You may recall reading this post back in February about the passing of my great-grandmother Marie Caraher. The end of July, most of her family (a large one at that, eleven children, 27 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 18 great, great grandchildren!) was able to gather together for her memorial service and to celebrate the great life she lived. Her children and their families are literally scattered all over the country, coming from as far as the Domenican Republic, Canada, Oregon, the east coast, many more locations as well as right here in Iowa. It was a wonderful celebration and great to chat with family we rarely have the opportunity to see (just wish it was under better circumstances!).
Her son Denny is a wonderfully talented musician who has written many songs telling tales from his childhood and about the family. I highly encourage you to check out his website! I'd like to share this beautiful song he sang for us in honor of his mother, my great-grandmother. His website gives some backstory to points of the song. One addition I'd like to make - one of the two "raising hell in heaven", Rosie, is my grandmother who also passed away recently, in October of last year. I know she, along with Grandma Caraher, are enjoying this song together with Jimmy and Grandpa Caraher.
Grandma, I look forward to one day helping you in that garden without weeds. We love and miss you!
http://www.radioboymusic.com/news-2/
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
We've got ourselves a little bandit...
...applesauce bandit, that is! Snagged this pic Friday morning before work. P is a pro at cleaning out our lazy susan. 
Monday, August 13, 2012
Vacation Day Five (last day - boo!)
Friday was pool day! The family chilled at home that morning munching on cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We had hoped to make it to the pool for the free "toddler time", but P decided to sleep a little later in his morning nap (and we all know the rule - do NOT wake a sleeping baby!).
By noon, we were headed out the door, and it was plenty warm by then. Parker was very excited once we entered the gates of the pool. We had gone there once before for our church family swim about a month earlier and he knew what was to come. In fact, once we were in the pool, it didn't take him long to toddle right over to the slide. He would have played on it all afternoon if we would have let him. We explained that other kids wanted the chance to enjoy it just like him (whether he actually understood this is anybody's guess!).
We definitely enjoyed our time there, which included a few trips around their lazy river (they had floats for babies!), lots of splashing in the pools and under waterfalls, and hanging out with one of our small groups' mama and her little dude Cameron.
Naturally there are zero pics since both Scott and I were in the water with him, but rest assured he was rocking his swim gear and spider hat ;)
By noon, we were headed out the door, and it was plenty warm by then. Parker was very excited once we entered the gates of the pool. We had gone there once before for our church family swim about a month earlier and he knew what was to come. In fact, once we were in the pool, it didn't take him long to toddle right over to the slide. He would have played on it all afternoon if we would have let him. We explained that other kids wanted the chance to enjoy it just like him (whether he actually understood this is anybody's guess!).
We definitely enjoyed our time there, which included a few trips around their lazy river (they had floats for babies!), lots of splashing in the pools and under waterfalls, and hanging out with one of our small groups' mama and her little dude Cameron.
Naturally there are zero pics since both Scott and I were in the water with him, but rest assured he was rocking his swim gear and spider hat ;)
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Vacation Week - Day Three & Four
Day Three:
It was Wednesday already, boo! Amazes me how fast time goes, especially when you're having fun :)
We initially had plans to have a morning play date with Rachel and Parker's buddy Jeremiah, but unfortunately we just couldn't make our schedules work. Due to our freed up schedule, Parker and I decided to pay daddy a visit at work! Parker made out like a bandit, snagging up a ball and nerf toy from Scott's desk. He had fun chatting up Scott's co-workers and throwing the ball in his recycle bin.
After this stop, I realized it was Parker's half birthday today! So in honor of that, we stopped at a local store and picked out a new toy for him (since we don't already look like a mini Toys 'R Us at home). Parker had fun playing with several toys, but finally decided to take this baby home (in the seal version):
http://www.plantoys.com/products.php?Id=5182
He loved his new toy so much that he attempted to play and "roll" in in the car on the way home! Once daddy came home later that day, he was so excited to show it off. Unfortunately, I haven't caught in on camera. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home and just enjoying each other's company :)
Day Four:
Thursday was Omaha Zoo day!! We were so excited for our mini trip, even if it was a little warmer than we would prefer to trek around the zoo all day. Scott had an early breakfast meeting that day, so we were on the road by 9am. It was a fast trip with minor whines from the back seat, Parker took a short nap and by 11ish, we pulled into the local Jimmy John's for a bite to eat.
The zoo was just down the road from Jimmy John's, so we loaded up and headed on over. The day was spent wandering through the jungle, aquarium (where P gazed at the many fish and sharks) and a few other enclosed areas (these were air conditioned thankfully!) as well as outside to see the many giraffes, rhinoceros, monkeys, tigers, etc. He loved to get out at the inside exhibitions and walk up to the glass. Ook, ooh! was his favorite expression and he just couldn't get enough of the gorillas.
Sorry, that is it for pictures. We brought a camera, but sadly it sat untouched in the stroller. Good thing for camera phones, huh?!
P really was a trooper, we hit just about every exhibit and zero whining came out of his mouth. We piled in the car about 2-1/2 hours later and that kid was zonked out before we were even out of the parking lot. Pooped from the heat, Scott and I decided a trip through the Dairy Queen drive-thru was well deserved for the car ride home. I'm pretty sure a blizzard has never tasted so good!
