Dirt... and our Garden

That's right Connor, it's dirt...

and yes, you can touch it...

It sticks to my hands!

This is so cool!

SO fun!

Bill has been working hard in our side yard the last week and a half.

Our garden is built, planted, watered, fenced, and 'papered/grassed'.

I think it looks great!

The 'teepee' in the middle of the two raised beds is for our pole bean plants.  Hopefully they'll grow.. and they'll grow up and around the strings on the beams.

 The black barrel thing is our composting bin.  We got it two summers ago, but it's been by our shed.

broccoli, peppers, lettuce, beans

zucchini, squash, tomatoes, carrots, beans

my favorite picture from the bunch that I took :)

Uncle Paul!!

this video doesn't really do it justice - 

he was spot on when I asked "what does Uncle Paul say?"

He'd reply... "Nah"

by the end of the video, it sounds more like "da"...

but it's still pretty cute! :)

Invasion...

I've been invaded.

Do you see what I see?

See it now?

Snakes.  That's right.  Two snakes.

and I didn't even see it coming...

yuck.

Spoon!

Watch out world - he's using a spoon! :)

(duck and cover!)

forget the spoon... I need more to eat now...

:-D

"Connor...

Say Cheese."

Come On!! Let's Play!!

Connor loves when Emelia comes to play.

Over here - come on!

This way!

Here... let me help you... :) :) :)

I showed him how to hold her hand the other day...

He couldn't get enough... ;)

One Year Ago...

We were in Pittsburgh for Easter and got to meet this sweet girl before coming home, bringing Michelle with us, and I was heading back to work... 

whew.  Seems like a long time ago, but not really...

Happy Birthday April Hope! :)

Start your Engines...

Our neighbors down the street - Lantz and Sandy - gave Connor a new toy this past weekend.

I've named it Kirby. :)  Although Walter was in the running for a while, Kirby seems more happy sounding. :)

Connor loves it!!!

Bill and Lantz put it together and Connor had a blast driving it up the road to our house.
Bill said after they played with it the first night, Connor gave it a hug goodnight before heading to bed.

How cute!

Yesterday, Connor drove down the street to get the mail.

He stopped in at Don and Pat's to say hi and show off his new wheels.

If you are wondering... there is a removable floor board in this car.  So right now, Connor is just sitting in it and riding... but soon he'll become a Flintstone, and use his legs as the motor.

Coolest kid on the block. :)

Where's Connor?

Connor is becoming a sophisticated peek-a-boo player ~

he takes his time coming out of his hiding spot!

Spring!

The weather has warmed up and into the short sleeved shirts we go!

Here's a peek into the last few days around the Hoffman house...

watching Don mow the grass across the street

Connor likes to sit and watch out the window.  He'll sit in this little chair (a garage sale find - $3.00 I think...) and point at just about everything that moves. :)  The latest record is ten minutes of solid sitting and watching.  I love this chair as much as Connor. ;)

Happy Birthday Miss Emelia!

We helped Emelia celebrate her birthday at her party at Hop To It - an indoor play area for kids.  Connor had fun playing with all the nice things they have there - especially this music table.

See my train Mom?

Our train playing days have not seen a break in a while - the track might as well be left up and put together since Connor plays with it every day!

Bill and I at the zoo

I figured I'd throw this one in here too - Christine took this of us crossing the bridge at the Pgh Zoo.  :)

loving the straw!!

Thanks for the cup Grandma B. :)  [a.k.a. Monnor]

the rest of Easter weekend

After our trip to the zoo on Thursday, we laid low at the Gallo's house on Friday.

Connor played and napped.  Selah helped him do pretty much everything necessary.  ;)  She was the best mother's helper I've ever met.  She was always so cheerful and happy to see Connor and was so nice to him even when he was being grumpy.  Connor and Selah practiced hunting for Easter Eggs, and she even helped him in the bathtub!

Do I have a picture of Selah and Connor?  No... except this one at the zoo of all of us:

and it's not the greatest... since Connor isn't even looking at the camera... but oh well! :)

Anyway, here's a shot of Connor enjoying some of Selah's old toys - with his new buddy Gideon laying in front of him.  The Gallo's have two dogs and Connor wasn't sure what to think of them! :)

Saturday morning we went to the Easter Egg Hunt at the Barton's house.  We had a great time visiting with everyone and Connor liked to hunt for eggs.  All his practicing must have paid off!

Sunday morning we went to church and then headed to a yummy lunch at Grandma Barton's house. 

We visited for a while and then headed to the Sanders' house for Connor to nap and more visiting.

Connor got his Easter baskets after his nap.  This one in the picture is from Aunt Michelle - new shoes, goldfish, juice boxes - she must have an 'in' with the Bunny. ;)

We ended the day with dinner at the Hoffman's.  We had an Egg hunt after dinner and then enjoyed some Celebration cake for Dad's retirement and birthday.  It was a great weekend!

Trip to the Zoo

A while ago, my sister-in-law Chris said that the next time we came to Pittsburgh, we could go to the Zoo with them - they have a membership and it comes with visitor passes.  She said we could invite the Sanders family too.

Well - Thursday we made it to the Zoo!  It was a great day to be outside and we had lots of fun seeing all the animals out and about.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch and hanging out with ALL of Connor's cousins.

Kylie, Chloe, Michael, Connor and April with Grandpa
Selah, Ethan holding Macey, Avery, Lindsey

Watch out Chloe!  Uncle Bill is going to get you!

Sleeping... :)

We had so much fun!

Grand Totals:

10 kids

8 adults

4 strollers

1 great day at the zoo!

Thanks for a great time everyone!!

(we'll have to do it again in ten years...)