Note from Mom-Perfect morning #2

It is Saturday morning and Kadin and I decided, as hard as it may, we needed to get out the door early  and enjoy our day outside. We made it to Diamond Knot, down at the beach, by 8 and we were the first people to sit down and have breakfast. Breakfast was great, no meltdowns, both kids ate and were happy, therefore mom and dad were happy too:) We then walked down, Price rode his bike, to the beach. We did the swings, we watched other kids feed the birds, and we walked along the beach finding treasures with the tide out. Price and I walked down to the shore and found 2 starfish and uncovered many rocks to find baby crabs as Price called them. Kadin and Parker stayed up and played with rocks. 

Sissy was getting tired and Kadin got this shot of her leaning her head into his lap, I love it.

We were having so much fun we decided, instead of taking Parker home to nap like we'd normally do, I'd just sit down on the beach, feed her and have her fall asleep in my arms. It was heaven. Kadin took Price to the playground where he climbed and played while Parker and I relaxed for an hour by ourselves. I listened to the waves, watched the fisherman going out in their boats, watched a family playing with their dogs, it was awesome. No one talking to me, no one calling, just peace and my baby sleeping in my arms. I closed my eyes and listened to the motor of the boat driving out to the point. Before I knew it tears were rolling down my face as I pictured my dad driving his boat with me in the passenger seat as we did so many times in that exact same spot. He'd wear his yellow Mariner HS hooded sweatshirt, shorts with his white socks up to his knees. His tan face with his wispy hair blowing with the wind coming over the windshield of the boat. He was in his element. On his boat, going out to fish with his family, that was his thing. That was his relaxation and release. It was ours too. I miss those times with him. I miss eating cheerios out of a tupperware container at 5am as the sun was coming up watching my dad drive out to our destination. I miss the smell of the gas, the sound of the engine, the fish tail behind us. As I was sitting there with my eyes closed all I had to hear was the boat engine and all those images and memories came back to me so vividly it felt like it was just yesterday we were having these fishing adventures out in the sound. Once we got to "the spot" he'd put our poles in, slowed the engine down to troll and we'd wait. He'd put his arms up on the side of the boat and smile at  me, "are you watching? are you watching your pole?" I loved every minute of our fishing trips and it was nice to be able to have a moment of quiet this morning to remember those times. 

When I opened up my eyes after my brief trip back into the past, I looked down to see this angel of a face, my baby girl. She is perfect in every way and I know my dad thinks the same. He isn't here to hold her and to play with her and to watch her grow but he is here, all around. He is in the waves, on a boat, with the eagles flying overhead, he's around and he gets to see our babies whenever he wants, I believe that. 

Life is good. Life sure can be crazy at times and very tiring, but all I need to do is have these little moments here and there to remind me how simple life really is and how the little things make me so happy. 

A look back

Starting at month 1, watch my little Parker Lou grow! 

Now I'm 1 and up and running! 

Summer Time!

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to go up to Grampy's farm. He has my favorite horse, Eric, chickens, a huge garden, an apple orchard and this huge tractor! We had such a fun day. Sissy even drove the tractor! 

My most important job on the farm is to keep Eric fed. I had to do my best to give him as much hay as I could hold. Tough job but someone has got to do it. 

He also loves apple treats. I threw him apples and carrots. He ate them all right up!

Daddy even rode Eric around the farm but mommy didn't get a picture of that. Along with the big tractor Grampy got me a mini tractor that I could really drive. It's so cool. I love to pretend to be a real farmer. 

He also has a pretty cool slide. I loved climbing up it and sliding down. 

Daddy is always trying to get a picture of me smiling. See, I smile in pictures! I just have to keep it to a minimum because the cute overload is too much for most to take.

Today was the start of a really summer, hot stretch of weather. It was time to definitely take my shades out. I look ultra cool.

My favorite part of the garden is all the berry rows. I was hiding! And I was eating as many berries as I could put into my mouth.

After my farm jobs were finished it was time to head to the beach to the beach house. Grampy brought out his mustang but I first had to shine up the tires. 

Not bad hah? I think I do a pretty good job. Ready to roll. When we got to the beach the tide was way out. We had forever to play in the sand! Sissy is pretty new to the beach scene but she loved playing in the sand! She got special beach shoes from Grandma. 

