My Little Princess

Conni was recently invited to her cousin's Princess Birthday party.  I just had a chance to get the pics, and I thought they were too cute not to post.

I'm not sure what happened here, but I thought it was pretty funny.

I know she was frustrated that her sleeves kept falling off, maybe that's it!

A Banner Day

So, my craft friends - does anyone have some suggestions about what to use to hang these adorable (if I do say so myself) banners I just finished?  I want to hang them above my vertical blinds that are on my sliding glass door.  The pictures don't really show, but I have them all strung on cording.  

I love getting projects done!

Facing a Fear

Conni has inherited her mother's fear of spiders.  I thought I've been brave the last three and a half years when I see one in front of her.  Probably not.  Some things are just in the genes too, right?

Tonight, Dave and I were downstairs in our family room watching tv.  Conni had been put to bed - three times - and we heard her moving around upstairs.  I thought I heard her coming thru the kitchen, but then I heard her back in her room (directly above the family room).  I figured she was going back to bed.  

Then I hear her coming quickly down the stairs and crying in her panicked teary way that means something has really upset her.  Immediately we get her in the family room and have her tell us what's wrong.  She frantically tells us there's a spider and starts running back upstairs again.  

Its about now that I notice she has a pair of shoes on.  We get up to the landing, and sure enough, there's a spider on the side of the stairs.  It was a pretty good size in my book - probably 1-1.5 centimeters for the body, plus the legs.  (ew!!) 

Well, I comfort Conni with my reassuring "Daddy will get it baby, let me hold you." and make Dave get it.  (He's home, why should I have to go to the creepy thing!)  

I asked Conni if she was trying to get it and she said yes.  After Dave squished it and threw the thing in the garbage, Conni ran over to investigate that the spider was truly gone.  Then she wiped away her tears and sweetly told Dave "Thanks for getting the spider Dad!"  And then, "Thanks for taking care of me Mom!"

I was so excited to think that she was going to try to take on this nasty "giant" thing all by herself!  I told Conni she was very brave - she would have had to pass the thing three times to see it, get her shoes, then come get us.  I told Dave I would have stood there staring at the thing to make sure it didn't move while I cried for help.  (Not only at Conni's age, but today I would do the same thing!)  

While I rocked her another time in her room, she said, "thanks for being brave for me Mom."  So sweet!  This girl's found some courage in her, and we will work with her to face her fears and come off the conquering hero!

Sweet Sayings

Conni's vocabulary and personality continue to grow daily.  Here are some of our favorite things that she says.  (I tried to spell it how she says it):

Wait thesecond (wait a second)
I'm neckled (I'm naked)
Umm, sorry
Hmm, lets fink (think)
Lets add it to my cowection (collection)
My friend Wydia is my babrite (Lydia is my favorite)
Your my best friend Mom/Dad!
That's my babrite (favorite) thing in the whole world!!
Super Conni to the rescue!
I'm not cute, I'm adorable!  (If she's wearing her super girl cape, she's "Super Adorable")
You dogot to get it!  (You forgot to get it)
My friends coming in free (three) minutes.
That's stylish!

I'm sure there's more, but this is what Dave and I came up with last night.  I love seeing her personality develop!!!

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year!!!  Conni loved to see the signs of Christmas all around.  We took several nights in December and just drove around to see the local Christmas lights and neighbor decorations.  We made a couple of trips to see the Elves at Gardner Village.  We really enjoyed spending time together. 

Christmas morning was awesome.  Conni was exhausted as always from the busy Christmas Eve traditions from both sides of the family.  As she has for the past three years, she spent a portion of the morning laying in my lap.  But she loved her present and was so grateful.  

Christmas Eve Chaos opening gifts with eight other cousins

Don't you just love that cheesy face!!

(I kinda miss the chubby cheeks.  They were so kissable!)

Christmas Morning photos of the stockings

(A trait I inherited from my father)

Christmas Morning Tree photo

(again, from my father)

(siblings, notice I didn't make Conni stand there salivating to open gifts while I get the photo to turn out just right?  Yes, I remember that all too well......)

Opening like a pro

Daddy in the Santa cap

Yes, she's opening on my lap again this year with her blanket wrapped close

Reading her new story while Mom tries not to peg her in the head

Loving Minnie Mouse!

Thanksgiving Sledding

As some of you know, it is our family tradition (like for 40+ years) to go sledding at my grandparents cabin.  This is one of my favorite holiday traditions.  It was so fun this year because Conni got so in to it!

Going up the hill

Doing Snow Angels

Laying Around

Playing in the Snow

Here's Conni playing in her first snow of the season (back in November).

Ready to go outside

Building the snowman with Dad

The finished product

I love how Conni is looking at Dave here.  She adores him!

New Favorite Hairdo

This is my new favorite way to do Conni's hair.  I did it for her dance recital and for the Christmas party.  The only drawback is it takes about 15 minutes when last I timed it.  If I have a video and/or food for her then we get thru it ok.  I should have taken a picture from the back too, but it makes her hair fall in her beautiful curls.  

Una Una Mooa Mooa

Sounds like something kind of Hawaiian, don't you think?  Well, no, its just the way Conni asks to play one of her new games:

Conni loves playing Uno Moo!!!  And I don't know how she came up with it, but it was too cute not to share what she thinks its called.

Anyone up for a game of Una Una Mooa Mooa?