Weekend of Firsts

This weekend we didn't have very much going on.  I was worried it would be boring, but we ended up having some surprising fun, and accomplishing some firsts!
Friday night we went to dinner - at 5:00.  Early Birds, yet the restaurant was full.  Anyways, this little lady drank out of a straw for the first time...while her brother tore up some spaghetti!

Then we headed to Target for some groceries and since it was only 6:15 we picked up a few bath toys for the wild weekend.  These 2 were very proud of themselves for shaving like Daddy!  We also bought bath crayons, but I am about to throw them away since John Burke decorated my closet wall with one today.

First shave - he was bragging to our friend at church today that he is a big boy because he shaves his face

This picture makes him look old/a little creepy

Unrelated note, that night John Burke helped me make some fudge and some of this caramel popcorn.  My first time to make it...delicious!

The next morning, we went to Chick-fil-A, as usual for Saturday morning.  We called my parents and ended up riding with them out to Veteran's Park in Leeds.  We went there once last year, and I told my dad about it this summer.  He has taken Lindsey's kids a couple of times, and he thought it would be fun to take Chloe (she was hanging with them) and our kids there!

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First swing ride (since she was a tiny baby)...pushed by guess who?

Sweet brother John Burke

Turner was busy climbing with Pop Pop

For this picture I said say cheese!  He said "cheeEEeese" with an inflection in the middle because he realized how high up he was.  Look behind him - a three-story slide.  Look who had to go down the slides...

Chloe and GiGi!

And not to be outdone...

Pop Pop!

First slide ride

Merry-go-round - old school.  (Please notice the towel drying - my sweet dad brought it to dry off the wet equipment and John Burke walked him to every square inch of the place until it was all dry.) All fun and games until you flip off! 

Luckily it didn't bring him down...dirty bird

So much fun.  That Chloe is such a girly girl, and SO MUCH CLEANER than my boys.  Taking her to the bathroom at lunch was an experience compared to my boys.  She asked where the trash can was?!  I didn't know that could happen!!

Later that afternoon we headed to a birthday party for 2 of our friends.  It was an animal party, and I knew John Burke would be intrigued.  There was a bird, turtle, lizard, snake, alligator and more.  Turner wouldn't have anything to do with them, but John Burke and Collins were all about it!

We loved the bird

He held it on his arm...and then freaked out and yanked his arm down.  Then the bird flew into our unexpecting friend Liz and I laughed until I cried at her reaction.  Because I do not care for birds and would have had the same response!  Poor girl, can't turn her head around for a second with John Burke and any pairing with an animal.

Watching the Burmese Python.  Then he was brave...first time to hold an alligator!

We told him to give the thumb's up sign and this is what we got.  Close enough.  He wasn't scared at all.  And honestly, neither was I.  The guy in charge did this whole song and dance about the alligator being trained to not bite and sticking the rubber band on him so he wouldn't snap, and I guess I totally bought it, because at no point did I even flinch at my 2 year old holding an alligator!  It just made me laugh, and made for a notable weekend for sure.

A few more firsts

First ride in the car seat - she is obsessed, but this was just a short run.  Haven't changed her over yet, she is still a little too small.

First bow - well, almost.  She wore it on the way to school, but she screamed in the car and I took it out and said she "lost her privileges."  That will show her!  

I will leave you with these fearless protectors!

We had a conference with Turner's teachers last week.  It went pretty well!  We did learn that he is working on opposites.  So I have been quizzing him - up/down, big/small, etc.  The other day I said "If something is not cold, it is..." (fanning myself to help him)  His answer.  "Thursday!"  ??? We have a long way to go, but he is just in the 3s.  I keep reminding myself.

Also these 2 asked Uncle Derek last night if they could smell his car.  Turner whispered it to me while we were eating dinner, and I couldn't understand what he was saying.  Then I figured it out, and I couldn't talk because I was laughing so hard.  Um, they were serious. They like to do that when visitors come (especially to our dear friend Emily.  Sorry, Em.)  I promise I don't think we are that weird, and then they never fail!

Looking for their new transformer - pretty sure his name is not really "Meth Head", but Turner insists that it is.  Okay, I have said too much.

