January 17, 2009 - firefighter birthday party

Colin had a firefighter theme 3rd birthday party today and it was a blast!

We made the invitations using a picture of the fire truck Lego's he received from Santa

 Decorating the fire truck and rescue helicopter sugar cookies for the kids to take home

Fire truck pinata time!

look at all of those treats!

playing pin the tail on the dalmatian

Colin has lots of help to open presents!

 Fabulous birthday cake

Colin blows his candles out on the cake

Amy, Marissa and Mama in the stylish party favor firefighter hats!

It's a little hard to see, but there are definitely 6 kids jumping in the bouncy house :)

Best game ever- hungry, hungry HIPPO'S

Colin tries out the saxophone that Melissa and Nick got for him

Thanks to everyone for making Colin's birthday so special!

January 14, 2009 - Colin turns 3!!!

On this date 3 years ago, Colin was born!  His Mama can't believe that he is 3 years old and turning more and more into such a little man each day.  

Colin turns 1, 2007

Colin turns 2, 2008

The big 3, 2009!

January 10, 2009 - Brendan's 3rd birthday party

Brendan turned 3 years old on January 8th and we helped him celebrate today!  It was a fun party and so exciting that the boys are getting so grown up (I met Brendan's mom when to boys were both about 2 weeks old and we've all been close friends since!)

Singing Happy Birthday to Brendan with his friend Ana watching!

Mmmmmmm, birthday cake!

Brennie got a cool jungle tree house play set and he and Colin loved playing with it!

January 2, 2009 -bouncy balls and sponge bob

Colin got some really cool presents from Aunt Lissa and Uncle Dan for Christmas that we had time to play with over our break!

Colin made his own super bouncy balls!

and our first pets... Spongebob Squarepants sea monkeys... 

January 1, 2009 - new year's day bowl-a-rama!

We went to the IPic bowling alley at Bayshore for Colin to try out his first attempt at bowling!

   

Check out his "slick" bowling shoes and Papa helping Colin get his ball from the return

   

You can't see too well, but Colin's the one bowling with Papa's help and then watching the scoreboard in anticipation of picking up the strike!

December 31, 2008 - tractor tipping

 

 

If you've seen the movie Cars, you need no further explanation...  :) 

December 27, 2008 - trains and magic house fun!

Papa, Colin and Mama went to the Botanical Gardens to see the train display and Colin loved the new addition this year of the skiers going down the hill in the picture behind us; he was mesmerized!

Colin saying 'choo choo!' in this picture!

After the gardens, we headed to the Magic House as Colin had never been there and Mama hasn't been since she was a little girl!  They just expanded and it was amazing! We could have spent days there with all of the cool activities and experiences for wee (and big :) ones!

Colin painting a masterpiece

The neat water table room

Drawing pictures in a lighted sand table

Papa helped Colin create a bubble as big as he is!

Dressing up in the fairy tale room as a bear!

December 26, 2008 - Mama's present fun

Mama had a lot of fun playing with her new Christmas present from Papa over the break... a new digital camera that has all sorts of fancy tricks (most of which I still don't know they do but Dan has been my camera mentor since he has the same one!) - this artsy feature is my favorite!

December 25, 2008 - Christmas Day

Everyone enjoyed opening presents in our pajamas this morning and thank goodness that Colin isn't quite old enough to wake before dawn in anticipation so we didn't get our of bed until the sun was up at least! :) 

    

Colin's best present from Santa, a Lego fire station and fire engine!!  / Colin "helps" Uncle Dan open his presents while telling him what's in the bag before he opens it (can you tell that Colin helped me wrap this present?)

    

Kivrin enjoys her new Tea play outfits / Papa helps Colin read his new 'Little Red Toolbox' book

After all of the morning fun, we headed over to our Uncle Jim and Aunt Gwen's house for Christmas day fun!

   

Aunt Carol holding an ornament that each of us received this year that Grandma Staley had made before she passed away this fall. A very special Christmas gift and memory.

Colin tickling Kivrin

   

Colin received a special present from Uncle Jim (Papa's brother, can you tell?) - he is the one that lets Colin drive his small tractor when he comes over to visit. In case you can't read all of Colin's shirt, it says "Will Trade Mommy for Tractor ... Or Just Take Me to My Uncle Jim's" and it's a John Deere tractor shirt.  One of a kind!!!!

December 24, 2008 - leaving out treats for Santa

Colin picked out his favorite self-decorated sugar cookie to leave out as a treat for Santa on Christmas Eve as well as some carrots for the reindeer, of course! 

And much to our dismay...... 

...look what was left on Christmas morning when we work up on Christmas morning!!?!! Santa and his reindeer had snacked on the treats, left Colin presents and Santa had even left Colin a little note!