Cone Head Tyson

Tyson managed to slice the back pad of his front paw so badly that it nearly came off last weekend while swimming in the pond outside our house.  We took him to the vet and, after being told it'd be almost $500 for 3 stitches, we decided to go the less expensive and funnier route of giving him antibiotics and putting a cone around his head for the next 2-3 weeks, which was still $160 freaking dollars.  Kids and pets- suck your pocketbooks dry I tell ya!

Floating head Tyson

Eva was super sad for her Tyson

Sad face puppy

He finally figured out how to lay down

25 Days of Work

A day off from work finally arrived!  As the title of the post suggests, I have not had a day off, where I did not work at one of my two jobs (and many days I worked at both) in 25 days.  To put it another way, I haven't had a day off since February and next week is April... crazy to think about now that I actually type it out.  I am exhausted, but I'm not complaining.  I'm thankful everyday for my jobs that allow me to provide for my family, for the physical and mental ability to handle both of them and for the fact that I am employed at all- many people in this country right now wish they could say they'd worked 25 days straight.

So thank you God.  Thank you for work.  Thank you for a support system that allows me to be away from Eva and know that she's well cared for while I work.  Thank you for good bosses and amazing co-workers who make the hours go by faster.  Thank you for the chance to use my mind and body everyday to do things that I enjoy.

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. ~ Psalm 128:2

Eva's Book Review- March

We don't really have a theme for this month's book selection, I just let Eva pick a hogde-podge of books from the library and we received a new one from Auntie Nancy.

1. Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
This book is adorable.  It's about a little girl chicken who wants to read books before bedtime but she keeps jumping in and ruining the surprises at the end of the stories.  It 100% reminds me of Eva, who is always jumping in or jumping ahead when she knows the books we are reading.  Eva doesn't see the similarities between herself and little red chicken but she likes the book and thinks it's goofy that in the end the daddy falls asleep to his daughter "reading" to him.

2. Silly Milly by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
This is a rhyming book with a twist at the end and Eva actually knew the answer before I did.  She may read this book at school, I'm not sure, but the trick question at the very end is "why is miss Milly so silly?" Well, throughout the whole book the things Milly likes all have double letters (umbrellas, green, snowballs etc) while the things she doesn't like have no double letters.  I didn't pick up on it but Eva did.  Again, I may just be one of those crazy moms who is dead-set that their child is the next Einstein but I like it here in Geniuschildville, so leave me alone ;-)

3. The Little Fox's Adventures by Ulf Stark
This is a book Auntie Nancy bought for Eva at Ikea.  It's originally from Sweden, and I can tell that it was translated by a native Swedish speaker, versus an English speaker, because the grammar is just a bit quirky.  It's about a little girl fox who thinks she can do anything (again, totally Eva) and in the end needs her friends help to make it home safely.  I've been working in Swedish words with Eva while we read this- colors, animals etc- so hopefully the legacy can carry on in her! 

Singing

Eva sings all the time.  In the bath tub, while playing with dolls, in the car, on our walks, at the kitchen table, in church... literally, all the time.  I love it, because she's actually pretty good for a 3 year old, but I'm in serious need of someone with real vocal skills (cough, Auntie Maria, cough cough) to try and help teach her a bit, so that she doesn't drive Jason and I crazy.

Oh and she "plays" the guitar too :-)

Happy Monday morning world!



St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Parks Family!  Jason is nearly 100% Irish, making my little Eva nearly 50% so to celebrate the leprechaun brought Eva lots of goodies.  It was so cute, I heard her call from downstairs this morning, "Mom, look at all the green stuff Santa brought me!"  We had to then explain leprechauns, St Patrick's Day, being Irish etc.  I'll wait until the green fan fare dies down to remind her of her Swedish roots ;-)
We also had a picnic in the park since it's still crazy warm here, we're talking mid-70s and sunny.  I hate global warming but I can't say I mind the gorgeous weather in March.

An Irish blessing for you all:
May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Goodies from the leprechaun

Coloring with bed head

Fruit before sweets at the picnic

Mmmm cookie

Real Irish girls wear green tutus to the park ;-)

Ran into her school friend Tyler, the proceeded to chase each other for-ev-er

more running

The red hair is totally peeping through here- she looks like a leprechaun!

The Lorax

The Lorax is a Dr. Seuss book written in 1972 about the dangers of corporate greed and the toll it can take on the environment.  Even being 40 years old, the book still applies to our economy today and has been made into a full length, animated film.  I got the book from the library for Eva about 2 weeks ago and Wednesday night we went to see the movie.  She loved it, it was the first movie she has ever sat completely still for; the popcorn and later showtime might have contributed as well ;-)

Someone loves her popcorn!

70+ degrees in March!

This week we set record high temps here in the Twin Cities, well into the middle 70s.  It honestly feels like June outside, not March, and the heat wave is forcing golf courses- Jason's included- to open early.
Eva and I took the chance to soak up some sun and fresh air and went for a long walk through the park reserve right outside our neighborhood on Thursday night.  We're looking to get bikes and a pull behind carrier for Eva this summer, I'll be sure to post pics if it happens!

300th Post

It has finally arrived... my 300th blog post!  So sorry that I've been absent lately but I'm working all the time now and our internet is spotty at home.
Jason turned 34 last weekend and all of his family came in from Wisconsin to visit.  We went to Texas Road House for dinner on Friday (it was amazing!), Saturday everyone had a chance to watch Eva at her swim lessons and then Eva spent the day with Grandpa Peggy & Grandpa Bryan and Saturday night we painted downtown Anoka red with everyone plus LaRae, Brad, Baba and her new squeeze John.  The night included drinks, dancing and a beer pong competition- loved it!  We are so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives- thank you to everyone who celebrated with us!   


Jason being forced to ride the saddle at Texas Road House lol

Brad & Bryan, with Jason being a goof in the background

Mallori and Peggy

End of the night, Jason is done with our girly shenanigans