Earth "Shattering" Christmas Present

We got a very big surprise for Parker for Christmas this year!  A NEW sliding glass door for our RENTAL house!  (Can you feel the sarcasm dripping from my keyboard?)

Just days before we left town to go East for two weeks, Parker "accidentally" threw a marble at our sliding glass door.  And, this is what happened...

There's never a dull moment with this crew! :)

THREE!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Boy!

I still have to pinch myself when I look at your tall, strong, healthy self.  You are a tangible reminder of God's infinite goodness and are a true miracle.  What a blessing you have been to your Daddy and me over the past three years. 

I had no IDEA how amazing and wonderful little boys were.  But you continue to capture my heart each day and show me how lovely "snakes and snails and puppy dog tails" really are.  I cannot fathom life without my boy. 

Parker, as a three year old, you are:

First and foremost, Sweet, Sweet, Sweet.  You give the best hugs and cuddles in the whole wide world.  Daddy and I love it in the morning when you run into our room and jump in bed to snuggle for a few minutes before Toon Time.  It's our favorite time of day!

You adore your big Sis.  You are her #1 fan and cheerleader.  Just the other day, you ran out of breath because you were shouting so hard and jumping up and down so passionately for her soccer team.  And on the way to school one day this week, you asked if you could "do a prayer request."  You asked me to "pray for Sissy, that she would have a great day and be safe."  What a gift your relationship is and will be as you two grow!

You have an incredible imagination!  You are a different character every day, often sporting your policeman or fireman costumes to Trader Joe's, Daddy's office, the soccer field, etc.  You are so proud when people comment on it, and I could seriously eat you up...you are so cute.  One of your favorite games as of late (especially when we get somewhere early and have extra time in the car), is to play "pilot."  We pretend like the car is an airplane, and you and I are co-pilots.  You love to imagine there is turbulence and serve snacks to the passengers.  I am truly blessed to be your co-pilot, little boy!

You make us laugh.  Whether you are "peeping on the pot" or starting a tickle fight, you have a way of diffusing difficult situations with humor, just like your Daddy.  Turner was getting in trouble the other night, and you were itching to get involved.  So, you  came up with, "Mom, I'm over here.  I'm just over here, focusing on myself."   You are so silly and fun!

You are curious.  You're at that stage where you constantly ask why.  I love it!  It challenges me and keeps me on my toes.  I never know what you are going to come up with, and based on what I've seen so far, I'd better start studying up.

You ARE Linus.  You ALWAYS -- I mean, ALWAYS -- have "stuff."  Sometimes it's a truck, or a flashlight...but other times it's a swim noodle or a stick.  You love your stuff...and you are constantly coming up with new uses for things. 

You're tough.  You learned how to ride your new scooter in 5 minutes.  You put on your little knee pads and gloves and off you go!  If you fall, you always get right back up and keep on.  This fortitude will serve you well in life, my child.

Parker, we are so proud of who you are and all the sweet gifts God has tucked into your little self.  We cannot wait to see how He grows you and uses you in His story.  You are certainly a big part of our story, and we are blessed to walk with you as you grow!!!  We love you!!!!

Happy third birthday!

Love Always,
Mommy

Parker's 3rd Birthday Celebration: Trains, Planes, Boats and Psychedelic Santa

What a fun 3rd birthday we celebrated for the MOST fun,  little, ALMOST three year old boy!  Parker wanted only one thing this birthday:  To ride a REAL train.  And fortunately, we live in the perfect place for taking a beautiful, economical train ride! 

We boarded the Pacific Surfliner in San Juan Capistrano and rode it down to the last stop, San Diego/Tijuana. Then, we walked a couple blocks and spent the afternoon aboard the very awesome USS Midway aircraft carrier.  Both kids LOVED it, and we all learned so much.  I am mighty humbled by all those men and women who sacrifice (and have sacrificed) so much for their country.

