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pretend this was posted weeks ago

On a not so recent trip to Minnesota the Parker family took in a fantastic FOOTBALL game (Vikings vs. Seahawks) AND the Mall of America; a partnership made in heaven!

Calvin and Charlotte were more than thrilled to play with Gramma P at the hotel while we went to the game.  Then, Sunday it was ALL about the twins.  Beginning with Nickelodeon Park in MOA and ending with a thunderstorm in the Rainforest Cafe.  The kids got to meet Diego, Charli loved The American Girl store and Cal was in heaven driving anything he could find.

I was personally over the moon to see Brett Favre...a living legend...drop back into the pocket and play some football.  A good time was had by all!

love.

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whoah. this is for real.

love is remembering.

time well spent

As Wes begins his new career path: Truck Driver...duh duh duh...class starts tomorrow, or today...depending on what time I finish this :) We decided to get in one good FAMILY day at the zoo.  The twins were in Heaven...I know I've mentioned the elephant love happening at our house right now, and boy did we ever have some fun on Pachyderm Hill.  Our sweet little girl tried to call the elephants over by lightly clapping her hands and saying "c'mere elephant" over and over.  Alas, it did not work, but I do have it on video and it may be the cutiest video EVER!  I love her!

Cal was the man about the zoo - zooming this way and that.  He is happiest when he's allowed the freedom to explore.  Giving that freedom can be slightly difficult when "zooing" it with the masses in extreme heat, but he had a fantastic time.  He LOVES to watch all the animals.

One of our favorite stops today was the fish bridge.  Both kids were having a blast feeding the fish.  "They're hung-wy Mama!"  What a day for making memories!

Checking out the "Raffes"

Daddy and Cal - doing what they do

Mama and Charlotte - feeding the "hungwy" fish

elephant "glee"

Let me just spread the word:  elephant

Our house is filled with trumpeting elephant sounds and every elephant movie possible right now!  Miss Charlotte has made it her new favorite animal and can't stop talking about: ELEPHANT!  Calvin is of course more than delighted to toot right along beside her.

Also: Can we have some more cuteness than watching your twin 2-year-old sweeties hold hands and dance  along with their new favorite TV show?  That's right...I'm raising "Gleeks"!  You should join the fun :)

(There is supposed to be a video here)

better than all the rest

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The Short Story

Here's the abbreviated version:

• # of "wet" underwear: COUNTLESS
• rooms smelling of urine: 3
• new pairs of shoes for Charlotte: 2 (cutiest EVER)
• baseball bats for Cal: 4 apparently you can never have enough
• on the hunt for: "Cars" Lizzie (the old lady), Frank (the Combine), and Red (the Fire Truck)
• # of nights Cal has gotten into Charlotte's bed: it would be easier to say how many he hasn't (2 that I can recall since we took down side rails)
• # of Cheeto's lovers: 3 (Wes eats them but apparently does NOT love them)
• dr. visits: 1 (foreign object in mama's foot) VERY scary to hold 2 2-yr-old kids on your lap when a dr. is using a scalpel on your body! :)

Flashback Tuesday!

besties from the beginning

chicken nuggets and cheetos

My Monday went a little something like this:

• I did not shut off my alarm this morning and reset it for 1/2 hour later...no NOT me!
• I most certainly did not load up on caffeine to make extra certain I would be a productive employee on this rainy Monday morning...definitely not me!
• There is no way I was the one shamelessly posting our photographers blog all over facebook...I'm 100% confident that was not me! (in case you're interested:  http://creativeimagesandco.com/blog/?p=320 )
• And, you can be certain, I did not look up the previously mentioned website while on company time.  NOPE that was not me.
• I did not bring home chicken nuggets and  baked cheetos for dinner, because that would be VERY unhealthy; I am confident that was NOT me!
• Also, can I just say that I did not indulge in Cookie Crisp for dinner for myself...that would be absurd, and that's why I know that was NOT me either.
• I can tell you honestly right now that I am not going to go upstairs and take a picture of my sweet twins while they are sleeping in the same bed because it is RUDE to use flash photography on precious snoring toddlers.  I would NEVER do that...for sure, not me.
• And one more thing...I am not waiting for Saturday to buy a Father's Day gift, because I am a woman and we are prepared!  Procrastinate....ha...not me.

