Wednesday, December 26, 2007




Isaac has had an exciting year. He is now in preschool 3 days a week for 4 hours each day. Its a wonderful program and he is really doing well. He can also say he is a big boy now because he is fully potty trained. After more then 6 months of poopy underwear he is now certifiably potty trained. It was a huge struggle but everyone has survived. He also won a modeling contract with a company here in Florida. Where that goes we don't know but it will definitely make this next year an interesting one. Next week is his last day in nursery at church. He'll be moving into Primary in January. He has no clue and has not been prepared for the transition at all. This does not bode well as Isaac has very difficult time with change and that is an understatement. He has an amazing vocabulary and an even more amazing imagination. He's still none stop energy and I fear he will be giving up naps this next year. He is a beautiful child inside. He makes a strong impression where ever he goes and with everyone he meets. To say that he is a handful is the poor choice of words. He challenges me everyday. I love to go and look at him at night when he is sleeping, the only time he is still and marvels that I survived another day with him.






Sydney is such a sweet heart, as long as she's fed and has enough sleep. She wins over anyone she meets. She turns 2 in February, CRAZY! She has made the past two years wonderful. Not that the previous 2 years weren't but she bring a special spirit with her where ever she is. I remeber saying when she was on;y 6 weeks old, "shes just so sweet." and my mother saying, "allbabies are sweet." And she is right but Sydney definetly has that extra dab that puts her over the top. She does have stubborn streak in her and holds her own with Isaac, for the most part. She talking more everyday, I'm still holding my breath that she'll be really talking by the time the baby comes. Man that would make a huge difference! She's extremely tiny and fools a lot of people. She's all of 20 pounds and 32 inches high. My hand spans her back, if that gives you a visiual. People treat her like she's still a baby, and depending on her mood and who it is, she plays along. I've gotten many a dirty look at the play ground when I let her climb on her own. Everyone thinks she's one so I guess they feel I should be right behind her. Little do they know she's perfectly capable. She loves to play play do and is obsessed with Diego. She also LOVES choo-choos and any and all animals. She has the ability to go off on her own and play, Isaac rarely accomplishes this, and is a joy to have around. She's finishing teething her last baby teeth and we will start her potty training here in the next month. So wish us luck.

All in all its been an amazing year and I look forward to next year. I know there will be plenty more challenges for me and my family but I know that with the Lord in our lives we will make it through. We all look forward to the new baby in May and Isaac is determined it is a boy. I'm hoping for a boy too. Josh really doesn't mind either way and Sydney is clueless. Either way we know we are blessed to welcome a new little spirit into our home. Are lives are truly blessed and full we couldn't ask for anything more.
My your next year be a full and joyous.
Love to you all!!

This Video truely captures the difference between Sydney and Isaac.

Kids decorating the tree.

Sydney and I had a chance to make cookies together. Isaac normally dominates this activity, and Sydney usually finds something else to do. Well this time Isaac was at school.

Making Cookies with Sydney was a totally different experience then making cookies with Isaac. So much less STRESS!!!

I'm afraid we don't have many pics of Christmas. But here's Sydney decorating our little 4 ft. tree. She kept taking ornaments and placing them all on the same branch. I redecorated the tree on Christmas eve. So Christmas day it was to my satisfaction.
This is Isaac's note/letter to Santa so that Santa would know where we are and wouldn't miss us.
Let me translate it for you since he spoke out loud what he was writing.
"Dear Santa, Please bring us presents in the night." This he wrote over and over again.

Thank you so much for the gift of $$$ that was sent our way. We really have a great life and it feels very full and fun. But thanks to those generous individuals we were able to buy a seasons pass to the Miami Metro Zoo. We are very excited.
Thank you so much!

So the zoo is HUGE and with a 2 and 4 year old you don't move very fast. So all in all we say maybe 5 animals, about a 5% of the animals there. I was really excited about the flamingos!!! They ween't very pink though. Turns out they turn pink because of the special little shrimp they eat in the wild. The amount of pink depends on the amount of shrimp. Always learning new things here on the Sparks blog. I was still so thrilled I almost jumped into the water for an up close and personal looks!
Just kidding!! I don't think I've ever seen water that green before.

