The Conner Connection

My first time

2008-02-14T13:20:00.003-07:00

So until now I was a blogger virgin... but I've decided to try this thing out. I do not have any new and exciting news to post, is that OK? Happy Valentines Day family ... hope you all got my email with kids thoughts on LOVE... it puts this whole "love thing" back in the right perspective in my opinion.

Anyway, all is well in Chicago...or now I should say Glen Ellyn! We are settling into our new home, and we love it! I'll send photos once I take some ;-)

Take care!
Jen

Great Grandpa Conner

2008-01-28T12:52:00.001-07:00

If you click on the image, it will bring up the full size picture

Day in the Life of a PreK Teacher

2007-12-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Today as I was serving breakfast to my wonderful little 5-year-olds one of the children told me she felt sick. I asked her if she was hungry and she said no, so she went to get a sip of water instead. She still seemed to be moving a little groggily, but I figured she was just tired. Getting ready to end breakfast and transition to morning meeting she walks up to me with her hand over her mouth -- in slow motion -- she vomits all over me, herself, and a 3-foot radius. As I am taking her to the bathroom and calming her down I realize another girl was in the radius and needs to change clothes. We both had tried to back away, but were unsuccessful.

So I found myself in my car at 8:15am driving back home to change clothes and throw the soiled stuff in the washing machine.

Starting tomorrow I will have a spare set of clothes at school.

-Carolyn

35 weeks

2007-11-12T11:09:00.001-07:00

Most likely, the next photo will not be in utero

Eyes open:

Tongue out:

Ookami Kumiko Conner makes her debut on the internet

2007-11-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

VOTE!

2007-11-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, my brother and his wife have volunteered for a year with Hope Worldwide in Afghanistan. They are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts and are not receiving a penny for the entire year they spend over there working for this organization. They are working to improve some of the basic public services that we all take for granted. Their main project is the maternity hospital in Kabul where 120 women give birth every day. Maternal mortality is the leading cause of death for women in Afghanistan.
They have been there already for about 8 months, so they have about 4 more to go. They have recently entered a contest with Polar and made it to the second round. Now, all they need are your votes so they can receive a free vacation. They are definitely more than deserving of a relaxing vacation after the time and money they have dedicated to help rebuild areas of Afghanistan that are in particularly poor shape.
So, please visit www.polarusa.com/awcontest and vote for #5. They will ask for your email address for verification purposes and each email address can only vote once.
And spread the word!
Thanks, Brooke

P.S. Here is a photo of who you are voting for and the drastic change he has undergone in the last year. He fits in pretty well over there...until he speaks

Ronald McDonald Conventions

2007-11-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Family,

Brooke's photo of Ronald McDonald being carted off by the authorities reminded me of many funny, Ronald McDonald stories. For those of you who don't know it, I was on the McDonald's account for eleven years. We worked with McDonald's on everything from advertising to new product introductions (yes, we were involved with the McDLT and McLean Deluxe), to promotions to talent negotiations, and a bunch of other odd things.

Anyway, one quick story about Ronald McDonald. Every couple of years, McDonald's would host a Ronald Convention. Around the USA there were probably 100-200 Ronald McDonalds who would help at local Grand Openings, school shows, on-lot programs at McDonald's restaurants, etc. At these conventions, they would bring in all of the Ronald McDonalds to teach them new skits, new make-up techniques, new magic tricks, etc.

I went out to my first Ronald Convention one afternoon. I walked into a large room and as far as the eye could see, there were Ronald McDonalds. From wall to wall to wall to wall, the room was filled with Ronalds. It was the funniest thing you could imagine. They take it very, very seriously, but the sight of all those Ronalds was stunning.

That evening at the banquet, all of the Ronalds were out of their Ronald outfits and were seated at a bunch of tables in the ballroom. It could have been the most amazing dinner I'd ever attended. Picture 200 guys who are skilled magicians, stand up comedians, dancers, singers, musicians and who are all extroverts.....all in one big room. The place was absolutely crazy. Our table had flowers flying, napkins floating in air, silverware bending and food changing colors on a person's plate. On the dance floor, guys were throwing each other up into the air, they were tumbling, sliding and doing back flips. It was the craziest party I've ever been at.

