Christmas Eve

In the chaos of Christmas Eve at our house, we barely got any actual posed pics, but have a few action shots to share with our faithful readers/fans. (Be sure to check out Connor's handsome, but sleeves-rolled-up-cool Christmas outfit.) First, Connor eagerly awaiting our guests...

The gifts came in truckloads...and the wrapping paper filled our living room (for at least 3 days). Here's Connor playing tee-ball with Uncle Will, sweeping, opening his new truck and bowling with Cousin Scottie.

Connor also scored a stuffed "Daisy" dog, whom he loves

and usually has barking at the real Daisy Dog. Daisy seems confused.

Uh-Oh...no more presents to open?

Last but not least, here's one last action shot of Connor opening a train set from Santa in the morning. Whew! Santa & our family has been good to us!

Cookie Baking

A few days before Christmas some of our family & friends came over to bake Christmas cookies with the kids. This is an awesome idea if you are hoping your kid will...oh I don't know... eat a ball of raw cookie dough:

Then get really upset when you won't let them have more...

Both Connor & cousin Lauren figured out the technique to cookie-making, but I think Lauren had her eye on those delicious chocolate kisses!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Connor wanted to be Santa today for Christmas,

so I let him eat some vanilla yogurt for breakfast.

Sledding

What is more fun than sledding down a hill?
Being pulled all around in your little sled-seat, without getting up once. Not even to walk UP the hill. Connor has an awesome life.
His parents, on the other hand, are sore & exhausted this evening!









It was a bit rainy, but Connor was a trooper. (Mostly because his Mama made sure there were no air-leaks in his outfit.) LOVED the snow. LOVED his sled. LOVED watching his parents "eat-it" at the bottom of the sledding run. LOVED sledding down some little hills (and occasionally medium ones when his Dad was in charge). LOVED making snow balls with cousins Scottie & Janeen. Loved, loved, LOVED watching Cooper & Dodger play in the snow (Scott & Janeen's children...the golden retrievers)!

Rambo

For a while we thought we were raising Courtney Cox's child, Coco. Apparently we are raising Rambo, who is busy shape sorting with his camo (moose-covered) PJ's.

New Discovery

Connor has made a big new discovery,

just in time for the brisk winter weather:

his OWN pockets!

Now, even more exciting (to Connor) was the discovery that his overalls had "pockets" which were easier to access than the ones in his coat! He was just so excited, I haven't had the heart to tell him that these are not ACTUALLY real bonafide pockets.

Zoo Lights

We chose the coldest night in Oregon to hit the annual Zoo Lights display. Because of this we were forced to make Connor wear all the warm clothes he owns ALL. AT. ONCE. For the record he was wearing a onesie underneath a thermal long sleeve T-shirt, fleece pants, double socks, a hat, scarf, and mittens all under his snow suit (fleece lined overalls and jacket). This outfit was only considered complete once he got his hand-warmers under his mittens (a MUST, my friends!) and a blanket on his lap. (Don't worry...it only took us 20 minutes to get ready in the parking lot.) Now, we did give Connor a chance to stretch his legs at the Zoo, only to discover that he could NOT WALK in this outfit. Literally. We might need to reconsider his outfit choice when we go sledding unless we want to roll him down the hill.

The Entertainer

Connor adores his little cousin Sophia (aka "Baby"). Today he tried to show her all his tricks and toys to entertain her. First we have the bucket-doubles-as-a-hat-while-blindly-spinning-until-he-falls trick. Sophia wasn't really paying attention to that one...So, then he brought out a few toys for her to play with. First he tried the balloon. Then, he acted as if he had a bright idea & ran into his room. He came out with his "aquarium" and played it for her. I think these toys were a bit more entertaining than his bucket trick.
Connor is also usually the first one to hear Baby when she wakes up from a nap. He'll grab my hand and point to the bedroom & say "Baby?" Hey, maybe if Connor could just learn to change a diaper he could get a little brother or sister!

Game ON!

It's Beaver Game Day, my friends, and Connor is ready!

He even has the slippers to prove it...

OOOOOOOOOOO, SSSSSSSSSSS, UUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!
Go Beavs!

What every one-year-old needs...

...is a fort (cardboard box) with a window (hole cut out)! These are not expensive in and of themselves and are usually available on most pre-Christmas shopping days. However, buyer beware, because occasionally you might have to spend a pretty penny for what originally comes inside of the "fort." Check out how much fun they are:


Sometimes even dads need a fort, just to get away from it all for a moment or two...