Togetherness

This was mix-up day for spirit week (Conor had his clothes on backwards and different colored socks, they had mismatched clothes and other silly things) but I really love these pictures because you can see how much they love each other. Conor's face is red and sad from crying and throwing a fit about something I can't remember now, but here is his sweet little sister trying to make him feel better. And it worked because here he is reading to her, which makes her extra happy. LOVE. IT.

Stuff

Just a few goings on around our house:

I had been suffering a little case of buyer's remorse and was feeling stressed about unpacking and organizing, so when Conor and Adam had to go to the store one day, they came home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me. This is an especially big deal, because I've always told Adam not to buy me flowers because they can be expensive and often die quickly so I have felt like it is not worth it. However, on this occasion, it was exactly what I needed to cheer me up. Thanks honey! 

We received this status report about Riley's day...looks like she is quite the flirt!

Poor Conor wrote this all on his own about his friend Madelyn, who he talks about as his girlfriend, who he had to leave behind in Illinois.

Out of the mouths of babes....

Now that Riley is talking more and more--and more--and more--and more-- she has had some noteworthy phrases and verbage of her own...


Some of my favorite words from Riley's vocabulary in the spring 2012 (2 years old)
choolies.........................cherries
chapits...........................chapstick
glabilla...........................gorilla
Clippord........................Clifford (the big red dog)
kangaroooooooo...........speaks for itself, just love how she draws it out
pish...............................fish
pupperpish....................pufferfish, even better :)
dollsin...........................dophin
aminal...........................animal (a kids classic, right)
la loo............................love you
cereral..........................cereal
tayne too......................thank you
clockalet......................chocolate
hamurmur.....................hamburger
lipplers.........................slippers
mmmm, that's goot........that's good

and some new ones for the summer
geppi............................spaghetti
windblows....................windmill
wife..............................wipe
tinkle tinkle little tar.......twinkle twinkle little star
craphotter....................grasshopper
cubber.........................cover

I was putting away some of the Easter baskets and Riley said, "I want a purse too!"

Riley was playing at the kitchen table, standing up a screw vertically on its head. She was so proud at she yelled, "Mom, look at the tower I made!"

Each night at dinnertime, we make a point to add something we are thankful for at the end of our meal prayer. Riley went on a streak for about a month, where the only thing she would say is "I'm thankful for Emily" (one of her newer teachers at daycare). We kept trying to get her to think of something or someone new in addition, but she is very stubborn. Then one night, out of the blue, without coaxing to think of something different than or in addition to Emily, she chimed in this way: "Dear God, I'm thankful for....(slight pause as she gazes around the room a little)...breakfast (remember, this was dinnertime)....spoons...and milk." She was so proud of herself. Then we started eating and about five minutes later, she abruptly stopped eating and said, "And Dear God, I'm thankful for Target!" (one of her favorite stores apparently, just like her mommy).

Another edition of...KIDS SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS

A cumulative edition from the last 6 months or so....

On a recent road trip, Riley suddenly started repeatedly yelling out in a sing-song tone, "chicken nuggets, chicken nuggets, chicken nuggets". We all giggled, and then she yelled "roni and cheese, roni and cheese." Adam said, "Why are you yelling out all your favorite foods?"--(short pause)--"Because you are the queen of random?", he answered himself. Conor pipes up from the backseat: "Because she's the queen of yummy!!"


(I may have already posted this one...)
Conor: Dad, why do you always wear shorts?
Dad: These are boxer shorts
Conor:  Oh......(long thoughtful pause)......................they don't box, though, do they?

Conor: Is this a clothespin?
Me: Yes
Conor: What do you close with it?

One morning Conor described a dream he had had the night before..."Dad was Spiderman and he was fighting Doc Oc (one of the bad guys in the Spiderman series apparently). Then Dad put webs in my mouth and I became Spiderkid.

At the park one day we were playing restaurant. Conor would pretend to serve me some food, and I would pretend to sit and eat it. After a while, he ran off to play on another part of the playground. I yelled, "Hey, wait, when am I going to get my food?" He answered, "I am going on a 3 week vacation. Riley's the one that will be restauranting you."

