Happy 3rd Birthday..Parkeroo!

Today, Parker turned 3.
We no longer have a little boy but now a big boy!~
This was the first year that he knew it was his birthday and was excited to celebrate.
We had a party for him at Gymboree! He went to a party at Gymboree in May, and loved it. So, this year we decided to host it outside of the home (and it was a great break for me).
 NeNe came down from NewYork to spend the time with Parker and Kaden. She was a tremendous help to us and took care of Kaden for the majority of the party.
We are so excited to have a new chapter to begin with our sweet boy.
I am almost done with his 3 year old video! Come back soon to check it out and photos from the party!
Thank you to all of our friends, and family who helped make this day SO special for him. We love you all and appreciate all the love and support you showed Parker.
It was a great 3rd Birthday!
Tonight at Bed  , he said "Mommy I had a great birthday!"
Jenn, Mike, Parker & Kaden :)

3 year old pre-school

Our first baby boy is....
No longer a baby,

No longer in diapers,

No longer a toddler,

                               No longer needing a BIG 4 hour "Parker" nap, (just an hour a day),

NOW, our first born is a BIG 3 year old (officially on 8/20)...

Ready for PRESCHOOL!

                                                                           {Sigh}
Such big milestones we have crossed already-and now it is time for preschool.
Tuesday, Parker will start 3 year old Pre-school. (I really wanted to put Parker in school 2 days a week, but daddy talked me into the 3 days a week program.)
It was only $15.00 more a month to have him go 3 days. So, I decided to take advantage of it. Not having family in town will really be a help to me with that extra day.

We had a wonderful experience last year at Burnt Hickory and we are looking forward to another great year.

So, here we go!

Parker got to meet his teachers today, Mrs. Clare (Teacher) and Mrs. Kelly (Aid)! They are both awesome! Mrs. Clare (the one with long grey hair has been teaching for 28 years). She is a mother of four children and a grandma of 5! I have no problem leaving our sweet, spirited, litte, red- head in her care!

He no longer will have 15 minutes of learning Circle time...
He now will also have learning time AND Music, Spanish and Computers!
One of the requirements for 3 year old Preschool is to be fully potty trained!
(Only read below if you really care about life with a 3 year old and the adventures of Potty-training!)
They have to do EVERYTHING on their own. He has been working since April-and is fully trained(with going #1) His teacher thinks he is fine to enter!
I am amazed that he always waits till it is bed time to do #2 in his pull-up! So, I don't think we have to worry about #2 at school, BUT we are working really hard on that part! Most of the kiddos just hold it till they are home! (So amazing to me)-His teacher is thrilled that we know his routine! She has seen it all and experienced it all. One of the boys (Last year) would come out "Naked" and ask for help to get dressed after going potty. Oh my-I hope Parker remembers to keep his pants and undies down by his ankles. Potty training also includes getting dressed! We have worked SO hard to tell him we don't need to be "naked" to go potty! (He started out learning that way). It seriously can wear you out potty training! Today, I had him go in the classroom and he did great. I just had to show him how to use the motion censored paper towel roll! (Ok-he may get carried away with that later:)
 This summer he had some fun learning how to go potty (and he started learning how to get the sensation when he was outside...so hopefully he does not ask his teachers to go potty outside! {YIKES} I don't think he will, since they have all the kids go potty before they out to the playground. BUT he is a boy and they do have adventurous minds!
Here's to a new year of adventure!
Parker, we love you and hope you have a great year in 3 year old Preschool!
We are praying for you to learn more about Jesus, be a friend to all and gain some new friends too!

Kaden's Latest Adventures

Kaden turned 7 months last week!

He is growing like a weed and I don't see him as a baby so much now as currently seeing a sweet, happy, blue-eyed little boy!
 There is still lots of chubs and baby rolls to enjoy-but he has the cutest little personality.

His giggles is what gets all to fall in love with him. Of course, big brother has helped bring out ALOT of his personality just by being the entertainer. What baby needs toys, when you have an older, red-headed, energetic, outgoing, nearly 3 year old brother?
When Kaden was sick 2 weeks ago,he got weighed. And since his 6 month visit he has gained 2 lbs. He is 21.9 pounds! I have a feeling this kid will be close to 30lbs at his first birthday. However, he is just now getting more mobile, and I think he will be crawling possibly before summer ends!

He has discovered his toes, his hands( and he can hold his bottle now :) our faces, big brothers entertainment, and his newest discovery...cheerios!

And anything else mommy puts on his tray...

(Here is Kaden eating cheerios for the first time!)

(*Thanks to Caroline for loaning us her Bumbo Seat-makes life easier on mommy!)

