Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Wee Bit Wednesday!

Stayed home sick today but still playing along with 
Wee Bit Wednesday series form Leigh Ashley




{one} what is your dream job?
Either a family/marriage therapist or spokesperson for the VA

{two} how many best friends do you have?
Two!
Monique -- she is one of the greatest friends, scratch that, greatest people I have ever met! Top 1% of people I absolutely adore!
 Heather -- one of my best friends since 5th grade.
No matter what I know I can rely on her.


{three} what's the longest road trip you've ever taken?
14 hour road trip to the boat dock to get to Malibu Club in Canada, and then take a 3 hour ferry ride the rest of the way to camp.


{four} if you had to do one single thing every day for the next year, what would it be?
Hug my husband every day...duh.  That and not criticize myself in any way


{five}  what's one story your family always tells about you?
whether it was me or my brother who was accidently switched up at the hospital in the middle of the night.  My dad swears it was my brother, and my mom is convinced it was me.  Inevitably the story that always gets told at both our birthdays, every year. 


{six} how did your parents pick your name?
there are 4 "Anna"'s in my mom's family, so she named me after them & her sister Ann, and my middle name is a combination of her other two sisters who were twins.


{seven} what's the one thing that scares you more than anything?
Dealing with my parents dying -- i get so incredibly emotional about it, even just thinking about it makes me so worked up....I am NOT looking forward to that day at all.  And I think as a result of that, being an adult without the tie to my mom - without having her around to always run ideas by, process difficult situations, etc.  See, even now - writing that I have tears in my eyes....


{eight}  are you a good cook?
Hmm I can cook -- but I definitely think Isaac is a better cook between the two of us.


{nine} where do you see yourself in 20 years?
successful, happily living with Isaac enjoying our kids as young adults/adults.  Hopefully enjoying life and watching Isaac be a head coach -- either at high school level or college


{ten} what's your best childhood memory?
i honestly loved going to Eagle Crest with my family every summer.  It's one of my most favorite places in all of Oregon.  I would force my family to go to the High Desert Museum every summer, we would go to the Deschutes County fair to watch the rodeo, and spend days at the pool.  It's the place I learned to swim and starting next year, Isaac & I will be continuing the summer tradition for our family of 2! LOVES IT!
<3

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Chaos...

Ever have that feeling that you're just surrounded by chaos?  That at every turn something is falling down around you, or on the verge of exploding?  Whether it's a relationship or your laundry pile...there's something ready to burst.

That is my life right now -- not so much the relationship piece (moving in a positive direction on all fronts) -- there are little piles of chaos swirling all around me.  Files that aren't wrapped up which lead to chaos/slight anxiety about making sure everything is lined up for the coming months at work.  Making sure my house is spotless for when MIL & GMIL come to town next weekend...definitely reveling in our chaotic house over these next few days, before we dive in to a DEEP clean this weekend.  Trying to round up a couple of middle schoolers to share a little bit about their camp experience for a concert on Saturday...ever try to get a 13yr old girl to talk in front of a crowd? Yah not exactly the easiest thing in the world.  Dealing with the impending "official" start date of football -- football changes every dynamic in our household, changes how things get done, how things work, and where a lot of the focus & attention goes.  It's always an adjustment. But this is our 3rd married season, so we'll see how it goes.  Yet even having gone thru it 2 other times, you just never know quite how to handle that adjustment.

But despite these little tornadoes of chaos swirling around me I'm trying to choose positivity and thankfulness.  Trying to hold on to the small moments of goodness and fun.  Like moments that took place this last weekend....
Exhibit A: Friday night double date with my parents...dinner at a nearby hole in the wall (aka Wooden Nickel..in the Salem/Silverton area, check it out!) & drinks/dessert at a new Silverton brew pub partly owned by one of Isaac's friends (Seven Brides...check it out! GREAT strawberry shortcake!)
Mom & Dad at the brew pub -- sorry for the dark lighting!

