Stinkin' Internet

I have been MIA for a few days due to our on again off again Internet. It is on for the moment so we will see if I make it through this post.





My most exciting news for the moment is...I got a new camera!! Yippee!! No more pictures of Collin looking like a big blur, or looking at the floor, or completely the other way-HOPEFULLY! I was using a digital(of course)point and shoot Cannon but have now upgraded to the Sony digital SLR. I still need to read the manual but hopefully the quality of my pictures will be improving soon. Of course, I'll still keep the little camera in my purse for those impromptu photo ops.

Today is National Adoption Day, a day where bureaucracy is given the day off and people actually push to get adoptions finalized. Just the fact that it is Saturday and you have judges holding court to finalize adoptions is a feat in itself. So congrats to everyone who is finalized today!

I found a cool website on "NO Time for Flashcards". You can pick a postcard and send a greeting to a soldier online-SO easy!!

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html

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I would like to say thank you to all the veterans out there for their courage and service to our country. If you see a soldier in uniform on the street don't be afraid to just say "THANKS". A simple word or two from a stranger can make a big difference! While we are here enjoying our freedom there are thousands of brave men and women in far away places, not able to be with their family and friends celebrating holidays and special moments. They aren't seeing their children grow up-and we all know how quickly our kids change and grow. No one wants to miss that. They are making the ultimate sacrifice for people they don't even know...so the least we can do is say thanks.








Take some time this week to write a couple of Christmas Cards for the soldiers. Enlist the kids to draw or paint some pictures. There are always people collecting cards and gifts for soldiers who are spending the holidays away from home. A few minutes of your time can brighten the day of a hero.












If you live in the Central Ohio area check out shoeboxforasoldier.com. They send shoe boxes full of gifts to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for Christmas.







Little things mean a lot when you have nothing. No gesture is too small. Even if you are struggling it doesn't cost more than a piece of paper and postage to write a letter. Have I said enough? Then get to work!!!

SHOUT OUT

Jana, my devoted blog follower, requested a shout out so here it is. Who better to do a shout out on Collin's blog than Elmo!

Some day

Some day I will figure out how to separate paragraphs so that all of the text isn't all bunched together. Doesn't make a top 10 list quite as much fun when it reads like a book-Oh well. I'll have to work on that in my spare time...oh! that's right, I don't have any!!!

Top 10

I saw this on Princesa Ava's Blog and had to post it...so true!!



Top Ten Ways You Know You Have Adopted Internationally:

10. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

9. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

8.You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

7. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

6. You have no idea how you will afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you, He will provide.

5. You are prepared to take an airplane ride half-way around the world and return with a child you just met.

4. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

3. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

2. You realize DNA has little to do with love and family and that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

1. You shudder when people say your child is so blessed/lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed/lucky one to have him or her in your life.

-Author Unknown

I'm a Big Boy Now

Sometimes I look at Collin and I am just amazed at how much he has changed. To me, he seems very advanced for his age. He can do amazing things that no other child can do. I am convinced he is brilliant-the next Einstein! In my world he is the most perfect and well-behaved child. SO DON"T BURST MY BUBBLE!!




Collin has mastered the shape sorter with no problems. Within a matter of a day he had it all figured out...I told you...BRILLIANT!







He has figured out how to climb into the chair at the desk and "work" on the computer. More like work on crashing it, but cute none the less. It is so funny how kids mimic what they see you doing.






We have also been working on the potty training. I will put on his big boy underpants when we are just hanging out. Of course, as soon as I said "cheese" he promptly peed his big boy pants! Doesn't seem to bother him one bit. This may take a while!!

BOYCOTT UNICEF

I know this is the time of year for Charitable Contribution Campaigns for a lot of people. Please check out this link and keep it in mind when deciding where to donate your hard earned money.
I also have a list of Guatemalan Charities on my sidebar, all of which I think are worthy of donations-if anyone cares :*)



http://www.petitiononline.com/saynotou/petition.html

We have a new President

And that is all I am going to say about that!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

YES, we finally got the costume on!! I'm a cowboy baby!! Head to toe! We had a busy trick or Treat. First we started at home with the neighbors, Mallory and Tess. They were butterflies-very cute.










This is the first year that I can remember Wyatt being home for Trick or Treat. He sat on a chair out on the front porch with a scary mask-poor kids!! He had a great time though.







Then it was off to Nana and Pops to do a little more Trick or Treating with Brylie and Kahlen.



Brylie decided she had enough of Trick or Treating!




