Fun Times at Home

Jessalyn and I love spaghetti, and it looks like this little guy does too!

Always the princess!
He still will not stay on his horse from Nana and Papa more than 30 seconds, but I keep trying. Someday when he knows he can make it bounce, he will love it!

Connor usually doesn't like us to put him in his "play pen" (which is a rarity in itself), but when Jessalyn gets in there with him, he loves it! I was trying to get a few things done and walked by and saw this....priceless!

First Birthday Bash

We had Connor's first birthday party at Town Park. Eric cooked out hot dogs, we had some snacks and fruit, and of course birthday cake. We had so many of our friends and family there, and it was a great celebration!

The birthday boy with Jessalyn, Grayson, and Aidan

I'm not so sure about this cake thing!

The birthday boy with Griffin- these boys LOVE eachother!

He really got into opening his presents!

Thank you to everyone who made Connor's first birthday so special!

The Birthday Boys

Eric's and Connor's birthdays are a day apart, so we had a weekend of fun celebrating!

Daddy with his adorable kiddos on his 32nd birthday

I had to take a picture of Connor having breakfast on his 1st birthday. I have the same picture of Jess (in the same high chair).

Here is our big one year old on one of his gifts from Mommy and Daddy.

Mommy with her sweet birthday boy.

Connor, you are such a sweet boy, and I can't believe you are one! It has been a wonderful year and has flown by. You have such a gentle spirit, but you are definitely an inquisitive little boy. You love to explore, and you don't sit still! You are cruising all around the furniture, and you stand on your own for about 5 seconds. You say mama and dada, will imitate other sounds, and will occasionally wave hi and bye. I can't wait to see what year number two holds!

First Day of Kindergarten

Oh my goodness, my baby started kindergarten!!

Here she is before leaving the house...

On our way to Brockett...

On our way to the classroom...

And finally with her wonderful teacher, Mrs.Stapleton!

Hanging with the girls

Melissa kept Jessalyn for me on a teacher workday, so I returned the favor and kept Kamille and Sophie while her and Blaine went out for her birthday. Her girls are precious, and Jessalyn has so much fun with them!

Sweet Sophie with Connor

Girls will be girls!
Jessalyn and Kamille dressed up doing makeup

We've had our baths, and we are chilling in the bed watching a movie.

First Lost Tooth

My big girl lost her first tooth this last Saturday, August 15th. She and Nana had realized how loose it was the night before. She was kind of nervous about the whole thing at first, but settled down with the idea. We were eating lunch, and she told me to look at it. I wiggled it a little bit, and it came out! She was so excited! We called Daddy, Nana, and Gran.

The tooth fairy brought a Hello Kitty spin brush, toothpaste, necklace, bracelet, and a dollar.

Six Flags

Jessalyn had been asking to go to Six Flags, and Jill's cousin was in a show at the Southern Palace, so we all decided to go out to Six Flags. It was hot, but we had fun.

Jessalyn and Averie with Daffy and Porky

Having fun riding the Looney Tunes train

The girls with Yosemite Sam

Daddy and his girl riding the carousel

Rewards and Pictures

When we were in Las Vegas, I got Jessalyn a Melissa and Doug behavior/chore chart. It is really neat and you choose which chores work for your child. For instance, we have pick up toys, get dressed, obey, share, be respectful and a couple of others. Each night we go through the chart, and she gets to put the magnetic 'stickers' next to the ones she did good on for that day. I told her when she got to 75 she could choose a reward. She chose to go to Build a Bear. Here she is stuffing her dog.

Naming her dog, Allie

This is what happens when you have a big sister- you get the Hannah Montana hair/headband put on you. This was given to her when she played at Kamille's house.

Rock on dude!

Every summer Jill and I take the girls to get their pictures done. We went to eat afterwards and I snapped a few pictures of my own- this is one of the best snapshots I have ever gotten of them together!

Special Times

We have been having lots of fun lately, going to the spray water park, story time for each kiddo, and having our own fun in the water in our front yard.

We went to Ivy's second birthday party last Friday, and I totally forgot to take pictures. Luckily my sister took this one of Connor when I sat him down in the water. He loves playing in water, as does his big sis. He has been making me smile and laugh so much lately. He is doing new funny things with his mouth. We call it his 'old man face'. He has also been sticking his tongue out a lot, and he finally has a little tooth starting to poke through. It looks like it is the bottom right one. He wants to pull up and stand everywhere. He even gets daring sometimes and wants to let go. I can't believe he is going to be one in a month!!

Daddy and his friends went to the Ranger game Monday night, so Jill and I took Jessalyn, Connor, Averie, Kamille, and Sophie (Melissa had to work) to Chick Fil A and then back to Jill's house to play. Jill got stuff for the girls to make cookies, and they loved it. Jessalyn loves to bake and was very meticulous about her cookies. Here she is with flour on her face.

Such adorable girls!


Beautiful Friends

Also, Eric and I took Jessalyn to see Ice Age yesterday and to eat at Cha Cha's. We just wanted to spend some extra time with our girl, and I'm so glad we did!

Games and Tricks

We went to the Ranger game on Friday, July 17th with Donnie, Jill, and Averie. The Rangers played the Twins. Rangers lost 5-3, but we still had a lot of fun. The fireworks afterwards were great!

Hi, my name is Connor, and this is what I like to do now instead of laying down and taking my nap. Do you like my new trick?


Eric and Jessalyn went back to the Ranger game on Sunday night with Kevin, Beverly, Clayton, Harrison, Ron and Cheryl. Jessalyn had a blast! She played in the kids area, hit the ball off the tee, and played wiffle ball with the boys. She always has so much fun with them!

Hangin' with the kiddos

Our little peanut (10 months) has started to crawl around more, pulling up, and wanting to stand. Here he is having fun!

Look mommy, one hand!
He is so proud of himself!

Anytime I get the camera out, Jessalyn wants to pose. Always the performer!

with one of her favorite books, Fancy Nancy of course!

My two precious kiddos having fun together! These are some of my favorite times!

Connor sportin' his boxers

4th of July- we ended up going out to eat, coming home to do baths and get pajamas on, and then went to watch Fireworks in the car- good memories

(best pic we got, squinting because of the sun)

Vegas Trip

Eric and I went with our friends, Shane and Mandy, and Steve and Angie, to Las Vegas for four days/three nights. We had a blast!

Here are the boys playing the Star Wars slot machine.

Eric and I on Freemont Street (Downtown)

This trip was in honor of our 10th anniversary (which is actually in August) so we took a night to go out to a nice steakhouse called Gallagher's. It was in New York, New York.

I had to take a picture with Holly Madison's poster. She was in a show that was playing at our hotel. We didn't see it, but I am ashamed to say I have watched her in 'The Girls Next Door'.

Eric with Shaq's handprints

Mandy, Angie, and I in Planet Hollywood

All the rooms in Planet Hollywood are movie/actor themed.

Our room was 'Field of Dreams' We loved it!

White Sox uniform