Happy 1st Birthday Collins!

 January 22, 2012

January 19, 2013 - looking so big!!

I can't believe my little baby girl is one!  Well, it is a little easier to believe because she is still not crawling - just doing her best to scoot and reach and fold and yell until someone gives her what she wants!  And she is still toothless, except that I can feel one sprouting up on the bottom.  But not quite in time for the first birthday!

I am not kidding - she can fold all the way down.  She can also do the splits.  Very flexible little thing!

We had her party this weekend at a place here called Wee Flip.  I refer to it as "Kids' Gym" to the boys because that is really what it is - a place for kids to run and flip and jump and play!  I had only been one other time, and booked the party that day...it was just so fun for Collins and the boys!

A view from the doorway in

Action shot

Selfishly, I didn't want to have the party at my house.  I just knew the other kids there would want to be doing something, and I wanted to be able to enjoy the day with friends and family!  So Wee Flip ended up being perfect!

A ball pit was great for the "babies" - now almost all one year olds!!

York helping Pop Pop and Derek and some friends reload the little dodge balls

Here is my Collins with her friend Collins from church.  Well technically, Collins' adoption was recently finalized and this was their first time to meet, but I am just sure they will be friends for the long haul!  They started off beautifully:)

Cousin Kate guiding them in ball play - what a little teacher

And she is also a monkey!!

Look at this little car track/slide and the trampoline behind it - both big winners for my boys

Kate and Morgan on the swings

And cousin Chloe trying them out with Sims

There were even bubbles

sweet cousin Ellie

The birthday girl started getting tired, so we moved the party to the back room for cake

Isn't the baby table cute - they put it on the floor for the tiny ones

John Burke trying to help her out with her cake

Yep, she got the hang of it

Uncle Jay said she looked like me this weekend - hmm, still thinking she is a little Heath!

After cake we played some parachute games

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And I am betting we had some good nap times all around!

Saying bye bye to Pap before he drove back home - and Princess had an outfit change.  Went a little crazy with pink icing:)

After a long nap time, my family came over to the house for dinner and to open her presents with her

So many fun toys - the boys are more into them than she is and are having a hard time sharing.  I caught myself today asking John Burke to share his purse and for Turner to give the lipstick back to his sister.  Heath was not thrilled:)

She also got this bow as a gift, because she has almost sprouted enough hair to wear it.  Getting closer!

She has a sweet sense of humor and loves her Uncle Derek!  He was trying to make fun of her for sticking her tongue out all the time, but it didn't shake her!

Dear Collins,

I still can't believe it when I see pink around the house.  You would think it would set in after a year, but I am still surprised I have a little girl with my sweet baby boys!  

You have been an extremely easy little baby.  Very laid back and always on the go - you haven't had a choice.  You smiled and laughed early on, and though you don't say very many words you were saying "hey" right around 6 months, and I swear it was in context!  Of course you were, you love people!!

Lately you have been in a mommy phase, and it is annoying but I also like knowing you know me.  Up until now you have jumped to anyone almost!!  Especially the ladies at Chick-fil-A, but they do bribe you with their shiny nametags:)  You know they love you.

You marvel in your brothers, and I love hearing you giggle with them.  You sit in the way back of the car with Turner and you flatter him when you laugh at how goofy he is.  Just today we told him he was annoying you, jumping and flailing in your face and he said "NO!  Her LOVES it!"  And he was right.

And your relationship with John Burke - I just pray that continues on.  It is the sweetest little friendship, though he thinks he can boss you around!  He better watch that.  Tonight Daddy was putting a ceiling fan up in your room, and I had to keep sneaking in his room where you were asleep in his old crib because he couldn't stop "checking on you."  You are a loved little lady!!

You have been such a blessing to us this year, making us a family of 5!  I am excited to see what God does with you in the next year and beyond.  We are grateful that He gave you to us!  

Love, Mommy

What a difference a year makes!!

(Just noticed some things - I guess a year DOES make a difference with my face size and hair color. Wow.  However, the boys are still dressed alike a year later and Heath is wearing the same vest.  So maybe not:))