The Best Gift Ever!

So this year at Christmas Santa brought Connor and Kate a sand and water table. It is so great. The kids go out there and play forever! They love it. Connor still tries to eat it. You would think after the first 10 times he would stop putting it in his mouth, but he still does it. Kate loves to have sand tea parties. She invited all her princess friends and she has so much fun! It is so great to see them play together and having so much fun!

Easter

Okay so I know that I am way behind on my posts, but I am going to attempt to catch up. Things have been so busy that I have not been able to find time to write on our blog. Between work, school, coaching softball, family, and Kate's tball, I am about to fall over! Needless to say things are beginning to wind down around here. The end of the school year is approaching and I can't wait for summer.
This year for Easter we all decided to get together for Easter to color eggs. This year of course we had a new addition, Finley. He didn't color any eggs, but he was as cute as ever! My mom was so nice to allow us to come to her house and color eggs. We had to do it inside because it was raining. The kids had such a good time. It was nice to have the older kids (Brody, Logan, and Carter) to help the younger ones. Connor slept the whole time so that made it really easy. I do love Connor, but those of you who know him know that the eggs would have been all over the floor and the coloring stuff all over his head!

Easter morning the kids got up way too early and saw what the Easter bunny had brought them. I think the Easter bunny went a little overboard this year:) They found all the eggs that the Easter Bunny had left them. Connor surprised me this year. He really loved picking up the eggs. He would fill his basket and then dump them all out and start all over again! And as always, Kate was super excited and so enthusiastic! They had so much fun playing with their new toys.

This year we did something different and we went to Colleen's house for Easter. They had everyone over for a BBQ and had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. They had so much fun. It was a great day with good food and great family!

5 things I love about Connor.

After I was done talkign wth Kate she then said to me, "Mom what about Connor?"

I love it when Connor...

wants to suggle. He is such a good snuggler. He will get his blanket and comes right over and lay with me. As a toddler he is so busy and those times when he stops and sits with me are so precious.

blows kisses and says bye bye. Every night when we put his to bed this is what he does.


runs down the hall and says, "go, go, go" Connor says very few words, but this is one of them.

I love is when he plays with Kate. He loves her so much and looks for her if he can't find her.

I love it that he loves to explore the world! He is so intrigued by things. He loves to check everything out.

Connor is such a sweet boy! He loves his mom and that makes my heart very glad! He is such a happy boy and is so sweet with his kisses. He is stubborn, but which toddler is not. I love you very much Connor!

5 things I love about Kate!

The past few weeks have been a little rough for me. I have been working a lot, out of town , and just in a bad mood. My children sometime feel the brunt of it. I sat down with Kate the other day and said, "Kate I just love you so much! I love all the things that you do." Of course she said, "Like what?"

I said, "I love you when...

You wake up in the morning and come into my room and say, "Good morning mom, It's a beautiful day!"

You go over to your brother when he falls down and says, "Are you okay Connor?"

I love it that you love to sing and dance. I can't always understand you but I love your passion about.

You have a tea party with all the princesses in your room when you are supposed to be sleeping. (Kate will often play tea party when she is supposed to be sleeping. I know that I should intervene, but to hear her through the wall in our bedroom is priceless!)

You stop what you are doing and come running over to me and say, "I love you mom!"

Kate is such a sweet girl. She is emotional and a little dramatic at times, but that is what makes her who she is. She is such a good big sister and loves her brother very much. She is my child who is so full of life and says the funniest things at the perfect time! She loves her family and is so grateful for things. The excitement in her when she gets to go somewhere or see someone is priceless.
I love you Kate!

American Idol on the wii!

A couple week ago we took Brody, Logan, and Carter for the night. They are at a fun age. We stayed up late playing Americal Idol on the wii! I love this game. It is just so fun. My inner rockstar comes out. Due to some recent posts on my friends pages I am highly recommending this game for Jillian and Lindsey. Carter who is the youngest decided that he wanted to sing Behmian Rhapsody.WOW! That is about all that I can say about this performance. Watch and you will see why. We truly enjoyed having them over. They are such good helpers with my kids and they love to take care of them and make sure that they are okay. We love them to pieces and were so glad that we got to spend time with them.

