Dear Santa, here is a picture of what I want.

Tonight we went to Santa's Adventure in Penryn to hang with some good friends, visit Santa and get in the holiday spirit.  It was a cold night filled with hot chocolate, pony rides, a playground and Santa and all of his helpers.

Parker wants an "Ironman shooter" for Christmas.  This is an apparatus that he velcros onto his wrist and then shoots plastic missles.  Parker was a little concerned that Santa would not know what an Ironman shooter was, so he asked Chris to pull up a picture on his iphone.  Parker then took the iphone with him to show Santa exactly what he wanted. 

Santa wrote Parker's name in his book and wrote down that Parker had been a good boy this year and wanted the Ironman shooter.  I can't wait to see if Parker gets what he asked for from Santa come Christmas morning!

Our Minion

Parker loves a good movie and Despicable Me was one of his first favorites.  Each year, Parker's school has crazy hat day where they parade through the halls of the CalPers building.  Last year, he was on a safari with a monkey on his hat.  This year, with the help of Matt, Daddy and me, Parker transformed into a minion from the movie.  He even talks gibberish like  the little characters.

Parker is enjoying Halloween.  He keeps telling me that the witch is coming and that Halloween is SPOOOOKY (with his hands up like claws).  I cannot wait until we trick or treat tonight on Weller Way.
 

I'm Batman!

The face says it all.  Thanks Didi and Matt.  He will be styling this winter!

3 and 30...

We had a busy weekend!  Matt turned 30 and Parker turned 3!  

We had two parties for our "boys."  On Saturday night Chris and I hosted a BBQ for Matt with cousins, friends, and neighbors.  It was so fun to spend the evening with the best uncle!

On Sunday, we spent the day celebrating Parker.  We played around the house and spent time with family in the evening.  Aunt Ally and Mike gave Parker new books (which we read cover to cover before bed...all of them), Ama and Papa spoiled Parker with a Spiderman costume and other goodies (he was Spiderman before 7 a.m. today) and Didi and Matt gave Parker the gift of going to the moon in the Buzz's rocket while being Batman complete with raincoat (with cape) and boots.

We are blessed to have Parker and such a wonderful supportive family.  Doesn't get much better than this weekend!

I am 3!

Parker is 3.

"I am not a baby.  I'm a big boy!"

Yes son, you are.

Our family birthday morning tradition started by Jim, Chris' dad.

 DONUTS!

I can do this!

I'm Handy Manny.

 I'm Batman.

Boston

We took a family vacation to Boston.  It has been a life long dream of Chris' to go to a Red Sox game in Fenway Park and one of my best friends from high school lives in Beantown.  What great reasons to visit for a week.

We had a fabulous time.  We saw the Red Sox the first day we were there.  We had four children under the age of six at the game and they all did great!  Parker ended up sleeping through an hour of the game.  Fenway is amazing.  It is truly an experience that I will never forget.  And, the best part (aside from the Fenway Frank) was singing Sweet Caroline with the other fans in the stadium.  I felt like I was in the Fever Pitch movie.

We went to the Children's Museum, the Museum of Science, and the North End (yummy Italian food and goodies) .  But, Parker's favorite spot was Boston Common park and the frog pond.  We ended up at the park at least four times in our seven days in Boston.  The park has an amazing playground with a water feature AND a large wading depth pond for the kiddos.  Apparently, the frog pond becomes an ice skating rink in the winter.  It is absolutely brilliant and Parker had the best time!

It was great to see Courtney, her husband Ben and their three kids - Nathan, Daniel and Joseph (Joe).  Parker had fun with his new friends Nathandanieljoe (always said as one word).  And Court was so gracious showing us around her city and having us over for dinner.  She even delivered a bag of books and toys for Parker to have in the hotel.  It was so helpful.  It is so nice to have friends for so long.  It is fun to reminisce of the high school days, but it is more fun to celebrate the lives we have created.  Court is an amazing mom and wife.  It is fun to watch and learn from her as I continue to grow as a mom.

So there you have the highlights from our family vacation.  I love the family we have and love the experiences we are giving to Parker!

Our lay over in Dallas.  We went running!

On our way to the Red Sox game.  Going on the T.

Fenway Park.  Magical.

 Court and Keri with our boys.

Chris at Fenway.  Finally!

Are you talking to me?  I just woke up.  Give me a minute.

Our family.

Chris and Parker at Paramount in Beacon Hill for breakfast.  They took me back the next morning.  It was yummy!

Parker jumping in Boston Common park.

 

Boston Common marry go round.

Frog Pond in Boston Common park.

At the Zwirn's house.  Daniel, Parker, Joe and Nathan.

Children's museum.  There was a huge climbing structure that went from the first floor to the third floor.  We lost Parker in it a few times, but we found him.

Driving the bus and flying the plane.  Two of Parker's favorite activities.

Three little boys doing what they do best...climbing.

Mom and Parker on the train.

Harvard.

Marry go round again.

Daddy and Parker in Frog Pond.  So fun!

Don't bother me, I'm on vacation and have two treats.

Welcome Oscar

We have a new member in our family, Oscar the turtle (Oscar is a girl).  Grandma Thomas passed away this month and the family asked if we wanted to take Oscar, her desert tortuous, home with us for Parker to enjoy.

Grandma found the tortuous in 1986 in Nevada and I have memories of Oscar walking around my Grandma's backyard.

So far, it is going well.  We built a turtle run in the side yard of our house and let her out in the evenings to roam around and get antiquated to his new home.  

 Just a side note - Chris posted this picture to Facebook and people commented on how cute of a picture it was of me.  Guess I need to pose next to a prehistoric, wrinkly animal more often.  I joked that his shell brought out the green in my eyes.

Row Row Row Your Boat

Our family has a Saturday tradition. 

Chris wakes up early and goes for a 25 mile bike ride.  Parker and I meet him at Fitness Rangers, our gym, at 7:45.  I do bootcamp for an hour and Parker plays in the Little Rangers room and the gym equipment.  Parker and I then head home, Chris does a bootcamp class and then rides home.

It is a great ritual and I love that Parker sees Chris and I working out.  I have memories of roller skating and riding my bike while my mom jogged.  And Parker is learning how to use the rowing maching, the TRX and he can even turn on the treadmill.  

Watch out Fitness Rangers...Parker is coming.

 

The 28 minute attention span

Parker is going to love Karate, but at the old age of almost 3 years old, he would rather run around on the mats than learn the ABC's of Karate.  Chris participated in Parker's class field trip to Kovar's Karate.  After 28 minutes, he took the restless preschoolers into a side room and let them run, tackle one another, and kick the punching bags.  Parker was one of the many to want to do everything BUT what the instructor wanted.

It is fun to see Parker have field trips with his classmates and it is even more fun to participate!

California State Fair

We went to the California State Fair.  

Parker loved the corn dogs, rides and the Monorail (or train).  

We even managed to get a family picture.

 

4th of July

The 4th of July.  A time to celebrate our independence, eat BBQ and decorate our bikes for the Land Park annual parade!

Parker helped decorate his bike this year.  He rode it to the end of the street and then decided to walk the parade, waving at everyone watching from the sidelines.

We are blessed to live in such a wonderful neighborhood with so many friends on our street!

Graduation

Our little wizard graduated to preschool today.  It is so hard to believe that he will be three at the end of September.  CRAZY!

His Montessori did a great celebration to wish all of the kids well on their new adventures.  Many of Parker's friends were heading off to Kindergarten.  Three years and that is where we will be. 

Parker loved his costume, especially the moons and stars.  Thank you Ama and Didi for making his costume.  He still was not so sure about being on stage.