I'm a cool dude

We have had a lot going on around here in the month of July.  We have loved having Parker home and were able to go to Luke and Hannah's house to be all together for 4 wonderful (yet too short) days.  We had my family and then Tim's family over for supper.  Ate at Mom's house several times with the family, including game night!!  Went to the movies, Valdosta, Tallahasee, ate at Waffle House when John Buck was working, went to the gym everyday - oh wait, that was just Parker.... I did workout at the house. We ran, sprinted, went to crossfit - once- we swam, worked in the yard, watched alot of TV shows that aren't usually on our tv .... Just the normal life - only more fun because Parker was home!! Sad to think that our time together is coming to an end- until the next time.

The fun begins!! Parker, Hunter and Elizabeth starting the games :) It's just not summer if there's not games being played.

FINALLY!! All together!  This makes for one happy mama!  We went up to see Luke and Hannah. It was the first time Parker saw their house and Camp Lajeune.  They only live 15 min from the beach - I mean, how wonderful is THAT!

Me and by boys!! Parker- left, Luke- right  We're grillin'- well Luke is grilling, we are just "helping"

Here are just a few of my biggest teeth I found - found a total of 277.  Luke and Hannah have a nice collection, and they have some that are huge- compared to mine!

Parker has been "in training". I tried to get some shots, but my photo talents are nothing to brag about!  I have one more day to try and get some better ones.  If it happens, I will post.

Landry is a good workout partner.  And if you need to be quick on your feet - just try to keep up with him!

He can also get a little too close and be just a little too playful.

We went bowling!  And the first game was all about the guys.  Tim and Parker were showing out - me.... not so much!

but....then came the 2nd game!!  and just check out that score!  Yea, yea, yea, Parker won and his last bowl was a strike....blah blah blah :)  But I had them sweatin!  They did not want to get beat by a girl - especially this girl.  Notice no picture of 1st game- I don't know what they had, but my score was in the 50's! SMH (I shouldn't tell on myself)

Landry is laying on Parker's arm. He is loving his new giraffe that Parker got for him.

The giraffe not only can slap him around in the face, it gives hugs too!!

Oh lawd! Landry finds himself in a situation...

Parker fixed Landry up with a UGA bandana - and believe it or not, the dog wore it all day - I think he was proud, Parker talked it up pretty good. Landry felt special :)

Saturday, me, Anna Ashley, mom, and John Buck will be traveling to Honduras to meet Dad.  We will be going to a church up in the mountains, then to see some of the water pumps that he has placed at peoples house - also in the mountains.  We then will travel around and see the sights, travel into Guatemala and Belize.  We will be gone for 9 days!!  Now I can get very car sick- it doesn't happen very much any more, but when Dad drives....and in mountains.....and on rough roads.....things are not in my favor!  I have medicine - lets just pray it works.  I will tell you all about it when we get back.  Bad news is, Parker is still here and I have to leave :(  and he will fly out the very next day...so I hate that I will miss his last week.  I am excited, a little anxious, packed and ready :)

Parker, a chapter of life...(updated)

From the day we dropped him off for basic training to the day we picked him up as a Veteran of the Army 2010-2014

 

Graduation from Basic ~ Ft. Sill, OK Feb 2011
Air Defense     MOS: Patriot Missile

First taste of freedom!!

Getting ready to leave for Korea for a year ~ Aug 2011

Korea 2011-2012 ~visiting a famous memorial- Hill 303

~ just a good photo ~ taken in Korea ~

While in Korea, he made the post softball team!

Home from Korea ~ Aug 2012 ~ with Brody and Sam ~ next station, El Paso, TX
MOS: Starting a new unit for the Thaad Missile, in charge of the Armory

Oh, and while in El Paso, he played a little softball, like 3-4 days a week, every week for 2 years. Won the championship most seasons ~ just sayin' ~ Played for "Toxic" mainly, some other teams here and there, and the post team. Along with playing flag football and working out at the gym.  Job, work, you ask?  Yes, he did that too.

The next chapter of The Life of Parker: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX... stay tuned...

We are proud of Parker! Proud he joined, proud he's out, proud he's headed to college!

Just a little story about him joining~  Months before, Luke had joined the Marines, well signed up but had not left.  It was something that Luke discussed with us a good bit, we knew of his interest.  So all summer, we would tell people that Luke would be going into the Marines in Jan 2011 (was suppose to go in Aug 2010, but broke 3 bones in face, had surgery and had to wait 6 months before they would let him in), so we would tell everyone that Parker was going back to ABAC in the fall, he would be our college student.  WELL, one night we were sitting around watching TV and it was getting late and usually Parker would have gone upstairs by now, but was still hanging around chatting, so I causally asked Parker what he was up to the next day, you know just making conversation- WELL, he said, causally, "I have joined the army and tomorrow I am going to Jacksonville to be sworn in."  WHAT????  Where the heck did that come from???  Total surprise - TOTAL!  I mean no discussing this with his parents first, nothing (which explained why he was still hanging around that night - he was probably trying to figure out how to tell us- he knew he had to and time had run out). Of course we were fine with his decision (and in the back of my mind I was thinking- whew, I was just about to send in his tuition, like the next week!! that was close- don't know if they give refunds or not).  So Luke joined like the beginning of the year and had to wait a year before leaving.  Parker joins in Aug and leaves in November!! It was all very quick and very much a surprise.  Oddly the 4 years did go by kind of fast, even though he only came home 5 times in 4 years, and we went to visit him twice in Oklahoma (once when Luke was there too) and once in El Paso.  So I saw him 0nly 8 TIMES in 4 years - that makes me sad. But he is here now and for 6 weeks.  I will enjoy each day of it!!