More helping

Bob is taking a long time reading a story, so I'll keep posting pictures. Parker is getting really good at stretching out bedtime these days.
She really loves helping, especially when it involves a screw driver, or when she can hand you stuff. We were suprised she was dexterous (sp?) enough to spin the screwdriver around and around but she was. In the far background, you can see our new tv stand.

Flip Flops

Our goal last week, or maybe 2 weeks ago...it all runs together...was to find flip flops. Parker loves to put on my flip flops, so I knew she'd like some of her own. We had a really hard time finding some in her size, but we finally got some from Payless. They are Dora and have a silver flower on the top. She was so excited she yanked her own shoes off and put these on and wore them out of the store. The sales lady had to clip the tag off so we could pay for them.
Even more exciting, when we got home, I painted her toenails, and she is beyond thrilled having painted toenails. For the first couple days, the first thing she did when she woke up was to check and see if her nail polish was still there. I'm sure people are contacting Child Services because I've been letting her wear them out and about even though we've had chilly weather. I just add an extra sweatshirt and hope it all balances out.

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Filling up the birdfeeder.....very exciting. We spilled some and later she said "oh no! Look at this mess! " Then we discussed at length why there was birdfood on the ground and what might happen to it. She thinks maybe a cardinal will come and eat it.

Like the outfit? 2 shirts, leggings, a swim skirt and flip flops, of course.

Bluebonnet Outtakes

Here are the Bluebonnet outtakes. It's a miracle I got one decent one....she was being purposely uncooperative.
Click on the picture to see it larger, or just view all of them online HERE

Hell Bent For Bluebonnets

If I did NOTHING ELSE this weekend, I was going to get a picture of Parker in the bluebonnets. Last year, because of the drought, there were none, but this year they are everywhere. And every proper mom in Texas is dragging their kiddo out in their Sunday best and plopping them in a field of flowers to get the proper bluebonnet picture. Here is our best attempt. Bob's mom, Parker's Gigi, was an accomplice, responsible for scouting the perfect location. She found a perfect field, and we didn't even have to tresspass much to get there! Bob's dad, Parker's Papa, drove the getaway car, and Bob help with motivation and bribery of the temperamental model. There are many outtakes I'll be posting later.
The weather had us really worried, since on saturday, it SNOWED ALL DAY. Not just flurries, but real, thick flakes. Here is a picture from the WFAA website taken in Granbury (where we spent easter). Hey, why use my memory stick for snow pictures, when I can just download someone elses? I was saving all my megapixel space for bluebonnet pics.

Fun with Friends

We had dinner with friends last weekend. They have a little boy who is a year or so older than Parker, but they play together very well, as you can see in the pictures. Believe it or not, he is the one that took the bottom picture of Parker jumping.

Strange happening

I swear, we have no idea who did this. It was either Parker or Sierra (or Scooby), but Parker denies it, and has a good alibi. It is pretty normal for Sierra to carry her toys and set them down right before she drinks, and there's a good chance this one just happened to land facing this way, but still, it's pretty spooky to walk into a room and see it.

"helping" plant flowers

We've started working on the yard. Parker is actually semi-helpful this year....and when she's not helping, she's pretty easily entertained. Here she is digging a hole for my tomato plant. She helps water it too. The tricky part is getting her to stop digging and watering.

Sorting and Building

This shocked me for some reason. This is the first time she's sorted anything - it was very exciting! For me anyway.
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We got some big weather last night. They are saying that there were damaging winds/tornado a couple miles down the road from us at 544/1378, but we didn't notice anything other than a lot of rain. Hopefully, the donut store is ok, or there will be big trouble this morning.

Pretty girl

Parker's hair is getting really long, and continues to be very curly. People everywhere comment on her curls. What they are really thinking is probably "doesn't your mommy brush your hair?"
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This morning on the way to school she said,
"Will you open that window?" (the sunroof)

Me: "No, I can't because it's rainy"

Parker: "Oh no! Daddy forgot to fertilize!"
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After being a total grouch since early February, she is finally back to her old happy cheerful self. I don't know what her issue was, but I'm glad she's over it. This morning she was chatty and happy and excited to go to school when she woke up.
Unfortunately it was 5am.

more bubbles

Bubble Gun

Did I post bubble pictures already? I can't remember. This bubble gun is the greatest invention EVER. Also known as "bubbles you can do yourself".
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Today she was scrunched up too close to the table and
asked "Mom, Can you un-scoot me up?"

She also asked me to move the second chair, so she could see the tv. That one suprised me.

