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March 18, 2010 - Connor had his first t-ball practice tonight!! You can see from the pictures how intently he was playing. Russell actually was the photog for me, since I was with Cannon at his practice. He said that we need to work on our fielding and throwing but that he hit great! The coach said he was going to be our ringer!!
Now on to Cord...we are excited to celebrate our monkey this weekend! Pictures and stories to come from the big 2-year-old's party. Then we're headed east to splash and have a little mini-spring break at an indoor water park. Fun times & celebrations await!!
Hope you are having a lucky blessed kind of day. We are on week one of spring break and enjoyed prepping today for our special holiday dinner tonight.
For dinner we are having Grilled Reuben sandwiches, Irish Potato Soup, Mac O' Roni (for the boys), Pots o' Gold (pineapple jell-o) and rainbow cupcakes. Top it off with some American Idol and we'll call it a fun evening!
We are now also in the "throws" of baseball. Last night we began practicing with Cannon's team and he LOVED every second of that entire hour. I had flash backs to soccer last fall and when he cried the whole time. (let's hope the actual t-ball game goes well!) Anyway, we are so fortunate that one of his two coaches owns the local indoor batting facility. So in this unpredictable spring weather (and that we are having - chilly & gray) we can be inside and still learning. Tomorrow night both Connor and Cannon have practice and so begins the days of trying to be multiple places at once. What will we do when all three are playing?!?!
Comments Looks like they are having a great day!!! - Nicole
March 15, 2010 - Blue is gone. Cannon's Blue is gone.
It happened last week (March 11th) but we didn't fully grasp it until Friday, the 12th, and then it is just today that I can sit here and write about it.
On Thursday, we were doing our normal running around to the Y, hair cuts, dog groomer, lunch with Daddy, etc. and Cannon mentioned that he had left his Blue and his sippy cup when we were in the car. I keep hearing him telling me that in my head over and over, and my guilt-ridden Mom conscious SO wishes I would have acted on his verbal cue. I just thought it was at the house and we'd get it when we got back home. We searched the house high & low that day and then on Friday, when I was by myself (returning from preschool parent/teacher conferences and errands) I saw THAT sippy cup on the corner of our street. I knew then that Blue had been with it and it was gone. It's a mystery - either it was on my car and I drove off and it flew off and the neighborhood dogs carried it off? We're not sure but we searched the street back and forth and all the streets around us, even went up and walked around the couple of ponds to see if the dogs took it swimming. Connor suggested we make fliers and so we did. He was precious to help me post the signs and put fliers in mailboxes.
But let me just say this about my Cannon...that child is RESILIENT. He has not cried. He has not whined. He has not thrown a fit or refused to sleep. He LOVED that blanket and just periodically thinks of it and says, "Mommy, I miss my Blue." The way he has handled it has made my love for him grow even more and also made me cry more! He has been precious throughout it all and I have to say, if it had happened to either one of his brothers, it would not have gone this way.
Target does not sell them anymore and I found a used one on Ebay that is due to arrive any minute. I am getting the email updates on my phone from US Postal Service and we are anxiously awaiting "Blue 2" and will wash it immediately and get it ready to be loved.
Comments So glad you found one! Thank goodness for Ebay! - Jennifer Duvall
March 3, 2010 - The boys & I enjoyed celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday yesterday! They did a "Read Around Town" where it started at the library steps with a proclamation by the city and a commitment to reading. We then made the rounds to the banks and library where they had various storytimes for the kids. We finished the night with refreshments ("green egg" cookies) and face painting at the church. As the boys were climbing into bed, Cannon said, "I had a fun day today, Mommy!"
We've always found his words to be a little more jumbled than the other two (probably due to his numerous ear infections, two sets of tubes, etc) but we still just love the way he talks. At the age of 3.25, he looks to be 5.666 and we have to remind ourselves that he is only three!! Cannon is entering those challenging moments of preschool years, as I have always said that "two is not terrible! It's what comes before two and after two!" (note: that's the current ages for two of the three sons. just sayin'...)
Anyway, Cannon is conflicted on his loving heart combined with a touch of stubbornness. For instance, at bedtime, right before I leave the room, he always says, "do my head & give me a kiss." Which means, delicately push his hair over to the side of his face several times and if he's hot (from running around wild), blow on it too, to cool him down. And then conclude with kisses. Well one night last week he was apparently not ready to go to sleep and he was letting me know he was unhappy about it. I leaned down to do the usual and he is ever so forcefully nailing his forehead and WIPING that hair down (smacking it). I said, "Would you like Mommy to do your head?" He said, "Me do it myself!" I let him proceed and turned to leave.