He LOVES FOOD ! He is our second born so, I am more daring to try things a bit earlier with him :)
Needless to say, we have one happy-chubby little baby.

As I have been watching Kaden, I am thinking he is going to be a very compliant, laid back kid. He just takes it all in.  I am sure he is thinking about pay back time soon to big brother.
We are in awe of this sweet little blessing from God. It is so amazing to see the vast difference in Kaden and Parker. However, the love for our boys is unmeasurable! We can already see their personalities so different and each one requiring love in special ways.
We continue to thank God for allowing us to parent our boys!
We love you baby Kaden and can't believe you are closer to 1 now!
XO
Mommy and Daddy

And any moment it looks like we will have a crawling boy...
Tonight we caught him trying to get up on all 4's-so I captured it on video.
(It was close to bath/bed time so he was a bit fussy, but he is one determined little boy. Gotta catch up to big brother!)

Sick Bay

The boys have been bit by a bad virus. Our sweet baby Kaden got it first.


Kaden woke up Friday at 1AM and was fussing on and off. So, I went in to check on him and he was burning up. He had a temp of 103! Not a calming moment for me. I get worried when they are over 102. My nephew was rushed to the ER with a seizure due to a high fever-so I am very cautious with my boys and fevers! Therefore, my mind raced and worried and kept me up for most of the night. Kaden went back to sleep at 3AM and slept till 8. I called the Pediatrician later in the morning and they wanted to see Kaden, since it was such a high fever for a 6 month old. Mike was only working 1/2 day-and that was a huge help to me. Parker was getting a low grade fever by the afternoon. So, we took P to the Dr too! We had both boys checked at the same time. Parker had a fire red throat and K's was red too, so they each required strep tests! They were negative and so the Dr. diagnose= a wicked virus acting like strep!

Dr. wanted to do one more test on Kaden to make sure it was just a virus. He got a catheter to double check that K did not have any other infection. Not a fun moment for mommy to see baby in pain as they were trying to get a urine sample...and it took a while since he had not been drinking a ton! After 2 hours at the Dr. we decided that we all needed some ice-cream!

So, we took Parker to McDonalds and got him the new smoothie! He loved it and I was glad he drank it. I knew it would be a long weekend-and we would have to keep up on the meds! Kaden is a baby that is great about soothing himself to sleep but this weekend he has needed lots of extra TLC.

(Sound asleep in mommy's arms)

So, I got lots of extra love and cuddles with him. This weekend he only did 8 oz of formula daily! He had little interest in baby food and maybe did 5 or 6 bites of it. He and Parker have just slept a ton and have had NO appetite. I am always worried about dehydration. I got K to drink Apple juice this weekend. He took it and I was glad.


Parker came down with the 103 fever today and he was really out of if ALL morning!

He woke up at 10 am with a HIGH fever and rosy red cheeks.

He stayed on the couch for 2 hours and I found him at 12:30 like this....

It appears to be a 24-48 hour virus. Kaden's fever was gone last night and Parker still has about 101.
Please say a prayer for us, and pray that Mommy and Daddy stay well!

I had to have something adventurous for me this weekend since I was HOME with sick babies. So, I decided to make a yummy lunch for daddy and me. I made Coconut Crusted Chicken Tenders.
We loved them and it only took me 10 minutes to prep ~my kind of meal for being a busy mommy!

I am so glad that Mike was home ALL weekend to help me and hoping that the boys are much better soon.
I am really, really, really looking forward to August!
Tapping my red slippers...and dreaming of a great month next month!
Seriously ~it can only get better! Right?
"Only a few more day of July,
Only a few more days of July,
Only a few more days of July!"

Brotherly Fun...Video time!

YEAH! Parker somehow found my camera in the bottom of the toy box!
Now, I wonder HOW it got in there????

(Busted!)

Oh, I have never been so happy to see it! And we had a good talk with Parker that it is NOT a toy.

                                         Here is a background on the video of Parker and Kaden...
 Parker has discovered that he can "drag" Kaden around to get him where he wants him to be.
LOL ~but of course Parker does not get to do this very often! Kaden is safe because Mommy is always around when P is moving Kaden. I can't leave them out of my sight yet..
 It will just make you laugh when you see Kaden giggling and Parker just doing his thing as a Big brother.
And this is just the beginning of life with boys......

(Happy Kaden!-and 2 teeth on the bottom)

                        Here is the video of Kaden giggling while Parker is leaping & jumping and dragging him.

Joyful days in July...

