Packin' Parkers (our parents flew the coop)

2013-03-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

Psssst...we're over here!

Today

2013-01-26T14:50:00.003-08:00

This morning's breakfast

Anna "comes to visit"

Anna recovers after her sister drags her around on baby related errands,

but decides and buys nothing

...whichever way you want to look at it.

Mix & Match

2013-01-14T15:01:00.002-08:00

Dear Baby,

Today we wore different shoes to work.

A sweet student gently pointed it out to us.

Ms. Suits...you're wearing two different shoes.

All the teachers blamed you, baby, for this mistake.

Thanks for being my excuse.

Love,

Mom

Reader's Comment

2013-01-12T07:55:00.001-08:00

We received the following comment from a reader in response to this post.

That, my dear, is a genuine African sandals tan. Xoxo, dad

Saturday Morning Out

2013-01-08T16:14:00.001-08:00

Day 7

2013-01-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Baby Suits,

While your Dad and Aunt Anna were busy watching documentaries on food, fat, sugar, farms (and other things that make you want to live in the woods, hike 20 miles a day and only eat home grown green beans) you were enjoying the good things in life...like a bagel sandwich with melted cheese and mayonnaise spilling out of the sides.

Day 6

2013-01-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Beach House,

You are RENTED for the summer of 2013. We've never rented a house this early in the year (you should feel honored). It just goes to show how excited we are to spend time together as a family at our most favorite vacation spot. Last summer there were 6 beach bums and this summer we'll crowd your space with 9 beach bums. We can't wait to crash on your sofa after a long day on the beach. See you soon, but not soon enough!

Day 5

2013-01-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Dad,

You either have a killer sandals tan or really dirty legs.

PS You don't stick out at all

Day 4

2013-01-04T17:13:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear insanely dark jeans that have been washed multiple times,

You dye the backs of sneakers.
WHAT IN THE WORLD?

Questions

2013-01-04T13:25:00.002-08:00

How do two people accumulate so much ~~junk~~ stuff in 25 years of life + 3.5 years of marriage?

Why is it so hard to throw away anything that is remotely sentimental?

How did Anna manage to move the bookcases from one room to another?

Why do seminary students/future pastors need so.many.books?

How long should the office/guestroom/nursery project take?

Does a 7(ish) pound baby need an entire room to him/herself?

How fun is it to finally have an excuse to boss your sister and husband around?

Day 3

2013-01-03T17:40:00.001-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Ma,

The picture you sent of you and the ladies is quite beautiful. Although we miss you, we like to hear of your adventures in cooking, interactions with your neighbors and your close living quarters with Dad. We know your gifts are being used in various ways in South Sudan.

PS We're counting down the days until your spring return, too.

Day 2

2013-01-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Mr. Parker,

You're back to work after almost 2 months away. We hope you enjoy getting back into teaching half as much as you enjoyed The Hunger Games 2 summers ago. If your kids don't take it easy on you, don't be afraid to play the "I just had open heart surgery" card. We imagine it could be a very powerful card to play.

Day 1

2013-01-01T18:05:00.000-08:00

A week of letters to start 2013

Dear Anna,
You tackled the beginning of the office/guestroom/nursery project right when you heard your sister say, "I'm ready." Your ability to move large bookcases and organize closets was impressive. You have 6 more days in town & we have lots more work to do!

a year in review

2012-12-31T06:18:00.001-08:00

2012: The Year of the Sibling

Siblings ROCKED this year. Since we were orphaned at the very beginning of 2012, we stuck together through texts, emails, birthdays and vacations.

We celebrated turning all sorts of ages....28, 25, 23 and 22.

We are well into our 20's now

Wes and Anna ran the Cooper River Bridge Run. Kent and Kait cheered.

Anna sought medical help afterwards

Wes was running with a heart problem & didn't know it

Anna had all of her hair hacked off

And has started the painful "growing it out" process

Anna was unofficially adopted by The Suits

She stayed in Charleston all summer, but has a ~~storage~~ bed room @ The Suits

We spent a fun weekend at the beach

Where Ben treated us to homemade boiled peanuts

Ben and Wes moved Anna into her new apartment

And we checked on Mom's treasures at the storage unit.

