today

Today was probably the coldest, wettest, windiest walk we have ever had to and from the gym (imagine me pulling the wagon, P sitting in the wagon with his umbrella, and my umbrella constantly flipping)...seriously...
Today I hoped that someday, when I am back home shopping at Bradley Fair, I will remember today when I am tempted to drive from Banana Republic to Ann Taylor...
Today I realized that Parker's British vocabulary is constantly expanding...he called his sweater a jumper (never mind that he now thinks he needs to jump while wearing it)...
Today I bought every can of pumpkin pie puree left in the 'posh' grocery store...there were only six (from the stock room) and Brady promised his coworkers that I would bake them pumpkin pies...
Today I realized that I should really go to said grocery store to make friends the day before Thanksgiving because apparently (according to the grocer) that is when all of the other Americans came to buy the rest of the pumpkin puree...
Today I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when Parker passed his level of swimming lessons...until I realized that there were four possible levels he could have passed and he passed level 1...yep, that sounds about right...
Today I realized that while I love our current situation and staying home with Parker, it is affecting Parker's perception...for example, 'mommy can you do the dishes while daddy and I play rugby?'  or 'mommy can you cook us some breakfast while daddy and I play catch?' or 'oh, mommy will clean that up!'  Oh goodness...
Today I realized that I am in even more trouble than I thought when disciplining Parker...his newest routine is to do something funny while I'm trying to discipline and when I try not to smile he says, 'come on mommy, that was a little funny...if you laugh it will make you smile!'  Serious trouble.
Today I felt so, so blessed when Parker talked all day about how excited he was to go to school tomorrow and play with his friends.  Love, love, love that he loves school:).

Today

Ok, so maybe a little more like 'this week'...

This week we practiced kicking field goals (I know, I know, scary that I am trying to teach him...Brady promises to fix the damage I did this weekend:)...I realized that I am kind of awesome, ha, and P still switches from right to left foot...

This week I blew up (and almost passed out) Uncle Landon's birthday gift for P...a giant tackling dummy...seriously, P is in heaven...

sorry, I know this picture stinks

Today we found the missing little baggie...in the place where I thought I lost it...apparently, the guy at the library just didn't understand me when I called yesterday...darn American accent:)

Today we went to toddler dance class wearing a USA shirt two weeks in a row...shoot, nothing like alienating potential new friends:)

Today we had this conversation on the way to dance class...P, 'BURP,' Me, 'don't pretend burp...girls don't like it when you pretend to burp,'  P, 'did Ellie tell you that?'  Me, 'yes, Ellie told me that,'  P, 'did Ellie tell you that yesterday?'  Me, 'yes, she did,'  P, 'BURP!'  

Apparently after the struggle over toys while we were watching Ellie yesterday has changed how much he cares what she thinks.

Today Parker wouldn't 'wriggle' during 'if you're happy and you know it.'  This was our conversation...P, 'no, I don't want to wriggle,'  Me, 'why not,'  P, 'because boys don't wriggle,'  hmmm.

Today Parker once again tried to put the moves on Daisy (one of the cutest little things I've ever seen) during class...I have a feeling it is going to be an unrequited love...

Today I learned that I am going to have one girl-crazy kid on my hands in a few years...Me, 'what is your favorite part of dance class?'  P, 'Daisy...she is my girlfriend, and Katie is my girlfriend.  They are both my girlfriends...I have two girlfriends.' 

Oh my.  Never mind that I was his girlfriend just last week...tear...

