the beach!!

Parker loves the beach, and when earlier this week he told me, 'mommy, I want to go to the beach and sit in the sunshine and have a picnic,'  we couldn't resist.  Plus, we have had AMAZING weather and needed to take advantage before rainy, cold fall comes.  We decided to try a new seaside village and drove to Wells-next-the-Sea (seriously).  It was an adorable village...and as a bonus, the pirate festival happened to be going on this weekend (again, I'm serious). We had a great day, but didn't stay long so that we could be home in time to watch the KSU game live (wahoo).     

I tried to take a picture of some of the pirates, but I was afraid they would be offended so it was a quick shot.

twins!

sometimes carrying a 'sack of parker' is just the easiest way to get from A to B.

P had so much fun in the water!!  We were just excited that it was warm enough...like 75 degrees:)

today

Today I tried taking the bus, for the first time, to the Dinosaur Park...it took almost an hour each way...if you get motion sickness, that is not a good thing...I decided we'll just wait for weekends when Brady can drive us...

Today I let Parker where his full uniform out in public...I just couldn't say no...oh, and we had a ten minute argument about whether or not football players where 'cool shoes' (his coverse)...Parker won...

Today I realized that Parker's obsession with watching K-State videos might be getting out of hand...until he started singing, 'and when I fall down, I have to pick myself back up...stand up, stand up, for the champions, for the champions,'  at least the child is learning important things... like who Darren Sproles is and the greatness that was the 2003 Big XII  championship...you know, the important stuff:)

Two days ago, we ran over a tack in the orange stroller...today I realized that walking with the wagon for over a mile in traffic is harder than it looks...unless you do it like this...

Today I counted 12 days until my parents get here!!!  WAHOO!!!

Last week I may have cried when working with Parker on something (I got frustrated)...judge if you must...Parker's response was, 'mommy, maybe you'll feel better after you work out,'  ha, this kid knows me too well...today, I asked him where Australia was on his map and his first response was, 'are you going to cry?'  Shoot...poor kid...I have scarred him for life...

Today I watched parker share his beloved football helmet with a little boy at the park who didn't speak english...so proud...

Today I was so thankful for like the 3rd day in a row of beautiful weather...hooray!

Black Betty

Football season is upon us...wahoo!!  I love this time of year, but I can't lie, it is a reminder of how far we are from home.  I had only missed one football game in 10 years when we moved, and Brady's number was closer to 20...even Parker had been attending since he was two weeks old.  Needless to say, this time of year is a little bitter sweet.  Especially now, when P is so into football and I know he would love going to the games.   Despite the distance, we try to instill a love of all things K-State, but it's not too hard...Parker is pretty excited all on his own.  He is actually the one who has been showing us K-State football highlight videos on youtube.  No kidding...we love when he points out 'Coach Bill Snyder' and 'Collin Klein'...

Here's his favorite...I've tried to get him singing 'Black Betty' on video but he freezes every time I push record.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxR-mQFbpo4

Oh, and I take no responsibility if you have 'Black Betty' stuck in your head for days...:)

this week

This week has gone by so fast...I feel like we have been trying to make sure everything is ready for our trip next week and we haven't been home much.  Oh, and Parker is not wanting to nap (or go to sleep at night) in his room.  At first I just thought he was trying to give up his nap and I didn't push it too hard, but then I realized that he would fall asleep the second I put him in a stroller and started walking (I'm not kidding, he barely makes it to the end of the block).  He's had a cold so I'm wondering if the two are related.

Anyway, this means that I have been walking around town...with a sleeping boy...a lot.  Oh, this also means that I am back off the wagon...the Costa wagon.  Costa is basically the Starbucks here (we have Starbucks too), and I am addicted...when you have to walk everywhere and pass at least two (if not three or four) Costas (not including any other coffee shops), it is hard to resist.  I had been down to only one or two per week (I don't have a coffee maker at home), but this week, well, lets just say I'm on a bit of a caffeine high.

Sorry, I'm rambling...here are some of the other highlights of the week...

P discovered Youtube...after we showed him how to find 'I'm a farmer and I grow it' on my phone he realized the endless possibilities of Youtube...I caught him watching Mickey Mouse in a different language yesterday...and laughing.

I took P to the doctor and he screamed...through the whole visit...he even laid on the floor and cried when his name was called to go back...we were both exhausted when we left.  Oh, and lets just say that I will probably get on my soapbox and tell you how I feel about Universal Healthcare at some point in the future...get excited...

Parker loves to go to Boots (our version of CVS...sort of) and look at this bubble bath shaped like Lightning McQueen...Monday, Brady took me to work out (because I can't drive and it was raining) and when I came back he had bought P the car...Daddy's such a softie:)  Parker took it everywhere the next day...yep, still full of bubble bath.