He called me back with a change of heart and said very sweetly, "Do my head and give me a kiss???" melt my heart! tantrum forgotten!! I loved on him and he said, "I give you lots of kisses!! Here me go!!!!!!" And then I was afforded about 18 smackers all over my cheek and head and nose. Affection and affliction coming from the same little body all in a matter of 20 seconds! I'll take it however I can get it.
February 16, 2010 - A little addendum to our Valentine weekend!!
Connor accompanied me at the grocery store after we got home. We planned our menu (with a little shrimp request made by Daddy) and we planned our table-setting for when we got home. He loved helping - finding the red and pink placemats, "china" (plastic) plates for the boys and real china for Mommy & Daddy, red utensils, red Solo cups with red straws, and our candlelit meal. We had seven candles burning (I know this because the boys counted and figured out which ones each of them would blow out) and love songs playing! Mommy & Daddy enjoyed shrimp and the boys enjoyed their rotisserie chicken with macaroni. For dessert, Valentine sugar cookies, cut & sprinkled by the boys. A love-ly family dinner, of which will now be an annual tradition, per Connor's request!!
I hope your day is filled with so much love, however you may be spending it! I have just returned from a much-needed, wonderful weekend get-away with my Valentine. Russell proposed the idea of a trip to St. Louis many weeks ago and we lined up our sweet Coco to come stay with the boys. I didn't know much about St. Louis, other than there was a giant arch there, but it was fabulous!! Of course, Russell & I are not much for sight-seeing (and perhaps we should be, or perhaps in our next phase of life), but right now, we are all about rest and relaxation. We got there on Friday afternoon and checked into our hotel, which we LOVED. We were so excited (and almost picked the hotel for this reason) that they had an on-site movie theater. We bought our tickets for both nights and made all our pertinent reservations. That night we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Herbie's Vintage 72...soooo amazing and soooo nice to just sit and have adult conversation! We saw "Up in the Air" afterwards. Saturday we woke up and hit the awesome fitness center on site, where I took a boot camp class while Russell did his usual cardio/weights. We then rushed out for our 9:30 massages that did NOT disappoint! We got directions to the nearby galleria and off we went, stopping for lunch at yummy Panera Bread (also a huge treat). After 3 1/2 hours of shopping (yes, it resembled our Christmas outing, but without the list and more just wandering), we headed back. We had a great casual dinner at Pi, a local pizza place...again, fabulous! We finished the night off with seeing "Valentine's Day" - not an award winner, but a must-see for the holiday weekend!
We are so grateful to Coco, as the boys also felt they were having a treat of a weekend. I set up their 2nd annual V-day Scavenger Hunt and all four of them enjoyed finding their loot! They ventured out yesterday for lunch at our local deli and even got to ride the little coin-operated rides at the mall and got a Valentine cookie! It was a weekend full of LOVE for all of us!!!
February 8, 2010 - a little update on my Connor...I am so proud of that kid and all the ways I see him growing & learning. He is becoming such a great writer and he is able to sound out letters and starting to think about reading! I know he is "of age" to do these things but since we waited a year on Kindergarten, I am just proud of his advancements he is making without much guidance from an official school!
Today we were working on Valentines for Connor & Cannon to take to school.
I was telling Connor each of his friends' names and then he would work on writing them. At one point, he sat back, looked proudly at his signature and said, "Now that's one great 'r.' " I just started dying laughing and loved seeing that cute smerk on his face!
We feel good about our decision to wait this year out and can see how he has matured so much in the past several months. He is ready for sure now and I am excited for him.
January 30, 2010 - Well hello from snowy Dyersburg!! We have experienced the biggest winter storm we've seen in a while! And the biggest the boys have ever seen in their little lifetimes! I think we estimated about eight inches here and it's still so pretty. Here are some pics from our two days of wintry fun...
**UPDATE: these pictures were taken from two days of snowy adventures. Day 3 might have turned out to be the most fun of all! No offense to Cord, but we went out after he was happily sleeping in his crib. The weather was perfect - not terribly cold and the snow was in great condition to shape & form our "man." I added pics from today's outing to the picture page...
January 28, 2010 - Arch enemies. Best friends Quasi-friends. 16 Months apart, these boys do not know that they really have potential to be close. They have potential to share the same friends, be on the same sports teams, or unite against their eldest brother. Right now they just mostly disagree over toys, disagree about who sits in Mommy's lap, disagree over taking each other's Blue, disagree about LOTS!