potty training squared

Memorial Day Weekend 2010 = Parker Potty Training Bootcamp

I was sucked in by 1 Lora Jensen: "Potty Train in only 3 days" she said....This lying snot woman clearly has not met children with the will power of my twins.  We began the big ordeal event Saturday morning with hopes of being fully trained by Monday evening.   Wes and I were totally on-board, we CAN do this. We read every line of the e-book Friday evening, we were armed with 30 pairs of underwear for each kid with super fun characters, bright colors, and even boxer briefs for Cal just like daddy's.  We were loaded up with rewards from stickers to "memmys" (Charlotte's sweet word for m&ms).  I had curly ribbons on the m&m jar, fun froggy soap, and Nemo and "Ween" big kid wipes!  nothing.  nothing. nothing. Nothing that is except for 60 pairs of wet underwear, floors, and dad's recliner to scrub.

By Monday, everyone was exhausted; poor little Charli was sobbing she was so tired.  I can say that they Charlotte has learned to "hold" it for hours.  We have toned down our crazy idea of training for nap and bedtime all at once, and have succumbed to the evil empire of pull-ups.  I can't bear to put them back in diapers after so much work.

Today, "happy Tuesday" as it will forever remain in my mind, was quite a different story.  After getting the kids out of bed, and getting Charlotte dressed for the day (in big girl pants) she came running to me "wet...wet...mommy" I found that she had wet her pants again.  I sat her down on her little pink potty chair in the kitchen, and while I was getting clean pants for her...I heard the sweetest sound of the weekend "WOAH!"  My big girl finally figured out what we were trying to get her to do all weekend, and was she ever PROUD!  High Fives all around, she even shared her "memmy's" with her little brother.  (enough to bring tears to my eyes).

With all the quality time / constant supervision, I was able to take some pretty cute pictures of the 2 cutest butts the world has EVER seen!

 

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday to the BEST Daddy in the world!!!

Our Daddy is the best because:

W - Wonderful - Our Daddy is so wonderful because he will take the time to let us explore.

E - Easy Going - We are the luckiest kids alive, because our Daddy has tons of patience.

S - Super Dad - Our Daddy is super because he would do anything to make us happy.

L - Love - Our Daddy is the best, because he shows us how much he loves us everyday.

E - Early - Our Daddy is the best because he wakes up very early; and sometimes very late.

Y - Yay - We learned to say Yay! at a very early age, because our Daddy knows how to have fun.

P - Playful - We have the best Daddy ever, because he is never to busy to play with us.

A - Admiration - We really admire our Daddy, and hope someday we can be just like him.

R - Ready - Our Daddy has gotten really good at getting us ready in the morning - ponytail and all!

K - Kisses - We like to give our Daddy kisses - his are the best, because they tickle too!

E - Excellent Eggs - We think Daddy makes the BEST eggs ever; we always eat them all gone.

R - Regular - Our Daddy might seem like just a regular guy, but we know he's the BEST!

The Short Story

Wes got a new JOB!!  WOOO HOOOO!  I'm so proud!

