First Softball Game!

Kate had her first softball game last night - I was so nervous and prayed she had a good game - we have been working hard with her on hitting for the past couple of weeks - Kate ended up hitting both times at bat with really good hits - I was so excited but not as excited as Kate was! She had 2 RBI's and scored both times - the first time she scored - she jumped up and down on home plate - it was sooo cute - we were so happy and relieved she did so well! Here are 2 videos of Kate hitting the ball - I was too excited to capture the hits in the entirety but i couldn't help it! We are looking forward to the season

I GOT A FLIP!

We had a busy last week and weekend. The kids are busy in all their activities. Jake had his final little dribblers game this weekend - what a good way to end your little dribblers career with winning the Championship National All-star Game!

I was so excited to get a flip last Sunday and couldn't wait to use it - which I did all week at all of our games - this morning Zach and I played with the different video clips and made a short video of Jake's baseball, Zach's baseball, Kate's soccer, and Jake's basketball - i forgot Kate's opening day for Softball - so I will upload a video of her practicing with Chad in the garage - she had been a Granny's earlier and had put makeup on and dressed up like a dog so that is why she has black all of her face which she is determined to keep the eye makeup on for school tomorrow!

In the video - Jake is sliding into home, zach is batting, kate plays goalie and punts the boal, the last clip is the beginning of Jake's championship basketball game

here is kate practicing:

Happy Easter!

We have been so busy! Baseball has started and basketball is still going along with everything else. Jake is involved in everything right now - school track, basketball all stars, 2 basketball select teams, league baseball, and select baseball. He is busy every night with a practice or a game or a track meet - i don't know how he has the energy to do it all. Zach is only doing league baseball right now - he decided to give soccer up this spring and only focus on baseball - he has really excelled at baseball and is doing really great - his first game is this coming up saturday and we are excited to see his team - Chad and Todd are coaching the team so it will be a fun season. Kate is doing dance, soccer and softball - this is her first year for softball - i hope it won't be her last-her first softball game isn't for a couple of weeks- we all can't wait to see this. As you can see, with all the kids are involved in, we are so busy!!! Every night we have something and if there is a free night, we are in amazement and don't know what to do with ourselves.

Today was not only Easter but also both of our Dad's birthdays - last night we went to my parent's house for a birthday dinner with my dad - Jennifer, Cody and Reed were in for the weekend so it was also to spend time with them. We had a good time visiting with everyone and wished that Chris would've been there too. He just accepted a job in Corpus Christi and moved there last week. Reed is sooo cute. He is a great baby - a noise is hardly heard from him - he just smiles and is so sweet. Today we had Easter lunch with Chad's dad and family for his dad's birthday. We all had a good time and of course good food. We are thankful to have such good families and be able to spend time with them too. I wouldn't know what to do if we didn't get to see them like we do. Both of our families are so supportive, loving, and a big part of our lives - we are lucky.

I am hoping to post some videos soon of the kids playing all of their sports - have to get that flip first!

Skiing is Fun????

I don't understand why anyone would think skiing was fun - it's not - first you have to put so many clothes on you can barely move and not to mention how hot you are and the ski boots that are difficult to walk in - when you finally get all of this on you are sweating and already tired - then you have to go get your skis - and now carry these with the poles in the hard to walk in boots - not fun at all - when trying to ski - all you do is think about not falling because lord knows you can't get up if you do - the wind is blowing in your face - you have snot running down your nose - but you can't wipe your nose b/c of the gloves you have to wear, your face is freezing, you can barely feel your fingers and some how you have to make it down - skiing is not fun.

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

Tonight Rebecca and I are alone and have nothing to do, Thank God. Tommorrow there are basketball games, baseball practices will be rained out and next weekend we head for Crested Butte with all the kids and Todd and Lana and theirs. After that, baseball season is here along with the tournaments that will come on the weekend. We will be busy until probably August.
Crested Butte will be fun. Rebecca is nervous but should'nt be, she will have a great time. She just doesn't know it yet. Just like my impromptu parties...she always has a good time and is glad we did it. I should mention we did book a 4 night getaway in May to Cancun with a couple friend, Mike and Becky Cunningham. She is really looking forward to that. Oh, I forgot she has anxiety about getting into swimsuit (for reasons unknown). Iam sure we will have some pictures from the ski trip and me in a speedo (that's a small swimsuit) from the Cancun trip. I guess the storm could be worse. We are happy and fortunate for a variety of reasons.

Longhorns V. Kansas

Zach went to TX basketball game last night - Too bad they kept their losing streak going. Just knew the Parkers would be the luck Texas needed to win the game.

SAINTS WON!!

Chad threw an impromptu Super Bowl Party yesterday - Saturday night high on Jake's last eighth grade basketball game which was a District 1st Place win - he started calling and texting-inviting lots over for a Super Bowl Pary to my despise I would have to say - Chad loves throwing parties - me - I love to be invited to parties - all I could think about was the preparation for it and the clean up afterwards - my relaxing lazy sunday i imagined turned into a get up and go - nonstop day - i always stress at things like this b/c i want my house to be perfect, i would the food to be perfect, i want the drinks to be perfect -i want everything perfect - i add all the stress on myself of course but that's me - Chad did help a lot.