Yesterday, while Connor was a little puny with a low-grade fever, these two were actually playing together. I found them on top of my nicely-made bed, throwing all the pillows around and getting under my sheets. They know that's a no-no after Mommy has just made the bed but they were actually united! United in fun and united upon their reprimand!! Cannon had not been listening to me much on this particular morning so all that combined landed him in the time-out chair in my bedroom. What does Cord do? Go & join him!!! I had to laugh under my breath that it was getting in trouble that brought those two together!
Cannon then said after this moment, "Mommy, I have another 'gwother' now." Knowing he has had one for 22 months, I sufficed it to say, "Yes you do! I'm so glad you are enjoying your little brother."
Comments Precious!!! Im sure this is just the start of trouble together! - Mary
January 12, 2010 - TROUBLE. ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE IS CORD.
Let me just paint the picture for you. Last night, it was the witching hour around our house - 5-6pm. Connor was playing nicely so we won't include him in the saga. I had enchilada sauce boiling in a skillet. Cannon woke up later than usual and was wet in his bed. I'm pulling sheets off. I'm washing sheets. I'm throwing Cannon in the shower and finding PJs. I'm running back to the enchiladas. "Connor, can you pick up some toys so that it doesn't look like a tornado hit when your daddy gets home?" I then realize, I haven't seen Cord???
I notice a trail of the LARGE Cheeto puffs in the hallway...I follow the trail and find the pantry door shut with Houston looming outside of it. I hear little tiny "crunch crunch crunch" and open the door to this:
Cheetos were EVERYWHERE!!! This picture does not do it justice! I cracked up that he at least thought to get a plate! It was a crazy moment but one that I had to laugh about and now document.
Here's all three sitting so sweetly and watching "Bolt" 20 minutes later. Of course THEN Daddy walks in and everything is perfect!
January 11, 2010 - Cannon & Cord had a stomach bug that stayed with them for about 6 days...between that and the cold bitter cold temps, we've worked tirelessly to keep things fun & entertaining! Ten ways the Piggs are beating the winter blahs...
1. Building, building & more building. the new Trio blocks have brought about PROJECTS galore!! It is fun to see their imaginations at play. Truly, this was all day Saturday, in their PJs & they loved it. I overheard Cannon saying to his fireman, "Now go get up in that tree & save that kitty!"
2. Eating out. We brave the cold and get us all out, just to go eat dinner. Connor even said on Friday (after experiencing some cabin fever), "Daddy, where are we going for dinner?" RP: "Not sure, son." Connor: "Well wherever we go, can we please eat there?" Detect our need to be social?! Daddy even surprised us with a fun SUNDAY night family night to Shogun, our local Japanese steakhouse. Woo hoo!
3. Dart wars...and I mean, WARS.
**I have to admit, I do love to play. We all have our own dart guns now and it is in.tense!
4. Puzzles. Through the 25 to 100-piece Mickey Mouse, et al puzzles we have been doing with the boys, Russell & I got the bug. We got REAL adventurous stupid and attempted a 1500-piece one on New Year's Eve. It lasted 6 nights but we "kicked that puzzle's butt", to quote my husband.
5. Pulling off couch cushions. Ok, so this one is for Cord. That's his new favorite pasttime.
6. Watching "old movies." To quote Connor...the picture below is during "Finding Nemo"...a classic! And must have popcorn with extra butter and "sauce" (the white cheddar sprinkle topping)
7. A good game of garage basketball. Russell pulled the basketball goal on wheels (bequeathed to us by the previous home owner) into the garage. We can pull the cars out, put on some coats & play & ride our vehicles.
8. Stair-sledding. It was discovered that their pillows (made & monogrammed by our sweet cousin Alice) make fabulous sleds on our carpeted stairs. Or just ditch the pillow and go with "swishy pants" on...that also makes for a fast trip down.
9. Have the babysitter over! The boys looooove to have Miss Rachel over and so why not...we can let her come play! (wink, wink) Mommy & Daddy get a date night. Everybody wins!!
10. Make an impromptu trip to see friends/family. We are thinking of taking a day off school this week and heading back to the big C for a quick visit. The weather may actually hit 50 degrees so let's get out and about!!!
I always love watching/reading about the year-end highlights this time of year, remembering what was big, what was tragic, etc. and it occurred to me that I should compile a summary of our own!
"Pigg Family: Best of 2009"
Favorite Book
for Cord: the Wheels on the Bus
for Cannon: Zoom (his blue motorcycle book)
for Connor: Llama Llama Red Pajama
Favorite Show
AM: "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" or "Caillou"
PM: "Dancing with the Stars"
Favorite Food
Spaghetti (for Connor, it's Rotini noodles with butter & Parmesan cheese, NO SAUCE!) and they all looooove to get a Wendy's Jr. Vanilla Frosty
Favorite Song
"Boom Boom Pow" by the Black-Eyed Peas (even Cordie will often be heard out of the blue singing "boom boom boom!")
