I'm a slacker

So summer is over and I really don't have any good excuse for why I haven't been blogging. But let me try these excuses out on you...I've been really busy? I've been working a lot more? My computer didn't work? I decided to become a nun? Okay, how about the truth? I didn't feel like it. Wow, I sound like a 5 year old. Okay, enough of my lame attempts at an excuse. How about I just get on with it and tell ya what we did this summer? Well people, summer of '09 rocked! AND, I actually made it through half the year without getting pregnant!! Whoop Whoop!

So first stop was to Seattle with The Stemp clan. We went to the zoo and to a Mariners game. We also hit downtown for a couple hours. It was fun!


Callie rockin' Aunt Jaclyn's sunglasses

Callie was traumatized by all the noise. We had to leave the game early because she was so distraut.
Parker, well he just looked confused about everything. Once we figured out that we were supposed to be watching the game, he thought, forget that! I want to run!! We ended up in the kid zone thingy most of the game.

Next, we went to Portland and the ocean with The Smith clan. The ocean was amazing. We got to feed the seals and got lots of shopping in. I love to go to those little shops. The zoo was really fun too. We were pooped by the end of the trip!
Parker and Callie at the outlet mall, riding the rides
The hotel left us a welcome gift! How nice.
Parker and I enjoying a walk on in the sand
Grandpa with his BooBoo
Me, the kids, and Grandpa taking a rest
Aren't the cute?
Parker and Cory feeding the Seals some breakfast
Taking one last walk in the sand before we had to leave.

My mom shopping. Isn't she cute?
Parker was in awe of the aquarium

Waiting in line to ride the train. It takes you on a relaxing ride around the whole zoo. Pretty cool!
Train Time!

In July, we did some camping. We went out to Tucannon and ended up staying with Cory's family at the campsite up there. It was pretty fun! I don't think Parker and Callie liked the tent so much. We'll have to get a motor home someday. Here's some pictures from that trip. And yes, you're seeing right...Cory got a new truck!






We also did a lot of going down to the river and throwing rocks and hanging out!




We've been really working hard on our house too, doing lots of projects. Cory made, painted, and hung some shutters for our house. We also had a loverly suprise in the bathroom. We've had a slow leak coming from around our tub for awhile now. When Cory went to fix it, we found major mold behind our shower!! He had to basically gut our bathroom and replace all the drywall, new paint, everything..That wonderful project is still going on. We've also been doing lots of yardwork like always. We painted our trim and doors in our house too. I'm so sick of painting! So that was our summer.

Our baby girl also had a birthday last weekend. 1 year flew by. I'll be posting pictures of that very soon. Hope everyone had a nice summer also. On to my fav time of year...fall! Yay!

Baseball game today

Districts start today and the Lions play at 1:00 vs. Eastmont at Richland High. Try and be there to support them...we are defending state champs ya know! If they win, they play again at 4:00. Come cheer us on. Cory will be helping coaching and Uncle Trek will be kicking butt at shortstop! Also want to mention Trek got an all-conference honerable mention. Pretty good for a freshman, huh? Go Lions!!

I'm Baaaack!!

Wow, it's been a month?! That can't be right! Well I guess it's been busy around here. Let me fill you in on the latest...

March For Babies was awesome!! We nearly quadrupled our team size from last year. And even though we didn't make our $1000 goal, Team Supreemie did raise about $400. That's a great accomplishment considering our economy. On a personal note, Parker and Callie were featured on the memory board and we shared their stories of prematurity. Mommy was bad though and didn't turn it in until last minute, so March of Dimes didn't have time to make it into a cool poster board like the other babies. Hopefully next year I won't be such a procrastinator.







On another note, Callie turned 8 months about a week ago. She's just being Callie! She's now sitting up on her own, army crawling around, and all she wants to do is stand!! She's actually getting really good at standing without me helping her, just holding onto her walking toy or the coffee table. Won't be long before she cruising. She's eating baby food...well kinda. She is very particular. So, she's also eating a lot of table foods and seems to like that better. Callie also now has her bottom 2 front teeth in also. She's babbling away and we love her little laugh! She adores her brother and wants to be everywhere he is, and doing everything he is doing. I tried introducing the sippy cup last week, but she had no interest in it at all besides holding it.


