The Fanny Dunker

Water adventure number two at Bear Lake, came courtesy of this little beauty. This little two man sailboat belongs to a friend of Grandma Great's. It's called The Peanut, but while I was growing up, we knew it as the Fanny Dunker. It's a name well earned. At one point or another, this boat was responsible (okay it could have been the owner) for "dunking" me and each of my siblings into the chilly waters of Bear Lake.

Uncle Matt was more than happy to take a very eager Collin for a ride and I agreed, after making him promise me that Collin would go dunk-free.

Leaving him alone in the boat? Yeah, that's off to a great start...

But in the end, Collin's fanny remained relatively dry and I now have a budding sailor on my hands.

Kyaking - Who Knew?

On our second day in Bear Lake, we were up bright and early (and I do mean early) Saturday morning, ready to hit the beach. Well, in this case, rocks. The water level was up so high this year, the beach disappeared. At first I was a little worried that Collin wouldn't have anything to do all day with all the sand gone, (yeah, I don't know why I worried about it either...) when in swooped Uncle's Nate and Matt with various water toys.

First up was Uncle Matt's kayak. Matt was a little busy setting up a sailboat, so of course, Collin turned his big pleading brown eyes to Uncle Jed who talks a big game, really never says no. Collin was so excited to go, and so afraid he'd miss his turn, that he promptly ran over to it, jumped in and waited "patiently" while Uncle Jed put the oar together.

Once that pesky little task was out of the way, they were off to the water. It took a little talking to convince Collin that Jed actually had to be in the kayak WITH him. He was convinced he could do it himself.

Okay, it took a LOT of talking, and finally, mommy picking him up and moving him.

But then, they were off! I lost count officially, but I'm pretty sure Collin rode in that kayak at least 11 times. Who needs sand??

Let Me Do That For You

This summer found us at Grandma Great's cabin in Bear Lake for a weekend. This time we were there with a BUNCH of family. The first, night, I was having trouble convincing a very sleepy, but very STUBBORN Collin that it was time to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. Enter the ever so patient (and apparently not afraid of a little pain) Melyssa, who volunteered to let Collin brush her teeth first.

Now THAT friends, is true devotion! (And she's pretty darn cute too, isn't she?)

Thanks Missy! I'm not sure even I would have let him put me through that!

Sleep Well Old Friend

This last week, we lost our friend Tucker.

We didn't know he was sick, but apparently he was REALLY sick. Although there were times he made me absolutely CRAZY, I'll miss him. He's been one constant in an ever changing world for me for the last six years. He and Collin got off to a pretty rocky start but, before long, became the typical "boy and his dog" with all it entails.

So long old friend, I'm glad you're not hurting anymore. Thanks for being our friend, companion and pseudo-guard dog. Oh, and if there's a garbage can in Heaven that someone thinks they've locked up tight, I'm sure you're enjoying the opportunity to prove them wrong. We love you Tucker and we'll miss you!

I Thought We Went To The Same Place...

I know I drove the car. He was holding my hand when we walked through the door. So how is it we managed to have two TOTALLY different visits in the same office? Let's review shall we? Collin rode on a magic space ship. I sat in the dentist's chair.

Collin got his teeth counted. I got the "scraper of DEATH" (okay, I might be whining just a little bit, but have I mentioned I'm not good with pain in my mouth?)

Collin got to teach the sweet hygienist how to brush her teeth. I got told I had a cavity. (I haven't been to the dentist in about 12 years, so I don't know why that news surprised me...)

Collin got to play with water pick and hear how the drill worked. Me? Yeah, I got the practical application.

Collin got handed a toy when we left. I got handed the bill. Collin said "that was fun, can we go back tomorrow?" I just bit my the inside of my still numb cheek and smiled.

Look Out World, He's On Two Wheels!