It was Wednesday already, boo! Amazes me how fast time goes, especially when you're having fun :)
We initially had plans to have a morning play date with Rachel and Parker's buddy Jeremiah, but unfortunately we just couldn't make our schedules work. Due to our freed up schedule, Parker and I decided to pay daddy a visit at work! Parker made out like a bandit, snagging up a ball and nerf toy from Scott's desk. He had fun chatting up Scott's co-workers and throwing the ball in his recycle bin.
After this stop, I realized it was Parker's half birthday today! So in honor of that, we stopped at a local store and picked out a new toy for him (since we don't already look like a mini Toys 'R Us at home). Parker had fun playing with several toys, but finally decided to take this baby home (in the seal version):
http://www.plantoys.com/products.php?Id=5182
He loved his new toy so much that he attempted to play and "roll" in in the car on the way home! Once daddy came home later that day, he was so excited to show it off. Unfortunately, I haven't caught in on camera. The rest of the day was spent hanging out at home and just enjoying each other's company :)
Day Four:
Thursday was Omaha Zoo day!! We were so excited for our mini trip, even if it was a little warmer than we would prefer to trek around the zoo all day. Scott had an early breakfast meeting that day, so we were on the road by 9am. It was a fast trip with minor whines from the back seat, Parker took a short nap and by 11ish, we pulled into the local Jimmy John's for a bite to eat.
The zoo was just down the road from Jimmy John's, so we loaded up and headed on over. The day was spent wandering through the jungle, aquarium (where P gazed at the many fish and sharks) and a few other enclosed areas (these were air conditioned thankfully!) as well as outside to see the many giraffes, rhinoceros, monkeys, tigers, etc. He loved to get out at the inside exhibitions and walk up to the glass. Ook, ooh! was his favorite expression and he just couldn't get enough of the gorillas.
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| Daddy and P (and the sharks!) |
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| Mommy and P (and a gorilla in the background) |
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| Ook! Ook! |
P really was a trooper, we hit just about every exhibit and zero whining came out of his mouth. We piled in the car about 2-1/2 hours later and that kid was zonked out before we were even out of the parking lot. Pooped from the heat, Scott and I decided a trip through the Dairy Queen drive-thru was well deserved for the car ride home. I'm pretty sure a blizzard has never tasted so good!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Vacation Week - Day Two
Tuesday started out much like Monday! We went to a local park and played, then P insisted I stop at Starbucks on the way home (at least that's how I recall it!). Mama could get used to days like this ;)
Parker headed over to daycare for a few hours in the afternoon so I could get the second coat of paint on the basement walls. He really has a great time at daycare and that day was no exception. He and our provider's son were running hot laps in the house with the toy cars when I showed up. Makes me happy to see him having fun and playing so well with the other kids!
We had a fun night ahead of us as well. Good friends invited us to join them at the Indianola Balloon Festival, so off we went to meet everyone for a quick bite at Pizza Ranch. Our little eater filled up on the goods at the Ranch, then we headed off to pick up Uncle Scott and Aunt Tina, who decided to celebrate their wedding anniversary at the balloon festival with us (they live in Indianola). Tina lucked out on two days in a row of Parker time!
Just a couple of balloons were in the air by the time we made it, so we settled down on our blankets and enjoyed great company. It was so much fun and Parker and I were sad daddy couldn't join us since he was in Omaha for work when we left, but we were sure to take lots of pictures so he wouldn't feel left out!
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| Just your typical purple people eater :) |
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| Mom, look at all of those balloons! |
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| Mom, what is wrong with his eyes? |
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| Lemonade break (Aunt Tina insisted he asked for it) |
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| And what goes best with lemonade? Corn dog of course. You know, because we didn't just eat dinner. |
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
Vacation Week - Day One
Monday morning Parker and I decided to take it easy. Breakfast around 7ish, then a little play at home while mom did some cleaning. By 8am, P was loaded in the jogging stroller and off for a run at the local park we went!
I haven't ran regularly since the Dam to Dam in early June, so needless to say it was a struggle (thankful the mornings were still cool!) and I will not be sharing my turtle time. The important part is we got out and enjoyed the fresh air!
The Johnston Parks and Rec guys were doing work on the big kids area, but the little kids playground was still open. P loved watching them with their machines and trucks, yelling and staring at the men at any given time. He loves the slide and could have bounced on the horse for hours!
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| Ooh. What do we have here? |
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| Mom. Really? I'm in the goofiest outfit ever. |
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| Ook! Trucks! Hey dudes. |
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Test - first post from my phone!
This is just a test, repeat this is just a test. Heehee. Sorry, I'm a bit of dork sometimes (my husband will attest to that, I'm sure).
I just downloaded the blogger app on my phone, hopefully this will help me in updating more often!
I leave you with a pic of P and I at the Omaha zoo enjoying the gorillas. Now off to go pout on my last night of vacation, back to work tomorrow. Boo!
**Edit**
Blogger will not allow me to upload the pic to my post and actually "publish" the post. Something about insufficient storage quota. Any clues on how to fix this?!?
I just downloaded the blogger app on my phone, hopefully this will help me in updating more often!
I leave you with a pic of P and I at the Omaha zoo enjoying the gorillas. Now off to go pout on my last night of vacation, back to work tomorrow. Boo!
**Edit**
Blogger will not allow me to upload the pic to my post and actually "publish" the post. Something about insufficient storage quota. Any clues on how to fix this?!?
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