We are pet-free and in the minority, it seems.

I picked Little Miss up from school yesterday and her teacher asked us to bring in a picture of our pet(s).  I guess they are doing some type of activity with it today.  I mentioned that we don't have any pets, to which she responded in pure amazement at the fact that we didn't have any.  She then asked Reese, "it's all about you, isn't it".  To which she responded with a head nod and a very clear "YES".  All the while I'm pondering, "are we the only family out of her class who doesn't have any pets".  So, on the way home, I debated sending a pic of a friends dog (that we often dog-sit), but then I had a better idea.  I'll just send a picture of Pink Bear and Horsey (her lovies), because they are loved a lot and in a sense her pets (that sleep with her).

Of course, I then got busy cooking supper, playing chase, and reading books and completely forgot about the picture until JP called this morning after he dropped her off with the words, "we forgot the picture".

Well, it's just another reason I love my work situation and location, because I could still make it happen.  So I grabbed Pink Bear and Horsey, propped them up on the chair, took a few snaps, uploaded, printed and VIOLA!

Now, I can hardly wait to hear what her reaction was during their "activity" when all of her friends probably had pictures of dogs, cats, birds and such and she had Pink Bear and Horsey.  But, I couldn't let her feel left out just because we are currently pet-free, right!?

It's all a Balancing Act

So much to do and not enough time to blog...for myself anyway.  Which, btw, I really hate because this is my scrapbook, if you will.  I have so many topics and recaps spiralling through my head as subjects to write about, but lately I've found myself blogging more for clients than for myself.  Well, it does pay the bills, so I'll be keeping with that, but hopefully finding time here, too.  I'm doing social media work for two different juvenile brands at the moment (whom I will talk more about later) as well as my committment to get Graco ready for the upcoming ABC show and my other juvenile industry sales work.  Needless to say, things are super duper busy over here, but I thrive on it!

With all of the back-to-school posts I saw this morning along with the a few changes of our own when it comes to Reese's school, has got me thinking how wonderful a balance I feel like we have right now in our household.  Yes, I know we always scream from the rooftops how busy we are, but honestly, I wouldn't want it any other way.  Reese has been at her school full-time now for just shy of 4 months and part-time there for almost 6.  She is quick to say bye-bye and blow a kiss to me in the mornings because she just can't wait to get there.  And, in the afternoons, she is excited to see us and ready to come home (and EAT, of course)!  It's the perfect mix for both of us.  I've been quite overloaded with work the past month or so, but I have a very strong "this is how it's suppossed to be" feeling of challenge and accomplishment everyday--and I really like it that way. 

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the time I was able to spend at home with Reese before I got back into the full-time swing of things, but at the end of the day, I'm a working mom, it's just who I am, and I'm pretty sure our little family (and bank account) are all better off because of it.

So, back to the changes with Reese.  Well first off, I can't believe we are at the 19 month mark and I see a little more "kid" in my little lady everyday.  Today she starts a new class with (kinda, sorta) new teachers.  Well, most of the kids are the same, just swapping with the teachers from the other toddler class, since they changed the curriculum for the toddlers a bit and her class is now 19-24 months.  Her old teachers (who I absolutely adore) moved to the younger toddler class.  I don't think they were too happy about it, but at least they are just across the hall.

They celebrated on Friday with an "end of summer" pajama picnic complete with crust-less sandwiches, ChickFilA nuggets, cheesy puffs, fruit and cupcakes.  I only wish this heat partied with them and was ready for an end, too!

MORE!

Of course when I tried getting a pic, Reese was already geared up to leave with me and didn't want anything to do with having someone else hold her for a pic---but I'm sharing it anyway!

Ms. Gracie & Ms. Vida--they say Reese was the most well-behaved of the class--
I'm not sure what changes on the short 3 minute drive home.

So here's to a great first day in her new class.  She said she was ready and I know she'll take it like a champ because that's who she is.  And cheers to balance...we all need it and are better off because of it!

Have a great school year, everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: She Hearts Her Mommy

and I HEART her, A LOT!  I'm usually the one behind the camera, so I'm excited to post these shots the hubs recently captured...thanks, babe!

Channeling our Inner Kid

The 4th of July weekend usually means fun in the sun for us, and this year was no different.  With the exception of a trip out to a local winery and lunch on the lake, we decided to take it to the backyard this year vs. the lake or pool, and boy did we had fun!  Just like little kids! (oh and I think they enjoyed it, too)

Maybe she could be the talent for the next packaging photo shoot?



