Sorry I may ramble...

I can't believe how fast time flies! These weeks, let alone days, just fly by! We had quite a fun weekend and thought I'd share some pics and stuff.

Labor Day weekend to me reminds me of 2 things: Park City and 4 wheeling! Now that we aren't in Utah with family to do those 2 things, we decided that maybe it's time to start a new tradition. I'm all about starting traditions for my family to look back on. We were going to go camping for the whole weekend, but didn't go because 1-procrastinated getting a spot and was a lot of $ per night and 2-HURRICANE EARL decided to come RAIN on our weekend! Friday we got coupons in the mail for Subway, and since it's healthy and close to home off we went. We then just hung out at home...Craig had to get his Fantasy Football set up and I worked on my lesson for Sunday. It was midnight and we had started a movie and the power went out! Many probably wouldn't care because they would just go to sleep. NOT ME! I wasn't tired! I went and watched Eagle Eye then had a fun conversation on Facebook until 4 in the morning....yes 4:00 AM!!! I was laughing and it was good to talk to Dalynne. We are so much alike it's crazyness.
Saturday we planned on going to the Harmony Fair and play the day by ear. Let's just say the fair was as redneck as it comes! Craig and I felt so out-of-place but hey, Jaycee got to see farm animals. We only stayed for 30 minutes. On the way back we decided to roam Wal-Mart. Kyle is the king of Wal-Mart roaming. Bad thing is, you find so many things to buy! We did get some christmas gifts, groceries, baby shower gifts, and other things I don't quite remember. We decided on the way home to swing by Subway again for dinner...gotta use those coupons. Can't beat $7 for subs to feed a family of 3!
Sunday was a typical Sunday. Not many people at church because of the holiday, and only had 1 young woman to teach my lesson to. As we were leaving we found out the missionaries' dinner plans has canceled as well as someone to go with them for their lesson that night. I quickly forced them to come eat with us and we'd go teach with them. Can't let them go without a good dinner! We went and taught 3 Guatamalian guys. They don't speak English very well so Craig translated the best he could with his Portuguese to Spanish. It was fun to meet these guys and what DRIVE they have for the gospel. It's just too bad we can't communicate better. They work on Sundays during church hours but are so eager to go to church. So next Sunday night they're having another lesson at the church house. What an example! They also gave Jaycee a little necklace to play with and keep. She hasn't let it leave her side. LOVE IT!
Monday was Labor Day and Craig had got sick the night before when we got home. We had a chill morning and slept it, but still wanted to go and play. We made a yummy breakfast and headed to Greenville (Moosehead Lake) to play. We ended up renting a canoe for the day and brought along our fishing gear. Jaycee did SO good in the canoe. She wanted to play in the water so I let her put her hands out as we rowed. She's really into singing songs so we sang songs & made up a song...Row, Row, Row your canoe, gently in the lake; Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, isn't Maine great! I know, it's cheesy---the things we do to make our kids happy :) We canoed to a beach area, had lunch, and fished. We didn't catch anything, but sure was fun spin casting. Now I'm itching to go fishing. I'm sure Craig loves that! On our way home we were thinking of what to do for dinner, and decided to drive even further to go to Texas Roadhouse. They have the best rolls, salad & onion blossom! It was super tasty. I found out recently that there is a Target in Bangor so we had to stop on the way home to Clearance shop. I love finding a good deal. We got 4 shirts, 2 pair of shorts, 1 capri, a sweat shirt, and sweat pants for Jaycee all for $22.
So pretty much it was a great weekend again. I have the best husband and best friend ever! I question how I got so lucky to snag him up! :) Life is great and wouldn't want it any other way!

Maine=4 Wheeling country!

Going for a ride on a trail near our house. Jaycee loved it!


She kept saying "ride" until we finally took it out on the trail


She loved the ride so much she fell asleep between Craig and I. We had dirt all in our hair and clothes. Ew, Yuck...as Jaycee would say


Craig taking more pictures...no more!


What a day! We're so glad we are keeping it and hope to take it out more especially with the leaves turning colors.

TEAM PARKER DOWN 24 POUNDS!

Craig and I have both had a not-so-good week with no motivation to exercise on top of wanting to cheat on our diets! We kinda splurged a couple times this week and also was so busy everyday with something in the evening. We always "weigh in" on Friday mornings and last night we decided since it was a bad week we skip it. This morning came, Craig was at work and I decided maybe I would get on the scale to push me to get this "slum" feeling gone. I pulled out the scale got on and about freaked. I've lost 9 pounds! Craig got home from work and he told me he cheated too and weighed himself and also lost weight this week. He now has lost 15 pounds! We're both 5 pounds away from our goal, but I'm going to keep at it for a while. Once those last 5 baby pounds come off my new goal will be to get those "wedding" pounds off. What a struggle we have to go through! But it's totally worth it in the end. We're healthier and also teaching Jaycee to eat healthy too. I'm glad we decided to tackle this goal although I know I couldn't do it without Craig. He's awesome!

The Way Mainers Do It

Izzy's sad face before we left for the day

Dock Dogs at Union Fair




This dog was Tryton...when we walked up we just HAD to go talk to his owner. He looked just like Izzy and had to be a Chessie. You don't see many around. He had longer, curlier hair but def could tell they are in the same family. He did an AWESOME jump. We think Izzy would do good at this event, and might even look into it a bit.


