Wordless Wednesday

1st Christmas craft

We needed to start the Christmas season off right so we decided to make a Christmas tree. Lizzie loves glitter glue and gluing so this was perfect. I hope this season is a great one for you! This year we really want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, and hope you will do the same.

Happy Birthday Lizzie

The birthday Girl opening her presents before Church

Dress up Party

Cupcake time

Lizzie had such a great birthday. 1st she had her Round up Party with all her friends. Then on her birthday we made homemade smoked BBQ turkey pizza and cupcakes, and a couple of her friends came by to celebrate her special day with her.

The End of November is Here

Wow! we sure are Thankful for a lot of things!!! I'm grateful to look back at all the things people wrote, and remember we are ALL so blessed! Here is to another great end of a year!

Knott's Berry Farm X two!!!

In the month of November Knott's Berry Farm allows all service men/women in for free. Well since the Martin's are our friends they let us tag along with them twice. So for two trips to Knott's Berry Farm we paid $15.00. SUPER SCORE!!! Thanks again Martin family for all the fun. Lizzie and Krislynn loved hanging out with Zachary and Christopher and riding all the rides together. Lizzie has informed me that she loves SCARY rides ONLY IF they are a little scary. She rode the roller coaster 2 times, and didn't even cry. Krislynn LOVED the bounce house, but the most fabulous part of Knott's Berry Farm was.... Huff and Puff!!! The girls LOVED this ride, and thanks to Zachary for helping them get around the track!!!

Howdy Lizzie it's your 3rd Birthday!!!

*DOUBLE CLICK ON ANY PICTURE AND IT WILL ENLARGE*

This year for Lizzie's birthday she wanted a cowboy theme (not a cowgirl theme, since she is a cowboy like her Dad). So My amazing friend Angie and I went looking for AMAZING ideas for this party. With everything going on I didn't have a lot of time so this is what I came up with and it was a hit:

We had pony rides

We had a Hoedown and Karaoke

We made our own Cowboy vests from grocery sacks

My AMAZING friend Charly did the face painting, and oh was it a hit!!!

We had a shoot out! Who could knock down the most cans with either a ball or target gun. The boys LOVED this activity. Molly couldn't put the cans up fast enough.

Horse races and snake in the grass

Some of the fun people who came to celebrate with Lizzie

Good ole' cupcakes!!! Thanks Jenny they were so yummy!!!

The Parker Clan with the birthday gal

and we couldn't forget the presents.

Well I think the party was a huge success. The kids had a great time, and even though the tractor ride was rained out it was okay since we had so many other activities to keep the kids busy. I'm grateful for such AMAZING friends who always come to my rescue. You guys are the best! I couldn't have done this without you.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO:

Angie: for being my wing man though out this party adventure

Andrea: for figuring out how to make the vests, and having a smashing hoedown

Charly: for your amazing talent of face painting, and getting to each child multiple times

Jenny: for the super yummy cupcakes and helping out with Pin the Tail on the Pony

Molly: for setting up those can a zillion times, the boys loved you for that

Oma & Papa: for bring the pony to the party

Kris and Shauna: for letting us borrow the pony

My husband: for all the countless hours of helping me plan, and execute this round up of a time. You are my rock, and I love you so much!

and anyone else I forgot thank you... thank you!!!!

Now onto Thanksgiving!!!!

Is 3 really worse than 2?

So this is my question to the blogging world... Is three REALLY worse than two? I know life is hard sometimes, but SERIOUSLY... Talking back and testing your limits? Where did my sweet and kind girl go? I swear sometimes I feel like I need to pull out all my hair and then some. David says it is because Lizzie is my twin, and all of her AMAZING quirks are the same as mine and that is why they drive me bonkers. But seriously I feel like once I get life figured out, a bomb goes off and everything is turned upside down and there I am picking up the pieces once again.

SIDE NOTE:
Today was one of those moments where you treasure the good times. Krislynn was with my friend Angie, and it was just Lizzie and me. I forgot how easy it is with one kid. Things go twice as fast, and I'm not juggling kids around and trying to keep them happy with bribes from my magic sack. It was nice to have an afternoon with Lizzie and me. I felt normal and life is slowing coming back together. HOORAY!!! I'm glad for days like this. Where I can spend special time with just one of them. Listening to their concerns and them telling me everything they see or hear. Thanks Angie for giving that to me.

