Connor-paloza!

We drove out to Pittsburgh to celebrate with our familes this year for Connor's birthday.

We arrived late in the evening on Thursday.

Friday was the first of two parties.

Here are some pictures and captions from the "Barton party"

game face on, ready for presents!

hugging the sock monkey from Erin and Jared

His shirt said "I'm a wild 1" to match the invitations and semi-theme of the party. :)

hugging the camo from Uncle Paul and Aunt Sandy

trying on suspenders from Pap and Grandma, with Jacob and Grace looking on :)

LOVING the singing!!!

Family photo - Connor's got his eyes on the prize!

Connor signing "please" to have more cupcake... he loved it!

Saturday was Connor's 'official' birthday.  He celebrated after breakfast with another present from Grandma, and presents from Aunt Michelle.

While I went to see wedding dress shopping/buying (!!!!) with bride-Michelle, Connor and Bill went to the Hoffman's for some pre-train Open House time.  We had a nice time at the Open House visiting with family and friends.  Connor LOVES the trains and so it was a great way to spend his birthday - doing something he likes!  He took a great nap (even with all the commotion) and had fun spending time with he cousins.  After the open house was over, we had a birthday party with Connor, Macey and Selah.  Since their birthdays are so close together, we figured it would be more fun that way!  And it was! :)

Macey opening her gift from us with some help from the 'big girls'

Connor opening a gift

It's My Birthday!  :)

Selah liked her Hello Kitty blanket that we gave her ~ Can you believe she will be NINE years old!?!?!

although he doesn't look so happy here, this picture shows Connor's shirt for this party :)

More cupcakes!!! Yum!!!

We left for home on Sunday morning to avoid rain/snow/ice weather that was supposed to come.  No school delay Monday though... bummer.

This week was the start of grad classes for the semester, the end of the semester for Bill at work (meaning, new kids start tomorrow) and a whole lot of organizing all the wonderful gifts we brought back with us!

Our family is so generous and thoughtful.  Everything Connor received is great!

zuu-zuu pet... I'm affectionately calling it Hammie 2 :)

Where Did We Go?

We've been down memory lane this week...

trying to wrap our minds around the fact that he's one.

A Whole Year.

Love. Love. Love. and more Love.

Change. Change. Change. and more Change.

more to come... a recap of Connor-paloza coming soon...

Guthrie

The public library in our town is the "Guthrie Memorial Library"

Connor and I have become regular visitors there, usually once a week we make the trip across town to return our books and hang out for a while before finding new ones to take home.

He's learning to love the library.

He can't see what's in the top bins yet...

favorite part of the books - pushing them from the front of the shelf to the back.

See? He finished the shelf to his right, he's working on the one in front of him.

so many books... so little time...

The Guthrie has three different levels, a "regular" library, a teen library, and then the children's library - where Connor is in the pictures.  They have lots of programs throughout the year, but so far we haven't been to any of those yet - here's to expanding our library activities now that Connor is over being a baby ;)

B for Boy... not Baby...

I've been working on getting things ready for Connor Boy's birthday parties this weekend.

These videos make me laugh and want to cry ~ he's SO big compared to the pictures I'm printing for the baby book.

What a wild year it's been!

:)

Can't wait to celebrate with everyone!

B is also for Birthday -
Happy Birthday Mom Hoffman!
We Love You!

Friends

Connor and Elle

Connor and Daisy

Eli and Connor

Emelia and Connor

Connor loves all his friends - and we love them too!

:)

Going through the pictures...

So I was going through our holiday photos,

and I found this one (which I cropped to share with you)

I think Chloe looks like Aunt Chelle.

:)

I think it's the ponytail.

:)

New Year, New Skills...

Connor's goal for 2012: learn how to juggle.  :)

Welcome to the Family

I've been waiting a long time to write this post, with this song in mind.  Since I got the CD a LONG time ago and first heard this song, I knew I'd have to remember it for this occasion.  So here it is!!

Welcome to the family,

Hope you have a real nice life,

With my little sister,

Yeah, she'll make a real good wife.

If you haven't heard by now, Michelle and Tom are getting married!!!!
They were engaged on Christmas Day.
Very excited!!!


Here's the song - a little tongue in cheek - to Tommy, from us.  :)

and here are the words, in case you can't understand what any country singer is saying while they are singing, like Bill often says... just scroll down and click on "Welcome to the Family".

Love you Michelle!  Love you too Tom, and welcome to the family! ;)

In all seriousness, we do love you.  

and we will hunt you down if you don't treat her right.

I mean, honestly, we love you.

;)

Christmas-pa-loosa 2011

On the 23rd, we went to Hershey (about 45 minutes away) to visit some friends from Geneva.  Randi and Justin were in town from Indiana, and Steve and Abby drove in from Philadelphia.  We had a great time of visiting and catching up and meeting Abijah!

Connor, me, Bill; Steve and Abby with Simeon (who was camera shy) and Clay; Justin and Randi with Abijah.