I am happy to report that we are doing well and have had a good week.
Now that we have that rough week behind us, I need to post some of the joyful moments we have had!
Here are some sweet photos of our visit to the Atlanta zoo with NeNe (Papa stayed back home),Aunt Sam,Marlee and Brady. It was actually Parker's 3rd visit to the zoo. But it was the first time he left talking about it and asking to go back! On the way to the zoo, Parker said he wanted to see the Cows (LOL);so we had to have a discussion that we will only see the cows if we go visit NeNe and Papa! We would have to look for Monkey's, Elephants, Pandas and more. Kaden and Brady enjoyed most of it sleeping away in their strollers. It was a great visit-HOT-but memorable indeed.

(A precious moment I captured of sweet friends)

The following weekend was the 4th of July and we enjoyed it to the fullest with Uncle Rick and Aunt LaLa. We made homemade calzones and then went to DQ for ice-cream. It was the perfect spot to end the night watching the local fireworks! Kaden was out about 10 minutes before they started! But he was a great trooper for celebrating his first 4th of July.

(Aunt LaLa, Baby Kai (in belly) & UncleRick)

4th of July, we had a BBQ with some of our Syracuse friends! It was a great time swimming and catching up. Parker and Kaden were both great sports since we were away for most of the day. Parker and Kaden had a fun time meeting Hunter. Hunter was born 2 months before Kaden and you can see there is NOT a big differnce in their size LOL.

Parker and Kaden have been interacting a ton by making "spitting" noises at each other. Not mommies first pick~ but it is SO funny to hear Kaden LAUGH uncontrollably at Parker! The moment Parker gets up in Kaden's face he starts laughing. I captured it on video and I am in the midst of trying to find my camera {sigh} I can't find it-please pray I do find it so I can upload the latest. Until I find it, I am soaking up the sweet memories and brotherly love as Parker and Kaden interact! It melts my heart, when Parker just walks up to Kaden and kisses him!  It is SO precious to see them becoming playmates!  Just another one of the joys I find in being a stay at home mom...simple yet so joyful.

Preppy little boy Kaden (almost 7 months)~starting to wear some of big brother's clothes.

I LOVED this outfit on Parker

(Parker-7 months old wearing the plaid pants)

                                                                           

Next week we will fit in a few more play days with some friends and then it is back to reality around here. However...we have very special friends moving here the beginning of Aug! My best friend Joy, and her family will be moving here the second week of Aug. I am like a "little child waiting for Christmas morning!" So exciting that it is actually happening and I am SO excited to say that it is another one of my "dreams" coming true! We will be hosting them for 1 week before they completely move into their apt. It is such a joy to know that however long God allows them to stay (and we hope for a LONG time); our little boys will finally be able to play together often! Joy and I can finally go out again for donuts and coffee, go for walks, shop together and most of all just be together again. To all my local friends-Don' worry! She is not taking up space from the friendship I share with you; she will be adding a ton of JOY to each of your lives! We are so excited for the Ashworth family to move here! Counting down till the 13th of Aug....Now before then we have SO much to do!

Only 10 more days of July left and we are really trying to soak up the time together as a family.
School starts for Parker on Aug. 17th. We will have him in 3 year old pre-school at BHBC and we are looking forward to another great year. He will be going 3days a week this year! We have alot to do to prepare for that big week!
Praying you are having a good week too and finding JOY in the simple things.
Jenn :)

"Terrible,Horrible, No Good, Very Bad' Weekend....

I actually LOVE the Book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good,Very Bad Day! It is so funny to read of all the "awful" things that go wrong in the world of a 5 year old. Oh to be a kid again, because those problems seem SO little compared to life today.
Well, I believe that we all have our moments like a day that Alexander had.  However, I do believe that in life situations-God wants us to learn something. Even if it is moments that we do not ever want to repeat.
Well, last weekend was an "Alexander" weekend for us. Definite emotions were- "No Good, Very Bad!"
I miss our family and wish we lived closer, especially after the rough road we were on. Sometimes, I wish they were just a 5 minute ride away. But thank goodness for great friends reaching out we made it through!

Parker has been recovering from an ear infection.When he is ill-we might as well, all be ill! It took 2 antibiotics to knock it out of him.

 Friday, we were headed to see a friend and he screamed and threw his sippy cup at me in the van.(Still not sure why he was SO angry); I was completely shocked at the flying object, and  jerked the van, causing me to hit a mailbox! Not a pretty moment~I sscratched up the mirror and chipped the outer exterior, and  busted a neighbor's mailbox! Thankfully I was only going about 20 miles (but still-so humbling and so upsetting that I harmed a neighbor's mailbox). If my son had not been upset would it have happened? Probably not. -However,I can't change the past. Going forward we no longer have a sippy cup while mommy drives. I stopped and  talked to the neighbors and told them we will take care of it. (Parker got punished later for his inappropriate behavior.) Mike felt so sympathetic to the rough week, he came home with a card for me. He promised to take me shopping later in the weekend and also get me a be-lated anniversary gift! It was so encouraging after the rough day I had. The rest of the weekend was hopefully going to be a fun one and clearly nothing could go worse! 

