I told you so

When asked by many why I have always wanted to have a girl, I always reply "because my boys will obviously grow up and leave me for another woman." I usually receive a little chuckle, but seriously, SERIOUSLY, i am dead serious. I was hoping that "our breakup of sorts" would be in oh I don't know, another 15-20 years down the road. So, by saying I was caught off gaurd by what happened this weekend would be an understatement. Let me fill you in on the juicy details:



Saturday - I drag the boys to their primary practice. They are less than thrilled to be heading to church on a Saturday where they will have to sit and be reverent and sing songs. Taking a cue from my Mom, I make up something about having a good attitude and ask them what Jesus would want them to do. For some reason this lecture doesn't work and during the practice Max bangs his head on the pew and Jackson rolls his eyes and looks entirely too pre-teen for his 7 years of life.



Sunday- The day of dread for my boys rolls around. (they will grow out of this right?) Meanwhile I have been silently praying that they will get through it without any "special" moments that will be remembered by all and retold the following year. Low and behold Max was a trooper and said his line and was void of any head banging! Jackson actually sang the songs and can you believe he had a smile on his face. I was so impressed!! Prayer does work. :D

Well have you ever heard that prayers are answered through other people? Grrrr.



Here is the dread: Upon arriving home from church, I told Jackson how proud I was of him and that I was so glad he decided to have fun with it instead of being so grumpy. He simply replied "well it's because I saw my Cheryl the whole time." What? I thought the word My was reserved for me, as in My Mom. I can't believe he is already referring to some lady at church as his! What does she have that I don't have? Ok, so maybe she is a geologist and can talk about hot lava and volcanoes with you. Or maybe she is fun and likable, but really??? Your Cheryl already? I am so jealous it hurts. Does she know what your secret favorite color is or how to make your favorite dinner? Will she play legos with you or rub your back while you are hurling in a bowl? I think not!



Needless to say, when the real day comes that Jackson brings home a girlfriend or heaven forbid his fiance, I may need a straight jacket.

At least I have one child that I know will never grow up and leave me for another woman....

10 long years and 10 long reasons

So let me make one thing clear. I am uncomfortable with cheese. Not the dairy kind, but the oozing of love kind that you find in lyrics in a slow song at a eighth grade dance or a hallmark anniversary card. However, on this occasion I feel like cheese needs to prevail so I will willingly step out of my no cheese policy just this once. John and I have been married for 10 years!! Woot Woot! One time when we were engaged, John's mom Lois asked me when was the first time I knew I loved John. Feeling extremely squeamish about the situation, I told her I still wasn't sure and I would let her know when I figured it out. I've grown a lot in the past ten years and thought it wouldn't hurt too severely to let it be known why I love my man........

1. His taste in music - hear the song playing in the background? Well that is "our song." We both decided that Whitney Houston's I will Always love You and Shania Twain's Looks like we Made It was already taken by way too many people so we should go with something a little outside the norm. Go Carry on my Wayward Son!!!

2. He is the yin to my yang. I know sometimes I poke fun at his frugality, but it is good for me, for the both of us. We are slowly rubbing off on each other and eventually will meet somewhere in the middle and that is a good thing.

3. He loves to travel as much as I do. It doesn't matter if we are camping at the bottom of the canyon or on a cruise ship in the Hawaiian islands, we manage to have fun.

4. He loves to pose for pictures. Need I say more?

5. He's not afraid to let his "freak flag" fly in front of me, I in turn do the same.

6. He is the perfect father for our kids, even if he once almost drowned Jackson by capsizing their canoe.

7. He supports me in everything I do/want to do. Well, except for wanting a dog, oh and my love for coca-cola classic.



8. His work ethic rivals the best. You know he is three times the normal athlete, right? He is a great example to me and the kids.



9. This guy is smart. I pretty sure the only thing I've ever taught him is how to check the oil on his car.



10. He is pretty hot. I love me some coke, but I would choose him over caffeine any day. (if you don't know me, that says a lot)





happy anniversary, an thus concludes the cheese portion of my blog.

