28 years 28 lessons

So I just turned 28 on Christmas. While I'm not particularly happy about getting older. I feel I am in a place where I can reflect on some of the big and little lessons I have learned over the years.

1. Always stand up for what YOU believe in. I don't mean believe in something to stand up for. There's a difference.

2. Be kind to everyone. Not just act kind, I mean actually being kind. Help a stranger, call a friend, just be open to doing kind things.

3. Don't be a follower. This one took me 13 years (k-12 grades) to figure it out. I wanted nothing more than to be liked by everyone, and when I say everyone, I really mean I wanted EVERYONE to like me. When I finally realized that I had my own path and my own fun personality I made more friends. I also learned...

4. Not everyone is going to like you. period. There's nothing you can do about it, so just move on.

5. Just work hard and do your best. Thanks Grandma, I learned this from you. It only took 21 years of her telling me over and over but I finally got it.

6. Listen. There is so much noise in the world today. More people talking and less just listening, most people just want to be heard. More than anything they just want someone to listen.

7. Stop Judging. Just don't do it. It isn't helpful to anyone and more than likely you just don't even know 1/2 the story.

8. Once a friend always a friend. The truth is I remember almost everyone who played a part in my life. I remember my friends from Kindergarten, Dance class, Daycare, Jr High, High School. Probably more than they remember me. If anyone called and needed a friend or were in need of something I could give, I would. (ps we're broke)

9. Forgive. Forgive everyone for everything. Easier said than done (I know, I've had to do a lot of it) but if you can't do it for them, do it for you. Keep forgiving, not to be confused with setting yourself up for being hurt over and over.

10. Believe in God. Whatever your religion, know that there is a higher loving power. He is there for you. He loves you and can help you.

11. Don't talk back. My parents will be happy to know that I finally listened. Although probably learned it later than they would have liked. Love you!

12. Be proud of who you are and where you came from. All of the things you have been through good or bad, happy or sad, have made you who you are.

13. Be honest. Just don't lie, you are only hurting yourself. I used to have a problem lying, mostly to my parents about really stupid things. It was for attention, and it never worked the way I planned it. I always got caught (well most of the time) but more importantly, with every lie I was losing myself, I felt more empty.

14. Make choices that you can be proud of.

15. Love with all your heart, with heartache there are only lessons to be learned and growing to be done. Holding back only restricts the blessings that come with loving fully.

16. Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Sometimes the best decision for yourself is the one everyone criticizes, laughs at, and mocks you for. Example A: I got married at 18, pretty sure there wasn't one person (aside from Sean and I) who thought it was a good idea or who had faith that it would last...and man did I hear about it! But we knew (going on almost 11 years).

17. Change it or get over it. People spend way too much time complaining about a problem when really there are only 2 choices. Change it or Get Over it!

18. Grown up things aren't ever simple or easy.

19. Let your kids be kids. So many kids are given adult responsibilities and its wrong.

20. Teach your kids responsibility with kid responsibilities, chores, kid choices, school, church. The child who never learns to choose well for him/herself can never be a positive contributing member of society. (having said that my oldest is 8, we'll see how that works)

21. Share. Share your happiness, share your service, share your food, share your toys. Just, share.

22. Laugh. The less you feel like laughing the more you need to laugh. I haven't heard of anyone dying of too much laughter, although there have been people who have died from heart break and stress.

23. Family is important. No matter how screwed up they are give them a chance. (obviously, there are exceptions)

24. It's never too late. To do something you have wanted, to forgive, to love, to share, to get to know someone, to apologize, to learn...

25. You can never decide how someone else should or does live. We can only make choices for ourselves. Just because someone might be doing something you don't agree with doesn't mean you can't love and appreciate them anyway.

26. Don't live with regret. Right the wrong, change your mind, whatever you need to do.

27. Speak your mind. Now this one has gotten me in mounds of trouble, however if you learn to do this with tact, and when its really something you feel strongly about you can't go wrong. There are only lessons to be learned.

28. Be open. Be open to hearing others opinions, even if you don't agree you can learn something about yourself and you may even be surprised that you might have changed your mind.

Goodbye hole in the wall!
Hello more cupboards!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!

(ok one person requested that I blog more)
But as far as I'm concerned that's popular enough...tehe

So what's new at the Parker house...hmmm.

