Hello All!

I know I haven't updated my blog in almost two months. I'm sorry. I've gotten (is that a word?) caught up in the "Facebook" world. I have been re-acquainted with so many old friends..it's great. So every time I get online, there's another email from someone through Facebook, and I end up spending my computer time there instead of blogging.

So here's what we've been up to since I last blogged.
I've visited my sister, Patty, in Baltimore. I miss her, Malan and Nate. It was so good to see them and hang out for awhile. We also got the chance to visit Washington D.C.. It was great, but we forgot the stroller in Nate's car and ended up dragging Parker around everywhere. He was exhausted from walking everywhere, and almost tumbled off of Chris' shoulders from falling asleep up there, but I think he enjoyed it more in the end! Parker and Malan pretending to be pirates!
Parker LOVED this Elephant at the Natural Hisotry Museum @ the Smithsonian.

Patty was also nice enough to watch Parker for us overnight so we could go up to New York City. This was quite an adventurous mini-trip. If you're interested you'll have to ask me about the bus ride up and down (there were only 5 non-Asian passengers on the whole bus). We had fun trying to figure out the subway and making sure we got in the right line and got off on the right stop...we did pretty good. We saw two musicals, Mary Poppins (Awesome!) and Wicked (A MUST SEE!!!! It's going to be in Salt Lake City April '09...you HAVE to go see it). We also went to Carnegie Deli (Yummo!) and got a huge corned beef sandwich and the best piece of cheesecake I've ever had! We also shopped at F.A.O. Swartz (ya know the toy store in the movie "BIG"?) and just walked around and soaked in the atmosphere.
Thank you Patty!!!!!!


We also went to a beach in Delaware for 15 minutes (there was a huge storm), and an Oreals vs Red Sox game (There were just as many Red Sox fans as Oreals!)

(I'll get more pics of the trip up soon...I'm getting tired, it's 12:45am...plus those pics are a different computer...)

Patty gets the best auntie award for helping Parker get all the way potty-trained! Yes, Parker is now potty-trained. YEAH!!!!!! When we arrived in Baltimore Parker was still having trouble with going #2. Anyway, when we were riding the bus up to New York we texted Nate to ask how thing were. His reply... "OK, Patty's a little stressed...Parker just [messed] in his pants...but Malan ate his yellow crayon, so we're even!" Chris and I almost died. I felt awful. Well, Patty made Parker clean up his mess by himself. Patty relayed to me later that Parker said while cleaning his shorts, "This is really yucky!" I am proud to say Parker hasn't pooped his pants since. So THANK YOU PATTY!

Independence Day was great. The Ward had a great pancake breakfast and flag raising ceremony. Then we went over to Jenny & Troy's house for a HUGE family (Navarrettes-elder and younger, Shepherds--elder and younger & two brothers with their family, sister-in-laws parents, and my dad) get together. We had a blast. Food, kids swimming, hanging' out, playing baseball and fireworks (Parker didn't like that). It was blast!






Lastly, Parker is taking swimming lessons with his two cousins that just moved down from Boston! It is so much fun to see him out there with a class. This is his first formal class where he has to listen and follow directions (well, besides Nursery). He cried at the beginning of class the first couple times, but then he finally figured out that I'm staying to watch and swimming is fun! He is going all the way under on his own, doing alligator walks like a champ (walking on your hands in the baby pool while blowing bubbles and kicking), can hold his breath for 3 alligators (1 alligator, 2 alligator...), and loves finding treasure at the bottom of the baby pool! It's weird to be on the outside of the baby pool fence...I've come full circle...I took swimming lessons, then taught them for 6 years, now my son is taking them. I love it! Notice the shirt...yes his skin is very sensitive (he's already gotten one really, really bad burn this summer) Also, I think his hair is getting blonder from being out in the sun so much...what do you think?





I hope you all are having a fantastic summer!

Next adventure? Coldplay in Vegas baby!!!!!!