Just a few pictures from the past few weeks

1,2,3...Liam is now venturing up in the world!!

1. We cut down the perfect tree last weekend and spent the morning decorating it as a family.

2. Today Dan and Connor joined our neighbors Mike and Brady for some hockey on the pond down the road. We look forward to many games out there.

3. Connor found a little tree he wanted for his room and Uncle Kevin helped him cut it down with a real saw.

4. After surgery Connor was allowed endless popsicles to help heal his throat. Of course, Liam wants everything Connor has!

5. The only scrubs they had the day of the surgery were pink elephants and dinosaurs. All moning the nurses kept saying, " Oh, shes so cute!" Guess its time to cut the hair!!

6. Auntie Mary with the boys in the hot tub.

7. We cut an old box to make a robot for Connor.

8. Liam carries the Lincoln logs around in his mouth. Big stud!!

This weeks quote: We set out our nativity this weekend and since then Connor has been all over it asking questions about who is who, why they are there and he adores the little baby Jesus. Most days he pretends baby Jesus is his real baby. Tuesday he asks "Mommy, does baby Jesus have a wenie under that blanket(the cloth)?" Later he says, "My baby Jesus needs a bottle...he needs a diaper change...and some diaper cream on his butt butt..." He's a curious kid !!

Picture Gallery from November

Just a few random pictures from the past month. From top left:

The girls at Old Chicago for Mary's 25th Bday, Friday night at the Christmas of the North Parade, Connor and I reading a book at the Steven's Point Museum, this past weekend at the Gopher/Iowa game in our front row seats!!, Dan and Connor using the wheelbarrows to bring fire wood around back, Liam cheesin' it at the museum. The last two are awesome. Connor loves the UMD Bulldog and when we got there on Halloween he had the same costume on as Connor. He followed him around the whole game hugging him and holding his paw. The last one is Connor giving his Godmother Erin Millea Budde a kiss on her wedding day. So precious!!

Happy Holidays!!!

Quote of the week: Connor-"Mommy, is that a dead kitty cat under Liam's car in there?" Where did that come from???!!!!
After much questioning, there was NOT a cat under there. I am as confused as you are as to what he meant by this. HA!

We have had quite the two weeks! Dan was scheduled for 'feet' surgery on the 6th in Stevens Point, WI. His cousin was doing the surgery and we planned to stay with them for a few days while he recovered. The night we got there I got a non-violent case of the flu, which then Liam got and Connor too. Dan was laid up with boots on his feet, I wasn't feeling well, Liam had developed the worst diaper rash I had ever seen and Connor had a 103 temp and ear pains. What a fun bunch, eh? After three days of constant chaos in someone elses house with sick kids and an injured husband, I called it quits and we left early.
The night we got home Connor was up all night screaming in pain from his ear. Turns out his ear drum ruptured! We visited an ENT on Tuesday and Connor was scheduled for tubes on Thursday. Although we heard it goes quick, it seemed to take forever and nothing breaks your heart more than seeing your little one hooked up to IVs and in pain, too sick to eat or sit comfortably. He is doing great now with no pain and we are hopeful that this will eliminate his ear issues.
On a good note, Liam started walking this week as seen in the video below!! Its so fun watching him gain more confidence as he conquers more steps in a row. Connor gets so excited when he walks too.
I have decided to begin posting quotes of the week heard around our house.
This weeks quote: Connor(as he watches)-"Mom, Liam's eating trash!"

His boots are made for walking!!

Liam took his first steps this week and hasn't looked back since. He stumbles all over the house, chasing Connor and finding new things to explore. How fast they groww up!!

Duluth-o-Ween

Halloween was fabulous! Connor wore his bulldozer and Liam was a skeleton. Both boys enjoyed pushing the door bells and receiving treats for smiling at strangers. We went around our block before heading to west duluth to make the rounds with the Doyle's. It was nice to see all the cousins dressed up and sugared up! I just knew Connor would win the costume contest this year at the UMD volleyball game so I packed everyone up and we arrived just in time to find out they already had a winner(second year in a row that happened-that contest is rigged!!). All in all, the boys had too much candy and were up all night so we never "gained" that extra hour-bummer!

Other news...Liam is clapping-finally! He climbs steps, loves jumping in his crib and on Connor's bed and flips through books endlessly. Connor is more inquizative than we ever imagined a 2 year old to be. He remembers details, asks intellegent questions and can carry on a full conversation. He loves reading, helping Dan in the yard and playing outside. The boys are at such fun ages right now and we look forward to what the holiday season brings.

"Stay at Home Auntie Mary" is such a blessing to our family. She not only helps us out around the house and watches the boys occasionally but she is teaching them new tricks, fun sayings and giving them lots of love!! We value the time she is spending with us and will always cherish the memories we have created and will create!! Love you mussel...i mean Mur!!