Meet Red

Gibbons Red is his more formal name . . . and Connor's newest toy.

check out the hair flying in the "breeze" !

Thanks to Pop Pop and Grandma Cathy for a fun visit.

Rewind . . . on Saturday morning the 3 of us flew up to Baltimore for a quick visit.  We met Colin's mom and the airport, borrowed her car and headed to Fairfax to visit Kevin, Leslie and Daniel for Daniel's 1st Birthday party.  Travelling went so smoothly that we actually made it to the party early (this is certainly a first).  We stayed and played with Daniel until dinner. 

I know Colin doesn't look thrilled in this picture but, as he knows I choose the one that is best of the kids (or me!)

The Birthday Boy!

 We packed up again and drove to Hagerstown to stay with Colin's dad for the night.  We arrived just after the Auburn game started (which we had DVR'd), gave Connor a bath, read books and then off to bed.  Colin and I ate delicious Taco Bell and enjoyed some red wine to get us through the slightly stressful Auburn win over South Carolina (maybe it was the wine and a/c but this game was a little easier to watch than last week vs. Clemson).  Connor woke up to the green light on Sunday morning and after breakfast he was introduced to his new horse - which he promptly named "Red" (like any good Auburn fan, right?) and we formally pronounced his name "Gibbons Red" in honor of Cardinal Gibbons School where the Moorhouse men attended and sadly recently closed.  While Connor was busy with Red, Colin and I left for Baltimore to see the Ravens play.  2 hours later, we were tailgating in the rain - something Colin promised he would NEVER make me do again - at least it wasn't freezing like the last time it rained at a tailgate.  Despite the rain, it was surprisingly enjoyable and the rain stopped and the sun appeared just in time for the game. 

 Whew!  After the game, we quickly checked into our hotel, set up Connor's gear and then headed to meet Connor, Pop Pop, Grandma Cathy, Mike, Mary and Karen and Scott for dinner at Chammps.  It was delicious - but a little long - the kitchen allegedly lost our order twice.  After installing the car seat once again in our vehicle, we headed back to the hotel and crashed for the night.  Connor slept pretty well considering the a/c in the room would cut on and off every 3 minutes - a little annoying but I was too tired to try and fix it.  He slept through the green light - unheard of!  Yippee! and again today once we got back to Birmingham at naptime!  Proud mama!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

It is 90+ outside!  Starbucks is serving up Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  The pool has been closed since Labor Day (and it has been an average of 90 each day in September)!  I did partake of pumpkin spice goodness in the privacy of my car, blasting the a/c - but honestly, I think the pool should remain open until the temp drops below 80 and Starbucks should hold off on the holiday spice drinks until we can enjoy them!

Did I Miss It?

Colin reminded me this past week that Connor was 25 months old.  Did I make a post, like usual?  Nope.  Here's why: I am so excited to count by years, rather than months.  Connor is talking up a storm.  Nearly all of his conversations are 3 or 4 (sometimes 5) word sentences/ commands.  He is fairly bossy - surprised?  He loves music, dancing to music, carrying his ipod with speaker like Silver Streak (I really need to get a picture of this), and playing music (piano, drums, guitar).  Jumping is what he does when he is excited . . . and he jumps, and jumps, and jumps.  Connor also started taking naps by himself - I know - AWESOME!  It took about 18 months but he did it.  We are so proud of him - and he is proud of himself too!  The trick (besides buying a nice queen size "naptress" (mattress for naps)) was this clock my friend Heather told me about.  It is wonderful.  You program it to turn on a yellow night light for bedtime and a wake-up time when the light will turn green.  So, Connor knows that if he wakes up and the light is still yellow - he needs to go back to sleep, or play quietly until it turns green.  It took about 3 tries to get it - but he got it. 

Speaking of Heather - Heather and Matt welcomed baby Ella Marie last week.  She is such a beautiful baby.  My cousin Matt and his wife Rachel also welcomed baby Charlotte Elizabeth - I haven't seen her in person since they live out of state, but the pictures are so sweet and darling.  Congrats to the new parents!