Haha....
Saturday, I took Parker, to Kayleigh's birthday party. He was still really sick, and didn't enjoy it to the fullest. We left early and headed home. Mike and I had date day with our small group! After the rough day on Friday, little did I know 2 months prior when we planned it, how much I/we would really need "Date Day!"

We had a sitter for the day, and were headed to a local lake to go boating and tubing. It was indeed SO relaxing and SO much fun. All good things have to end but just before we wrapped up the night we took one last boat ride and did some tubing. This time I got to tube with Rebekah! I handed my wedding rings to Mike and got in the lake. Let's just say only one of my rings made it back on my finger. My anniversary band (that matches my set-I got it for our 5th anniversary). The other 2 that were soddered together, never made it back on my finger. I will let you imagine the heartache and shock when we could not find them! Mike is VERY responsible and it was an innocent mistake! We think they are in the lake. I am not upset with Mike. I am sad at the sentimental value and loss.  Now where do we go from here? We called insurance Monday and checked  on our policy.
We have a little coverage on it-but not the full value. So, we are in the midst of waiting to hear back from our insurance company.
Our 10th anniversary is 2 years away and Mike was planning on upgrading my set-so now I am cherishing my anniversary band and looking forward to the next set. However, it is a stab in the heart that my original set is gone. I know that it is an earthly possession-but it is something very special to me. Mike feels horrible about the whole event and I don't think he will ever be able to forgive himself. I already have forgiven him and I know he will make it up to me in a couple of years!
In the bigger picture-yes, we lost my rings. But we still have each other, we have 2 healthy boys, Mike has a great job, we have a roof over our heads and a God who never changes.
Thankfully when we were out boating no one got injured and we still have each other! It is easy to type all this-but sometimes when I look at my missing wedding ring, I get tears. Nothing can replace the ring that a woman says "YES" to, on the day the man of your dreams proposes! Oh the memories I have.~I am thankful I still have a photo of that ring. We now know that when I get my next wedding ring, we have to have a Personal Article Policy just on my ring and then we can get FULL coverage. If you don't have a Personal Article Policy or private insurance on your diamond-get it for your wedding ring!
Trying to move on with life and praying that God will at least have insurance cover what we are suppose to get. We will just put it away till our 10th anniversary! And YES-I will get a nice upgrade! Thanks to many of you on that little tip of advice...but in the bigger picture it doesn't matter to me. I am still sad and trying to make the best of all that God has blessed me with even in the tough times.
Monday morning the battery on my van was dead, but thankfully-we got a full warranty with Toyota so I called the Roadside Assistance. They came and jumped it! I am SO glad that the battery did not die when I was out in public somewhere with the boys!
After the long, discouraging weekend, my dad reminded me of Philippians 4: 4-7 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I think Little Alexander, just needed a good reminder that Jesus is always near and he just needed a little extra prayer. I am forever grateful for this comfort that I can find daily and most of all during rough weeks like last week.
 I begged many for prayers this past weekend and we appreciate ALL the love and prayers!
Tuesday -Thursday have been uneventful GOOD, days! We are really clinging to the uneventful days right now.
Here are some photos of the FUN times we had with NeNe and Papa.
 In one way ~I am glad none of this occurred while they were here. It would have really put a damper on their visit.
So, we are reflecting on some of the fun we had and pressing on and praying that we don't have another"Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad" weekend again or for a LONG, LONG time!
Jenn :)

(Somebody was sad that NeNe and Papa were leaving...)

We celebrated Papa's birthday (but Mike and Parker love to call him "Cowboy")

Parker giving Ne Ne her Mother's Day present.

We had an apron made and handstamped the boys prints on it.

(Eventually all the Riese Grandkids will have their hands printed on it.)

Hmm-a 6month old and handpaint???

We agreed to have all the grandkids be around 2 before working with paint on this apron~LOL

Parker checking out his new bike from NeNe and Papa

Dinner time with NeNe

Mike and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary while they were down here...

We got out to Maggiano's (and a night away) and got a free dessert entre' compliments of the restaurant!

 

We have SO much fun with NeNe and Papa.

We miss you and can't wait to see you again!

Love,

Mike, Jenn Parker and Kaden :)