When we returned home, we were right in time for the Orange County Christmas train to make its stop in San Juan Capistrano.  So, we got a surprise visit from Santa and laughed through the most stereotypical CA/psychedelic Christmas show of all time (it included a martian Santa Claus and reindeer with asbestos on their paws...along with a visit from Santa's psychic -- Thomas and I shook our heads and agreed we are definitely not in "Kansas" anymore!) 

All in all, it was a wonderful day celebrating a wonderful little boy!

Our train

The scenery was unbelievable!

The USS Midway

Turner in the BRIG!

Parker in a Navy Phantom jet

The train

The Christmas train

Birthday Boy!!!

The B-I-B-L-E

Guess who got a new Bible (JUST like Sissy's) at preschool chapel yesterday??? 

It is the perfect "accessory" for "playing Jesus," which is what we've been doing ever since the nativity scenes came out of the boxes here!  (Note that the Angel Gabriel has already had three superglues, and it's not yet December 1st)!

Thanksgiving

Give thanks to The Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever!

God has been soooo good to us this year.  We took a step in faith to move all the way across the country to California, and we have been richly blessed.  In three short months, we have had some great adventures and met some special people. 

So, since we knew we'd miss all our family for Thanksgiving, we decided to do something totally new and different:  CAMP!  Or, GLAMP, as it is called!  (Glamorous camping -- as in, the tent is already set up, and there are beds in it).

We started Thanksgiving day off with a delicious meal of turkey, cornbread pudding, macaroni, stuffing, green bean casserole and biscuits with two families from Chick-fil-A.  Then, with full bellies, we drove up to El Capitan Canyon, near Santa Barbara.  We camped for three nights, cooked over the fire and enjoyed "unplugging" for a few days before the rush of Christmas.  It was such a sweet time.  The kids did great, playing with sticks, using their imaginations, hiking, cooking smores, tie dying t-shirts, feeding llamas, collecting rocks, etc. 

We saw incredible wildlife, too:  a sea lion climbing out of the Pacific Ocean, a host of monarch butterflies, llamas, goats, woodpeckers, owls, a snake, a bat (which incidentally was hanging on our mesh window!!!), a gopher, a fish (someone caught in the ocean and let Parker touch it!), a leaf bug, etc., etc. 

This is a beautiful place, and I am so glad we are getting the opportunity to explore it!

One of many hikes

Feeding the llamas with alfalfa

Parker playing "drums" with his buddy, Reese

El Capitan Canyon, Home Sweet Home

 

Our Crew:  Parker, Turner, Reese and Gabe

Beautiful beach

Team Monkey (see bandana print, which Turner picked out)!

Sweet boy

A sea lion that climbed out of the Pacific while we were walking on the beach

We got pretty close!

The monarchs were migrating south -- they were EVERYWHERE!

Campfire fun

Big sticks

Beautiful view

 The Girls

 Our newly tie-dyed shirts

 The Guys

So thankful!!!

Palm Desert

We drove to Palm Desert the other weekend to meet some precious friends from Georgia.  They were in town for a family wedding, and we were so excited to get to spend time with them!  We visited "The Living Desert" while there and saw a neat bird show and many animals indigenous to California.  Then, we visited the Mount San Jacinto National Park and took a tram up 8000 feet from the desert floor to 6 inches of snow.

Special times with very dear friends...makes my soul so happy!

 Watching the bird show with Mr. Joey, the best tour guide and sucker (read:  Parker got him to swim in the cold pool AND buy the cheesy souvenir coin)

Thanksgiving Feast

Turner's kindergarten class had a fun Thanksgiving feast at school.  She chose to be a pilgrim (and made a pretty cute one!).  We are truly grateful for her school and sweet class.  God has richly blessed us!

Parker eating the leftover corn on the cob, barefoot, in the back of our car in the carpool line!  Ha!  You can take a boy out of the South, but you cannot take the South out of the boy! :)  My SoCal friends got a kick out of this (b/c I am positive it comfirmed many of their stereotypes).