Parker's Party

Parker's Mickey Mouse birthday was set for Saturday. 

 Travis and I decided that if it rained we would not be able to accommodate our guests in our home so the party would be canceled.  I have been watching the weather for 2 weeks in preparation for the party.

For 2 weeks it has shown beautiful weather....much like Friday.  Sunny, crisp, clear, beautiful day for a 1st birthday party.  Then on Thursday the weather forecast changed to a 30% chance for late night showers on Saturday...no problem.  Then on Saturday we wake up to a rip-roaring thunderstorm followed by cloudy skies and rain off and on throughout the day.  I, however, was still optimistic.  I continued to check the radar and the future radar and was convinced that the rain would stop in time for the party.  We decided to make the final call at 3pm, one hour before the party began.  At 3PM there was no rain, and the radar showed any additional rain would go North.  So we decided the party was a go.

We were ready.  At 4:03PM as our guests began to arrive and I was bringing the last pitcher of Iced Tea out......drip, drip, drop....it began to rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone scurried inside our little house and we had a improvised, make shift, snugly birthday party.  There were people in every room of our house.  Our good friend Jeff went home and got a camping tent to set up in the yard and then we had people inside and out!

I guess I should have listened to Travis and dad when they said, we should just chalk this up as a loss...

Lessons learned!

Despite the rain, the cousins came from Des Moines.

All of the family was here.

There were presents.  THANK YOU, we LOVE them!

And there was cake.

The rain stopped briefly for everyone to pile outside to watch Parker try his first sweet treat!

Thanks to everyone who braved the elements and helped celebrate Parker's special day!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Paker is 1!

Hooray, Hooray, Parker turns 1 today....well, actually it was on Friday but because of all the festivities this weekend this was the first moment I've had to blog.

Travis and I both took Friday as a personal day to spend with our number 1 guy!  Here he is opening up his 1st birthday present.

We loaded Parker up early for a day full of adventures!

First, a 1year check up.Parker weighs 24 lbs. 6oz!  That's a lot different from the 8lbs. 7oz. he was a year ago! Dr. Larson has been wonderful and we're blessed to have her as our doctor!

Then off to the library.  Parker received a book while he was at the hospital last year.  On the back it said if we brought it to the library when he turned 1 we could have another book!  We got Goodnight Moon.  (It was travis' favorite as a child)

The Pokey Little Puppy is the book I chose for him last year in the hospital!~  (it was one of my favorites as a child)

Back to the house for present opening and a morning nap!  We were surprised to see how well he opened gifts!  He gets that from mom and dad!

We made a stop at Toys R Us where Parker got a birthday crown and a balloon!  He's part of geoffreys birthday club so he also received a call from Geoffrey on his bday.

We spent the afternoon at Chuckie Cheese after getting the all clear from Dr. Larson for any and all table food.

Parker LOVES cheese pizza....

Until it ended up on the floor.

Parker and dad weren't too sure about the mechanical musicians at first.  I'm happy to report both warmed up to them by the end of the trip!

These were some of the characters Parker met on his birthday:

  

  "Bob, I told you to build something...if you want something done, I guess you have to do it yourself..."

 

We had an excellent day with our little boy!  He was in good spirits, the weather was beautiful and we enjoyed quality family time!

By the time we got home this birthday boy was all tuckered out!

Happy 1st Birthday Parker...we LOVE you!

Stearman Fly-Over

Nielson School hosts the Stearman Fly-Over at the end of the National Stearman Fly-In week here in Galesburg.  After a field trip yesterday to the airport Travis class crowded outside of school with everyone else from school to see the planes fly overhead.  The Bi-Planes take teachers annually over the school.  Both Travis and Misty have gotten to ride the the planes and can not WAIT to do it again someday!

Today Grandma Stecher was watching Parker so Parker got to go to the Fly-Over. 

Waiting for the planes at school

Do you see them?

Here they come...

Oooh!  Oooh!

Everyone had a great time!  Thanks Stearman!

Prime Beef Festival

This week is the Prime Beef Festival in Monmouth.  I love the Prime Beef Festival and this year I was excited to take Parker to his 1st ever Prime Beef Festival parade.

He loved all the music.  There are many bands, bagpipes, singing church groups, and a calliope that comes through the parade.  He danced to almost all of them.

Hmmmm....what's this?  Do I like it?  What do you do with it?

Parker LOVED the treasures he got from the parade.  It kept him entertained though the political floats, cars, and passer bys. 

We sat with Grandma Vancil and part of the Johnson family.  I used to babysit the Johnson girls when I was in High School, they were in our wedding and now they have 2 boys in addition to the girls and the girls are going to be babysitters for Parker if our schedules ever match up.   This is Camden...he is the spitting image of his older brother Austin.  Parker and Camden had a great time together.

In honor of the Prime BEEF festival, Parker had Beef for dinner at the parade. 

Mom and I went out to the fair so I could eat at the Lutheran tent....

Beat the crowds...

Visited with Monmouth ites we saw...

waited in line....

got all the way to the front of the line (1/2 hour past Parker's bedtime)

and....

Parker started to completely MELT down.

so..........

I got 0 cheeseburgers, 0 cherry pie, 0 fair food :(

I did however enjoy a Hot Pocket once we got home.

maybe next year....

Labor "Free" weekend

When you're almost 1 like me you can enjoy a Labor "Free" weekend when you're parents are busy working during their Labor Day weekend on projects around the house and yard. 

Here I am with Dad and Grandpa Stecher learning how to walk on the sidewalk.

I love my slide in the back yard!

I am SOOOOOO big!

Don't Worry, Be Happy

It's almost the weekend!  Don't worry....be happy!

Friday Night Lights

Tonight was the opening of Galesburg High School Football.  Over the past 7 years of teaching in the district and dating/marring a football coach, I have become a fan of GHS football....(actually I just like the band) (and the socializing on the sidelines) (and when they score!)

Travis had to be on the sidelines tonight so Parker and I went to hang out at the game.  There is a section off to the side of the bleachers where the HS coaches wives and some of the 205 teaching staff sit in chairs or blankets and then the kids can run around. 
I was a little hesitant to take Parker.  He usually goes to bed around 6:30PM.  The gates to the game didn't open until 6:30 and the game didn't start until 7:30PM. 

Parker and my favorite part...High Ho Silver! (Galesburg's theme song)

Parker was fascinated by the band members walking past.  He was close enough he could have reached out and touched their feathered hats! Emily's daddy did a great job leading the band.  Emily was at the football game too and shared some of her melt aways with Parker!  Thanks Emily!

Parker met one of his friends at the football game.  Grady Hickey.  Grady is only a few weeks older than Parker.  His dad is a football coach and his mom is a 2nd grade teacher at Steele School here in Galesburg. Parker was a bit of a bully to the older, wiser Grady.  Grady did not appreciate it.

After a while the boys played well together and were "talking" about the game and what positions they were going to play when they got older.

Parker was getting a little punchy...it was quite a bit past his normal bedtime.

Grady was not finding this amusing. 

Parker did watch some of the game and fell asleep promptly on the car ride home at 9:15PM after 1/2 time.

Galesburg won the game by a long shot!  Maybe Parker is their good luck charm!

We are looking forward to many more football games this fall!

Tis the season?

It's football time already?

Put me on the line coach!

You decide where to put me and I'll practice reading the "playbook"