Big boy swing

Connor has been requesting to "Go outside and play on the p-pound" aka play in the backyard on his playground quite often these days. He has just recently sprung an interest in the big boy swing instead of his 'lazy boy baby swing.'

I find something super precious about my little boy on such a big swing :).

He is constantly asking me to "push me faster."

He has been introduced to the art of pumping your legs to go higher, but he has no interest in doing it whatsoever. Why do the work when Mom will?!

I will happily push this smiley munchkin forever :)

Our week

Although our days in and days out seem to feel pretty redundant, we managed to squeeze in a few things to make things a little more interesting. Lucky for all of you, we captured them in photos :).

Fun began when Connor found a bird house assembly package that we received at a kiddie Fall festival hiding in his closet. Since it required tools/screws/nails, I intended to make that a Matt/Connor bonding project...but since Matt was at work, I had to step up to the plate. All I can say is thank goodness Connor couldn't tell how uneven the walls/roof ended up! He thought it was great and couldn't wait to paint it :)

Mom: "Ok, Connor! It's ready to be painted! What cool color do you want to use first?!"

Connor: "Pink!"

Mom: "You sure you want to use pink?! We have lots of cool manly colors like blue, green, red, orange..."

Connor: "Nope. I want to use pink."

:) (I know it doesn't matter, but I still try!)

"Ta...Da...!!"

To any folks that are not aware of the free baby ice cream cone at McDonald's,
you all must try it! Its a little less sugar and your munchkin is still getting their ice cream fix! And it's freeeeeee! :)

Let me just tell you that I am very wise. :)
I knew it was not worth purchasing Connor's basketball team pictures. Proof lies in the photo below! Ever try to get about 10 three/four year olds to stand still, smile, and look the right way?! Not a lot of things are impossible, but this feat IS!! It took 2 photographers and about 4 parents to keep the kids wrangled in their spots!

This was the best they could finaggle!
(Check out Connor's cheese face & the way he's holding his hands on his hips after the nice lady told him to put his hands down to his side...he's such a good listener :))

My little #0 just wanted to be done with pictures so he could go see his favorite people--Nana & Papa :)

I am very overdue for posting hilarious videos of Connor. Once I figure out the settings of my new camera, they will be up! Our latest gigglefest usually routes from Connor busting some dance moves to "All the Single Ladies" (remix from the Chipmunks). Stay tuned...

Winter in Florida means...

Water balloons

instead

of

Snowballs...

(If only you could hear the giggles from these photos!)

# 0

We made it through our first basketball game and let me just tell you...

It was the best laugh I've ever had that early in the morning! :)

I didn't know what to expect with Connor since he's usually very hot and cold during practice, but BOY was I delightly surprised with how much he loved it! The court was longer than I expected, so the kids got to run back and forth between the hoops. Since Connor is a natural born track star, he was in HEAVEN with all the "brun, brun, running!" He loved it so much that when the game was over, he was the lone red team member running around going "More?!"

Connor's 1st official sports # happens to be the big ZERO! Might be tough to make that his official # for years to come, but for now, it suits him well!

P.S. It completely melted my heart when Connor would seek me out in the crowd and run over to give me an excited hug randomly throughout the game. He was so proud of himself! If only he hugged me in mid game forever :).

One of the precious members of the Red Team with his game face on!

You just watch me. You haven't seen skills before until you check #0 out!

The Red Team practicing offensive skills before the game.

Then onto their defensive skills... :)

It wasn't long into the game, before Connor had a chance to make his first shot! It was hilarious to see the older kids on Connor's team dribble nicely across the court, while Connor just ran fast with the ball in hand! :)

"I did it!"

(with a big high five from the Coach)

And off they go again...

They're really started to get the defensive moves down. It's pretty much like this...

You either have the basketball...or your hands are up in the air...

They're slowly grasping the concept of the game :)

"Doing great, bud! Keep it up!"

Not sure what the official score was, but we consider it a victory!

"1, 2, 3...Go Red Team!"

Showing good sportmanship with the other team. Connor just stood there while the others walked his way. We'll have to work on that concept for next week :)

(P.S. Big thanks to Auntie Nicole & Ryder's Mama, Danielle, for game photos!!)

Countdown to soccer season...

It figures that Connor has always enjoyed shootin' hoops...and then a week before basketball season...Connor has a new found love for soccer! Matt & I are doing our best to keep him well-rounded and enjoying both sports (in hopes that Connor doesn't absolutely dread the next 9 weeks of basketball practices and games)! We will hopefully still have fun for basketball, but we all can't wait until soccer season this Fall!