I know my kids stress me out of my mind sometimes, especially lately, but I'm grateful for them. They are my everything, and they have helped me heal especially since Peter's passing. My girls I love you. Your Mommy is so proud of you. You make my World go round. Thank you for your smiles and hugs, and especially your kisses (thank you Krislynn your open mouth slobbery kisses too) I'm happy to kiss your boo boo's, and snuggle you when you have bad dreams. I love you more than anything!!! I'm so blessed to be your Mommy.

Love: Mom

Krislynn 15 months

This girl is AMAZING!!! She loves to be crazy like her sister, and her favorite thing to do now is throw tantrums. Not just ones where you throw yourself on the ground and cry. She will bite, hit, and scream your ear off. Where does this come from? She is my sweet girl! Not a crazy toddler yet... but when she is calm I just love to snuggle her! She loves to read books, build with blocks, and did I mention eat? That is her favorite pass time. She loves to run and keep up with the big kids, and her sister is her best friend especially when she shares with her. Her dimples are so deep and beautiful, and I just want to squeeze her cheeks every second. She loves Nursery especially singing time. She loves to dance, and play Duck Duck Goose. What can't this girl do? Well eat with a spoon is one thing, but we will be working on that.

Her stats:

Weight:26 pounds 90 percentile

Height: 33 inches 75 percentile

Head: 75 percentile

Lizzie's 1st!!!!

The Patterson were here to visit and Little Randy and Lizzie were playing with the weights we have in the living room (since Mom and Dad pump iron 24/7) I hear screaming coming from the living room and in walks Lizzie with a middle finger turning black and blue super fast and starting to puff up. Little Randy hides and Lizzie continues to scream. We finally get it out of her that she dropped a 3 pound weight on her finger. We ice it, and hope the nail doesn't fall off. The next couple of days her finger turns black and blue, but she can bend her finger (Mommy thinks no worries it was just smashed pretty hard) Now a flash forward to today... I take Krislynn in for a baby well check up and shots and mention to Dr. Shah of what Lizzie has done to her finger. He is concerned since the swelling never went down, and puts in an order to get an x ray. By this point this was my 3rd trip to Kaiser today. Thank goodness I stayed at Oma and Papa's house all day. I take Lizzie in and inform her of what will happen. She thinks she is going in for shots and doesn't want the lady to x ray her hand. I let her know that Daddy will think she is amazing since she will be the 1st hand model in our family, and then bribe her with candy. It works!!! we get the shots and Lizzie gets her candy, everyone is happy! I write Dr. Shah an email saying we went in to have an x ray, and to let me know if her finger is okay. This is the picture I get back. Lizzie has broken the tip of her middle finger on her right hand. Now we get to go back to Kaiser tomorrow, get a splint, and get a referral for ortho. Hooray!!!

Let's Get Physical

Who is ready to workout??? Let's get physical!!!

IT"S BACK!!!!!

Every year since we have been married we hang up our Thankful board. Whenever anyone stops by we have them take a second and add what they are thankful for. By the end of the month the board is overflowing with blessings. I challenge you to add this tradition to your family during the holiday season it really adds something special to your home.
Don't forget to add something(s) each day!!!

Our 1st Fall Craft

To start November off right we did leaf rubs. This is a super easy craft, and since we don't really don't get to experience the leafs changing beautiful colors of reds, oranges, and browns we decided to add some spice to our walls with leaf rubs.

What you need:
-different shaped leafs
-crayons
-paper

*Place the leafs under the paper, and tape the paper to the table. Then have your child rub the side of the crayon on the paper. Use different colors, and let the fun begin!

Halloween

We did Halloween a little different this year. The mall was passing out candy so we took a drive down there, and filled our pumpkins. Then we headed to the Martin's for some face painting fun. Then to the Johnson's for yummy food, and to round up the troops. Then to the Young's for some treat or treating, and an awesome light show by Cody! Thanks everyone for making my Halloween a great one!

