Hey!! We're over HERE! 

Goodbye

Well, it looks like we don't have an technically gifted people that read this blog. We tried to get around this whole, "You have to buy more storage" problem, but we couldn't. Does blogger not want to support the common folk? 

:)

Some of us have a hard time saying goodbye to things. Old sneakers. Papers. Houses. Pets. Blogs. Yes, even blogs. Which sounds incredibly pathetic to even type out. A lot of life has been documented on this blog. Don't worry, we'll spare you the "Life that Happened on this Blog" list. 

On the flip side, maybe it is time to take the rug out and give it a good beating. Ya know, switch things up a bit. Spring cleaning. Looking forward, not back. And whatever deep, poetic idea that you want to give it.. 

We're at an interesting time in our family life with the possibility of our mentors moving to a place that requires a puddle jumper plane to get there.

Please follow along with us here.

BUT, if you want to end your journal with us here, we totally understand. No hard feelings. Really, how many fuzzy pictures can you look at? 

The new blog is like a new pair sneakers. Or a new haircut. You gotta get used to it and make it feel homey. It's a work in progress.

So, GOODBYE blog.  

(How can we say goodbye to parents when we can't say goodbye to a blog? We're doomed.)

PS: We've learned to post a little less pictures over the years. But if we're around in another 4 years, we need to win a badge or gain an advertisement on the sidebar. Who's rich?? Any takers? 

Three Statements

3 (Life Changing) Statements

1. Mom & Dad signed up for cable. It's basic cable with only 10 channels (the channels that are normally free for people that live in normal areas), but it's still cable and for the first time in 29 1/2 years of marriage, they can say, "I have cable."

2. After some searching, this group is willing to consider teaming up with Mom & Dad. That's if they pass all the tests and interviews and if the group decides that Mom and Dad are sane and stable. (That's a big IF). 

3. After 4 years of blogging, this blog is coming to an end. Jokes. Well, maybe. Blogger automatically saves all the pictures on this blog into a Picasa Album. This blog has about 2,000 pictures saved up and they want us to fork out some cash money to add more storage. We can't/won't buy more storage (See life changing statement #2). We are unable to upload anymore pictures until we figure this out. So, to all the technologically gifted people out there...please send comments and ideas on how to fix this. Until then, posts will be few and will be all words and no pictures (b-o-r-i-n-g). 

Sunday Snoozers

Cable Guy

There are a lotta changes that have come about because of THE MOVE.  One change is that Chuck & Shelly can no longer bank on free TV. They now live in um, how shall we put it...a less populated area, and they can only pick up 3 TV channels on cloudy days. It must be cloudy, they must sit in a specific spot and hold their hands just right. 

When it's not cloudy and there's something important to watch (Super Bowl, ACC Basketball Championship), they go to their neighbor's house. Their neighbors, the Suits, have basic cable. Cable that costs $13 and gives you all the free TV shows and the TV Guide channel. What a rip off!! (They got tired of waiting for cloudy days and holding their hands just right.) The deal is that the Suits provide the house and TV and the Parkers provide the food. It's worked out so far! 

Here are the men watching UNC lose to Duke today. 

Caption Please

"Hey Anna, watch me slap him into next week"

"Hey Kent, train your dog"

"Patch, check out my karate/dance moves"

"Sorry guys, I didn't have any clean black pants"

"Can I have just one chocolate chip, white chocolate chunk cookie?" 

"Are you sure we can't squeeze 3 on that couch?" 

Girls Night

The only requirement for this Girls Night was you had to wear tight, black pants..and everybody who showed up did so a good time was had by all. We let Patch slide twice (1. A male 2. No tight, black pants. It's been a long week & we weren't ready for the fight. Maybe next time?)

R & R

Guess who's on Spring Break...

Career Day

For Career Dress Up Day students thought that Mrs. Suits was just a Doctor. They didn't know that she actually wants to BE Dr. Chuck Parker. Don't you? And after knowing him for a solid 24 years, she's close to perfecting the Dr. CHP look. 

Also known as the..."Gretta!!! Gretta, get Shelly on the phone. Is it 1PM? I need a nap. I just ate fiber cereal from a Styrofoam cup while walking to the hospital. Gretta!!! Is that a Drug Rep? Are my rooms full? I guess I'll take time to breathe when I retire. Retire? I need sugar. I can't eat sugar. Gretta!!!" look. 

