A New Cousin!

Just in case you can't read the shirt...

Anne Parks is getting a new cousin!



Mommasissy and Uncle Rambo-Reed will have a new baby in August, and we cant wait! Anne Parks wore her special shirt to tell Tizzie, Grandpa, and Uncle Drew the exciting news.

Turn up your volume...

and enjoy some Christmas music!

Anne Parks' Christmas Program

Anne Parks had her entertainment debut in the Ridgecrest Weekday Christmas Program on Friday. Her class performed "Jingle Bells." They rang bells to the music. She's been practicing at home. Since they started practicing at school, anytime Anne Parks hears the song, she shakes her hands like she's ringing a bell - a little Pavlovian conditioning, I suspect. You can see that Anne Parks did a great job. At first, she was too interested in the audience to ring her bell, but she pulled through in the end. The little girl sitting next to her did not fare so well, however.

I was one proud Mama with my little star!

To see more photos of Anne Parks' program, click here.

Accident-Prone?

I guess since Anne Parks has gotten her looks from Jason, she's gotten her grace and coordination from me. You all read about our bathtub/tooth incident. Two weeks ago, her teacher sent home an accident report from school saying she'd busted her lip on the playground and that she'd been given an icee-pop and love as treatment. Well, a few days ago just as my classes were about to be over for the day, I got a call from Anne Parks school saying she'd fallen and they thought she might need stitches.




When I got there to pick her up, she was back on the playground sitting next to her teaher. They said that she'd been sad sitting in the office, so they decided to send her back out.
She was in a wonderful mood. I think she liked all of the attention the teachers had been giving her. As we walked through the halls on our way out, she shouted "Bye!" to everyone we saw. She definitely thought she was special.

The doctor checked her out and, thankfully, she didn't need stitches. She got some neosporin and love instead.

Fun with Garage Sale Finds

At school where I teach, Jackson Academy, the junior class has a fund-raising garage sale every year. My mom, Anne Parks, and I went and spent a dollar on each of the items you see pictured here (the leotard and the house - yes, the house was only a dollar!). We've certainly gotten our dollar's worth of fun out of them!
Miss Priss
helping out with the plants




Jason and Libby have fun in the house, too!

Anne Parks is My Homegirl

Anne Parks has a pair of blue jeans that she's not quite big enough for, but she saw them the other day and loved sticking her hands in the pockets. Later, she brought them to Jason and wanted him to help her put them on. She was hilarious! As you can tell from the pictures, she thought she was super-cool.

You talkin' to me?

Here's our sweet little gangsta saying the blessing.

Our Dog Libby

Our poor dog Libby often gets overlooked, so I thought I'd include her on the blog. She's such a good dog and gets little credit for it. She can stay in the house alone for long periods of time without making a mess or having any accidents, which is wonderful. The best thing about her, though, is not her bladdder control, it's that she puts up with an energetic toddler without complaint. Anne Parks LOVES her dog Libby. She hugs her, bounces on her, and has even tried to dress her with a headband or socks. Libby just sits there happy to play along. Good girl!

She's Leaving Home

Most parents realize that, one day, their baby will grow up and leave home. I just didn't know it would happen so soon. Anne Parks has become "Miss Independent". I grabbed the camera the other day when she had two "purses" on her shoulders (one was actually a trick-or treat pumpkin). As I was shooting, she waved to me and said, "bye". Then...she just walked out the door! Libby (who Jason had let out earlier) came in and Anne Parks left! I'm not sure how far she would have gone, but I stopped her at the porch. The front door has been locked ever since. Jason and I are going to have to keep an eye on this one!

Through the Eyes of a Child...

I have been totally stressed out lately. With housework and workwork and Christmas shopping and grocery shopping and everything else that goes with being a mom/grown-up, I've felt over-loaded. But, I was outside with Anne Parks yesterday, and she was doing her favorite thing - sitting on the front steps. She was pretty proud of herself because she was wearing her new Christmas outfit. The lastest phrase that she's been saying is "Oh, preeeety!" Well, she was sitting there and the wind picked up. Leaves started falling and blowing around everywhere. She was so excited and shouted, "Oh, preeeety!" What a wonderful reminder to me to take a deep breath and enjoy the changing of the season - even if it's a little late for "fall". Isn't it amazing what God can show us throught the eyes of a child?

A New Camera

We've finally gotten a new camera, (Thank you Papa and Grandma!) and we're back to documenting Anne Park's every move. She's growing so fast! You'll notice that her hair has gotten considerably longer since our last pictures. She's also talking non-stop and repeating everything we say. She's developed quite a personality and is at the stage where she wants to do everything on her own.
Here, she's posing for the camera and modeling some toddler fall fashion complete with leg warmers, scarf, and purple paci.


In this one, Anne Parks shows off her mouthful of teeth. You also my notice my new hair color. I got brave over the Thanksgiving holidays and went for it! Now, I look more like Anne Parks mother.