God answered prayers and is adding to our family

Kent became an expert throw-up responder. Wet washcloth and a cup of ice cold water.

God answered prayers part II

Wes came through surgery with flying colors and continues to heal

We snuck in a 10 day visit with our parents

Thanks, Wes!

one year

2012-12-30T12:43:00.000-08:00

Exactly one year ago today...

We were in the airport with tired, pale, tense, worried, sad, soon-to-be-missionaries

That morning Ma was passing out random gift cards from her secret stash

Dad was checking and rechecking their bags

Anxiety. Fear.

Tears. Lots of hugs.

And now....

African adventures by bike

Adventures in France

Shopping

2012-12-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

This was our FIRST year without Ma or Robin during our December 26th Post Christmas Shopping Trip. The paper plate inscribed with MISS YOU is for them. We were out of the house and into the pouring rain by about 6:30AM. Because we were 2 people short, we didn't even venture over to the mall. Maybe next year?

We stocked up on storage bins at Target (a true sign that we're now lame adults). We bought a few things at Old Navy, stopped by Khols & BuyBuyBaby and ended our trip at Target again(WELOVETARGET) to pick up pregnancy-approved-antibiotics for Kait. After 2 1/2 weeks of sickness, it was finally time to cave and cry for some meds.

... Yes, crying really was involved. Poor Anna. She deserves a medal.

gimme some suga'

2012-12-27T16:43:00.001-08:00

This post is dedicated to Robin Z. Growing up, she would host the kids at her house to decorate Christmas cookies. Now we have killer cookie decorating skills!

Also, thanks to Ma for the fancy Williams-Sonoma cookie cutters (Christmas '08)

Merry Christmas

2012-12-27T06:34:00.001-08:00

A family picture: behind the scenes

A new ornament for the tree this year

Enough buffalo chicken dip to feed us and all of your extended family. (This wasn't the only dish of dip...there's more)

Cozy Times

2012-12-23T18:30:00.000-08:00

Pizza in our bellies

Fire in the fireplace

Scrabble on the table

5 Months

2012-12-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

WARNING

BARE BELLIES

...you've been warned....

Ben & Kait at 5 months

If you are 2 out of the 5 blog readers that we actually see on a daily or weekly basis, let's just pretend that you didn't see this picture

Waterfall Walk

2012-12-21T14:29:00.003-08:00

This is our waterfall walk!

Ben blends in

Kent and Ben go exploring. Poor Wesley had to sit out this time. We reassured him that next year he'd be old enough to play with the big boys.

staring at ovens

2012-12-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

PreChristmas

2012-12-19T13:38:00.001-08:00

Ben's favorite spot. Big recliner, big TV and cable. If you ever want to offer us a free vacation, just give us a place with cable. Some ESPN was watched, but this time the TV stayed on HGTV shows (thanks, guys, for the compromise). Ma, you would've loved it.

No more slacking for this heart patient! Wes and Sara blessed us with two delicious breakfasts.

Sara's cinnamon rolls (from The Pioneer Woman). So tasty!

We enjoyed them.

....and then our teeth fell out.

All set for the Secret Santa Exchange!

Can anyone guess the gift that Ben brought? Yes, the Clemson blanket is a choice.

This is what we did most of the time... read, play on iPads, watch TV, talk, sit in big recliners and wear comfy clothes.

Christmas Call

2012-12-18T13:05:00.001-08:00

On Saturday morning Mom & Dad called. Dad insisted on a "speaker phone" call. Kent was the brave one to knock on everyone's door at 8AM. He could've gotten decked in the face. We passed the phone around. We told them about the homemade cinnamon rolls we were about to eat (Hey, they asked!) We sang them the first verse of We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Mom returned the favor by singing I'm Dreamin' of a White Christmas.

Belated B'Day

2012-12-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

The sibs are together this weekend to celebrate Christmas. We caught up together by celebrating Anna's 22nd birthday!

On her actual birthday she had an exam at 6PM. LAME.

Only Wes choked (a little) on the mound of powdered sugar. Happy Birthday Anna!