Choice 2

Or would you rather have a Skype date with this guy? He talks with an Italian Mobster/Rocky Balboa accent. Like, "Yo, Adrienne..." or "Leave the gun, take the cannoli..." Tempting, right?

Skype Invite

Would you like to Skype with us? It would make your day. Just ask Anna... 

Tiny Abode

LIFE UPDATE

The House on Yachting Road (Moment of Silence, please...) sold in about 4 weeks as For Sale By Owner. It was during the chaos of Christmas that the buyers started to look at it. We've already established that it was like God dropped an anvil on our heads as a big ol' sign. They closed on the house at the end of January. 

From there, Charles & Michele moved into a 698 sq. ft. apartment. They're now neighbors of Kent and Kaitlin (about a 3 minute drive) Their rent is c-h-e-a-p. The kind of rent that poor college kids would drool over. We'll just say that it's less than $501 dollars. 

There's no dishwasher.

There's no ice maker. 

Jokes! (Sorta) Here are some pictures when they were first moving in. This is the kitchen, dining room and laundry room. 

Also the kitchen

Bathroom 

They rigged a mirror for the bathroom eventually

Living Room

Their bedroom. That's pretty much the width of it. There's a 2ft space around the bed to walk around. 

They debated between different places to rent, but there were 2 things that finally sold them on this place... 

The first thing was the Intercom system, that no longer works, from the 70's. It gives it the antique feel that Ma loves. Yes, the 70's is considered antique now.

And the #1 thing was.....bada bing bada boom....the built in fish tank!!! When they saw this they said, "Stick a fork in us. The search is over." 

*This fish tank is no longer able to carry fish. 

Their first visitor! 

Our two wild love birds... following Jesus & learning how to squeeze 10 lbs of sugar in a 5 lb bag (The answer is storage units. Or, as Robin likes to call them, sheds). 

Conversations

2 (hypothetical, totally made up, don't sue us) conversations between a (hypothetical, totally made up, don't sue us)  3rd grade teacher and a (hypothetical, totally made up, don't sue us) 3rd  grade student....


#1 Setting: In the doorway of the classroom


Boy Student: Can I take my book to the bathroom while I poop?
Teacher: No
Student: But it's my book!
Teacher: No


#2 At the lunch table


Girl Student: Do you have any kids?
Teacher: No, just a husband and a dog. 
Student: Do you want kids?
Teacher: Yes. Do you?
Student: Yes
Teacher: You will be a good Mom someday
Student: Well, let me ask you a question
Teacher: Okay
Student: What are some jobs that don't acquire you to do division?  'Cause my Mom says EVERY job requires division. 
Teacher: Wow, every job?
Student: Yeah, even being a Mom
Teacher: Yeah, like if you have 4 kids and 20 muffins. How many muffins would each kid get?
Student: (panicked) I DON'T KNOW!!!
Teacher: Your kids are going to starve! 

A Letter

Dear Parker Family,

Ten and a half years ago, you bolted through my doors. You were a family made up of awkward teens and preteens, a hard working Mom and a Dad ready to start flying solo with his medical profession. You drove many hours to reach me. A family from the North relocating to the sunny South.

 When you saw my empty rooms, backyard and pool you exclaimed, “This place is TOO nice for us!” over and over again. It didn’t take long for you to settle right into me. You filled each one of my rooms with your stuff. You slept in my four bedrooms. One in particular you painted blue, then pink, then yellow. Thank you for the change of scenery. 

I felt the piles of laundry build up on those floors. The rooms were a place for doing homework, talking to friends and prepping for spontaneous fashion shows. I saw the excitement as you got ready for proms, graduations, concerts, games and weddings. My walls heard sermons being prepped. Secrets being told.

You filled my dining room with countless meals. Meals with family and with friends. You sat and ate for hours as I listened into the conversations.  At times they were fun, sad, angry, confused, deep conversations. You filled this room with balloons and streamers for every birthday.

 Thank you for the smell of delicious food in my kitchen. I watched as meals were whipped up in five minutes. Other times crock pots ran all morning and novice chefs dissected recipes. My sink felt heavy with dishes, my island was covered in mail. You filled my kitchen walls with sadness early on when you heard of Grandpa Jack’s death. You made my kitchen one of the main meetings spots.

You gathered for holidays. I heard you sing Christmas carols in the dark of my living room with only the tree to light up the room. You exchanged gifts. You scattered wrapping paper on my floors. You devoured turkey and mashed potatoes. You stuck heart stickers on my windows.  

