Parkes Family

So my last post was to my sweetest little festive thang (AKA Allison) and nothing has changed from then. She has lit up the holiday season I'll tell you that much! I feel so fortunate to feel the magic of Christmas like I did as a child. I am absolutely in love with my little family.  My mom said it right when she told me that I couldn't have found a more perfect husband for me than John. He is so festive too and I wouldn't have it any other way. Some of the time I think we were more excited that Allison. Poor thing didn't even believe it was Christmas on Christmas morning since we have been celebrating/decorating since the week before Thanksgiving! She was very grateful for her gifts and I am grateful for all the people who take pride in buying her (and me and John) special things. I am such a gift giver and feel so rewarded buying something thoughtful for someone else. It was neat to see Allison give gifts and take ownership since she shopped with me, wrapped with me

Dear Allison, my heart is full at this time of year but this year seems different. It may be because we've spent a lot of time together after me not working for a year. I just can't wait to celebrate the holidays with you! You are a very sentimental and thoughtful person and it makes me feel complete when I'm with you. I feel like we are in sync lately and I can't get enough of it. Trust me you're not always perfect and sweet but you're perfect for me just the way you are. There are so many little things that never melted my heart the way they do now and I finally understand what it feels like to be a mom. A real mom where you constantly feel like you don't want anything bad to ever happen to your child, very 'Mama Bear' like! I'm feeling vulnerable and for the first time I'm not fighting it and it feels good. There is a famous quote and I'm forgetting the author at the moment but it says something to the effect of it being a momentous d

Dear Allison,  When your dad went elk hunting with Gabe in Colorado for a week I wrote him letters on our family blog so I didn't forget to tell him important things. I thought to myself... Why not write to you!??  You are an incredibly loving little (big) girl. Out of the blue, you tell us 'love you' or 'you're the best mom I've ever had!' Or calling us sweet little nicknames like 'cream puff,' or 'rockstar Mom,' 'Mr. Strong Daddy.'  You are starting to cuddle with me. I know this sounds crazy but you have always kept your snuggles to your Dad. You have never been able to stay still when you're next to me. I'm loving it and especially last night you offered to cuddle while we watched Tangled (great movie- even your dad likes it and wanted to finish it after you went to bed! LOL).  You are still a daddy's girl too but I will tell you that my time off work last year is starting to show. Our bond is that of what I thought I

Hi babe,  It's been really nice to get a text message from you to know that you're okay out there and enjoying yourself. I'm super grateful for that because I've been thinking about you like crazy.  It's been a great weekend. We've enjoyed a lot of downtime/girl time creative/crafting time. Saturday we stayed in her pajamas until 1 PM building things like this growing machine: We used foil, a cardboard box glue, brightly colored paper, markers and our imaginations. We also started to decorate for Halloween Allison wants to make the house spooky so you will be 'spooked out' when you get home for your birthday.   We ended the night watching strawberry shortcake and eating frozen grapes just like usual. Allison decided we didn't need the family blanket for cuddling just the pink blanket since you were gone.  This was my Saturday night and to be honest I couldn't complain. She was a really good girl all day we had so much fun making things and just b

 Wednesday morning while it was still dark I dropped off Allison to the neighbors. She was more excited I think to be able to ride in the car and drive across the street without getting her car seat anything else. When I picked her up from school we went straight shopping for aunt Jill's birthday guest. After picking out chip clips, elephant napkins and things like that we went to Clam lake and had a nice dinner with mom dad Mom, and aunt Jill. Then the party moved to our house where the cake that grandma and Allison made was there chocolate pudding and chocolate cake with whipped cream and of course blue sprinkles for aunt Jill's favorite color. Great night after everyone left I felt like I may or may not have had too much wine. And by too much I mean two glasses. Whatever.  Oct. 23rd- Thursday mom came To watch Allison so I could go to my appointment. The appointment went well and it was actually nice to have part  of a mommy and me day like we used to for the rest of the aft

We'll not too muh going on other than n raging sinus infection that came axe alive today around one!! I left to get meds and came back. Man does that mucinex 'fast max' work F-a-s-t!!  I came home to mom and Allison anking pudding cake for Jill's birthday tomorrow. Allison quick got ready for dance. I chose to listen to my book (Insurgent) with headphones to drown out some obnoxious moms! When we for back we went straight to Tom and Debb's to install the car seat. Allison wanted to stay longer of course but relaxed after being reminded she'd be there in 12 hours.  My dad sent Allison a package of cookies and my mom sent her Halloween goodies. Spoiled freakin rotten!!  Tiger teeth... This is by far the creepiest pictires ever of our daughter... So let's move on... Here are aunt lor's tp mummies    And my Kleenex monster  And mom and aunt June's creepy crawlers Yes, the one on the right has oyster cracker eyes...  It was great to hear your voice (out o

