Here we go....

I can't believe how long it has been! With 2 boys and 2 cats sprinting around the house, going back to work full-time , and both Matt and I trying to finish our degrees....our family blog has been put on the back burner.

I just got done catching up on my two favorite families who also blog, and I am remembering how therapeutic blogging is! So (hopefully) I will get this blog up and running again! It only took me 20 minutes to remember my user name and password! HA!

Proud mama!

Check out the 2nd place winner for youth..... http://www.audubonportland.org/raptor/photo This proud parent moment was brought to you by the letters PTW!!!!

Keaton

I know crib bumpers can suffocate babies, but I think they were made for other reasons too.

Keaton slept very soundly this night, maybe because he was stuck all night?

Valentine's Day Weekend

We took the boys to Seaside for Valentine's Day weekend. Parker had a blast playing video games at the arcade, feeding fish to the sea lions, riding the carousal 100 times, flying kites, and playing in the sand. Keaton hated the wind, but loved the sand!

Matt and I trying to convince Parker to touch the sea anemone

Boys and their football

We quickly moved Keaton "down wind" from his brother

When you're 3 you can NEVER ride a carousal enough times

Bumper cars are more fun with teenagers than young children.

Parker had a blast whenever it was "big kids."

At the park before it was time to go home.

Super Bowl Sunday

Notice no captions? I'm getting really pissed at blogger.

grrrrr

I give up on that last post. No matter how many times I tried to "fix" it and make everything look all pretty, the moment I clicked "submit post" it gets all discombugulated. My blood pressure has risen. It's not worth the headache.

At age 31, Melissa tries her first Jell-o shot. (not a big fan) Parker gets to skip school to go to the zoo. (it stopped rainning for a day) Petie contemplates tearing down our peace banner....

The battle continues...

Changing table 3 -Wilcox boys 0

There is no such thing as a stupid question right?

Hypothetically..... If you get laid off of work, and you collect unemployment.... Then you have to fill in "employer" on a questionnaire.... Would you be employed by the US Government or the US Taxpayers? Just wondering. On a side note did you know that Oregon's unemployment rose from last month? Unfortunatly, I know of some people who helped it go up.

Car rides and birthdays

Matt and I have always agreed that when it comes time to carpool the kids and their friends around, we want to be the ones to do it. Not that we don't trust other parents driving our kids around, but because we want to hear all the conversations that go on between them.

Today, I mentioned that he had a birthday party to go to on Saturday. Then I mentioned that he was invited to another birthday party in March.

This is kinda how our conversation went:

Parker: My birthday is April! That's after March! That's in like 2 days!

Me: 2 months. It's kinda a long time, but we will let you know when it gets closer.

Parker: April is like like a long car ride mom. For my birthday I want to go tot Pump It Up, and then have Abigail spend the night at ours house. Not JR, the big one this time mom.

Then on my 5 birthday, I want to eat at McDonalds, and then have my Riley and Benji spend the night.

When I am 10, Nathan will spend the night.

When I am 100, I want my Pop Pop to spend the night. I will touch the ceiling when I am 100!

Matt: (jokingly) When can I spend the night?

Parker: (very serious) no Dad.

Only 48 more days until "the 3 year old" becomes "the 4 year old!

Changing Table Vs. Wilcox boys

Changing Table 2-Wilcox boys -0 What a night of heads getting "stuck", ankles being smacked, icepacks and tears....

I want to call in sick.