What a difference a year makes

Every fall we pack up the kiddos and head to Apple Jack Orchards for a Saturday morning feast. We munch on many foods of the apple variety. We are always sure to get the apple doughnuts, carmel apple rolls, and cider. When we are sufficiently stuffed, we head outside to take some pictures and pick apples. I love that we have started this fall tradition with our family. Every year we snap some photos of our boys in this hollow tree down by the river. (sorry no van) As I was downloading our pics from this year, I started thinking about how our lives have changed and grown drastically over this past year. It is evident just by looking at Jack and Max's pictures, but it's not just looks that have changed.

A year ago Jack was the same friendly, outgoing kid he is today. He was however also very stressed over school and every bit of homework that was sent home. He frequented the school counselor Mrs. Cassiata's room often to talk through outbursts and for being too physical. Transitions and unexpected changes were still a challenge that brought daily "flappy arm" fits. A year has passed and I won't say everything is perfect but drastic improvements have been made. I marveled this morning that he only got upset over one spelling word instead of all ten. Spelling homework used to take about 1/2 hour, now we are done in 5-10 minutes! He's made a few school friends, and things are getting better and better. I love this kid, he's just a great big ball of energy!

Now onto my little Maxers. This picture was taken the day after his hearing loss was diagnosed. Until then, we knew he was developmentally delayed in speech and other areas, we just didn't know the reason behind it. We didn't know how to help because we didn't know what was wrong, it was very frustrating. I'm sure he was doubly frustrated because not only did he not understand us, he couldn't communicate his wants and needs properly and that makes for one grumpy kid at times. Here he is a year later with his hearing aides and catching up faster than I could imagine possible. He is in a mainstream kindergarten class and doing great. Again, I'm not saying everything is all roses, but at this point its pretty darn close!

Lastly, here is our Sister Sadie. Last year at this point she wasn't even a blip on our radar. Now we can't even imagine our family life without her. She is a breathe of fresh air in our crazy family! I wonder what this next year will bring. I hope it is as good, eventful and prosperous as the last!

Good evening sickos and creeps!

I thought since my husband said I am going to attract all sorts of people like you with my last post, I would formally introduce myself. Hi! My name is Jamie, I'm a stay at home mom to two rambunctious boys and a sweet little baby girl. I've been married for almost 10 years! I enjoy many hobbies. I love to cook, (so I can chow) and decorating, but most recently my favorite thing is to blog....but not just your typical journal entry blog. I like to talk about the good stuff but also the sad but true parts of life and almost always with a hint of sarcasm. This might include me mentioning things like lactation problems, hairy armpits, poo mishaps, husbands who shave their arms, etc. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever been accused of being classy, but I certainly don't want to be called disgusting and gross like I was tonight. I don't think I stepped over the line, but if I did sorry to gross you out. So if you laughed at what you saw and weren't disgusted or turned on either, feel free to blog stalk me.

I feel like I'm a little like this car, some might find it trashy, some might realize its all in the name of fun and good for a little laugh. At least I know my friend Becky likes the funky toyota previa inside me!

Sometimes being frugal is lame

*Suggestion: due to the graphic nature of this post, menfolk should skip this one* In an effort to try to save a little dough I thought I could forgo my nursing pads (otherwise known in our house as boob diapers). I thought hey they cost about a quarter a day and if I stop using them in about 3 months I could afford some shoes on clearance from Payless. Sounds like a swell plan wouldn't you say? Well the problem is that whenever I think of Sadie and how much I litterally want to consume her yummy deliciousness, I let down. Sadie was looking exceptionally edible today and things got a little out of hand with the no boob diaper situation:

I guess I won't be getting any new shoes for Thanksgiving.

On why working out just isn't working out

Because anytime I workout and am heading home around lunchtime this is the conversation I have with my need to loose 15 pound self: Great workout self, it's cool if you swing by Wendy's as long as you get the small size combo, lets face it, it's waaay better than fast food, it's Wendy's.

