Thursday, April 30, 2009

Birthday Celebration

Here are some pictures of me and the boys on Saturday night when we celebrated my birthday. We had a delicious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, where we enjoyed their yummy chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake.

Mommy and Drew (who is sweeter than any dessert...most of the time!)

Jackson and DaddyAndy has some madras shorts that he got a few years ago, and I found the matching ones this year for both boys...so adorable! We walked around the mall after dinner, and Andy said he got several, "Ahh's" because of the matching shorts.
In honor of my 32nd birthday, here are some things on my "bucket list."

  • See all 50 states
  • Go on an Alaskan cruise with Andy
  • See Walt Disney World at Christmas time
  • Run another marathon (this will be awhile if ever, maybe the Marine Corps Marathon)
  • Run the Minnie Half Marathon at Walt Disney World
  • Wilderness Trek (Andy and I have been wanting to do this and we will be going in July)
  • Hike down the Grand Canyon and back up
  • Become more proficient at sewing
  • Read entire Bible
  • Go on a mission trip with Andy and the boys someday
  • Visit the City of Children again
  • Meet a US President
  • Get caught up on scrapbooking and stay current
  • Make a t-shirt quilt with my race shirts or old Pi Delta shirts
  • Learn to garden (my Granny Evans and my Grandaddy Williams both have really green thumbs maybe I have it in me...somewhere)
  • Be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune (yes, I love this show)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Country Music Half Marathon

Saturday was the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon. Andy and I ran the half marathon this year. This was Andy's fifth time to do the race and my fourth. We did the full marathon once in 2003. We begin training in January for this day. There is a lot of preparation, excitement, and anticipation for race day. The Country Music race is really great with lots of bands, crowd support, cheerleaders and food. This year it was hot and sunny on the course. I had a fun time running the race this year and managed to survive the hills and heat to have my personal best time in a half marathon (2 hours and 6 minutes). I am a slow and steady runner:)

If you have ever considered walking or running the half marathon, you should definitely do it. Here are some reasons why I love it and especially the Country Music race in Nashville:
  • The crowd and runners provide so much "entertainment" and encouragement on the course.
  • I love seeing all the other runners when we loop around on Belmont Blvd. Yesterday, I was so happy to see Andy, my brother, Chad, Laura Beth, Cayce, and Natalie.
  • The signs that people make on the course are great. Some of my faves are "Don't look back like Lot's Wife" (in front of a church on West End) and "Obama Checks at the Finish."
  • Seeing people I know and even those I don't know on the sidelines clapping and cheering for everybody.
  • The sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line and receive your medal!

Here is a picture of Andy and me before the race.
My brother decided to run the race this year. Way to go, Andrew! Hopefully, he will decide to do it again next year.
Our cheesy picture for the day...Rebekah and her man!
Here is what the Parkers do after a half marathon: REST and
EAT!
Jackson took this picture of me at The Cheesecake Factory on Saturday night. We ate there to celebrate my birthday and finishing the race.

PARKER MARATHON TIMELINE
(this is only for my benefit because I was trying to figure out which races we did and when...feel free to stop reading now)
2002: Watched the marathon on News Channel 5 and talked about how we could never do that.
2003: Andy and I decided we should try to do the full marathon and see what happens because it was 26.2 miles on April 26th, my 26th birthday (however I could barely run 30 minutes without stopping). I ran with Team in Training program to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It took me 5 hours and 6 minutes to finish, however I was so happy that I ran the entire 26 miles. Andy finished in under 5 hours.
2004: Andy and I ran the Walt Disney World Marathon together in January. It was really cold that day in Orlando and I had to buy an extra shirt at the expo so I would not freeze. We huddled together with David, Craig and Candie before the race. We ran the entire time, kept ourselves entertained by singing songs, and finished around 4 hours and 50 minutes. That night we celebrated with dinner at Boma in the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
In April of 2004, we ran the Country Music Half Marathon. I found out two days before the race that I was pregnant. The start of the race was delayed because of lightning and rain. Andy ran part of the race with Robbie, and Laura and I ran the entire race together. She was a great running partner and I still remember her eating oranges from a total stranger in the Belmont area (which is so unlike her). She still jokes with me about screaming for a strawberry banana PowerGel (I had a green apple one the year before that tasted horrible).
2006: Andy ran the Country Music Half Marathon while Jackson and I raced around town to see him and cheer for him. Andy finished the race in 2 hours and 3 minutes. It was so fun to be in crowd and cheer for the runners, however I really missed being in the race.
2007: Andy and I both ran the Country Music Half Marathon. At the time of the race, I was 3 months pregnant.
2008: Andy and I ran the Country Music Half Marathon on my 31st birthday. I wore a shirt that said "BIRTHDAY GIRL."
In August of 2008, we both ran the Disneyland Half Marathon. There were a ton of people who participated and it was fun to run through the castle at Disneyland, through California Adventure and all around Anaheim. Since we can be delusional at times, we spent the day before the race and the day of the race riding all the rides at the park.
2009: Andy and I ran the Country Music Half Marathon with our personal best times. This was my last day to be 31:)

Sunday, April 19, 2009

We all scream for ice cream!!

On Tax Day, the boys and I celebrated with free cones at Maggie Moo's. This is a "special" for Jackson sometimes, and he absolutely loves their cotton candy ice cream. Drew loves any flavor of ice cream. These sweet boys may not look like me, but they definitely got my love for ice cream. Lots of you know that when I was growing up my dad would make me and my brother a milkshake every night. Of course, we had to eat good at dinner (I will not recount the times I did not get a milkshake because I would not eat my corn or peas). When I would have slumber parties, he would make them for all my friends. YUMMY...They were and still are the very best milkshakes. Because of that, milkshakes and ice cream are my kind of comfort food.

