Parker Family: June 2013

I guess I'm a little biased or maybe being only 20 months apart, but I love my little sister. I remember she hates me saying that but she is my little sister. She is my bestest friend, well besides Craig of course. And the best thing about my bestest friend is that her family is our bestest family friend. Craig and Kyle are alike in so many ways but in some ways are different but they just click naturally. Kyle was my friend before he became my brother-in-law so it's a plus that he's family too! And Aimee, well we are just alike and many people still ask if we are twins and I gladly would say yes. Our first home we bought in Ogden was a whole 1 house away from them; I would watch Wyatt from the time he was born until we moved; we shoveled each others' driveways; many nights in their basement "watching movies" more like sleeping; eating Kyle's food of egg rolls, banana bread; Sunday afternoons after church eating chips & salsa while Craig had to stay after; exercising in the basement or jogs around the neighborhood. Let's just say we developed an awesome friendship and when we moved we quickly realized we took it for granted. Aimee and I always talked about how we would walk Jaycee and Wyatt to school and now that won't happen. How I ache to be back close to her!

I was SOOOOOOO excited when she told me their whole family was going to come visit us. I was shocked that Kyle could/would take time off since she came last year without him. I was counting down the days. The first night they came I swear I laughed so much. Kyle is just so funny to me with things he does that just makes me laugh. Wyatt wasn't shy at all and was excited to see us. I was nervous for Oaklee if she'd be scared but she warmed up quick. It felt so good and natural to be with them. Kyle loves The Goonies so we dedicated Saturday to Astoria & Seaside OR. It was so fun the memories we made. We all could fit in the pilot so it was a blast to talk & laugh. Highlights from the day: Baby Ruths, closed Bowpicker, kids coloring on the table at the lunch and getting the crayons taken away, sea otters ar-ar-ar, cringing when someone had to pee knowing we had to un-buckle, salt water taffy, climbing on rocks and finding creatures with Oaklee on my hip (love her!!), Hadi crying in the sand-she hated the beach, Aimee in her adorable dress, 10:00 dinner and 50 cent ice cream cones!!!!
Sunday we were SOOOO tired with Craig up for meetings & I had to play in sacrament meeting and another meeting after church so we relaxed at home. We did invited Kyle's friend Ty and his family over for dinner (they're in our ward) SMALL WORLD! It was fun to chat & laugh. Highlights: naps, yummy enchiladas with Kyle's salsa, lots and lots of cupcakes, lots and lots of talking.
Monday Craig left to Alaska until Wed night so it was just us. We set out to shop. We hit up Costco, Winco, Fred Meyer & Dollar Store for items for the week. Then we went to Lucia Falls by our house for a look at how beautiful Washington is. Highlights: Kyle's love for Jack-in-the-Box, samples at Costco, delicious kabobs for dinner, Aimee and her desire for FREE items at the dumpster, watching the Bachelorette together.
Tuesday we decided to plan the res of the week and head down south. Aimee and I went through the temple and did some work while Kyle watched the kiddos for an hour. Then we headed a little more south to the outlet malls. We love shopping!!! The night was ended with dinner and driving home. Highlights: temple workers asking if Aimee & I were twins, a lost flip flop, Aimee & I searching clearance racks, rain storm coming through, yummy chocolate, Jack in the Box for the first time since I've lived here, Kyle's good finds at Quicksilver, Disney Store, kids playing in the treehouse with no shoes, driving home with talks and laughs, redbox ruining our movie.
Wednesday was a stay at home day since Thurs we would be going south again. We hung out at home and relaxed. We had to wait a bit since the rain came through but we did get to the duck pond to feed ducks and a sparatic walk to Fred Meyer for treats. We then came home to order local pizza that Aimee LOVED!!! Highlights: watching all the ducks, walking to Fred Meyer in rain, tantrums in the store, pushing 3 kids in a stroller on the way home, delicious pizza, Kyle's logo quiz app, Aimee figuring out Redbox, Craig getting home!
Thursday we went down to Newport/Depoe Bay area. It was 2 1/2 hours South and we decided to do this instead of Seattle. I was grateful and would take the beach over a city day any day. I decided to drive since Craig got home late and felt bad that he was tired. On the way we stopped at Voo-Doo donuts in Portland. Def going back there! We got to Newport and went first to the little free science center with touch pools and lots of sea life things. After we found a pirate area that looked awesome but failed miserably at the shops. We then went back to Depoe Bay to the scenic areas and more gift shops and found things we were looking for. We also stopped at the beach to look for opals. We ended the night at a fantastic restaurant in Lincoln City. I LOVE fresh seafood right on the coast. Highlights: old dirty bastard-yummy, one-way streets in Portland, potty breaks, "look Wyatt a plane on a building", seagulls and their poop!, peach fritter that everyone took apart of, tsunamis, pirate shops---somewhere, gorgeous scenery, opals haha, Jaycee falling in the water again, the need for crab, our noisy kids haha, driving home playing island game and laughing at answers, getting stuck on the drawbridge.
Friday was the last day. Craig decided to work from home since we did get back late again so he was able to sleep in until 8. We all had a relaxed day with cleaning up, talking, taking the kids to the park and then Costco for ice cream and talk about phones. This night we finally watched the Goonies together and had fun seeing the places in the movie that we went to. It was the perfect end to the week.

Saturday they left bright and early with morning dew for the 12 hours back to O-town. Sounded like they made pretty good timing. While they were driving I tried to not think about the week and to focus that I get to see them really soon. It finally hit me 2 weeks after (the night before our anniversary). I guess I was just emotional with them already come & gone, it was our 6 year anniversary and dreading the next week since Craig was leaving yet again. I just had the best time with them! Wyatt and Jaycee got along so well and hardly ever fought. One of the times we even saw them in the back holding arms together. Oaklee got along great too except when Hadi was pulling her hair. Hadi just loved her. I think they'll be good friends when they get older. I don't love the idea of moving back to Utah but to be closer to family makes me rethink what our future will hold.