check one off!

so we have this list...

of things we want to experience before moving from seattle

don't worry we are not moving anytime soon!

but its fun to have a list of things we want to do

so when we are bored we look at the list and pick one!

this friday we decided to go on a date just the three of us :)

we went to dick's drive-in...a seattle landmark!

some fun facts...

they are only in seattle

when they first opened in the 50's their burgers were 19 cents!

the burgers are still cheap

and did i mention yummy!

parker totally enjoyed the experience...a car ride, standing in line outside, back in the car to eat, and then a drive home...then off to bed!

it was fun and we get to check it off the list!

 by the way i've heard you aren't an official seattlite until you've had dick's...

i guess we are official now :)

yummmm...why did we wait so long to try?!?

Merry Christmas!

merry christmas!

we had a wonderful first christmas with parker!

he has quite the action packed week

on christmas eve brandon worked from home in the morning

parker was thrilled to have extra action!

brandon and parker then went grocery shopping and secret shopping.

we went to the christmas eve service at church

parker loved the candles being lit! he sat through the whole service!

we then went to the c's for dinner...sooo yummy!

christmas morning was filled with excitement!

we opened up boxes of gifts

parker watched the whole time :)

and then took an hour nap!

we then went to the k's for christmas celebrations :)
parker made it through his first movie!

the day was full of good food, friends and fun!

 new toys!

 great grandpa made me a train!! woot woot!

so excited!

k's christmas tree...parker not into taking a picture!

merry christmas!

we feel so loved and blessed!

Parker @ 4months

these pictures are from a photo session with ray.

they were taken a few days before parker turned 4 months

i hope to have his monthly photo in the rocking chair soon!

enjoy :)

parker, you are too cute for words. you are becoming quite the little person. at four months you make lots of noises which are so fun to hear. you cry pretty loud and sometimes we let you cry for a long time...we feel bad but sometimes you just aren't ready for bed or ready to stop crying. you normally sleep thru the night! yea, let's keep that up! you are starting to nap on a daily basis. you follow your mom and dad as they walk around the house. you love your toys and they usually end up in your mouth. parker, your smile is awesome and you love to share it with us. when we let you come into bed with us you stretch your arms out and kick your legs! you are trying to sit up but often fall forward. you love to stand up on my lap while i hold you hands. you make a funny face when you are pooping and smile after the job is done.

parker, you are pretty great and we love you soooo much!

love, mommy and daddy

christmas

oh yes, this is what it's all about!

deep thoughts

like most of you i was shocked when i turn on the news friday to discover the shootings in connecticut.

i was deeply sadden because 

its almost christmas and those parents cant see the joy on their children's faces

those littles can no longer run and play with their friends

families will gather without them

seats will be empty in classrooms

the list of sadness goes on and on

i feel extra sad because i now know what it is like to love my own child.

i cannot imagine the grief and the pain those parents are going through

it makes me wonder why

my only comfort is knowing the God is good

and he is good all the time

even when we don't understand why.

my prayers go out to not only the parents and families of those who lost someone

but to everyone, that we would all realize how precious life is,

and that only God can heal and save us.

baptism

parker was baptized two weekends ago.

he did great!

here's some pictures from the day!

blessed

i feel so blessed to hang out with this little man every day!

weekend fun

last weekend was busy!

i'll let parker tell you about it...

oh hey! it's me parker. mom and dad have been keeping me busy! i let them know when they push me too far...it's called walking up at 3...works like a charm every time :)

so yeah...last weekend. my uncle andy and aunt allysha came to visit. that's us below...we look pretty sweet

 somehow or another they were blessed with two nephews this year...me and jackson (that's him in the orange) we just met so we aren't so sure about the whole sharing picture time...

 so the rents thought it would be fun to take a bunch of pictures of us

i mean, who wouldnt...we're some good looking guys

jackson's younger...i was showing him the ropes about looking

bad and serious...we're tough guys!

 however, i'm not so sure about his hair

 help! he's got a wet shirt! and he's on my arm!!!

 again...more pictures?!? come on...

 i guess we can be friends :)

oh! on another note...i got this sweet toy! well its on loan...but man you should see it! awesome!

 and i took a big boy bath

oh yeah!

craziness

we've been super busy this week

from play group to youth group,

from church groups to work,

from prepping yg events to parker's baptism,

aunt allysha and uncle andy in town,

dinners with friends,

lots of cooking,

parker teething? or just cranky...

we are wiped.

we promise to post some pictures next week! 

right now, we need to nap get to work :)

long weekends!

i've always loved long weekends...

i mean who doesn't enjoy four long days of nothing ;)

this past weekend was wonderful

one, it was thanksgiving...yummy!

two, brandon was home for four days with parker and i

three, so much good food.

weekends in general are good but since we had an extra long one...it was really good.

we started with the thanksgiving service on wednesday night at church.

it's such a great way to remember all the things, people, places, everything we are thankful for

thursday- turkey day! we started with a crisp walk (to make room for food!)

then headed to the K's for a thanksgiving feast!

friday was super relaxed with morning coffee, grocery shopping,

it was super rainy so it was fun to snuggle up on the couch with parker

friday evening we celebrated brandon's birthday! (a day early)

ray and carissa came over to enjoy a beautiful meal

and yes, brandon cooked his own bday dinner!

it was delish! sorry no pictures :(

we had sea scallops with hollandaise sauce with pulled pork on top....so good!!!

saturday meant michigan football! go blue

and more hanging out :)

parker enjoyed all the extra time with dad...he was all smiles for most of the weekend!

sunday wrapped up the beautiful weekend with church, a walk along lake washington, soup for dinner 

and watching the packers play.

 oh! and parker wore blue jeans for the first time! soooo cute :)

 family fun :)

thanksgiving

hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!

we had/have so much to be thankful for...

parker has been a huge blessing for us this year,

we have jobs we love,

a new house,

wonderful family,

terrific friends,

awesome food to eat (huge thanks to brandon),

and most importantly a God who never leaves us,

forgives us,

and loves us unconditionally

forever!

some pictures from turkey day

 hey wait...that's a turkey on my butt :)

 so excited for turkey!!

 food coma...

3 Months!!

wow! parker's three months!

we can hardly believe it!

and as you can see he's thrilled...

or not so much :)

football

this weekend was super rainy!

and today...more rain!

we filled the weekend with a yg event and lots of football!

i think parker is well on his way to being a 

michigan and packers fan 

:)

 watching the wolverines win!

parker time!

go pack go!

 not football related...but parker giving baby cheng a hug! too cute!

parker's room

welcome back on a tour of our home :)

i thought we would jump to the top floor

to parker's room!

its seen a lot of change since we moved in

and there is still a bunch i would love to do!

this is where the washer and dryer live...hooray for laundry on the top floor!

 parker's room!
his crib, the rocker (it's the one brandon was rocked in)

dresser/changing table...shelf for toys!

i made parker this mobile last week

 he loves it!

on his shelf...three canvases...specially painted for parker!
plus my frog from the thills and a doggy from the thills :)

parker's bookcase, laundry and some unfinished art work!

i'm hoping to paint his room a light grey with the wall behind his bed in grey and white stripes!