You are Three Now...

This year has been the hardest.  I think it is because you really are out of your toddler stage.  You are no longer a baby clinging to my hip nor a toddler clinging to my leg.  Watching you this weekend really forced me to realize that you are turning into a little girl.  A little girl who is independent now and willing to try anything on her own.

You light up every room you walk in.  This amazes me because you have a smile that just brightens people's eyes.  Not even saying anything, you manage to warm the room you occupy.  And as easy as it is to infect others with your smile it is to make others laugh.  You are hilarious.  You are spunky and full of pizazz.  I would not have our lives any other way; full of love, family and happiness.  You are our happiness, little girl.  You are the center of our lives.

Things that make us proud to be your Mommy and Daddy:

You are just as cute as can be:

You love adventure:

You have an unbelievable imagination:

You love playing with your friends:

You enjoy being outside; you always have:

Oh!  And you love bubbles:

You love to help Daddy cook:

You love to give hugs; you live to give hugs:

You have a contagious smile:

You love your friends and are sweet to all of them:

You love to celebrate:

And you absolutely ADORE your cousins:

The past three years have been unimaginable.  Peek back at how much fun we have had.  I find myself doing it often.  I love you.

Love,

Mommy

Open WIDE!

Connor visited the dentist for the first time today!  I was able to get a last minute appointment for today but ONLY if Justin could take her because I was supposed to work.  J's response, "not cool honey signing me up for this; it will be a nightmare."

I kept telling her about the dentist and what the dentist does and she seemed to be a little excited!  Especially once she knew that she would receive a prize.  I wound up staying home sick so I was able to go (for a little bit; I was able to get myself a doctor appointment as well).

So we went to the dentist...

Aren't you so proud?  Not that big of a deal but we were excited because very seldom are there "firsts" anymore.  Oh.  She is going to have to have braces... (from whatever the HELL they can tell in a three year old's mouth).  The braces jar fund is already on her dresser.  We'll be ready.

Yellow River Game Ranch with my Cousins!

Connor absolutely LOVES spending time with her cousins. Kerri and I met at my parent's house  Monday and took the kiddos to see the animals!  We haven't been since Connor was an infant CLICK HERE. Of course she enjoyed it the first time with Grandpa but she was a little more alert and eager to touch this time.

When we left Monday afternoon, Connor just bawled.  Crying, "I want to stay with my cousins. I just will miss them so much."  Too cute.  We will see them twice next month (actually maybe three times!) for Kendall's and Connor's birthdays and also my Dad's birthday!  I love my family and am so thankful Connor loves hers too.  Now, only if we can get to Maggie Valley more often!

Date Night with Jesus and Pizza

Justin doesn't get home on Wednesdays until 8 pm and since it was ash Wednesday, Connor and I went to Mass together.  She was great. (You know it is always harder when you are minus a parent).  She was great until we were about to kneel (she was straddling the kneeler and playing with her pennies) and the sweet lady next to us didn't realize Connor's foot was under it.  Ooops.  Oooops.  " Oww! Hers swishing my foots! Hers swishing my foots, MOMMY!!"  hmm...

And I blacked out and didn't come back to until we were peacefully eating pizza right down the street at Fellini's. Boy was it good.  Connor devoured a whole slice and I did the same... PLUS a salad.  We watched the cars on Peachtree Street and she continued to remind me about how that beautiful Grandma swished her foots.  I love nights like these.  Normally, at 7 pm, we would be bathing or reading stories and last night we were eating pizza while sitting outside and listening to cars drive by.

Glorious!

I am giving up beer during the week for Lent. What are you?

Ballet at 2 1/2

wasn't too much of a hit.  The eight week class started out perfect and every Saturday morning it worsened.  By the end of the eight weeks I was bribing her with candy, and special prizes afterwards if she would just not make a scene.  All those bribes did not work so needless to say, we didn't even go to the "recital".  I felt that Connor had taken enough attention away from the other students for the class and that she would do just the same at the "recital" so we decided not to take her.

Here are some pictures of one of the first weeks of ballet and tap.  Wasn't she just so adorable?!?

Painting NAKED!?!?!

Yes. That is what the kids did.  Four adults and three children, under the age of four, was a little hectic so Momma Horton came up with a plan...

We had so much fun watching them enjoy themselves.  When it was all over, we literally hosed them down, hosed off the deck and went about our normal day.  It's days like this that I want Connor to remember how "cool" I am.



Lawrence



It would be neat if we could figute out what all three were thinking



Can you tell they had a blast!  We will have to wait until it warms up to do this again. And we will definitely do it again!