Connolly's First Blog!

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Updates in the last month!

Well...a month has flown by! July went super fast. Scott finished up softball and the project known as the HOUSE began. Our house was hit by hail this past Spring. So...our roof had to be replaced and our back siding was damaged. You can't replace one part of siding it if it the original...IT ISN'T made anymore! The only way for us to afford to replace it was to do the job ourselves. I say "ourselves" but I really mean Scott and our friends/family. Wowza...we are incredibly blessed by the help around us. I think Scott knew what the project was going to be...but I had NO IDEA! TONS AND TONS of work. Lots of messes. SUPER hot days. Our house looks AMAZING. Not to sound cheesy/mean...but I wasn't always "proud" of our house and now I am. I was embarrassed by the old large siding. I know it sounds selfish because we have a roof over our heads and nothing "scary" about my home. I am proud of how everyone helped us and how much everyone came together! It looks like a completely different home.

We also headed on a mini-vacation to Des Moines with my family. The science center was a HUGE hit with the boys. Lots of hands-on activities and plenty for space to run around! We stayed in a Stoney Creek Inn, which was FABULOUS! Huge rooms...bunk beds which Noah LOVED. We tried to Farmers Market in Des Moines...never again with kids. Too many people. We ended up at Jordan Creek and played in the kid area. Lots and lots of time at the pool in the hotel. The kids had a riot with my parents in pool as well.

We have had a crazy August! Visit days and practices for football. Then...we started preschool! Noah was SOOO excited to start. We had an open house. And he loved the jungle-gym. On his first day of school we asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, "A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle." He wore his TNMT shirt and off we went. I took him on his first day (he will go with Scott) and we went to Daddy's classroom, explored the building. We took him to the door and off he went. A big boy...went to school. I had a rough drive back...didn't sob the whole way back:) My parents picked him up and he was very excited! Noah had a great first day. My big boy! In the last week since he has started...he is getting himself dressed, brushing his teeth, putting himself to bed...a HUGE helper! Brittany (one of my BFF's) asked Noah, "how was daycare today?" (she meant how was school) and Noah responded, "You mean school." Hands on his hips...super sassy...hahahahaha! Hilarious! Ryder has been a GROWING machine. He can tell you where his belly and nose are. He is SHRIEKING when bath time rolls around...can't out of his clothes (diaper included) fast enough. We had his 15 month appointment...growing. 22 pounds and had his MMR shot. Not speaking a lot of words. New path will include separate books with Ryder and shorter ones. He wasn't sitting with the books with Noah and it didn't sink in that it was a big deal. So...new plan. Kim isn't worried...but wants to see improvement by the time he is 18 months.

IPTV--Dan

I-Cubs game!

Science Center!

Pool Kid!

Pool baby!

Camden and Nana!

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Better late than never...BIRTHDAY PICS!!!!

This was taken on his actual Birthday...not sure why is says June 23...Noah is 4...in his underoos!

Opened up his very own Iron Man that night!!

Ryder-roo...or Wreck-It Ralph as your daddy calls you:)

Construction theme...might use this for multiple years!!

Walking tacos!!

Ryder got cars, a signed book and new bath foam letters/numbers. Noah got a wheelbarrow, signed book and a new collection of Little Critter books.

Spoiled kids!!!!!!!!!!!!

CUTE!!!!!

Birthday boys!!!

blowing out the candles for both!

can't turn it...yummy chocolate!!!!!!!!!

Softball has wrapped up...vacation is about over...August is almost here! Lots to write and catch up on!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

And...June is gone!!!

Well...we have survived another month of softball! Whew...it has flown by and our kids have been awesome! Noah has been a GREAT helper and Ryder is a full on walker! Scott's team has a better record than last year which is great and they are improving day by day. We are done with Saturday tournaments and he assures me that next year will be less tournaments. Every Saturday ends up being a lot on my own, so it will be nice to have him back. Now...back won't mean much since he will be hard at work on our house! I will have to post pictures...but we are putting a new roof on and new siding. Everything got damaged in a hail storm and insurance is going to pay for most of it...if Scott and folks do the work. Ugh...thank goodness for friends and family...but it is going to be a ton of work. Thank you so much hubs...you are the best! Noah is officially 4!!! I decorated his door with streamers (attempted to look like a Spiderman web...fail...but Noah thought it looked like it!!!). I had left for work...but called when I thought he was awake and he answered, "Mommy...I'm 4 today!" I stopped home to get a hug:) We took him out for supper...he chose Peppers. Which...I thought was hilarious and Daddy thought was awesome! He is a big fan of corn dogs! Ryder is a walking machine...more walking than crawling now...it is crazy! He loves to "run" away from you...even funnier when he tries to get up the stairs! Daddy saw two more teeth today..his "lateral incisor" teeth! Wahoo!! Kind of explains some of his fussiness. Ryder is still in bed with us...but usually sleeps all night long. We are also working on getting Noah is in his bed all by himself...hoping to get him to fall asleep by himself:) Here is a few fun pics: