What does the tiger say?

RRRRRAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

Happy Halloween from our little tiger!

Twenty Days…

Twenty days until it’s official!

We love these two people more than words can say! 

We are so excited for your big day Thomas & Chelsea!!!!

Learning to drive already…

I told you guys that my baby is growing up too fast.  You probably didn’t believe me when I said it…

His Papa is already giving him driving lessons…

…And his Daddy says that it’s about time Parker learned to drive the boat. 

Seriously, someone has to tow Daddy when Mommy’s at work!

Soccer

He’s clearly a Nelson!  Learning to play soccer already!

I’m sure this brings a tear to his Papa’s eye!

I love to brush my teeth…

One of Parker’s favorite things to do is brush his teeth. 

It used to be great when he would let us help him do a good job.

Now he is a big boy and he doesn’t think he needs any help.

And he is stubborn like his Mommy, so he will no longer accept help when offered.

It’s still okay if we only get, like, three of his teeth brushed successfully, right?

Okay, thanks for the reassurance!

(Almost A Complete) Family Picture

We went to the Point Defiance Zoo today with *almost* our entire family.  It is *almost* because we are missing Trish’s family, but since they live in Idaho, and it isn’t that easy for them to trek to Tacoma for a day, we won’t hold it against them!
We all had a great time!  Watching the kids enjoy all the sights was a blast for us all to enjoy.  It was so great to get the little kids together because they play so well together and just have an overall great time!

We all met at the zoo in the morning and spent a few hours there, then we left the zoo and had a nice picnic lunch at Owen Beach, then returned to the zoo to finish looking at all the exhibits.

I’ll post more pictures from the day *hopefully* later this week.

(On a side note:  I wore SPF 50 sunscreen and I still burned the bejeesus (sp?) out of my skin…my poor, part-albino skin just can’t hold up for very long to the sun’s powerful rays!  Poor me!)

Parker & Hailey

Parker loves his big cousin Hailey sooooo much!  Tonight when we were at dinner I told him Hailey was there and he immediately wanted out of his high chair so he could go see her.  His eyes light up at then mention of her name!  He definitely knows his big cousin is someone special!

Here are Parker & Hailey from this evening:

Such a good picture of the two of them!

Learning To Use My Camera

I am trying to get better at taking pictures.

I am also trying to get better at editing pictures.

In order to do this I have had to learn so much about my camera.  And there is a lot to know.  Who would have thunk it?

It’s fun.  I like it.  Learning, that is.

And taking pictures.  I like that, too.

Here is one of my practice shots then I’ll tell you something I learned to try to make the shot better.

This is a picture of Whatcom Falls in Bellingham, WA.

I always like looking at pictures of waterfalls when you see the water looking all silky and smooth.

In order to take this picture I knew I needed a longer exposure.  This is how long your camera lens stays open allowing light to reach the sensor.  Cool, huh!  That is something I learned. 

When you use a longer exposure you can’t move your camera because then you get a blurry image.  So I had to use my tri-pod (Thanks Steve & Jackie for the tri-pod).

Even when you use a tri-pod you can get shake just from pressing the shutter button.  To prevent this I used my remote (Again, thanks Steve & Jackie for the remote, too!).  This way I didn’t have to touch the camera to get the shutter to release.

To take this picture I set my camera to shutter-priority mode which allows me to control the length of time the shutter stays open.  I wanted to use a longer shutter speed like 2 or 5 seconds to see what it would do but the thing about long shutter speeds is you have to have low light.  It was simply too early and there was too much light for me to use a long exposure.  So to take this picture I set my shutter speed to 1 second.  Anything more was just too much light and my picture would have become washed out.

One year ago I would not have known how to take a cool picture of a waterfall.  I would have just set my camera to auto and started shooting.  Which would have been fine too.  But it would have stopped motion and the waterfall would look more crisp and sharp than I desired.  So I got my learn on and figured out how to make it less “crisp and sharp”.

I like how the picture came out.  I would have liked to use a longer shutter speed and see if I can make it prettier and silkier and more smooth.  Maybe one day I’ll plan better and go when the sun is setting and there is less light and try again.  I have to practice so I can take cool pictures of waterfalls when we go to Hawaii this fall.  See, there’s my motivation!

So anywho…I just wanted to share something that I learned and something I enjoy doing.  It isn’t way super cool (well, to me it is) and it’s not professional quality but it’s me.  And I kinda like being me!

Corn on the Cob

The other evening we had corn on the cob with our dinner.  Justin asked me if I thought Parker would eat it off the cob.  I answered no, we’d better cut it off the cob because otherwise he’d probably drop it to Maya after about 3.24 seconds. 

