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.

On the Fly

I got a call last Wednesday from my Mom that my Grandpa Timmerman had suddenly passed away that morning. Thanks to the help of a ton of good friends from our ward, Jackson, Sadie and I were able to take a last minute trip out to the sunshine state for his funeral service. John couldn't make it due to school and work, so we left him and Max behind. I felt bad about leaving Max, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some good quality time in with Jack. Despite the sad circumstances, we were glad to be able to make the trip and see some family and friends.

My Mom was happy to reunite with Sadie. Sadie was still in the blob baby phase the last time my Mom saw her. She was happy to get a few smiles out of her this time.

Here's my sis Lexi looking especially tan and happy to be an Aunt again!

Here is Nate holding the two newest editions to the Parrish clan, Little Miss Lola and Sadie Girl.

Lincoln Daw and Sadie bonded over their love of binkies.




Jackson got to reunite with his soul brother and fellow video game addict Little Brian. Does pulling your shorts up way too high make you play any better?!




Dave took us to a hole in the wall Mexican food joint in Mesa....my favorite kind! Thumbs up on the horchata and chicken quesadilla.




Jack enjoying flying the friendly skies.

Thanks again to everyone who made this trip possible!

This can only mean one thing....

It's that time of year......frog hunting season!

That means it's almost back to school time for the chitlins. I don't know who is more excited this year, my boys or myself. Actually I do.

Dare I say?

I'm 30!!

Uggghhh. I guess it's not that bad. After having a mini melt down of sorts because of what little I feel I've accomplished in 3 long decades, I decided that I've been living a 30's life for quite some time, why deny it? I am in fact married, have 3 kids, a mortgage.....and the true indicator......a blasted mini-van.

Do you ever fell like you have to re-evaluate your expectations? Having kids taught me that really quick, notably my first kid. When I was in my late teens/early twenties I pretty much thought I would have life completely figured out and perhaps be a rocket scientist or win a Pulitzer by the time I was 30......because that would be a lifetime away. Well here I am 30 yrs of age with no awards in my empty trophy case, just a mini van and crushed cheerios under my table. I guess it is yet again time to re-evaluate a few things.

I've finally decided that life flies by fast and if you don't stop to enjoy it once in a blue moon, you are going to miss life itself. That official awards and accolades are just things that get shoved into a scrapbook or left on a shelf to form dust. What I really want is to love my life, awards or not. I want to realize every day that what I have is better and that comes in the form of hugs, slimy kisses and I love you's on post-its. Here are my 5 goals to make that happen in my 30th year:

1. Enjoy every bit of Max as much as Christie Parrish does.

2. Don't rush the baby phase with Sadie. With my other two I was always looking forward and thinking yeah he's sitting, but when will he crawl.

3. Spend more time with Jackson and less time cleaning and trying to be perfect because he's probably a little neglected these days.

4. Give John a break (every now and then) :0) He's starting school this week and will probably need a little slack.

5. Stop worrying so much about this extra baby weight....no more grabbing my baby rolls, or wincing when I pass a mirror.

If I can do this, I'll buy myself my own shiny trophy for my next b-day, but by that point I probably won't want one!

Just can't get enough

If I had time, I would play dress up with my Sadie girl every day. I would find a cute little outfit with a matching bow and dote over her and tell her what a beautiful princess she is. I would take pictures to my hearts content and blog about it until my fingers were sore and people stopped reading because they would be bored with such nonsense. Luckily for you, I don't have time every day! I did get to indulge on Monday and this is what I got:

Look at those chubby cheeks and double chin!

They all were cute, but this one is my favorite. She's just chillin' with her monkey feet and looks perfectly content. That is how she is most of the time, which in turn makes me feel the same way!

Gotta love Father n Sons!!

Why? Because this always happens the following day:

The day after the annual outing Jackson and Max were so worn out they were fighting over who was more tired in the car. Luckily they utilized Sadie's car seat and both took a power nap on the way to dinner!

Jonesin' for some Sadie?

I know you have all been saying to yourself "Self, I wish I could see more

pictures of the Parrishs' new baby girl. Jamie just doesn't post enough of her

sweet goodness." Well for all of you out there thinking Jamie just read my mind, I say to you: stop talking to yourself, it's a little creepy.

Sadie now prefers the two finger sucking method over a binkie.

Sometimes I litterlly have to fight the urge to eat her cheeks, they look so good.

This was at our 3 1/2 hour trip to Ed Debeviks. If you are ever in Chicago and think hmmmm I don't want to pay $20 for parking to go to a nice restaurant, I'll just go to Ed's cause it's cheaper. Resist the urge, just fork out the extra cash, trust me.

A conversation with Maxers

I have daily conversations with Max that leave me cracking up. Whenever I share these daily chuckles with other they tell me I should be writing them down. I don't know if it is because they really aren't that funny and don't want me to keep sharing them or if they really would make others laugh as much as I do. You be the judge.....just yesterday we were on our way into Minneapolis' Children's Hospital to get Max's brand spankin new earmolds when I brought up some family moving:

Me: Did Daddy tell you that Matt, Christie and Gage are moving?

Max: Oh no! I will miss them soooo much. When are they moving?

Me: In about a month.

Max: They must be moving super far away if it will take them a month to drive to their new house.

Mom: Actually they have to pack and find a new house first, then move. It will take a month before they move to Oklahoma.

Max: Will they pack up ALL of their clothes?

Mom: Yes

Max: That will take a long time. Pause Will their new house have a laundry room?

Mom: Yes

Max: Are you sure?

Mom: Yes

Max: That would be cool if I could build a car with a laundry room on top.

Mom: super sweet

Max: Actually, it would probably fall over and we could die so I wouldn't want to build one for our family. Pause Well, maybe for Jackson.

Matt, Christie and Gage, we are going to miss you!