It's party time!

C-R-A-Z-Y busy birthday weekend is coming to an end! Connor has had way more fun than he can handle! Since I had a ridiculous amount of photos to illustrate, I'll caption each one to help tell the story. Sit back and enjoy the footage from our Elmo party extravaganza! :)

I'll set the scene...
Birthday party Eve. Nana & Mom were setting up decor and perfecting each party detail. Papa & Matt were picking up, delivering, lifting, placing, constructing, and setting up the backyard for party day (in the dark of night, might I add!). Once those tasks were complete, Matt was given the challenge of assembling Connor's new picnic table from Nana & Papa. Many screws, washers, bolts, and twists later, it was together...and Mr. Connor loved it!


Day of party...waiting for guests to arrive. Connor decided to chill in the new seating in the backyard. Mr. Elmo was cute as can be in his birthday outfit! It hit me that this is the last year that I can squeeze him into "baby outfits"...he'll soon be (or already is, but I'm just in denial) too grown up for outfits like this!


Onto the party details...


I was pretty happy with the way Connor's picture banner turned out. I had seen a similar idea on another Mom's blog and ran with it...I made a banner (3 different small banners) with pictures from each month since Connor was born. It was fun to decorate & show off how much my baby has changed in such a small amount of time.


Nana working ever-so-hard in the kitchen getting everything together (she is queen hostess & does such an amazing job!).


The yummies :)


Looks adorable. Was a giant red frosting mess. Went with Target this time, but will definitely go with Publix next time around. I live for cake & this wasn't quite up to my taste standards, but it was super cute & Connor didn't complain when he was inhaling it! :)


So here's party boy...I waited until last minute to dress Connor in his outfit (to minimize any possible dirt, food, or drool before the guests arrived). About two minutes before the majority of our guests starting showing up, Connor snuck into the backyard & "splashed" all over his clothes!! He thought it was hilarious (as we all did too), so I just smiled & captured some funny pics of my two year old!




He is SUCH a water boy!


A cute pic...and Connor scarfing food...surprise surprise!


Pool time with the kiddies




Swinging with Shelb


I knew to give Connor one of Elmo's "eyeball cupcakes" since they were white instead of red.





I was able to catch a photo of Shelby digging into the Elmo mess!


Present time!! Connor's first goodie...his new bike from Uncle Craig & Auntie Nicole! Oh so excited!!!


Then Connor caught a glimpse of the 100000000000 piece matchbox car set that Kerri & Justin got him! Let's just say the war has begun!! Their little girl, Kaylee, will be two in January, and I am on the hunt for the biggest, most accessory filled doll house out there! :)


We then received a special surprise from Auntie Katie even though she couldn't be here.


and yes...Connor's gift was wrapped in a beautiful, PINK Dora bag! Connor's not afraid to show his feminine side! ;)


Connor then opened oodles & oodles of more goodies...


Connor loaded up on new toys, books, movies, giftcards, and clothes...he is one lucky little guy!
Connor (and his Mommy) say "thank you!!"


The fun didn't stop after presents...it was peek-a-boo time with Shelby!


Kisses through the curtains :)


Through the busy hustle & bustle of the par-tay, I forgot to make sure everyone sported their party hats. Matt & I decided to model them anyway...


Connor took a super duper long nap after the party & woke very refreshed & ready to play with all his new goodies.

I try to limit my cell phone talking when Connor's awake & with me, so I don't think he's around the phone enough to know to pick it up & talk on it. Connor does, however, LOVE looking at pictures, so has begun stealing my phone & wanting to scroll through my phone pics. My cell phone kept coming up missing after Connor would wander off with it & leave it wherever...so Matt got the great idea of giving Connor his old phone. He went around the house & took pictures of Connor's favorite toys (Oso, Elmo, balloons, etc). He set Oso as Connor's phone background & everything! So Connor now walks around with his own phone staring at his Oso picture!! He can hit the buttons & play around as much as he wants (until the battery dies & I have to recharge it, of course!).

Although in this photo below Connor looks as though he's auditioning for the next E-trade baby commercial, he's in fact, "giving Oso hugs!" hahaha!


We curled up on the couch at the end of the day & flipped on Connor's new Dora dvd from his G.G. This isn't just any Dora dvd~ it's a personalized Dora dvd, with Connor starring in it!!! It is one of the coolest & funniest gifts I have ever seen! We all got a great kick of it & Connor thinks its pretty cool he's with Dora & Diego!!! haha!


Connor: "That, That, That!"
Me: "That's you, Connor!!"