Favorite Phrase
"Mommy's SASSY!" (originated by Daddy and now can even be heard spoken by Cord)
Biggest Individual Changes
for Cord: from crawling at the end of 2008, to now RUNNING, climbing, doing anything and everything he wants to do!!!, also has probably around 40-50 words
for Cannon: got rid of his passy, potty-trained completely on his own accord...totally a little boy
for Connor: handwriting is amazingly improved, knowing his birthday, address, phone number, sounds that letters make and starting to express interest in reading
for Mommy: becoming a runner...(I used to say I was not a "runner", I was "one who ran") but from the beginning of '09 running 0.5 mile, to the end of '09 running 8...I feel proud of my accomplishments!
for Daddy: becoming a CEO and getting his own hospital
Hardest of Times
our beloved Kimmie's cancer fight...she was on our hearts and in our prayers every single day. And now, she is doing fantastic & enjoyed a wonderful holiday season!
our 3-month separation...truly challenging for each one of us, as Daddy was gone and working at the new hospital and we spent the summer winding down life in Clarksville.
Best of Times
our family beach trip...such an incredible time to be together, on the heels of a difficult summer and adjustment to a new home/town.
our birthdays...oh, how we love to celebrate our birthdays! Cord's polka-dot party, Connor's under the sea party & Cannon's motorcycle party were highlights of our year.
All in all, a very good year for the Pigg family. Little did we know at the start of this year where we'd be at the end of this year, but God knew it and made it all come together. We look back on this year with fond memories and look forward to next year with excitement!! Wishing you a happy & blessed 2010 as well...
Comments Great idea, Les. Remind me to do it next year!!! - Mary
December 28, 2009 - Christmas 2009 has come & gone!! Crazy how fast it goes, how wonderful it is and how restful things now seem. We headed out on the 22nd to middle TN, where we enjoyed breakfast with Poppy on Christmas Eve-Eve. That night we were blessed to attend the annual Cline family Christmas party and it was a wonderful time with our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandmother. We headed from there to Clarksville, where we stayed the night with the Piggs and enjoyed a nice Christmas Eve Brunch the next morning. Grandpa was sick with pneumonia and staying at Russell's (old) hospital so he spent most of the time with him. Thankfully Grandpa was able to come home that afternoon and we saw him before heading back home.
We arrived Christmas Eve night back in our home, delighted to prepare for Santa's arrival. Coco & Papa came that night as well in eager anticipation! Santa did not disappoint the next day!!!! He brought dart guns and walkie talkies for the boys, a Trio Castle building system/football/Razor scooter for Connor, an Imaginext Fire Station with all the fixins'/puzzle/train for Cannon, and a cash register and golf set for Cord. They love going through their very stuffed stockings as well - all of our favorite things...how does Santa know?!?! Daddy surprised Mommy with a fun Chicago trip he's planned, two pairs of boots, a microwave & a food processor! Mommy got Daddy various clothing items he needed/wanted, sunglasses, and a wallet. I'd say we're beyond blessed...
But really & TRULY...we are so amazed at the story of baby Jesus and so blessed to be HIS. What more could we want?
December 15, 2009 - First, a little Christmas cookie fun (in the sequential order of events):
This plate of cookies was awaiting the boys after their baths. Cord saw it, climbed on up and began to help himself.
He continued to enjoy the cookies, taking a bite out of each and every one. Cannon is looking at me, as if to say, "What are you gonna do about this?!?!"
Cord was so happy and enjoying himself. Cannon is starting to make his move...
But not for the cookies...FOR HIS BROTHER!!!!
We have had more festive fun around here!! This past weekend we enjoyed the cutest little Christmas village display. After dinner on our Friday family night, Russell took us to this Sourghum Valley Christmas and it was a throw-back to old days, with little shops, banks, school house...a town all set up & decorated! The hospital sponsored a tree so we enjoyed seeing everything and getting popcorn and hot chocolate. But the kids were cold so we didn't last too terribly long!
Then the rest of the weekend was merry & bright because Coco decided to visit!! We got to do lots of fun holiday things, like Breakfast with Santa...twice!!
Coco, Connor & sometimes Cannon gave us a beautiful Christmas concert afterwards. Cord pulled up his chair to enjoy the show!
