Have not fallen off the face of the Earth!

No, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth!! I can't believe how quickly this past week- since my last post- has gone! It has been MORE than a little crazy! Last FRiday night, and all day Saturday, I went on a retreat. It was Awesome! It was through PWOC. Protestant Women of the Chapel.. Some times these things are good, not great. This one was great! On Monday, one of my friends was extremely sick. She went to thr DR. and they sent her to the ER. I was helping with her kids.. GREAT news! Parker has moved up to the next level of swim lessons! She has been working soo hard at this. It has not been easy for her to work really hard, and not graduate up to the next level.. Today was her day! So she will be in a new class starting next week. So tomorrow is picture day.. You know what that means? It means I am ready to bang my head against the wall after helping Parker pick out what she wanted to wear! SERIOUSLY!! She ended up with her old standby. Her fave green striped dress- I suppose this was her biggest decision yet! :) Abe celebrated Johnny Appleseeds birthday at school today. They all wore pots on their heads all day! I will post some pictures. Tomorrow they are making little pies with nilla wafers and Applesauce.. Should be interesting..
Thanks to everyone who has ordered from Parkers Fundraiser at school- The PTA says that if this goes well, it will be the only one! Sounds good to me ! Our MOMS CLub organization adopted apart of the road here in our little town. We have to do it once a quarter. I just got online to see who is helping and it is just me and Annie . of course this cracks me up. the highway people come and route traffic and we are to wear the bright orange criminal vests!! I will totally get a picture of this!! Is it sad that I absolutely can't waio to see the new Greys anatomy??

News

Violet had her 4 month well check today. She is doing great. She weighed 12.5 lbs. The dr. said that is double her birth weight, so right on track. She is in the 5th percentile, so again right on track with the family. They always try to warn me that it is not a big deal.. I know , I know.. She is small. She has however cried all evening since her shots. I did take a picture, but my camera is in the car! it is 55 degrees and pouring rain- so in fact- it is really 45 degrees! I will post pictures tomorrow. Abe had soccer practice and he was David Beckham junior. I don't know what happened really. I am loving it though. They had a scrimmage and he scored a goal! :) Hooray! They tasted the apples that they picked at the orchard today at school. they were learning about apples this week. they tried red, green, and yellow apples. Abe likes yellow ones best- apparently they are the juiciest! Parkers school is doing fundraising- yup the wrapping paper/chocolate same stuff! They have a feature where you can get it online and she gets credit for it.. so.. i expect the grandparents to do their "duty" and help the poor girl out! I will post instructions tomorrow. We only know two families here who don't have kids at our school so give her a break! The wrapping paper is great quality- there are samples in the book we have!
Hope all is well with you!
Oh can you keep our dear friend Aaron in your prayers? He is undergoing chemotherapy.
thanks-

parker and Emily

This is parker's friend Emily outside their dance class. I thought they both looked so cute!

Some Jazz Action!

First dance class

Here is Parker at her dance class tonight. The picture is a bit dark. She is in the middle. There are 16 Kind./1st graders in our class. Our teacher Miss Linda was great. She clearly has had experience with this age. Once a month, parents get to observe the class. I was really impressed with her methods. Parker was like" this is great- where is my ballet class?" I thought she would be thrilled with jazz/tap. She thought she was going to Ballet class. I guess we will add that on Saturdays. :)

I love allples!

The field trip

Again miss Molly with the two classes from our school. There is a 9-11 class and an 11-1pm class. For our monthly field trip both classes go together. It was really nice to meet the other moms that I didn't already know. We also got to know our teacher , Miss Jennifer a little better. All in all, I would say it was a hit.

Violet at the Apple orchard

Violet had a great time learning about Apples today too! She babbled the entire time.

MIss Molly

Here she is.. Miss Molly, our Apple guide!