Today is a busy, life altering day for a couple of my friends. One, I met on a plane going to San Diego when I was 12. We wrote each other ever week for many years, lost track of each other in college, and through the wonders of myspace found each other again a couple years ago! She was my best friend who lived in Arizona! There wasn't anything that we couldn't tell each other, and boy did we have a lot to say! Two, we went to Middle School and High School with each other. She is the reason that I had the guts to "stalk" my husband until he noticed me! She ate lunch with me everyday, went to most High School dances with each other (and our dates). Let me talk about "my dream boy", and cry about him when I needed to. I didn't know it at the time, but if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have the husband I have, or the two fantastic boys that I have. About our kids. One, is having her third baby today in Arizona! I have been awake for 1 hour, and I have checked her myspace page twice now waiting for an update. I don't know why. It's not like she's going to update her profile between contractions, but I am just so excited for her and her family to be bringing in a new little Parker into this world! Yes, his name is Parker too! When I told Parker this, his response was: "Now there are TWO Parker's!" Two, is waiting anxiously by the phone for her adoption agency to call. Today is the court date in Ethiopia to see if they get to bring there little girl home. It's been over a year, and we are all ready for little girl to be in her family's loving arms. I have also checked her blog twice now to see if she has written anything. Checked my email to see if I have gotten the mass email letting us know all is well! We all want it to be that much closer to being complete! I don't want to go to work today. I would much rather get a cup of coffee, and sit on my bed with my laptop checking myspace, my email, and blogger.... I am thinking of you ladies today! And I will try to sneak away at work, call Matt, and have him get online for me!

Keaton vs. Pete the cat

Poor guy. He got bit by the cat this morning. (Squeezed him a little to hard) Then got in a fight with the desk, and the desk won. I can offically write in the baby book- First Cat Bite: February 6, 2008 First Black Eye: February 6, 2008 What a day!

Happy Birthday Mr King

Parker: "Is today a school day mom?"

Melissa: "No, it's a stay home day. Today is Martin Luther King Jr's birthday!"

Parker: "I know! Let's get him a toy from Toys R Us!"

Melissa: "What would you get him?"

Parker: "I think he would like Hot Wheels."

After we came home from playing with our fabulous friends...and seconds before nap time...

Parker: "AWE!!!! We just forgot to go to the birthday party!!"

Melissa: "Who's birthday party?"

Parker: "That one guy!"

(brief pause as I'm racking my brain)

Melissa: "You mean Martin Luther King Jr?"

Parker: "Yeah!"

Melissa: "We're not going to a birthday party for him. We just celebrate how nice of a person he was and all the good things he did."

After we decided we were going out for pizza...

Parker: "Let's get dessert, and sing Happy birthday for that guy."

Melissa and Matt: "You mean, Martin Luther King Jr."

So, today at Old Chicago, the Wilcox Family sang "Happy Birthday to Mr. King."

He would have been 80 years old last Thursday.

Just thinking of you...

About 10 years ago, Matt's mom brought home the CUTEST black lab! Much to Matt's protest, his brother named her Scarlett. Scarlett is your very typical lab. She eats anything and everything, drinks from the toliet, takes YOU for walks, chews through seatbelts, sits on your lap as you try to drive, and will always wag her tail and give you slobbery cat box kisses! I'm not joking on the taking you for a walk thing either. Matt's mom actaully broke a bone in her foot taking her for a walk once! Oh, and did I mention that she's not one of those "little" labs...she has got to be at least 100+ pounds! Friday, Matt's mom had to take good 'ol Scarly (Parker's nickname for her) to the vet. She pulled a "Marley" and twisted her tummy up. Please remember that this is Matt's mom's dog. She doesn't live with us, I don't see her everyday, at most once a week. But let me tell you, when I saw her hiding under a folding chair barely wagging her tail at me, it took everything in me to keep it together. Helping Matt load her into the back of the Explorer was one of the saddest things I've done. I truly thought I was saying my goodbyes... Fast forward two days and a million dollars later, Scarly is resting comfortably (I hope) at home. She has a shaved belly and staples in her tummy, but she was a trooper! Thank you Banfield Pet Hospital and Dove Lewis for taking care of our Scarly! We don't know what we would do with her comedic entertainment!

Parker "loving" on Scarlett 3 years ago.

December and Early January

December: Matt and Parker went to a Blazer game with our neighbors. Parker got to go out onto the court, and hi-five the Blazers as they came out!!! Then he got to sit on the bench while they had their warm up! If you ask him his favorite part, he will tell you all about the hot dog and bubble pop that Daddy got him. If he only knew how lucky he was!

What? We still haven't gotten our tree?

Due to snow (and Melissa being lazy) we got our tree a couple days before Christmas this year! Yeah!!! No more "tree-pee*" for our house!! We got to have a lovely smelling one this year!

Keaton opening his first Christmsa present!

