Football Practice {Inside}

Apparently throwing the football inside the house wasn't enough excitement for my two boys.  Last night, I heard Connor say "Daddy, kick it!".  I looked straight at Matt and gave him the evil eye assuming he would know that meant "No, don't kick the ball inside".  Well, I was wrong!

Next thing I know, Matt is laying on the floor holding the ball so Connor can run and kick it.  To my surprise he was actually pretty good (I still don't condone kicking balls in the house)!

After Connor had kicked it about 20 times, Matt decided it was his turn to kick the ball. So he showed Connor how to hold it with one finger while I was envisioning something breaking. 

When these two get together, it always means trouble!

Roller Coaster Ride

To say that the last couple of weeks have been rough, is a HUGE understatement.  It's been a roller coaster ride that our entire family would like to get off of.

The ride started first thing Monday morning on November 21st.  I received a call from Matt that his brother's best friend, Bradley, was killed in a car accident.  I was at a loss for words because Bradley had a daughter who is a few months younger than Connor.  He was only 25 and had only been married for three years and this young family's life had been completely turned upside down. 

Monday evening Matt, Connor, and I were eating dinner trying to figure out how we were going to shuffle Connor around. Connor was out of school the day after Thanksgiving and we wanted to make sure were able to attend Bradley's visitation and funeral, little did we know what was about to come next.

It was bath night, so I was giving Connor his bath while Matt cleaned up the kitchen.  When I finished his bath I walked into the living room to hear that Matt's mom had passed away.  I remember thinking that this can't be happening and I really had no words.

We celebrated Thanksgiving as best we could and then we attended Bradley's visitation and funeral that following Friday and Saturday.  After that heart wrenching service, Matt and his dad started planning Lonnie's memorial service.  Her service was the following Wednesday and it was nice to see everyone who came to show their respect and appreciation for her and Matt.

These past couple of weeks I've gone through every emotion possible.  But the biggest lesson from all of this is that none of us are promised a tomorrow.  My one regret is taking my time with Ms. Lonnie for granted, I just always expected to see her again and again and again. 

With all  of that being said, life lately has really been rough.  So we are going to hug the ones we love a little tighter and remember to enjoy the time we get to spend with each other because we don't know what tomorrow holds.  This holiday season is going to be hard, but we are going to try to focus on the good times as best we can.

Payback

When I married Matt, I knew what I was going to be in for when we had a boy...lots of payback from when Matt was a teenager!  However, I expected the payback to start when Connor is a teenager, which would give me plenty of time to prepare.

I was completely wrong on when the payback was going to begin.  It all started with the new family across the street.  Their college age son has a loud truck and when he's home for the summer you always hear him pull up around 3 in the morning.  Normally that wouldn't bother me, but now that I have a sleeping child at that time, it really ticks me off.  I'm sure this is the same feeling the previous neighbors had when Matt was in college and ragged his truck through the neighborhood!

This brings me to our latest incident...this past week we heard a huge crash.  Immediately Matt thought Connor had done something in his bedroom and raced upstairs, but that wasn't it.  Then Matt asked if I had dropped something, to which I replied no.  He then proceeds to open the front door and ask if the lights were burnt out.  At this point I'm irritated with the 20 questions...then he looks at the end of the driveway...

Someone had missed their turn and backed right into the column at the end of the driveway...of course they drove off.

At least the person didn't hit the one with the mailbox in it

The frustrating part is that it wiped all the lights in the front of the house out because the light on top was connected to the porch lights.

Matt has never knocked down a mailbox before, but to say he wasn't with someone who did and then drive off would be a lie.  See what I mean, the payback has already started...

Random Pictures

I noticed that I have a lot of random pictures on my phone, so here is a phone dump.

This was on our way to have our family pictures done, he had to take EVERY stuffed animal he owned.

Watching football at Hueys

Connor wanted to wear UGGs, plus he had to wear his working gloves.

My dad got Connor this lizard shirt from his trip to Cabo,Connor loves it!

Connor has requested the recliner be moved back in the living room.  Oh to have the life of a toddler!

Preview Family Photos

A couple of weeks ago, we had our family pictures taken at Memorial Gardens.  Brandi has posted some of the pictures on Facebook and now I'm just waiting for my copy of the CD so I can get the Christmas cards printed (trying not to wait until the last minute this year).  I absolutely love how the pictures turned out!

This one I'll probably get made into a canvas

Look how grown up he is!

Hibachi

This past weekend, Connor and I went out to eat with Gigi and Big Daddy to a new hibachi restuarant in Germantown.  Connor has been to hibachi restuarants before, but this was the first time he has really enjoyed the "cooking show".  Not too mention, everything is better when you get to eat dinner with chop sticks!

Who Did That???

Yesterday when I drove up to the house after work, I saw the blinds moving.  I thought to myself I wonder how Cooper got out of her cage, but oh well no big deal because there wasn't anything she could get into to.  Boy was I wrong!

This is what I saw when I walked into the foyer...

Then I looked at the couch...

And this is how my conversation with Connor went:

Me: Connor, come here....

Connor: OH NO! Who did that???

Me: Cooper did it

Connor: OH MY GOSH! Bad Cooper, Bad Cooper!!!