The party was a success - Chad's a great host - a lot of people came - and everyone had a great time - there was a good mix of Saints and Colts fans which made the game fun - Chad had gone to New Orleans a couple weeks ago for work and brought us all home Saints shirts so we were all going for the Saints - we had everything you could imagine to eat - sandwiches, bbq, chips & dips, boiled shrimp, crab cakes, and even a cake - thanks to Mike and Teresa, the cleanup was a breeze.

So all that stress was really not needed - thanks to family and friends and all their help it went off quite smoothly - maybe i won't stress so much and give Chad the evil eye the next time he starts the inviting!

Working Hard for the Money

Chad is out of town working this week - he gets back Thursday night - so it's me and baby Chico till then - work is crazy busy right now but we are so thankful for that - i hate that chad has to work so hard but i think he kinda likes it too - so anyways i have plans to get alot of work done and some errands ran while he is gone.

so here i am watching teen mom on mtv, searching the internet and having a glass of wine - so exciting i know - but it's relaxing and what i like to do.

till next time....

Great Weekend

To say the least we have a had quite a trying week - more on chad than me - teenagers are not the easiest to raise and parenting has to be at your best - it's complicated in every since of the word and not to mention hard. why do people have kids again?...just kidding - talk about instant birth control.

We decided to take the kids to Dallas Saturday after the basketball game for some good ole family time. We headed to the Galleria and spent 2 hours there doing some shopping - we then went and saw the movie - Spy Next Door at the Studio Movie Grill - where you eat and watch the movie at the same time - everyone really enjoyed this - it was fun and something different to do - the kids then swam at the hotel and we all watched tv and fell asleep. The next day we went to Dave and Busters to watch the Cowboy game. We all had a great time - it was a very successful trip.

I feel like we are somewhat back on track. I am hoping. No one enjoys problems. I know it is part of life and having kids but definitely not the fun part. This maybe a growing year for all!

So Much Fun!

We had a great time at Todd & Lana's 40th Birthday Party last night. It started off with a limo ride to the party with the family - felt like a celebrity - "Party like a Rock Star" is what Todd replied back with when I mentioned this to him. There were lots of people there when we arrive and more kept coming - lots of friends to celebrate their 40th. Martha came which I was so glad. She is so much fun. Good drinks, good food and lots of dancing is what carried the night away. I couldn't believe it was almost 2am when we got home - time flies when your having fun! I would say it was a very successful party! Let's do it again next year!

By the way - I am so sore from my workout yesterday - i can barely walk - i need a wheelchair so Chad can just wheel me around until I am not sore anymore - so thankful i don't have a hang over to go along with the soreness - think i would just have to die then.

Nobody Lucky Last Night

Last night my deposition ran late and I got to the Casino at about 8:00. By then we were winning but Colt McCoy was hurt and out of the game. I knew it was trouble. It was. I ended up in Casino with Tony Cruz even before game was over. I won, he lost ( Tony always looses). I gave it back to them the next morning but in the end did not loose. This is a boring post. I stayed up too late and the hours of gambling are not crystalizing into any real defining moment last night. I did have a 400.00 payout on a slot machine at 2:45 a.m. Yes, I quit and went to bed. Wife in bed and asleep and not near very romantic!

Go Horns Go

I am pumped about the Texas National Championship game tomorrow night. I have a deposition in Shreveport tomorrow at 5:30 so I am staying to watch the game at the Eldorado Casino. Rebecca is coming over so we will have a great dinner at The Vintage, a great place to have dinner. We will watch the game and I will try to gamble and build on my complimentaries.
I have a prediction that we will upset Alabama like we did USC. Let's hope so. We will spend the night which is a place we really like to stay and come back to the office the next morning. I am feeling lucky, we will see.
Basketball games start this Saturday morning so we will be up early, hopefully workout, and then on Todd's party. It should be a wild party, I will have to drink a 5 hour energy drink to hang in there for the long haul. Hopefully we will have a few pictures and video to post. It should be interesting.

It is chilly!

Our schedules have began again - but i am glad - i like routine. The kids started back to school this week and us back hard at work. Chad is really busy - which is good - we just hope it stays that way through out 2010. We had the kids last night due to Chad's crazy schedule. They were extremely tired this morning - getting back on schedule and being half way thru the week - i would say it is expected for them to be.

It is freezing outside. I can barely make Chico go outside - he just wants to snuggle. We had a pipe break yesterday - water flowing all day on our side yard - funtimes. Thankfully, my dad dropped everything and left the fieldhouse to come to my rescue - as usual - he knows how to do everything - Chad was friends with a plumber so it all worked out.

I snapped a picture of Chad and Chico still asleep one morning over the break. I had gotten up and couldn't resist - too cute - As you can tell i get the small spot on the edge of the bed while Chad and Chico take up the rest!

We have a busy next couple of days and Saturday including Todd & Lana's 40th B-Day - which reminds me - we need to take lots of emergen-c to get ready. Looking forward to a lazy Sunday resting.

Good Morning

Rebecca is still asleep at 10:30 a.m. with chico. She deserves it. Most mornings she is up early taking care of something for somebody OR reading blogs on this computer. She has a menu planned for today to bring us luck and good fortune, we would like to have both.

Jake is obviously still asleep, but Kate and Zach are in the playroom. I hope Rebecca wakes up before they want breakfast. Kate may want to go get some donuts because the firework stand is right next to it. We will see.

Happy New Year

Rebecca, Kate, Zach, and i rang in the new year. It is now after 12 and the kids are shooting fireworks that Zach and I bought earlier. Jake is at a party and is coming home later. I have had enough and am ready to go to bed. Nothing like the old days but then again these are "new " days with kids every year. Time flies as each year passes and New Years Eve is a vivid reminder. Everybody is a year older including my kids.
When I got home today rebecca had made the scrap books for each kid that I had wanted to do. Looking at them was another reminder of how fast the years go by. 2020 will be a real eyeopener. Jake will be 23, Zach 20, and Kate 17. What a difference from where we are now, but it will be here before you know it. Let's hope all are well until then.
I used to want to get drunk on this night and now I can't wait to go to bed and get up and drink some coffee. I think the older we get the more we value our time here, biology helps too. Maybe I can get some patience with age??

My Brother Todd

This month has really had me looking back in time. Todd's 40th birthday party is happening on january 9th of 2010. Looking at the invitation of he and Lana brings back alot of college memories. We lived together, and I was there when he first went out with her. We were 20 and 18 then. Recently we went back to my grannys to hunt and found a year book from 1986 from Martinsville high school. I graduated there almost 24 years ago ( because of bad behavior on my part). He and mom and dad were there. In the year book there was a picture of me on stage. It brought back good and bad memories. It was the kind of support I could always expect from my brother and a memory of how painful it was when I had to leave home unexpectedly. It also signified just how far these two guys had come over the years. We practice law together to this day and probably will until death or retirement.
In the past I complained of what I thought I did not have as a youth growing up but I continue to see and understand that everyone grows including the parents. I am reminded of that everyday with my 14 year old, Jake.
Todd and I are most certainly different but I love him and always will. I am excited and anxious about the next 20 years because of the potential issues we will deal with. Our parents getting older will be the greatest change we will face. We are use to them being young and always there. If and when that changes it will be unknown territory for us.
My New Years resoluton will be to enjoy all my family members more this year than last keeping in mind the preciousness of time. Happy New Year!

Did you know there is a MOVIE STAR in the family!

Drunk & Stoned

Today is my 2nd wedding anniversary (No - I wasn't either when I got married!). Last night we went to see Better Than Ezra ( No - I wasn't either last night at concert!). I only knew of 1 of their songs going to the concert but I ended up knowing several that I didn't realize they sang. The blog title is actually a really good song they sang at the beginning (and thought would be funny & eye catching). They were very entertaining and really good. I would love to see them in New Orleans -where they are from - maybe New Year's Eve - not this one unfortunately! - but maybe one new years. Have you ever noticed how a guitarist thinks their guitar is an appendage of theirs? - they hold it, strum it, shake it to the audience - this is how the lead guitarist was - very theatrical.

Anyways the past 2 years have flown by - i think all would agree who have been around Chad & I. It seems like we have done a lot in the past 2 years - traveled several places, bought a home, decorated our home (and still are), built a pool, and most importantly grown as a family. Through ups and downs - mostly ups of course - we have grown to be the Parker Reality - but that is family - thru good times and bad times.

To lots more years of "You didn't cut up my asparagus !?! - just kidding babe! - i love my Chad - to lots more years of parker reality craziness.

My wife, friend, essential employee, super stepmom, and lover

Wow! what a couple of good years. Today is our anniversary. Two years ago to the day I was crying as we got married at the Hotel Zsa Zsa in Dallas. It ended a few years of torture but was worth it. She and I almost did not happen but because we are both free spirits it seemed possible and not just fantasy. WE were right. I know it every day.
We had a good time with Luke and Courtney last night getting to see Better Than Ezra at the House of Blues in Dallas. We drove home and worked today at the office. Nothing really special because everyday is. An anniversary is just a number on month of calendar.
She just made me dinner. It was good of course. Ever had anything done half ass from Rebecca? We were suppose to have kids tonight but ended up not having them. I mean mine not producing additional tonight for those of you thinking the worst.
I hope 2010 is as good as the last two years. I think it will be. I bet our life is interesting reading next year.

Christmas at the Farm

Yesterday we had Christmas with Chad's family at the farm. The kids opened presents and played with their new gifts. The adults had great fellowship as my father in law would say and all enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Zach, Mason & Rhett practiced shooting the deer target (thanks to Chris) with their bow-n-arrows. This prompted Chad & Todd to take the boys (minus Jake) hunting today at their Granny's place in Martinsville. Zach was so excited to go.

I took the opportunity of an empty house to put all the christmas decorations away, clean afterwards and put away all of the kids christmas presents away. I love an organized house - just have the play room to finish it up.

Kate stayed and played with Granny at the Farm today - dress up is one of her favorites! Too cute!