New England Aquarium

Dear Conor,

This summer we have made two trips to the New England Aquarium.  We certainly are getting a lot of use out of the family pass that Grandma and Grandpa Trayner gave you for Christmas (2012).  The first trip was on 7.2.13 with Auntie Cathlin.  You and she had a lot of fun and it was nice that Mommy got a little rest because Auntie loved walking around with you and you loved your time with her!

This was one of the last times that we got to spend with Auntie all by ourselves before she got married.  It was a fun day for all of us.  After the Aquarium you napped in the car while Auntie and I had a picnic of Panera.  Then it was off to the dress shop for fittings!!!  Hard to believe that as I type this now Auntie is married and has a new home!  Thanks for a GREAT day Auntie!

Your second trip to the Aquarium was when we met up with Grandpa and Grandma Trayner (and Danielle) to bring Auntie Sarah back to them on 7.27.13.  Again, it was a great day with family and you had so much fun being with your family that Mom got a lot of rest.  You held everyone's hands but mine and spent time with each person.  We got lunch at Faneuil Hall and then walked around the waterfront before it was time to head back home.

Looking for the BIG turtle

Holding the side of the stroller like Grandpa taught you

Mommy, Conor, Auntie Danielle (& Baby Brother - 26 weeks)

Daddy didn't get to go to the Aquarium so we have to plan another trip or two so that he is able to see the new tank and spend some time in Boston with you!  Maybe next time we can bring Little Gordon and his parents!

xoxo
Mommy

Chinese Food and Cookies for Santa

Dear Conor,

After brunch with the Jakan Grandparents it was time to jump in the car and drive down to the Cape to get ready for Santa!

We arrived just in time for our annual Chinese food dinner.  Everyone got to go - except  Grandpa Adam but we made a special plate just for him!  The food was yummy and despite it having been a long day and the restaurant being full with a lot of stimulation you did really well!  Cousin Nolan also did really well and it was so much fun to have both you boys this year for Christmas!

After dinner we went back to the house and we let you open one present.  You opened a pair of Christmas jammies!  Mommy helped you get dressed in them and get ready for bed and then there was only one thing left to do.....leave some cookies out for Santa!

Cookies for Santa

Family Picture - Christmas 2012

Hey Santa - these are for you!

 

First Ever Christmas Cookie!  The official Santa Cookie Taste Tester!

After you went to sleep Conor I took a picture of Grandma's tree all decorated and light up just waiting for Santa!

Before Santa

Then, when you woke up early in the morning and Mommy needed to go downstairs and get some extra wipes Mommy saw that Santa had come!  So I took a picture with all the lights off - I didn't want to peek at what Santa had brought until everyone else was awake!

Clearly everyone had been good this past year because Santa not only came but he piled lots of presents under the tree!

Merry Christmas Eve!

xoxo
Mommy

First Grade & A First Birthday

Dear Conor,

On October 6, 2012 we were two busy road trippers!  We got up early to prepare for our busy day.  We hit the road at about 9am so that we would get to spend a little bit of fun together in the truck before you took your morning nap.  My hope is that you would sleep for the majority of the ride.

We were making amazing timing - no traffic at all so I called your Auntie Cathlin to see what she was up to and if she was in town - and she WAS!  Not only was she in town but she was at her school which was just 15 minutes or so from our final destination.  She asked if we wanted to stop by (and of course we did) so a quick detour and we found ourselves at her Elementary School (which we will not name).

Welcome to First Grade Conor!

The rug rules said that you must sit "criss cross applesauce" and you did!  What a good student

Reading with Auntie Teacher

A need idea: a book about teacher for students to read (thanks Pinterest she says!)

 

After practicing your reading and learning about teacher it was time for some directed learning.  On today's lesson plan was shapes and so out came the wooden blocks for you to touch, smell, taste, and see.  It was a lesson you were truly able to sink your teeth into (hee hee).

Next we toured the classroom library where there was not one but TWO copies of your favorite book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!!!!



Sitting on the bench Grandma Mary made in the classroom library reading your favorite book!

After spending a bit of time in the classroom it was time to take a tour of the school.  We loved the porthole openings on some of the doors and the fact that the kindergarten classrooms were themed with Chicka Chicka!  We saw Auntie's old classroom and right next door was the office of a certain person who we love - Ms. Whitt!

We couldn't pass up sneaking in and helping her with her work since she will be going on maternity leave shortly and we don't want her stressing out!

Checking Ms. Whitt's messages

Making sure she had enough writing utensils

hmmmm.......what to leave in my note

I love you Ms. Whitt - hope to see you soon!

