with Paige and stayed there for a little while. He usually likes to be by himself or on Dad's lap. So it was quite shocking for me when he wanted to sit by her and that she allowed him to sit by her (they usually pester each other too much to sit by one another). Days and moments like this I love!!!


Paige was taking a nap and had been asleep for a really long time. I was kind of worried about her so I went to check on her and this is what I found. I almost started laughing, but didn't want to wake her up. So I grabbed the camera to document the crazy sleeping situation she had gotten herself into. Shortly after I took the picture she woke up, confused and frustrated at the position she was in. She is a crazy sleeper!


One day I got the kids pool all ready and decided they needed to eat lunch first. I made them both a sandwich and I ran inside to get them a drink and when I came out this is what I saw. I just love love love it when my kids are nice to each other and play well and show one another that they love each other. It makes my heart melt!

Cookies, Cookies, and more Cookies

Yesterday I baked 20 dozen cookies for Matt's cousin's weddng on Saturday. I tried to bake them early in the morning so my house wasn't heated up by the oven, but it was still sooooo hot in the house the rest of the day. I don't think I will be making cookies for a while after this.

July Update

I can't believe how quickly the summer is going by. It is already the middle of July and it seems like summer just got here. Well I guess the summer weather just got here and that is why I am feeling this way. We started out the month with a family reunion in Utah with my mom's side of the family (her siblings and their kids). We had a great time getting together and visiting, swimming, laughing, and of course eating some great food. We even had a fireworks show, which Parker had a blast watching. We spent some of the 4th with Matt's family hanging out and visiting and the rest of the night inside!! The weather on the 4th was horrible and not warm at all for July!
Last week I took the kids to Ross park with a friend to the swimming complex. They both had a great time and enjoyed playing in the water. We are making plans to go again soon. That pool is so great for little kids and makes it so easy for parents to keep an eye on the kids and have a good time as well.
Matt finally put in an air conditioner in our bedroom last night and it was great. I have not been sleeping very good because it has been hot and muggy the last week. I finally told him he had to put it in soon. I don't think he minded either, because he enjoys being really cool while he sleeps too. It was a good nights sleep. Now we just have to get Parker to stay in his own bed the entire night and we will be all set.
Paige had her last bottle on Sunday night. So we are on day 2 of weening her off the bottle. They say it only takes 3 days, so I think we will make it. She was getting to the point where she would carry it around all the time and be sucking on it, but nothing was getting in her mouth. She was getting too comfortable with it and so I decided that it was time to ween her. So far she has done really well. She threw 1 tantrum yesterday when it was naptime, but I got her calmed down and she fell asleep without milk at all. Then when it was time for bed, she didn't have a problem at all. So I think she will make it and learn that if she wants a drink she will have to learn how to drink from a sippy cup better. (not that there is much difference between a sippy and a bottle except the name and the nipple maybe) I just don't want to be cleaning up spills all day long!! So that is what has gone on at our house lately. Nothing too exciting, every day life!!