Parker learns to ski!

The day after Christmas my family loaded up and went to Jackson Hole, WY. This is by far one of our most favorite places on earth!
We have been going there a few times a year for about 5 years but Parker has never gone with us. We have always been too nervous to take him to a higher elevation because of his heart condition. Since he has finished his series of heart surgeries, his cardiologist, Dennis and I decided it would be ok to try. We really had no idea how he would handle it but we were prepared with oxygen in the hotel room and a pulse ox on hand.

He was so excited to see all of the snow!

He handled the elevation just fine and didnt need the oxygen the whole time!! He was thrilled to go to ski school the first day!! I thought he looked so cute in all his ski wear...

Everytime we were in the car, Parker was amazed with all the snow and all he wanted to do was ski!

His first day of ski school he made it to a level 2 skier. He was so proud that he could stop all by himself using the pizza wedge ;)

His favorite part was riding the "magic carpet" up the hill...Here is Parker and his teacher, Mr. Billy! (the yellow vest was for new skiers).

I am just so proud of him! He didnt complain at all and just had the time of his life! (I guess I was expecting some complaints about the cold temperatures or the uncomfortable boots). His ski boots were the smallest size the rental place had...so cute!

We had such a fun family time! We spent most of our nights watching movies together, ate lots of smores and hot chocolate and of course, lots of fun skiing!! Such a fun way to spend Christmas break.

Now, back to real life...I start my new job as a nurse pracitioner tomorrow!! aaahhh!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was so wonderful this year!! We spent so much time with our families but I didnt take many pictures =(
One picture I will always cherish is the one above of Parker and my grandparents (his great-grandparents). They love him so much and I am so glad we all spend so much time together!

My mom always gets us a funny matching gift and this year it was Santa Snuggies =)

Parker was so fun this year and loved everything about the holidays! His favorite gift was his train tracks.
On Christmas Eve my mom and I took Tyler and Parker to their very first movie! We went to see the Chipmunk movie and they LOVED it!!

They danced in their seats the entire time!!
Hope everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends this Christmas and that yall have an amazing holiday season!!

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Wishing you....

...and your families a very merry Christmas....

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2: 11-14

A new look and a bday party

I have been wanting to change my hair for a while but was just too scared. I mentioned it to my sister (who looks a lot like me) that I wanted to dye my hair brown. On Sunday she texted me and told me that she dyed her hair brown. She looked great and it gave me the courage to go for it!!! I am still getting use to it.....

Tonight we celebrated Tyler's 2nd birthday. It is so hard to believe that it has been two years since my parents adopted him. He has been the perfect addition to our big family and is a built in best friend for Parker...they really do love each other.

I couldnt get a good picture of the birthday boy because he is just all over the place these days. I did manage to get a quick picture while he was blowing out the candles!



Happy Birthday Tyler!! Two years ago my family became complete with the addition of my fifth sibbling and I couldn't love him more!!

Sweet Parker. you cant really tell in this pictures but his left eye is so swollen. We have been to the doctor twice in the last two days for antibiotics and then an antibiotic shot. He got a sty and then it got infected and then it turned into cellulitis. It is so sad but I think we are getting it under control. He woke up this morning and couldnt even open his eye and said "mommy, I cant see!!" He is acting normal, just looks a little funny. =) He really is a trooper!

A girls trip

A few months ago Diane, Brittani and I planned a girls trip to Destin after I graduated. This past weekend we spent three glorious relaxing days in Florida with no husbands, babies, alarms, jobs or responsibilities!!

This was the view from my room....gorgeous! We each had our own rooms in a three bedroom condo (I think that made it even more relaxing!!)

We slept late, laid around, watched tv, read, at lots of yummy food, went to the outlet mall (a few time!) and just did whatever we wanted!


The weather was so nice, it was in the 70s and sunny everyday. So nice!


We rode the water taxi to the beach one day (it was a little chilly on the boat) and then just played on the beach for a while. We didnt go on the trip to lay out and swim but we had to make a trip out to the beach at least once ;)


We thought it would be funny to take a picture like you see on people's Christmas cards, our little family =)
It was so amazing to get away for a few days.
Thank you husbands for taking on all the resonsibilities for a few days to let us re-charge!!! LOVE Y'ALL!!