Parker is doing great too. Can you believe he's 18 months already?! I can't. He's walking great, even can put the jets on and do a little run. He's saying more words every week! Favorites are still "-ish" (fish), "off", "don't", "ooooh" (choo-choo)"ma-oon" (moon), "baoo" (book)and "yah". He likes putting his finger to his mouth and saying "ssshhh" too. Everytime he sees Callie sleeping, he does that. It's so cute. Wonder where he got that from? He's starting to learn he can put my hands on something if he wants me to do something for him. For example, he will use my hand to hold the remote if he wants to watch a favorite show, or grab my hand and put it on his book to read to him. Boy, he has found a new joy of reading too. Just wish he wouldn't always pick the same ones. He loves his books, especially "watch out for these weirdos", his Curious George book, his Elmo baseball book, and any book with a fish or moon in it. lol.



As for Cory and I, we are staying busy. Cory finished coaching freshman baseball last week. Varsity is in districts, so he is now helping them with coaching. And Uncle Trek is playing and doing awesome too!! I took a position at my previous employer, Lourdes Riverview. I had my first day back Monday and it was great. I love all my old coworkers there. It was like going home again. I hope to be able to pick up more hours there, so Cory and I can reach our goal of moving soon. 2 bedrooms + 4 people x a million toys=no room! I also am thinking about training for a half marathon in the fall. What do ya think about that? I absolutley hate running, but it's one of the things on my list to do before I'm 30. Plus, I need to lose weight, so maybe it will help kill 2 birds with 1 stone. That's the latest with us. I'm going to try and post more, sorry! I'm a slacker!!

March of Dimes

Thanks to all of you who have signed up to walk and/or have donated. You're helping such a great cause!! This year we have team shirts for "Team Supreemie". They are $5 and will be handed out at the walk. Make sure you sign up on the website so we get an accurate number of walkers so we have enough shirts. If you haven't already, go to: http://www.marchforbabies.org/teams/teamsupreemie


It's not too late to sign up to walk either...This saturday at 9:00. It's going to be great exercise and lots of fun. Support and promote healthy babies!! Every baby needs your help and you will make a difference!

Our Girl is 7 months old

Callie Bug is 7 months old today. Can you believe only 5 more months until that 1st birthday? Wow!

Smile.

We got pictures at good ol picture people again! Well I think my kids are just the darn cuteiest kids around! And why is it that picture time for Parker equals lets not smile and try to escape the mall?
















Parker is 17 months old today too. Wow! Is it too soon to start thinking potty training? I am seriously looking forward to only having 1 in diapers. I always said I would potty train him as soon as he was walking so..guess it's time, right? RIGHT? Please tell me I'm right.

We are blessed!

Cory and I have really had a crazy year last year and through the beginning of '09. With me being on bedrest for a quarter of the year, job changes, unemployment, welcoming our daughter into our lives, sleepless nights, cars breakin' down, facing some personal issues, just to name a few things....whew...I'm exhausted just thinking about it!
Through all of it, we have both found a renewed faith that keeps us going and helps us remember we actually have it pretty good. We have no doubt God has His plans for us and although we have felt tested, we know there is a reason and a lesson in everything. Not saying that we always get the lesson...sometimes it's hard to see it in the middle of the chaos. Our church is great and Cory and I love sharing devotionals that remind us of each other. (We go to Faith Assembly..it's awesome!) I just wanted to share a few verses that have really kept us going and help us:

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This one has really kept us going through the sleepless nights and having 2 babies under 1 1/2. Knowing that God will keep us energized through Him and we won't die from exhaustion! lol!

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without arguing and complaining This verse is so powerful to Cory and I...especially me! I have a real knack for complaining, let me tell ya! It's something I'm really trying to work on. I'm trying to let the little things go.

Mathew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Cory read this verse and instantly thought of me. He even posted it on our fridge! I tend to be a planner, always thinking ahead, worrying about tomorrow. Cory is more a play-it-by ear kinda guy. Waaaaay more laid back than me. This verse just reminds me to live more in the moment and to just chill out. (Although I think Cory does enough chillin' for the both of us!lol) As long as we have our faith and seek out the Lord, we will be taken care of.

What are your favorite verses? Please share in the comment section!!