I like my pillows cold

"Mom, I put my pillow in front of the register so it gets cold for me."

Hannah loves to have a cold pillow.  So much that for a few weeks it was hard putting her to bed because she would fuss and complain that her pillow wasn't cold enough.

I bought her an ISO-Cool pillow which is suppose to stay cool all the time.

She hasn't been to impressed with it.  Although she found a way to get it cool enough to help her fall asleep.

I guess Dolphie likes cool pillows too because that is his 'bed pillow' next to her and her pillow.

Can we also talk about how she knew to call it a register?

Happy 4th of July!

Today is our last day of 'vacation' before we all head back to our normal routine.

Mom and dad will go back to work, Hannah and Hailey back to Jackie's.

Grandma and Grandpa Parmley came over for a BBQ today.  Daddy made smoked chicken- it was delish!

Brody was over at his grandma's this evening so after Grandma and Grandpa left the kids got to play for a little while in the driveway.

Our newest favorite thing to do is to jump off of Steve's trailer.

The kids wanted to wear their helmets tonight as they jumped because according to Brody "we might smack our heads".

Blast Off!

Pine City or Bust!

Hannah:  "Mom, is Daddy going to come to the cabin with us?"
Me:  "I don't think so honey but you can ask him."
Hannah:  "Daddy, you want to come to the cabin with us?  You can bring Nash, and we can bring his food, and we can bring him a blanket, and we can just eat there."

Next thing you know I hear the shower going and Hannah running in to tell me that he said yes!

We packed up and within 30 minutes were on the road.  Pine City or Bust!

It was a gorgeous day.  Not too hot, not too humid.  Not too cold, not too windy.  It was perfect.
Attendees included Grandma Chris, Grandma Bauer, Bob, Benji, Jennie, Kimmy, Joe, Kristin, Brian, Hannah, Hailey, Nash, and me.

We spent most of the day down at the lake. 



Playing in the sand

Swimming in the lake

Chasing sticks in the water

Watching the kids play

As we were sitting at the lake I was looking around thinking of how different everything looks now compared to how it looked when Kari and I were little.  There used to be many more trees on our lot.  There was a tree house and a tire swing.  The beach used to be much more sandy than it is now.  Fewer neighbors.

This guy however, he has been here through it all.  Kind of like a fixture.  When we were younger, that it where we kept life jackets and beach toys.  Not sure what it is in him anymore.

On our way back to the cabin as Jennie and I were carrying the umbrella, we saw this white lady bug hitchin' a ride. 

If you look really close you can see a baby bird chirping in this nest that is on the light above the backdoor.

This was a great day!  One of the best I have had in a long time.
I absolutely loved having my whole family at the cabin, creating memories.
At one point Brian and Hannah were out in the lake swimming and from the shore all I could hear were belly laughs.  Hannah was LOVING every second of sharing this day with her daddy!

Kristin and Jennie took some really cute pictures that I NEED to have.  I should have taken more but it was one of those times that being in the moment was better than sitting behind my lens while everyone else enjoyed it.

Date with a Princess

Hannah-

You melt my heart.

Today I needed to go to the store to get you and your sister some sand toys for the trip to the cabin tomorrow.  As I was finishing up and getting ready to leave you went darting into your bedroom to get dressed.  You can out with a sad look on your face saying "Mommy, I am sorry, it was just an ack-i-dent'.  When I asked what happened you told me that you really wanted to wear your pretty dress that grandma made you and when you were pulling it down the hanger broke.  We talked about how that was no big deal and next time if you needed help you could just ask and I would help you.  I then did my usual countdown, "I have two more things to do and then I am ready to leave".  You ran back into your bedroom and came out with your crown on.  "Mom, I should wear this to keep the hair out of my eyes."  You looked so sweet and cute, how could I say no.?.

So, off we went.  You wore your crown to the store and everyone that passed us looked at you and smiled.  I am sure that you brightened someone's day, I know you always make mine better!

Love you so much, Bean

Lights out!

As we were hanging out in the driveway tonight, our typical Friday night routine, it started to get dark and these clouds started rolling in.  YIKES!   This particular one almost looked like a puff of smoke the way that it was growing and bellowing.
About 6:30 we were sitting at the table eating and the wind really started to pick up.  Brian looked outside and could see the trees bending.  We decided it would be best to remove the umbrella from the patio furniture.  Just as Brian started lifting the umbrella we saw a bright flash of light and heard a loud POP!
Then it went black.
I quickly grabbed some candles and we finished our dinner by candlelight.
Hannah was starting to get a little nervous and asking tons of questions about why the wind was so strong, what was happening, why did the lights turn off, etc.

After about 20 minutes the rain and wind stopped and we got to go outside to survey the damage (and see since it was dark in the house).  Our side of the street was out of power but since the power lines are buried in the ground starting across the street, they still had their lights.

We sat outside talking to Steve and Chris for a while and then they decided to leave to get their generator, just in case it would be awhile before the power came back on.

It took us about 10 minutes before we piled into the car and left too.  Off to Home Depot to shop for a generator!  You never do know how long it could be before the power would be back on.  At least this way we would have it if we needed it, plus- we can always return it.

