Party Time!

This past weekend was a blast! Connor's buddy, Austin, had his big 5th birthday party & we were lucky enough to join in on the festivities! Austin has such an amazing family & they put on the best birthday party! Fun activities to enjoy---kiddie pools, giant swing set, and the biggest bounce house/water slide you could imagine! The kids were busy for hours & it could not have been better for a hot Florida afternoon! Connor found himself yanking on anyone's hand that looked like they'd give in to taking him up on the big water slide! Matt's brother, Justin, was sweet enough to take Connor down the slide since he was already in his swimsuit. Connor spent most of the day trotting from the kiddie pool in the shade to the big bounce house slide to watch all the big kids. After tossing in some kiddie cups of ice cream & cake, Connor thought he had died & gone to Heaven! By the end of the party, I was exhausted (and Connor had not napped all day) so he should have been equally exhausted! Ha...Connor opted to NOT nap for more than 5 minutes on the car ride home, so Mom was pretty pooped-out at that point! I think Connor just had too much fun (or had too much sugar) :). We had such a great time! Enjoy the pics...and there are more to come, courtesy of Matt's dad's photography :). Enjoy!

A shot of the giant slide that was the hit of the party! Justin & little Miss Kaylee were trying it out!

Connor was enjoying the kiddie pool with all the adults trying to stay cool in the shade. Connor made sure to splash extra hard since the adults appeared to be too dry for his liking! :)


This is when Mr. Smarty Pants discovered the joys of folding down the side of the pool & watching the current of water pour out onto the ground. This went on for most of the party...


Connor made his way over to the big kiddie slide/pool, where he found some nice mud puddles to slosh around in. I kept having visions of when I would obsessively sanitize everything when Connor was a wee-little-boy.... and now I'm letting him prance around in the mud! I never thought I'd see the day....


He LOVED it!


Connor & Jordyn were enjoying the cake/ice cream break in the kiddie-size chairs. So cute!


After Connor kept wondering around the giant slide, we opted to have Justin take him down it to see what he'd think. His face looks somewhat unsure, but we're pretty sure he liked it!


My caged monkey...crawling around in the bounce house.


Candid kisses for my little guy after he was all dried off and we were ready to watch Austin open gifts. This was a rare shot where you did not find Connor standing in the kitchen under the counter where the bowl of cheese puffs were residing. Connor was not going to leave until that bowl of cheese puffs was gone...and all in HIS tummy!

On a side note: If you scroll back up and look at the photos, 7 of them consist of Connor grasping onto what Mommy likes to call his "Dora action figure". I have been saying for the longest time that Connor isn't attached to anything or have a 'lovey'. Well, this past week, Connor has proved me wrong. Out of nowhere...I mean...nowhere...Dora has become an extension to Connor's right hand. The silly little 'action figure' that was always stuck at the bottom of the diaper bag just in case he needed a toy, but never seemed to interest him when it was in his possession has become a toy that he carries ALL day and holds in his hand ALL night in his crib as well. He loves his Dora (and for the record--Dora is holding her map--that makes her slightly-less-feminine and a little more masculine right?!). Now I just have a fear of misplacing her...or better yet...Cooper finding a liking in her!

Thanks to the Sears family for having us join in on the family birthday festivities. We had a blast! :)