It all started out on Saturday with a quick trip to WalMart for a Slip N Slide.  We had fun with it even though we are too big for it, but the real fun came on Monday when we combined our friend's Slip N Slide with ours to form a bit of an obstacle course--and that it was!  There were only a couple of us that actually made it to the end, and that was still a feat.  I've only posted the pics of my husband and me here, because I'm not sure I have permission to post to the public all of the mishaps that went on.  Let me put it this way, it was a true WIPEOUT ZONE, just like the show on TV with bodies trying to master something that didn't even support our body weight. 

I think there is a reason these things are made for kids because I was quite sore the next day...and the next!  But the entertainment factor for the 15 or so of us that were there was beyond words.  The amount of laughter could have also been a culprit for my sore body.

What really got me, was how funny little Miss thought we all were trying to conquer something that was really made for her.  She would get down right giddy watching us throw our bodies into the air, just hoping to make it to the end.  But, in most cases didn't make it past the first pool.  And, of course she loved playing with her friend, Mia and eating lots of holiday treats!

What a fun time it was, but for now all of the air has been removed from the paraphernalia and loaded up for storage...until next time.

What kind of games and activities do you take part in to ensure your inner kid is still alive?

Summatime...

...and the livin's easy! 

This week has been CRAZY busy for Team Parker, so I haven't had time to craft up any good content on our lives, but wanted to share this awesome pic my oh-so-talented bro-in-law took over Memorial Day weekend.

It's that time of year for living in swimsuits...especially in this Texas heat!  Little Miss was enjoying the morning in the backyard frolicking in her pool and sand box.  Uncle Matt captured some awesome images in her summer outfit of choice, so I just had to share her cuteness and his skillz.

What Twitter did for me Tonight

We had a really yummy (and super simple) dinner tonight.  I just think this is really worthy of sharing because just today, one of my Facebook friends had posted a question as her status stating, "who can give me twitter lessons?".  There are a million ways to use this fine tool, but a couple of weeks ago, The Pioneer Woman had tweeted this:

Step 1. Get thyself some basil. Step 2. Make this:http://tinyurl.com/3vuw7sb

(for those of you who are too lazy to click the link, it's a recipe for a yummy pasta with pesto cream sauce)
PASTA + CREAM + BUTTER + FRESH BASIL + PARMIGIANNO REGGIANO =  
A W E S O M E N E S S !

mine is a bit creamier than Pioneer Woman's, but in my book, that's better!

Well, given the fact that I have fresh basil growing on my patio, love pasta (and everything else that's in this tasty recipe), this was a no-brainer.  So, I printed it out directly from her blog, bought the ingredients last week (besides the fresh basil, of course, that I picked 5 minutes before chopping it up) and finally got around to fixing it tonight.  The only change I made was using whole wheat penne that I boiled in chicken broth, rather than simply water, to give it a bit more flavor.  If you need a simple, and quick, but incredibly tasty meal, fix this one!  I've had a sick child all day who really wanted nothing more than to be held every waking hour, and I was still able to accomplish this one (even holding her with one arm a majority of the time).  Oh and I can't forget to mention how much she LOVED it too!

So part of what I'm trying to get at here (besides the recipe), is depending on what your likes and interests are, twitter has it.  Market with it, have fun with it, get great ideas from it, stalk your fave celebrities and brands with it, and so on and so on and so on.  Oh, and if I'm not already following you on twitter, comment with your handle and we can tweet away! (mine is @heidi_n_parker)

Roadtrippin' It.

We took a roadtrip Memorial Day weekend. 

Are you surprised that it was centered around a UT sport? 

Well anyway, it all started the weekend before when Texas was playing their final series against the Aggies and our friends Shell and Matt said, "hey, let's go to Oklahoma City next weekend for the Big 12 tournament".  My first thought was NO.  And the thoughts that ran through my head were of an uncomfortable and bored toddler riding in the car, not wanting to be at the games we wanted to be at, in the end having to spend more time in the hotel room than I wanted and screwing up our friend's (who don't have kids yet) weekend.  But, by the end of the weekend, I was totally gung-ho and brought myself to remember to just have low expecations about the whole trip and go with the flow.  It also helps to have great friends that are go-with-the-flow people, too (and entertain my child)!

