St. Patrick's Day Parade

For the first time ever we went to the Spokane St. Patrick's Day Parade.

 It started off sunny and looked like it might warm up, but then the wind kicked up.  Towards the end of the parade it was really getting windy and chilly.  I had no idea the parade would be so long.  After an hour we were cold and decided we had enough and walked back to the car, but the parade was still going on with no end in sight!

 The Scottish bagpipes

 Connor loved all the candy they handed out.

 puppies!

 Viking ship

 The Flying Irish Running Club!  This is the group that Jason runs with every Thursday

 Green Horses

 Connor loved this big dog who he said was "just like Clifford the Big Red dog"

 He loves to take pictures.  Occasionally out of the blue he will ask me to take his picture or he'll ask if he can take a picture with my camera.  We had just got home from school in the picture above and he asked if I would take a picture of us together.

 We were all lounging one evening next to the fireplace and Connor decided he wanted to take our picture, but insisted that we hold hands for the picture.

Then we got a group shot together.  I love Connor's goofy smile.

When Daddy is away...

Connor and I play...

Well, we play when Jason is here too, but it's special Mom & Son bonding time when Jason is gone.  We had a snow storm Saturday and got several inches.  Jason left for South Carolina for two weeks Sunday morning.  Connor woke up extra early.  After breakfast and a couple cartoons we were ready to tackle the new snow.  Unfortunately, it was not snowman packing snow.  But that didn't stop us from having a fun morning playing in it.

 

 First thing Connor wanted to do (once we discovered the snow was a dry powder and there was no hope of building a snowman)... sledding!  Which really means I walk around the front yard pulling him on a sled.  After half a dozen trips around our yard we had a pretty good race track carved out.  He loved it and I got a good work out.

 

 A beautiful Connor Snow Angel

 Connor had to sample the new snow.  He dipped his finger into the snow, tasted it and replied "Hmm, not bad."  This was followed by a few more dips.

Since we've had such a mild winter and we didn't think we would see anymore snow this year... Jason took the studs off Connor's tires.  We spent some time working on forward and reverse in the driveway, but Connor prefers the open road.  The snow plows didn't waste any time clearing our road so, we took a drive down our street.  His truck did great as long as he avoided the icy or snow patches.  Which even then he's a pretty good driver and knows how to put his truck into reverse to get unstuck.

 Then it was back to more sledding.  Mush mom!  I had the rope around my waist so it would be easier to pull.  Mom horse power!  I stopped for a breather and looked back to see Connor giving me the thumbs up and hear him say "your doing good mom."  Oh man this kid does have me trained.

 He really wanted to ride his bike next.  It's just too slick outside for his new bike, but I let him take his old tricycle out for a spin.  He didn't get very far though before the wheels were spinning.  Besides the fact that it took way more energy to attempt to petal with a snow suite on.

 After two hours of fun in the snow we decided to head inside for some hot cocoa, lunch and some crafts.  Connor painted this picture, a picture with stickers and painted a new piggy bank. 

 After dinner, which was loaded with 8 different veggies... Connor and I both love veggies, unlike Jason who will only eat veggies by default when I chop them so small he can't pick them out of dinner.  So, when Jason's gone Connor and I load up on tons of yummy veggies!  Of course we still make sure to eat protein, carbs and dairy too.  Nutrition has always been important to me.  I'm always striving to get Connor to eat adequate amounts from all the food groups.  Some are just more difficult than others.  Fruit, Veggies, Grains, Dairy... easy!  Meat, now that's a challenge.  He's never been a big meat eater.  But I've found ways around this.  He loves stir fry with veggies so I add meat to that.  I've also found that the same tactic works for Connor to eat meat as it does for Jason to eat veggies... chop it small and mix flavors!  Whether my boys like it or not, I'm always plotting new ways to get them to eat healthy nutritious meals.
After dinner we decided to relax and watch a movie before bath time.  Connor picked Hercules, which he's never seen before.  We made some healthy air pop popcorn (another thing Jason doesn't like, so we don't get it much when he's home).  We had a great day and even though we miss dad when he's gone, we're making the best of our time together!

 Connor tends to color/paint all his pictures one color.  His favorite color, either brown or purple.  So, last week I asked him to use more colors.  He asked what my favorite color is and although I don't really have one favorite color I told him it was red.  When I picked him up from pre-school Friday he handed me this picture he colored and he made a point to show me it was purple, brown AND my favorite color red.

Then his friend Amira handed me this picture she drew just for Connor and told me she used Purple because she knows it's Connor's favorite.

Valentines

Since Jason was in Mississippi, it was just Connor and I for Valentines.  The day before Valentines his teacher told me they were exchanging treats and cards at school.  This is after the assistant told me they were not doing anything in his class.  So, we stopped at the store and bought some Hersey Kisses and Hersey Hugs and wrapped them for each kid with a note "Hugs and Kisses From Connor."  I thought it was clever and the kids loved the chocolate.

Jason brought some flowers home with him.  And Lauren baked a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies.  Flowers, cookies, chocolate... sounds like a good Valentines to me!

Seattle Science Center

After the wedding in Olympia, we drove to our hotel in Seattle for some swimming before bed. 

But not before Connor checked out all the gadgets in the hotel room.  We refer to him as 'Gadget Guy' because he loves to investigate anything electronic... or anything with buttons to push or knobs to turn.

 Connor excited he's about to go swimming.  We asked him later what his favorite part of the trip was and of course it was swimming.  That boy loves the water!
Sunday we went to the Seattle Science Center before driving home.  Connor loved it.  So much to explore!

   Connor and my favorite spot... the butterfly habitat.

  A group of butterflies feasting on banana's and oranges

 playing in the music center

 Connor is inside that huge guitar... strumming a few tunes

 resting at the giant size table

 a view of the space needle

 Playing in the outdoor water center.  Connor and Jason running inside this water wheel

 Connor wasn't a fan of the dinosaur area.  The huge animated dinosaurs that moved and made noise kinda creeped him out.

 Our three Charette feet inside a dinosaur foot print

My boys checking out all the button and knobs inside a space ship.  We had a fun day at the Science Center and then both boys slept most of the drive home, while I drove.  Jason had to fly out early Monday morning for Mississippi.  He spent a week in North Carolina in January, a week in Mississippi in February and he's scheduled to spend a week (or more) in South Carolina in March.