Laerning about Apples

On our field trip to the orchard today, there was a wonderful lady named Molly who gave us our tour. I am guessing that she was almost 80 years old. I had my doubts that she could keep 20 pre- schoolers excited for two hours but she did. We moved around alot which helped. We got to pick an apple. I think she gave them all to our teacher Miss Jennifer. I think they are making homeade applesauce tomorrow. At this orchard, you can sponsor a tree for $35.00 a year. They teach you how to care for it throughout your year and then you get all the apples from "your" tree! Only your family can pick the apples from that tree! Ithink we will do that next year. The orchard is only 6 miles from Abe's school. Apples are the ONLY fruit that Parker will eat....

Ty and Abe at the orchard

Gravel angels..

As we were wrapping up the field trip to the apple orchard, Ty, Abe, and Cody decided to make gravel angels.. Annie and I thought it was very funny!

Soccer

Abe had his second soccer game yesterday. I truly did not think I could go through another week like last week's game. He cried about 4 times.. barely got on the field. I truly think the ONLY reason he got on the field was because of the bribery. Every week one mom brings snacks and another mom brings drinks. I told him "Those treats are for PLAYERS ONLY.. you are not a player until you get in the game! " Horrible, I know. He held his coach's hand the entire time on the field. He got in the groove- ran, dribbled the ball, and got clobbered- so back to crying again.. So I was truly praying for a better week. On Tuesday his coach put him in as goalie and he rocked. At the game yesterday he wouldn't go on the field at first.. he slowly inched his way out there- I am NOT KIDDING- and she put him in as goalie and he blocked 4 goals from the other team! His team won! I think he gained confidence- he really can play and does understand the game as much as a 3 year old can- he says he doesn't like all of the people watching.. Hello it is a game! I hope we have another good week at practice! Parker starts her lessons at Johansens school of Ballet this week- we can put those tap shoes to "proper" use. :) Violet and I are going on a field trip with Abe's school to an Apple orchard - I hope to take some good pictures this week. I will keep you posted! we love and miss you all!

Who could resist?

I mean Seriously.. Could you resist a marriage proposal from this?

Marriage proposal???

I ordered this dress for Parker from Gymboree. I thought it was so cute. When it first arrived she thought it was ugly- but I convinced her to try it- I sweet talked her with a red bow.. her red shoes.. and Viola! She is newly obsessed with hair accessories so I knew that would work! This is her right before school Thursday morning. Abe came around the corner and said, " Wow! You look really good! Can I marry you?"

the window

This is Abe's new thing- he sits inside the window in front of our house and "talks" and comments on EVERYTHING going on ! What a busybody! I heard him talking to someone tonight to someone while I was making dinner- Just talking to some stranger- He was very polite and friendly. I told him that he could look, but didn't need to talk to anyone- he said ok. I went back to check on him and Parker is in the act in her new leotard trying to show people (again strangers) her new tap shoes!

the cowboys and cowgirls!

the rodeo

Last night we went to the Wrangler Rodeo! The kids had a great time- This is Pamela from Brazil, Abe, Cody and Ty - Parkers favorite part of the rodeo favorite part was the "mutton Bustin" the kids 6 and under tried to stay on a sheep- Abe like the Bull riding! Of course!

At Smith Rock

our little school girl!

This is the dress from Papa and Grams- Parker loves it. She says it makes her look "Really smart! " :)

First day of School

Here are the boys on their first day of School. It was Tuesday. They all three really love their teacher. This week they learned about space. Next week they are working on colors and are going to make colored bagels! I am hoping to help out that day- I don't want to miss it! There are 8 kids in his class, ranging from 3-5. He seems to really love it. He even has homework! :)

Three amigos!

Crater Lake

This is Ty, Parker, Abe and Cody on the edge of Crater Lake!

Annie and I at Crater Lake

Crater Lake

THis was my favorite part of the trip- this is Crater Lake, Oregon- I almost drove off the cliff as we were driving up. It was my first look - I didn't know what to expect- I was in total Awe. We got out of the car and Abe says, "Mommy- God made this!! "