We had such a blast this weekend & we need to thank everyone, especially Nana, Papa & Matt for helping with all the party prep, food pickup, set up, clean up, etc! I definitely could not have done it alone! Thank you to everyone that came to celebrate with us and for all of Connor's new goodies! We had a great time celebrating with everyone :)

Birthday....check....now onto Thanksgiving & Christmas....Ahhh! Where did the time go?!
(P.S. My house is currently an explosion of birthday party leftovers and Christmas decor!)

Birthday fun!

Holy Moly was Connor's birthday a busy busy busy day! We tried to squeeze in as much fun as we possibly could! I'll let the pictures tell the story...

"Tomorrow's my birthday! Tomorrow's my birthday!!"




Rise & shine, birthday boy!!
I could just eat up his 'morning sleepy face'--he is so precious!


"Seriously Mom?! I'm hangin' with my buddies. What's with the camera this early?!"



Once he was up, it didn't take long before he spotted it...
His new basketball hoop!!!!!




"Shoot! Swoosh!"


After shooting some hoops, we were onto breakfast. Connor's Mickey pancake (which he mauled before I had the camera ready so I tried to put him back together for a picture...) was delicious! My growing boy requested three Mickey pancakes!


We got word that "Connor's got mail!" from Matt, so we had to go check it out! Connor (and I) got a huge kick out of his cat that sang "Happy Birthday!"


Connor liked it so much, we watched it a good 15 times!


My big boy!!!


We decided to go for a neighborhood drive in Connor's new car (hand-me-down from my wonderful neighbors). Connor thought it was fun to buzz by the garbage men collecting the neighbor's trash...Woo hoo!


We then parked his car & headed down to toss some rocks into the drain. Oh, the excitement!!!


Nana arrived & we were ready to head to story time at the library!
(This is Connor's face when I ask for a hug. He turns his cheek to mine, puckers his lips, and pulls me in close!)


Nana usually takes Connor to story times when I'm at work, so I was excited to tag along for the fun this time! The woman reading the story basically whispered, so the room of little ones (and my monster child) barely paid her any attention. It was more fun seeing the other kiddies wondering around! After story time, we loaded up on new DVDs and books to check out!


Then we were off to the only place "Where a kid can be a kid!"...Chuck E Cheese's!!
FYI to parents out there: Be sure to sign up your kiddie on Chuck E Cheese's website to receive coupons & the oh-so-nice 20 free token voucher on your child's birthday!
We enjoyed free rides and games :)

"Weeeeee"


After Chuck E's, we headed to our favorite playground hot spot of McDonald's for lunch & play time. No great photo op's at that time, so just use your imagination....we ate, Connor played, he pooped, we left! :)

After a looooooooooong nap, we packed up & headed over the Nana & Papa's for supper!
Before supper time, we got to squeeze in a neighborhood cruise on Papa's bike.



Parking our bikes in the garage led us to the planter full of rocks. The planter full of rocks led Connor down to the canal. The canal apparently screams for rocks when we're there and Connor MUST feed it! :) Connor heaved a good 20 rocks into the water, then we headed up to the house for supper. To our surprise, Connor had a fancy new ride waiting for him in the house...



"Nana...Papa...you're the best!"


Hugs for Connor's new horse :)


This picture is not flattering to either of us, but I had to include it. This is the best and only picture I have of Connor with his cake.

My face reads: "Oh dear Lord. Terrible two tantrums. Awesome."
Connor's face reads: "GIVE ME SOME CAKE NOW!!!!


The ever-so-bipolar-happy-kid once he received his cake.


I couldn't help, but snap this photo. New jammies. New toy. New age. Same great toosh!

It's good to be TWO!!!

HaPpY HaPpY HaPpY HaPpY

2nd

BiRtHdAy to my little munchkin!!!

Birthday week begins

Today's birthday week festivities included a trip to Target to get the rest of his birthday party outfit, to Chuck E Cheese (where Connor is still needing some practice on rolling the ski balls, instead of launching them/near denting the game!), and play time in the kiddie pool in the back yard. I also fixed up a yummy new treat of cheese raviolis with a new vodka cream sauce (orange spaghetti sauce instead of red). I was concerned about whether I was making the delicious lunch in the event that my picky eater takes one look at it & chooses not to eat it, but I accepted the challenge. I took the first bite & let out a huge "Mmmm!!" Once that was done, we had lots of giggles & Connor dove right into his tasty lunch.

I haven't posted a video in a while, so thought you might enjoy the goofy antics of my (almost) two year old!