Days until W is my age: 2 (now he can stop calling me old)
Trips to the Omaha Zoo: 2
Days until potty training begins: 28 (AHHHHH!)
Charlotte's newest counter find: Oreo Cake

my silly boy

Calvin Franklin
aka: Cal, Calvy, Buddy, Pal

My Calvy; my sweetie pie boy.  I love his fantastic laugh and the way he can fill an entire room with it.  He is a perfect example of what little boys should be.  LOUD and messy, quiet and sweet.  He is such a small little guy, but boy does he know how to get things done!  We're both convinced Calvin will be quite the athlete, and I know his Daddy LOVES playing catch with him.  Calvy especially loves to swing a bat or golf club, with what appears to be quite good form! :) (to my biased eye anyways)

Calvin is the cuddly guy in this family.  He LOVES his Daddy and pretty much follows him everywhere.  Cal especially loves mowing the yard with Wes.  I think though that if we would let him, he would sit in Wes's old red car all day and "drive".  He's such a curious little person; everything must be turned and pulled and investigated.

It's hard to get any pictures of Calvin, he's an elusive little man when he's awake...always on the go.  There is never a dull moment when this little gift from above is around!

Cal's all-time favorite indoor activity is finding a car, and making anything a road.  He plays all by himself and is completely content to just drive and drive.  No interruptions, PLEASE!!
























Calvy's Main Man: DADDY!!

He loves Wes so completely it melts my heart.  Obviously I would love some Mama time once in a while, but I couldn't be happier that he loves his daddy so much...I do too!  I am very glad that he has a twin sister though, or I might be a very sad mama.

Cal is such a happy boy...he's always giggling about something!  And let me just say...his laugh should be bottled up and sold.  It is the MOST terrific join-in-laugh since his Uncle Paul.  When Calvy is laughing...everybody is laughing!  This little boy is sure to be the life of the party.

my funny girl

Charlotte Addison Parker

aka: Charli, Lala, Miss Brown, Snookie, Bug

What's not to love?  My beautiful little girly girl, all giggles and smiles and long golden hair.  I cannot believe how fast she is growing, but every moment I love her more.  She is everything a mother could ask for in a perfect little body.  Her round tummy and soft little legs with a sweet little voice to melt your heart.  In the short minutes of each day she makes everything brighter with a spunkiness that tickles my heart.

The other day we were at the funeral of our good friend Koby's mom, Barb, and after a gentleman sang a very nice song Miss Charlotte stood up on my lap and shouted "YAY!!!" all the while giving him a one person standing ovation.  It is in moments like these that my heart gets a little lighter, and I thank God that she is in my life.

There are so many small things she does each day that are hard to describe in print, but what is certain is that anyone who gets the opportunity to meet this one-of-a-kind girl will definitely be laughing.

There are many silly faces our little Charli uses, and these are some of my favorites.

Already she knows the Freeman/Engle eyebrow trick and can and will use it on demand.  I always think how Paul would have laughed to see her do it.

Of course Lala loves to put on sparkly shoes and have pretty hair, but she is always a little unpredictable...why didn't I think of a SCUBA mask to finish her Christmas outfit???

And of course we cannot forget our little counter thief.  There is not a single item that Charlotte cannot "steal" from the kitchen counter, although bread is her favorite.  Not only did she find this loaf of bread, but she has been found with a pan of rice krispies, a 4 lb container of strawberries, and my personal favorite a bag of potato chips with her partners in crime Cal and Cash literally surrounding her as she doled out her treasure!

Getting the hang of this!

Today was fairly uneventful...full of cleaning, laundry, and vacuum repair...a day in the life!  Our funny little twins have decided after 2 years that they might actually like to switch cribs...goofy.  So, for the last few nights Cal has slept with pink bedding and Charli with blue.  I think the only one who has noticed is me :)

Here's what we've been up to:
poopy underwear: 1 (Calvin) - he just doesn't really care about having a dirty bottom...
nice dry underwear: 1 (Charlotte) - she seems to have mastered "holding" it until nap time...hmmm
glitter shoes: 2 (Cal seems to prefer the silver pair) :)
re-organized pj drawers: 1 (which is the only one)
loads of laundry: 4
lawn tractor rides: 2 (Daddy is the BEST)
cars parked behind our house: soon to be only 2!!!
tubes of diaper cream: 1 mostly spread through Calvin's hair

flash back