Stress & Martha!
Stress can kill ya!


I've found this out this past week when my blood pressure went sky-high and I got a prompt "Martha, I think you should go see somebody" from two of our nurses at the office.

So far, I've had bloodwork, an EKG, and multiple BP Checks done. The EKG and tests came back normal as far as I know.......the BP checks, however, are another story. Still high. The doctor gave me some BP pills to bring it down if it got up in the 160's again. It's been in the 150's/80's & 90's. No pills taken as of yet.

My symptoms are similar to Panic Attacks. I hope that's all it is. I go Friday to get an Echo of my heart done. Hopefully, everything will be o.k.

If it is, then we'll go from there and figure out what else it may be. If it is my heart, then we'll figure out what to do about that too.

I have lost 3 1/2 lbs since this past Monday. I tell ya,..............STRESS STRESSES ME OUT!!!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:00 PM 0 comments
Sunday, June 15, 2008

Father's Day!

Mark is stubborn, pig-headed & opinionated, but that is EXACTLY why I married him. Mark has been strong-willed since I've known him, and that quality can sometimes get him into pickles, but as far as being a dad goes, his strong-willed ways make him the most awesome daddy to our two boys that I could ever hope for. I can only pray that he will be able to show them that it's o.k. to stand up for yourself and for your beliefs even when no one else wants to stand with you. I want him to pass along to them that loving God, having a strong moral character, being trustworthy, and having some backbone are some of the things that help to make a man a man. If you can't stand up for your faith, decisions, and family, then you can't stand up for anything.

Mark has completely surpassed any ideas that I had of him being a good father. For this I am truly grateful. I thank God that he sent me this wonderful, truly special man to be the Father to our children. I love you, Mark!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 9:58 PM 0 comments
Saturday, June 14, 2008

Emergency Fest with Daddy!
We got to go see all the Fire Trucks with Daddy today! He had to work, so Mommy, Mackie, Nana, PawPaw & I went to see him!

Here I am with Daddy and someone from the Cricket FD "squirting" water!

Here I am with my Daddy!!! I love my Daddy!

Here Mackie and I are with Daddy under their tent where they sat most of the day because it was hot and they didn't want to sweat too much!! (oopsie....sorry Daddy!) That man in the white shirt is one of Daddy's bosses (Mike) and that is my NANA!

Here's the 'copter that took off and blew dirt in my eyes and knocked everything over with it's wind!

We had a good time! I like firetrucks!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 9:56 PM 0 comments
Sunday, June 1, 2008

Our NEW Car!!!
We finally got a new car!
This isn't it, though!!!

As many of you know, I purchased the above pictured 1999 Daewoo Lanos on January 8th, 2000. BRAND NEW! I purchased it because it was basically the only thing that I could afford and my Red Ford Probe had literally died on me.

This Daewoo (or the Woooooo as Mark has nicknamed it at the Fire Dept.) has been our FAMILY car since we got married, since Creston came along, and since Mackie arrived on the scene.

This Daewoo has over 120,000 miles, has been through SEVERAL sets of tires, and gets nearly 40 mpg!

Still going strong!!!!

However.....................................................................since the expansion of our family last summer, we have been feeling the crunch of small-car-life and with my new job that started last December, we decided that we might actually be able to afford something a bit bigger!

So........................................here it is!!!!! We went hog wild and purchased a 2007 Ford Freestyle! It seats 6 and has a third row of seats!!! I was in love from the first moment I saw it!! Got it from Friendship Ford in Bristol! Brad Durrant was our sales person and he was truly GREAT!! Anyone looking for a car, go to him! He didn't make me nervous or sick to my stomach! That's saying a lot!!!

Anyway...........this is our newest baby! It does NOT get 40 mpg, but at least we no longer look like "Sanford & Son" when trying to go anywhere. (That is what Mark said we always looked like when we had both boys and all of their stuff trying to get in or out of the Daewoo!)

