Asleep. On his own.

Wish it were always this easy.

Festive lights.

Dolly sure knows how to do it up.

I think next year I will hire her staff to come do my place.

We decided to make one last trip to Dollywood this year with our season passes.

One word:

Mistake.

This was one of two rides Connor got to get on.

Apparently everyone and their cousin had the same thought we did.

70 degrees. Sunny. Christmas lights. Dollywood.

O Joyful.

This is the first year Connor was really into Christmas.

He very much enjoyed unwrapping the gifts.

Thank you grandparents for all your wonderful gifts!

Santa fun....sort of.

So at least my kid wasn't screaming.

or running for the hills.

He just could care less who santa is or that he is sitting on some strange, old man's lap.

Nothing.

No expression.....

blank.......

blah.........

yep. that sums it up.

Well mommy and daddy enjoyed it.

They had real reindeer!

wait.., wait.......is that a smile?

Oh....., some kid across the room is jumping for his lost balloon.

darn.

Nose, Choo-Choo, & Butt

What do all these words have in common you ask?

Connor.

They are his new ones this week.

So, apparently he likes body parts.

Yesterday:

Mama! Mama!

What baby?

Butt!

Did you say Butt?

Butt! Butt! Butt! Butt!

[as he's patting his butt]

Glad we are nailing down the important words first.

No Fear.

If Connor goes missing, this is usually where I find him.

Yikes.

Now before you go thinking I am a bad parent for letting my child climb up that high. The next shot is while I am standing up. I know, not much better, it's still high for him. What can I say, he is all boy, and fear did not come equipped with him.

Giveaway Bonanza!!!!

1) Ok up first we have a Super-CALLY-fragalistic giveaway over at Calico.

She is a super talented friend of mine that is giving away some of her wonderful creations! Check her out! Click here.

2) Next we have MerMag. She is an awesome illustrator/artist who is giving away a PERSONAL PORTRAIT of your choice. Wow, how cool is that! Click here to check it out!

3) Finally, this is a site I ran across through a friends. DesignMom is having a twelve days of Chirstmas giveaway event! They have TWELVE different giveaways! Check out their site to see all of them! Great stuff! Click here.

I love FREE, I love GIVEAWAYS!! Enjoy!

Bounce house.

Whoever thought of this concept is a genius.

Warm, indoor, inflatable fun.

I'm no Betty Crocker.

But I learn quick.

The first batch...well..uh..let's just say it was a learning experience.

I got the fire out pretty fast actually.

Exhibit A

Mm-hmm. I filled the pans way to full, and they bubbled over and the drippings caught on fire.(uh, nooooo I wasn't thinking clearly, and didn't place a pan underneath to catch the drippings.)

"Fire! Fire!" I screamed in shock. I mean true shock. Like I said, I am no Betty Crocker, and I've never baked bread or cake or much of anything. I've also never caught the oven on fire, so a shock it was!

Since I catch on quick the second batch went much better. Nice to look at, and yummy as well!

Exhibit B

Ah. Much better.

Maybe there is hope of me becoming domesticated after all.

Spit shine.

Haha......just watch the video.

Mmmmm....tastes like chicken.

Check it out.

I LOVE this site! Ziggity-Zoom has fun for all ages. I especially like the art.

They are giving away this print as a giveaway on Bloggy Giveaways.

Ziggity-Zoom.

Check it out.

Color pages.

Games.

FREE monthly art....ya, I said FREE.

This is this months FREE art. Cute huh?

Knows no stranger.

Connor will climb up in anyones lap and be their friend.

Nice gloves Elder Jackman.

Once a year...

Sweet potatoe souffle.......Mmmmm.

Yes, I actually can cook.

And, of course I had a helper.

Cookies, and rides, and trees......Oh my!

We went to the Fantasy of Trees tonight.......




Aaahh.....what can I say, it really is a fantasy place!

They had TONS of gingerbread houses, this was one of my favorites.

Connor made his own cookie!

Then he ate it.

....Merry-Go-Round....

I Loved the blue trees!

Flashback......

I went through some of my old photos of Connor.....


Travel back in time with me.....

Where does the time go?

Why do they have to grow up?

My heart tightens up everytime I know he still needs me.

I need him to need me.

The joy a tiny smile brings.

I actually miss the nights when I was up with him.....just the two of us.Tiny hugs, tiny kisses Only so little for so long.

Babies just don't keep.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I absolutely LOVE Christmas......

Christmas is so nostalgic for me.

The LOVE that is shared.

The PEACE that you feel.

The DECORATIONS.

The CHARITY that swells within our hearts.

And of course...The PRESENTS!

(not for me...I love giving them!)

We put up our tree. I am so excited about it. I did black and silver this year. Beautiful.

Little did you know.....

Connor is a cover model!!

Click here http://parenting.com/cover to see your child on the cover of Parenting magazine!