Time to check out the loot!! Forget stocks! Candy was the commodity tonight-there was some major trading going on!



Off to the tub to wash off that mustache-and A LOT of sucker goo!!

I FOUND IT!!!

I found last years picture on a previous post!! YEAH!!!





He is getting so big!!

Circle S Farm

For some reason it seems some things just pop up on you. It is not that I forgot Halloween was coming it was just at one point it was so far away and then the next thing I knew it was the next day. Last year we took Collin to Circle S Farm around Halloween. It was one of our first outings as a family. We took a really cute picture of Collin by the "How tall are you this Fall?" pumpkin. I thought it would be a great idea to go back every year and take the same picture. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of pictures when our computer crashed-and learned the backup lesson the hard way. Fortunately, I have an actual print of the picture. Our scanner is also on the fritz so I can only show you this years picture. SO here goes...

Collin enjoyed feeding the goats corn and seeing all of the animals.



Another cute pic...


Collin's favorite was the kids hay maze. We had to make this a quick trip since we waited until the last minute to go but I think he could have played in it all day if we would have let him. We are thinking about building one in our backyard and selling tickets-LOL.



They also have a hay barn with slides-fun to slide in but not so fun to walk in..especially when you are a novice like Collin

Kindermusik Halloween Party

Collin and I started going to Kindermusik classes which he absolutely loves. They use sticks, egg shakers, jingle bells, hula hoops, scarves and lots of other fun stuff along with singing, dancing and movement that is supposed to improve development. The leader takes items out and then leads everyone in some sort of activity that involves music. Collin gets right up and gets his sticks or whatever the leader takes out and comes right back and sits on my lap. He has really good rhythm. He follows along and almost always participates. Then as soon as the leader tells the kids to put the items away he hops right up and puts his away and will even pick up items other kids didn't put away. Where did he learn that!?!? Now, at home it is a slightly different story.

Anyway, all the kids wore their costumes to Kindermusik this week. It was really cute. Unfortunately, Collin is not very fond of putting his costume on for some reason. This was the costume he wanted to wear.


Yes, just the cowboy boots-and nothing else. First I couldn't get him to wear the boots, finally he decided he wanted to wear the boots BUT NOT THE CLOTHES! I finally was able to wrestle him in to a pair of overalls and his cowboy hat...close enough!! Once we got there we had a fun time!!

The 5 Reasons I Love My Life

This post is for my one and only blog follower Leslie. She made this list on her blog and asked others to do the same so here it goes...in no particular order of course =*)

#1-That I actually really do love my life. I know a lot of people unfortunately can't say that. There have been many times in my life that I wasn't able to say that. I love my life because I am thrilled to say that I am in a great, very happy place right now and I am glad to be able to recognize and enjoy it because you never know what tomorrow will bring.



#2-Wyatt-the DH. He is a huge part of the reason that I love my life. He is my constant source of entertainment, he allows me to be who I am, he is fun to be around, he is the most fantastic father ever, he doesn't get mad at me when I sit on the computer until 3am updating the blog and keeping up on my other mom blogs, he is my best friend, and I could go on and on...lets just say, he is the BEST!




#3-Collin-my little tornado.I love my life because I get to come home every night and see this.

Yes, he is sleeping with the cowboy hat!! I don't love the fact that I only get to put him to bed 2 nights a week because I am working but the fact that he is with people that truly love and care for him when I can't be with him gives me a great deal of comfort.
Collin has brought us indescribable joy. He has taken my relationship with my husband to a whole new level. He has allowed me to feel love that I never knew was possible. So much love that sometimes it scares me because I don't know how I would go on without him. He is a constant joy to watch change and evolve every day into a little human being with a personality and A LOT OF ATTITUDE! Every time I lay eyes on him it makes me smile. Every time I hear him say "Mama" or "Daddy" it just melts my heart. There is no such thing as a bad day with Collin around. His joyful, happy spirit is contagious. I could go on forever!!!


#4- I love my life because I have a great family and friends that I consider family. We all have our faults and get on each other's nerves at times but no matter what they are the people that will always be there.


#5- I love my life because I live in the US, I get to vote, I get to speak my mind, my husband and I have secure jobs, a house and a lifestyle that we can afford, good friends and family and lots of fun times!!

Pops Bday Gift

Collin made a painting for Pops birthday. I videotaped him painting and burned a copy of it to CD. I tucked the CD in to the back of the frame so that he could watch Collin making his gift. The video is very entertaining. Not only did Collin decide to taste the paint which gave him blue lips but he also rubbed his eye and gave himself a black eye! Too Funny!