Party Time

On Monday night we had Parker's birthday party.

We hung out with family

Parker opened some presents. I couldn't believe how big he looked while he was sitting there opening his presents all on his own.
He blew out candles on his cake, and I wished for him to stop growing up so fast
And of course, we ate some cakeHappy Birthday Buddy!

Parker's Birthday Cake

I wanted to make a toolbox for Parker's Cake. I also made some tools out of rice krispie treats and covered them with fondant.

2 Years

Parker is two years old today... that's right TWO!!! How did this happen? It has gone by too fast.

I can't tell you what a blessing it is to have Parker in our lives, or how much we love him; but let me tell you we're so glad we get to have this little boy as part of our family.

We went to the Doctor this morning, and Parker is doing well.

He weighs 28 pounds (50th%)

He is 34-1/2 inches tall (Just over the 50th%)

Here's all about Parker at Two years old:

~Parker talks up a storm. He uses full sentences pretty often now and communicates so well, it makes my life easier.

~He is shy. He does well with kids whether he knows them or not; but new adults cause him to freeze up.

~He has begun to pretend things. He'll pretend to cook, or pretend to be a dog or a bird among other things.

~He will eat almost anything. But his favorites are yogurt, bananas, pancakes and raisins

~He still loves to read, and he is starting to memorize a lot of his books. For most of his books he can read along with me for at least part of the story.

~He loves to try to count things. He can sometimes count to ten, but half of the time he skips a number or two in the middle.

~He loves to help with anything and everything.

And, a little look at how Parker has grown over the past year:

So little, but so cute- in January

Funny Face in February

At the Zoo in March

'Brushing' his hair in April

With Daddy in May

Looking cute as ever in June

In Parks in July

August, in the hospital meeting Aria

September, in a fort

At the Pumpkin Patch in October

At church in November

Smiling in December

Parker is so awesome, we love having him around. I couldn't imagine my life without him.

Christmas stuff with Parker

Christmas is more fun with little kids, and definitely funnier. Here, I'll prove it:

Parker helped me make sugar cookies, then he dug out four of the tree shaped cookies and ate the tops off...just the tops

Then we frosted the cookies

Parker also helped to make the "gingerbread" (really made of sugar cookies) house

Look at that house!!! So realistic!

Parker helped pick out a present for Aria, and he even helped to wrap it, all I did was put some tape on and tie some knots in the ribbon.

Almost every night we went on a walk around our neighborhood to see Christmas lights. Parker LOVES Christmas lights and Christmas trees.

We made Christmas decorations.

First we made some from popsicle sticks and paint.

I think that the "Christmas Star" in the corner looks like a 4th of July firework

Then we made some ornaments from glue and pipe cleaners. this picture was taken before they were finished drying, but shortly after this Parker rolled them all up into a ball, so they were ruined, so you don't get to see the finished product.

Christmas

We were hoping that Parker would be really excited when he went downstairs Christmas morning. We hoped, but we should have known better since it was Parker we're talking about. He saw some of the presents all spread out and immediately tried to clean up. He grabbed a present that was 'out of place' and put it back under the tree. It was just so typical of Parker to try to organize stuff instead of tearing into presents.

Parker in front of the tree Christmas morning

Parker, Aria and me.

Parker getting into his stocking.

Starting to open presents.

Aria, sitting in her new Bumbo, watching Parker open a present


The "after" pictures:


Christmas is more exciting with kids. Parker was having fun, but he got overwhelmed. when there were only a few presents left we could tell he had had too much. We played and assembled his new play kitchen and his new train table.
Then suddenly, when we said it was lunch time Parker FREAKED out! He was in need of a nap--big time! But rest was all he needed, when he woke up he was our sweet little boy again.

Playing with his new kitchen

Trying out his new bike.... Yes it's Christmas day and he's outside in shorts; I LOVE Phoenix!

I got lots of kitchen stuff (yay!) and Jason got some clothes and other good stuff.
Then in the evening I went to hang out with my friend Stephanie Knaeble who was in town for a few days. It was a great day all around.

Christmas Eve

In my family Christmas Eve is the big celebration. So here are pics from Christmas Eve.

Parker helping hand out presents.


Parker's new Christmas Pajamas

Aria and me, while Aria has a bow on her head

A bigger bow, while she admires her new baby doll.

Parker and Minette checking out Aria's new toy.

Christmas Eve was fun. We had food and family and presents... good times. I got some serving dishes and Jason got Harry Potter. Parker got a play kitchen which has been the favorite so far.

Julie's a Grinch

Not because she's ugly and green (she's quite the opposite actually, she's pretty and red...or...redheaded) but because she's stealing Christmas!


Jason's parents are going to be in Colorado with Julie and her family for Christmas, so we had 'Christmas dinner' with the Tiemans on Sunday night

Sitting around before dinner:


Parker watching Santa going up and down the ladder


Me holding Aria who is looking adorable in polka dots

We had to borrow a truck to get the gifts home: a compact car with two kids and two adults means no room for presents, especially when it's coming from the Tiemans

Parker and Minette

Parker gets along really well with his cousin Minette. They have a similar temperament; they're both happy, playful, but somewhat mellow and calm.
I don't think I've seen two toddlers play together as well as these two do (and I've dealt with multiple sets of twins)

Playing in Aurelle's Bumbo

Playing on the floor

Digging out the bead garlands together

Playing with the beads

They also decided to decorate Aria with the beads: