It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We had family night this past Friday.  We just treasure those types of evenings around here! 

We trimmed our Christmas Tree while we listened to Christmas music, danced around with each other and ate Christmas cookies.  It was a great way to kick off the Christmas Season in our home.  The kids were so alive with Christmas Spirit.  It was such a memorable night. 

Justin and I didn't take any pictures - we decided to just be present in the moment.   To thoroughly enjoy the evening with our kids and not worry about grabbing the perfect shot.  (this was the one picture I snapped at the end of the night with my cell phone - and I love it). 

Jack is at the age where he truly understands Christmas.  He has an understanding that it is Jesus' birthday and he grasps the whole Santa thing.  He and Olivia are beaming with excitement.  Especially since Elf on a Shelf came to our house. This year's Christmas is going to be extra exciting.  Especially as it marks baby Grant's First Christmas.  Anticipation all around!

Our home is so alive with Christmas Spirit.  It's a great place to be.

My little boyfriend

Yup, that's right.  That's him.  My little boyfriend is just two years old.  But, man - is he ever charming! 

He gives me ATTENTION all day long!
He gives me AFFECTION all day long!
He says "ME LOVE YOU, MOMMY" several times a day.

 He just charms the pants right off of me.  He could train his dad.  Just kidding - he gets most of his expertise from his daddy.  I have three very doting boys in this house.  I am one lucky girl.

Mother nature...

....isn't she a BEAUTY!

Happy Fall Folliage! 

Our Jack...

Growing up the middle child isn't always easy - but our little Jack is handling it just fine.  He is still our oldest son and everyone's favorite little boy.  He has evolved into such a independent, eager to learn, eager to love little kid.  He is more than 2 and a half years old and is growing into a young boy.  A boy we are so proud of.  Here is a little "snapshot" of our Jack (at 2 years old).....

He loves to be outdoors.  Any chance he gets, he is outside.  He puts on his spiderman helmet and gets on his scooter and rides around the street with his sister and his new friends.

He is making his OWN friends now.  Here he is with some neighborhood buddies, Cole and Parker. 

 They play together often.  Sometimes it is rough, and I need to step in.  Boys will be boys, I guess.

He looks so grown up to me here....

Jack still loves building train tracks.  We recently moved his train sets to his room so they can have their own special place in the house.  He is often in his room building tracks.  He is an engineer in the making.

He can't even be bothered when others join his room.  He is concentrating hard.

He is also extremely excited for Halloween this year.  We bought his spiderman (his favorite) costume last year and he enjoys wearing it often around the house.  He can't wait to wear it on Halloween to trick-or-treat it.

We love you, buddy.  You make us smile all the time.  You are, as dad calls you, our cool dudes!

Cuteness at it's peak!

I mean seriously...... 

Can this picture be any cuter!?!?  

We went over to see Uncle Jake yesterday so the kids could see his new puppy, Stanley.  Jack could not get his hands on the pup fast enough.  He held it the whole visit.  It was so sweet to witness!  The two of them together is over the top cuteness!

 Happy Monday!!!

Growing up

Look who's ditched the crib.  Just like that.  He was so excited to get his big boy bed put up this past weekend that he's never looked back.  We've kept his crib in his room still just in case he felt more secure in there at night.  But, I think it's time to take it down in storage.  This boy has done so well transitioning to his big boy bed.  We didn't even have to start out with the mattress on the floor or practice using the bed just at nap time.  He grew up.  Just like that.  Overnight.  He's becoming more and more of a little boy now. 

Although, I did peak in his room one day this week at nap time and I found him like this.....

It broke my heart.  Maybe he fell asleep looking for monsters under his bed.  So cute, little Jack.  You melt me sometimes.  We enjoy reading books and saying our prayers together in his bed at night.  It's some of our best quality time together.

And he enjoys jumping on his bed during the day with his sister.  I guess that's part of it....

To the moon and back...

Finally, a post about Jack!!!  He hasn't been in the blog "spotlight" in awhile.  So here he is.  At almost 2 and half years old.  He is truly becoming more and more of a big kid right in front of our very eyes.  He can play with all the 3,4,& 5 year olds on the street and can keep up for the most part.  He zips around on his scooter up and down the street with his friends.  He is also breaking free from caution.  Which worries me and also makes me proud a bit that he's willing to take risks outside his comfort zone. 

