Happy 41st Birthday Pete! Thursday March 3

Pete is officially over the hill plus 1.  "Once you're over the hill you pick up speed" was theme for this years party.  I think Pete had a pretty good birthday this year.  Anything has to be better than mine last year which he forgot.  To kick off the festivities the boys and I met him for lunch then we had a surprise Carvel ice cream cake at the office with his coworkers. 

Then at home we had his "meal of choice" and celebrated with a half iced chocolate cake decorated by Grant.  

Finally we went to dinner with some friends and our good friend Christina hosted a birthday party at her house on Saturday night with all of Pete's friends from work.  It was a good birthday!  I think he enjoyed it and all the laughs that come along with being "over the hill."  

Not my mom's cake but this will have to do!

Pete and I at our friend Christina's house.

Some of Pete's peeps from work.

Mini Kindi for Connor

Praise the Lord!  Connor is in German mini kindergarten.  It's only 2 days a week and 3 hours a day but I'll take what I can get.  Not much for 0-2 year olds around here so I am so happy that Connor was accepted!  Pete and I think he'll be speaking German before Grant!  Here are a few photos from his first week.

Fasching Febrary 19-24, 2009

Last week was the week of Fasching in Germany.  It is the festive season before Lent.  The Germans dress up, face paint have parades and masque parties etc.  Here are a few shots of Grant enjoying the festivities.    

Grant at school with his buddies dressed for the party!

Lots of face painting this week.  Better at school then at home.

Pirate Grant

Happy Birthday Connor - February 1!

Finally he's 2!  We've been saying Connor was 2 since he was 15 months old.  I think it's because that's when we started the "terrible 2s."  Ugh and people say 3 is worse!  Connor is a ball of energy. He loves to sword fight with anything that is at least 3 inches long ie forks, pens, straws etc.  He loves to brush his teeth, or I should say suck on toothpaste, draw, climb, run, jump, torture Grant among many other crazy things that keep me on my toes. He keeps us very busy.  Hence the name "busy bee." Connor is my little buddy during the day until he starts German mini kindergarten in March, yippee!  I hope we don't get kicked out!    Wish us luck!  

In Germany we have many indoor play places so we went to JoLo's to celebrate Connor's birthday.  He had a blast.  It was perfect for the boys.  Ball pits, slides, trikes and trains to ride, swings, trampolines and more.  It was way better than hosting a party at our house for 10 two year olds!  I hope he wants to go  back when he turns 3!

For more photos of  Connor's second birthday go to

www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=rnq0683.1susm71v&x=0&y=-bq6nd3&localeid=en_US

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Poor Connor

I have many more updates and photos to come from the holidays but this one was too cute I just had to post it by itself.  As some of you know Connor injured his leg/foot over the holidays and didn't walk for a couple weeks. After many hours in the American and German hospitals and many x-rays we couldn't locate the source of his injury.  However as of last week Connor started walking again...Praise the Lord!! My back couldn't handle much more lifting.   Anyway here is a photo of Connor, Grant and their cousin Luke at the local swimming pool with their matching european swimsuits and Connor on his knees (this is how he got around for 2 weeks).