Mommy & Parker's Trip to Washington

Parker and I were lucky enough to get to take a trip to Washington to visit family for a week. It was amazing and took a while for us to get into the groove of having so many people around again! (We have been living in this bubble with just Daddy-Mommy-Parker...and the sudden large groups were a bit of a shock to the system!) Travis wasn't able to go with us this time...but "someone has to work" as he puts it! He was thrilled that we were able to go and get in some quality time with family and wished he was able to be right there with us.

Parker was such a trooper on the airplane this time. He is quite the airplane expert now after all our trips in the last year! We opted not to take the car seat on the plane this time...what a GREAT idea. There was so much less to haul and he is able to sit still in his seat (buckled up) without even making a fuss now! I was so proud of my little man.

{watching his movie}

We arrived in Spokane, WA on Saturday the 21st...late! It was about 9 p.m. but for Parker and I it still felt like 11 p.m.! We were both so excited to see my parents. He loves his Nonni & Papa so much. Seeing him with them makes me sad to have taken him away from the family that loves him so much! It breaks my heart a little. The next day was my cousin Ashley's WEDDING DAY! She was such a beautiful bride...congrats again to the new Mr. & Mrs. Kincaid!

{wish i had a better picture of the happy couple}
{me-my niece kearyn-my sister sara}
{isn't he just so handsome}

{nonni donna & parker}

{parker & my cousin maria...he dragged her all over the place}


{kearyn trying to escape}

{love that she only has 1 sandal on...so cute}

My dad and brother-in-law went home Sunday night after the wedding and the rest of us stayed behind to have some quality time with the kiddos. That night in the hotel was: Nonni Donna, me, Parker, Auntie Sara, Caleb, Drayson, & Kearyn...yikes! There was a lot of wrestling and Parker was just so happy to see his cousins again! The next day we decided to wrangle up the kiddos and head to Idaho to go to Raptor Reef (an indoor water park).

{the little kiddo area...please take a second to look at the giant orange bucket up above}

{parker is my water-loving, jump off the edge of the pool like a psycho child...and he was okay with the little kiddo area until we found out that the orange bucket does this...SEE PICTURE BELOW}

{the first time we discovered that the orange bucket periodically fills up and dumps all over the place was when he was in the splash zone of it and didn't know it was coming...needless to say, he was then traumatized and no longer wanted to play in the water after it knocked him down and made him scrape his knees!}

{we then spent the rest of the time on the chairs watching the others play in the water}


{cuddling with his sister}

{drayson}

{kearyn...eating the towel}

We were all pretty wiped out after the water park and headed back to the Tri-Cities! It was great to get back "home" and see my sister's new house! It is amazing! The rest of our trip was spent playing and relaxing with family. It was so great to see everyone and Parker was thrilled!








On our last night in Washington, we went out to dinner with Scott & Becky. They are family friends that are more like family. When I think back on my childhood I can't even remember a time with them not being there and part of our lives. I am so glad that they will be able to be a part of my kid's lives too!
{becky & parker}

{scott-parker-papa kevin}

{touching the crab leg}

{getting in papa's personal space}

{and scott's personal space was not off-limits to parker either as he tackled him in the booth}


While I was home my sister and mom threw me a baby shower for Delainey! It was so much fun. Here are some sneak-peak pictures from the shower...I'll have to get more from my sister!


The week seemed to fly by and before I knew it...it was time to come back home to Oklahoma! It was pretty bitter-sweet. Parker and I were missing Travis and ready to see him...but sad to say bye to family with no idea how long it will be before we see them again! (Except my mom...we know we will be seeing her toward the end of August for Delainey's birth!!!) I have missed my family so much. Sometimes you get caught up in all that you have going on in your life and forget how important all those people are. It was so nice to be able to have face-to-face conversations with the people I love...not just hear their voices through the phone! I have REALLY missed my sister. She is so amazing and we have so much fun together doing absolutely nothing at all. It was nice to be able to talk with her about anything and everything and it is always so effortless! The same goes for my mom! She is such an amazing mom and grandma! I know how blessed I am to have a great family and support system...it will be nice to move back home some day.

On Saturday, bright and early, Parker and I got on the plane and headed back to Oklahoma to see Daddy. Parks was really missing his Daddy by the end of the week and was super excited to head home to see him!

{makin' faces on the plane}




Once we were home, he did not want to leave Daddy's side. He even made Daddy put on a matching monster truck tattoo!!! Look at my tough guys!

Thanksgivinig in Texas

So, this year for Thanksgiving Parker and I packed up and flew to Texas! Not how we usually spend the holiday...but it was so great to visit Travis. He was still away at Tech. School at that point and was stationed at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX.

Flying with a toddler is a total pain in the rear...but it was worth it to see Travis and know that he wasn't spending the holiday alone. (By alone I mean with a bunch of guys who would also have to spend the holiday without their families.) We were able to spend 10 days in Texas and it was so much fun...except for the flying. Although Parker did SO WELL (we are discovering that he is a dream toddler when it comes to travel...but I will explain more about that when I get to the blog post about our drive from WA to OK!)!

We left from Seattle VERY early in the morning! At least we knew that by the afternoon we would be seeing Travis! Parker hadn't seen his Daddy since August!

all smiles on the plane (for the most part)
playing with his Toy Story toys...Jessie the cowgirl is one of his favorites


Sheriff Woody!

Travis was waiting for us at the airport when we got there and Parker was so tired from the long day of flying that he slept through getting off the plane, being put in his stroller, baggage claim, and didn't wake up until we were putting him in his car seat in the rental car.

While in Texas we played at the park, relaxed, got back in to the groove of being a family of 3, and visited "the falls." Here are some pictures from our trip!










Parker got the camera and took a couple pictures...the first one is okay, not sure what Trav is doing in the second one!

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Thanksgiving Day Pictures


While we were visiting Texas we took a walk to "the falls." It was nice outside and it was good for Parker to get out of the hotel and get out some energy!












We hope you all had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving break as we did!