Glue and scissors

This is her first attempt at home of using scissors. It's have to find any that arn't sharp, but these have rounded ends at least. She had a ball this day cutting paper and using her glue. I swear she has more than one outfit, maybe one day she'll change clothes.

Cousins

Here's Parker and her cousin Emily on our trip to visit Parker's Grandparents.

School picture outfit

Class pictures at school were taken today. Seems like they had some done back in the fall, but we didn't partake. Now she seems like so much part of her class I couldn't *not* order some. This is what she wore, and sandals (not pictured). I can't wait to see the class group picture with all her friends. She told Bob tonight "Everyone looked so beautiful!".

At the Grandparents

Good question

Parker saw a guy on tv with a pierced ear and said

"Hey! Why does that boy have earrings?"

Trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house

Parker and I just returned from our first solo out of town trip. We drove 3 hours to visit my parents and sister, BIL and neice. Parker is an ok traveler, but 2 hours in the car is about her limit.
I'll post pictures of the trip soon....I'll have to wait for my mom to send me copies of hers though, my camera was out of batteries.
Parker was so excited to see Bob and be home. She played really hard for about 15 minutes, and then zonked out on the couch (in her princess dress, of course).

3 second rule

It took longer than 3 seconds to pick these up, but we're calling it close enough.

Need to teach her to whisper

Yesterday we went to the doctor again. I swear she's still got a low grade fever and I wanted to have her checked before we went on our trip. We went to a different doctor than usual (closer to home). Normally, at her pedatrician, they have a box of books in the exam room. I never let her touch them because I assume they are covered with sick-kid germs, so I tell her "those are icky, those are yucky, no touch". So yesterday at this different doctor's office, they have a kid's area in the waiting room. A waiting room filled with people, by the way. And in this kids area, there is a box of books. Parker is, as usual, peppering me with questions that everyone can overhear.

Parker: "What's that over there?"

Me: "Those are some toys for kids to play with."

Parker: "What's in that basket."

Me: "I think there are books in the basket."

Parker: "Dirty books?"

Hippy chick dress

I found this at Wal Mart today. Does it remind anyone else of the one that I had when I was little? It was purple floral? If I can ever get Parker to take off her Ariel costume, I'll photograph her wearing it.

"Take my picture!!"

Parker insisted I get the camera and she ran and chose this spot and this pose to have her picture taken. This is her new sandbox, by the way.

Princess Arial

"I'm a beautiful princess. I'm going to go swim under the sea for a couple whiles".

We pulled out Parker's Arial dress yesterday. I ordered it when it went on sale last halloween. She had fun running around the yard in it and is wearing it this morning while she eats breakfast. When she isn't wearing it, Big Dora gets to.

Painting

We've been having some nice spring weather lately. Here is Parker enjoying the outdoors and "painting" with water. I'm sure you are thinking that I'm being really creative giving her water and letting her paint the chalk board and the stepping stones, but really, I'm just too lazy to get out/clean up paint. That's what school is for.

It's the thought that... makes sense

Bob is installing a new AC until this weekend, so we have all the parts and pieces stacked up in the garage...new air handler, etc, etc. Parker walks out in the garage today on the way to the car, sees all the mechanical stuff, and says "What are all these junks for?"

Tonight when I was tucking her in, she asked me
"Will you sleep in here with me for a couple whiles?"

In other news, we have been working on leaving Blankie upstairs. Now that molars are in, ear infections are over and she feels better, she doesn't really have any excuse. She is doing really well, but she is filling the void left by not sucking her fingers with more talking. Mainly questions, but some observations, request and complaints too. And most questions that I answer are met with "why?" or "but whyyyyyyyyy?". She wants me to tell her every thing about every thing she sees. Usually I just have to make stuff up. Like driving past the guard shack, she always wants to know who is on duty, and where is the one that isn't there. "Why isn't he there? Is he at home with his mom? Is he at home eating junk food? (that was tonight, I have no idea where she came up with that). Why isn't he working? Is it not his turn? Why not? But whyyyyyyyyy?".

Two wheeling

We have made great progress on bike riding lately. She has finally accepted the harsh reality of pedaling. On flat and downhill grades anyway. If it's slightly uphill, I tow her using the red dog leash attached to the front. Up until now, she was usually too distracted by honking the horn or putting thing in and out of the basket and purse to do much actual riding.

Funny

Two nights ago, we hear coming from the monitor at 9:00:
"Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?"

Ski Trip Group pic

Here's a scan of the ski trip group picture. I'm wearing the new jacket that Bob got me for Christmas. It took about 10 minutes for the photographer to set up this shot, so enjoy its extremely posed nature.