Dear Johno,  Congrats on the big elk! Wow! I'm not gonna lie you look good next to it. (Does that sound weird!?) I already framed it! (see below)Well it was super nice to wake up to Aunt June and Mom here after our slumber party! I got to wake Allison up before I left and it was so awesome to see her before I left for work. Today? Not a bad day when 6 kids are absent. It went by pretty fast! I stayed not long afterward and picked her up from school. She was having a great time at after school care, of course. We now have another painted pumpkin to add to the bunch! Quite hilarious with the fire fighter field trip sticker on it! We have also tidied up a little and she can see her desk now (that makes one of us). All in all it was just a regular ole Monday. Not a case of the Mondays but you know.. looking forward to HUMP DAY! 

Since You are gone for a week I will write diary style to make sure I didn't forget things we did and things Allison said.  Dear John,  After I picked her up from school we got home and she opened her package from CaliGram. Check out these 'tiger teeth.'  Then we decided we wanted to have a picnic style dinner.  It wasn't the most comfortable seating for dinner but super fun.  We listened music and Allison danced to the happy and back to the future songs. She talked about how we we're Marty and Doc for  Halloween last year.  Caligrams package got us in the mood to take out the Halloween totes! This is where the real action begins!    I scored on after Halloween sales last year and found this gem! Thanks to Ashley, we found this 'Kapow' sign. She ran around feeling like super hero for a while.  Then we watched Frozen and cuddled up in the pink blanket ( since the big one is a family blanket and daddy isn't here so..)  She saved the last grape for you like

Back in the saddle again! Talk about when it rains it pours and how many people told me to be patient and just wait things would fall into place. Sometimes don't be offended anyone I really didn't want to hear that. I was also told there might be another plan for me that I had for myself that was also something I was skeptical of. No matter which way you see it I think it's all going to work out. I happily took a position at Baker College as an adjunct professor where I'll be teaching one night class a week starting the winter session. I have also accepted  a kindergarten and first grade split classroom for forest area. I have high hopes for this experience although it's been difficult already after the first weeks to follow someone else's plans/set up but I'm trying to just bite off a little at a time instead of more than I can chew. I'm also having to get used to teaching while having a child in school. That means I can't stay late every night whic

Quite the contemplative day today I'm not quite sure why but it could be the clarity of the sky, the fresh crisp fall air or the fact that I'm just starting to feel better for the first time in a week. Apparently I'm suffering from a rheumatoid arthritis flareup but I havent experienced this since the month I was laid off from Pine River. That June I went to the ER with cramped up arms and fingers and was told I had rheumatoid arthritis after testing. I've been fortunate enough not to have that hinder anything that I do on a daily basis until last weekend. Since I've been lifting heavyweights lately I honestly thought it was muscle strain or the growth of my guns exceeding my skin elasticity...🔫💪 I couldn't help but notice it was getting worse when I had a hard time grasping things. I've dropped things more than usual and I'm clumsy as it is. With support from my husband and my daughter and a super fun weekend I am getting back to my ole jolly

This is officially the first year since before preschool that I am not getting ready for school come this fall. I love school!  I always want to go to school that's why I chose the profession I did and it's also why I chose to continue my education. All of that being said it feels like an outer body experience for the weather to start getting cooler and leaves to start changing (already, yes I know!) and not to have that excitement/butterfly filled stomach I always get around this time of year...🍂🍃🍁 I know that I should enjoy the time off. I know that things will change. I know also that I will not look back on this with regret or sadness. But let's be real here folks I am going out of my mind!!  There are good days and bad days. Days where I am relishing the time with Allison before she grows up and I know it's going to go fast. There are  also days where I am crabby and Not happy because of not working and feel like I'm not taking advantage of my time with her.

In my quest of looking for jobs and being more positive I'm looking into some freelance writing or Blogger positions. So why not practice on you all that love me so much and are a very kind and quiet audience?  This weekend was about family and that's what I needed most because that's what's most important. I also can't lie when I say I love to celebrate birthdays. Everyone who knows me knows this well. My mom has always said children should be celebrated and that's exactly what we do! And at one time everyone was a child so whether you are still or not you will be celebrated if you crossed my path!!  I'm a big fan of celebrating things like good grades, sports achievements, personal accolades and celebrating because it's Tuesday at four and the sky is clear. I'm not quite sure that everyone understands just how much celebrating we did as a family. It wasn't selfish or showy. It was about setting a date to spend time together. It was a great way