I'm almost positive that if I just stayed home, skipped the workout and Wendy's altogether and just ate a PB&J I would loose weight faster.

oh, for cute!

When I was young, I had some cousins that my family would make fun behind their backs for using the phrase "oh, for cute" in just about every conversation. It wasn't just the words that cracked us up, it was also the tone of their syrupy sweet voice. Kinda how you would talk to a baby or say a puppy is sweet in a high pitched tone. They would use it for anything. Got a new haircut? Throw out an O.F.C. Bought a new car? O.F.C. School pics? New shoes? Braces? Birthday? O.F.C. Anyways, our little Parrish fam has had so many adorable moments, all I could think of was:

Oh, for cute!!

My three boys all grown up and going to school! Say it with me....oh, for cute!

Mr. Jack just before boarding the bus to start second grade. Once again, Oh, for cute!

I can't get enough of this one! Max is so rad, there are just no words to describe him. I guess Oh, for cute will have to do.

John's brother Matt visited us last weekend. Confused why I am telling you this as you are looking at a picture of Sister Sadie? Well I think she is just Oh, for cute, and this is the only picture I took while he was here. Don't worry Matt, I think you are O.F.C. too.

Sadie has a new look she likes to give us a lot. It's called the no lower lip look. O.F.C.

I've got a new look myself but the jury is still out on the level of Oh, for cuteness on this one. I find it a lot harder to be my spontaneous self now that I have kids. My hair now takes the brunt of it.

You down with O.F.C.?

Ah Yeah Boy!

This sweet little boy you see here just finished all 217 pages of his first chapter book called Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Way to go Jack!

Miss you already

Dearest Arizona-

It's been about two weeks since I've seen you last and I can't stop thinking about you. I miss everything about you, your sights, smells, your familiarity. Can I just say that I love the way you smell after it rains and even better when I drive by an orange grove and inhale those sweet blossoms. You also satisfy my palette like no other. I love your fresh tortillas, strawberry lime-aides, frozen custard and your shaved ice. I miss being paranoid in the middle of the night about going to the bathroom for fear of getting stung by a scorpion in the arse. In the winter time I crave getting into a car that you have baked in your sun and having my face seared until the A.C. kicks in. Your sunsets created by dust and pollution are like a daily work of art smeared across my windshield. I can't forget about your amazing thunderstorms that light up the sky better than any firework show I've seen. They are worth suffering through the hot sticky monsoon season to see. I miss my family and friends there. I wish I would have made fun of my friend's husband for shaving his massive ammounts of body hair so he could see his sculpted calves and pectorals. Arizona you are so cool I'm sure you have already found a way to make fun of him for me. Possibly with a sundburn? I love the hikes, southwestern beauty, the day trips you provide, and lastly The Canyon. Oh, The Canyon! No matter how long I remain in Minnesota, I will always be an Arizona girl at heart.

Forever Yours-

XOXO

Jamie

Good times in Flagstaff and the Zoo, in AZ of course.

And So It Seems Only In Dreams

Picture this:

I'm in a college math class and Bob from the biggest loser is my teacher. He is so inspiring that I end up being the top of my class. Fast forward five years......I am riding my Dad's 35 year old yellow ten speed bike to Hawaii with the knowledge that I am rich because I won the lottery. Upon arriving to Hawaii I lounge by the beach eating pineapple while people show me antique furniture. The phone rings, it's my hubby John. He is wondering if he could please buy a cabin with our new found riches. I tell him fine as long as it is in the budget I set for him. I also ask him if it is something he needs or if he just wants it. Crying, where is that crying coming from? Oh, it's Sadie and this was all just a dream.

Recap of my dream:

1. I am good at Math

2. I am rich

3. I'm in Hawaii

4. I set a budget for John

It could happen right?

John and I a few years back living part of my dream.