We shopped, we baked holiday treats, we made our Gingerbread Rice Krispie house, we put the finishing touches on my decorations, and enjoyed a nice first dinner in our dining room too! (Criddle, our Elf, was perched in the "chandeleen" above so we ate in there to be near him. I think we will keep Criddle out yearround because Connor even offered to set the table AND clear our plates that night! hmmm...) We had such a fun weekend and especially loved that Coco could stay and see the boys in their preschool Christmas program yesterday!
flying to his seat? loves a performance! & he was cute but didn't sing a lick!!
December 7, 2009 - Aside from the lovely congestion, coughs & colds around here (and ear infection for Cannon), our Christmas season is off to a wonderful start!! I really am enjoying the sweetness of the season this year.
We had a wonderful few days at home, celebrating Thanksgiving with both families. It was weird "going home" again...loading up the car, driving, hopping around town...but we got to visit and eat! We enjoyed seeing Charlie Brown's ICE exhibit on Thanksgiving night and we also got our Santa shopping done while we were in town (and had access to a nice mall! a lot of online shopping will be done this year)
We came back and got the house all decorated for the holiday. Russell was my best little elf! He was so helpful and truly checked in, even scouting out good places for garland and going with it! Here's a couple of pics of our first Christmas on Valley...
stockings hung by the chimney with care
Ready for a warm holiday meal!
our family Christmas tree
We loved our first small town Christmas parade on Monday night. The boys were excited to see the fire trucks, motorcycles (lots of shriners & funny cars), going for the candy and seeing the floats.
Friday night we enjoyed a Family Night in, having pizza & watching "Polar Express" for the first time. Cord even sat with us and said "Choo Choo" about 78 times!
Mommy & Daddy had a fun date night Saturday to the "Jingle Jam" at the country club.
Sunday morning we enjoyed a sweet church service where they decorated the sanctuary during service with special songs, and everyone participated in providing gifts & donations for various service agencies of the church. But my most proud moment of the season thus far was seeing Connor Cline as Joseph in the play Sunday night. He gladly accepted the role and it was the first time I saw his name in writing...
He was just precious, I have to say...took his role so seriously, loved wearing his "Bible costume" and loved watching the choir sing & see the kids act. He walked right up there behind Mary, stood and watched over baby Jesus, as we have talked lots of him acting as "Jesus' Daddy." It hit me that Connor is really grasping the meaning of Christmas this year as he checked out the manger and told me about there being "no room in the Inn." I love this time of year, but give me my sweet children, soaking up the season, and I am over the moon!
November 24, 2009 - Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
We feel so blessed every day, but love to take this week to be with family & truly reflect on all that God has given us. We look forward to traveling and hanging out and eating!! When the boys were asked what they were thankful for at church this past Sunday, both Connor & Cannon responded in similar ways...both specifically mentioned their family members (then Cannon said, "Ty" and we're not sure who that is, but okay) and their friends. We love you and count you as our blessings! Have a happy week full of food, family & our Father!
Our motorcycle-themed 3rd birthday for Cannon was a success!!! I don't remember a time when I've seen him so happy. He loved every minute, participated in all the games and activities and was truly excited to see his guests. As I've said before (and advice given from my cousin Emily), there's just something special about the third birthday. They get it. And he appreciated it! I love how my Cannon will just enjoy whatever moment he's in, not thinking about what's next, not wondering if he can open those presents...he just enjoys the moment! And there were lots of wonderful moments...
We were BEYOND blessed to have our dear family and friends here to celebrate with us. Then the Lord so graciously granted AMAZING weather!!! It was just a day that I tried to soak up and take in because to me, it was heaven on earth. You can see the guests, the activities, the food from the pictures, but I just had to try and describe the beauty!
We also enjoyed a brunch on Sunday with those that stayed the evening in Dyersburg. It was nice to have another time to visit before everyone departed for home. Cannon's now officially three and we all had a ball!!
Comments Cannon is not the only one that had a ball. You are right about the weather, but everything was amazing. Thank you for this wonderful memory. - Mimi
AS always, I am amazed by your ability to throw such FUN parties. I'm already thinking about the weddings..... - MaryAnn
We are so proud to call you ours...your sweet, content nature, happy-go-lucky, affectionate little self has blessed us beyond measure the past three years. We've been talking about this weekend for 2+ months and we are so happy to celebrate YOU! We love you, big boy, and can't wait to see what God has in store for you.
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This plate of cookies was awaiting the boys after their baths. Cord saw it, climbed on up and began to help himself.
Cord was so happy and enjoying himself. Cannon is starting to make his move...
But not for the cookies...FOR HIS BROTHER!!!!
