I'm Out!

My reign as Office manager ended last Wednesday with a very busy day. Wednesday the Fire Marshall was coming to inspect the Shed Office behind our main office (one of many visits during construction). When he comes the children can not exist in the office. We were expecting the Fire Marshall at 12, so i planned to have the kids out by 10 (just in case he came early). Well Mr. Fire Marshall (forthmore refered to as FM) decided to break his appointment and come at 9:00am, before we had put away any kid toys, or taken down any kid decorations. Lucky for us he sat in the car for a few minutes before he came in, giving us much needed time to notice him and begin to throw toys into the nursery and barricaded the kids in the nursery until I could sneak them out. Well I was able to get the FM where he needed to go in the shed and came to get the kids and nannies out. I thought it would be funny to come to the nursery door and disguise my voice to say "Hey son, whats in here?, I'm going to need you to open this door up!" I then opened the door to find the nannies and kids huddled in the corner scared to death...Woops. Out the door i got them and they had a fun field trip to Cafe du Monde, and McDonald's. Because FM came to early I had to call parents of kids that had not shown and get play air traffic controller to be sure they did not "land" at the office when FM was there. In the end all was well and FM will be back in 30 days to give us final approval for the Shed Offices.

Why New Orleans? This is why!

Some people have asked, "Why do you want to live in that awful underwater city?" Well the city of New Orleans is in fact not under water, though it does have its issues. We live here because its is where God has led us. God has taught us and developed us so much this past year and a half, while always providing for us and blessing us. There is so much pain in this city and not enough people to help soothe the pain. I was working at Pita Pit Sunday night when a gentleman walked in wanting to know where the closest bar was. My Co-worker and I told him about St. Joe's bar about a block down the road. As he was walking out the door he turned around and this is the conversation
Man: "what can i get with 2 dollars?",
Pita Pit: 6 cookies we told him,
Man: "ok I'll take those cookies, and an Ambulance".
Matt: Ok (picks up phone), are you feeling sick?
Man: "Man I've been off my meds for a while, i need an ambulance to take me to River Oaks Hospital."
Matt: Ok (dials 911)
911: What your emergency?
Matt: Hi, I'm at Pita Pit, 5800 Magazine and I have a man here who says he has been off his meds for a while and needs transportation to River Oaks.
911:Has he hurt anyone?
Matt: not that i know of.
911:we cant help you unless he has been in a fight of hurt someone
Matt: he is asking for help
911: Sorry, please call back if he gets in a fight or hurts someone...CLICK
Matt: 911 just hung up on me!
Co-worker: I'll call them (calls 911)

20 minutes later after dispatcher talks to Man, Co-worker, and I they agree to send out a Police officer. This city need people who care about other people, not people who are "just doing their job". Sarah and I want to help people, we pray God will lead us in this.

Big Daddy, Emma, and a baby in my food

Guess whose the new Office Manager of Earth Search....Give up? Its me!!! Well kind of...our Office Manger (Katie) left for England for two weeks and put me in charge while she is gone. She had some huge shoes to fill. She is the sweetest hardest working person i know...I kind of feel incompetent doing her job but it makes me feel special. In other job news...My last day at Pita Pit is Sunday January 18th....I'm going to miss working there..because its fun...but i will not miss getting home at 5am and needing to sleep when Emma was awake..poor Sarah is a trooper...

Monday was Kings Day here in New Orleans, AKA the official first day of Carnival (first day of Mardi Gras season)...If you live in New Orleans its also the end of that new years resolution to lose weight (not mine..just a fact), because everyday there is a king cake on the counter at work. How do we decide who brings the next king cake??? We bake a plastic baby into the cake of course...who ever gets the baby, buys the next king cake....I had a baby in my king cake on Monday..so its my turn!! Only in New Orleans do you accept that there is a baby laying in your food.Emma had her 6 month check up yesterday...even though she is 7 months (us Parks are slow with our babies checkups)...Emma is 17 pounds, 26.25 in long, and her head is 16.5 in. now...and NO EAR INFECTION...Yeay big girl!

Emma and Daddy at the Doctor...not really smiling cuz we were both tired..

Dear Emma

Emma,
Daddy was looking at his old blogg entries when he found one from before you were born that talked about what he looked forward to when you were born. Daddy is not at all disappointed by your sweet disposition, beautiful eyes and face, and how fun you are to play with. We have a lot to look forward to Emma, I thank God everyday for you and your mom.

1.) I look forward to holding my daughter and looking into her sweet eyes...and planning how I am going to keep her away from boys.

2.) I look forward to brushing her hair and Sarah saying.."your doing it wrong"..Thanks for the feedback sweetie.

3.) I look forward to watching her sleep (i hope she does this A Lot).

4.) I look forward to watching Sarah put bows in her hair and seeing how happy that will make her (Sarah and Emma).

5.) I look forward to reading Emma my favorite books.

6.) I look forward to practing my animal noises with her.

7.) I look forward to hearing her copy my animal noises.

8.) I look forward to playing with Emma so that i have an excuse to play with toys.

9.) I look forward to teaching her about textures and watching her learn and grow.

10.) I look forward to holding her up during Mardi Gras parades so i can actually get the cool stuff (they only throw stuff to kids).