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 11:22 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Life's little moments.
I was just looking at a friends blog that mentioned the recent loss of Steven Curtis Chappman's youngest daughter last week. Our friends had posted the video to the song "Cinderella" that Steven had written for his little girls. I heard that song the other night when trying to get Mackie to sleep AGAIN for the umpteenth time. While I sat there in my rocking chair that night (the same one that mom used to rock me to sleep with), the song came on and I really listened to the words for the first time. Here are some of the Lyrics:

She spins and she sways

To whatever song plays

Without a care in the world

And I'm sitting here wearing

The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day

And there's still work to do

She's pulling at me

Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle

And I've been invited

And I need to practice my dancing

Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh, I will dance with Cinderella

I don't want to miss even one song

'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone...

As I sat there with restless Mackie, and listened to that song, I remembered some similar times that I had with Creston in that rocking chair when he was Mack's size. Creston would wake up ~no kidding~ 4-7 (or more) times EACH night until he was 18 months old! I would sit at night in that rocking chair and cry because I was so tired and because I had no clue as to what to do to make him better so that he would go to sleep and let me rest. One night, while sitting there having my pity party, it hit me.................I would rather have Creston there in my arms crying his little eyes out than to not have him at all. I mean, those are our options....we have them, or we don't. Suddenly, Mack's crys didn't seem so bad after all.

It didn't hit me how fast they grow until Mack came along. I guess I didn't have anything to compare Creston to. They get out of their "baby" phase in an instant....then they are crawling and walking and then running......then they are putting their hands on their hips and screaming at the top of their lungs "I HAAAATTTEEEE YYOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!" because you turned off Barney or Fireman Sam or Cailou. It all goes so fast. Waaay too fast.

Here's one of my favorite pictures of Mark and Creston: I only pray that God will direct us in the ways that we need to go in order to raise our children up to be good, kind, and loving people. It is so hard, though, to keep focused on that goal on those days when all I want is to lay down and sleep for.......EVER. Very rarely do I think while Mackie is hollering and Creston is yelling that "Oh yay! These are such precious times!" Usually, I respond after a few ear-splitting moments with my own "AAAgggghhhhHHHH!!!!!!! EVERYONE BE QUIET!!!" Sometimes............................it actually makes them stop!.......only sometimes! :o)

I just need to pray that God will allow me to have more patience with all THREE of my boys on a daily basis. I need to not take life so seriously. I need to remember what is truly important and let everything else go. Life is sooooo short. We just never know what is going to happen next.It's exciting and scary all at the same time!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:50 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Graduations!
Megan Graduated! (Megan with Ron & Mom)

I am so proud of this little lady! Actually, I'm proud of BOTH Megan and Melissa!

Melissa graduated last year! (Melissa & Me & Mackie!!)

Getting through High School is definately an accomplishment. One that I'm sure both of these ladies are glad that it's behind them!

CONGRATULATIONS, Girls!!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 11:26 PM 0 comments
Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day This Mother's Day is special for me because I get to celebrate it with not only Creston, but Mackie as well! It's amazing how fast the time goes. This time last year, we were waiting on Mackie to come into the world, and this year, he's here with us!

Creston and Mack have both added so much to my life. I never realized just how much I would be able to love someone else (other than Mark), but then they come along and the emotion and love that I feel for them is so strong that it's hard to put into words.

I only hope that Mark and I will be able to raise them to love the Lord and to teach them how to pray and to be good Christian examples to the other people around them. It's so hard these days to be a good example. We all slip up so often and kids (above all) see these slip ups and remind us daily of what completely ignorant people we truly are! Having kids definately makes you want to be a better person for them and for yourself! Kids put your life into perspective and make you re-evaluate what really matters. I really hope that we can instill in them that a close relationship with God and family are the most important things in this life.