Exhibit B: Gabbing with my friend Rebekah at The Bridal Gallery -- throwing out ideas and plans for her potential wedding.  And her asking me to coordinate it for her! GASP! Talk about pressure & fun! 
Exhibit C:  Saturday night date with Isaac...dinner at our favorite Hawaiian plate lunch spot in Beaverton & a Hawaiian concert.  Friends, drinks, and good music...well, the first band actually sucked, but the people we went to hear were GREAT!
 Isaac at Kauai Island Grill -- DELICIOUS. The ONLY legitimate Hawaiian food place in Oregon....beats every other place out there, hands down!

Exhibit D: An extended trip to Ikea with mom to try & plan out a potential kitchen remodel for the cabin.  My gran lived in her cabin until she passed -- and we always joked that her kitchen was a one butt kitchen.  Terrible counter space, terrible cabinet/storage space, overall just terrible.  But I think mom & I came up with a pretty good plan.  It'll be a couple years before anything happens..but it's a good jumping off point.
Exhibit E: Reading aloud from a new book Isaac & I just got -- "Love & War" by John & Stasi Eldredge.  I have loved every book I've read that they have written.  Just started last night, but it's nice to have the TV turned off and be reading with one another.  I'm excited to see what God shows us thru this book! :)
 
How do you keep your sanity when tornadoes of chaos are swirling around you??
<3

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fill In The Blank Friday

Thank goodness it's Friday -- this girls needs the weekend!
Thanks to Lauren at the little things we do..  for the great series! 
Link up & play along!


1.  I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person) ... definitely a morning person. It's sometimes hard for me to wake up, but once I'm awake and going...I'm GOING! I'm definitely more productive in the morning!

2. My favorite Pandora stations are... The Beatles, Adele, Hillsong, Ray LaMontagne, & Fiji...gotta have that island flair every once in a while!

3.  3 of my "must have" songs for a road trip playlist are... anything and everything from Tom Petty, anything and everything from The Beatles, and anything and everything from The Who.  I can't just pick three songs...

4.  My favorite pattern is... plaid or gingham  cute & classy

5.  My favorite perfume is... Lola by Marc Jacobs or Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana

6.  Rules are... something to adhere to, but in the very few cases break

7.  My most overused phrase or punctuation is...  I'm notorious for over using "I swear" or "Truth..."  I'm a BIG fan of dashes (--) if you read thru my blog, you'll find them many a place

Happy Friday Friends!
<3 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Just How Many...And WHEN?!

*Disclaimer...this post is not written in any way to allude or imply that the Parker household is adding anyone in the near future.  There are no babies on the horizon for us, right now.  And now...back to the normal post....

Perhaps it's the stage in our life -- perhaps it's the fact that Isaac married someone who's younger than he (by about 6 years...), or perhaps it's that we're more aware of it now.  And the "it" I'm referring to are all the babies out there.  Just born babies, babies still in wombs, babies that are trying to be made (that's weird to say).  But honestly, there seems to be nearly every couple around us either trying to have a baby, having a baby, or just had a baby.  And so naturally that has brought up many more conversations between Isaac & I, more conversations between myself & dear friends, some conversations with our families (these are very controlled...don't want any hopes getting up prematurely).  To be honest, some times it's hard to feel like you're the only ones -- or the last one in Isaac's case -- to not be having kids right now.  

So in these conversations inevitably the question comes up about "just how many kids do you want to have?"  And probably well before we were married, right before we were married, and right after we were married I would have answered 2.  Just right...even numbers, keep everything balanced.  No one gets left out when we go to theme parks, etc.  You know, the important things in life.  But recently I was talking with my aunt & cousin (who is..*gasp*...pregnant), and I told them that I'd be ok with 3 or 4; to which Isaac piped up with his confirmation of 4...with my same even reasoning. :)  Not quite sure what the change in heart/thought is...but I loved growing up in a big extended family, and that wouldn't have happened had my grandma not had more than 2 children.  Would I want the exact scenario my grandma had when she had her kids....definitely not.  But I think Isaac and I could handle that craziness, or at least I hope we could!  Plus, Isaac's convinced that we'll have a set of multiples -- we'll see about that.