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!

today

today I watched P 'chase' my parents with his animals while my parents ran around their house with the iPad...I love technology...:)

today was the second out of four that Brady will be in Geneva...I hate when he's gone...

today I snuck a brownie while walking in the city centre...and got caught...by Parker...I think I have a problem...

today I just sat and listened to little man play...I love that he loves books and stories so much and acts out everything with his toys...

today Parker put on his shirt by himself and when it got stuck on his head (again) he said, "hmmm, I sure do have a big head!"  Poor kid.

today I took P swimming for the first time in a long time (I really hate the changing room...I'm a baby, I know), and he finally walked away from the steps on his own (he has been able to touch for a while).  This sounds silly, but P is terrified in the pool unless you are holding on to him (super tight) or he is sitting on the steps, so this was a HUGE deal.

today I realized that the season pass I bought to the Dinosaur Park was a fantastic idea...until I failed my driving test...if only we could get there...shoot...

today I almost drove anyway when Parker asked to go to the zoo...what can I say, Brady left the car here and the temptation grows every day...

today I deleted facebook from my phone...hopefully I'll check my phone less often...

today I realized that I think I am avoiding planning P's birthday because it is so hard to think of celebrating without our friends and family...I've decided I need to get over it:)

today I was once again reminded of just how blessed we are...so, so blessed...

Today

Ok, so this is more like the last 48 hours...

P decided to put on his pirate costume...without pants...I love listening to him say, 'yo ho!'

Brady decided the dinner menu wasn't appetizing (I can't say I blame him:)...so we went to our good 'ol standby, Zizzis...P took a lot of pictures of himself as 'chef parker'

P wanted a picture of himself with the statue and his new paint job...the Norwich art festival is going on right now so he gets a new paint job every few days.

 We went and watched the 'dinosaur petting zoo' at the forum...two days in a row...Parker was totally enthralled...it was so cold the first day and I couldn't get him to watch from inside so we had to get some hot chocolate after...we also had to go in and check out a dinosaur book from the library after...it was kind of the most ridiculous/awesome thing I've seen in a while.

This is a picture of P on the first day when the dinosaur walked right by him growling (I know, crazy, right?)  However, P still wanted to come back the second day...thank goodness.

We went to the castle...it has 'pop in for a pound' during the noon hour and this is the first time we've taken advantage...silly mommy...

today P bought a tall giraffe...

Today P bought a tall giraffe...I told him he could only have it if he saved his money.  It took him three weeks of putting random loose change in his jar, but he did it.  We walked to the bookstore, he picked up the giraffe (and only the giraffe...no small feat), and paid for it himself...he even gave me the right coins when I asked for them.  I was so proud.

Today I let him wear his football uniform because let's face it, I've been busy packing and running errands and didn't have the energy to argue...because of this, when he tripped and fell at the Gap, he looked like he had played in an actual game.   

Today I took Parker to a coffee shop looking like this (see above) while I wore workout clothes...I'm pretty sure I gave Americans a bad name.

Today P got his hair cut...never tell a man you want to keep some of the curls...he pretty much cut them all off (tear)...

Today I realized that no matter how excited I am to go home and see our family, I am so, so sad to leave Brady.  I hate traveling without him and two weeks seems like an eternity.  He is my rock and I am going to miss him like crazy!

today...

Today I cried after I called and put Parker on the list for preschool in starting in September.  I know that he needs it, but I don't have to like it...

Today I learned to never say never...P had a meltdown...in public...I seriously did not know what to do.  Once we got home, he guzzled an entire glass of milk and slept for 3.25 hours...apparently we found the problem.

Today my fear of almost stepping on a mouse came true...wait, I mean rat...notice the big black blob toward the middle...Parker said, "mommy, are you scared of the little mouse?"  "No, Parker, I am afraid of the giant rat!"  Big difference.

Today it was so nice I let P wear shorts...seriously, I love spring (I am telling myself that the sunshine will last).

Today I realized that yes, some driving license pictures are worse than others...warning, never get your picture taken when you feel like poo, haven't done your hair and your face hates England (on second thought, that zit gives me a little Cindy Crawford flair, ha).

Today...

