Making Friends

I know, I know, it's been two months and I'm STILL posting about Disneyland... But you'll be glad I did when you see this...  There came a point  in our trip, about an hour after we entered the park, when Collin pretty much thought that he'd stepped INTO the Disney Channel.  He couldn't have been happier.  See for yourself.

The end result was one, very tired, very happy little boy with a bunch of new friends that he still talks about two months later.

Happy Feet

One thing Collin loved about Disneyland was the music constantly playing overhead.

And sometimes, you just gotta get up and dance...

And dance...

Well, you get the idea.

All I had to do was follow him around with a camera,

And giggle along with everyone else that stopped to watch.

Just keep dancin' little guy!

Chipmunks and Honey Pots

This is probably the cutest hat I've ever seen. But what's a Chip without his equally mischievous side kick Dale?

Ahh, now that's more like it!

The boys wore these hats everyday of the rest of our trip, and solicited quite a few smiles from other park goers. After our early morning pirate scare, I was desperate to show Collin that the rides in Disneyland were not scary. Enter Winnie the Pooh and his Honey Pot ride. After a little coaxing, Collin climbed into a beehive and off we went...

Again...

And again (Nate didn't mind)...

And again... Gotta love that willy nilly silly old bear!

The Happiest Place on Earth... Eventually

Since Collin has been home, he's had a love for all things Disney. This year I decided it was time to visit the magic kingdom in person, so we invited Uncle Brent, Aunt Lolo and best friend Nate to join us, and off we went. On our first day, we ran into these guys.

They seemed friendly enough and, one of Collins favorite shows is Jake and the Neverland Pirates, so we thought Pirates of the Caribbean would be a great first ride. Oops. A four year old Haitian who has never seen a roller coaster ride up close, let alone been on one + a dark tunnel + pirates yelling and shooting guns = the longest 2 and half minutes of my life. Collin was terrified and spent the entire ride with his face in my lap. Good call Mommy, good call.

After our pirate fiasco, I decided that an opportunity to get in touch with his inner Tarzan was in order. If you know Collin, you know he will climb anything that stands still long enough for him to get his feet on it, so this was right up his alley.

Our next great adventure (because he was now terrified of all rides that went through something and flatly refused to go on another one) was the canoe ride.

I had no idea oars came this small but, Collin, a stick and water are always an entertaining combination.

This time was no different. He did manage to hold on to the oar through the whole ride and even did his part when the guide yelled "stroke!" For my part, I managed to avoid his oar coming in contact with my face AND kept him in the canoe. How's that for multi-tasking?

Be My Valentine

Valentine's Day has never been my favorite holiday, but I do have special memories of that very "special" day growing up. My mom always made it fun and at the same time made all nine kids feel special. And this year, I decided I wanted that for Collin.

It came in handy, that I was also channeling a bit of Betty Crocker that day. For a day. Okay, for a morning. I decided to get up early (since I guard the hours I actually get to sleep with my life, that in and of itself was pretty big) and make heart shaped pancakes. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Have you ever tried to make heart shaped pancakes? After my sixth attempt, they finally started to look like hearts. Good thing I got up early, huh? But now, I'm a pro, if I do say so myself. I was pretty proud of the final product.

Collin on the other hand, was totally confused. "Mommy... they're pink?" I said "Yep, they are, because it's Valentine's day and Mommy loves you." Still slightly sleepy, he said "While I was asleep, you made me pink hearts?" Why yes, yes I did. :)

His reaction to his Valentine's gift, was much less confusing. What little boy wouldn't love a movie about a pack of puppies?

Happy Valentine's day Sweet Boy. Thanks for making this holiday mean something to me again. I love you!

Memories...

Dear Collin,

As I look back over the past two an a half years that we've known each other, there are a few days I can remember exactly what I was doing at any point in the day. This is one of those days. Two years ago today was a Saturday. Aunt Lolo and two of our other friends picked me up at 5:30 in the morning and we drove as fast as we could to the airport. We spent the whole day flying across the United States trying as hard as we could to get to Miami as fast as was humanly possible. Aunt Lolo slept, she'd earned it, she'd been awake pretty much 24/7 since the earthquake and after having done everything she possibly could to get you and Nate and all of your friends home to us, she'd finally given in to exhaustion. I was tired, but too nervous and too excited to sleep, so instead, I chatted with Natalie's daddy Matt while he prepared the English lesson he would have to teach in a few days.

I remember that my mind was moving faster than the airplane. I worried that you were scared or confused or that you'd sustained some sort of injury in the earthquake that no one was telling me about. Mostly I worried about what kind of mommy I would make for you. I knew from the moment I first held you in my arms that you were an amazing little boy and deserved the very best. I worried whether or not I'd be able to deliver on everything you deserved.

I remember thinking about the people that Heavenly Father put in our lives to make the miracle of you coming home possible. Aunt Lolo, who at the time, should seriously have run for public office. She had THOSE kinds of connections. (Who else has a Senator's office on speed dial?) Auntie Chareyl, who is quite literally an angel walking among us. I'll never know how she had the strength and the courage to do what she did. Uncle Brent and Scott who gave up two weeks of their lives and their health to go to Haiti and bring you home. And Harry. I don't know Harry very well, but I know what he lost that awful day of the earthquake, and even in the face of all that tragedy, he went looking for you. The people who'd never met you, but were willing to donate enough money to fuel a plane in one day. All of mommy's friends who called, emailed and showed up at our door, just to be there for me. I was in awe that I was a part of such a miracle. I still am.

Most of all I remember being humbled by the tender mercies of a Heavenly Father, who loved both of us enough to make sure that we found each other. Even in Haiti. I love you so much my little boy. I'm so proud of you. Of the person you already are, of the person you will become. Thank you for making my dream come true.

Love,
Mommy

Merry Christmas!

Did you know that if you leave your camera sitting on a nearby table on Christmas Eve, Santa will take a picture before he leaves? True story.

This was our second Christmas together, and this year, Collin had a much better idea of what was about to happen. Or so he thought...

I call this Collin's "Wow that Santa knows me inside and out!" look... :)

Collin LOVES anything that allows him to jump in the air and throw a ball. Of course, Santa knew that. (And how to assemble it all alone, at midnight, on Christmas Eve. Just sayin'...)

And of course, it couldn't be any sort of a celebration with out our new friend Thomas adding a couple of more "friends" to his station. (Seriously, how many friends does a talking train have to have?)

And after all of the "projects" that went on at our house over the past year, Santa knew Collin had to have his own little workbench. Otherwise, he might fall behind in the home repairs.

And what is Christmas without a crazy snow hat and mittens? Especially if our favorite Grandma has stuffed money inside?

So far, I've only been reminded about 67 times since, that we have to be good so Santa will come down our chimney after we're asleep. (And after he builds us a chimney, cuz we don't actually HAVE one...) We hope your Christmas was filled with just as much joy and laughter!