I try to calm Isaac's anxiety about having babies -- he thinks he's the only one of his group of friends who does not have kids (not entirely true, but his two best friends from college have 2 or 3 kids already).  There is a more challenging aspect about deciding to wait -- because for us, it is just that a decision.  I want/need to be respectful and honoring of Isaac & where he is at in his life while also keeping a firm grasp on where we are as a couple together.   His parents got pregnant right away -- my parents waited 5 years before having me.  Honestly I'm glad my parents waited to have me.  They were able to do those silly young married things, and then were ready to calm down a bit and put all their focus on us kids.  It was nice to have parents who I knew I could always rely on.  

All this to say that I am so very excited to have kids - but I'm excited that we're waiting too (but of course we'll be excited if God has different plans).  I'm excited to see how many God blesses Isaac and I with, and how He will change our hearts & lives when we have kids.  So for all of you out there having those cute little munchkins...CONGRATULATIONS! You are blessed....and I feel blessed that I can live vicariously thru you for a couple more years.  And for those of you waiting -- you're not alone :)
<3

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Debbie Downer

I hate waking up feeling like a debbie downer...ugh such a wretched feeling.  And to top it off -- the weather here right now, is just as ugly. Overcast, misty/rainy.  Just that annoying weather where you feel yucky the whole day.

I'm trying to keep my attitude up at work - but lately it's just been so hard to do that.  I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be, if it's here with my mom with my R/E license or some where else.   And if it's some where else -- I have no idea where that place is.  Definitely makes me feel like a total waste or lost soul.  How depressing.  I'm trying to blossom where I'm planted currently - but there's this ugly, nagging whisper in my ear that there's something better out there.  But I'm not entirely sure or certain that there is....or where to even begin with figuring that out.


What do you do in these situations? How do you figure these things out??  So tough
<3

Monday, July 11, 2011

Summer Color

And no I'm not talking about the color of my skin! I'm naturally pretty fair skinned, so a change in my coloring is very slight every year.

What I AM talking about is my new favorite summer nail color!  I have always been a big fan of Essie nail polish, two coats & you're done...sometimes even one!  So on a recent Target adventure, I snapped up a couple new polishes to add to the collection. 


The first being Ballet Slippers
So cute & feminine!  Definitely more of an every day color.

And the second being Cute As A Button!
I normally don't wear brighter colors on my fingers -- but I took a risk, and am SO glad I did! It is quintessentially the perfect summer color.  Somewhat coral, somewhat orange, just enough pink tones.  Perfect! Two quick coats & I was done.  I think they may have changed their formula a little too, because I'm pretty certain it didn't take as long for my nails to dry either!
I love the color, hubby loves the color and family loves the color. 
It makes think retro 40's/50's -- very fun :)
Here's a picture of the color on....although in the photo it looks more orange - scouts honor, in real life it looks more pink/coral

What's your go to summer nail polish color?  Any tips or tricks for at home/DIY manicures??
<3

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I'm BACK!

I'm back from camp -- thoroughly tired, no voice, and thankful that God blessed me with a whole week with great kiddos.  And He was moving in some of their hearts; so much so that 5 of those great kids accepted Christ in to their lives! Praise Jesus!! Huzzah!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the week!
 After our hike - incredible view of camp & the property!

 Hawaiian Dinner - last night at camp

 The Lady Leaders -- great women!

 The cabins -- aka hotels!

 Our cabin -- crazy girls, who protected their leaders well!

 Pool games! Taking out the speaker!

 The FANTASTIC water park at the camp!

 My super cute niece Kenzie...loves her

 Miner Night -- turned out more like western night!

 The guys from Keizer