6 days left?

Are there really only 6 days of July left?  Wow!  Summer is flying by and I am very sad.  I love summer!  We have been to our pool only twice this year.  Connor and I plan to go several more times before the end of summer.  Sure signs that summer is ending and fall football is beginning:  We received our Ravens tickets and we attended an Auburn Fall Kick-Off event.  I suppose if summer has to end, I am happy to have it followed by football.  Connor and Aubie (the real Aubie - not our orange cat)

We got to catch up with the Hams at the event.  Such cute kiddos!  Connor also entertained the crowd by dancing, dancing dancing in the roped off area in front of the stage.  The fun ended when he and another little girl head-butted each other.  Special Thanks to Cathy and Chuck who waited in line for the Aubie picture.  C&C didn't make the post picture since they weren't looking at my camera - I must reiterate . . . Smile and look at my camera and I will take the picture when Connor looks up!!

MB 2010

We spent ALL last week in Myrtle Beach.  We had so much fun!  I was honestly a little apprehensive about the trip for several reasons:
1.  Colin was going to play golf most mornings - leaving me with Connor (a travelling toddler) and the beach to ourselves (well and the 1 million other people at MB last week)

This picture doesn't really give you the true image of exactly how many people were on the beach with us.  But let me just say I am used to this . . .

2.  I invited my childhood friend Kelly and her hubby and 2 kids to join us for part of the week since she just moved to nearby Charlotte.  Kelly and I used to vacation together as kids with our families at the beach but we haven't done so in probably 20+ years and the condo we rented was only 2 bedrooms 1.5 baths.

3.  As you may know, although I have been to MB several times, it isn't my stomping grounds of the Gulf.

I am thrilled to report all of my anxiety was unnecessary.  Connor was an angel on the beach, played and let me sit in a chair and (gasp!) put my feet up!!  Colin did "naptime" most days for me so I got some Courtney time too.  We had such a great time with the Gamble Fam.  The kiddos played well together and Will makes delicious drinks - so we hope to vaca with them again soon!  MB was HOT, HOT, HOT.  Just like I like it.  Not too much rain.  Oh, and we stayed a few doors down from Connor's Pop Pop and Grandma Cathy so he was just loving the attention (and the beach).

Connor at the pool with Pop Pop and Colin on our last morning.  Connor loved pouring water into and out of the bucket - Thrilling.

All 3 of us!  Not a great pic - but one that I am in.

Colin REALLY wanted to take Connor to mini-golf (Putt-Putt for the Southerners).  Connor LOVED running on the greens and placing the ball IN the hole.  Just not the actual putting.  Not enough patience (wonder who he gets that from?)

Our 2nd night in MB we took the kids to a carousel.  From his face, I would say he liked it.

My sweet baby (not so baby) boy

Grandma Cathy, Colin, Connor and Pop Pop at the pool. 

Connor and Trey playing under the tent

Connor in the hole!

Alexy, Trey and Connor in the hole! - They loved this!

Surfer Girl - Alexy

One of my fav pics from the trip

Did I Get it All?

With a straight face, Colin asked "Did I Get it All?"  Cruel or not, I had to take this picture . . .

and yes, afterwards I helped him "get it all!"  Too funny!

23 Months

Hello from MB!  Connor in all his glory with Alexy's pink flip flops!  More, soon.

Green Dip

Gross, right?  What is green dip?  Connor's newest "coined phrase" and most requested dip in the house.  Green Dip a/k/a Parmesan Cheese.  Connor really loves eating anything that he is allowed to dip - so instead of his usual salsa or applesauce - both of which are fairly messy - I decided to give him Parmesan cheese and call it dip.  It worked.  And, better still, he will eat almost ANYTHING on his plate if he can also have green dip.  He is a really good eater anyway . . . but for fussy days - green dip is a must.

The Cutest Thing

Ok, I am sure that there will be cuter episodes in Connor's life but definitely one of the top five so far in his 22 months occurred last weekend at the lake.  My mom had the table decorated for the 4th of July - including an Uncle Sam candle holder I bought years and years ago at a candle party.  Actually it was Colin's candle party which is funny in and of itself.  But, I digress.  She had 2 candles in the holder that were red, white and blue.  Connor was insistent that we "turn on" on the candles.  I explained that we were waiting for the actual 4th of July to light them.  He said "oh" like he understood every word and then started talking fairly incessantly about eating cake.  Cake?  We weren't having cake, hadn't discussed cake, period.  It was Colin's birthday but he wasn't with us so why did he think there would be cake?  It finally occurred to me.  Candles = Cake to Connor.  We finally lit turned on the candles on the 4th.  Connor had pretty much finished his dinner (1/2 a catfish) and veggies when my mom heard him singing under his breath.  He was singing "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you"!  What??? First of all, where did he learn that song?  We did go to 2 birthday parties in 1 day several weeks ago but who knew he was paying attention.  He certainly didn't look like he was paying attention to the singing.  We don't sing that song at home, or have any records that play that song.  We do have a Christmas book about Jesus' birthday that he is slightly obsessed with and knows nearly every word in the book, but Wow! Singing Happy Birthday because Uncle Sam is holding 2 candles!  Pretty amazing and certainly super cute!  I would have taken a quick video but Connor was SOO shy when we "caught"/ noticed him singing that it would have ruined the moment to attempt to video it.  Anyway, just wanted to share.  More cuteness coming later this week. 

Overhand Bowling

Colin was a trophy-winning duckpin bowler at age 5.  So, I naturally expected Connor to be a wiz at 20 months.  Well, he still has a few years before any trophies are headed his way - maybe longer.  But, Connor tested a new technique. . . overhand bowling.  It probably won't catch on but the pictures are hilarious.  At least my grandmother thought about giving him a soft ball to play with instead of a real bowling ball.

Connor adores his Nina

Tailgater in Training

Happy 4th of July (a little late) - and a belated Happy Birthday to Colin.  Colin spent his birthday in Baltimore for our friend's bachelor party and we spent the 4th of July at the lake.

It was HOT and Beautiful all weekend.  We ate delicious food (and too much of it), went on boat rides, played in the pool and outside.  And, Connor got some tailgate training for this fall.

                                                   Connor and his JoJo

Connor and his Great Aunt Cathy and Uncle Chuck