(Which, by the way, would have made Maya very, very happy because she LOVES corn on the cob).

Anyways, back to the story….

So we are eating dinner and Parker has a little red bowl with his corn off the cob in it which he ate very quickly (the kid loves corn).  When he is about done with his corn I give him some chicken, which he also eats.  At this time I am still nowhere done eating (since I am a slow eater) and Parker is getting a bit antsy-in-his-pantsy being stuck in his high chair.

So he starts to whine.  He wants down. 

I don’t want him to get down and I don’t want him to whine. 

I want him to sit quietly in his high chair with a smile on his cute face while I slowly finish my dinner.  When will I ever learn that I don’t get what I want?  When will I ever learn that my stubborn determination to get what I want probably won’t pay off?

Probably never to both of those questions.

Anyways, getting distracted again…

So to distract him I give him my corn on the cob thinking it will buy me about 3.24 seconds of peace. 

Which, by the way, I have taken a whole 2 bites of.

At this point I fully expected him to inspect the corn on the cob, get bored with it then throw it overboard.  But much to my surprise he didn’t inspect the cob then give to Maya.  He started eating it…

Then he ate it. 

All.

With a BIG smile on his face!

I guess I win after all! 

Parker Loves The Playground...

He loves rocks...

He loves putting rocks on the slide...

He really loves when Papa helps him put rocks on the slide...

(I hope nobody wanted to go down the slide)

He loves the teeter totter...

He really loves when his Papa plays on the teeter totter with him...

And last, but certainly not least, he really, really loves swinging on the swings!  Especially when he is with his Grandma Jackie!

A Foiled Bike Ride

We tried to go for a bike ride before Parker's nap...

But we didn't make it in time!

We weren't five minutes into the ride and he was out.  Cold.

Mom & Son

One of my favorite pictures from the weekend...

Life Is Good...

The Most Disgusting Part of My Weekend...

I know what they say.  Boys will be boys.  But YUCK!

Boys being boys makes me GAG!

Literally.  I was gagging.  As in trying to not THROW UP!

For the record:  I have always been, and will always be, a GIRLY girl.  Something about dirt and germs just GROSSES me out.

Apparently my son does not take after me in this regard.

Here is the evidence:

See what I am talking about?  Disgusting. 

That water pump is DIRTY and RUSTY! 

You can't tell me that tastes good.  Does it??? 

It can't possibly be better than the nice refreshing CLEAN water in your CLEAN sippy cup.  Is it???

Oh, you say it's more fun...

Well, I say it's more disgusting.

But whatever floats your boat, right?

Happy Father's Day...Part Two...

To the two greatest Grandpa's in the whole world:

Parker with his Grandpa Joe!

(...and Grandpa Joe you have to stop being so camera shy!  I don't have very many pictures of you two together!)

Parker with his Papa Steve!

We love you both so much!  Happy Father's Day to two of the greatest Father's and Grandpa's we know!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy ever! 

To Daddy: 

Not many men would put their career on hold to take care of their son but it is very important work that you are doing!  I know that it isn't easy, and it isn't always fun, but it is important.  What you have given to our son is priceless!  Parker is so lucky to have you for a Daddy.  I love you and everything you do.

Love,

Mommy

Our Arch Nemesis...

There has been a battle brewing at the Nelson house for quite some time now.  Mommy has to admit that she has grown quite weary of this battle.  Mommy was never designed to be a soldier.  She's a lover, not a fighter.

You may be asking whom we are battling?  Her name is Susan.  And she is lazy.

Here is a picture of Susan in all her laziness...

Now you are probably scratching your head wondering why the heck are we battling a lazy susan?  The reason we are battling a lazy susan involves a very, very active and curious nearly 20-month old little boy.  Said little boy has been locked out of every other cupboard and drawer in our entire kitchen but we can't manage a solution to keep him out of the lazy susan.  All day long he runs into the kitchen, turns the lazy susan and quickly grabs whatever he can manage before turning and running the other way.  At first it was cute.  Then it wasn't cute anymore.

All day long we take items belonging in the lazy susan from Parker, listening to him scream his dissatisfaction, replacing items to their proper place and closing the lazy susan.  This cycle is on repeat at our house.  Can't somebody turn it on shuffle?  Please?

Did I mention the lazy susan holds a lot of items?

A lot of items Parker REALLY, REALLY LOVES...

Now Mommy's tired.  And it's her turn to be lazy.

She just wants to sit on the couch, watch TV and be lazy.

But she can't!

