The Parsons Family

Going to try this again!

2011-12-07T23:22:00.003+01:00

Well, as you can see, I didn't do so great with this blogging deal before. Since my last post, I have had another baby. Tyler Ashton was born in February of this year and is such a doll. He truly completes our family. We have moved to Misery...err Missouri and have been here for a year now. Missouri really takes alot of getting use to. The weather is extreme. Windy all the time! The people are great though. We have a wonderful ward.

Taylor, our 15 year old, is doing excellent in school here and has some great friends. She has joined the swim team, FCCLA, Spanish Club, and Art Club. So, adding Young Women activities, she's a busy young lady.

Cassie, now 2 1/2 years old, is so smart! She amazes me each day with the things she says. She has a hard time with being a big sister sometimes. Sharing is a big issue at our house. Either she has something Ty wants or Ty has something she wants. She really is a happy little girl. Just today, Ty was upset about something and she went up to him, gave him a hug and said, "Be Happy, Ty!" Just love her to pieces.

Tyler is almost 10 months old. He is a spitting image of his daddy. Ty gets around! He is so much more active than either of my girls were at this age. I guess having a boy is going to be a lot different than it has been with my girls. He is at the stage where he says, "Bah, bah, bah, bah" to everything. Such a cutie!

Never did I think that I'd have 3 kiddos instead of just 1. God has truly blessed Joe and me. Sure, my days are crazy chasing a toddler and a baby around. Always refereeing, chasing, feeding, and oh my! the diapers! I (and my pocket) will be so relieved when Cassie is done with potty training. She is making progress.

Well, pics will come soon. I am really going to try to do this a bit better this time around. Until then....

Pics of Cassie

2009-05-11T21:02:00.002+02:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything to this site. I've been busy taking care of a baby... ;-) Also, I've mainly been posting to Facebook, just as many of you. Enjoy the pics. I'll add more later.

Introducing.....

2009-04-14T17:33:00.004+02:00

Cassie Mae Parsons

Born: April 10, 2009 at 12:23 pm

Weight: 7 pounds 15.9 ounces

Height: 21 1/2 inches

Baby Blessing Gown and Booties

2009-04-08T10:42:00.005+02:00

My friend Pam Holloway was so inspired to make Cassie a blessing gown and booties. I was actually concerned about where I was going to get a blessing gown without it costing me a fortune. Well, Pam surprised me with the most wonderful gift! Thank you Pam! I cannot wait to see her in it!

Spring Break

2009-04-07T09:27:00.003+02:00

It has been so pretty here for the last few days. The trees are budding and it's telling me it's time to get my tomatoes in. Last year I planted about 8 plants - mainly cherry tomatoes. Man, were they good! I'm afraid if I don't get them in this week, they won't get done. So, I have to try to get to the market to buy my plants! Then it will be figuring out how I'm going to accomplish the task of potting them with this HUGE belly in the way! The pic is of my plants last year before they budded. Potted gardens really do well. Less bugs....and NO WEEDS!

Only 3 more days and Cassie will be here!

Baby Update

2009-03-30T17:18:00.002+02:00

Well, only 11 more days to go! I am getting so anxious to see our little Cassie Mae! I went to the doctor's today and I am still at 1 cm. I'm dealing with the swollen feet and the sensations that she's just going to fall right out.

Everyone has been asking for prego pics, but I really don't have very many. I will have Taylor take some pictures tonight and I will dreadingly add them on here.

Have a great day, ya'll!

36 Weeks and Feeling Blessed

2009-03-17T18:47:00.003+01:00

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything on this blog. I have been bombarded with requests to join Facebook.....and so, I finally have. With having Facebook, Blogger, and MySpace, I have a hard time keeping anything updated! So, I have decided to just stick with Facebook and Blogger for now.

As of today, I am 36 weeks along. And boy am I feeling ready to bust! I'm finding that simple tasks take my breathe away. I am so grateful for this opportunity that Heavenly Father has given us - to care for another of his children. I feel a great responsibility that I didn't feel so much with Taylor. With Taylor, I was so young...only 21 when I had her. I did not have the knowledge that I have now regarding things of a spiritual nature. So, in so many ways, this is an extra special time for me.

I am so grateful for my husband, that is always there for me. I am grateful for my daughter, Taylor. She has a sweet spirit about her that shines through when the hormones aren't raging! ;-) I'm also grateful for the friendships that I have made here in Italy.

I hope that we each will take time out of our hectic day, to remember to be thankful for all the blessings we have been given.

We got our extension!

2009-01-12T13:53:00.002+01:00

We just found out today, after months of wondering, that we received our extension here at Aviano. We will be here until November of 2010 now. Joe and I feel somewhat torn about this. After our 3+ week vacation to the States for the holidays, we kind of had the fever to get back. But, we know that this extra time in Europe will help us in a huge way financially. We are planning to buy or build a home when we do return to the States, so more in the savings account will be very helpful!