Christmas Eve I decided it was time for Connor to get a hair cut.  It was really long over his ears, and in the back.  I was going to wait until after Christmas and his birthday, since so many pictures were going to be taken and if I messed up it would look horrible... but I couldn't wait anymore.

In the bathtub before the hair cut.

after!  And I cut it way to short on the sides - but it looks better then it did. 
This picture is a little deceptive because it looks shorter on the top, but really it's just combed back.

That afternoon we went to our friend's house to see Santa.  Mark and Bridget live in north Hanover, and her grandpa had volunteered to dress up as Santa so that we could have pictures of our kids without having to pay $25. :)  Anyway, as you can tell from the picture, I'm glad I didn't drag him to the mall - he hated being on Santa's lap!

Dad, please rescue me!

Much safer with Mom and Dad here.

Christmas Eve also included the service at church in the evening.  Bill and I played Mary and Joseph, and Connor was... Jesus!  He did great - and Bill and I didn't mess up either!

Christmas morning was finally here!  We spent the morning opening gifts.

Merry Christmas!

Opening his new toothbrush.

Opening his new hat.

We went to church and then came home and packed (and cleaned, and ate good food). Connor got some new bath toys from us for Christmas, so he ended the day with extra-long bath time!  We spiked his hair up just for fun - way too long to wear like that during the day!

Cool dude with his new toys.

Let the craziness begin!  The 26th was our busiest day.  We woke up way too early, put Connor in the car, and drove to Pittsburgh.  We were there by 9:30, and Connor had a great morning nap before we had lunch with the Hoffman family.  Here are a few pictures of our get together.

Oldest nephew Michael with Connor (weird sweater thing going on here for Connor-boy...).

This is what Macey and Connor looked like the whole time - moving, moving, moving!

Then after naptime we packed up and headed over to Grandma Barton's for food and presents and company.  There were a lot of people there but we managed just fine. :)

Told you it was a lot of people...

Bill gave Aunt Joyce her gift this year.

I gave Julie her gift this year.

The rest of the week was full of visits - Tuesday we went back down to visit with Grandma Barton and Aunt Nancy, and we stopped by to see my dad at work.  Wednesday we went to dinner at my parents.  Thursday we went to see Mom-mom Ritter.  Friday we had lunch out - Bill with his brother, and I went to a "girls-only" lunch with my sister, mom, grandma and aunt, and Chloe :)  Then, Friday we packed for an overnight trip down to the Sanders' house.  The Ritter side of the family was going to be having gift exchange and brunch Saturday morning, so it was easier then having to try to hurry in the morning to get there in time.  That's when things began going wrong.  Connor, April, and Chloe were in the bathtub, and Connor-boy got sick.  Really sick.  And then he got sick 4 more times between 8:00 and 11:30.  He had a horrible night's sleep... and then... it was Christmas again!  wha-hoo!...  He actually didn't do so bad, and he loved his gifts!

Blocks from Aunt Chelle.

Book from Grandma and Pap (note the matching outfits:))

Connor took great naps on Saturday, and then we headed home.  We were supposed to do more visiting in the afternoon with Bill's sister, and the we were supposed to have a night of great food and game playing at Bill's parents.... but that didn't happen.  We had to just bail.  :(  No one likes to be sick.  

Now we're home, Connor is slowly recovering (took a trip to the dr's yesterday and she said he looked okay considering), and I'm organizing all the great stuff we got for Christmas!  We loved being able to see everyone and hang out and catch up.  

We're looking forward to our next visit - with a healthy Connor-boy!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Hoffmans!

We are taking a blogging break ~ we'll be back in 2012 ;)

Eleven Months

where has the time gone??

Connor is eleven months old!

He is a very loving and very busy boy.  He loves playing and being outside.  He is still a good sleeper and a good eater.  We have fun scaring each other!  He is getting close to standing alone and walking.  We are so excited for his first Christmas in a few days!

We Love You Connor! :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas Lights

Christmas shirt

Christmas Tree

making Christmas gifts... (aren't you curious???)

Christmas pants

Christmas gifts - from our neighbor Lance

Hope you're enjoying the last few days before Christmas!

I know we are! :)

:)

sweet, sweet boy

please don't ever change

:)

where did it go?

The new favorite thing to do around here is hide things!  Today he started just hiding but not seeking...

We're waiting with anticipation for the day he tells us he hears something funny in his ear...

I'm really encouraging the seeking! :)

Out-take...

This one won't be the Christmas card photo...

but it makes me laugh out-loud when I look at it,

so I had to post it for you to see too!

Connor is a little bit 'ba-humbug' in this one...

Doesn't exactly spread holiday cheer.

Hope your weekend is full of holiday cheer though!  

Christmas tree shopping and decorating is in store for the Hoffman's this weekend ~ pictures to post soon!

when mom is away...

...the boys will play!

A look into the lives of Connor and his Dad when Mom is away at grad class...

That camera strap will get you every time... ;)