March Madness

Happy Easter Everyone!!! Hope you are enjoying time with family and friends remembering the joy we get to celebrate today! Adam and I attended our Easter service last night (Saturday) to help make more room on Sunday morning. It was a little funny getting ready for Easter service on Saturday evening, but we really enjoyed it. Our pastor has been teaching off a sermon series called "Scarred" leading up to Easter and we have each learned so much the past couple months.

In other news, the Parken home is running as usual. However, some of our close friends are in busy preparing for new baby arrivals. Therefore, I've been a little busy sewing up a few things for these little ones. Tracy and Reeve got there awesome cowboy curtains this week. I've just started Anthony's (Tony) Chicago Bears nursery set for our friends Daniel and Melinda. And what would sewing be without a trip to Joann's....which is where I had to go to get fabric for Savannah's nursery. Heather and John have decided to go pink and green for her and it's going to be pretty cute. The nursery sets are my main project these days, but I do find time to sew little things here and there for birthday presents and such....this is a very handy hobby!

In the world of work and the real world, both Adam and I are content at our jobs. Adam will stay at his job through the end of August. It is a huge blessing to have his stability while here and the convienience of him working from home. My new job is AWESOME! Duke Children's is amazing and I'm so glad to have the opportunity to work there. I've been able to treat so many different type of diagnoses and learn different therapy treatments too. I'm really enjoying making splints, learning more about feeding therapy, and I just started training on the acute floors. It's all very exciting! Even though I work at Duke, Adam does NOT approve of me cheering for them in the NCAA tournament....I guess I'm supposed to say "GO UNC!" ?!?!

In the world of fun and friends, here are a few pictures from our Fondue Fest with our small group from church. We had TONS of food and enjoyed getting to know each other a little more while stuffing our faces. The other pic is with friend Allison at a St. Patrick's Day even down in Raleigh.....

Marianna, Tracy, and Haley

Me & Allison

Alrighty, I guess that's about all the update I have for now....I'll keep you posted though!

Random Fact from Adam: The 2008 Krispy Kreme Challenge, in Raleigh, drew 3,035 runners. Their mission: run 2 miles, eat a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, then run 2 more miles. In less than an hour. Without hurling. Some "nutritional" information about those dozen doughnuts:

• 2,400 Calories (1,200 from fat)
• 144 grams of fat (more than twice the recommended daily allowance)
• 36 grams of saturated fat
• 60 mg of Cholesterol
• 1140 mg of sodium
• 120 grams of sugar
• 14 grams of protein

The Happiest Place on Earth

Adam here, taking over the post. Why? Because I had the joy to witness Steph's elation being at Walt Disney World for the first time. Let me tell you, there's nothing like several days of smiling strangers calling your wife "Princess." Without further ado, here's a photo essay of our Orlando adventures. View the full album by clicking Florida 02.08 here -- there are a lot more good pics, I promise.

It wouldn't be an iconic shot without the guy over Steph's left shoulder. Seriously, though, Disney uses an optical illusion on you, making the higher windows smaller to give the castle an even bigger appearance.

Which one of these isn't like the other? (Adam's ears are considerably smaller.)

Look -- a princess! Oh, and Cinderella, too. Note: Cinderella is CLEARLY a UNC fan.

Fortunately for Adam, this guy is already spoken for.


(Warning: about to repeat a corny joke.) Beauty & the Beast. And 2 Disney characters, too.


Quick story on Disney having a professional process for everything. As I approached Princess Jasmine for this picture, she said, "My pose is different from the other princesses" (the leaning one you see above). Quite appropriate considering her costume, and totally in character. Nice work, Disney.


We thought that getting matching white gloves would have been a bit much.


Adam: "I thought it would be a funny picture to take one with the 2 evil step-sisters!"
Evil step-sister on the left (she apparently has a name, but I'm a guy, so I don't know it): "Well if you're in it, it definitely will be funny."
Hands down the best character photo we had.


I heard more "oooohhh," "whoa" and "wooow" play-by-plays from Steph during this show than at any other time during the trip. Adorable.


To infinity and beyond! Or at least onto Epcot.


The standard Epcot shot. But the ball ride was closed. Side note for "Simpsons" fans: multiple times each day I sang "Monorail, monorail, MONORAAIILL!" (Go to the 2:50 mark.) Steph wasn't amused, but it made me laugh everytime.


The only way Adam will go to France. Besides, I needed the workout.


In addition to trying to solve world hunger (seriously), Epcot is also growing pumpkins shaped like a giant rodent's head. Here's my suggestion: grow squash in the shape of a T-bone, and I'll guarantee you that I'll grill it.


Best food in all of Disney: Norway. The item on the left is called School Bread, and it's apparently served in schools. That's my kind of dining plan. That goodness on the right is an almond-covered pretzel.

The coolest vehicle at Epcot: the actual Hummer box car used in the commercial. I'm surprised Greenpeace hasn't protested its removal yet.

Biggest disappointment of the trip: the Simpsons attraction at Universal Studios wasn't open. Actually, the biggest disappointment is that I yakked after riding Dueling Dragons, but the Simpsons thing doesn't make me lose masculinity points.

There's just one thing left to say about our trip. W-O-W!