 You filled my garage with toys, cars and tools. You worked out and hid Christmas presents there. Your dog greeted people with a wagging tail and fat lump. In the Fall, leaves and dog hair blew across the floor. Please tell Chuck that the messy garage was always okay with me. It was a sign of family and of busy lives. Four new drivers drove into my driveway.

 I held my breath.

Above the garage, you watched countless hours of TV (Please tell Shelly that was okay too), cheered for football teams and played on the computer. I heard you fight for computer and phone time. I listened as the newly engaged couple crept up the stairs at Midnight to tell everyone the big news.  

My yard gave you time in the spring and summer to relax and have fun. You ran around, attacked fire ant hills and called for your dog to come back. In my pool you raced, floated and talked. I felt hair clippings drop on my porch and felt the tug of the porch swing.

Parker Family, I have watched you grow for ten years. Thank you for filling my walls with memories.

Love,

Your House on Yachting Road

Pretty Woman

Introducing...Kenny & The Hebrew Scholars 
Singing...Pretty Woman
Starring...Kent Suits on drum


*This video falls under the "You know you're in seminary when..." category. 


*Kent's disclaimer is that at the beginning he's not off beat. The music is.


*Kait's disclaimer is that she has tried to get rid of the shiny Nike running jacket, but hasn't had any success yet.  


Enjoy. 



Ishah Yafah from Brooks on Vimeo.

Dinner for 3

Mom & Dad adopted Kait for Valentine's Day while Kent was at class. Check out Mom's fancy table setup. HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! Go hug someone you love. 

The After Party

Dad opened presents 

 Oliver hung out with the us

 We laughed

 Ben thought about life

Dorks

More "Let's not look like dorks when we take pictures in the restaurant" Pictures

Dinner

Friday was Father Charles' birthday. We got together that night at Carrabbas for dinner (thanks to Mom and Dad's gift card.. woot!) The After Party was held at the Parker II's House (Cake, Games, Tours of the House). Mom took most of the pictures, but she can't find her camera cord so we have to settle for this one. It's the "Let's not look like a dork in the restaurant by letting the camera flash go off" picture. It's also only part of our table- Birthday Boy and Anna. So, a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the Renter of a 698 sq. ft. house and our great Dad. We love you! 

Math

2(Girls)+Redbox Movie+Ice Cream(Bunny Tracks + Berry Me Please)=Girls Night

Play date

The cousins got together for a pre-game play date on Sunday. Oliver (the Gentle Giant) plays so nicely with his younger cousin, Patch (the Mini Menace). 

 They got nice and muddy

 Oliver says, "What the heck, you're giving up already?"

 "Okay, I'll join you."

 Patch says, "Sike!! I'm a mini menace!!!"

 They wanted to know if the game was over yet. 

 "Mom? Dad? Really...."

 "I can hear youuuuu"

House on Yachting Road

It's days like today that make us miss the House on Yachting Road (which is what we call it now) very much. We'll all miss it at different times and for different reasons. For different lengths of time. The House on Yachting Road still belongs to Mom and Dad for the next few days, but it sits empty (and lonely). It's hard to have a Super Bowl gathering in an empty house. Today would've been the day where we came over for lunch, slept all afternoon, and then  we would've woken up and watched the game. Instead we did lunch (potluck style) at Kent and Kait's and then some of us crammed into their FROG and watched the game. But of course it's different than sprawling out like we used to. It's an adjustment. 

More

We're back with more blogging in REAL TIME. We know you're watching the Super Bowl and then the commercials so you're not checking blogs, but we wanted to let you know that....we're doing the same thing!!! Sara is especially into the game this year. 

 Please excuse the photo quality. And the fact that Dad is wearing a $3 Alabama sweatshirt from a thrift store. 

Real Time

Thanks to modern technology (laptops that take pictures) we're able to blog in REAL TIME. As in, as this blog is posted, this is what we look like! Do you feel like a part of the Parkers? If you do, don't you feel loved and special? Set apart maybe? We're used to it. 

Wes and Shelly are resting up at the Suits Casa for the big game tonight. Who are you rooting for?

Put Me In Coach...

Coach Parker and his Eagles finished their basketball season this morning. They made it to the playoffs this year! This is Wesley's first year as assistant coach. He was made for coaching (can someone say "competitive"?) but he might need a towel to bite on to keep from yelling too much.  

The team

 The middle school guys on his team are just so precious! 

AKA

Big Mama Camera and Baby Camera

....

Also known as Sara's camera and Anna's camera