DAMN YOU SUSAN!!!

Then today Mommy had an epiphany...

She heard the choir singing in her head...

She remembered some magnetic cabinet locks that her cousin Jeff has at their house.  We could get those and place on each end of the lazy susan.  We can magnetically unlock the cabinet when we need something, then lock it back up when we were done.  It was a brilliant plan!

So Mommy called Along Comes A Baby to see if they stocked the item.  Much to her joy they did.  We piled the family in the pick-up and headed down to buy said item as quickly as possible...

As soon as we got home Daddy set to work figuring out the best way to install these things.  Mommy looked over his shoulder and gave her 'two cents' as to the ACTUAL best way to install these things.  Daddy kept saying I don't think they'll work.  Mommy kept saying they will work...

...but they didn't work...

Now Mommy is sad.  And still tired...

The battle continues...

Parker's $*!# Kickers...

I am absolutely in LOVE with Parker's John Deere cowboy boots.  I take full advantage of any opportunity I have to put them on him.  They just look so adorable on his little feet!

A Day with Torri...

Way back in February when we went to the farm for Grandpa Hale's 80th birthday party we met up with our favorite cowgirl/photographer Torri. We met up with her to take some pictures of our little Parker and she was so excited to take us out to some nature trails she loves to shoot pictures at. We were really excited to see this location that Torri told us about and take some pictures there. While driving out to the trails our little man decided to fall asleep in his car seat. SOUND ASLEEP! Then when we got to the trails, we discovered the area was under construction! They were building all new bridges and adding a bunch of new trails. Torri was very disappointed because she really loved the area, but luckily we went there that day because she was planning on taking a paying customer there the next weekend and she at least discovered it was torn up with family.

We decided to get out of the car and walk through the trails and see some of the changes. We probably walked for a good 45 minutes to an hour with Mommy and Daddy passing a (heavy) sleeping baby back and forth! I though for sure he would wake up and we could make the best of the situation and take a few shots!

After our brisk morning walk we all piled back into the car and headed back to the Longgood Ranch. As soon as we pulled up to the house and turned the car off our little man woke up! Since we were there and he was awake we decided to shoot a few pictures at their place. Here is what I came up with:

Chelsea & Parker

Thomas had everyone over for a wonderful birthday dinner for his future bride, Chelsea.  We all had such a wonderful time visiting and stuffing ourselves with the excellent dinner T made.  Here is a great shot of Chelsea and Parker from the party!

Brush, Brush, Brush!

Anyone who knows Parker knows how he loves to share the kisses.  He practices good oral hygiene to ensure that his breath is continuously fresh for those moments when kisses are due!

Lost Rawhide...

Hello?  Hello?  Anyone?

Your BIG BOY took my rawhide chew and tossed it on the other side of the gate.  I need it...Would you please get it for me?  Please?

Sunny Sunday Evening...

Sometimes I just don't know how he does it all!  While I am at work "bringing home the prosciutto" my wonderful husband gets the exhausting task of "rearing our child" as well as cooking/cleaning/running all household errands, etc.  Today was no exception either.  Mr. Man had dinner ready when I walked in the door from work and as soon as we were done eating he immediately headed outdoors to mow the lawn!

Meanwhile...

Parker is excited to see his Daddy outside and thinks this lawn mowing business is pretty exciting stuff!  Don't worry Parker...Your Daddy can't wait to show you how to mow the lawn, but just remember that your Daddy is meticulous about his lawn care so pay attention to how he wants it done!

...And you Maya...

Is there anything I can do for you?  Anything?  Anything at all?

I Bet You Wish You Had a Birthday Present This Cool...

It's been almost a YEAR since I was given just about the COOLEST birthday present of all time!  Not every one gets a brand spanking NEW niece, but me, I guess I'm just cool like that...if that's what the cool kids say...not too sure because I've never been one though.  A cool kid, that is.  Anyways, getting carried away here...back to the subject on hand:

MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT IS ABOUT TO TURN 1!!!

Which means I'm about to turn quite a bit more than 1...

But we won't worry about that now...

What we will worry about is...what do you get your birthday present when she turns 1?  Or does she get something for you?  I'm not quite sure...is this the gift that keeps on giving?

Hmmm...I'm pretty sure it's my turn though...

So, what to get her?

I might just have to sleep on this one!

G'Nite

Where's Jacob?

I don't know, Mommy, where is he?

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!

Spring has officially sprung!  I love my Mother's Day present from my BIG BOY!

And He's Off...

"Mommy, I'm bored of looking at tulips.  I'm going to play in the dirt!"