I have been slacking on the blog a bit - mainly because I have been working on the napping and travelling.  We were at the beach last weekend and the lake/ Auburn game this weekend.  Next we head up to Baltimore to visit baby Daniel for his 1st birthday (guess he isn't such a baby anymore)!  I haven't been to a BIG Auburn game in quite awhile.  Our Auburn Tigers took on the Clemson Tigers - Auburn looked awful - other than a few plays.  The game went to a slow nail-biting overtime.  Clemson missed a Field Goal (barely) and Auburn stole a "W".  It was 1000 degrees all day and night - seriously, I haven't been that hot in forever.  Luckily we won because it made the nearly 4 hour game worth sweating through.  It is going to be a long season if Auburn doesn't come up with some new plays or defense - LONG.

We went to the game (my Mom was so sweet to keep Connor) with our friends Kelly and Will and my Dad and brother.  Here are a few pictures from the weekend at the lake:

Kelly, Trey, Alexy & Will

Trey

Connor and Me

Connor and Alexy (he LOVES her)

Now for some beach pics . . .

Connor and his Daddy

I Love this beach - gotta go back soon.

Quick Pix

For the start of football season and to celebrate Labor Day we headed to the lake.  Colin and Connor bought me a new lens for my big camera.  I am certainly still a work in progress but here are a few cute shots of Connor from this weekend.

Happy 90210 Day!

Yes, today is 9/02/10 day!  If you know me, you know I love my 90210 - in fact the last episode of the original aired the last day of our senior week in Myrtle Beach (yes, I am old). 

Here is Connor on his newest favorite thing to do "Ride Carousel"

Oh, and it is my parent's 38th wedding anniversary.  Wow!  Happy Anniversary!

Wrap up

So, we have been busy doing pretty much nothing.  Connor has been sick.  We got back from Baltimore on August 9th and after an uneventful (thank you) morning flight we were having a normal day.  Connor woke up from his nap and made a funny face and projectile vomit - everywhere.  He has NEVER done this (well maybe the week before).  It scared the crap out of me!  It continued until dinner and then I spent the next 2 days waiting for it to happen again.  I covered every upholstered crevice in the house with a towel.  Of course, it didn't happen again.  Then, I got the virus, then my mom, my dad, colin, etc.  But by his birthday he was truly all better or I would have cancelled the party.  He had been puke free since Monday so we had his party.  As you saw in the photos - he loved it!  Monday morning after the party he had his 2 year well visit.  No problems.  No shots.  Nothing.  Tuesday morning Connor woke up and looked like a bug bit him in bed - once on his head and once behind each ear.  By Wednesday those "bites" were looking better but he had new ones on his legs.  Hmmmm.  My mom diagnosed him with Chicken Pox.  Colin's mom confirmed through photos as did Caitlin's dad (The Doctor's office wouldn't see us).  Umm, can I have my copay back for the vaccine?  It truly was a mild case that Connor didn't even notice.  Not ONE time did he itch!  Amazing considering the horrific case that I had when I was little.  So, I guess the vaccine did help . . . sort of still want my co-pay back though. 

So, we have been out of commission socially speaking for 10+ days.  Today happens to be my birthday and my mom offered to come play with Connor while we went out to dinner.  We had a very fun day today and a delicious dinner tonight.  The location has valet parking - mainly because the parking lot is very small.  After dinner, we were waiting for the valet to "pull up our car" (I put this in quotes because our car was literally parked right next to us - probably could have just given us our keys).  While we were waiting for the valet to move our car 2 feet, we noticed a Coors Light can on the valet stand.  Odd?  Dangerous?  Hilarious? Had to share it on the blog.  Pictures soon.  Good night.

Vote for Albertville

Back in April, a tornado ripped through my father's hometown.  Now, the high school has been nominated to receive 50 new laptop computers.  The students of Albertville need your vote!  Please, VOTE HERE for Albertville High School, or click on the link at the top right of the blog.  Thank you in advance!

This is a news video from You Tube showing the destruction.