NO CARNY FOOD...I REFUSE...The selection of food at fairs is HORRIBLE! Luckily, we found an ATM and some DECENT food. Jaycee loved the bowl of fries, or maybe she loved the ketchup more. Shhh,...don't tell Bob & Jillian!


Jaycee's little innocent face


She thought it was fun to clap for the cars when they drove into the rink


She also loved counting down until they fired up and....CRASH!


Close up family pic...Thanks Craig for another great pose :)


Demolition Derby


Demo Derby in Maine...oh, yeah!


Smile Craig


All done and ready to say buh-bye until next time

Girl's Camp Tonight @ Camp Roosevelt-Fireside with Pres Vanadestine
Smores with the girlies
Union State Fair tomorrow including Dock Dogs & Demolition Derby
Spending the whole day with Craig and Jaycee!
Sunday-church with Craig teaching Sunday School and don't have to give a lesson!

BRING ON THE WEEKEND!

Some Good, Some Bad...

What an eventful weekend on both sides of the U.S.A.

Out here in Maine we had such a fun weekend! On Friday we chill-axed when Craig got off work with a yummy dinner and I had to prepare a talk. We decided to "cheat" on our diet since we did good last week and Craig headed to Big Bill's for some ice cream---I got a Strawberry Butterfinger. It was super tasty-I don't lie!
I have been going with the missionaries every week to teach Brother Brown. He got baptized on Saturday and it was AWESOME! I got the opportunity to give a 5 minute talk on baptism, played the organ for the meeting, and Craig gave the opening prayer. I was bummed I forgot my camera to get a pic of Brother Brown, Sister Hatch (my new bud), and Sister Watterson. I'll get a pic before they get transferred, which will be a sad day cuz I LOVE SISTER HATCH! Sunday I had to give my first lesson in YW which was on PROCREATION! I was super nervous because the lesson talked about the law of chastity and procreation. What a tough lesson to break-in a new counselor. It ended up going over so well, and of course I cried when I bore my testimony. We ended Sunday with our friends the Berg's. They came over so Dale (their little boy) can get more comfortable with Jaycee and our house. Katherine is due in October and Dale will be staying with us for a couple days. They treated us with lasagna. We played a fun game of Catan and had some good talks :) All-in-all a great Weekend! Jaycee did wake up Saturday morning with a fever and a cold so she's had a rough couple days, but she's still smiling through it all. We have the best baby ever!

Back in Utah it wasn't a so-good weekend. Craig's brother Kenny got hit the eye with a raquetball and is down for a couple days and has to be SUPER careful so he doesn't injure his eye. We couldn't believe the news! We hope he recovers soon and back to normal. THEN.... I got a phone call from Aimes who told me my mom got in another ATV accident. She blacked out sometime during it all and can't remember what happened. She ended up breaking some ribs and in the hospital, but I'm positive she'll recover well and hopefully soon! I feel so helpless being out here and not being able to help either of our families in a hard time. Our prayers are with both of them! That's prob one of the worst things about not living close to our families is that in time of need we aren't able to help. My heart aches for both of them.

I forgot to add a P.S. to my last post so I'll just do that...

PS>I got sustained and set apart on Sunday to my new calling....YW 2nd Counselor. I can't tell you how excited I am. I will be over the Beehives and even get to teach on Sunday. There aren't a lot of girls in the Branch, but it'll be fun with the ones that we do have :) Tuesday night is mutual night so we'll be going up to the church for the activity tonight! YAHOO! It's crazy how the Lord works, but I truly feel this is the calling I'm supposed to have. Especially when Sister Holmes (YW Pres) told me how she got my name to give me the call. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!

3:00 on the dot...

Everyday @ 3:00 the mailman comes and I always know because Izzy freaks out! He's so nice to not care and I say Sorry every time. Friday he dropped off junk mail along with a package from GRANDMA PARKER! Jaycee and I were so excited. Inside was an adorable, little one piece outfit, a sundress with 2 shirts to match and 2 books. Jaycee loves books! One of them was REALLY nice so she can't play with that one except when mommy and daddy help her. The frog one she is obsessed with and plays with everyday. THANK YOU GRANDMA PARKER for the package! The clothes are sooooo cute! You always have incredible taste and we got so many compliments. Here are some pics of Jaycee in her new clothes.




I had a full pic of her outfit and on accident deleted it. I have the cutest brown & purple shoes she wore to match, but those came off pretty fast since she can hardly walk in them. I loved the outfit. She wore it Friday to dinner and Saturday to our friend's party.

Craig picked out the blue shirt to go with it. We'll do the pink one next time.



Her new hair-do that Kel taught me how to do. It's a little messed up considering she wore it all day long, but you get the idea :)






Also the mailman dropped off a package today from Aunt Sheri of all our family pictures. We are so excited! Thanks Sheri for all the pics and CD.

Temple

On Saturday Craig and I got the opportunity to go to the temple. We haven't been for so long, and now we have to drive 3 1/2 hours instead of 10 minutes! Thank you Dathan and Kel for hosting us again this weekend and for watching Jaycee so we could go attend the temple. Our branch had the baptismal font from 12-2 and we took full advantage. It was so nice to be in the temple and especially do baptisms with the branch and young women.... :) hint, hint on my new calling!



Gordon B. Hinkley:
"I would hope that we might go to the house of the Lord a little more frequently. . . . In this noisy, bustling, competitive world, what a privilege it is to have a sacred house where we may experience the sanctifying influence of the Spirit of the Lord."

What a blessing the temple is and how lucky we are to have the temple here to go and ponder!