Happy Birthday Collin!

This year's birthday party started out as a Frosty the Snowman party, but somewhere around the second gift morphed into somewhat of a Thomas party. Should have seen that one coming. For those of you following along, I have 8 siblings. There are 5 girls and 4 boys in my family. All but two of them already have children. Which means, somewhere along the line I have purchased a toy that either lights up, plays music, talks, moves or in some other way annoys at a decibel far exceeding safe levels, that has wound up in each of their homes. This was apparently their year to get even.

Lights up and talks...

Moves and talks (mockingly I might add...)

Moves and WHISTLES.

Didn't say a word, but sure tasted good. For a blue dinosaur that had nothing to do with Frosty or Thomas, but Collin wanted it.

One very happy 4 year old who loves to play with all of them at once. Thank you family for making my house seem like a house full of children! Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy! I know I lived my life before you, but I sure don't know how. I love you!

It Wasn't Thomas, But It Would Do

When I was growing up, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was bundling up with my family (all 11 of us) and driving up to see the lights at Temple Square. A couple of months ago, Collin discovered Thomas the Tank Engine, and a love for all things "train" was born. Stay with me, I promise I'll bring the stories together and wrap them up with a cute little Christmas bow. One thing I learned growing up, was that I HATED downtown traffic. It seemed like the buildings were too tall, too close together and there were too many people trying to get to or away from them. This year, I found a way to bring my love of Christmas lights and Collin's love of trains together into a brand new family tradition. But first a nap was required for all prospective travelers...

Except for mommy, who spent nap time trying to figure out how to work the new camera. Then we picked up best friends, Aunt Lolo and Nate and went to dinner. I told Collin he could order whatever he wanted from the kids menu...

He chose pancakes and french fries. Looks fabulous doesn't it? Then it was off to the train station to catch a ride on our very first train. (Okay, really, it's light rail, but looks like a train, it runs on a track, it's a train to us!)

They were so excited!

I don't know what this face is, but I promise he was having fun!

When we got to Temple Square, Collin was more excited that he got to ride the train again to get home than he was to see the lights, but he did indulge me a few pictures. Aside from the train breaking down three times on our return trip, causing one near potty disaster, (Yay! for mommy carrying a pull-up in her bag!) I think I like this new tradition. We may give it a whirl again next year.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Well, we're a little behind in posting, but I didn't want to skip Halloween. As soon as you see his costume, you'll understand why. This was Collin's first Trunk or Treat experience. I'm not sure who came up with this idea, but I've decided they are BRILLIANT!

Wandering up on side of a parking lot and down the other and ending up with a bag of candy? Sheer genius!

Doing it with your best friend? Priceless!

Pretending to take off your best friend's head with your fake plastic sword? Well, it was Halloween after all...

Bob the Builder? Amateur!

I apparently forgot to post this one...

This is how Collin builds a cabinet.

Step #1 - Line all of the screws end to end

(Uncle Jed apparently still needs directions...)

Step #2 - Smile patiently while Mommy takes yet another picture

Step #3 - Instruct Uncle Jed on the "proper" way to hold a hammer

Step #4 - Repeat until they get it right

And wouldn't you know it, all of Mommy's picture taking DIDN'T include one of the finished product. Oh well, it's standing up in our garage.

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!