Thankfully the power came back on around 9:30 pm.  Most of the neighbors, on our side of the street, were outside and as soon as our lights and TVs started up there was a cheer!  Thanks City of Champlin/Anoka!

We lost a huge branch off the tree in the backyard.

Thankfully that was the worst of it at our house.

Just read it

Tonight Hannah and I were catching up on Kari's blog : http://www.writinginthemiddle.blogspot.com/

They are going to be here in 3 weeks and I am so excited I can hardly stand it!

The post we finished on tonight was called 'Practice Makes Perfect' and it was about Kas and Tin practicing their egg-on-a-spoon carry for an upcoming birthday party that they were going to.

I asked Hannah if she wanted to type them a message.

She started pounding away at the keyboard as she tilted her head side to side.

Wonder what was going on in there?  Such concentration-

When she was done I asked her what it said (so I could write the translation).

You see her response below....

Then she jumped off my lap and went on to play.

Still makes me giggle.

And she still won't tell me.

The things we take for granted

Ok, so maybe that title isn't the best for this post considering all of the things in our lives that we take for granted but for me, this is one of those things.

I have many meetings each month at St Joe's and Bethesda hospitals which are both located in/just outside of downtown St Paul.
I park in the ramp at St Joe's and today while getting into my car I looked up before backing out of my parking spot and saw this.
The cathedral is such a HUGE and breathtaking building and how often we hardly even notice it is there.

Today it stopped me in my tracks and I sat for a few minutes and just appreciated it's beauty and power.

Each time I am at Bethesda I see the capitol.  From many of the conference rooms at Bethesda you actually sit in a room that has this view.  Breathtaking!

One of these days my camera is coming to work with me.....

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Today was another day that actually felt like summer.

Yay!  It's finally here!

When I got home from work the girls were playing sweating in the driveway.

After dinner they wanted to go back out so while daddy mowed the lawn, we were playing. 

Tonight's treat = ICE CREAM!

seriously savoring every moment with that cone!

Does it really surprise me to find chocolate on her face? Of course we had to share our cone with her. Couldn't eat in front of her.

How is my heart not melted into nothing yet??!



Mom, I'm hot

It was 'Twins day' at Jackie's.
She told Brian about it the night before.  "Have the girls wear their Twins clothes, if they have any."
Brian told me.

Morning came, Hannah woke up talking about how her and Hailey needed to be Twins today.
"Then Jackie will see us and say 'You girls are twins- you look great'."
So, we found blue shirts and jean shorts and I dressed them like twins.
(at no point did the previous day's directions pop into my head)

We got to Jackie's and as soon as I saw her in her Minnesota Twins shirt my heart sank.
I turned and looked at Hannah, she realized what happened too and hung her cute little head.
"Oh sweetie- I am sorry, I forgot.  I will go home and get your Twins shirts.  Would you like that?"

Of course she took me up on that.
So, back to home I went to get the Minnesota Twins shirts.

Well, came home that night to find this....

"Mommy, I was hot."

Whatcha' paintin'?

Me:  "Hannah, whatcha' paintin'?"

Hannah:  "An abstract."

Me:  "An abstract?!  What is that?  (this one I knew but needed to hear her answer)"

Hannah: "You know, just colors and shapes and stuff."

Annual Pool Party

Today was the Nelson's annual pool party.
The Nelson's, the Palmer's, the Lindamood's, and the Parmley's used to live on the same block.  The Parmley's moved during the summer before Brian started 6th grade. 
Now all the neighborhood kids are grown up with kids of their own.
Each year the Nelson's host a pool party to get the families together.  

The weather was not nice this year, cold and windy, and just watching the kids in the pool made everyone shiver.  Like a trooper, Jennifer, swam with all the kids.  I brought my suit but it was way too cold for me to get in so even though I didn't want to put on my suit, I had a really good excuse this year.  Whew!



"Mommy, we got our own lunch!"



Here they are....the grandkids.  Good looking group!

Technology 0 Humans 1

While working at home today, in JUNE, I was listening to iTunes. 
My question to iTunes today: if you are smart enough to recognize my phone vs iPod vs Brian's phone vs Hannah's iPod vs the iTouch, and smart enough to set the time yourself as to when each song was last played, how many times it has been played, smart enough to recommend other songs based upon the songs that are in my library- then why oh why are you not smart enough to NOT play Xmas music during the shuffling of music?!
It's JUNE- you know that.  Why would I want Xmas music?!  and it's not even the Osmonds.... you claim to know me...

Hey now! Who gave you permission....??!

Little Miss Hailey- Who in the world gave you permission to grow up?!?

Tonight you were reaching for this bottle of water. Daddy handed it to you knowing that when you spilled it would just be water and you gotta learn sometime, right?!

Ok, not only did you know what to do but you did it like a champ!

Daddy was amazed watching you tilt the bottle back and then position your lips just perfectly to control the flow of water.

Moments like this make me sad.

Aren't we suppose to teach you those things?!

P.S.  PLEASE stop growing up!  Please?!