Here's Isaac and Sydney in a Huge birds nest statue. Not more to say here.
Isaac and Sydney playing on the Elephant statue. We actually did get to see the real thing. Next time we go we're going to rent a 2 man bike thingy. It has a place for the kids to sit in the very front while the parents, side by side peddle. They're $$$ but well worth it. We might make it to the giraffes and their feeding station.

We stuck around long enough to see the Diego show. But I'm afraid it pushed the kids to the limit. They calmed down to watch the show and then started up again as soon as it was over. Isaac actually wasn't too bad but Sydney was beat and NOT happy.



Sunday, December 23, 2007

They have more then animals at this Zoo!! They have Diego, and a 20 minute show. And for those of you keeping up with Sydney's obsession, you know this was a big deal for her. As you can see by the picture below.
To say the least she was awe struck when he came out.
Isaac also enjoyed the show. That's his excited face. No seriously. The show was also at 1:30 in the afternoon so they were both extremely tired.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Isaac once again proves his lack of Shyness as he walks up to meet the lifeguard. This boy can make friends with anyone and seems to draw people to him. Or it could be that he over powers them and they have no choice. Either way, he does amaze me!



Isaac has a curious George book where George goes to the beach and sees a lifeguard. So of course when Isaac saw the LG tower, he walked right up the ramp to the lifeguard. Which I then told him to get off of. Turns out he was a really nice guy and came down just to talk to Isaac. I explained the whole story of George and how Isaac wanted to meet him. This is just a little bit of their conversation.

No everyone that is not Laura and Isaac. But its flattering if you thought that was me.
Isaac being baried by Aunt Michelle.
This was suppose to be a pose but I didn't get the right angle and he wouldn't stay still for long.


I can not tell you how much our kids love the beach. And I'm sure I can't express to you all how cute they are in real person. Sydney is getting so much older. Not necessarily bigger but older.
Actually her height is now in the 50% but I don't know if she's on the chart for weight. Its those genetics!!
I know she may look it but this girl really is not a poser. These are quick action shots.
And the best part of the beach... the sandy lunches! She loves this towel, and has namesd it "Quack". And yes it is a duck!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

The Thanksgiving Weekend we took Eric and Michelle to the Sawgrass Mills Malls.

Its a huge tourist attraction because it a HUGE MALL!

So as we sat at the food court to eat Isaac noticed the catwalk. He convinced the girl in charge to let him walk it. So he did and we signed up for the contest. So he won a years contract but we'll see where it goes.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Looks like Isaac might have some modeling jobs in the future. These are a select few of the pics Model Porduction snapped of the very tired and VERY hipper Isaac Sparks
Blue Steel!!
She did get a few NORMAL shots. But not many.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007



Uncle Eric put Sydney in the swing with out the knowledge of the repercutions of what would happen. She's all happy until you try and take her out of the swing.

Michelle takes great pics of the kids.



This is Eric flipping Isaac around. It was nice to have someone else he could wrestle with.

I don't wrestle with him because I usually get hurt. So its always Joshand Isaac.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Ofcourse Isaac had to show Uncle Eric his pride and Joy,
his Spiderman outfit. $$$ well spent.

Yes again the natural fake smile. I thought these flowers were only in Hawaii, but we have them all over our complex.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007


13 weeks now and counting! You can see the little legs and arms.
Week 19 is when I get the big ultrasound.
Lots of videos and pics from Thanksgiving weekend are coming soon. I'm just still tring to recover from it let alone blog about it.
So check in soon.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Make sure you scroll all the way down or you'll miss Sydney's videos. I'm so excited that I know how to put them on now. I"ll make sure Isaac has some one soon.
My new goal is to learn how to put a song on.
Double click on the play button.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Isaac is so fast on his bike... you wouldn't believe it. Actually for those of you who helped me chase him down the hill in wymount, you probably would believe it. And that was when he was just on a tricycle. This is a bike!!
So he hasn't mastered the natural looking fake smile yet.
But he's still cute all the same.
One of the many qualities I love about Isaac is that he makes friends where ever he goes. I see some kids hanging back to shy to walk up to other kids.
Not Isaac. "Hey guys, what are you doing?"
Sometimes when he walks up to older kids they are kind of bothered by him and try to ignore him. I don't know if he realises it because he doesn't leave and eventually they break and let him join in with what ever they're doing.
AHHH! The Swings.... How I hate them. First thing Sydney does at the parks is run for the swings and is determined to stay as long as possible.
I've learned that slides can get her out. But only at certain playgrounds. She's a little picky about her slides.
Sweet hair huh! This is a rock climbing wall. Every time Sydney goes for it and I'm not right behind her... I get dirty look.
That day I looked at the lady and said, "Don't let her fool you, she's almost 2."
Then she backed off.
Seriously people would I let a baby climb around... well maybe.
To give you a more realistic point of view on how tiny she is...
Her back measures from the bottom of my palm to the tip of my middle finger.