Viva Las Vegas!

Over spring break Chris and I went to vegas with our good friends Ed and Cara. We left on Wednesday and for some reason I was very anxious. The kids had a bit of a cold so our daycare situation switched last minute. I was very nervous to go. I don't know why, but I was. Ever since I had children traveling without them as been a scary thing. God forbid something happen to us they would be all alone. I know you are thinking, "Wow she is so dramatic, but this is what i actually think about before I go on a trip. We dropped the kids off st Sheila's house and off we went to the airport. My feeling of uneasiness did not subside when the first song I heard on the radio was "Turn this car around." I wanted to call the whole thing off right then. We made it to the airport and on the plane. Still a feeling of uneasiness. Of course I checked everyone out to see who would be riding with me. No problems in flight and we landed just fine in Vegas.
Las Vegas! We were finally here! We got to our hotel, Treasure Island and officially started our vacation. I do highly reccomend Treasure Island, they just remodeled all the rooms there- and they have a Krispy Kreme on the premisis. Our friends Ed and Cara arrived and the party really began. We decided to go to the Sahara to gamble to play on some lower limit tables to warm up. We are all blackjack players. That was a huge mistake. Chris and I lost so much money. THis never happens to me there. I always win something. So Cara and I moved on to craps. Bigger mistake. I might as well have just handed my money to the dealer and said, "keep it" because that is what happened. It was pathetic. As we were leaving Ed hit it big in the penny slots. He was sitting their gambling becuase it was so cheap and he wanted the free drinks. We all do it there in Vegas- I know how pathetic. Ed won a whopping 100 bucks int he penny slots- that is a lot of pennies. After the BIG win we went back to our hotel and off to bed we went.The next day was spent just hanging out by the pool and shopping. It was really nice. No worries, no children pulling you in a million different directions it was just relaxing. All parents need this kind of time every now and then. We went to this mall at the end of the strip so Cara and I could get our shopping on and Ed and Chris were not too thrilled, but they came along anyways. Now let me tell you about this mall. It is huge. It is apparently sponsored by Apple. Outside the mall there is this huge patio with small carts and little places to eat. They have music playing there. Let me say that again, they have a song playing there. This place plays the song, "I tried to do handstands for you" from the apple ipod comercial all day! I am not kdding. It is the only song that they play. Those poor employees. It is so loud and it never stops or changes. Can you imagine??? Horrible!
Thursday night we went to Samba, which is a Brazillian steakhouse. You pay a set price per person and you get all the meat you want. The cook it and bring it to you. The waitor brings it out on this sword and cuts it for you. It was amazing!!!! Cara and I tried a little of everything and then were content. Ed and Chris on the other hand, felt they had somthing to prove. Chris did not last as long with ed being the winner of the night. Way to go Ed, I am proud of you. After that we had were in food coma. I had to go to bed because I think my body was in shock from all the meat! Kerry had reccomended it to us and I am so glad!
Friday was just another day of pool and shopping. Cara and I went into Sephora and again the men ahd to wait outside, well because they know better! It was then time to say goodbye to our dear friends. We have known Ed and Cara since College and we are just truly blessed to have them in our lives. They are Connor's godparents and we are just so honored to have that special relationahip with them. We get along so well and we and just glad that we can stay so close adn do so many things with them even though they live in California. I had a great time in Vegas, but I was super excietd to get home and see my beautiful children. I missed them so much.

Welcome Baby Finley!

Finley has arrived! My sister Kelly and her husband Jay welcomed baby Finley on Monday March 2nd. He was born healthy and mom is doing great. I took the afternoon off work and went down to the hospital to go visit. He is just adorable. His older brother and sisters came down to the hospital to see him. They were just so excited. They all go to hold him and spend some special time with mom. My sister Kerry and I took Abby, Maggie, and Sean to dinner at Chilli's. We had such a fun time with the kids. They all ate and then it was into the car to go home to bed. I brought them all back to their house and got them ready for bed. The whole time they just kept talking about baby Finn. It was very sweet to hear. Baby Finley is just so cute. We just love him tons already. Welcome baby Finn!