It's all about the Colin man...

This year, Colin's birthday was different in a few ways. One, he planned most of the day with a little help. Two, we kept his party intimate. And, lastly, it was more about celebrating him and his growth than about pampering him with presents and sugary treats. We did this by going to the places he wanted to go and involving him in the planning of all of the aspects of his birthday. He helped me plan his cake, choose balloons, and plan what we would have at each meal of the day. He wanted to spend the morning at the Science Center to see the dinosaurs, then a lunch of peanut and jelly sandwiches. After his nap, we would have a piece of his cake when Dad got home from work and open his present (his tent did not arrive on time). Then we would all play together until a dinner of pizza (pepperoni and black olive) and watch the movie Cars. It all went well as you can see by the tons of pictures below.

This is my baby only about a day old.
Colin the day before his first birthday.

Colin's second birthday - breakfast out with Dad before he had to go to work.

Colin, just about two weeks ago. My how he's grown!

I just had to put this picture of bugs in. We got this container of bugs at Target yesterday, on sale. I came into the living room and saw this masterpiece! Look how he has arranged them neatly in this wooden box. He has always been my little organizer, but I thought this was artistic. The lady bugs and dragonflies seem especially organized.

The day began with Colin and Audrey here.

He DOES love his sister. He's kissing her.

Now he is showing and telling her what is going on with the road construction near the Science Center.

Can you see he is hesitant to get too close to the dinosaurs! We sat at the little reading corner for quite a while reading about them after this picture was taken.

They ran ALL over the place - all three floors!

We stopped for balloons at Schnuck's on the way home. The car ride with both of them was interesting, to say the least! It kept Audrey from falling asleep and ruining her nap.

I made his race car cake while he napped. I think it turned out pretty nicely. Colin helped me by the little cars yesterday (he picked them out) and we looked on the internet for ideas. The frosting is sugar free and the cake is made from many whole wheat muffin mixes.

Can't help but lick off SOME frosting!

He would NOT let us sing Happy Birthday to him, so we just went right to blowing out the candle. Later, he asked us to sing it to him during his bath. Crazy preschoolers!

Dad's do the craziest things! Moms just

A tunnel can be a bit like a tent... with the help of a blanket and pillow and a little imagination.

I'm ending with this photo of Audrey. I imagine she is saying, "When I open my eyes
it will be MY birthday!"

Wages' Family Christmas in July

We just returned from the Wages' family Christmas party. My father is one of eight and they are originally from Clifton Hill, MO (as am I). My father still lives in the home I grew up in until going off to college. He has a large family of friendly and welcoming people. I didn't get to spend much time with them when I was a child as often as the rest of them did. So, I don't know that side of my family well. I am always interested in my roots and hearing about stories from my parents' childhood, so now that my children can handle a couple of hours in the car well I decided to introduce them to this side of my family. I had not seen most of them since my wedding five years ago, and some of them even longer. It was so nice to get reaquainted with my cousins and aunts and uncles. We drove up Friday afternoon during the children's naptime and arrived in Pike County, IL later that afternoon. No one lives there, but it is a place where my Uncle Donald has connections to the lodge called Walnut Knob. The house is huge, with more than eight bedrooms. This is very good because there were about twenty-seven adults and seventeen children (ages 15 yrs. - 5 months). The picture below is of all of us. We returned Sunday afternoon - very tired, but with lots of great memories.

Colin was one of four three-year-olds! There was Dalton, Hannah, and Payton. Colin brought out his mad face for several of the pictures Saturday. Here is one.

This mad face had many of the family members laughing and taking pictures of him. The children were performing songs for their parents. Colin didn't make this face the whole time, but he didn't have a smile, either.

It felt very strange to be giving Christmas presents from Santa in the middle/end of July, but the children sure did like it! Colin enjoyed his t-ball stand and bat for a few minutes before he was jealous of Dalton's monster truck. I guess Santa doesn't know Colin as well as she - oops! - HE thought he did!

Saturday began with Wages team games. We broke into teams and did the hoola hoop, bean bag tosses, golf putting, shoe race, and three-legged race for points. My team didn't win, but it wasn't about winning as much as it is about fun! This is what Audrey did while we were playing. She enjoyed the sunshine and green grass under her feet!

Colin enjoyed some time with his Grandpa (Papa) Larry in the shade.

Audrey also loved the water. It was great of Aunt Karen to bring the baby and older kids pools!

Here we are playing some of the team games.

Later that night, I forgot how to tell time and realized too late that it was going on nine o'clock instead of eight. So, I gave in and let Colin and Audrey stay up to catch fireflies. I think it was an experience both enjoyed immensely! I hope we can go again next year.

Last week

This past week we were able to get back into our routines at home. It was nice to be home for a week or so before heading off to our next adventure (this time to our Christmas in July family reunion with my dad's family). More on the reunion tomorrow. I just had to share these photos of our little guys on this cool Wednesday morning at the Missouri Botanical Garden. We love that they have free admission to city residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings! Clayton told Colin to go in this forbidden part of the garden because it made a good shot, but I hope it doesn't encourage him to venture off the path too often.

After Colin went across this beautiful bridge, Audrey just had to go - with Mommy's help, of course.
These next few are taken at the children's part. We never went before because we didn't think there was much for a two year old to enjoy. And, it was the last time he could go for free (it's only $3 once he turns 3, so not bad even then). Adult are always free. So, we decided to check it out and ended up spending hours there instead of minutes. Colin rode every slide, climbed everything to be climbed, and thoroughly wore himself out! Audrey had a great time exploring, too, but really loved watching her crazy brother and dad run like wild children!

He was very brave to go across this shaky rope bridge. He is very afraid, but the picture doesn't show it well.