Well Aubrey received the honor of Student of the Month for November. For the second year in a row...both in November. Which is driving Connor CRAZY, because he has never been student of the month, which as it turns out is just a perk for Aubrey. Gotta LOVE sibling rivalry. She has also been getting straight A's the whole year. Aubrey with a poem book she wrote

Connor passed of his Wolf requirements in Cub Scouts over the Thanksgiving weekend. (6 months early). He absolutely loves scouts, which I'm pleased about because I haven't had to ever nag him about it. He also has a new friend Spencer that lives 2 doors down. Spencer's family is awesome and Spencer is a really nice kid, so we are happy about the whole thing!

Connor being a goof-ball

Alli is loving preschool and I love that she loves it. It has kept her busy and happy. With both of the older kids at school all day there isn't much for her to do, which is a first for her. She has always had at least Aubrey home to entertain her. She is really struggling with being alone. Olivia isn't quite old enough to play with, for any extended period of time at least. So tuesdays and thursdays are more difficult and lately she starts asking "when are the kids going to be home?" around 12 noon. After the holidays I think she's going to start swim lessons at the local indoor pool, that should keep her busy. Alli with her birthday presents

(the scooter, hat, and gloves)

Olivia is growing up so fast! She has been walking since a week before Halloween. Olivia is into board books, cars and trucks, and she loves to carry around one of Aubrey's purses. She gives the BEST hugs and kisses and is in love with her puppy. I could write all day about how amazing she is and how smart, and cute. I'll spare you.

A moment of her just being silly and cute!
helping put up Christmas decorations

It's funny because we can always tell whether the kids get their coordination from Sean or I. Connor started walking at 10 months, running the next day and before that he was climbing on EVERYTHING. Coordinated- mom. Aubrey was slower to walk and hasn't stopped falling over. Uncoordinated- dad. Alli was walking at a year and dancing quickly after that, dance lessons came naturally. Coordinated- mom. Olivia wasn't walking until 14 months, it's been over a month and a half and she is still bouncing off walls, cupboards and people...she hasn't quite figured out her breaks yet. Uncoordinated-dad. It doesn't seem to bother either Aubrey or Olivia to have no coordination and luckily for them, I know coordination can be learned.
Now don't get me wrong, Sean isn't what you would call a klutz but smooth and graceful are definitely words that would not describe anything he does. Or anyone in his family (God love them) for that matter. And before Sean becomes the victim in everyone's mind, he is aware of this.

Speaking of Sean. He is working his hiney off even though things are slowing down. In part due to seasonal demand as well as the "slowing economy". While some of his friends in the industry have been laid off, Sean remains confident in his job security. So for now we continue to be thankful for his job and our hearts go out to those going through job loss and financial struggles during this holiday season.

I am officially registered as a student at Salt Lake Community College. I was so worried that my classes would fill up and there wouldn't be any room for me, which led to me stalking the internet registration status for a week. Not making it in would have been a HUGE set back. For anyone who doesn't know I will be going into Cosmetology. Sean is super supportive and (pre-maturely) looking forward to a 2nd income. No pressure, sheesh. I totally feel that this is the right choice for me at this time. I know it'll be hard with young kids but we'll just work through it like everything else. Plus, I could be proven wrong but I think I have some natural talent in the area. So count down begins...one month exactly! I will be taking two Cosmetology lab classes, one Cosmetology Theory class and one business HR class (online).

So there you have it. That's how we are these days. I'll have to write all about the Holiday festivites and Shenanigans!

You have GOT to be KIDDING ME!

So I was at Target tonight. Alone, with Olivia. I was enjoying my time when I wandered into a "situation" in the baby clothes section. It was ridiculous! A woman (possibly the aunt) was chasing 2 kids around the ages of 2 and 4 around UNDER the displays of high chairs and playpens etc. Around all of the boxes. For those of you who don't have babies yet, those boxes are heavy and not steady. The 4 year old was saying "come this way" to the woman and she was saying things like "no I think I'll go in/out this way...uh oh, watch out (little boys name)...just a minute i have to get (boy)." Girl: "This is so fun I had no idea" as the sound of boxes tipping and moving. Umm HELLO dangerous! As if that wasn't bad enough what I think was the actual mom of the kids was changing a diaper, A POOPY diaper on one of the larger boxes under the display. Are you KIDDING me?! Don't get me wrong I get the chaos of kids. I understand the need to change a poopy ASAP, yeah I get making do with what is available...BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORE??? She was less than 30 yards from the bathroom. Next time you buy a large purchase for a baby beware of what's on the outside of the box....ewww!

