It's a bird, it's a plane....

No, it's Superman! Happy Halloween!

LIVESTRONG Challenge 2008

This past weekend was the LIVESTRONG Challenge in Austin. We had a 5k run on Saturday morning and then a 90 mile bike ride on Sunday morning. LIVESTRONG Challenge events raise money to fund cancer research and programs, dedicated to preventing cancer, ensuring access to screening and care and improving the quality of life for people affected by cancer.

We would like to thank all of you who donated time and money so that we could participate in this very important event. This is our second year participating in the weekend long event. We hope that in a couple of years Conor will be able to join us.

Lunch with the Grandparents

Conor recently got to have lunch with Grandpa and Grandma Grant at the lake!  Conor had a wonderful time running around and throwing his food on the ground.  He was very intrigued by the water and the boats coming in.

Ready for bed

We love the way Conor looks in these PJ's!

The Great Pumpkin, Conor Russell!

Conor went to the pumpkin patch today.  It was a very different experience than last year.  This time he didn't want to be held at all.  Conor had so much fun playing with the little pumpkins.   He must have thought they were balls because he was throwing them and kicking them.

He also had fun trying to navigate his way through the hay maze.  Mommy would hide around a corner and Conor would scream when she jumped out in front of him.  He also really enjoyed playing with the hay.  He would grab handfuls of it and throw it up in the air.

Next year we have the hay ride and bounce house to look forward to...

Sweet Sixteen

Conor hit the 16 month milestone today.  It seems like every day Conor is doing something new.  I'm always amazed at how quickly he picks up on things these days.  I've found myself in passing talk about his feet or a new toy and then later I'll ask him where his foot is and he is able to point right to it.  He's learning what all of his toys are called and can go pick them out if you tell him what to get.  

Recently I've been showing him how to shoot baskets from a distance with his little hoop.  At first the ball was going straight up when he would shoot but he's gotten better.  He can make it from a couple of feet back now.  Last night I was sitting on the couch holding one of the little orange basketballs and he dragged the basket over to me so we could play.  It was so cute!

He's been a little fickle when it comes to eating.  Somedays he will love a certain type of food so we will try it again a couple days later.  As we are cooking it we are thinking to ourselves and sometimes aloud how Conor is going to tell all his friends how he has the best parents in the whole world only to realize that he is in no mood for what we prepared.  There are some foods that he always seems to enjoy, though.  Mac and Cheese is probably at the top of the list.  He has also really been enjoying a certain type of barbecue sauce recently, "Annie's Naturals Organic BBQ Smoky Maple Flavored."  

Conor is very vocal but he hasn't gotten to the point where he is really sounding out words.  We think he knows "Dada" and I also think he tries to say the names of some of his toys but it's really hard to tell.  He has been really trying to communicate recently so it's probably only a matter of time.

National Night Out

Tonight was Texas' night for National Night Out.  All the neighbors got together in the park across the street from us to meet each other and enjoy the nice night.  Conor had a blast watching the kids play soccer.  Unfortunately, he wanted to be a part of the game.  

National Night Out is a designated night each year where you are supposed to get out and talkto your neighbors about safety awareness.  Throughout Frisco, policeman, fireman the mayor, etc. got out to meet with residents and talk to them about safety.  We were fortunate enough to have some of Frisco's finest firemen show up.  

Like Father Like Son

After living in this house for over four years now I finally found a good use for these niches in our living room.  I discovered a game where I try and get Conor's blue ball stuck up there.  The duck being up there is actually a direct result of this game.  I used the duck to get the ball down and unfortunately the duck ended up getting stuck.  

Well the other day Conor wanted to partake in the fun.  He doesn't quite have the strength to get the ball all the way up there but that didn't stop him from trying.

It's starting to cool off out there...

and Conor is getting ready!