Trunk or Treat

This year our family did not coordinate, but that is okay! Things have been crazy with everything that just happened, but oh did we have a great Halloween! David and I were a Cowgirl and Cowboy, Lizzie was Minnie Mouse, and Krislynn was a Penguin. Hooray for fun times!!!!

The Journey

Today is a day I will never forget. It is a day to morn the passing of my sweet little Peter Gambling Parker. It is amazing how one moment you are the happiest person in the world, and then the next it is like the World has been turned upside down and everything isn't making any sense. How can such a sweet spirit bring me such joy and heartache? I never thought it would happen to us. We had 2 perfect pregnancies. Everything went perfect each time. Why this time? Why are chromosomes so specific to either work properly or destroy?

But then I need to remember that everything will be okay. Peter was a chosen spirit, and that all he needed from me was a body, and I was able to give that to him. I know that I am never given a trial that I can not handle, but this journey was something I had not prepared myself for. I felt him move inside me, I woke up throughout the night to pee, I was uncomfortable, my hip joints weren't fitting properly in the sockets, my back hurt.... for what? To be told that there wasn't a heartbeat, and my precious baby was no more.

My heart sank when I looked at the ultrasound machine, and as the tears rolled down the doctor's cheek... hoping she would find a heartbeat. Time stopped! My body went numb, and the journey took a detour. What just happened? Why won't David answer his phone? Our baby is gone. Next door I hear the strong heartbeat of another baby, and I'm jealous why can't that be my baby . Then a doctor outside the door is talking to a nurse telling her that his patient is dilated to an 8, and she needs to be escorted to Labor and Deliver. Why can't that be me? Emotions take me over, until I'm in the arms of the Man I love.

The doctor continues to discuss the procedures with us, but all I hear is silence but continue to see her lip move. The walk to Labor and Delivery is short, but a flood of memories hit me. David and I walking the same halls to help with the delivery of Lizzie. What happens next is something I never want to experience again. We are walked to our room, but it is not a special room it is a normal "Happy room" where healthy and happy babies are born. The warmer is ready and all the the tools are out and ready to help in bringing this baby into the World. This is not a normal delivery. Get me out of here! I am not going to be taking my baby home. Why does every happy memory need to flood my mind right now. Give me a sterile room with no happy memories. No reminders of life. Please oh please let there be a heartbeat.

The doctor inserts the medication and the waiting game begins. My mind continues to flood with excitement that I will have a baby in my arms within hours, but then I remember the special circumstances. This baby isn't going home with me. The contractions start, and I prepare myself for the most difficult experience I will have to live with. at 11:30 pm the doctor breaks my water, and I know the baby will be here soon, but we continue to wait. The pressure gets worse and then Achoo! The baby is here. I start to panic. I push the nurse button and scream that I need my nurse. I hear footsteps running running down the hall. The sheets are thrown off the bed, and the baby is out of sight. The nurse places the baby in the warmer. Memories flash to happy thoughts, but are erased with fear. What is it going to look like? Will it look like a baby or still kinda alienish? Did I get a baby boy like I had dreamed about or was it another girl? As the tears rolled down my cheeks, and barely get out, "Is it a boy or girl" It was music to my ears. It is a little boy, and he looks perfect. Physically he was perfect in every way. Ten fingers and toes. Two big dark eyes. He was everything I ever hoped for. He weighted point eight ounce and was 4 1/2 inches long, and was born at 2:00 am. David and I got to hold him, and say our goodbyes. How can this perfect little being be so hard to say goodbye to? Why am I so attached? How can I let him go? Please come home with me little Peter... I'm begging you. I need you to be with me. I need to hold you, and love you. I need to cheer you on with your 1st steps, I need to hold your hand as we cross the street, I need to hold you throughout the night when you have a bad dream. I need you more than you need me..please don't leave me!

The moment comes when I have to let you go, but you will always be with me. I love you Peter! You will always be my special boy, and I can't wait to meet you again. Remember no matter how far I am away I will always love you. Thank goodness families can be together forever. We will have eternity to be together.