Deep Thoughts by Lillianna

Lillianna:  Mom, I think we should get another baby.

Me:  Really?  Why?

Lillianna:   Um, because Ellenie is getting bigger and she's not really that funny anymore.

Me:  What?!  What do you mean she's not funny?

Lillianna: Well, she doesn't do as much funny stuff anymore.

You know, like eat rocks.

 Remember when she would eat rocks?

 That was really funny.

Oh how we miss our friends...

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.

 ~Elisabeth Foley

It's always so sweet, so refreshing to see how

Lillianna and Bibby pick right up where they left off.

We got to see them on our way up and back this weekend.  What a treat!

By complete luck we also got to see some other precious friends during our quick stop too.

Everyone is growing so big...it's still hard to believe we're not there to be a part of it.

We miss our friends!

We're from Kentucky...We LOVE our cousins!

It's true.

  We love our cousins.

 We really love playing with them, running with them, singing with them, laughing with them,

talking with them, eating with them, and laughing with them some more.

Early last week, we got to see the Millers twice in three days!

First we met them for some fun on the road,

 and then they came to see us for a quick but very fun visit to our house.

They make us SO happy whenever, where ever we see them!

Then this past weekend we traveled to see this little fellow...

He melts my heart.

He is getting so big, moving so fast, and growing so many teeth!

 As Lillianna would say, "He is a workin' baby!"

We were treated to some fabulous hospitality and had a very special visit!

Like I said, We really LOVE our cousins!

It's in her genes...

Me:  Lillianna, look at all your bags.  Each one has a bazillion treasures.  Can we throw some of it away?

L:  No.  I need them.

Me:  Lillianna, you are a pack rat.

Lillianna:  I am NOT a pack rat!

Me:  It's not a bad thing.  It just means you like to collect and keep ALOT of stuff.

Lillianna:  I am not a pack RAT.

Me:  Okay, you are a pack MOUSE.

Lillianna:  No, I am a pack BUNNY.

I love my little pack bunny.

L.O.V.E

Happy Valentine's Day!

One night at dinner last week,
we took turns telling each other what we loved about one another.
It's my new (and only) favorite Valentine's tradition!

Brad and I wrote down what the girls said and then I taped them up on the kitchen cabinets...

 

It was so great to read and re-read them all week long.

  Such a sweet and LOVE-ly little exercise to remind us of all the BIG but especially all the little reasons we LOVE one another.

From the Parsons...

The Bluegrass State

L:  Ellenie, Do you want to look out the window?  You can see all the snow covered houses as we fly over nashville.  I think I see Aunt Corky's house.

E:  No thanks.  Got three more layers of meek-up to apply.

L:  You really should take a break and take a look.  It's beautiful!

E:  Just like my lips.

Last week, the girls I flew to Louisville to visit Dandy and Wil.  It was so much fun!

As you can see, we were greeted by snow and bears dressed like Elvis.  Then we went straight to the hat shop where Lillianna picked out her Derby hat.

Then we went to the Science Center where Ellenie decided

that if her career as the next Estee Lauder doesn't work out, she might be look into a career on a cruise ship.

Meanwhile, Lillianna tried on NASA's latest (and greatest) astronaut suit.

These deep South girls didn't know what to think of the snow that was on the ground the ENTIRE trip!

Everywhere we went they made sure to stomp through, not around, the remaining snow.

We went out to play in it just once because it was SO cold.  Ellenie was so very tempted by the look of it, she kept taking off her mittens to touch it, only to whine immediatley that she wanted them back on.

Lillianna loved it and started right away on a Princess tower. 

Since it was such a huge hit last visit,

Dandy and Wil treated the girls to another night with this friendly rodent. 

Once again, they had THE BEST time...

Ellenie loved the Monster truck ride and Lillianna loved (for us) to win tickets.

On the last morning we were there, my girls got to do something with Dandy

that I did with him MANY (30+) times as a little girl.  Visit a state captial building.

 It was even more special that their visit to a state capital building just happened to be

in Dandy's favorite state...Kentucky!

Thanks for such a memorable visit!  We love you!

The Queens are in their court

I hope...

I hope they always find a reason to laugh...

I hope they always look up...to God...to their parents...to each other.

I hope they will learn to be both a great leader and a good follower.

I hope they will always reach a little farther, try a little harder, dream a little bigger.

I hope they will always be present in the moment, be content with who they are,  

and most of all,

know they are loved.

Is there such a thing as too much?

Having practiced on 47 tubes of chapstick in all flavors and colors,

Ellenie has really perfected her application technique.

One night, her "meek up" was particularly stunning

so we let her see for herself in the bathroom mirror...

As I said...stunning.

The look quickly grew on her...

She has now decided she is ready to take customers.  Makeover anyone?

Simon says

Simon says, "Look like a fish."

Simon says, "Give your cheeks a hug."

Simon says, "Pose like a babydoll at a tea party."

Simon says,"Look at cute as you can."

Olympic training

This afternoon we were outside enjoying Spring-like weather.

Just one week ago...

we were ice-skating!

Mississippi style of course...on the frozen water in our side yard ditch!