Taylor is not very happy about the extension. She has been ready to leave Italy for quite some time. But at least this way, she will be able to pal around with her best friends for a whole 'nother year! And now we will be able to take that trip to Paris that we hadn't gotten around to yet. So, maybe that will be something to cheer her up!

I am sorry I haven't posted anything on the cruise or our break with our family yet. I need to get busy!

An update on Cassie though...she is doing great! She's making Mommy look bigger and bigger each day it seems. I did do really well on the vacation though. Even through Thanksgiving, a cruise, eating out at yummy restaurants and Christmas, I only gained 6 lbs. I am so relieved at that! I thought for sure I'd be about 10 lbs heavier when I got back. I am still on track with the weight gain. WooHoo!

More to come soon...I promise!

Time to Cruise

2008-12-14T04:51:00.002+01:00

Well, we are finally heading out on our cruise tomorrow. We are very excited. It will be nice to spend some time with Karen, Dixon and Titan in such wonderful locations! I have been very tired lately. I hope that I will have the energy to fully enjoy our excursions. We have an excursion scheduled in Belize to see the Lamanai Ruins. We are supposed to have a tour guide that 'specializes' in Mormon Archaeology. I am very excited about this tour. Well, have a great week, ya'll!

Vacation Time!

2008-12-02T16:18:00.003+01:00

We are so excited to be going on our vacation to the States soon. Taylor is really looking forward to spending time with the family. She hasn't seen her grandma and grandpa for a very long time. Taylor has the idea that we are going to shop and eat out all the time. I wonder where she gets that idea from??

Joe might even get a chance to do a little hunting with my brother and with his friend Joseph while we are there. I know he is looking forward to that. It's been a long time since he's been able to shoot at anything but a target!

I am excited to spend time with my family at such a special time of the year. Christmas just isn't the same without the extended family there to share it with. Of course I'm excited about being able to SHOP, SHOP, SHOP! Especially with our new little girl to shop for.

We hope that you all have a wonderful, meaningful Christmas season! We love you all and consider ourselves blessed to have such good friends and family as you.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

2008-11-24T13:06:00.001+01:00

Graphics & Myspace layouts

2008-11-21T14:22:00.003+01:00

Yesterday, Joe received his Associate in Applied Science Degree from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). I am so proud of him to have finally completed this. With working in a maintenance squadron and with his rank, he hardly has any time at home. When he does get home, he so so exhausted. The last thing he wants to do is study or write a paper. Instead he finds himself writing EPR's and planning Squadron Holiday parties. So, for Joe to have accomplished this goal, I am extremey proud of him. Now if we can only find the minutes in the day to work on that Bachelor's degree? That'll be a miracle!

It's a girl!

2008-11-20T17:16:00.003+01:00

We are very excited to announce that we are having another baby girl. We had our 20 week ultrasound today and everything looks great! She wasn't being very cooperative today for the radiologist. He had to manipulate her a bit to get her to move around (at my expense). I found that I was a bit tender in a couple of spots that he was applying alot of pressure. I was happy when the exam was over.

Taylor is excited to have a baby sister. She was so happy when we told her. I know she would have been happy whether if it was a boy or a girl. She's just thrilled to be having a sibling! We'll see how thrilled she is 6 months after I have the new little one.

We are still playing with names. Right now Cassie is the winner. As for a middle name, we have no clue yet. What do ya'll think of that name?

Thump! Thump!

2008-11-05T21:50:00.004+01:00

I am 17 weeks and 1 day along today. Tonight, we felt the baby move quite a bit. I was sitting up in bed, reading emails when I felt a little movement under my hand. Joe was even able to feel it. It was not too awful late...later than she should have been up, but I yelled for Taylor to come feel the baby. At first, maybe because of my yelling, the baby didn't move around. But then, as Taylor had her hand lightly on my belly, and as she was talking, the baby moved the most that it had yet. Her eyes lit up and a big smile spread across her face. This is such a neat experience for us as a family. It's great to be able to share this with Taylor. She has longed for a sibling for so long. Thump! Thump! He/she is moving like crazy tonight! (Must have been that spaghetti I had tonight.)

Baby Update

2008-10-27T20:45:00.003+01:00

I had another baby appointment today. All is going well. I have my ultrasound scheduled for November 20th, which is sooner than we thought we'd find out. We are anxious to find out what this little one is.

During the appointment, the doctor asked me if I wanted a tubal ligation done while I had my c-section. Talk about making me feel bad. Every time this subject is brought up, I just feel like the life has been sucked out of me. Joe and I are not sure if we will have more after this new little one. I think Joe would rather not. But, I am not so sure I am ready to make it so ...final. Pray for us in making this decision.
On a lighter note, I find that is so much nicer to have a set date to deliver a baby. Since I'm having a scheduled c-section, I get to know the date I will have the wee one (as long as nothing makes it come sooner). As of right now, it will be April 10th, which is Good Friday. I was 2 weeks late with Taylor. It gives me so much comfort in knowing. Now if I can just get my mom to come to Italy...

Oh Baby!

2008-09-26T10:21:00.002+02:00

Wednesday, we got to see our little one for the first time. I am 11 weeks pregnant and am doingwell. Our due date is set for April 14th. Finally, a spring baby! Baby Parsons has a strong heartbeat. When the doctor was trying to get the baby into the right position for measurements, the baby did a summersault! Boy am I going to be in trouble when I'm big enough to feel all the kicks and squirms!
Taylor was able to be there with Joe and I as we watched the baby move and hear its heartbeat. You could tell that she thought it was neat. She laughed as the baby did its flip! Afterwards she said it was a little weird.

A HUGE Surprise!

2008-08-28T15:25:00.003+02:00

Well, boy were we thrown for a loop last Tuesday. We found out that with Taylor turning 12 on the 20th, that we are pregnant! Yes, it has finally happened. No, we weren't trying. We gave up on the idea of having more kids a long time ago. Not that we didn't want more necessarily, but that we didn't think it was possible. Heavenly Father definetly has different plans that we did!

When we told Taylor, she was so happy that she started to cry. She came over to me and hugged me. Both of us were in happy tears. She is so excited to finally be a big sister...and a built in baby sitter....well, at least I'm happy about the last half that sentence!

My due date right now is April 14th. My ultrasound will be in late September where they will measure the little one and we'll know better the date. We are excited to be adding a new little one to our family. It's like being pregnant for the first time since it's been so long. Just think of all the new gadgets: slings, travel system strollers, everything convertible! Woohoo!

Il Rifugio

2008-08-01T21:11:00.002+02:00

Joe and I were fortunate to have the night alone thanks to Carrie having Taylor over for a sleep over. We took advantage of our time alone and went shopping for a restaurant to have dinner at. We weren't sure what we were looking for this time. We decided to try a place that Sabra always raved about...Il Rifugio's in Budoia. Oh my goodness! The food was heavenly! Whenever I go to a nice restaurant, I try to find a good fish dish. I spotted trout on the menu and was thrilled. When they brought it out, it had these tiny little mushrooms on it. Now, if you know me, you know I don't touch mushrooms. Well, I pushed the little fungi to the side and had a bite of my trout. It had such a different flavor that I had to try a nibble of one of those little mushrooms. To my surprise they were wonderful! I don't know what they marinated them in, but they were so good! Joe had medallions with mushrooms. We weren't sure what medallions were. We figured it would be steak or chicken. It ended up being pork. It was the best pork we have ever had. So, if you are nearby, give this restaurant a try. (Not that this is saying much, but Bill Clinton and Alex Trebeck have eaten there.)

My PartyLite Business

2008-07-28T10:03:00.004+02:00

I had a PartyLite Mystery Hostess show on Friday night and it went very well. I was able to give away over $300 in free product and deeply discounted items in the new catalog. I love having these parties at my house. One, it pushes my family and I to get our house looking in tip-top shape. I should have these parties at least twice a month for that reason alone! Two, it allows me to give that special one-on-one attention to all of my past guests and hostesses. Three, I get to giveaway so much stuff! That really is one of the best things about me selling PartyLite. I love to play Santa year-round. My next Mystery Hostess show will be around the first of January when the new catalog comes out.

Summer Vacation

2008-07-25T13:46:00.004+02:00

Well, once again, I have just returned from taking friends to the airport. I cannot wait until I finally am the one that is being taken to the airport. December cannot get here fast enough.
Taylor has pulled one on us. We have agreed to meet her 'boyfriend' at the bx today to take them to the movies. I don't know if this is such a good idea. Now, do keep in mind that 'boyfriends' are more like good friends that you only say 'Hi' to in passing at this age. Thank goodness! I do know that they will be sitting directly in front of us so we can keep our eyes on them! He seems like a good kid though. He calls her every week and they are only 11 and 12 years old. I think it's sweet.
Have your kids been keeping busy this summer or are they bored like mine? This is the first summer we have spent in Italy and I am finding it hard to keep her occupied. She's always telling me how bored she is...there's nothing to do. So, this week, I signed her up for swimming lessons and a play. That's about $100 we spent on her activities this week. If it will keep her from saying how bored she is, it will be money well spent!

The Starting of a New Blog

2008-07-25T13:05:00.000+02:00

Hello, everyone. I have decided to start a blog to let everyone who may care know what our family is up to. I hope to keep it updated on a regular basis. I usually start these things and then forget about them. We'll see if that is how this one goes too. Please do leave your comments, whether it be, "That's an awful picture!" or "You look like a goddess there!" Or just a plain ole reply to what I had to say that day. Saying that, Have a fantastic day!