Jack is a good kid.  He has a big heart.  He's handsome as ever.  He is a protective big brother.  He has a heart of gold.  He is adventurous.  He is funny.  And he is very loved.  He knows it.  This boy is nothing short of AWESOME!  He is an amazing kid.  I am so proud of this little boy for the person he is becoming.

I love you to the moon and back, Jack!  (That's our thing.)  We read Guess How Much I Love You every night together before his bedtime.  Then we find the moon outside his window.  It is OUR thing.  It brings a smile to my heart.

Guys night out...

Yup, your heard me right.  Jack had his first "Guys Night Out" last night.  Four generations of The Conger Men went to the Reds Game.  It was Jack's special night.  Lots of changes over here sometimes leaves him left in "the middle" -  so this night was all about him.  He went down to Great American Ballpark for the first time and Justin said the excitement was written all over his face.  He was the center of attention all evening with his Dad, Pa and Uncle Jake.  Just what this little boy needed.  He is pure joy to be around -  especially when you have his undivided attention and company.  Justin said this was one of his all time favorite "parenting moments."  Such great memories were made last night  :)

Birthday weekend...

Whoa!  What a weekend of celebrating birthdays!  Jack and Justin's birthday weekend was filled with fun, food, friends and family!  Just the way we like it!  I love winter birthdays!  It really gives you something to look forward to during some long, cold, and sometimes boring months.  Here is the weekend re-cap...

Friday morning we woke Jack up with some balloons, some singing over cinnamon rolls and he opened our gift - his first scooter.  Him and Olivia rode their scooters all morning long in the house.

Saturday night - was his Dinosaur Party - roarrrr!!!

Getting ready for our guests to arrive!  The excitement is in the air!

Caught!  Found him and Olivia swiping the cake!  That's okay - we did it too!

His incredibly awesome Grandmas (Mimi and Nana) joined the fun!

My college besties and their kids helped us celebrate!  We had a house full of children!

Getting ready to light the candles.

And...he swiped the cake again.  That little booger.

Yay for Jack! 

 He loved every minute of his special birthday attention!

Our family shot.  Jack loved being sung too. 

 We had to re-light the candles so he could blow them out again. 

Here is a video of us singing Happy Birthday...

Sunday was Justin's 33rd birthday!  We ate left over cake and the kids helped him blow out his candles over some ice cream cups.  Bonus - we were able to sneak away for a nice steak dinner at Embers later that evening (sans kids).  It was a great weekend.  Thanks to everyone who helped make it so special.

 We can't wait to celebrate another "birth" day here soon....  I'm ready!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Jack!

Our sweet boy, John Alexander Conger, turns two years old today.  And we couldn't be more proud to have him as our son .  He is so very special and has such a tender heart and quiet strength about him - that I find he teaches us just as much as we are able to teach him about what's most important in life.

At two years old, Jack has such a strong sense of self.  He knows exactly what he likes, and what he doesn't like.  He knows exactly what he is comfortable doing and what makes him uncertain.  He is cautious, he is an observer, and he is a fast learner.  He has always amazed us with his ability to maintain concentration while reading books, building blocks, and attempting puzzles.  He doesn't give up.  He has determination that is note-worthy.   Almost everything comes naturally to this young boy.  From hand-eye coordination, to the proper way to grip a pencil, from how to catch and dribble a basketball, to using utensils at the dinner table.  He is a natural at almost everything he does.

He loves his blankie, which has been his lovie for a long time now.  We think it is oh-so-cute!  He is also a night-time cuddler.  Even though he is two years old, I still rock my son to sleep with a warm bottle of milk every night.  Pediatricians can judge me and scold me - but it won't change my mind.  If you are my child, you are never to old to be rocked at night.  That is our special quiet time together.  It's more for me than it is for him, I am sure.

Jack is a leader and a follower. He knows when to take charge and when to be directed by others. He is willing to play whatever game his older sister has in mind for them. Starting to talk in sentences more and more every week. He is saying phrases like, "All gone." "I want more." His vocabulary is expanding every day. It amazes us that he can roll the word "Olivia" off his tongue all day long. Pretty impressive as that is a difficult word to say.


Happy Birthday, to our favorite little buddy!  We love you, son!  Our lives have been enhanced that last couple of years thanks to YOU!