We went to the mall today and Parker and Jack were SO GOOD! It was actually fun to shop today. I wish I knew what the key was. I did tell them before we ever went inside that any bad behavior like temper tantrums, begging or getting out of the stroller would result in an automatic timeout when we got home. Parker understands that, but Jack either doesn't get it or doesn't care. I haven't found a good way to discipline him yet. So far, nothing works. It is just a luck
y day when he behaves. How's that for great parenting!?
The temperature is just awesome today, but it is WINDY. I trimmed the bushes on the side of our house and I am feeling invigorated right now. I really enjoy doing yard work. In fact, I am much better at yard work than housework.
My parents are currently in St. Louis babysitting Stella while Tracy and Ryan are on a cruise. They say that Stella is being a little angel--she even slept through the night which she doesn't do consistently for her mommy. I'm sure Mom and Dad are LOVING having Stellabella all to themselves. She is soooo stinking cute!!!!! To anyone who is actually reading this, have a great weekend!
Here are a few pictures of Parker and Jack. Both of the pictures were taken last summer. These layouts are part of my "portfolio" of color choices. I have submitted a few layouts to a website called www.acherryontop.com It's kind of fun to see my pages out there for the whole world to view. We spent about an hour outside yesterday playing in the snow. Happy Spring! My feeling is that snow in March is actually kind of fun because you know it isn't going to stick around. However, my arms ACHE after shoveling it all off the driveway. Parker and Jack had so much fun playing in the 
snow and they looked so cute with their rosy cheeks. I grabbed the camera to take some great snow pictures and the battery was dead. Oh well. Hopefully our next snow won't be until next December so I'll take some pictures then. My best friend Heather is coming to visit this weekend and I am so excited. We always have a lot of fun doing the most mundane things--like shopping at Worn Again and going to LaGondola. These have become our traditions when she visits. Anything can be fun when you do it with a friend!!!
I have finally managed to do a mini-page of Parker and Jack. I am trying to work on my "portfolio" which I plan to use to let customers make their color selection. I am so paper obsessed. I just love all the different patterns and colors--the choices are endless. Just when I think they can't possibly come out with anything cuter--they do and I have to go buy it. I am definitely spending all my little profit on more scrapbook stuff! That was not in the business plan, but this is really all about fun and creativity so who cares, right!?
Tracy, Stella, the boys and I all went to Springfield on Sunday to visit Allison, Mark, Molly and Cooper McCue. I just fell in love with their beautiful, new home. It's so open and bright--everything that my house isn't. I need LIGHT!!!!! The boys had a great time--especially Jack. He and Cooper really hit it off and actually played together! If you know 2 year olds, you know just how amazing that really is. If you know Jack and Cooper, you might wonder if they joined forces to burn the house down or tie Parker and Molly up, but they really behaved themselves! Parker keeps telling me, "We are going to have to go back there soon." That is the highest compliment Parker gives. Unfortunately, not long after we left, the McCue family and the rest of Springfield got walloped by a tornado. Luckily, everyone at their house is fine but I hear their swingset is history along with everything else that was outside. Yipes! Parker was glued to the news all evening and kept saying, "we were just in Springfield". I think he just couldn't imagine that something that bad could happen to a place where he had been. Reality bites!
Just another cute picture of Stella. I can't get enough of "scrapping" her. Obviously I am fulfilling my desire for pink pages.
My lovely friend Jenna took this picture of her youngest daughter, Paige. Doesn't she just look like a porcelain doll!? At the beginning of 2006, Jenna and I both decided that we should follow our talents and start our own little "businesses." She is an amazing photographer and she has started doing photo shoots for clients. She is able to capture those special little things about children that make them individual and special. For lack of a better word, I call her pictures "glorified snapshots" because they are professional quality candids. I JUST LOVE HER WORK! I can't wait to have her take Parker and Jack's pictures. I know I will come away with photos that I will always treasure because they won't be portraits where they are wearing their Sunday best, they will be my REAL, rotten, messy, rough-and-tumble, adorable, BEAUTIFUL boys! She is open for business so if you want more info, just e-mail me and I will put you in touch with her. I plan on scrapping more of her photos, so keep checking in to see what I've done.
Here is my past week in a nutshell:
- Monday was great--lots of errands and the boys behaved extremely well.
- Tuesday--the day from hell. Parker refused to get dressed so I didn't even take him to school. (Bad mom moment!) Then we went to the bank and the mall which were both MAJOR disasters. I should have known not to leave the house when it started out so bad!
- Wednesday--I went to Target BY MYSELF! Enough said!!!! Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!
- Thursday--Rainy, gloomy day.
- Friday--beautiful, sunny day. Flat tire on van. Dad to the rescue. Played outside. GOOD!
Tracy and Stella are coming for a visit this weekend. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that baby girl. I can't wait to get my hands on her. Of course, she is very much like her mother and gets a bit annoyed when I love on her too much.
When she smiles she is ALL Montgomery! I love doing pink pages and I have been looking for an excuse to use the big flower.
Parker had an awesome field trip to Wal*Mart yesterday. They really treated the kids extra-special and they had a great time. Although Target will always be my favorite, Wal*Mart is running a close second. They just keep improving on everything--especially home goods and apparel. Tomorrow is the Mt. Zion Legion Pancake Breakfast and I am sooo looking forward to that awesome breakfast food. They do a great job and I love community events. I am such a Mt. Zion dork. I love this town! (Well, not always, but don't get me started!)
y day when he behaves. How's that for great parenting!?