Ronald McDonald does a lot of good things for kids and adults, but that was one very freaky evening.

Jerry

Naughty Ronald

2007-10-23T15:14:00.000-06:00

I just ran across this photo again and it still makes me laugh

This happened when I was in high school

Why didn't you hear about Ronald's indiscretions? Because McDonald's has a hold over the City of Billings and the city agreed to cover it up to save face so as to not disappoint all the children in the world that look up to Ronald (that and a big fat bribe)

9/12

2007-10-07T12:02:00.000-06:00

This was taken at 27 weeks

We are now at 31 weeks. Only 9 to go!

Bozeman

2007-09-16T08:55:00.000-06:00

My brother, Jason, just posted this on his blog. I have fallen out of checking the reports since I moved away from Bozeman, but I really need to get back into it. The other thing I loved about this paper that I never really thought about until I moved away: They NEVER put a photograph of the big news of the day (the ones that usually depict death and carnage). Instead, they always had a photo of people reading books in the park, or playing frisbee, or fishing. Nice to start your news intake with something pleasant before you have to read about all the bad going on.
This is also where Jeremy & I went to school and where we met. I also carried a subscription to the paper for the exact same reason.

We created this blog to tell the tale of our year in Afghanistan, but I ask you to indulge me as I digress a bit with this posting...hopefully to your entertainment...
As most of you know, Kelli and I met at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. We both really enjoyed our time there and it's an amazing place to live. There is so much to do outdoors and life moves a touch slower than elsewhere. There is also a lighter side to Bozeman, which people outside the town just don't understand....it is time for me to share the secret. My roommates and I in college used to subscribe to the daily paper for 1 purpose:
- to read the daily comics
- to read the daily police reports
Ahh, but I said for 1 purpose...so why read 2 things? Because they are one in the same...even if they do print on different pages and under different headings.
I have cut and pasted today's sample for your enjoyment. This one is actually pretty easy to pick a favorite, but many days are more of a challenge. For your future reading pleasure, please go to: http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ and then look for the police reports under the "Community" pull-down menu.
Enjoy....
The Bozeman Police Department reports for Thursday included the following:
€ A Chief Joseph Middle School student was using profane language and making obscene gestures.
€ A student kicked a foot bag onto the roof of the high school. The student climbed the building to get it, but he got stuck and couldn't get down. The principal went to get a ladder.
The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office reports for Thursday included the following:
€ A woman was concerned about a young boy with a fishing pole walking alone along Thorpe Road. A deputy found the 9-year-old boy, who had stayed home from school because he was sick. After feeling better, he went fishing on the Gallatin River. His mother was aware of his location.
€ A driver on Interstate 90 told deputies three people in another vehicle kept flipping him off.
€ When deputies responded to a home, they saw a naked man holding open the front door and waiting to talk to deputies. His wife explained that the man had been wandering around the house naked. He had burned some toast and was sniffing the smoke coming out of the toaster. He also had eaten butter from the tub with his fingers. The deputy explained to the woman that although his behavior was unusual, no crime had been committed.
The inmate population at the Gallatin County jail included the following:
€ The jail held 46 inmates; maximum capacity is 39 inmates.
€ Twenty-eight inmates were being held at other jails at the cost of $55 per inmate per day, plus transportation costs.
€ One person was in the sheriff's county work program.
€ Court services had 279 people under its supervision.

Raffle Win

2007-09-08T13:54:00.000-06:00

Hi, Gang!
Last week Mike and I bought raffle tickets to benefit a new performing art center here in The Villages. We WON an evening of FREE ENTERTAINMENT by a gal named Sandi Henson. She sang with her own band in Las Vegas before moving here. And now she is singing professionally with the Lenny Wilson Trio (piano, drums, bass). She is great and so are they. Anyway, Sandi is going to be our free entertainment for our Christmas dinner party with Mike's golf group--"The Brew Crew". There will be about 70 of us. Should be lots of fun. We're really excited to have won such a neat prize. (I've never won a person before!!!!!) :o)
I'll let you know how it goes.
Kay

toys

2007-09-08T11:23:00.000-06:00

Here is our newest toy:

So I have been reading instructions and how to install and all that good stuff. So many rules to carseats - who knew? Angles, straps, buttons, the list goes on and on...