Yesterday I joined a running club (check one on my resolutions...yay!)
Today I can't walk (plyometrics on Tuesday + stair exercises at running club on Wednesday = sore sam)
Today P and I did the 'walk of shame' home after he had an accident at the park...his first accident in almost 4 months!
Today I began to LOVE literal Parker...
      P, "Is this yours mommy?"
      Me, "yes, that is my shampoo."
      P, "Can I use it?"
      Me, "No, it will burn your eyes."
      P, "oh, I don't want to use it and have fire in my eyes!"
      hahahaha
Today I was thankful that it was nice enough to go to the Park!!  No coat...no wet surfaces...yay!
Today I was thankful for the entertainment value P's tent brings...I wish I could say that I haven't also been stuck in the tunnel.

Today I was thankful for small pleasures...like watching the swans.

Today I learned never to turn my back on a finger-painting Parker...this is when he realized he was a mess.

Today Parker learned to hop like a leprechaun (so that he could see the bottom of his shoe)...he was really proud...I tried to catch it on camera, but after dropping my iphone, it is a little slow.

LOVE what today brings!

Today...

...or at least within the last 24 hours...

...we got even less sleep than the last 24 hours (seriously, I didn't think it was possible)

...I really wished that Brady was not in Paris (I'm sure he is sleeping though, ha)

...Parker pottied in his tent (yep)

...I learned that P was really paying attention to the bowl game when he suddenly went from playing football to lying on the ground saying, "somebody needs to work on me!"  Apparently he has perfected the art of the injury.

...Parker woke up at 12:30 saying, "Mommy!! I'm just awake!" (he didn't sleep again until 4)

...when I woke him up at 9AM, he responded, "can you shut the door, I'm not awake." 

...I had booked P in the creche at the gym so we were in a hurry to get out the door, but P would not wear pants.  I was too tired to argue, so he left the house wearing this...

...turns out the lady I talked to at the gym didn't know that the creche doesn't reopen until Thursday (so basically, my fat behind is no longer my fault)

...instead we decided to take a walk, but I forgot that wearing workout clothes in public here is equivalent to wearing pajamas in public at home, so I got some super strange looks from people...oh well.

...we went to the park, but found this when we got there...

Apparently, the park is under construction.  The worst part is that
they took out P's favorite train.  Shoot.

...so we pretty much are batting zero today, or running on empty...or both...at least I got a mini photo shoot in at the park with my super grumpy toddler!

Yep, those are bags under my two-year old's eyes.

Parker's combination of bed head and hat hair...

Today

Today, I am thankful for Brady.  He is hands-down the kindest, most loving person I know and an amazing husband and father.  I am a lucky, lucky girl.
Today they delivered an oversized chair for the dining room/kitchen I ordered...3 months ago...I'm not going to lie, I had almost forgotten what it looked like.
Today (yesterday) I found mold in P's bedroom.  Scary.  Apparently, single-pane windows plus our old heater plus really cold, humid outside temperatures equals lots of condensation.
Today (yesterday) I spent all two hours of P's naptime scrubbing windows with bleach.
Today (yesterday) I took P to the Dr. because I thought his cold could be from the mold.  I think I was overreacting.
Today the landlord told me I just need to open all of my windows for a couple of hours every day to keep moisture from building.  It is cold...and rainy...almost every day.
Today Parker had fun at Gymboree despite wanting to stay home so that he didn't have to wear pants.
Today I need a nap.  A nice, long good nap.

Today

Today I read Day 2 of the Purpose Driven Life; this chapter always makes me smile...
Today I cried on the phone to Brady...while he was at work...wife of the year...:) (oh and did I mention that it was because the mommy/toddler group didn't have a spot for me....drama queen)
Today I was thankful for black beans...despite all odds I finally found a grocery store that carries regular black beans...now if I could only miraculously find Rotel my grocery shopping would be complete:)
Today I discovered a new area to run, and Parker let me listen to four songs before we had to turn it back to "Firework"
Today the church lady emailed me to tell me there was room for me in the mommy/toddler group after all...so maybe I overreacted?
Today Parker gathered his own crowd as he danced to a man playing the clarinet..:)
Today Parker walked into a pole...like mother like son...
Today Parker did lunges with me at the park...seriously, love this kid...

Notice his pants are only half-way up today...yay!