Letter #4

Heya Audriana!

How is it on the OTHER side of the WORLD!? Here it is your same old same old.  UNLESS you consider the fact that our little boy Zeke is turning THREE!

Holy cow.... I can't believe it.  My little monster is no longer a terrible toddler, rather he is a terrifying three.  LOL! He is such a joy in my life however, and I can't imagine my life without this terror, I mean blessing.  (I'm really enjoy the terrrrr.... words! )

We had a Thomas the Train birthday party down at the McCormick Stillman Railroad park in Scottsdale.  It was the perfect day, despite the heat! He was thrilled to have all of his friends came and even prayed for them before we ate!

We decorated like crazy (shout out to Bekah for all the help) and I made a train cake! He had a blast riding the train and of course, opening up his presents!

Khloe was as cute as can be in her Thomas outfit and didn't fuss a bit on her brother's special day! We definitely missed you, but thought we would share the pictures!

I love you! Be safe,

Katie

(P.s. I know it's a short one, but I really should be planning lessons right now and I am totally procrastinating.  Next week I will make up for it and bore you for pages and pages!)

From your mom!

Hi Audriana!

Katie has invited me to your guys blog so I wanted to take the opportunity and write now while kids are asleep:) It's a little after 7am and I'm having my coffee, toast and got my Beaver on tv! I love my mornings:)

 

So, things here are good. Troi comes over alot to hang out with us which I'm so glad:) Jade is Jade:) and Mya/Brenson hang out at their house too much? This week they have a dental cleaning so I'm taking them out of school for the day. I won't have Megan that day so maybe after the cleaning we'll go do something? That Brenson plays with the games too much and Mya likes to do what she does in her room?? Hummm

 

Anyways, Rory is finally standing for long periods of time without help! He's so darn cute how he babbles alot now and has that thing with sticking his tongue out when he's mad?! Funny boy!  I think soon he'll be walking around and gettinig into mischief! Well, actually more mischief! I have to watch him with Tessa's food! He seems to like it and I've caught him with a mouth full trying to smile at me! (I brought her bowl in a couple times and left it near the laundry rm) He sure does entertain us and the girls:)

 

My favorite is when he is extra tired and he'll go to his crib and cry holding on to it and when he's placed in it, he'll suck his fingers, covering with the other arm, and will go to sleep:) How cute is that!

 

Ok, so there's the update on your sibblings. As for me, my big outreach is FB and texting:) Working at home limits me to adult interaction so thank goodness for technology!Although, last Sat. Patrick, Rory and I did go to Karla's babyshower/bbq at her house. That was nice to see her and Maria was there! along with Jill and her little boy who's a month older than Rory? He's so darn cute too! Dave was suppose to come too but when he realized football was on he backed out lol

 

Well, I'll let you go to sleep/work?  But know I love and miss you sooooo much we all do here! Burning cedar and keeping you in prayers Love Mom :)

 

 P.S. Thanks Katie for sharing your blog:) Your the best friend I have met of Audriana's and I keep you and your family in prayers too!

Letter #3

Heya Girly,

Welcome to Letter #3.  Right now I should be working on lesson plans but what's the fun in that? Besides, I have been anxiously awaiting writing this letter to you BECAUSE I have had the busiest week ever.

It is a USB drive... Best thing EVER! 

From the outside it probably seemed like I got nothing done, but boy did I ever.  I lesson planned until I about keeled over.  My philosophy is.. git er done lol.  I would rather be planned for the entire semester up front and then have to make a couple changes here and there than plan on a weekly basis. Much easier for me, and while its super time consuming at first, it saves me from getting caught up in the craziness of my life and then not being prepared for class, a definite NO NO.

Anyway, Zeke is almost 3!!! Thank goodness.  I don't know who is more excited... Zeke because he realizes that birthday=presents or me because I will hopefully no longer have a terrible TWO-monster.  He told me today that I get presents too on his birthday.  I asked him why and he said because I am his mom and he loves me.  Now that was a priceless moment.... and now that I think about it I should get presents... I did push him out of me.

The Birthday Present! 

I made him a train shelf/drawer thingy out of this grungy drawer I found at goodwill for ten dollars.  I cleaned that thing like ten times.  BUT- after spending almost three hours on it (I have no idea why it took me so long to put some stickers on)- it was all worth it when he comes running in and asks if its for him and then proceeds to yell that he LOVES IT!  Score ten points for MOM! Woohoo!

Laughing at mommy's attempt at baby talk

Khloe is her usual perfect child self.  I mean really, THANK YOU JESUS for the blessing that is my child.  She has made the experience of it being my last child amazing.  Every waking moment she is a joy- rarely cries and has the most beautiful smile (Zeke isn't too bad himself ;) ). We went to the doctor this week and she is now 11 lbs and 23 inches.  She is really chunking up, especially under her chin.  We are almost at three chins lol.  She turns her head when I'm talking and looks for me and when she sees someone familiar she lights up with a HUGE smile.

Before I start to ramble, I better call it a night.  I have found that the later it is the more interesting and random my letters become.  While I am sure that would be entertaining, it would probably be completely off topic... what is the topic?  Welllllll, it's sharing a little piece of home with my BFF in the ENTIRE world and making sure she knows she is LOVED.

I made this mug cozy thing tonight... I think I need more practice LOL but it's cute.  

Love you chica, please be safe!  I'm praying for you.

Oh hey---on my kindle I downloaded a book called The Story and Breaking Free--- suggestions for you.

Love,




Katie

Letter #2

Dear Audriana,

Another week has passed, and we are one week closer to you being home! Last time I wrote we were on our way to California to visit my family... Well we are here!  And it has been quite the whirlwind of activity in the Parrott/Anderson/Townsend households.

Friday we took Troi, Zeke and Khloe to SeaWorld with my dad and Sharyl.  It was great!  I haven't been in ages and it was better than I remembered. Shamu is still there!  Zeke had a great time and put on his "Serious" face when looking at all the animals.  He really takes everything in and observes the world around him.  He loved walking under the sharks in the shark tunnel.  We got him a book about different types of sharks and he isn't scared at all.  He even remembers their names!  My favorite and least favorite part about the book is that it includes a danger scale, on how dangerous the shark is to humans.  Half of them are SUPER dangerous lol.  On the way back to Orange County he got to ride on a real train for the first time! What an amazing experience!

The Shark Tunnel! Amazing! 

Over the weekend we spent time with the families and getting ready for Mike's going away party.  I can't believe my little brother is moving to San Francisco this week!  What an adventure and awesome opportunity.  I know how much I loved going off to school and I am thrilled that he gets to experience that as well.

The family :) 

Once Andrew left the heavy work started!  I completely cleaned out my mom's garage and Mike's room.  She wanted everything out so we could design her ultimate sewing room.  It's going to be the envy of sew-ers everywhere when we are done with it.  I got everything done with in two days believe it or not, and that included two dumpsters worth of trash and packing up Mike's truck with school stuff.

Your sister has been such a huge help with the kids, from calming Zeke down after a tantrum (a new thing :( ...) to feeding Khloe and holding her while I run around the house.  Today she went down to the beach for a much needed day off!  She got some sun and read a book, dream vacation!

Holding the baby! <3

Khloe is growing up so quickly! It's sad yet exciting at the same time.  She discovered her fingers this week in that she likes to suck on them and seems to enjoy it.  She also started cooing when she is looking around and holding her head up high.  I can't believe she will be two months old on Saturday.  I am making her a red and blue tutu to match Zeke's Thomas the Train shirt for his birthday party, it is going to be SO cute!

first pedicure with gigi

Other than that, I am enjoying the cooler weather and the opportunity to relax from the day to day busy-ness at home.  I am forced to just chill (which is much needed) before I hit the lesson planning hard next week.  School will be here before I know it and I need to be a least two-three weeks ahead of my students.  Today I was able to write a ton of emails and get some outlining done so hopefully tomorrow I can continue being productive.  I have to back off pinterest for a while.  It's getting me in trouble because I keep finding cute and amazing projects to do.  I will have to share pictures of my newest ventures when I'm done with them.

Anyway, that's it for our side of the world.  I look forward to hearing from you about all of your new experiences!

Love you girl,

Katie

P.S.  My mom sent you a birthday package.  And so did I.... and then I couldn't fit everything in one box, so I sent you two instead.  My momma always said three was better than one!!!!

Letter #1

Dear Audriana,

Before you left, I promised I would write you a letter every single week. Now I do not trust the mail to get to you every time so I am going to write you a letter via blog. In these letters I will share what is going on in my life and have guest writers (such as your mom, Troi, etc).  They don't know it yet, so just keep that between us ;).

Anyway, you are officially deployed and a couple days in. I hope it is everything you hoped for and expected. What an amazing adventure- scary for those of us back home waiting for you to return- but amazing nonetheless. You will experience many things that we can't even imagine. I am so excited for you because I know how much this is a part of who you are and who you want to be.

Your little boy Zeke has already changed since you left. He has definitely started testing limits as he adjusts to his new sister. He yearns for the attention he sees going to her as I feed, change and hold her. Thankfully we are able to have lots of playdates so he is able to get out a lot of his restlessness. He is talking non stop about when he turns 3 and what he gets to do when that happens, so far that list includes eating ice cream whenever he wants, playing professional baseball, eating eggs (lol), and the list goes on. His train party is underway... I just sent out invitations today!  We are going down to the train park and eating all of his favorites- hot dogs, Mac n cheese, and fruit snacks!

Now for Khloe- she is changing before my eyes. She has chunked up a lot and has the cutest double chin you ever did see! She has started smiling (and not just when she releases gas). I find myself talking to her all the time, like she can respond haha. She has already outgrown so many of her newborn pajamas. We have got most of the feeding issues resolved and it's going a lot better.

As for me and Andrew, well same old same old. I start school in two weeks and am putting flyers out for tutoring opportunities. :) I'm nervous and excited about my new job and can't wait to get started!

Right now we are on our way to San Diego( with your sister in the back) and then to Orange County to visit my parents. I can't wait to tell you all about it!

I love you dear friend. Be safe, my prayers are with you daily.

Love,

Katie