Off to the Races!

In what had been our first full weekend at home with no big plans, John Lee, Avery and I spent our entire Saturday being just plain lazy. Once dinner was over we thought it be a good idea to take her to park - which she loves - but really that is ALL we did the entire day. So, when Sunday rolled around, I personally couldn't stand to think of another day spent mainly at home - after all, that is where I spend a majority of the time during the week.

At about 9:30 a.m. I was making a fruit salad for myself and came to the idea that the horse races at Ruidoso Downs would be a great little one day retreat that we as a family would really enjoy. Of course, I looked out the window and saw clouds filling up the sky, but we are a two hour car ride away from the race track, so I really didn't think twice about making the trek.

We called up some friends, who were down for the spontaneous day trip to the fresh mountain air, and made our way. Of course, it rained the entire way. About an hour into the trip, we were seriously reconsidering our decision, and kicking ourselves for not checking the weather in more detail other than the estimated high temp. for the day. But, we continued, deciding to just wing it and decide once we got up there, and they happened to get canceled.

Well, they weren't. We did have to buy some seats under the covered section in order to stay out of the sprinkling, all day type of rain, but it ended up being a great way to spend the day.

Avery LOVED the horsies (I have no clue how to spell that), and the fresh mountain air along with the company of some of our greatest friends, Michelle, Luis, Raquel and Ari, was just what the "doctor" ordered. We even won a little bit of cash. Of course not enough to retire on, but it paid for our seats and some of our lunch. Who could ask for more?! Okay, maybe winning enough to retire on would have been better, but it didn't happen, so move on, right?!

Hopefully we will get to do it again before the final races on Labor day, but I doubt it. Our summer is going by faster than wanted, and there is still a lot to do. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time, but more importantly Avery got to experience another first, and for that, I feel truly grateful.

Lots of love,
Emily

P.S. Pictures to come...

The Dilly Bar Experiment of 2010

As has become pretty standard at our house, Friday nights are for frequenting a restaurant for what I now will call "Friday Family Dinner Night". So tonight we hit one of the local favorites, Dick's Cafe. Of course the Love Bug had her standard beans and rice and said "hi" to everyone in the restaurant.

When we were done, we thought we would visit the local Dairy Queen and get Avery a Dilly Bar - By all means, one of my favorite summer treats, so why would it not be one of her's, right?

Well, she didn't want anything to do with the chocolate part (what kind of kid am I raising here?), and once the ice cream fell off the stick on to the napkin sitting on the table, she decided that the stick served a better function as a spoon. What can I say, she is a pretty smart cookie.

Well, a mess ensued, but I would say that the Dilly Bar experiment of 2010 went off without any major hitches. Not saying we will be getting one everyday, but at least now, I know that the Love Bug does not like the chocolate. Maybe next time, we will try Cherry.

Lots of love,
Emily

So I decided to blog about it...

I try to stay up to date with all of our family and friends about our happenings at Casa de Conner, but a lot of stuff gets lost with time... Those of you who are my Facebook friends already know a lot of the happenings around here, and I look to a lot of you for the "how to" on just getting through the ins and outs of being a parent. Now, I wanted to start this blog to reach even more people in our lives that don't necessarily have a Facebook page, or really just want to know what's up.

Now, I realize that most of you don't want to know what's happening John Lee's or my life, but you want to know about that precious bundle of energy I like to refer to as the Love Bug.

Avery is as lively as they come. She never stops and is a strong willed little 18 month old that constantly has us thinking and going. We couldn't have been more blessed with a loving and sweet child, who is free with her kisses and hugs, and always makes sure to tell you that she loves you in what ever way she is able to express it at that point in her life.

She is my mini-me in so many ways. She looks just like me when I was a baby and she acts just like me when I was a baby. My mom is always quick to point out that I am now paying my debt for my childhood.

If you know my mom, you know that she is a free spirit that cares a lot about feelings and others "spirits", mind you. So she said that when I was a baby/toddler/child, one of her goals was to keep me reigned in just enough to not let me get hurt, but also be careful to not break my "spirit". So the other day I was talking to her on the phone and she told me this story as it relates to the Love Bug. Of course, right at that moment, Avery chimes in with her patented high-pitched scream, and I asked my mom "okay, so what if I DO want to break her spirit?" Of course, all joking and laughing aside, that is the last thing that I want. But I have found raising a toddler (especially one that is too smart for her own good), to be one the most challenging things I have done in my life to date.

So those challenges, and all of the great stuff that comes with being the Mother of a Love Bug will be discussed in this blog. I hope that you find it as enjoyable to read as it will be for me to write.

Lots of love,
Emily