Big man showing off his kicking skills :)

Cutest little athlete!

"Ready, set, go!"

I was telling Connor how he looked like an elf with the way his Buzz sunglasses pushed his ears down. This was just the beginning of our giggle-fest...

P.S. I love how Connor thinks I'm soooo good at soccer as I can kick the ball "high high to the sky." My child is so good for my ego sometimes :)

Calling all Space Rangers...

To...

Infinity...

And...

Beyond...

I have one.cute.space.ranger.

Funny kid...

After spending just a few minutes with Connor, he's bound to make you laugh.

He says the funniest things lately...

Funny comment #1:

Me: "Connor, you are looking more and more like your Papa."

Connor: "No, Mom. I'm looking more and more like Connor."

Comment #2:

Nana picked Connor a flower & said, "The petals on this flower look like a daisy."

Connor replies with "No, Nana. It's not a Daisy. It's a Donald!"

Comment #3:

Connor & Nana go to an open gym class for preschoolers once a week. It's usually really busy with lots of young families. There happened to be an African American family near where Connor was playing. It was a dad, toddler, and infant in a carrier. Connor was running around and approached the infant in the carrier, turns to Nana, and says "Nana, watch out for the...chocolate baby?!" Nana couldn't help but chuckle.

Connor is full of hilarious sayings. I need to do a better job of writing them all down, so we can laugh at them for years to come! :)

My boys...

Putting two boys that I love dearly together and listening to them giggle with one another

might very well make my heart explode with joy :).

Happy 27th to me!

So I slightly forgot about my birthday post...

Some say having my birthday on New Years Eve is the best day so you can party hard. For one the doesn't party hard often, it is just another day to me.

Well...another day...WITH CAKE! :)

Each year brings different wishes...

May this next year bring even more blessings!

Basketball!

It appears that 'Big Boy-hood" started at the age of 3. We've started talking full conversations, true negotiating, critical thinking, potty training, and SPORTS! I was excited to find a basketball league for Connor's age group at the YMCA and enrolled him ASAP! Monday night was our first practice. We were very fortunate to get a wonderful coach, by the name of Matt. Connor was quick to point out, "Coach Matt...like MY Matt!" It was cute and funny how over time, "Mommy's Matt" has turned into "Connor's Matt."

Practice was a little overwhelming as we were in a gymnasium full of kids all echoing. It was noisy and chaotic! Since Connor hasn't been in anything too organized with an instructor, it was a slight adjustment to get Connor to follow the instructions of his coach. The concept of sharing the basketball with other teammates is something we need to work on as well!

Practice began with Coach Matt explaining to the kids that "this is the ball" and "this is the basket." Connor was quick to chime in and say "No, that's the hoop." ;)

It was hard to get the kids wrangled in line, let alone getting them to understand that there weren't enough basketballs to go around and that they needed to SHARE. When it was Connor's turn, he showed off some skills :)

The team was then instructed to get in a line and get ready to run a lap. I'm pretty sure all Connor heard was "RUN" so he hopped up & took off around the outside of the gym ALL THE WAY AROUND. I tried to put on my I-have-control-over-my-child-face as I quickly trotted after my child all the way around the gym :).

Once I got a hold of my child, the rest of practice was kind of tough, as Connor was annoyed I told him he couldn't do his running around the gym & had to listen to Coach. I was able to get him to stand in line with the team while he waited for his turn to practice dribbling. Connor kept hopping out of line, so he ended up at the end. Once Coach got to him, he handed Connor the basketball and asked him to dribble across the court. Connor took the ball, plopped it on the court, and started kicking it. Our Matt has been working with Connor on his "soccer dribbling", so when Coach Matt asked Connor to "dribble," he thought he was doing the right thing! I guess we need to work on the difference between "basketball dribbing" and "soccer dribbling."

"Dribbling" AKA "Traveling"

A one-on-one lesson :)

We are so happy to be on Connor's buddy, Ryder's team! It's so nice to get the boys together on a regular basis, since they are very much alike! Danielle (Ryder's Mom) and I started out as Blog Friends (thelutz.blogspot.com) and now we get to watch our boys play together. They're so great to have around and I adore her boys!

Smiley Ryder :)

Connor showing good form!

Coach announced we will be the "Red Team" and will get our uniforms in the near future. At the end of practice, the kids let out a "Go Red Team" chant.

This basketball season is going to be interesting to say the least!