Happy Birthday, Grandma Parks

Since TJ and Olivia were unable to spend today with their Grandma on her birthday, I figured we'd do the next best thing.  Happy Birthday, Grandma!  We hope you enjoy the video!  We love you!

Bench

The kids and I traveled to DeBary on Friday to spend some time with G-ma and G-pa because Terry's team had an away game in Miami.  As always the kids and grandparents enjoyed themselves.  It also allowed me to get together with two of my favorite girlfriends from high school so that was really nice.  Thanks G-ma and G-pa!

Today, however, the entire Parks family traveled north to Jacksonville to attend a UNF basketball game.  This is where the title comes in.  Where do I begin?

Let's start in 2002.  Auburn University.  Senior year.  So many aspects of my senior year were challenging and dramatic that I really don't care to relive it, however, I had already decided to come back to Auburn for graduate school.  I decided to come home to DeBary and spend the summer with my family to regroup.  (I did take one outreach graduate class, because when I was in school I never quite caught onto the concept of taking a break).  My dad, at the time, was coaching a traveling AAU boys basketball team and I was so excited to travel with him and his team that summer!   One of their tournaments was held in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida.  It was at this tournament where I met Terry.  I had seen Terry talking to my dad (who was a former college coach himself) and walking around the gym.  Between one of the games I came out to the lobby and sat on this BENCH to "thaw out" and this is when Terry approached me.  I had seen him across the lobby earlier and thought he was really cute and was  especially excited that he had braces.  (I love a boy with braces and/or glasses...weird, I know.)  I was thinking in my head how he needed to come talk to me and he finally did :)  We made small talk, he gave me his business card and we started dating.  From that day on, I made a point to sit on that bench at every UNF game that I attended.  What can I say, it's a special BENCH!

Fast forward to 2003...I had finished my graduate degree and moved to St. Augustine (30 minutes south of Jacksonville) and started working.  Terry and I had a dinner date and he asked me to meet him at his office because he was working late, which was not abnormal.   I was sick with a horrible cold so I was not happy that he wanted me to drive to Jacksonville to go to dinner...I felt like he should have come to St. Augustine!  Against my better judgement, I got in my car and drove to his office.  When I got there I waited in the lobby on 'my BENCH', as I always did, while he finished up in his office.  He finally came out of his office apologizing (because he saw the look on my face...I was not happy to be sick AND waiting for him), proceeded to sit down on the BENCH and after saying something wonderful about me and us (I can't really remember much of the conversation because I was sick and it was over 5 years ago), he proposed!!! 

Fast forward one more time to 2009 (can you believe it's 2009!!!!).  The Parks family went to a UNF game today and saw a lot of Terry's old friends and coworkers from his UNF days.  I was especially excited that I was going to have the opportunity to sit on my BENCH.  (It had been 4 years, at least, since I had been in the gym because shortly after we got married Terry took a coaching job in Charleston and we moved.)   We entered the gym from the back, but we both made a point to go to the front lobby of the gym to sit on our BENCH.   I, of course, came prepared with my camera to capture this moment. 

It was so surreal to sit on our BENCH with TJ and Olivia and realize how we had come full circle.  It felt like that tv show "Cold Case".  When we looked up it was as if it was 2002/2003 again...but, then we would look down at our beautiful children and realize that we were in 2009.  It was a crazy feeling.   They say that everything happens for a reason and I am a believer!  If it hadn't been for my dramatic senior year, I would have never had the urge to come home for the summer...would have never met my Terry...and would have never had TJ and Olivia.  What a wonderful day!

3:2

Happy New Year!  The Parks ended the 2 year birthday celebration (first 2 parts: zoo and party w/ cupcakes) with a trip to Disney World on New Year's Day!  We had a blast!  I have entitled this blog "3:2" because this is the ratio that I require when the Parks Family goes on any dramatic outing.  Three adults.  2 children.   Period. It is a must if you want to retain your sanity.  My dear friend (and soror) Anitra was kind enough to treat the Parks Family to a day at Disney.  Anitra and I met while I was doing my Disney co-op and she was doing an internship at Disney in 2000 and have been friends ever since.  She returned to work for Disney and has been waiting for me to say that I was ready to bring the kids to the parks.  So much so that she spent the day with us in the parks.  Since Star and Travis wanted to be grown and go off by themselves (ahhhh, new love), the presence of Anitra was essential in me agreeing that a day at Disney was doable for the Parks Family, as she was the 3rd adult.  We shall call her "3:2".  She was absolutely amazing.  Since she works at Disney and didn't need 'the experience', she was all about doing whatever she could to make life easier for us (e.g., holding the stroller on the tram while Terry and I held the kids, staying off the rides so she could take pictures of us riding the rides, parking the stroller while we jumped in line)...just quality assistance.  Terry and I couldn't thank her enough for making the kids' first visit a special one.    

Since it was New Year's Day the park was extra crowded, so we decided to spend the entire day in Magic Kingdom.  They say pictures are worth a thousand words so here we go...Enjoy!

The kids were awesome, by the way. They slept in the car on the way to Orlando and didn't fall asleep again until we went on our last 'ride' (when we saw Mickey and Minnie). They enjoyed all the rides...when TJ and I were Dumbo, one my best memories was him saying with a big smile on his face - "TJ flying!!!! TJ flying, Mommy!" They weren't scared of anything...except Mickey and Minnie. Olivia, despite being a little hesitant, walked up to Minnie to shake her hand. I am so proud of them! I am glad that we got their "first trip" out of the way! What a great start to the new year!