Much more relaxing

2007-09-02T16:56:00.000-06:00

So the last time I posted I was in the middle of week 1 of school -- 10 hours with little 4 year olds. All while battling a cold. Lets just say I needed a break. As you can see from this photo, Steve and I managed to escape DC this weekend and get the break both of us needed. He has family up in Rhode Island so we are up here for a couple of days relaxing, kayaking, bike riding, eating good food, and riding around on their motor boat. If only we didn't have to head back to DC tomorrow already!

Hope all of you are having good Labor Day weekends, wherever you are!

-Carolyn

2007-08-29T21:35:00.000-06:00

Hi fam,

Judy and I are on our way south from Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin. I had meetings in Minneapolis on Sunday night and Monday so Judy and I drove up from Winnetka and we're making it a little vacation. We spent Tuesday night in Stillwater, MN, a beautiful, old river town on the St. Croix River. Today we visited Taylors Falls, MN, an old logging community. Interesting trivia....in the St. Croix River, next to Taylors Falls, they had the largest log jam in history. In 1886, the ice melted and the rains came at the same time. The logs came pouring down the river and got stuck in a sharp turn in the river. The jam ended up being several miles long and 50 feet high. One more bit of cool trivia....Interstate Park at Taylors Falls has more potholes in a smaller area than any other location in the world. And the deepest pothole in the world. Potholes were formed when the glaciers were receding and the river was raging. Rocks would get caught in the eddies/whirlpools and would grind a hole in the rock under the water. The hole would get deeper and deeper. Eventually, the glaciers pulled back and the water receded and now, the potholes are exposed and are mostly dry. The deepest of the potholes is 60 feet deep.

Now, on a much lighter note, there is a ski resort along the river. Since it is summer, there is no snow but they have these cement and fiberglass slalom runs that you can ride a kind of sled down. Amazing. I rode a chair lift to the top of the mountain, then hopped on the sled and took off down the course. The sled has a stick that if you push it one way it slows the sled down and if you push it the other way it speeds it up. I think I set a new record for going slowly down the course but it was still fun.

That's it for tonight. Time for bed.

Jerry

the soon to be parents

2007-08-29T14:09:00.000-06:00

Greetings!

2007-08-29T05:04:00.000-06:00

Hello family! Glad to see some of you have joined up and are already posting! Technology is not SO scary, right?
I am writing this quickly before kids show up at 7:30, school started this week! The kids are in school from 7:30-4:30, I don't know who is more tired at the end of the day, the kids or the teachers! Things will hopefully settle into a routine soon and the chaos of week 1 of school will wear off.
It was great to see everybody in Chicago a few weeks ago. I am glad we are making such an effort not to lose touch :)
I will write a more exciting post later

I'm On

2007-08-28T20:08:00.000-06:00

Hi Family- I am posting, not even knowing what I am doing. Hope this works. My motto for this phase of my life is - Learn something new! There, that is my post. Brooke, Are you excited seeing that little baby boy? Have you got a name yet? Ok - I m sending now.

Beth

2007-08-27T20:41:00.000-06:00

Hi, Family. Here's another update on our STAR Performer.

Beth is now ranked 40th in the World!!!!!

Gee, it's fun having someone so famous in the family, isn't it?! :o) CONGRATULATIONS, BETH! And good luck in Springfield.

Auntie Kay

The Newest Addition

2007-08-25T13:09:00.001-06:00

The newest addition to the Conner family is set to arrive on December 5th, 2007

It's a boy!

The Happy Couple

2007-08-24T18:19:00.000-06:00

Three beauties

2007-08-24T18:13:00.001-06:00

Two fine young chaps

2007-08-22T20:24:00.000-06:00

In the beginning...

2007-08-22T18:49:00.000-06:00

While seated around the dinner table at a fabulous Greek restaurant in Chicago, a small branch of the Conner family discussed different ways in which we could make ourselves feel more important. Where can we talk endlessly about what we are doing, have done, or want to do? Where can we provide each other with the much-needed kudos and praises that we so desperately long for? Where can we blow all our hot air? The answer: a blog.