Papa (Art) Carlson pays a visit

Papa, We loved having you visit. You made that trip from Chattanooga in that sleek, red, Cadillac of yours and we are so glad you did. The girls loved having you read them their bedtime story and the delicious bread you made for us is requested daily. We put just a little butter, cinnamon and sugar and top it with just a dab of peanut butter. If I must admit I had a bite of Tristas and I decided to slice myself a piece with that same goody goodness on it. While we were eating it Sadie said,"I love Papa." to which Trista said in between bites, " I love Papa's bread." Me too, girls!! Thank you for visiting Papa. Know that you are welcome and have a place to stay anytime!

Sweet Baby Parks Tucker

A post I thought I would never have to make. We got the call on Tuesday, Sept 11, 2012 at 5:30 pm from Angela. She stated between chocking back the tears that Parks had leukemia, ALL-- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a form of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells characterized by excess lymphoblasts. He was admitted to Cooks Children Hospital in Forth Worth immediately following some blood work done earlier that day. Angela knew that Parks was not acting like himself and she decided to take him in to the doctor. Once at the hospital, a blood transfusion was started right away which brought his color back and helped him feel better right away. Tomorrow is the 7 day mark when Jonathan and Angela received the news. Its been a long 7 days for me and I cant even imagine what its felt like for them. They have 102 treatments ahead of them, many blood transfusions, miles back and fort to the hospital over the next two years but Parks couldn't have gotten more committed, loving and strong parents as Jonathan and Angela. I've turned down people who've asked for donations, I had never given blood and the Leukemia flyer that would junk my mailbox would eventually make its way to the trash. It wasnt that I didnt care or that I was less compassionate of a person it was that it didnt hit close enough to home, it was never MY NEPHEW....until now! This isnt the first person I've seen fight cancer and it definitely wont be my last! This time and next time...I'll give a little or even a lot. All I can do is ask WHY? And as of right now there is no good answer for me other than bad things happen to good people and it just happened to Parks. I hope. Oh, how I hope I can look back at this post and think what a crazy ride its been for your mom and dad and ALL of us and now its over....you are a thriving, cancer free little Toddler running around chasing after fire flies, puppy dog tales and getting in to all kinds of mischeif...like any 3 year old should. Parks, you do have enough rolls to make a sumo wrestler squirm in his Mawashi. You have a smile/laugh that is infectious and you eat puffs so cute that I watched the video a dozen times in one day and laughed just as hard each time. I wake up thinking about you. And at night I feel guilty going to sleep with such ease. I'd take that yucky medicine for you if I could. Wednesday is a big day, buddy. We are pulling for you. Hoping that the chemo doesnt make you too sick and that it gives that stupid thing cancer a swift kick in the you know where. LOVE YOU PARKS!!

Sweat shop? Maybe!

Okay. So I'm a horrible rememberer and I forgot to get pics of the cousins from California and we forgot the camera for Englands 2nd Birthday Party. Maybe our next outing...which is the fair this weekend. Forget about learning your ABC's....we need to move on to more important things like ironing, foot massages, mommy hair combings and laundry folding. Now... if i could just get them to fix their own bowl of cereal in the morning I'd be set. I have to keep in mind that anything left out is always half gone. Here,you want to help mommy Windex the window? Good! 10 minutes later....Windex bottle half empty! Here, you want the Cheerio box on the table? Okay. Ran upstairs to change into gym clothes....Cheerio box half gone. Bowls overflowing, Rocky lapping up the O's as fast as he could go, a nice neat row lining the couch from corner to corner. So...bad idea about them doing things themselves but they are helping out a lot more. I just have to supervise! A few funny quick wit comebacks by Sadie: In the car on the way home I told Sadie to lick the sucker not bit it or it could break her teeth. She replied," Or I could crack my one teeth like Wawa(lara)" On the couch I was telling Trista to drink water because it is good for her and it will keep her well. Sadie quickly replied "because eating your boogers Trista will make you sick" I have told her that before. The summer is coming to an end. School is in session and the pool hours are less because we all know that SAHM have tons of other things to do to entertain their three and half ALMOST Four year olds. They did have two days of Gymnastics camp this summer which they loved. I scan the local Groupon and Living social deals to get discounts on family fun and I've found quite a few. They even had one for Cheese making in Gallatin. Who'da ever thought? We passed on that since they had to be 7 but next time I'd totally do that:) I have since remebered STARFALL. They know how to navigate the mouse for the computer really well and can go thru all the ABC's. They has been hours of entertainment and learning;) while I scrubbed the kitchen floor today!

Oni Johnny comes to visit.

What a treat! Uncle(oni') Johnny came to visit. He's actually working in Crossville but he stayed her 2 nights. Only people we were missing were Parks Tucker and Aunti Ang. So glad to have you here Jonathan. We love you! Lots of visitors this week. Tonight we'll see John Gilley, Jerica and baby John Wesley. They are visiting from California for the Teachers convention at Opryland hotel. Pics to follow. And Saturday is Englands 2nd Birthday. She is sucha cutie pie. Pictures to come.

Big girls....yes indeed! New BathroomD

We are trying to encourage them to use their bathroom so we can have ours back. So....I decided to make it more inticing. Probably a good idea I didnt give them the choice (we have years of that to come;) I think we would have ended up with 2 shower curtains....probably Cars and Hello Kitty. I wanted to change it but not have to paint the walls even though I'm considering that too. I already had the chocolate towels. They needed new stools so they can brush their teeth and reach the sink. So far this week they've been showering all by themselves. (I can see a high water bill in the near future) This really does show just how big they are getting!!