September 29, 2007 - Shoreland Block Party 2007!

It's Colin and Mama's first official Shoreland block party- and we had a blast!

Here's Mama starting out with the kids activities that our neighbor Allison asked me to help plan (we made slime and goo, blew big bubbles, "magically" stuck skewers through balloons, dug for treasures and had a scavanger hunt)! Whew, I don't think the kids ever got tired but I think Allison and I were by the end of the day :)

Natalie and Colin race down the street; the kids loved having the entire block to play in all day and night!

CLICK HERE for all of the pictures from this fun party!

September 28, 207 - September Fish Fry with Colin's friends

Waiting in the bar area for our tables to be ready at Benno's at the FFF with the Reas and other friends! Here's Brendan, Katelyn and Colin.

I think these kids looked just a little too comfortable in this bar setting...

What can I say, you start them young in Wisconsin!

September 27, 2007 - Colin and Mama

you can almost tell that it's Colin smiling under that brim... he just kind of loves hats (okay, with a little influence from Mama hence the reason Colin picks a new one to try each day...)

Here's Colin playing/hiding around the side fence...

September 23, 2007 - 1, 2, 3 strikes...

You're out when Colin's pitching!

Colin LOVES his new baseball glove and Melissa and Nick came over to see Colin and they showed him how to play catch and throw into the glove!

September 23, 2007 - learning to ride

On this great bike that Colin received as a hand-me-down from Tommy, the boy who previously lived in our house! It was Colin's idea to wear his helmet (he has to have on his "hat" just like Grandpa does when he watches him ride his bike!)

So, we're still a ways off from real bike riding, but Colin is getting the hang of the concept and Mama just helps with a few pushes from behind :)

September 22, 2007 - Morning fun w/ Auntie Marissa and David!

Colin and Maris dance to the music at the market

Colin's new favorite- to use David's ears for handles while riding on his shoulders :)

Auntie Marissa and David took Colin all over downtown this morning while Mama went to help at a fashion show for work. The early birds walked down to the 3rd Ward, watched some skateboarders, hit up the Public Market, walked down to the lake and played outside of Discovery Pier, and then back to the farmer's market at Cathedral Square where they were playing football in the park when Mama came to find them (all by 11 am!!) Thanks MM and David for helping us out and showing Colin such a fun time!!!

September 16, 2007 - Playing at Richards Elementary

Colin loves walking to Richards Elementary and playing on the playground! We walked around back this afternoon and he got to check out this cool mural that they just finished.

Here's Colin standing where he "lives" on the nation map painted on the playground :)

September 15, 2007 - We did it! Finishing Al's Run&Walk

Colin and Mama walked in Brigg and Al's Run/Walk for Children's Hospital this morning and it was a fabulous event!

Checking out the crowd before the race begins!

Colin's ready to STROLL!

WOW- look at all of the people as the runners start to make their way through the crowd (thousands of runners/walkers)!

Looking ahead at the thousands of people already on their way into the first mile of the walk/run

Colin and Mama walking along Lake Drive, already over half way complete (we had the pleasure of walking with Melissa and Nick)!

And WE DID IT! Here's Colin and Mama at the finish line celebration held at the Summerfest grounds. We did the 5K walk and then another mile or so on top of that getting back to our car :)

September 14, 2007 - Galoshes

Thanks Amy S for this fabulous pair of galoshes!!! I can't wait to splash around in some puddles wearing them! xoxo, Colin

September 9, 2007 - Helping Mama pack

Mama had a business trip to NY this week and Colin helped me pack. He was a great helper (as you can see :) and he had a great time staying at his Daddy's with his GeeGee and PaPa for the week too! Needless to say, Mama and Colin are both very happy that Mama is back now!

September 8, 2007 - Colin's cool college look

Thanks to John B, Colin's already sporting his high hopes for college acceptance letters in the form of this t-shirt. He's also trying on a new fall hat that Mama just got him (just in time for the first chill...)

September 3, 2007 - Colin's friends next door!

Here's Colin with his friends from next door, Natalie (6) and Teddy (16 mo). They are great kids and are very nice to share their toys with Colin if the kids are all playing outside. Colin loves playing with Natalie and Teddy!

September 3, 2007- Pool Splashin

Colin was invited to spend the holiday afternoon splashing around the pool at Melissa's. He had a blast playing with Mama, Melissa and Nick and this definitely tops splashing around in the bath tub!

September 3, 2007 - puppet show gone awry

Mama puts on a morning puppet show for Colin... and then the puppets get Mama!!!

September 3, 2007 - rec room finished!!!

Mama is so excited!!! Her (I mean Colin's :) rec room is finished with the small exception of putting pictures in some frames! Just in time for our first Wisconsin winter in our new house as I am sure we will be spending many winter days/evenings playing down here when we can't get outside!

Thanks to Grandpa to helping to finish up this great room! Oh yeah, and there might just be a little ILLINI blue/orange influence :)



The "wall quotes" are decals from The Land of Nod-- besides the one below above the chalkboard, the others read "Wouldn't it be better if the moon was made of mac and cheese?" and "The rock, paper, scissors invitational. Today at 4:00."

September 2, 2007 - To the shore

of Lake Michigan
at Klode Park Beach
in Whitefish Bay

September 1, 2007 - take me out to the ballgame!

Colin had SOOOO much fun at his first major league baseball game tonight (so it was the Brewers and not the Cardinals but we'll let that one slide... :)

We even made it to the middle of the 5th inning of a 6:05 pm game before it was our bedtime!

Thanks to Melissa and Nick for joining us for this fun night!

September 1, 2007 - Cathedral Square

...the best place for Colin to have lunch and sit outside on a Saturday to watch everyone at the farmer's market, but alas, no pigeons for him to chase today.

Here's Colin and Grandpa and a classic closeup of Colin (mesmerized by the decorative swirly sprinklers someone was trying to sell at the market).

September 1, 2007 - Morning at Betty Brinn's

Colin took Grandpa and Mama to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum

this morning and it was a blast!

Colin and Grandpa were mechanics and he and Mama played some beautiful tunes on this floor keyboard (among many other fun things at the museum!)