February 20, 2008 - Colin's 2 Year Pics

These pictures were taken last month, right after Colin's second birthday. Colin had a difficult time cooperating during this session and Mama's glad that we get to take a break for a year from the professional picture taking experience (and yes, as you can see from the blog, we are still taking plenty at home :)

February 17, 2008 - not naptime!

Everything in toddler world is just a phase, right? (please oh please...)

Colin is not wanting to sleep in his big boy bed for naps and now not even for bedtime (and shocker, he wants to sleep in Mama's bed and is learning how to wrap himself around my little finger to do so, during which neither of us really get any quality sleep!)

After a long debate, I decided to let Colin try to "put himself to sleep" for his nap on Sunday with the baby gate at his doorway and instead of peaceful sleeping, we went through a half hour of him screaming and completing mass destruction of his room (which was actually completely picked up before this process began in this picture). He fell asleep (see small child on the bed in the pic), only after I came back in and read him another story and sat with him until he was too exhausted to keep his eyes open... (thanks again Melis for helping me through this afternoon!)

Mamas out there with advise on this phase, please share!

February 17, 2008 - Baker Colin

Mama's little cupcake baker man (okay, so we haven't actually tried baking cupcakes quite yet but we've got the cookies down!) Thanks to Grammy Mary for this cute bakers apron and hat!

February 17, 2008 - Ben comes to visit!

Colin's friend Ben came to visit from IL along with his mama, Libby for Saturday afternoon through today and we had so much fun with our visitors!

Ben is 16 months old and Colin made him laugh a lot and the boys played well together. It was great to catch up with Libby too (and we missed Daddy Ken who was at his school's first show choir competition this weekend!)

These pictures just give you a little insight into the trouble, I mean fun, that the boys got into together (this being hiding behind Mama's dining room curtains...)

February 14, 2007 - Heartbreaker

Colin wore his 'future heartbreaker' tee to school for his Valentine's Day Party.

Watch out, ladies....

Here's a pic of the hearbreaker himself and also showing off his cool iguana valentine that he got in the mail from Marissa!

February 10, 2008 - baby cousin on the way!

Colin will soon have his first cousin on Mama's side! Aunt Lissa and Uncle Dan are expecting a baby, anticipated arrival is mid-August. We're both so excited (and are trying to convince them even more than normal to move to WI!) Colin may be hoping for a baby girl cousin (when he's asked) but will love his new cousin regardless!

February 10, 2008 - Arts, crafts and cooking on a chilly afternoon

After a quick trip to the grocery mid-morning, we knew that we didn't want to brave the cold outdoors again (as the HIGH temp today was 0 degrees...) so we spent the day doing arts and crafts, playing in the bouncy house (of course), coloring with markers, making cookies... and oh yeah, not napping! :)

Colin loved fingerpainting and Mama definitely loves washable fingerpaints and markers these days! Colin's also a big helper making oatmeal raisin cookies (and testing the cookie batter :)

February 6, 2006 - let it snow (and never seem to stop...)

The biggest blizzard that Colin and I have ever witnessed living in WI! I didn't think to take any pictures until it got dark tonight but hopefully this gives you an idea of what our SNOW DAY was like today (and hopes that we will be able to leave the house by Thursday morning! The doors have snow drifts in front of them as of now...)

taken from the front door into the dark but quite illuminating snow sea of a night...

these pics are quite horrible (taken from the ice and snow covered kitchen windows) but shows our backyard and driveway, with 5 foot + snowdrifts along the privacy height fence and all!

Click here for a link to cool time lapse videos taken of downtown during the storm today

February 3, 2008 - fun with the art easel

Colin loves his new art easel that he got for his birthday from his friends Jordan, Bella and Mama's friends!

February 2, 2008 - Boy of many smiles

all while eating a bowl of mac ' cheese (who knew that could make one boy so happy? :)

January 27, 2008 - Meeting Baby Katie

Colin and Mama visit new baby Katie, now 10 days old!

Here's Colin meeting Katie (hard to see the cute little girl under the toasty blankets and fun visual toys!)

Big brother Brendan and Colin play away during our visit! (Thanks Lauren for the pics since I forgot my camera!!!)