Connor is Three, How can that BE???

Dear little Connor,

January 19 2008 was a miraculous day. I will never forget the moment my water broke and I knew I would be meeting you soon! I was so excited, little did I know that I wouldn't actually be meeting you for another 17.5 hours...But the wait was all worth it when I held you in my arms for the first time. You were my baby boy, and I prayed for you for so long. And there you were, in my arms! It was a moment in my life that can never be matched.

Now flash forward three years. So much has changed. In this last year you have been challenged by having a little brother come right behind you. He takes your toys, he takes your mommies lap away, he cries a lot and needs to be fed. But you have handled this change so well. Of course you get upset but you are finally seeing that he is something special! He is your brother, pal for life. While you still feel like he is more trouble at times, you are beginning to share your toys with him. When he is sleeping you are anxious for him to wake up. Lately you have been asking him to come in your room, then you shut the door and say mommy is not allowed! Hmmmmm...

This last year we put you in soccer tots! You loved it! While you still would rather kick the ball the entire time, you are learning to listen to coach Lauren and play and share with the other kids. You make daddy and I so proud!

You love to play with your friends - Simon, Skyler, Linnea, Aubree, Boden, Thomas and Devan. And of course your beloved cousins - Tommy Joey, Rachel Mae, Ellie and Sam! You can't wait to see Stacy on my work days! You adore your nonnie and pompa and ask for maimo all the time. You love to wrestle and read books and play catch with daddy! You actually have a love/hate relationship with Murphy, but that is okay since I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

You are so passionate about the things that are so important to you - your cars, trains, balls! You like for things to be perfect, and you get very frustrated when they are not. But over time I know his will make you strive for the best in life, you won't settle for second best!

I love your passion, I love how you dance, I love how you still cuddle with me after naps! I love you Connor Alan, and I can't wait to see what more you have in store for us!

Sunriver 2011!

For the second year in a row we have spent New Year's Eve in Sunriver OR. I feel that central Oregon is just a bit of heaven on earth. It really is. The air, the moutains, the snow, the rivers and streams, the charm, and of course GOODIES! We rented a house with our friends the McDonalds who have two darling girls Ava and Izzy. Our other friends Tara and Mike were down with their families and newlyweds Mary and Doug Bokoske. I also was happy to meet up with my friends Krista and Andrea at Krista's family house in Sunriver. It was an amazing trip and a perfect way to ring in 2011. And the boys loved the snow!

At Deschutes Brewery with the McDonalds on New Year's Day.

Anna (Tara's daughter) with Ava (Tasha's daughter)/ The McDonald's with Izzy.

Anna and Kellen!

New Year's Eve party at Schwabs. I think I am looking at Connor and wondering where the heck are his pants...

Yes, Kellen climbed in Murphy's crate..

Merry Christmas! I had to work Christmas Eve, very strange. But I made it home in time to snap some pictures of all three of my boys reading Twas the Night Before Christmas! We had a fabulous December. Kellen had his surgery and it went so well. He was a real champ! And we had a great time at all the Christmas festivals and lighting ceremonies and parties! We really had a festive season. The tree looked beautiful and we had so much to be greatful for! We hosted the holidays at our house. It was Nonnie and Pompa, Maimo and Uncle Tom and even Great Grandma Meagher came for a bit. The boys were beyond spoiled and exhausted by night time. As were Don and I. Two days later we leave for SUNRIVER for New Years with the McDonald's and Schwabs and Bokoskies!!

Turkey Day 2010!

Thanksgiving! Yes, It is April but must catch up on my blog so that my memories will not be lost forever. Thanksgiving was wonderous! The Pattersons were in town so the entire family was here. No one was pregnant so the drinks were abundant. Everyone is happy and healthy and in jobs and thriving, so no complaints from the Stuyvesants this year. The kiddos all had fun terrorizing mom and dad's place.

Prior to the holidays, Kellen had his scheduled VCUG at Doernbecher Children's. It went well except for him coming out of the verseed, that part I could live a lifetime without having to deal with that again. I have never seen a 17month old so angry and full of you know what and vinigar in all my life! Not to mention the fact that he threw up all over the Urologist's nice suit and shoes....Anyhow, the best news was that is reflux was all resolved and now just one more ultrasound to go in 6 months and we can close this chapter once and for all. However, we didn't get out scott free.... He has an inguinal hernia needed surgical repair, to be done before the holidays.... Harumpf!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween and Events!

Connor and Kellen not much for the group shot! Connor checking out his loot from the first

house.

Halloween was one for the books this year! We has a plethora of costumes to chose from for the boys due to so many generous hand me downs. We settled on Thomas the Train for Kellen and pit crew leader for Lightening McQueen for Connor. They were hilarious! We attended the Duffields annual party again. Jeannine and Colin provide a feast for both kiddos and parents. Then the kids head out for the trick or treating. It only took one house for Connor to catch on this year. Once he found out about the treat on the other side of the door, there was no keeping up with him. He took off with Don and I hung back with Kellen and some of the other more non-chalant kiddos. Apparently though, Connor fell off the porch at one of the houses, right into the bushes! When Don got to him, we was just laying in the bush, candy all around him. Once Don picked him up and put him back together, he was off and running again. Not missing a beat!

We also had a great time carving out pumpkin a few nights before. Kellen even sampled the innerds...

Our Little Thrill Seeker

Connor and Kellen can be so completely different at times. We went to our darling neighbors 2nd birthday party at Pump It Up and we had a blast. Connor chose to mostly play with the red cars that you can ride in or play at the basketball hoop. Once he did get into the jump out for a wee bit, but for the most part he stayed away from the blow up toys. Kellen on the other hand.....

Fir Point Farms Pumpkin Patch!

Pumpkin Patch time! We decided to go to Fir Point Farms again this year because we only had a small window of time today and we thought we better go with something we know then venture out to some unknown. Don and I have found that with the boys the ages they are, the less uncertainty and the more control we have over situations, the better off we all are!!!!!!!!! We had a gorgeous day on our hands. I mean, we were in shorts at the pumpkin patch, awesome! Other than the fact that it cost us EIGHT DOLLARS to ride the 2 minute hayride, we had a great time. After the above mentioned rip off, the boys scooted through a hay maze, observed some animals (I am one of those moms who does not let her child touch animals...gross), then we headed off to the actual pumpkin patch and the boys were both on missions. The both settled on two adorable small little pumpkins (too small to carve, so we had to go to Safeway to by a much larger pumpkin for carving, which cost less than the small cute pumpkin - didn't realize we were at a designer pumpkin patch, but I digress..). Upon noticing that Country Grains was catering the patch, I insisted we stay for lunch. After purchasing our food (which also cost less then our pumpkins...) we plopped ourselves down on a grassy patch to eat and did not realize we sat front row to the clown show! Just as we were finishing up, a clown came and set up shop literally right in front of us! So we stayed to watch but seriously, what is up with clowns for entertainment???? Not a fan! Really creepy, and I was really not liking the way he talked to the kids, not my kids but the older ones. Again, CREEPY! But after that we headed for the car but not before we took a ride on the Big Green Tractor! :)