I am really trying to be thankful for the rain here because I know how badly we need it back home...trying is the key word...

Parker had his last day of toddler group until the fall...it was a teddy bear picnic and we took dino...I have no pictures of P and dino because Parker was more concerned about his 'serious' car.

Parker broke the 'mittens' out again this week...aka socks on his hands...

I had to explain to P that our passports are not toys...he thinks his picture is hilarious.

I finally got little man to wear his 'cool uncle landon shoes' again...he has been wearing his disgusting old converse everywhere...

Oh, and we bought and put together a dinosaur model.  'We' is probably a bit strong...I think I had more fun than Parker...

So far it has been a great week...bring on Thursday!

Blowing all the leaves

"mommy! I'm blowing all the leaves, bzzzzzzzzzz...perfect! Now we can play in the park."

Quotes of the week

Yeah, so I keep a tub of chocolate spread for myself thinking I could 

keep it a secret from P...apparently not...

"Daddy can you do me a favorite?  Can you please get me a spoon of chocolate?" 

Parker, "Mommy, I want to go somewhere really far away."

Me, "Oh you do? Where do you want to go?"

Parker, "ummmm, Egypt."

Me, "Ha, me too Parker, me too."

After seeing a big group of motorcycles drive by for the second time in a couple of minutes...

"Mommy, did you see those motorcycles?  I can't believe this!"  

weekend review

Despite failing my driving test (tear), we had a pretty great weekend!  Here are a few of the highlights...

Our friends Kat and Tom brought over curry on Friday night...this was Brady and I's first experience and it was delicious!!  People here talk about getting 'a curry' like we talk about getting a burger or a sandwich so this was long overdue.

I bought a jar of Fluff from a nearby confectionary shop and found a recipe for marshmallow brownies that was amazing...even better was the Fluff dip I made for them...yummm...

Parker got a scooter...we went to buy a bike with training wheels but his little legs are still too short so we came home with this...

We had an awesome Saturday morning trip to the park...with Woody...

Parker went to his first birthday party...cried because he wanted to go home...went home and took a three hour nap...said he was ready to go to the party...shoot...

We watched the mayor's royal processional...

...then got a balloon sword...

...and saw a couple of fake gorillas who were pretty impressive (so much so I couldn't get P to get close enough to take his picture)...

And Sunday evening Matt and Mandy watched Parker while we went to a nearby village and had dinner at a pub that was built in the 1300's...awesome...

olympic torch

 We spent the 4th of July celebrating the UK and following the Olympic torch...I know, it was kind of a weird way to spend Independence Day, but (substituting US flags for UK) it was a pretty great way to spend the afternoon.  I love when everyone is out in the city centre and excited.  I especially love all of the street performers (both planned and not) who line the streets.  We had a great time!  Parker and I even went out early the next morning to watch it leave the city...so fun!!

Just some pictures of some of the performers and Parker waiting for the torch to come.

He actually slept for the first hour that we waited...oh and yes, that is a USA shirt he had on...we had to represent!

 Below are some pictures of the crowd and parts of the parade...oh and the torch...as you can see I waited for an hour and then almost missed it with my camera...I'm an idiot...

We were really lucky the next morning because it passed right through the Cathedral Close which is right next to our home.  P and I went to watch it again...so glad we did!

Parker wore his Team GB shirt this time...oh and he picked out his green pants.

We had such a great couple of days...and nice weather too!!

I'm farming and I grow it

Have you seen this yet?  It is a parody of 'I'm sexy and I know it' by three young farmers in Kansas.  Not only do I love it because they're farming and wearing K-State t-shirts in some of the video, but it has also solved a major dilemma...Parker singing "I'm sexy and I know it."  Thanks to this video (which he would watch all day if I let him),  I now catch him singing, "I'm farming and I grow it..."  Wahoo!!!!

Now if they only had the song on itunes for me to download...

in the last 48 hours...

...P and I got lost trying to get the car to the MOT testing site (basically an annual 'roadworthiness' test for all vehicles over 3 years old...and another way to tax you...)
...I got to run outside in the rain...in the morning...seriously, one of my favorite ways to start the day.
...I took Parker to the Dinosaur Park...in the rain...I'm an idiot.  We were soaked but had a great time and luckily they have an indoor play area too (I know you're wondering why we didn't just stick to the indoor play area, but I'm just not that smart).

Apparently the dinos' roars were too loud!  Oh and they had a petting zoo too...random...but awesome!

...I ran a load of underwear through the dry cycle of our washer/dryer four times (100 minutes each) before I realized it was the same load and the dryer didn't work...shoot...

