How to Keep Cool

If you've ever been to our house in the summer, you know we don't really use our air conditioner.  Instead, we've found some much cheaper (and WAY more fun) ways to keep cool.  :)  Here's one of our favorites.

Step 1: If you're a toddler, strip down to your underwear.  Note: for the sake of all others, adults should skip this step.  :)

Step 2: Sit on the floor in front of a box fan.  Turn fan on high.

Step 3: Spray each other with water.

Step 4: Spray yourself in the face.

Step 5: If you're thirsty, go ahead and aim for your mouth.  Otherwise, just shoot for the face.

Step 6: Make cute faces.

Sunset

It's been hot here lately...and humid.  While I've learned to withstand the heat, the humidity is really getting to me!  There is one nice thing that has resulted from the humidity, though, and that is clouds.  Last night, while on a walk, I took note of the beautiful clouds strewn throughout the sky.  I turned to James and mentioned that the clouds would produce a beautiful sunset.  So once we got back from our walk, we gave Hannah a quick bath then jumped in the car and drove up to a hill by our house to watch the sunset.  It was amazing!  The whole time we were watching the sun set and sky turn all sorts of beautiful colors, Hannah asked, "Are we watching the sunset?  Is it going to be pretty?"  Then, once we got in the car to go home, she informed us that she wanted to watch the sunset again.  It only comes once a day, child. 

Anyway, I thought I'd give you a little glimpse into our beautiful sunset!

We're just getting started!

My heart is melting.

They found the moon!

Now that the sun's down, the clouds are starting to get some color.

We had a great time enjoying God's artwork!  As I sat here typing this, I realized that as a result of the icky humidity, we were able to enjoy a beautiful sunset in the same way that through our trials, we're able to more fully enjoy God's grace and love. 

Thank You, Grandma and Papa!!!

Dear Grandma and Papa,

Thank you for the dollar you sent me to get a treat for using the potty!!!  I was so excited to get ice cream!  Daddy kept trying to eat some of it, but I made sure he knew it was for me!  I love you!

Love,
Hannah Grace

Blessings

I love when God brings the perfect verse to mind, the right person in our lives, or even the right song in our lives at just the perfect moment.  That happened to me recently with the song, "Blessings" by Laura Story.  We all go through various trials and it can seem that God is so distant, but it's usually at those times that we learn the most about Him and His love.  This song has been a great encouragement and reminder to me in the midst of a very difficult time.  I think all believers will be able to relate to this song in one way or another.  I would highlight some of the lyrics, but I would probably end up writing the whole song, so have a listen for yourselves!  :)

 

Also, on an unrelated note, you can get 5 free rentals from Blockbuster Express through this coming Monday, the 13th!!  Get the promo codes here!

Pictures

A while back, we babysat Linnea while her mommy and daddy got away for a weekend.  While we had her, we decided it would be fun to surprise Kim and Aaron with some cute pictures of Linnea (they still don't know about these...so...SURPRISE!).  So we trekked out with Hannah's rocking chair to get some nice pictures.  However, by the time we got both girls ready and got out there, they were both hungry and tired.  Hungry + tired toddlers = not so great pictures.  Needless to say, I didn't quite get the pictures I was looking for, but we did get some cute ones.  Here are a few of them.  We'll just have to trek out again sometime in the future when they're both happy....and maybe when Kim and/or Aaron can come along too to help get them looking and the camera AND smiling!  :)  Enjoy!

I love this one!

We finally pulled out the mice (they each have a stuffed mouse they're attached to) to entice smiles.

And....time for a water break.

Our stubborn daughter would neither look at the camera nor smile.

We're starting to lose it....

Ahhhh...nothing like Cheerios.  Except it's hard to get good pictures when they're stuffing their faces with fistfuls of Cheerios.  :)

"Would you PLEASE stop making us sit here?!"

Awwwwwwwwww!!!!

Love little feet!

They were much happier once we let them run around.

Thank you for the matching dresses, Grandma (and Papa)!!!!

Amazing!

Last night, James and I sat down to watch an interview Desiring God did with Elyse Fitzpatrick on her new book, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus.  Let me just tell you, it blew us away and gave us so much to think about as we raise Hannah.  We've heard/read a lot of Christian books, articles, discussions, etc. on parenting, but this is probably the most effective thing we've heard and I'm excited to read the book in the near future. 


The interview is pretty long - 1 1/2 hours, but I promise you, it's well worth your time!  Even if you have to break it apart into a few chunks, I would encourage you to make the time and watch it!  You can find it here.

Our Big Girl!

There's been some excitement in the Parker house recently.  With James home from work, we decided this would be the optimal time to potty train, since we could share the responsibility.  Well, that and that fact that Hannah's over 2 1/2 and has been ready for potty training for a long time - I just hadn't gotten around to it yet.  So, last week we decided that we would start on Monday (yesterday) - no excuses!  I think we were both dreading it, but our daughter is a potty training champ!  :)

We had heard of the potty boot camp method, where you lock yourself in the bathroom with your child ALL DAY.  For some, this is a very quick and effective method, but we decided we would only do this if we had to (something about being locked in our tiny bathroom with a 2 1/2 year old just wasn't appealing).  Instead, we would just let her run around without a diaper (or pants) and make it very clear to her that if she has to go, she needs to use the potty.  Let me tell you, there's a benefit to waiting until they're 2 1/2 to potty train, because it comes easier to them and they understand a lot more!  She told us when she had to go, then went!  While we're not completely done potty training, we've had success with the no diaper method and are going to try panties tomorrow.  Hannah is super excited about it!

Also, today was a very big day because Hannah learned how to do a somersault!!  She's been trying for a while now, but always ended up flopping over to the side.  Today she managed to do a full somersault!!!  And then we couldn't stop her from doing them!  I would have videos, but we're potty training...and she's been wearing nothing from the waist down.  While it is very cute and adorable, it's not quite web appropriate.  :) 

And for those of you who don't have Facebook (ahem, Kristin), here are a few recent pictures:

First trip to the dentist = success!!!  She prays and thanks Jesus for the toys at the dentist - no joke!

Even though you can't see her face, this is one of my absolute favorite pictures of Hannah.

She LOVES playing in the dirt!

Giving Daddy one of her "special kisses."

LOVE!

Best friends!