Bits of Our Weekend Vol.1

I am borrowing this idea from one of the Guatamamas blogs I enjoy reading. I'm pretty sure the title says it all!

Friday Collin had his Preschool end of the year picnic at Fancyburg Park in Upper Arlington. I have been meaning to go to this park forever but never seem to get there because our park is just right up the street. It is really nice so we will have to really make an effort to get there again. None of Collin's classmates were there so we didn't stay for too long.




We did get to see Collin's teacher, Mrs. Fisher and get a picture with her. I was so upset on his last day of school when I didn't take my camera and on top of that I forgot my phone so I didn't get any pictures. So I was very happy to see Mrs. Fisher so I could get a picture of Collin's very first teacher-what a nice lady!




Collin tries so hard to play with other kids but seems so upset when they ignore him or don't want to play. I'll be glad when he is in school on a more regular basis because we don't really have any kids in the neighborhood for him to play with. I did run into one of the moms of one of Collin's favorite kids in his class at the grocery store and found out they only live the next neighborhood over. I will have to make an effort to get together with them.




Collin trying so hard to play with groups of older kids who want nothing to do with him-LOL!

Saturday while Daddy had a garage sale we went to Playgroup. The Fishers had a cookout at their house. We were all shocked when all of the kids sat down at one table and all of the adults were able to sit at the "adult" table without one of them having a care in the world about what we were doing.



I really enjoy having this small group of kids that hopefully will stay in contact for a long time to come. We belong to COFLAC but those events are so few and far between, it's really very disappointing. Luckily, we have managed to keep the playgroup together and maybe the kids can act as a support system to each other someday if needed. For now, they just have fun playing and seem to be very excited to see each other.




Collin and Elena get along very well with each other and seem to pal around like little buddy's.



Sunday we decided to put together the new swing set that Nana and Pops bought for him. It was quite the bargain and will be perfect for him for the next couple of years until we get a nice wood one. What should have taken us a few hours took about 12 hours and a couple of trips back to the store where we bought it because of missing pieces and parts.Very frustrating but we did a pretty good job. Needless to say we completed the task at about 11pm. Thank goodness that out back flood light is aimed right at the spot that we decided to put the play set! Our neighbors probably thought we were crazy letting our kid play outside at 11pm but you cant dangle a carrot in front of him all day and then expect him to go to bed!!



I know it looks really simple and it probably would have been if we had a full set of directions and a plan. We laughed afterward that it would have taken a lot less time if we didn't have to put it together and take it apart then put it back together so many times! Oh the joys of parenthood-LOL!

Circus

We were very excited to go see the Barnum and Bailey Circus "Zing Zang Zoom". We invited some friends and ended up with a group of 19 people! We had really good seats and even got a good price on the tickets. We arrived early so we could check out some of the activities. The place was packed and we headed down to the main floor to see what they had to offer. Collin was up on daddy's shoulders so he could see everything, I'm walking around with my camera waiting to get the perfect shot of Collin with an acrobat or maybe even an elephant...then I hear the panic scream..MMMAAAMMMMAAAA! I turn around and Collin's eyes are popping out of his head as he is grabbing some random man's head thinking it's me. He spotted the clowns and did not like them at all!



Now don't get me wrong-clowns are a bit creepy-and thanks to a couple of movies I think the clown "rep" has been forever damaged. But he doesn't know anything about that! It was quite a production!

Eventually, we were able to calm down and headed to our seats. Our friends were there, we had our popcorn and were ready for the show. My mom and I stepped out to get drinks before it started. The next thing I know Wyatt comes out with Collin flipping out again, hysterically sobbing. I guess the clowns decided to do a little pre-show stunt that involved a motorcycle and one of the clowns falling off of the bike. This obviously did not sit well with Collin. I think the combination of the loud noise and the clown falling off the motorcycle pushed him over the edge. We spent the entire first half of the circus walking around the halls and sitting on the steps eating circus food.



I was able to get him to look inside one more time because we heard a train but of course CLOWNS jumped out.


Needless to say, we went home very early! At night Collin will ask me to tell him a story about something that has happened like the hot dog race or someone comes to visit. Now when he asks me to tell a story he will say "Mama tell me about the hot dog race but not about the circus okay"?!! Poor kid. He told me he doesn't want to go to the circus next year-lol! Don't worry-that's not going to happen!!

Race for the Cure 2010

The Race for the Cure has become a yearly family tradition. This is the second year I have organized the team t-shirt orders for the "Cops for the Cure" team. I remember saying last year that I was never going to do that again...but I did. Once again I am saying I'll never do that again-but we will see-lol!

 

Collin's good friend Addie and her mom also joined us again this year.

 

This year Wyatt, Peyton, Alexis and Greg were all able to join us.
Dad was out of town again so he missed it.

 

Collin and Mama sporting our Cops for the Cure Team t's.

 

Here is part of the Cops for the Cure team. I tell you it is like herding cats to get a group picture of everyone together-so we take what we can get!





As you can see people really get in to celebrating this day! People line the streets to cheer us on! It's really impressive.