After making sure we left Ms. Whitt's office as we found it (minus some fingerprints on the frame) we went to the library.  Auntie's school has a beautiful library just right for younger readers.  Mommy was in love and was sad to learn that if the new school is built this library will be no more.  In the library was a little amphitheater and you had a great time climbing the stairs and crawling along the rows before we had to return to the classroom.

Beautiful Library

Climbing

After our tour of the school we played for a few more minutes and then it was time to leave because we had a party to get to.  Thank you so much Auntie for letting us visit first grade - we had a wonderful time!

We packed up our things and then it was off to the Berridge home to celebrate Little G's FIRST Birthday!!!  His birthday was Sesame Street themed and his cake had Elmo in a boat on it.  Auntie Ana did a great job decorating and she had a ton of food available for everyone to munch on!  Everyone played for a little while and then it was time for cake!

Auntie Ana and Little G waiting for the singing to start

Blow out the candle little G

Little G loved his frosting

and loved it

and wanted to share it with me

 After everyone got cleaned up from cake eating it was time to open presents.  Auntie Ana helped Little G.  There was one gift that both you and Little G wanted to play with at that very moment and there was nothing that was going to stop you - not even Auntie's leg!

oohhh......a bubble octopus

Let's get it!

While Little G continued to open presents you played with Meghan.  She worked hard to teach you how to play with the musical toy and not put the stick in your mouth.

Little G soon got tired of gifts and so he and you played with his toys while his Mommy finished opening for him.

You guys played so long and so hard with the toys that you were both filthy from head to toe!

dirty dirty Conor

There was no way I could put you in the car all dirty so you had to have a bath at Auntie's house.  Miss Meghan was a great helper so the bath went extra quick!  We left Auntie's house around 4:30pm which was just the right time for both traffic and for you to get a good nap in.  You slept the entire ride home in your cozy penguin jammies.

When we got home I knew that you were not going to sleep right away so we played and sang songs or an hour or two until you were tired enough for me to tuck into bed.  Daddy was out with Mike for a wrestling event so we sent him this picture for you to say Goodnight to him!

Thank you for a wonderful day little man!  It was a long day and you were not only a GREAT traveler but it was fun to spend the entire day with you!

xoxo
Mommy

A Meeting of Great Proportions

Dear Conor,

There are many reasons that Mommy blogs.  One is because between lawyering and raising you she has very little time to actually scrapbook or journal.  But perhaps the most important reason is because there is a special person in Florida who I miss very much and want her to feel as though she is right here living in our day to day.  Well on September 21, 2012 you finally got to meet this special person - your GREAT GRAMMIE!

Great Grammie is my Grandma and your Grandma Mary's mom!  She used to live on the Cape in a home that had a swimming pool and then she lived at Grandma Mary's house.  But once day she decided to move to Florida where some of her brothers and sisters live.  We were very happy for her because we knew she missed them very much (and she LOVES the SUN) but now we are the ones that miss her!

We knew that GG was coming to visit so Daddy and I made sure to take some time off of work so that we could make the trip to Grandma Mary's house for the weekend.  GG came over to see you Saturday morning.  It was so fun to watch you study her and then get comfortable enough for her to love on you - almost as much fun as it was to watch her love on you.  She is just the best GG that a little guy like you could ever ask for!

Whoa!  whose this lovely lady?!?

It's my Great Grammie - isn't she awesome!

That afternoon we all went to Mashpee Commons to walk around and then we went out for lunch at Horizons (now called Hemisphere's).  You were such a good baby the entire time and you made everyone smile when you ate an entire PICKLE at the restaurant.  GG said she was certain you were my baby because we both love pickles so much!

After dinner GG came back to Grandma's house for a little while and you spent some more time with her (and Mommy just had to take pictures).  When Mommy was little Grammie used to pick me up for the day and we would go on little adventures.  Sometimes we went 'Off Cape' and other times we might go to Friendly's (this used to be Mommy's favorite restaurant).  And Mommy always had her birthday at GG's swimming pool when she was little!

Studying GG

Smiles for Mommy (kinda)

There is that beautiful smile!

A Tender Moment

I was so happy that you and Great Grammie finally got to meet.  I hope that you get to spend more time with her in the coming years as your time with your other Great Grandma (GG Irene) was cut too short when she passed this past spring.  I still remember the fun I had with my Great Grandparents from mini-golf to making fudge and sleeping on the floor in their basement in Virginia and I hope you make similar memories with your Great Grammie!  Perhaps we will take a trip to see her this winter!

xoxo
Mommy