A while back Collin's friend Zaden learned to ride his bike without training wheels. He was so excited, he came across the street to show Collin. Collin, being the ever adventurous soul that he is, asked if he could try. I tried to explain that it only had two wheels and he would fall down, but he insisted he could do it. I finally gave in, thinking he would fall over once, decide that it hurt and go back to the relative (and I do mean relative) safety of his scooter. He hopped on, and in true jaw dropping Collin form, proceeded to ride the bike up the street. Oh boy. The two things he couldn't do? Turn and stop. Kind of important skills to have in the bike riding department, so while he practiced on Zaden's bike, he got the opportunity to "earn" a bike of his own.

The challenge was to listen to mommy and to sleep in his own bed for two weeks straight. It seemed like a good idea at the time... :) He got a sticker to put on his calendar for every day he made it through. Two very long weeks and 37,492 "mommy, can I ride my bike now"'s later, and no I am not rounding up, we finally made it!

I'm not sure which one of us was more excited to see that last sticker go on, but the blessed day finally arrived! Unfortunately, mommy didn't have the right tools to take off the training wheels. Okay, let's be honest, mommy didn't have the slightest idea what the right tools WERE to take off the training wheels, let alone whether or not she had them.

So we had to make do for a little while until Zaden's daddy could come save the day and turn it into a Big Boy Bike.

Then off he went! Word of warning, he still can't stop, so if you happen to find yourself on the same sidewalk, you might want to dive for cover. No really.

Can't Help But Smile At This Crocodile

This summer we started swimming lessons. The beginning class is called Guppies and is designed to help new swimmers get comfortable with the water. Collin LOVES being wet so I didn't think we would have any issues. You'd think by now I'd learn... Day one, three kids in the class, the teacher is taking each one for a "swim", the other two are supposed to sit on the first step in the pool and wait their turn. Easy enough right? Collin went first...

And I'm pretty sure that's where we lost control...

While it was Easton's turn, Collin decided it was too cold to wait on the top step and spent the rest of the class like this:

On the upside, he did learn some new skills, like crawling along the side of the pool,

and holding his breath under water, which he is disturbingly good at,

DISTURBINGLY good at...

But his all time fav? Doing the back float with his teacher Spencer.

Thirty more seconds and I'm pretty sure he would have been asleep!

If You Chance To Meet A Frown

The other day, Collin had a play date with Nate, and of course, as cute as they both are, Lori couldn't resist staging an impromptu photo shoot. The next day, I was having really tough day at work. That afternoon I got an email from her, the subject line said "You're Welcome". When I opened it, I found this:

Little boy, you can make me giggle through just about anything! (Thanks Lolo!)

Now Why Didn't I Think Of That?

The other night, we were treated to a pretty impressive thunder and lightening storm. I'd put Collin to bed already and was watching the storm from the front window of my house. I noticed a several of the neighbors outside watching from the relative "dryness" of their covered porches, which, incidentally, I don't have. But porch or no porch, it looked like fun. So I grabbed a still wide awake Collin, blanket and all, and headed to...the garage (I'm not completely insane, it was lightening for crying out loud). We cuddled together in a camp chair and watched the rain come down.

I was trying not to get all teary eyed with visions of all the flowers I'd just planted floating down the street, when a very bright, very close bolt of lightening got my immediate attention. Collin is still not a big fan of loud noises, and figuring lightening that close was going to be accompanied by a VERY LOUD clap of thunder, I was already gathering up my sleepy baby, and the Mickey Mouse blankie in an effort to get inside before "it" hit. That is, until Collin looked up at me with a big grin on his face and said "Yook mommy, the 'under is taking our picture, say cheese!".

Now I've heard thunder and lightening described to little ones in several ways, angels bowling, angels having a square dance (yeah, I don't really get it either...), the lightening asking a question and the thunder answering, but a Celestial photo-shoot? Only in the eyes of one hilarious baby boy.