Sydney running over to get a piece of Candy from us. She's not exactly coordinated at the this age. Hopefully in time she'll come along. Usually when we ask her to run she just moves her right arm faster but her foot don't pick up any speed. It must've been the candy that actually got her to try running for real.











This is Sydney walking back to play.





Saturday, November 10, 2007

This is me pregnant at 4 months with Sydney. You can kind of see my belly.

And heres me at 11 weeks with this pregnancy.
For those of you who really know me well, you would know that this is a BIG deal!!!
This is really showing for me!
Freaking me out just a little.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ok so they do have there bad times when they're at each others throats, but the majority of the time they are best buddies. I walked into the room last night and they were already reading books to each other and getting ready for bed. Its hilarious to hear them talk to each other since Sydney doesn't really talk yet. But they seems to have whole conversations. I only understand Isaacs part in the conversations. I'm starting to catch more from Sydney. Girls really do have a stronger urge to speak then boys!
This is both of them on daddy's lap for story time a couple nights ago. It may look like he's squishing her head but he's not. She laid her head on his lap and he very gently laid his head on hers. Makes me so happy to see them like that. Lets hope it keeps up.
Halloween 2007
Sydney was Dorthy with her ruby slippers and she carried her Ty puppy dog too. Of course I did actually do her hair when we went somewhere.
Below we have Isaac shooting his web out. He's still practicing holding his fingers just right but he tells me ,"its very hard and may take some time." Always in a very serious voice!
I wasn't for buying costumes but Isaac REALLY wanted Spiderman. He wears it ever day.
First thing he said when he put it on was....
"MOM do you want to watch me climb the walls?"
My answer, "I do every day honey!"

You have to click on this pic to get a better view of their facial expressions.

Sydney was very impressed with Isaac's new muscles, as Isaac tries to play it of nonchalantly.

Florida's Wildlife!!
They have the ugliest ducks down here!! Seriously!! They look like mutant ducks!
And they are everywhere, too!
For some reason I imagined beautiful flamingos and cool things like that.
Not mutated ducks.
Don't get me wrong there are some pretty unique wildlife out here and some of it pretty and I have to say the ducks are growing on me. They're very patient with the kids and tend to only poop in certain areas.
But these pictures I found on the web actually make them look pretty!
White Ibis
They are pretty little cranes that are everywhere. In fact they used to be nicknamed the Florida chicken because people used to eat them. There are always flocks of them going through the grass looking for bugs to eat. They really are pretty.

These are Florida's Burrowing owls. They're really little and are endangered. So if they decide to burrow into you yard or a playground for instance... you can't touch them. you have to wait until they decide to move. Crazy huh!
Don't let the picture freak you out... they aren't that big. But they are weird looking huh?!

This is what the spiders look like here. They're called Orb Weaving Spider.

Friday, October 5, 2007


Sydney didn't feel she needed Isaacs coaching.
Man is she CUTE or what?!

This pic of me (oh so flattering with no makeup)was actually taken by Isaac. I was so impressed because he even coached me on where to put my hand and tilt my head. Yeah I know I'm looking pretty thin. But not for long. Soon I'll have that baby weight that I love.
For those who don't know me really well that is not sarcasm, I do love baby weight.
BLUE STEEL!!!

NOT BLUE STEEL!!!!

What can you say about pics like this!!! Yeah to the $1 store because she loves this hat!
I think you can see Josh's blood in her with these pics too!
The picnic table on the porch... thank you Grandma Love.
This screened in porch keeps me sane!!!
Isaac loves these orange short mom!

It amazes how much they can look like me and then the next pic they look like Josh!

James Pendley... Proud father of FOUR!!!
Miss Madelin Pendley 7 lbs. 10 oz. arrived October 2nd, with lots of RED hair.
Ev is very excited!
And don't you just love Amanda's hair that short. I know I do!!
Feel free to click on the link to your right to see more of the Pendley family. They are all just as CUTE!!