First Dentist Trip

I have warned all of you that my posts will be a bit scattered since I'm trying my best to get caught up. John Parker had his first trip to the dentist a couple of months ago and it didn't go over well like I though it would. For all of you who know me and my child especially, realize that he is full of energy and doesn't contain a shy bone in his body. He embraces life to the fullest and nothing, I mean NOTHING, scares him. (Well he isn't too keen on getting shots, but who is?)

He liked sitting in the chair and watching tv on the flat screen, but that was about as good as it got. The lady who was going to clean his teeth was doing her best to coax him into sitting back and relaxing so she could begin, but he began to cry. I decided since it was only days before that he received his flu shot, that he was very leery of this 'stranger' with 'tools' in her hand. I think he thought that he was about to get another shot. John Parker is what I call a 'Type A' personality so when there are things that aren't of the 'norm', he knows it and will let us know as well. The sweet dental hygienist finally gave up because neither one of us wanted him to have a 'terrible' first-time experience at the dentist's office. So, she called Dr. "Bob" in to see him and John Parker allowed Dr. Bob to look inside his mouth and count his teeth--the same thing that he wouldn't let the sweet lady do. From glancing and feeling of his little teeth, Dr. Bob said his teeth looked great and to bring him back in June to try this whole process over again--hopefully with more success this time around.

The lady suggested that I should even bring him back with me when I go for my appointment in May . That way he can see with his own eyes what those 'tools'(as JP calls them) actually do. After all, he knows that 'tools' are for: hammering, drilling, and all the things that guys use them for. For once, it probably wasn't a bad thing for him to er on the side of caution.

When we pass by King & Burkhardt's office he says, "Moma, Dr. Bob says to brush my teeth." And, that he did say, and he hasn't forgotten. He reminds me every day!! John Parker has gotten into the 'good' habit of brushing his teeth more than twice a day. Unless he's in a hurry to get somewhere, he'll stop and grab the toothbursh and toothpaste and gives his baby teeth a good cleaning. Once he's through, he'll repeat Dr. Bob's famous words, and I quote: "Brush your teeth!"

Pumpkin Patch

As I've stated numerous times before, I am behind in my blogging so I am going to 'attempt' to go backwards these past few months and let you see the fun we've been having. So, for today, I'm sharing the images from John Parker's FIRST 'real' field-trip that he took with his classmates from Guardian Angel to visit the Pumpkin Patch in Hector, Alabama.

John Parker was really looking forward to the trip, but he was particularly interested in riding the 'bus' to their destination. I, on the other hand, was 'panicky' at the thought of my baby boy riding the bus for the whole hour and 1/2 it took for us to reach point A to point B. He wanted to ride with the rest of his buddies and I knew that he was in good hands with Pastor John Hunt driving, and all of teachers on the bus with them--but, it still made me worry. :( Also, it brought on a whole new realization that my little boy is getting older by the minute and it won't be long before he starts kindergarten!!!! Okay, I'll quickly change the subject here before I have ALL of us crying over the thought of our little ones becoming more and more independent.

After following 'in tow" with the rest of the of mommies and daddies of the children at GA, we arrived safely so our little ones could pick out 'the pumpkin'. John Parker went back and forth debating on which one to choose and he finally decided on 'the one'. It was perfect in his eyes; therefore, it was perfect to me. :-)

Enjoy the pics of our fun day with our 'growing' up 'little' boy!!!!

(The pumpkins gathered by the boys and girls.)
(JP just stepped off the bus!)

(Examining his 'getting in' bracelet)

(Maybe this one will do, Daddy!)

(or, this one)

(Let's just see how I can make Mommy look for 'the' one.)

(Yippee.....HAYRIDE!!)

(The excitement is written all over his sweet face!)

(Tina and Ivy--she was excited, too!)

(One of JP's favorites!)

(JP's teacher, Mrs. Katrina, is the blonde in the pic below. We love her so!!)

(Buddies--John Parker and Parker 'J')

(Sweet brothers/boys--Britt and Parker J)

***I need to go because I've got an upset little 16 month-old that needs me. There were a few more pics I wanted to add to this post, but hopefully I can do it later on.***

Santa Claus is coming to town....

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle All The Way.......

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care......

In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.........

John Parker and Sawyer had a special visitor tonight! Santa Claus came all the way from the North Pole(according to JP) bearing gifts for my boys. John Parker received a red crane that he's been asking for a while now. He has a true fascination with big trucks, tractors, airplanes, helicopters--well, anything that moves. "Mega-Excavators"came on the History channel one night and we set it to DVR thinking that John Parker might like it. Little did we know, that a year later, he would love it and ask to watch it over-and-over again. So, he's been on a crane kick for quite a while.

Santa brought Sawyer his very own steering wheel so he could "perfect" his driving skills at the big age of 16 months. :) Sawyer enjoyed playing with it for a few minutes until he realized that his big brother had a bigger and better toy than he did. This didn't settle too well with John Parker because he didn't think he should have to share his toy with Sawyer. Oh, well.....he's going to have to get use to it!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Here's......

the Hardys!!!........Hey all!! I haven't meant to neglect my blog, but with school back in full swing in more ways that one for me, the word 'busy' is definitely an understatement. For those of you who don't know, I started back to school with my friend/co-worker, Jenifer (Kennedy) Earnest, to work on our Master's degree in education. We are taking two classes at Troy and have ten more to go. I don't like being away from my boys, but I'll be through in no time and will be glad that I went back before they're involved in any extracurricular activities. I think it has been really good for Daddy and his boys to spend some quality time together without Mommy being around. I miss the boys terribly while I'm gone, but I know they don't miss me!!! LOL!!! They are having too much fun wrestling, riding the ranger, playing outside, riding the tractor and/or wagon to even think about me. :)
Sawyer turned the Big '1' on the 18th of August and we had a little family celebration at our home. (I'll try to remember and post pics from HIS day soon!) He is walking and into EVERYTHING!!! His personality reminds me so much of John Parker when he was little--ALL BOY!!!
As for JP, he's loving 'school' and his new teacher, Mrs. Katrina. They have had a lot of activities going on at school lately...Ex: Johnny Appleseed came to visit bearing apples for everyone, fire truck for JP and others to tour for Fire Prevention Week, and now we're looking forward to our visit to the Pumpkin Patch in Hector, AL really soon!!!! He, too, is growing up faster than I'd like for him to.
Since I'm tired, I'll leave you with some pics of my boys. Maybe it won't be another two/three months until I blog again. Next time, I'll give more details!


P.S. I put a picture on here of John Parker's friend, Charlotte. She is found all over the place in our neck of the woods and he loves searching for her. I had to take a picture of her so he could get a view up close. Too bad that Wilbur isn't anywhere to be found. John Parker LOVES the movie and knows it word-for-word. I just hope Charlotte continues to build her webs outside away from his reach. LOL! I've warned you he was ALL BOY and now he has someone following in his footsteps!

Charlotte "Hardy"