The Kamikazie Kids!

We Need a Bigger Bath Tub!

Three of my Sledders

The 'Train'


Today was so much FUN! The kids have been begging and pleading to go sledding on Skinner's Hill, and today we did. We started out the day by cleaning the house and giving Ranger his monthly bath. Then, we suited up in our snow gear and drove over to meet the Martin's. We started sledding at 11:20, and we left around 1:00. The kids are tired, but had such a good time. Cade went down the hill sitting, laying on his stomach, backwards, sideways...and always at a breakneck pace! Claire is so light that she flew down the hill, especially when she and Lily went together. Jax was the Super Trooper today! He trudged up the hill and flew down it more times than I can count! Finnegan and I even took a turn! With all the sledding fun that was had today, by far the funniest moment for me was watching all the kids, and some of the parents, make a "train" and sled down the hill. That idea definetly fell under the heading of 'Fun, With the Potential for Disaster'. Luckily, everyone made it to the bottom unscathed!
Well, we're home now and exhausted. We hope you are all having a great Saturday!

Happy Birthday Eric!

Finnegan with the Bowling Ball!

Well, the day is here. That husband of mine is 30! We are just hanging out at the house today, and the kids got him an ice cream cake for dessert...afterall, doesn't everyone love ice cream when it is below zero?
Yesterday was busy, but fun. Eric, Bonnie, the kids and I, started the day out by going bowling. Just a word to the wise...just because you are good at Wii Bowling, does NOT mean that you should go pro in the real world. Out of all the kids, plus Eric, Bonnie, and I, the results were hilarious. Cade won and Granny came in last...yes, even the two year old beat her! We were all laughing ourselves silly the entire time. I think that bowling is going to be something that we do on a regular basis.
After we got home and ate lunch, Eric, Bonnie and the kids went to see Inkheart. I stayed home with Finnegan and cleaned. They all loved the movie and have been quoting it since yesterday. It was a fun birthday week and I am sorry to see it end. I hope that Eric knows how much we love him, even if he is now thirty, and I found 2 gray hairs on his head! :)

Getting older!

Eric with Cade and Jax

Well, the wonderful husband of mine is turning thirty this Sunday (25th)! He doesn't want a big fuss made about it so we are just going out a few times this week. The festivities start tomorrow when we go to Old Mill with a few friends...nothing like a HUGE piece of Prime Rib, and homemade desserts to start off the birthday celebration! Then, on Friday, Eric and I are going out to the movies while Granny watches the kids! Sunday is his actual birthday and we are keeping it low-key. Dinner at home, followed by cake and ice cream. The fun thing this year is that the kids have a holiday that Monday, so they want to stay-up late and watch movies with Daddy.
Now, you may be wondering what I get Eric for his birthday. The answer is that he doesn't get his gift until summer. Why? My crazy husband has decided that he would like to go skydiving to celebrate turning thirty! My thoughts on this are #1- hey, it's his idea, and if that's what he really wants to do then I will be there with a camera waiting for him to land. #2 Why not...he's got life insurance (just kidding)! #3 personally, I think he's nuts...if we were meant to fly we would have wings! :) Luckily, he has a cousin who is just as nuts as him and they are both going to do this! See...now there's irrefutable proof tha I have married into a family of wack-jobs! I guess the jokes on me though, because I love Eric and his family very much.
Okay- so I'll post more pictures during the week for everyone! Have a great week!

NOTICE!!!!

I am going private with my blog as of this weekend. If you want to view it just send your e-mail address to eric@clanconnett.com. Thanks! I know this is a bit of an inconvenience, but several factors have convinced me that this is the best thing to do! Thanks!

My Blessings...(their names are Carolyn, Renee, Lisa, and Meredith)!

In the last week a few things have happened that have reminded me that sometimes our friends are our greatest blessings.
Eric, the kids, and I, ALL got the stomach flu last week. It was horrible to be sick, but even worse because neither Eric, nor myself could take great care of everyone. No one wanted to eat, but had gone for so long without food that we NEEDED something. Just then our friend Carolyn had her daughter drop off a loaf of banana bread...she had heard that we were sick. The kids were able to eat it and it perked everyone up a bit. Such a lifesaver!
The second blessing that we received this week came from our friend Renee. We drive our oldest son Cade to school everyday, come home...wait a half and hour, and load everyone back into the car to drop Claire at preschool. In this freezing weather it is NOT fun! Renee's grand-daughter is visiting for the next week and will be attending Claire's preschool. Renee generously offered to come to our house, pick Claire up, and take her to school. It may seem like a little thing, but to me and my little ones, this is a HUGE act that I am so thankful for!
Another thank you needs to go out to my other "Angels", Lisa and Meredith who helped out with carpooling issues as well while we were so sick. Your love and support are invaluable!
So, thank you Carolyn, Renee, Meredith, and Lisa, words really can't describe how grateful I am for your friendship and kindness. We love you guys!

The Nutcracker

My Claire, Emily Asay, and Claire Asay...SO SWEET!

My Claire, Emily Asay, and Claire Asay...SO, um, SWEET???

Well, tonight was Claire's Nutcracker performance! It is usually before Christmas, but a big storm postponed it until this week. She was a little nervous before rehersal, but once that was out of the way she was fine! We raced home for an hour, stopping to pick-up some pizzas for dinner (the three boys were STARVING), ate, and I did Claire's hair and stage make-up. We made it to the auditorium in perfect time and the performance went off without a hitch. It is so fun to watch the little ones dancing...always makes me smile. This year we brought everyone...yep, Claire danced while Eric, myself, and all three of the boys...and Granny, watched. I am almost as proud of the boys as I am of Claire...they did very well for staying up so late.
*A quick explaination of the above pictures...I bribed the girls to take a 'good' picture, with the incentive that they could take a 'crazy' picture. They all like the crazy picture the best, and quite frankly...so do I! Just don't tell the kids that, or I'll never get them to pose in a normal way ever again!

Backtrack to Christmas!

Richard without a beard...

Richard WITH a beard...(and his eyes closed)!

*With all of us being sick and Jax's surgery I haven't been able to post about Christmas as of yet. This year was great and a big part of that was the fact that my little brother made the journey out here! He walked in the door and I almost fell over...he had a FULL beard! I am posting two pictures of him with and without a beard...let me know what you think? I was stunned by how different he looked!
*The kids had a great day and they got way too many toys! If this keeps up we will have to get a bigger house! I love the holidays, but they are a lot of work. I am looking forward to Eric's birthday this month (25th) when he turns 30!!!!!
*We are still recuperating, but hope to be functioning soon!

*Oh- and a quick story...Finn has been REALLY sick with this flu and being ten months old, has no idea why he feels like crud. All he's been doing is crying and screaming. That is, until last night when we dipped all his food in ketchup (which he loves). Cade came to a conclusion and voiced that, "I bet you that Finn likes ketchup more than he likes people." -Well, Cade, don't we all? :)

We Share SO Well!

Watching a movie...with their 'sick' buckets!

Some families have a problem teaching their children to share, but not my kids! Nope, they are so considerate that this week when Jax got the stomach flu he made sure that he passed it around to all of us. Isn't he great at sharing? It has been a FUN few days out here that is for sure. I thought that I would escape unscathed, but last night I came down with it...oh, the JOY! We are just going to lay low today and try to get better. I hope that everyone else out there is well and healthy!