Audrey loved this part. There were about five large flowers with a musical element to discover and play with.

I just love the above picture! I can't believe that Clayton got Colin to wear the apron. Colin even picked this bread out for Audrey and tried to give it to her. She loved the thirty seconds of attention he gave her.

The last two are from the end of our morning. We did go across the park to feed the fish. Clayton and I were both pretty exhausted from this morning of fun, too!

More about the family reunion tomorrow!

Becker Family Visits

This past Saturday we had many visitors from Clayton's mother's side - the Beckers. His aunt Betty and her husband, Dave, from Cape G. His aunt Joann from Louisville, KY with her daughter, Suzie, grand daughter, Sarah, and Suzie's partner, Richard. Later that night, several other friends of Betty's came over for a light dinner before attending a play written by her son-in-law. Clayton's mother, Nancy, and I took Colin and Audrey to the Tower Grove farmer's market. I am ashamed to say that it was my first time going this year! I've been going to the Soulard market east of us. Anyway, we took the big stroller, had a play break, and then came home to play in our third floor playroom/guest room. These kitchen toys are from a neighbor down the street...just the right size for Colin and Audrey. Check out this photo as they look at each other through the market window.

Audrey is washing dishes!

We are taking a break from the market to enjoy a chilly (yes, I said CHILLY!) morning at the playground. We saw our neighbors, the Fricks, there with their daughter, Olive. Nancy and I enjoyed a nice hot cup of coffee while they played.

Colin and Audrey enjoyed a nice cookie treat for their snack (whole wheat chocolate chip). Quite the little buggie isn't it!

These are pictures of cousin Sarah, C0lin, and Audrey as we walked (for the second time that day) to the playground. Yes, that is four miles of walking for me! Colin was being silly with his mad face, but he did brighten up as you can see in the next picture.

I love this one of Colin (below) on the way home from the playground. He made Clayton carry him on his shoulders BOTH ways. This was what he would do when Clayton put him down...sit and wait patiently until his dad gave in and picked him up. He learns these things WAY too quickly.

Baby love

I don't have a picture to go with this post tonight. But, I just wanted to share a special moment I had with my daughter tonight. Tomorrow, I'll post some pictures of our family get together with Clayton's mother's side and the morning before.

Audrey has been a little more difficult to get to sleep at night. She has been napping for roughly three hours every afternoon, and I think that might be why. I'm not ready to give up those wonderful nap times, so I'll just have to deal with a less tired baby at night.

Anyway, after taking her milk I usually put her on my shoulder and walk with her a bit while she gets tired and lay her down to sleep in her crib. She has been lifting her head and patting my mouth - then laughing because she thinks it is hilarious! Tonight, she lifted her head, put her hands on either side of my neck, looked into my eyes as if trying to figure me out, and leaned in for a kiss. She is the snuggliest thing at times! I just fall in love with her more each day.

If that wasn't enough, I was putting Colin to bed in the usual way (laying on his tiny toddler bed with him and reading him chapter books!) and then turned the lights out. He asked if I would lay down by him more and then snuggled up close until he fell asleep. Before he fell asleep, he turned a few times. And, if I moved he pulled me back and closer! Sometimes it is hard to be loved so much (when they cling to you and you just want a little space), but these times are the ones I know I will hold in my heart forever and wish every day afterward that I could live them over and over again. I knew I would love motherhood, but I don't think I even had a clue how much I COULD love them.

Early birthday and Grandma Nancy

I'm putting lots of things into this post because I've been so busy cleaning for a big family event, working on Audrey's quilt, and taking care of my two that I haven't had the time to blog. So, in reverse order of the way these events happened...

Clayton's mother, Nancy, arrived this evening. I feel so lucky to say that I really like - love - my mother-in-law! Well, I can say that about all of my in-laws, actually. She is the only person I would leave my children with over night. That is about the greatest compliment I can give anyone. I appreciate her very much. She is one of the easiest house guests, also, and is very easy to talk to. I hope our friendship just strengthens over the coming years. Colin and Audrey adore her, as they should.

As is the case with most grandmas, she gave Colin his birthday presents right away - though his actual birthday isn't until July 28th. Colin and I have twelve chalk circles on our kitchen chalk board counting down. He gets to erase one each night. This is a wonderful wooden truck she bought from a co-worker's husband (who made it to be played with). I know he'll be pushing it down the sidewalk very soon. Who knows all of the things he'll be carrying around!

Then, the mystery wrapped present. He actually went for the card first! I am pretty proud of that. Many children go right for the "good" stuff, but he loves to read anything - even a birthday card.

He was given a very complicated, but even more cool marble run. He loves it! When we were on vacation, Clayton's cousin Bill's son (complicated, I know) brought his own marble run. When Nancy saw how much Colin enjoyed it, I knew he might get one for his birthday! Audrey enjoyed his present, too. Here are a few pictures of us enjoying the marble run! More pictures and comments of the rest of the family visit soon.

Yesterday, Clayton took Colin and Audrey to the Missouri Botanical Garden while I had my little jewelry party with a couple of girls from my school (The Soulard School). It was the item I put up for auction to raise money for the school. Paige, Quinn, and I had a very nice time making jewelry while these two got wet in fountains at the garden with their dad. I like the first one of Audrey because (though Clayton caught her blinking), I imagine her thinking something like, "please let Mommy save me from these to crazy guys soon!" They came home wet, tired, hungry, and very happy. I'm so glad that I've relaxed and learned to enjoy these times when they are out with their father. I remember when Clayton took a nine month old Colin to the baseball stadium (his first trip alone with him) - I was so worried! Silly, me!

I forgot to add this video of Colin to a previous post before our trip to Kansas City. Colin is reading "The Farmer in the Dell" to Cammy. Precious!