Well, I think know little Miss likes going as much as we do!  It's the times when she's in the house for too long that she gets whiny and not fun to be around.  So this roadtrip was just her style and let me tell you, she is my little trooper!

After a 6 hour drive (all 5 of us comfortably in Shell's company sedan), we arrived on Friday afternoon just in time for the game.  We went straight to the stadium, and Reese was thrilled to be out of the car and giddy to soak it all in. (especially the Cracker Jacks that she flagged down the vendor for...not sure how she even knew what they were, but she sure does now and LOVES them)

 

proud Daddy!

We were able to enjoy an adult dinner that evening til 10:30 or so as she slept peacefully in her orange chariot.

 it bubbled like a volcano...yummy!

Friends! (Disclaimer: Reese is right by the camera sleeping soundly)



Saturday brought two games, perfectly spaced to catch a nap in between, and it was refreshing for all of us to get a little mid-day shut eye.

the restaurant overlooking the ball field was a nice break from the heat 

our crew



Post (2nd) game we found a great wine bar with live music and a fairly empty patio for Reese to run around on.  You know it's all about finding the right venues that make Mama, Daddy, and Reese (and Matt and Shell) happy.  We did learn though, that Oklahoma does have a law against kids in a bar, so we had to enjoy our evening cocktail in the hotel lobby vs. the hotel bar.  But, we enjoyed it all the same!

The trip home on Sunday was even smoother than Friday.  Two little naps and a stop for lunch at Joe T's in Ft. Worth was all she needed.

So, this toddler continues to be a great at adapting to whatever environment we put her in--especially hotel rooms and practicing her favorite pastime.

HOTlanta, it was!

I took a really quick trip to Atlanta this week to shoot an installation video and product feature video for a new car seat Graco has coming out later this year.  I don't know what it is about the product development cycle of Graco's car seats, but I feel like we are always filming in the heat.  I think the high was 98 yesterday, and just imagine how it's magnified even more with all of the lighting and being in and out of a mini-van for a majority of the day.  I know I'm from Texas and should be used to it (considering we've already had several days over 100), but that's why our electric bills are through the roof for at least 6 months out of the year...WE LOVE OUR AIR CONDITIONERS!

Anyway, I wore khakis instead of skinny jeans this time, in hopes that they would feel a little cooler.  And they did, I just felt a little frumpier that usual.  The heat was quite brutal though, but Todd at Fraser Films was really great about letting me hang out in the house whenever we weren't shooting.  He kept saying, "we've got to keep you fresh".  Well, I was far from feeling fresh, but hopefully I looked fresh....enough, anyway.

It was a long day, reporting to set at 8 am, wrapping at 6:30 pm and catching a flight back to the ATX and returning home at midnight.  I've done enough of these that the process has become kind of like habit, but the poor makeup stylist, Stacey, had a little more work than normal touching me up every 10 minutes, it felt like since I was basically melting.

Lunch is always a great break, though, when Chef Jaye is cooking.  We had a tortellini pasta salad with feta, flank steak, salmon, chilled cucumber soup, and hearty chocolate chip cookies.  Yummy, to put it lightly and  great perk of working with this team.

Here's a quick look at the setup:

 

 it just looks hot, doesn't it?

 this is the monitor the Graco team and the producer watch to ensure all looks good...hopefully this shot doesn't make the cut.

 prepping for the product feature video

closeup!!

demoing with a crash dummy how to properly use the harness

So what it comes down to, is the work still has to get done, whatever the conditions. Oh and how could I forget to mention the bee hive located inside the brick column of the carport, just a couple feet from the van.  Thankfully they were nice and didn't sting anyone!

A Favorite Pastime

I'm fairly sure every toddler is amazed by it.  What amazes me is the tissue strength to go out of the bathroom door through the hallway, and into the living room without tearing.  Maybe I'm spending too much on tp?

15 Months

The 15 month mark has come and gone, and Miss Reese surprises us with something new everyday.  She continues to be a big eater.  In fact, that topic is a constant from her teachers at school.  Reese loves school and has officially started full-time this week.  I'm so thankful that her teachers always have good things to say about her, specifically what a good child she is, always in a good mood and overall how easy she is.  That's always refreshing to hear, because she's beginning to get quite testy with us at home.  I don't think it's anything out of the norm, but she sure knows how to push her limits doing things she knows she shouldn't.

Given her stats below, I'm thinking she's going to be more like her dad than me.

Weight: 23 lbs 4 oz (60%)
Height: 31.5 inches (80%)