The boys had so much fun eating their ice cream and being silly that day. Jackson loves that his tongue is blue after eating cotton candy ice cream. Drew opted for udder cream that day, and I tried carrot cake (which was actually good).So excited to have a blue tongue!This is Drew literally screaming for ice cream because I took Jackson's cone from him.What an adorable and messy little boy! Here is Drew finishing off Jackson's cone for him.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Sunday

The above picture is actually from last Sunday when we celebrated Aunt Amanda's birthday at Montgomery Bell State Park. We are all wearing our "Easter outfits" so I decided to include it. Last Sunday was a trial run of the outfit selections. As you will see below this picture is better than any picture taken on Easter day. Will I ever have a good Easter picture of all of us? All I need is smiling and looking at the camera...is this really too much to ask. I am starting to think it might be. Jackson kept telling me, "I am done with pictures." Enough of my ranting...

Jackson and Drew woke up on Easter morning to find lots of surprises from the Easter bunny. Jackson was thrilled to get some puzzles, Batman pajamas, Hercules DVD, Predators sign, and a knight costume.
Drew loved his ball, Cubs hat, sunglasses, trains, and Dumbo DVD. The kid would love to always have on a hat and be holding a ball. He actually slept with his ball on Sunday night.
Jackson had to model his knight costume. Andy has been telling him stories before bed for several months about a knight named Lancelot and little boy named Jack. Jackson loves to act out the story.
Drew and Andy before leaving for church. We went to church with my parents in Columbia.
This was the only way Jackson would let me take a picture of him. He wanted to have his foot on the soccer ball.
Possibly the worst Easter picture ever taken...please look at Jackson's face!!!
The pictures were not getting any better, so we gave up...maybe next year!
After eating lunch at my parents' house with my brother and grandparents, Jackson and Drew had an Easter egg hunt. Jackson was determined to get more eggs than Drew.
Drew enjoyed hunting for eggs with Andy.
Jackson with all the eggs he found.
Drew trying to open his egg...such determination.

One more attempt at a picture of me and Drew

Spring Break

Last week was Jackson's preschool spring break. We had a really fun and somewhat busy week while he was out of school. It was a taste of the fun we are going to have this summer with two energetic boys. On Monday, Brody came over to play while his mommy and daddy worked. He and Jackson had so much fun together. They entertained each other and played hockey together. On Tuesday we went to see the bunnies at Phillips Toy Mart and ate lunch at Chick-Fil-A. Since Andy was in Cincinnati last week, we headed to Columbia on Tuesday afternoon. While we were in Columbia, we visited both of my grandparents and got to see Aunt Donna and Uncle Rick who were in town for a few days. Jackson and Drew also got to go to see Papa and Uncle Andrew's soccer boys practice. They love to play on the field with the big goals. Drew was so happy and content to kick the ball in the goal. On Thursday afternoon, we came back to Nashville to watch CA play Overton in soccer. Jackson and Drew played on the sidelines with one of the practice goals. We planned to see a puppet show at the library on Friday, however it was already full by the time we got there. So we settled for playing and eating at McDonald's with our buddies Sawyer, Sadie, Carter, and Seth. The fun continued for Jackson on Saturday with a special treat to go see a movie with Mama Linda and Aunt Amanda. While they were enjoying the movie, the Easter bunny went shopping with Drew. Live bunnies at Phillips Toy MartDrew had so much fun watching the train at Phillips. He was mesmerized by it. Sweet baby Drew in is Easter pajamasJackson and Drew playing on the soccer field.Drew kicking it into the net!Jackson and Uncle Andrew at CA soccer practice
Uncle Andrew and DrewJackson and Mama Linda with all the Easter goodies she brought for him and Drew. He is holding his parachute bunny. He and Andy have been dropping it down the stairs.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Brentwood Rotary Run

Andy and I ran the Brentwood Rotary 10K today. It was definitely windy and chilly at the start of the race. My parents came and entertained the boys (or their car's DVD player did) while we ran the race through McGavock Farms, Maryland Farms and Granny White Pike. The race started and ended on the Brentwood High School track and was a good mix of rolling hills and flat stretches of road. Andy and I both did our personal best 10K times...yeah! Just two more weeks until the 1/2 marathon. We are hoping for nice weather and another fun race.

Andy and I before the raceJackson crossed the finish with Andy and then me. He was thrilled to go across the finish line.The best part about the Rotary Race is the pancake breakfast that follows. Yummy pancakes and sausage! We all enjoyed some good breakfast foods cooked by the wonderful Rotary members.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Easter Egg Hunt

On Sunday, our church had their annual egg hunt. Jackson was really excited, especially since he had missed two other egg hunts. He wanted to find "the most eggs." I really wanted him to find some with chocolate and peanut butter, because Jackson does not like PB and I love it.Jackson with the Easter bunny (Dr. Tom)
Jackson told him he was not the real Easter bunny, because the real one is at the mall.
Drew was traumatized by the Easter bunny. Jackson always loves people in costumes. I am not sure the Drew has the same affinity. Every time he would look at the Easter bunny, he would scream and cry.Jackson hunting for eggs.Jackson and Ford being silly. They have been in the same class at preschool for two years and are buddies.The Tanners, Drew, the Austins, and Jackson taking a break after the big egg hunt.Jackson is showing everyone all the eggs he found.The Tanner girls and the Parker boys check out the treats inside their eggs. Drew is actually looking for treats in Frances' basket. She might have some good stuff in there.Now it is Drew's turn to look for eggs. He did really well because he thought they were balls and wanted to get all of them.