This poster at school is pretty self-explanatory. Scan down to Conor's answer for "Jobs our Parents Do".

Grandpa: Look at those birds.

Conor: What shape are they flying in? It looks like a "v"... no actually (pause) it's a lower case "y".

Conor wanted to stay home while Adam and I planned to go run some errands. He suggested that Grandpa babysit, but I reminded him that Grandma was gone. I said, "Are you sure? You and Riley would probably tie him up and put him in the closet." He answered, "I can't even tie yet!" I said "Oh, ok, well I still don't know" (drawing it out dramatically). So Conor answers confidently, "Grandpa could handle us both at once."


Ok, I guess some of these go back a little farther...I've been adding to this page instead of just publishing each funny story one by one.

When living with my parents, we pulled out a lot of old books and toys from when I was a child. At one point, Conor found an old book with one of the pages ripped. Thinking it was one of my destructive children, I asked Conor "Who did that?" He was sure as he said, "It must have been Laura." When I asked why, he aswered, "Because she was the littlest."

As Riley's vocabulary has been expanding, Conor has been trying to help teach her the correct way to say certain words. Early on, she would pronounce Grandpa as "Gappa". Conor kept trying to correct her, but finally gave up and said, "Yeah, that's Grandpa...just without the 'r' ".

Oh boy, these are from December last year!!...

At Christmastime, we were visited by the Elf on the Shelf, a character who visits our house every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas to watch the kids, and report back to Santa overnight, returning to a new hiding spot every morning. My mom has several fake trees in her living room, along with the real Christmas tree, and these were some of our elf's favorite places to hide. One morning, Conor said "That elf is always hiding on trees." I answered, "Why do you think he is always in the trees? He must like them." Conor said, "No, it's because he is a Christmas elf!"

As we were approaching Christmas Day, we were guessing how many gifts each family member had under the tree. Conor piped up: "I think I have 17 presents. I can feel it. I can feel it in my heart."

Conor: I wish it was Christmas or Christmas Eve every day.
Me: Why?
Conor: So we could play in the snow and have presents.
Me: What about summer? and swimming?
Conor: Ok, I don't really like that idea anymore.

Outdoors

We have taken full advantage of the outdoors this summer...at the expense of unpacking...but that can wait right? The boxes will still be there in the middle of winter when we are stuck inside. The kids are enjoying their pool in the yard, and exploring as many new parks as we can find in our neighborhood or anywhere on the route between daycare and home.

I love that they're such great friends!

A big ham in front of the camera.

Yardwork

One of the things that made us excited about owning our own house was having our own yard. However, that means having yardwork. Riley saw daddy working outside and wanted to help.

She wanted to wear gardening gloves too....but we had to make do with what we could find!

CCFA Event

As many of you know, my sister Laura suffers from ulcerative colitis, an autoimmune condition that affects her intestines. She has been a member of the Crohns and Colitis Foundation for several years now and they sponsor a fundraising walk in St. Paul every year. This summer, Laura was a volunteer on the organizing committee and it was the first year we were able to make the event since we now live in Minnesota. There was a fundraiser walk, as well as a band and activities for the kids--a bouncy house, face painting, and hair coloring. Our whole family was able to be there to support Laura and the organization...and we all had a good time. Here are some snapshots of the event.

Cousin Carmen had no fear in the bouncy house.

 

Here she is messing with her Daddy.

Conor wearing his fundraiser t-shirt, happy for the chance to hang out with Aunt Laura.

Riley being a little shy, tired, and snuggly with Daddy.

The giant inflatable colon to teach about intestinal health and diseases! Some of the team names for the fundraiser portion were great as well: I'd Like to Buy a Bowel (our team name, thought of by the oh-so-creative Laura), Kings of the Throne, Chocolate Thunder... Ha ha ha. They have to have a good sense of humor to deal with these diseases!

Our team, prepared to start the walk (and a good family photo of the whole group of us together).

The kids racing on ahead!

Riley winning, trailed by Conor, with Carmen bringing up the rear.

Proud to show off his face painting and green hair.

Just the face painting for this tired little peanut.