...we overflowed the shower (I know, I know) and flooded the bathroom floor...after I cleaned up I realized it was also dripping through the ceiling downstairs (ok, and down the walls)...to be exact, dripping through the actual light fixture and light bulb...it started to smoke, I freaked out to brady over the phone...lets just say that we ate dinner (and breakfast right now) in the dark because I'm still too scared to turn on the breaker.

...Parker had his first taste of whiny medicine (lemon juice) and the look on his face was priceless...even better, he stopped whining...wow, that sounds mean when I type it out, but I promise it wasn't that bad, plus, I had whiny medicine when I was little and look how I turned out, ha!

...I decided I was going to force Parker to let me buy him new casual tennis shoes...he gets really attached to shoes....he is super attached to his old converse (I've looked for the same pair in a size up, but none of the stores have the right style in the right size and right color)...I thought I had finally gotten lucky...instead he walked out of the store with these on...put with the jersey and sweats, we were a real sight...what can I say, it was after nap time and I lost the 'i want to wear my jersey' argument...

That's my boy!

Really?

Is it really Wednesday?  Oh my goodness, I'm not sure where the week has gone.  Parker is at a exhausting fun age and I feel like we are always running around town (sometimes literally) trying to keep him active and learning.  I hate staying inside the house and I'm afraid I've instilled this trait in Parker...although sometimes he just says, 'can we just go home mommy?'  Poor kid.  Here are some random pictures of the week.

Parker would rather spend his time at the park running around 'the track' than actually playing on the equipment.

One of the few times this week I was able to get out of the house without the jersey...a trip to the castle's natural history exhibit...parker was smelling a zebra in this picture.

Yep, he is wearing his jersey with plaid shorts.  I managed to get him to wear a matching shirt in the morning, but no luck after his nap.  

One of the more embarrassing events of the week.  We had just finished reading Don't Worry Douglas (at the end there are pictures of different types of hats...one is a 'potty hat' and the sheep is sitting on a hat)...I was looking for a book for myself and I turned around to see this and hear P saying, 'Look mommy!!!  A potty hat!'  Oh my goodness...I was like, 'Parker get down from there!!  Wait, let me take your picture...but then really, get down from there!  Yep, I am definitely sending mixed messages.

Feeding the swans, one of my favorite parts of the week!!

oh geez

I sometimes amaze myself...I'm an idiot...

I have been spending a lot of time reading through my good 'ol Rick Steves' books and searching the internet for our upcoming trip to Spain and Portugal (Barcelona and Lisbon).  I've been searching for hotels, researching sites, and trying to map out our trip.  I wanted to be really prepared and wanted to get P excited so I checked out books about Spain and Portugal at the library...I also decided to use this opportunity to try and teach Parker a little Spanish before we leave so I checked out a few children's language books as well...good idea, right?  Ha.

For the record, I did know they don't speak Spanish in Portugal, however, I did not know they the main language in Barcelona is Catalan...I'm an idiot...

Hopefully a lot of the vocabulary is interchangeable ...plus I'm getting a kick out of hearing P ask to read the 'hi children' book at night (the first page says, 'buenos dias ninos')!

my little charmer

Parker has always been a little bit of a mama's boy...I'm not going to lie...I kind of love it.  I know that some day he is going to stop thinking it is cool to hang out with his mom.  Until then, I am taking full advantage and loving every minute.  Lately, he has been quite the lovebug.  Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this week...

A couple of days after we had seen a wedding dress in a window...he asked me if I had a white dress and I had told him that I wore a white dress to marry daddy...
"mommy, can you wear a white dress and marry me?"  Sorry honey, I'm already taken...

During a conversation about how he is getting taller and taller and will someday be taller than mommy (funny, it was mainly him talking and me saying, 'uh huh')...
"...and when I get as tall as you will you dance with me?"  Of course!

This is an every day kind of thing, but I can't help to include it...
"mommy, you are my very best friend...I just love you so much"

And we can't forget Daddy...
"I really love playing with you daddy..."

I really wish I was doing a better job of documenting some of the things he says...he just makes my day...every day.

Flying

I love random walks with Parker...he just cracks me up sometimes and I need to be better about posting his comments.  Yesterday we were walking when he stopped and started making his thinking face (pictured below).  I stopped to listen and he was saying..."hmmmm, I wonder how we can make me fly."  

Ha, Parker, I have no idea.  Then, a few steps down the road..."I know how I can fly!  We can use these balloons to help me fly!"  Ha, I think he has been watching too much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

All hail King Parker!

There is a lot gong on right now...I really should add some pictures, but I am enjoying having both of my boys home for this jubilee weekend so they will just have to wait!  Anyway, here are a few to tide you over.  I just love this kid!