Firsts for Parker!

My little boy is growing up!!

8.13.2012 Open House at Myers for Pre-K!

8.16.2012 First Day of School! 

8.16.2012 First Dentist Appointment!

He did so great and has perfect teeth! 

~Whitney

Lessons from Parker

My handsome little man!

There is so much to say about this little guy.  He is so funny and so brave and so loving and creative!

He has been saying for a little while now that he wants to have stairs in our new house and I've tried to explain that we don't plan to ever have stairs because sister would have a hard time with them.  Then all the sudden last night before bed, he prayed and thanked the Lord for our house now and that he liked it ok, but that he was excited to get our new house.  And then he prayed and asked God that we wouldn't have stairs in our new house because he wanted to be close to his sister and he always wanted her to know he would be right there for her.

I can't explain what this little guy does to my heart.  I absolutely love sharing moments before bed with him!  I will sit in his bed with him and just let him tell me about everything that's on his mind.  Some of it's silly and him just winding down after a long day...and then some of it reaches to the very depths of his soul.

Last night he was talking about his calendar on his wall.  As days go by, Daddy and him will mark through them with an "X" and he was wondering what happened after all the days were X'd out...he asked...'then we'll be dead'?  I snickered and said 'No, then we'll get you a new calendar!' ;)  Then he wanted to know what happens when we're dead, and so we talked a little about Heaven.  I told Parker as he learns more and more about Jesus by reading the Bible and begins to believe in Him, that Jesus changes our hearts and we do our best to spend our days in a relationship with Him and one day we will be with Him in Heaven.  I told Parker that Heaven is a place better than anything we've ever known...and then I told him that in Heaven, Tessa will be able to walk and talk and that her own little ears will work for her in Heaven.  Before I could even finish he said "Awesome!  I wonder what she will sound like!?!"  And with that he gave me a huge hug and kiss and was ready to say goodnight.

I am so grateful for these teachable moments with Parker....not for me to teach him, but for him to teach me. It's fairly easy sometimes to speak the words to try and help Parker understand our faith, after being taught about it my whole life, but it's something else to see the reactions of a child as they begin experiencing it for the first time.  The joy and excitement that filled him up just hearing these things of such hope, was a lesson in itself.

~Whitney

Vacation - Final Stops

Our next stop was down toward Austin to see my sisters!  We got to spend some time all together at Hillarie's house, then we got to go out to Lindsay's to see their new house!  

Saturday was a fun chill day and Sunday morning we got to go hear Hillarie lead worship at their church.  Sunday morning worship is my most favorite part of the week...I always love to snag Tessa from the nursery and take her to the service to worship together.  Each and every time it's the most profound reminder of God's provision in her life.  I hold her close and can feel her body relax while her eyes are glued to me...just listening.  It was very special to experience my favorite part of the week worshiping with my sisters and their families.  We also all got to go to Lindsay & Kyle's church that evening...it was a day full of lots of wonderful memories.    

Gotta love silly-sister-pics.  I will go on record saying the pose was totally Lindsay's idea ~ ha ha!

Love these two beautiful ladies!

I'm just realizing I failed miserably at taking photos during our stay...but as all the kids get older, they get so much busier!  Playing is way more important than holding still for a pic ;)

 Kelbie and Parker

 Kelbie, Keaton and Parker first thing in the morning!

Kelbie and Tessa sharing some sisterly-cousin time after church :)

 And here's Rylan - he is the sweetest little buddy to Tessa

 The kiddos playing together while we helped clean Lindsay's old house!  We both had our houses on the market for about 15 months over the last year...it was so unique and wonderful to experience trusting the Lord together, in the all the things in our lives...like selling our houses.  I'm so excited for them and their own personal journey of faith!

Not pictured here in our family fun weekend were Uncle Donald, Uncle Kyle, and cousins Mason and Haden!  Shame on me :( but Love you ALL!  

Our time was short, but very very sweet!  

~Whitney   

Parker & Swimming Lessons

Parker took swimming lessons this summer and had a ball!  Our little guy is growing up.  I love getting to watch him learn new things and be absolutely adorable in the process.

These pictures and videos are from their last day...and he wasn't even buckled in the car before he was asking when he was going to get to do it all again!  It's always hard to explain what it means to be a whole year away, but I was so happy he had such a good time with it all :)  Way to go Parker!

~Whitney

Vacation continued...

Our next adventure was the Grapevine Sea Life Aquarium.

Started off with a fun family pic!

(note to self: next time get Tessa out of her stroller!)

Harley and Parker having a ball :)

 We weren't supposed to use the flash, but still a cute shot!

 The kids favorite spot by far!  Tessa was mesmerized!

 me and my hubby :)

 and our cute little rascals!

 sweet  cousins!

 ALL the silly boys

It was super hard to say goodbye, but we are so thankful for all the wonderful memories!!

~Whitney

Vacation ~ Vacation!

I have other posts that I need to catch up on, but for now...we shall focus on the most recent...

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

We have never really taken a family vacation...and we had a blast!

Our first stop was the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine TX.  There we met up with Tommy (one of Darin's brothers) and his family and Darin's parents.

Here's the kiddos the morning of our trip :) ~ excited

 We got right down to business when we got there and hit the water park!  

We had no idea they would have such a contraption for Tessa to use!  It worked out perfectly!

 It was even perfect for a little chill time after lots of playing!

 Parker had a blast wandering the halls with his cousins doing all there was to do!

 Grandma and Grandpa will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary on Saturday!!  

It was so great to all be together and share this special time with them!

 Uncle Tom being his fabulously silly self :)

Tessa was a huge fan!

 so much to see and so much to do...it's exhausting!

We had a wonderful time and it was so great to spend such fun time with Bynums!

~Whitney