New Years Eve Pre-Party

We had an absolute great time on New Years Eve. I was tired of sitting around with nothing to do because we have little ones who are in bed long before the ball drops. This year was going to be different - we invited some friends over and their families for a pre-New Years Eve gathering. It was a ton of fun and the kids had a great time.

So it started out tame with our mexican fiesta night of food. We missed Kristi, Sean, Maddie, and Connor because the whole house had the flu. Next year they will need to join in the fun. While the kids played downstairs unsupervised 90% of the time and they all survived. Well Lacie stayed with the adults and Grayson came up for most of it because it was overwhelming to say the least.

The quote of the night from the kids came from Chris McCullers. Here is the story. Alex Jones came up crying and Chris was right behind him. The look on Shelley's face is always priceless when Chris is involved. Chris was so sweet and told us that he had thrown something and it had hit Alex. When we asked Chris what he threw - he said "Blake". That is not the answer we expected so I went downstairs to ask Blake for his version. Not that I was shocked by the fact that Blake was a part of the whole situation. So I asked Blake what happened and I didn't want to lead him on by telling him what I knew. Blake told me the same story but when I asked him what Chris has thrown that made Alex cry; he said "Me" as if it was no big deal.

Shelley and I did our parenting responsibilites when one kid throws another (although I don't think that was ever in the handbook) and they had to sit out for a few minutes as we explained to them that we should not throw our friends into other friends. Shelley and I were laughing (of course the kids don't know that) because no one got hurt and they were so cute and honest with what they had done. No harm no foul!

Us adults played Catchphase and we played Men vs. Women. Of course the women won or we might be better cheaters (ex. Nick Carter).

And then.... the adults starting taking shots! Most of us were drinking (Shelley made a great mixed yet scary drink) and we were having a good time just laughing and doing something different. Billy and Russ are expert shot takers but they don't hold up as well as they used to in their twenties. I think we were only a few shots away from getting wild. Dana's aunt was the life of the party. She was shaking her hiney and feeling good with those shots!

So after the party dispersed - Billy and his dad played the Wii with the boys. Nothing like having a good buzz playing the Wii. Billy tends to get in my way when he drinks and then tries to help clean up....But Billy had a good headache the next day considering he fell asleep at 11pm. But Russ never got out of bed the next day. It was like being 22 all over again and watching them drink.

Here is a picture of Billy the next day as we went to Walmart. I never thought I would see Billy roll out in his PJ pants to Walmart but he did. It was fun to have fun again. Thank you too all of our friends, (Shelley's crowd, Russ and family, Michelle's Gang, my parents, Billy's dad and Diane, and Dana's Aunt for making me feel like a fun person once again.

Lacie is 4 months old

It is hard to believe that Lacie Lu (what we like to call her) is already 4 months old. She is growing up quickly and I keep trying to convince her that she needs to stay little. Lacie is our last baby that Billy and I will ever have together. As much as we were ready to be done and that we are blessed to have 3 great kids who are healthy and happy it is kind of sad that we are done.

We joke that we have ended on a high note. Lacie is such a sweet and patient baby. I thought the boys were good babies but Lacie tops the cake. I just didn't know how easy it could be. She is a great sleeper, barely cries, smiles when you talk to her, and loves her two big brothers.

Billy and I knew that once we got Lacie here that we were done. Many of you know the complications and scares that we have had with all of our pregnancies. Lacie was meant to be here and we are so thankful that she is a part of our lives.

While she warms our heart and is growing like a weed (13.8lbs and 24inches) there are people that we thought were close to us that barely know her. That makes me sad that people around us have no idea just how special Lacie is and how they will miss seeing her as she grows.

I feel truly blessed to have a great husband (we actually do get along and love each other), 3 beautiful and very special children, and wonderful parents / in laws who would do anything for us and the children.

While there are things I would certainly change about my life (ok - so mainly I would like to look the way I did before I had 3 kids) I am actually very content on where things are with our lives.

Here to a great 2011!

2011 here we come

So here am I doing my very first post of the year. A few things are going to be different this year. We are kicking it off with starting a new job. On Monday, I will be begin a new job with SOC (where Billy works). I realize that Billy and I never share much about us in the blogs. I think this year I am going to focus on writing about all of us. It will be important for the kids to have the printed books to look back and read about what their mom and dad did over the years.

Blake was under the weather today and had to miss school. Sadly it was show and tell day as well as PJ Day. So we had our very own PJ day here at the Conner house. I love the days that I get to just hang with the kids. It was great to not have email to answer and just enjoy hanging out with the kids. We honestly didn't do anything special but it was nice.

2011 is going to be full of surpises! One thing is for sure.... no more Conner babies in this household!