My Mother and Father were absolutely, without a doubt, the best parents that anyone could have asked for. My Dad was a bit older and mellowed out by the time that I came along. Dad's "old-fashioned" ways and Mom's more current thoughts and ideas complimented each other well. My Mother became my best friend at an early age and when my father passed away, that relationship was a lifeline for me. She was always there to listen to my crazy stories and to dry my tears. She tried so hard to understand everything that I went through and for that, I will NEVER be able to thank her enough.

Mom, you are why I am who I am today. You made me into this caring, soft-hearted, & highly opinionated person and I love you so much for it. If I can be half the mother to my boys that you were to me, then they will be blessed beyond measure. Happy Mother's Day!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 5:05 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Mackie Walking! Here he goes!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:09 PM 0 comments
Friday, May 9, 2008

Mackie's 9-month Check-Up
We took little feller' today to get his 9-month check-up. (He'll be 10 months on Monday!!!...we were a bit slow with this one!) After several attempts at weighing him and thinking that he had LOST nearly 3 pounds since March, we concluded that he had not lost any weight, but had actually gained a bit and is now a bouncing, crawling, moooving and shaking little 20lb. 10oz. kid! Boy!..........these check-ups can really make you crazy when you think something may be wrong with your child.

He's doing fine and hitting all those "marks" that he's supposed to be hitting! He's also getting his third and fourth tooth in at the moment, so sleep is once again a faint memory at the Parlier Household!

We're all fine other than that! Creston got a new Fire Truck today at the store with Daddy. He was quite pleased with it this evening. I came in from work and he jumped up and said "Momma!, come see!!!! Come SEE!!!! Wook (still working on L's)-WOOK!!!". The thing makes noise and shoots water at stuff. He's a real mess........just like his little brother! THEN......his daddy got in on it and said "Look at the box! It makes 20-some different trucks and has a house that has fire in the windows that you can shoot the water at!" Not quite sure who liked it more!

It's never dull here! That's for sure! Mark works tomorrow, so I'll be at home. It's FRIDAY! Thank goodness! I've got my work cut out for me, though. I'm planning on cleaning up the boy's room. That's going to be reaaaallllly interesting!

Hope that you all have a great night and great up-coming Mother's Day weekend!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 12:19 AM 0 comments
Thursday, May 8, 2008

Nana's Black Eye!
Boy! Doesn't this look like a doozy? Our sweet little Creston did it!!! He's been in the bad habit of Head-Butting lately, and he did a real number on Nana's Eye. It actually got worse looking and MUCH Blacker several days later. It's almost gone now, though. We hope that Creston has decided to kick this little habit.

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:06 PM 0 comments
Sunday, May 4, 2008

Creston's First Pony Ride! We were able to go to a birthday party today and Creston got to ride his Pony!!!
The Pony belongs to Little Mr. Ethan Church and is as pretty a pony as we've seen!

As you can see, Creston LOVED it!!! Uh oh!............................we'll just have to visit Ethan more!!!



Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:06 PM 0 comments
Saturday, May 3, 2008




Pictures to Embarrass Him With!
This is one of the first official pictures that I have taken of Mackie that will most definately embarrass him later in life. These are the pictures that you pull out when the first girlfriends start to come over, and also these are the ones to include in the Senior yearbooks and when he gets married! Oh yes! The first of many "adorable" photo opportunities to come!!!!
This is Mack's first haircut. He's almost 10 months old! His hair was getting rather long, and Mark was wanting to cut it ALL off. I threw a fit and so Pawpaw Mack only took off about 2 inches. As you can see, it made it that much curlier!!!
I really do like Mackie's curly little hair. I had curly hair when I was really little. Mom had to cut it since we lived in Florida and it was so hot in the summer. My springy curls never really came back ~ just waves. I was afraid that Mack's would do the same, but they're still there!!! YAY!!! He can hate me later for being happy about that!!!



Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 4:36 PM 0 comments
Saturday, April 26, 2008



Our silly little boys! R-O-T-T-E-N. That is the absolute BEST word that I can use to describe Mack.