Crossing the finish line!!



Collin and his big sister Alexis.

Having a little fun while Noni checks out Survivorpalooza! Collin and Addie running around on the Statehouse lawn.

Finally-time for breakfast!!

Mother's Day

Yes, I'm catching up again!! All the way back to Mother's Day. Thank goodness for my pictures because otherwise I would never be able to remember what happened!!

Ahhh-Mother's Day. My dad AKA Pops had a great idea to go to the park and cookout breakfast. This is something we normally do for Father's Day...In June...when it is warm! The sun was out but it was chilly! Let'sa just say next year we will be going out for breakfast like all the other normal people do and leave the cooking out for Father's Day!! We had a nice day regardless and hey, we didn't have to fight for a shelter house!

We of course had to play baseball and hot dog race-hey! I thought this was Mother's Day-not kids day-lol! But, I guess that is what being a mom is all about...putting the little one first so you can reap the rewards when you are old-hahaha!

 

This is Collin with both of his grandma's-Grandma Patsy and Noni.

 

Here is Collin surrounded by all the moms!

 

After breakfast and some play time the boys decided it was time to do some fishing-and the girls went shopping. Not such a bad day after all!

 

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Look what Collin had waiting for me when I came home from work. It's a good thing that kid doesn't realize that I'm putty in his hands!!

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First bath in the new upstairs bathroom. 

First...experience shutting fingers in the car door!

We were in the MCL parking lot heading for our Monday lunch date after preschool. Collin knows when we are in the parking lot that he has to "touch the car" if he's not holding my hand. Six years of accident investigation has made me EXTREMELY paranoid of children and parking lots! I have also explained not to touch the edges of the doors but I was in a rush and not paying close attention. Just as I looked back I saw the sliding door close and little fingers bending in the crack. Poor Collin's face said it all. His eyes were wide open as he tried pulling his hand out and then the tears started. Luckily I was able to think straight enough to open the door back up quickly and his little fingers were free!! Poor little guy was balling and of course I wanted to cry too!! Luckily, as a child I had fingers and hands closed in lots of doors and never managed to break anything so I figured he was going to be okay...and he was after about a minute of crying. Then the mom guilt set in!! It will probably take days for me to get over it-LOL!! Poor Collin!

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Collin drew this picture of me today. The squigglies around the mouth are teeth - lol!!

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New Thomas the Train sunglasses. Thanks Noni and Pop!

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Crazy cousins at Easter. 

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Bad picture but Collin got to meet his idol the hot dog Mustard from the hot dog race at the baseball game. Quite an exciting day in his life! Unfortunately, later that day, Mustard was tackled by a Sumo Wrestler before he could cross the finish line and has been the subject of bedtime stories ever since. Additionally, if you have seen Collin since this happened, whether he knows you or not, he tells the story of Mustard being tackled by the Sumo wrestler. Needless to say people think he has quite an imagination! 

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Collin entertaining himself at Kenneths while I got my hair cut. 

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Collin and Mama eating Skyline at Collin's request.   He wanted some 'skedi. 

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First baseball game of the season and we got to sit in the mayors box!!

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Collin wearing Noni's magnifying glasses. 

FFF-U Pick

  I love this picture of Collin. I love it so much I have it as my profile pic on Facebook right now. He has finally figured out how to wink and has added it to his repertoir of "funny faces" that he makes when I take pictures of him. Click here for more FFF.

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I was commenting on a friends blog yesterday that I feel really guilty about the fact that I can find time to get on Facebook but I can't seem to find the time to update the blog!! I tried to rationalize that I can facebook from my phone anytime but that's not true because I can post from my phone too- like I am now. It's definitley not as user friendly for typing but I guess short updates are better than no updates. I've managed to get so far behind that I don't even know where to begin!! The blog was supposed to chronicle Collin's life, kind of like a scrapbook but if I can't find time to blog how in the world would I scrapbook.

I think the problem is when I am home with Collin in the morning I feel bad if I'm on the computer because that is the only time I have with him. When I get home at night if I am on the computer I am neglecting Wyatt because that is our only time together. I've also found that I consistantly neglect myself- I don't exercise everyday like I should, I don't take time to eat or pack my lunch or really even cook anymore. I rush constantly and live on very little sleep and the "me" stuff is the first thing to go out the window when we are short on time-which seems to be always!

I guess that is the life of a mom. I want to be healthy and live long for Collin but I also love the quiet moments we can share together. It seems they are so few and far between and he is getting big so fast. Before I know it he will be in school and I'll never see him. He will have his friends and mama wont be mama anymore. It will be Mom or some other name that wont be said with the loving affection of the little boy who thinks his Mama is the best thing in the whole world. I'll wish we had these busy days back again so I guess I better quit whining and enjoy them!!

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Collin insisted that if he has to wear big boy underwear, so should everyone else! It's an underpants party! It seemed to work though- BIG #2 on the potty! We are getting there!

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While mamas away the boys will play!!

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Baseball season has begun!! Daddy bought a new base set so Collin can practice running bases. He's gonna be a baseball playin' fool!!