And Parker with his "waterfall" book that PopPop made him...

Parker holding on for dear life in the Earthquake House at OMSI...

January:

Happy New Year!!

We celebrated at our house with a "few" neighbors...

Toddler Tyler's hand in the popcorn bowl...

Keaton reading his book from Aunt Kathy...

Keaton meeting his baby cousin (2nd cousin) Olivia Kay...

* The "old" station that Matt was with had an annual "tree-pee" in the parking lot. You brought your dog, and the first tree that it peed on was your tree to take home. Can you believe that they actually turn people away from this event?? Gross. Our tree has never been peed on, but I swear, last year it smelt like it.

December Update

It's been awhile since I've blogged. Our main computer in our house crapped out a little bit after our last blog. Matt blames me of course. Since I was trying to find a yummy cookie recipe on the Betty Crocker website when it all went to hell. We had a very busy Christmas....lots of running around to family houses, and with all the snow and ice, it just seemed to make everything more stressful. Matt decided that he felt like a spoiled rotten little kid who didn't get everything he wanted. I got a lot of great stuff! A new stroller!! I collect those things! Parker was a little freaked out at first that "Santa" came into our house and left a bunch of stuff for us. And by a bunch, I mean WAY to much! Keaton liked tearing the wrapping paper off his gifts, but got overwhelmed very quickly when ALL of the family was around. The poor itchy guy would've been happy with one wad of wrapping paper and a good long nap. As I type this tonight, I am grateful for all the cookies that were given to us, and the 10 extra pounds of winter fat to keep me warm. And "Thank the Lord that the snow and ice are melting!"

Snowy Sunday!!

It snowed! And it actually stuck to the ground!! I am always up for a good snow day! I love knowing that you need to stay home, and be lazy! Last night whenever I looked out the window for the "big snow storm" we were suppose to have it was just windy. SO this morning when we woke up.....

You can kinda see out tiny faceless snowman! Every time we tried to put eyes on it, the head would fall apart! Next time, I'll try to brave the snow and wind better, and build a bigger snowman with Parker!

A nice little walk in the neighborhood with Parker.

Matt and Keaton were taking a morning nap.

Right before dinner (and 2 inches of snow later) We bundled Keaton up, and had him experience snow for the first time. I'm pretty sure it was WAY to windy for him. We stayed out just long enough to get a couple pictures, and Keaton and I went back inside. By they way, after layering the boys up, I swore Keaton was going to poop or Parker would have to go potty, but I was lucky today!!

You can't tell, but Parker was throwing a snowball at me. He and Matt had their first snowball fight! Parker thought it was pretty funny playing in the dark with Daddy outside! At dinner he told me, "Snow is really fun!"

I am so glad that school is cancelled tomorrow, and Matt doesn't have to go into work! We get to make more snow memories!!

And to all of our friends and family who live in areas that get a lot of snow...I know 3 inches doesn't seem like much to you, but it rarely snows here, so please don't rain on my parade!!! (lisa)

Season's Greetings

I had 30 minutes to kill before I picked up Parker, and I didn't feel like doing anything productive. So here you go....

Parker has been singing Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Chipmunk Christmas song over and over and over and over......Thanks Abby for teaching us thoses Christmas songs.

15 days until Christmas!!!

yikes! I need to clean out the family room!

I need a Thanksgiving Re-Do

What I was thankful for on Thanksgiving morning:

My husband who stayed home with a sick 3 year old

What I was Thankful for Thanksgiving afternoon:

My niece who watched Keaton while I slept

My sister who came into the guest room to check my forehead and bring me water

My brother for not complaining about how his children were probably going to get sick because of me

My dad for trying to help me stay warm

My mom for forcing me to take medicine

My side of the family for just letting me be sick in the room next door

My husband and sick 3 year old picking me up so I didn't have to drive home

What I was Thankful for Thanksgiving evening:

My in-laws for letting me sleep on their guest bed with a sick 3 year old on their couch

What I am Thankful for this evening (4 days later):

Our pediatrician giving me a prescription to knock my kids out for the night so we can all get a good nights sleep and the Sudeffed that I just took to knock me out too...

Cheers to a drug induced sleep.