A letter to my Son on his third birthday

Dearest Conor,

It's hard to believe it has been three years since I first held you in my arms. I couldn't help but smile at how beautiful you were then, and am thankful every day that you were brought into our lives.

This was a year of many firsts for you. It was the year you learned what it meant to swim, the year you found a love for the Beach, the year you discovered all things Toy Story (your first 3D movie), and the year you moved into a Big Boy Bed.

Every time I look at you, I am filled with pride. You have such a joyful disposition about you. Every morning, you show me the sunshine before I even seen the sun, tackle me with hugs only a Bear could compete with, and teach me lessons I thought I had already learned.

Despite what comes your way, you don't yet know the meaning of the word challenge. Knowing you have no boundaries to what you can accomplish, makes you an inspiration to our family.

You love to jump, dance, and play all things sports. Your absence of fear makes me crazy nervous. Still, I love to watch your tenacity. In some ways, I wish I had more of it.

You have a deep bond with your sister, looking to her for guidance and fun. The two of you walk through the days as the best of friends, and listening to the two of you reading together in the minutes before bedtime warms my heart. The two of you have already found ways to make eachother laugh, and truth be told...I think she potty trained you. This is picture I snapped of the two of you napping this afternoon. It's sweet that you fell asleep holding hands.

You are my heart. My soul. My life. Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Love, Mom

Her birthday is in three months

Every Sunday morning, the kids and I sit down at the kitchen table. Conor usually does a puzzle, and Katie and I cut coupons. For the record, Joe is usually in the kitchen making breakfast. According to Katie, he makes the BEST Tinkerbell toast. Anyhow...back to my point...Kate doesn't really cut coupons, but rather other pictures she finds of interest. This past Sunday afternoon I found this picture on our fridge neatly tucked amongst all her other artwork.

I think she is trying to tell us something, no?

The joke is on us

For years, we have scorned the groundhogs behind our house. They have stolen prized vegetables from the neighbors gardens, taughted the animals, and unfortunately lost a couple of their own to our four legged friends.

So, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that for the second year in a row, Mother Nature has pulled one over on us.

This is what we woke up to this morning...

I think there is a groundhog somewhere laughing his head off telling us it is April 1st.