Miracle Ball, ACH!

Last weekend we attended the annual Miracle Ball fundraiser for Arkansas Children's Hospital. It is such a fun night to celebrate that amazing place, get all dressed up and raise lots of money for ACH. We are SOOO lucky to have such a wonderful hospital right in our backyard. This year is their 100 year anniersary and all year will be a celebration!

I love that my family is so involved in ACH and can't wait to see what this next year has in store!!

Love my sweet husband =)

My amazing mother!! Love her and so thankful for such a wonderful role model =)!

Go check out ACH at their website!!

Christmas fun!

The last few days have been filled with lots of fun activities. We had a family birthday party for Parker's 4th bday.

He loves the Happy Birthday song and just lights up!!

We went to Parker's school Christmas program. It was the K3-1st grades and they did a little musical about baby Jesus. It was so cute. Parker's class pretty much just sat on the steps and sang all of the songs and the "older" kids did the actual acting part. He really got into all the hand motions!

He was so excited to see us at his school!

That weekend we went to the Christmas tree farm. I have been to the same Christmas tree farm since I was little and it so fun to watch Parker run around and pick out his favorite tree.

His favorite part of the entire trip is the tractor ride out to the trees.

Tyler is such a cutie!!

Parker did such a great job helping Daddy cute down the tree and yelling "timber!"

Such a big boy!

I love this tradition and we love having a real tree in the house!

Now we get to decorate it!

Treasure chest and a job!

With two weeks left in this semester for Parker, he finally made it an entire week without getting his name moved (aka: not getting in trouble)!!! Everyday last week he came home so proud that he didn't get his named moved and then at the end of the week he got to pick something out of the treasure chest because he Made it a whole week!! It's funny because we didnt even know a treasure chest existed until I heard a mom talking about it last week!! Ha!! He really only gets in trouble most of the time for talking at nap time...he just likes to talk ;)

I have some exciting news too! I went through three rounds of interviews and landed my dream job as a nurse practitioner!! I will finish school on Wednesday and will start my new job on January 3rd!! I am so excited about it!!! It's the perfect job for me and fits so great into my family and our lives!!

Mr Elf

Last night we brought out the Elf on a Shelf. Parker was so excited! I read him the book about how the elf will watch him for Santa, everynight he will go to the North Pole and tell Santa if Parker has been good or bad, and every morning he will be in a new place for Parker to find him.

We started this tradition last year but Parker wasnt that into it. I think this year he is going to love it! He really cares if he gets in trouble or if someone thinks he is being bad.

Parker has named the elf, "Mr Elf"...so original =)

This morning Mr Elf was hanging out in the Christmas tree and Parker thought it was so funny!

He wanted to play with him but one of the rules in the book is that he cant touch him, Mr Elf is only there to watch Parker and report back to Santa. He was ok with that and is hoping he will still be in the tree when he gets home from school!

I have some cute ideas for Mr Elf this year!

FOUR!!!

Today Parker turns FOUR!!!

Four years ago our lives were forever changed!! It has been a crazy four years but I wouldn't change anything!!




We walked into Parker's room this morning singing "happy birthday" and he could hardly stand it, he was so excited!!





He got to open a few presents this morning. He LOVED this big dump truck from his papa.
And also got a few birthday cards in the mail!!

Dennis and I took Parker to eat his favorite breakfast....donuts!!

It has been such a fun day already.

Can't believe Parker is FOUR!!

Happy Birthday Parker, we could not love you more!!

Thanksgiving Feast

Last week Parker had his Thanksgiving feast at school. All the parents were invited to the classroom for a feast and a little program.

Parker made a placemat with the things he told his teacher he was thankful for. (It says: Playing with toys, Mommy, Daddy, and Going Outside).

They had a little program for us.

They sang a scarecrow song and said all of their bible verses that they have learned since the beginning of the school year.

Parker was just so excited that Dennis and I were there =)

They ate chicken nuggets, mashed potatos, cookies and some other "thanksgiving" food.

He also made this turkey picture with his handprint.

Parker's favorite girls!

Parker and his sweet teacher! We are so blessed to have her as Parker's teacher and he loves her too!

It was a fun morning and I love Parker's school more and more as the year goes on. We are so blessed to be able to send him to such an amazing Christian school!