This is the pile after I got done gathering everything up. Cooper somehow managed to open the packages and only eat the candy.  Bless Connor's heart, he has NO Halloween candy left. (On a side note: Cooper is fine)   

Howdy Y'all

This is probably one of the last years I can persuade Connor on his Halloween costume.  Since he has been wearing his cowboy boots non-stop, I figured a cowboy was the perfect idea!  Matt took him shopping for the hat, which by the way he needs a youth size because his head is so big.  My mom made his adorable chaps and everything else just came together.

Matt and Connor went trick or treating at a few houses, while I stayed home and ate passed out candy.  When they got home, Connor was allowed to pick one piece of candy before we called it night.  Holidays are just so much more fun with kids!

Rewind Two Weeks

Last week I was a bad blogger, so once again I have to play catch up.  Two weekends ago, we went to Hope's Halloween Festival on Friday night.  Connor was very excited when we pulled in the parking lot, but that quickly changed!  Once we got to the slides, Connor stood still from the overwhelming number of kids.  He attempted the inflatable obstacle course, but there were some many kids stuck in the back he had to be pulled out.  Needless to say, we decided to go inside and play the games after that.

Saturday morning I had to take my car to the shop for the second time in one week. Connor kept himself entertained with the snack dispenser.  Bless his heart, he's going to grow up thinking that all of those machines are broken! (that's what I always say because I NEVER have change)

Saturday night we went to Mellow Mushroom with Gigi and Big Daddy.  Apparently this is not Connor's first trip and he knew exactly where he wanted to sit when we got to the table.  He positioned his chair perfectly to see the pizza maker throwing the dough up in the air.  (Connor is still throwing everything in the air pretending he is the pizza man)

See the pizza dough flying in the air???

Tuesday night was Chucke Cheese night for Connor's school.  He had been talking about going for over a week (literally he would ask 30 times a day to go).  He was too busy to eat, but enjoyed running around like a manic and playing the games.

I'm not sure who was more excited...

He got mad because the machine took his token

Of course he had to ride the horse...good thing he is always wearing his boots these days!

This past weekend we had Race for the Cure (I have no pictures because my finger tips were frozen) and Amber's Halloween Party.  And tonight Connor is anxiously awaiting trick or treating!

Football & Pumpkins

This past weekend was packed full of events and things that had to get done.  Friday night we ate Mexican before going to the Houston vs Germantown football game.  I haven't been able to get to a game this year and I wanted the chance to see Angelina and Brittany on the pom squad.  (Not to mention Connor is OBSESSED with football, so it was good entertainment for him too)

Even though he doesn't look excited, I promise he was!

Saturday consisted on shuffling cars around ALL day long!  My car needed an oil change and Matt's truck got new tires, which left us with no car so we borrowed my mom's.  In the middle of car shuffling, we had to take a break so I could get my haircut.  Then we picked up both cars and returned my mom's car. 

Memphis Spirit! Roy told Connor he got him the game ball from Houston's game...Connor acted like it was a golden football!

By the time we got done at Gigi and Big Daddy's it was time to head home and get ready for Yaya's.  Yaya was having a pumpkin carving party (really it was just a good excuse for us all to get together).  Instead of picking an easy pattern to carve, we picked complicated ones.  Let me tell you, that was hard work!  And who knew Matt was such a good pumpkin carver???

I had to do the worst part...scrap out the insides

Please excuse Connor's sweat: 1) his last name is Jones 2) he had just come inside from playing football

So proud of Garner, she did everything by herself and didn't complain once (the complete opposite of me)

So happy for Bobo and Marty...Baby O is due in April

Matt's pumpkin

Bobo's pumpkin

Garner's pumpkin (it's a mummy) she did EVERYTHING by herself!

On Sunday we didn't have our church class so we were able to sleep in for once, which was nice.  We had a delicious breakfast at Perkins and then the rest of the day we ran errands.  For some reason it seems like Sundays fly by!

Brinkley's Birthday

This past Sunday, Brinkley turned 2!  It's hard to believe that the kids are all growing up so fast.  I remember when Brinkley came to Connor's first birthday party, she was just so tiny and precious!

Brinkley had the cutest Minnie Mouse birthday party on Sunday afternoon.  We were greeted at the door by Minnie Mouse herself (Brinkley with Minnie's ears on)!  One of the party favors were ears for each of the kids.  At first Connor wanted nothing to do with them, but eventually he warmed up to the idea (only for a few minutes).

Last year at Brinkley's party, Connor wouldn't let go of my leg.  This year he was the complete opposite!  It may have been because I let him take his football in to share with everyone else. (I have to say that I was a nervous he was going to break something).  He really enjoyed watching Brinkley open all of her gifts...

Patiently waiting and watching

Brinkley diving in!

Connor got her some play dough, which I'm sure Ashley is ecstatic about...

And he got her some puzzles!

Could she be anymore precious???

I think her favorite toy was this laptop, no other toys compared to this!

And then she opened the phone...the girl loves to play office!

After presents came time for cake and I think Brinkley and Connor enjoyed every bite!

Connor practiced singing the Happy Birthday song 3 times Saturday night...so he was ready!

However, Brinkley did not like everyone singing to her...bless her heart!

Connor started to get a little antsy, so he headed out front with Matt to throw the football.  He's really gotten into sports lately.  Right now since football is basically on every channel during the weekends, it's his favorite to play!

While the boys played football, Brinkley drove around on her new four wheeler.

The party was absolutely wonderful and now my wheels are starting to turn getting ready for Connor's 3rd birthday!