Olivia and TJ turn 2!!!!

The kids turned two years old yesterday! I cannot believe that it has been two years since I stood in front of our Christmas tree wearing Terry's 2X shirts and shorts because I couldn't fit into much else.  


I cannot believe that it has been two years since I brought my little babies home from the hospital. 



Hard to believe that those little infants that I brought home that used to do nothing but sleep, eat and poop are now little people who are learning new words/phrases everyday (like "no thank you" and "no sing!"...that is what they say when we sing to them now), who love to play with each other/give each other hugs & kisses, who love Mickey Mouse and who love to read and watch Noggin cartoons (their favorite...and mine...is Backyardigans).  

For their two year birthday, I decided to postpone the "kiddy birthday party" for yet another year, at least.   In place of a party we decided to take the kids on their first zoo trip.   Star and her fiance, Travis, were in town and came along.   We saw birds, alligators, giraffes, rhinos, and so many other animals that I care not to list.   Good times were had by all. 

The zoo trip occurred on Saturday, two days before their actual 'date of birth'. Their actual birthday turned out quite nice.  I decided to not get another Publix cake since TJ broke out from it last year.   Bless his heart.  Instead I decided to make cupcakes for them using Soy milk so both kids could enjoy them.  Star was nice enough to volunteer to bake and decorate the cupcakes and they were excellent.  We didn't actually begin the celebration until about 6 at night for a number of reasons but it was a great party!  They kids loved their Mickey balloons and decorations, they LOVED the "lights" (aka candles) on their cupcakes and loved the cupcakes as you will see in the pictures.  It was a nice stress free gathering and everyone seemed to have a good time.  They got their own set of Mickey keys so I don't have to worry about them losing my car keys (thanks Star and Travis!), they got an interactive book with a 'matching' stuffed animal Mickey and Pooh (thanks Jen and Jason) and of course they got more books from Mommy and Daddy.  

The finale of the birthday celebration will occur on New Year's Day when we go to Disney World!!!!!!  We are taking the kids for the first time...should be interesting...

Enjoy some pictures!

Christmas Portraits 2008

We took TJ and Olivia to get their Christmas portraits done a few weeks ago. TJ was a little shy as you can see. He lightened up when he saw their basketball. Go figure. Olivia had no problems. She is so easily entertained...

Merry Christmas!

Enjoy!

Johnson-Parks Christmas

Well the Johnson and Parks family had another wonderful Christmas! My family (Mom, Dad and sister) came to Palm Bay to celebrate for the 3rd year in a row which is really nice. It's especially nice because my mom and dad also bring the food since I have yet to attempt a holiday meal. Terry, the kids and I woke up before my family came, ate breakfast, and opened gifts from the Parks' family in Columbus since they were unable to travel to Florida for the holiday. I did a separate post of those pictures. Shortly after we finished opening the gifts from The Parks, my family arrived. The kids, as expected, were not as interested in what was in the bag/paper as they were the bag and paper itself...until Tara's gifts of Crayola "Mess-Free Color Wonder" and "Aquadoodle" coloring and painting supplies were opened! From that point on they were only interested in coloring. What is nice about these gifts is that I don't have to worry about finding crayon on my walls (which hasn't happened yet, thankfully) since these markers and paints only show up on the special paper. Good job Crayola and Aquadoodle (and good job, Tara for giving them such a wonderful gift!)

Another hit was a gift from Terry and I...their "band in a box". It included a tamborine, morracas, symbols, a triangle, a clacker thing and a wooden noise maker "thing". Upon opening that gift, the entire family proceeded to make 'music' for a good 2 or 3 minutes. The kids LOVED IT...and, quite franky, so did the adults! I can't remember who all had which instrument, but we certainly put on a show! Good times. The kids were also fortunate to get gifts that they needed, like undershirts, shirts for school and cute pajamas! TJ got Superman pajamas (complete with the cape) and Olivia got "Disney Princesses" pajamas. They also got these cute 8x10 alphabet cards with animals on them to put up in their playroom...after I take down all of their Christmas decorations. They were fortunate to receive several books which will be a nice replacement for the mangled books that are now in their playroom. They received books from me (of course), my coworker who adores them and our beloved BCC Montessori school. And, as if they didn't have enough of these, their Ti-Ti (Aunt Tara) got them more mini-volleyballs from the women's volleyball national tournament in Nebraska that she bravely attended last week.

Of course, throughout the day, we enjoyed my mother's cooking and baking (mostly baking in my case...I couldn't put the pound cake and sweet potato pie down!). My mom was able to braid Oivia's hair (yes!...that means I don't have to do it!) and most everyone except myself and Olivia was able to take a nap.

I had such a wonderful time with my family...and especially loved seeing TJ and Olivia have so much fun with them.
Everyone has gone back home now, the kids are asleep and Terry is watching his 4th Christmas Day NBA game (the boy is obsessed...although I must admit there were some great games on today...). As soon as I post this blog, I am off to sleep as well...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!!

Christmas Morning

Here are are few pictures from this morning before my family (Johnson Family) came into town. Enjoy! Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa Parks (and Uncle Chris) for the gifts. The kids LOVE their riding horse and I, of course, am particularly excited about their Auburn gear!

Merry Christmas!