He just ooooozes rotten! His wild curly hair and big blue mischevious eyes just scream "Look at me! I'm going to get into something and make you want to holler!!!" He's been testing us lately. I think he has a running bet in his own mind to find out just how long Mark and I can go without losing our minds! To my great dissapointment (please, just see it MY way....if he's not crawling, I can put him in one spot and he'll stay there!) he started "army-man crawling" at about 7 months. About 2 weeks later, he started "knee-crawling", and a week after that (just before turning 9 months) walked 2-3 feet all by himself without holding on to anything! Mark nor I would have ever believed it if we hadn't both been there to see it!!!!! Now,....he's not walked a lick by himself since then, but we're just waiting patiently. He probably practices at night in his crib when we're knocked out from sleep-deprivation! Creston was 14 months when he walked!!!.... a WONDERFUL... GLORIOUS..... 14 months old!!!

I am that horrible mother who others view as the one who "doesn't push her child enough". It's not that I don't want them to learn anything! I just don't want to have to chase after them all the time!!!!! I am glad that both of our sons are doing as well as they are! They never cease to amaze me!

Well,...(back to my story)...in the middle of all of that crawling and walking, Mackie popped out not one, but two teeth in a 2 week period! (I've decided that was the cause for our sleep deprivation!) He's a real mess! And now.....he's a mess that can bite!

Again, I am a horrible mom because I do not document much of anything with Mackie. I documented every little cooooo, drool, & poooo with Creston. Pages and pages of dates and weights and lists are all piled into "Creston's" drawer. With Mackie, I just call everyone when he does something and go on with my day. Maybe this journaling-blogging thing will help me to keep track of milestones!

Well, our little kid and big kid (that is what Mark and I call them!) are both taking naps now, so I'd better go and do something constructive........like take a nap toooo!!!! You all have a great rest of the weekend!!!

Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 4:36 PM 0 comments
Thursday, April 24, 2008



Grandfather Mtn. Trip!

The boys and I got to go with a group of my mommy-friends and all of their BOYS to Dollar Days on Grandfather Mountain! This was our third trip with some of these fine ladies and their offspring! I tell ya, between the 5 of us mommies that went, there were 8 boys between us, and then on top of that we had an additional 2 more boys along for the ride!!! Whew!

I reccomend Grandfather to anyone with kids during the Dollar Days in April. Kids attention spans aren't that great and when nap time rolls around, you really just want to head home and not have to try to "get your money's worth" on a full admission price!

Here, Creston is attempting to climb the Mountain!!!
Here is Mommy & Mackie! Thanks, Paulette, for this pic!!!
I can post this one, since everyone is turned around! The boys are enjoying watching the Otters in one of the wildlife exhibits.
I'm thankful for such good friends that we can get together with every so often. Creston loves getting together to play with these little guys whenever we can. Wish it could be more often!



Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:07 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, April 23, 2008



Our Funny Little Family This is our first ever REAL attempt at BLOGGING!! I never really understood what Blogging was till just recently! Several of our friends and family members are blogging, so I thought that we'd give it a try too!! I often get these "great" ideas, but then let them fizzle out. Hopefully I can keep this one going! This really is a good way to keep in touch and to add pictures or video!! If I can get it all figured out, I'll try really hard to update this little Blog weekly.

I've tried to start a "blog" on several different sites, but this one wound up being the most user-friendly version that I tried! Thanks Andy and Jennifer for inspiring me! I actually started working on a mom-based blog last summer, but that got put on hold due to the small person that I was getting ready to give birth to!! If I ever get that one up and running, I'll pass the address along!

We hope that you all are doing well and enjoying this spring weather that has finally decided to come along. Everyone take care and we'll be sending more bits and pieces soon!

Martha


Posted by Mark, Martha, Creston, & Mack Parlier at 10:42 PM 0 comments
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