Christmas 2010

We have survived another wonderful Christmas. It was exciting to see Blake tearing into all of his gifts. We had to get him to slow down once and awhile so us old people could keep up.

Grayson was at a nice pace. He loved tearing the paper as well and seeing that Santa brought him exactly what he asked for this year.

Meanwhile - Sweet Lacie stayed up all morning just to see her items. She seemed to enjoy that her brothers were so excited.

We had a great brunch with Aunt Dot, Uncle Ralph, Mary, Jerry, Mom, and Dad. Our home was filled with lots of love and laughter. My goal was accomplished by having a drama free Christmas and one with nice memories with our 3 beautiful children.

Billy and I didn't want any stressful moments and we truly feel like that was accomplised this year. 2010 has had it ups and downs but hopefully 2011 will hold a more peaceful year. Sometimes peace comes with a hard decision or two but it is worth it in the end.

I still need to upload pictures so they can be shared with everyone. Meanwhile - Blake is leaving tomorrow morning for his first trip to NC by himself for a few days. It was a ramdom moment when I came up with the idea but I know that Blake will enjoy his time with Billy's parents and plus he will be back by Thursday. Blake - you are growing up and it is yet another bittersweet moment.

More to come tomrrow about his trip to NC!!!!

Christmas is approaching

We are down to the wire before Santa arrives!!! So much to do and so little time to do it all. Blake has told us that he wants everything so therefore Grayson wants everything too.

Although I totally don't think that Blake believes that Santa is watching him. I remember when I was little and how I figured out that Santa wasn't really Santa....I noticed one year that Santa had the same handwriting as dear ole mom!!!

It is funny what you remember but I don't write on the santa presents at all because of that. Each kid has their own wrapping paper and it is placed in a Santa sack! Santa is a special gift and it allows us to believe.

Our kids are blessed to have grandparents who love and adore them. While I would love to say that everything is always perfect in the Conner world - we have a busy life and we are far from perfect. I do wish for a lot of things to be different in 2011.

I never think much about what I would like but this year:

My christmas wish is for our kids to see more extended family. (yes - I do have feelings and for some who read this will know exactly what I am talking about)
Billy's christmas wish is to win the lottery... (Why am I not surprised -gambler at heart).

Well Lacie Loo (what I love to call her) is waking up and is probably going to need something to eat! Or as Grayson would say "Baby WayWay".

Good night all!

Happy Times / Sad Times

Has anyone ever noticed that life will give you some the happiest times right along side the saddest times.

Right before I had Lacie - we lost a very important family member. Uncle Donald (Dad's brother) decided that it was time to move on. While it was shocking to the entire family and we were all blind sided - some very special moments came from it. I often think that our sadest moments end up with some of the most special moments in our lives.

Uncle Donald lived in OK so we barely ever saw him but there are people in this world who are just special and he was one of them. Maybe it is because he reminds me of my father in the quiet mannerisms that always made him dear to us. From his death - my cousin Alison and her husband Tony came to visit us in Virginia before going to New Jersey for the service. It was so great to spend time and get to know them.

Grayson was in love with Tony and his Oklahoma handshake. We sat at Ihop and shared stories and we learned that Oklahoma is considered the south.. Who knew? So what became a very sad event for all of the Curtis family - it also allowed many of the cousins to reach out and keep in touch. I have many new friends on facebook and it is nice to keep in touch once again.

Do you think that people know how much they were loved when they pass on or is this something we all figure out once they are gone?

Anyhow - I am not one for deep and heavy blogging but I don't want to forget how special Uncle Donald was to everyone in the family.

Reflection for 2010

So I know that I haven't written much but I would like to reflect some of the special 2010 moments. This was my favorite part of the books that I printed last year and I will do it again this year even if it is a much smaller version.

I want our kids to have memories and have something to pass along to their families. I will post as much as possible until the New Year. Not every moment has been picture perfect or blissful times but it has been life.

Major happenings in the Conner family for 2010....
1) Lacie was born on Sept 10th.
2) Grayson turned 2 on July 24th (hottest day of the summer)
3) Blake turned 4 on Jan. 25th
4) Spent a long weekend at Smith Mountain Lake with my parents, Mary, and Jerry. (What a relaxing and enjoyable weekend)
5) A terrific week at the beach with Billy and Dianne over July 4th. My favorite part of the beach is bundling up and watching fireworks!
6) Billy and I have celebrated 6 yrs of marriage and we met 10 years ago at Cary PD. Look how far we have come!
7) We brought a 2nd Kids Closet Franchise (Fairfax County) and we will have our first sale in Spring 2011.
8) Billy and I got to see Brett Favre play one more time when the Vikings came to play the Redskins (Vikings won!)
10) My mom and dad came back from Vienna, Austria and we are glad to call them our neighbors

The list could go on and I will have some more in future posts!