Happy Birthday Alli! and Megan's off to school!

Alli is 5! actually she will be on Friday but the way things have been going I should get this blog done before it becomes a procrastination issue!
Alli is is preschool and LOVES it! Her personality has just exploded over the last few months and she is adorable. She cracks me up almost everyday. Lately she likes to talk about her future. She is "going to be a singer like Taylor Sift" and "color her hair yellow." It's so much fun to tell her that she can be whatever she wants to be as long as she works hard. And that she is beautiful the way she is. I believe she will do what she wants and will be successful, too. She loves to help out and she has this determination about her she's had from the day she was born. She is still fiercely independent (don't know where in the world she gets that from!). We are still told often that she is my "mini megan", strangers, family, friends, Sean someone usually has something to say about it. I don't mind, but I'm sure it might be a problem for her as she gets older. Oh well, we all have our issues. Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLI WE LOVE YOU!!

And now on to me...my favorite thing to blog about...HAHA.
Actually for once there is news about me. Way back in August/September I made up my mind to go back to school. It has been something I have been looking into and talking about since Connor and Aubrey were little. Some things I considered going for were nursing, teaching, and cosmetology. Well I made the decision and will be going for Cosmetology. While Nursing and Teaching are valiant professions I need to do something with some more flexibility. I am hoping after gaining some experience, to have my salon in my house. Until that time comes I'll start out going to school at night taking as many classes as I can handle so that I can get finished as soon as possible. Then the plan is to work in a professional salon to gain some experience for a year or 2 and then finally build a salon in our house. In the meantime Sean will be starting internet classes sometime next year in hopes to finish his bachelor and continue on to his masters. OY its just the beginning...but it's the beginning of the end!

A new Post! Things I've Done

It's seems like I am falling behind on my blog, ugh, just like everything else right now. There just isn't enough time in the day. I'll have to explain in more detail later. But for now I thought I would post a blog that I saw on my cousins page. Here it is...

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (I'm including Orchestra and a few Quartets)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
I hope to one day
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
sign language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
(well as close as you can get in the US I went to the museum in DC)
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Parkers- Sick Again

Well, just when I was getting a handle of all that was going on everyone gets sick. Alli started it all with a bout of strep throat and after a round of antibiotics it persisted. Sean took her to the Dr. which doesn't happen all that often. When he (dr.) said since it didn't respond to antibiotics it was probably viral, sean insisted he check anyway. Go Daddy! Sean was right and the Dr. was surprised and prescribed a stronger med. Well unfortunately stronger didn't mean tastes better so we spent a week playing the "If you take your medicine..." game with Alli. It was bad. Fortunately no one else caught it which is an amazing blessing.
Although, I rejoiced too soon. The next week we got a call from the school saying Aubrey threw up in class. Poor girl I felt so bad for her. This time it was a different story, because from then on every 2 days someone else was sick. The next victim was Connor who was at a soccer game when it hit. Then Monday it was Olivia. Then Wednesday it was me and Alli. It brought back all sorts of memories of morning sickness...so glad that is over with! I knew that morning it was bad so I had Sean call a friend in the ward to watch Olivia while I spent the day with Alli puking and sleeping. We were sick buddies. I do not know what I would have done if I had to take care of Olivia all day, I mean, what else do you do with a 1 y/o when doing anything vertically is impossible? Anyway, I was so thankful to have someone to call on. Lucky Sean was the only one who didn't get it.

But now we are all feeling better. Just in time, too. This Saturday we are going to go to Provo so my cousins can take some family pictures. This was my solution to avoiding the high cost of a pro...2 BYU students who are creative and love kids. So instead of paying hundreds of $$ we promised them dinner in exchange for their services. I am scheeming another plan similar to this one to get Sean and I a weekend away w/free babysitters. If there's one thing I've learned about college students...you can get them to do just about anything for a good home cooked meal. Plus my cousins are awesome so they would do nice things for me anyway. I will post some pics when we are done. We haven't had a real family picture since Aubrey was a baby...that is sad!