Another sign of the times...

Earlier this week Hannah and I were talking about what month it is and what month it would be next.
Hannah: 'It's July next month?!  Woo Hoo!  That is when Kas and Tin are coming to visit!"

Tonight after dinner the girls wanted to make a call to Kari, Andy, and the boys.  So, instead of picking up the phone and dialing the very long international number we got out the computer.
You see these days if you want to talk to someone you can just call them via Skype with your webcam and have a conversation with them while they are in the comfort of their own bedroom!
I get our little computer out and even Hailey goes crazy - running over to her chair, climbing right up to be a part of whatever is going on.

It's crazy really if you think about it.

Between email, Skype, Magic Jack, cell phones, landlines, postal mail, etc there is really no excuse for not talking to the Parades-Miller family more often.

Our first attempt wasn't very productive.  They didn't answer.  "Mom, that's ok, we will call Auntie Jennie instead!"  Luckily Jennie was home and quickly responded to my text.  The girls loved chatting with her and having a dance party.  During our call, Kari and the boys called us (after seeing our attempt) so we let Jennie go so we could answer (sorry Jen).

Just fine the way I am

Today we had an appt at Gillette Children's Hospital for a consult regarding Hailey's bowed legs.

We first noticed the bowing when she started walking around 12 months.

At that time it was easy to chalk it up to thick diapers and chubby legs/thighs but as time went on and she started slimming down, the legs were still bowing.  Sometimes when she would walk you could actually see her walk on the outside of her foot.

At her 15 month check up I asked Dr Prall about them.  He saw what we were concerned about, wasn't too concerned himself but also didn't want to overlook anything so we took an Xray and based upon those results decided to wait until her 18 month check up and check again.

At the 18 month check up we decided that even though she was looking like she was improving there was still a curve that we knew we should check out.

Even though I can see that her legs are bowed I have a hard time admitting it (to an extent).

I mean after all, that little girl is so adorable who cares about some crooked legs- you can hardly tell.

Well, I thought you could hardly tell but people comment on them all the time.

Her appt went great.  We saw Sarah Gutknecht at Gillette.  She meet with us, took a mini-history, examed her looking for strength, range of motion, etc.  We took new Xrays (on the left) and then met again to talk through the next steps.

Good news- she thinks that this will work itself out as Hailey grows.  She could not come to any conclusion that this was a genetic-disease or problem that was causing this.  Bones do not contain any defects.  She did not feel that there was any type of intervention that we needed to think about doing.

Only directions were to start a multi-vitamin to increase her Vitamin K level and follow up in 6 months.

(cutest little bowed legs you ever did see, right?!)

It goes like this

First I take it and pinch it like this.

Then I shobe (shove) it in my ear.

Then I twist it like this.

Then I 'ahhhhhh'.

That's how I do it mom.

Happy Daddy's Day!

Any man can father a child but it takes a special one to be a daddy!

We had my dad and sisters over for a BBQ tonight to celebrate Father's Day.

Brian made pulled pork and we had sandwiches, pasta salad (that was so yummy!), chips, dip, watermelon, beans, and Samoas ice cream with waffle cone cookies (yeah-for real) for dessert.

Everything was so good and it was a nice day to just be sitting outside hanging out in the driveway watching the kids play.  It was nice to see my dad, we don't see him near enough!

Sitting and watching the girls laugh and play is one of my favorite things to do.  I had another emotional moment tonight thinking about them and how lucky they are to have a daddy like Brian.  Someone who truly would do anything for them and will assure that they are protected and taken care of.  Someone who will rough house and play, cuddle and snuggle.  Someone who will give them TLC.

I am certain that they melt his heart as much as they do mine.

I sure wish I would have gotten a picture of the girls and Brian today....shoot!

What lies beneath

On Thursday night Shane was walking around his yard kicking up dead patches of grass. 

As he kicked away a patch near the driveway he uncovered this.

A nest of baby mice.  There were 7 total.

They were so tiny.  Their eyes were still fused shut and as we got closer you could hear them squeaking a little.  In the moment they looked so cute and so sweet and for a few minutes I felt so sad for them.  Their mom was nowhere to be found.  Sure they had each other but how could a mom just leave her seven new born babies in a hole in the ground!  Isn't she worried about them?  I wonder if she is watching us manhandle them right now and is feeling helpless or worse yet- what if she is so far away that she doesn't even have a clue about what is happening to them.  Poor things.

Yes, I realize the last couple of posts make me sound like a crazy lunatic....whatevs, we all got our stuff.

Ta-Da!

Tonight Brian was edging the driveway. 

Yardwork?!  Hannah was all over that.

She ran and got her gloves but couldn't find her flip flops.

She ran all over looking for them with no luck and eventually went in the house to see if they got placed in there somehow.  She came out with these on.  "Ta-Da mom! How I look?!"

How to entertain a toddler

Wanna entertain a toddler?

Give her a bubble wand and a lawn chair.

Hailey sat for about 5 minutes and dropped the bubble wand through the chair, bent over, picked it up, and did it again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  And again.  And again.