Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Christmas

What a fun Christmas we had with Miss Maddie Sue this year! We enjoyed spending sometime with family in Utah, before we headed off to Washington for Christmas with my family.
 We had a big Parker/Belliston Family dinner the Sunday before Christmas. It was nice to be with everyone before we left town.
 Maddie opening her present from Aunt Jenny. Maddie was so cute opening gifts this Christmas and knew exactly what to do!
 Our Christmas Eve. We did our own Christmas on the 23rd and had a blast spending time together and watching Maddie open her gifts!!! Above you see Scottie aka Daddy assembling Madison's kitchen and ME sound asleep on the couch! Love that Scottie took this picture. Way to go Scottie staying up way late to make all your daughter's dreams come true!
 All finished!!! I loved how he even assembled the food and had everything just perfect for her. 
 Success!!! It was so fun to see Madison's reaction to her kitchen. She started coming down the stairs, then spotted it, quickly slid the rest of the way down, ran over to it, and starting playing with it NON-stop til we had to pull her way (literally) for breakfast!
 Madison busy in her kitchen
 Maddie fondly calls our house "kitchen house" now!!! Glad her gift was such a big hit:) It's so fun to be a parent and have my favorite part of Christmas be Madison's reaction!
 Family pic
 Scottie kept telling me he wanted lunch stuff for Christmas, so I went on a shopping spree for food and got him tons of unique things for lunch and a cool lunch bag too. It was fun to surprise him!!!
 Twinners! I couldn't resist and got Maddie a sweater dress that almost matches mine!
 Out to eat at Johnny Rockets with Scottie's family and grandparents
 Maddie and Daddy
 Getting an awesome present from Grandma Tracy- a homemade apron and play food to go with Madison's kitchen. Maddie wears her apron all day long!
 On the plane heading to Washington on the 24th. We love having a short (under 2 hour) plan ride now!!! We miss Ohio, but not the LONG flight to visit family.
 Maddie giving Grandpa a kiss! Madison was amazing and did a wonderful job around everyone from the very beginning!!! I was so proud of her and was happy she remembered everyone and warmed up so quickly, even to my crazy brothers.
 All the Gingers in the family
One of Madison's favorite things to do during our visit was "ride papa" Andrew decided tag a ride too. She also loved riding the dog too.
 A Christmas Eve visit from my friend Veronica, who was in town from Alaska. 
 Christmas Eve Pjs
 Christmas tradition- lining up on the stairs youngest to oldest
 Us with our stockings
 Maddie getting a Mini Mouse doll
 This little stinker found Uncle Austin's chocolate stash!!! You know they're up to NO GOOD when they get quiet, and this is how I found her.
 Maddie's all time favorite thing when we're in Washington is to gather chicken eggs with Grandma Karen. Every morning Madison would get her basket and go stand by the door saying "please chickens, please bawk bawk". She just loves animals and her Grandparents.
Visiting some BYU friends. It was great to catch up with Kelli, Brittney and their families! The last time I saw these girls, none of us had kids!!! Now we have enough for a basketball team:)
Our time in Washington was very eventful and we had wonderful time with my family. We played lots of board games, ate WAY too much good food, went skiing and clamming, and had a nice time chatting and relaxing with each other. I finished two books too! It was a wonderful Christmas season:)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

346 Days til Christmas

Guess it's time for me to admit Christmas is over and take down my decorations!!! So sad! "I cry the day that I take the tree down, I want it to last all the year round."
PS. A Christmas update will be coming soon.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Only 1 More Week

Til Christmas!!! 

Getting our Christmas Tree after Thanksgiving!!! Maddie is helping Daddy find the perfect one. 

 We found it!!!
 Scottie got it all set up, and then we had pizza and decorated it.
 Here we are with Mr. Christmas Tree (that is the name Madison picked)
 
 Parker gals in our pea coats
 Not the greatest, but we took it ourselves!!! 
 Our Christmas cutie!!! I just adore how she says Merry Christmas, sound kinda like "merry Missmiss"
ONLY ONE MORE WEEK AND WE CAN'T WAIT!!!

Madison's 1st Hair Cut

Madison got her first official hair cut!!! 
Before
After
On Monday we (Grandma Tracy, Grandpa Groovy, Daddy, and Mommy) went to Cookie Cutters and let them work their magic. Maddie did such a great job and loved the kid salon from the moment we walked in til the moment we left. She let Lauren cut her hair without moving and even let her use a blow dryer on her hair (Maddie is scared of my blow dyer!!!). Madison loved "driving" her car and was especially happy with the balloon and sucker she got at the end.
Another extreme BEFORE PICTURE-My child rarely "looks like an orphan" so enjoy and laugh about this pic below!!!
Here are some pictures from the fun event!!!
Getting all ready
 Daddy getting her to look down
 Mommy getting her to look down
 Some entertainment by Gpa Groovy 
 Looking so cute after with all of us!!!
 Getting a balloon, sucker, and kiss from Gpa. 
What a great first experience and now her mullet is gone!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Thanksgiving

Being back in Utah is great because we got to return to our beloved St. George for Thanksgiving! We had a wonderful time with Scottie's family and enjoyed getting to visit our Grandma Norma and Grandpa Joe. Maddie and I especially enjoyed the time off of work Dr. Parker got!
Thanksgiving dinner was kept simple this year and we went to Chuck Arama. It was fun getting to eat all different things on Thanksgiving, and I loved hearing my nephew Corbin, say, "this is So GOOD it is sick!"
Group Pictures
Black Friday aka Black Thursday Shopping!!! Scottie and I had our sights set on many things this shopping weekend and were able to get the two big door busters we hoped for!
I had to be a protective "mama bear" to make sure I got Maddie's kitchen for Christmas! I was thrilled to get it!
Grandma Norma is amazing, and makes a quilt for every great grand child (from our old jeans) and we fondly call them pockets of love. Here is Maddie getting her blanket, and she totally loves it.
Our amazing grandparents
We enjoyed our time together as a family playing some mini golf.
Daddy showing Maddie how it is done!
Then Mommy getting a hole in 1...whoooooooooooooooot whooooooo
 Family Pictures


 having some fun 
 
 Maddie was making her cubby cheeks face in almost every picture, so I was happy to get a few of her actually smiling. 
All the grandkids
Thanks for the great Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for:)