Parker sure loves the beach, the sun and being held by momma.

What a fun day. Thanks Grampy and Grammi for having us come up and play. Hope to come up again soon! 

Note from mom-Perfect Morning

This too shall pass.

Price is at that age where he is very needy, very whining and is resistant to do what is told of him. Add that with a girly who is veryyy active and wants to walk in the complete opposite direction as you turn her in, well-it's a bit crazy. Last night they were up a LOT. Not sure really how much or why but Kadin and I did not have a great, not even a good, nights sleep. Common these days. In the trenches, in the trenches people. However, there is always tomorrow, a new day and this morning things turned a corner. Yeah, maybe it only lasted for a couple hours but those couple hours will be ones I'll never forget. 

Everyone who knows me knows I love to run. These days, jog, but still I love to get outside and run. With Price it was easy. Just threw him in the jogging stroller and we were off. I ran with him almost every day. With two it's a whole other ball park. Without getting into too many details it's not happening, or at least until now. Lately, I've been trying to get myself up either at 4:30 or 5:00 to jog by myself. It's really my only hope, before they get up. But with last nights sleep situation, I didn't make it. So once we were all up and mouths were fed and I had coffee, I decided, hell with it-I'm taking them in the double stroller, however hard it was going to be, as much as they were whining, I was going to jog around Greenlake darn it. Nothing was going to stop me. Even the pouring down rain. I needed to run and they were coming with me. 

Things started off great. Parker took her morning nap in the car and Price read his dictionary. Yup, his dictionary. I even managed to listen to my own radio station without whining or complaints. Good start. Got down there, no rain, sun was making it's appearance. Again, another good bonus. 

Put both kids in the stroller without any crying or complaining and we were off. Made it about a quarter of a mile, took a pee break and then kept on going. The rowers out on the water could hear my heavy breathing but that's okay, I wasn't stopping. I made it half way-and then I stopped. Not because I really wanted to or needed to, my body could probably have kept going but Price announced, "Price Run!" 

So I stopped, got him out and he jogged along side me and his sister, still in the stroller, the rest of the way back. He was inspired by the other runners. He looked at them, looked at me and then he was off. He isn't so great at pacing himself yet but he sure tries hard. The looks and comments he got were hilarious. Just a little stalky thing running his little heart out. I was so proud and my dad would have been even prouder. Sure, he doesn't have a runners body but I don't either. We just keep moving, we make it happen. 

Once we made it back to the starting point Parker was wanting out now that she is walking up a storm. She was more interested in the trees, the dogs and walking into the water. 

But it occurred to me as I was watching my two little ones that they aren't my baby, babies anymore. I have two active toddlers who are enjoying life and enjoying this perfect morning with me. It was amazing. 

This place I have gone to throughout my whole life to run is now a different, more exciting place. I am that person now I often looked at and envied. I am that mom, who has her kids, healthy and happy and jogging along the trail. Really, to me, there is nothing better. It was my perfect morning. Oh, and I finished with a Starbucks breakfast sandwich and coffee. BONUS! :)

Parker Lou is 1!

Hi, my name is Parker and this is officially my first blog entry. This is not Price, this is Parker talking, just want to make sure you know that. I'm one now, I'm a big girl. I put my feet up in my high chair and I like to get food all over my face and I like to show that I'm one. I like to steal my brother's water bottle too. I'm one. Here are some pics from my birthday party my mom and dad put on for me with all my friends. 

This is my party dress. I had a cupcake party and my dress had cupcakes on it. Mom calls me cupcake. I must be cute. 

This is my cake. I loved it. I almost ate the whole thing. My aunt Nancy made it for me and if you remember, she made the same birthday cake for Price for his first birthday, but mine was pink, not blue. 

It had a candle on it and everything! Mom and brother helped me blow out the candle. 

Wow, this is all for me?

Yum!!

Here is a pic of more of the goodies we had to eat. 

Present time!

I sure love my baby!

My buddy Colbie! She is only 2 months older than me. 

My cousin Ko Ko and my Auntie Karis

Love my grandpa!

My grandma Betty! My brother took this picture, all by himself. 

My grandmas are too much fun!

My Grammi and Grampy were also there but I don't have a picture of them. But they gave me a new baby, I like her a lot. 

I had so much fun! I can't wait until I'm 2!