And for the record? We did spend the next few minutes "posing" for the camera, and I'll bet the next time you see lightening, somewhere in the back of your mind, you will too! :)

They're Gonna Sell Me To The Gypsies...

I used to think that no one wanted me to be married and Collin to have a father more than me. After this weekend, I think I come in a VERY distant third. This is the weekend that I became the most hated woman in my family (well, at least for about 7 hours of it anyway). I had innocently asked Grandpa and Uncle Jed if they would be willing to put the swing set, that I had been saving all winter for, together for Collin. When I told them it just had 3 swings, a slide and monkey bars, they quickly agreed. I might have forgotten to mention the playhouse they all attached to. And the fact that there was "some assembly required".

And the fact that it all came stuffed into two very LARGE and heavy boxes.

Did I mention there was a lot of lumber involved?
They called in for some "reinforcements". The bigger ones were on their way, but Collin was willing to step in until they got there.

Once they arrived, Grandpa and Collin decided to "take a break" and mow the lawn. Between you and me, I think it was to stay out of range of the tools Jed was about to start throwing.

But eventually, they all got back to work.

Isn't he cute?

And soon, there was a playhouse.

And a slide, well sort of.

And then swings.

Collin was so excited to try out the slide that he wouldn't wait for it to actually be ATTACHED to the playhouse. Some people use bolts to secure the slide in place. Collin uses Uncle Matt. All in all, it took 7 hours, 2 very large buckets of chicken, 3 Mountain Dew's, and 1 and 1/2 Pepsi's, but finally it was finished. And I forgot to take a picture... Oh well. Thanks family for all the time and the laughs. And I promise to wait a few weeks before I tell you that it's blocking a sprinkler and we have to move it a little to the left. Yes, Jed, I know you told me that to begin with...

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Dear Collin,

Sometimes I think of the little boy I first met in Haiti two years and I think of how precarious your situation was at the time. Then I look at pictures like this and it takes my breath away.

I stand all amazed at how Heavenly Father brought us together.

And I'm humbled that He trusted me enough to be your mom.

See that light in mommy's eyes? You're the one who put it there.
I love you my sweet son!

A Hunting We Will Go

This was our second Easter together. This year, the Easter Bunny decided to branch out a littele and try an Easter Egg hunt.

Clearly should have thought that through a little better, since all Collin noticed was the scooter...

But I never get tired of this face.

When we finally got around to hunting for eggs, I tried to tell Collin that the Easter Bunny left some eggs behind and that we had to find them and clean them up. He looked at me and with his best "exasperated parent" voice, shook his head and said "Why he do that?" At first he wasn't too excited about cleaning up somebody elses mess...(Naughty Easter Bunny)

But eventually, he got the hang of it.

Happy Easter Baby Boy! Next year I'll be sure to have a talk with that messy Easter Bunny.

Round Two...We're Getting Good At This

After we colored eggs at our house, we headed over to Grandma's house. This time, we had friends. (Aren't they cute?)

This was Collin's first taste of hard boiled eggs. I wasn't sure what would happen when he tried it, but I had to watch... Here's how Collin eats an Easter egg. First we lick it...

Then the tentative first bite. Hey that's not too bad!

Until you get to the yolk anyway.. "Hey mom, sumtin's in there..."
I tried to tell him it was yummy. I was, apparently, not too convincing...

I'm pretty sure that was the end of the taste testing. On a side note, we usually go through at least a roll of paper towels when we do this as a family. 19 grandchildren can get a little messy. This year, Aunt Jess had a stroke of genius and instead, put each of the kids in a white t-shirt and told them to wipe their messes on their shirts and see who's would be most colorful at the end. They didn't quite believe they were ALLOWED to make a mess on themselves so we had to give them a little hand...

That's grandma, mommy and a pregnant Aunt Jess "coloring" a shirt rather than the eggs. We might possibly have gotten a little carried away...

Oh well, the shirts turned out darling, and so did the eggs, later, when we got back around to coloring them.