Big boy picasso

Today we went to the Peninsula Fine Arts Center for some painting fun. And this picture looks a lot like last years painting picture. (click here to see last years picture)  You can see how much Colin has grown. We used the ambassador pass my mom got for us (I've mentioned it before how each january NN gives out these free passes so you can enjoy the museums the city has to offer) We missed the Mariners Museum this year but will be checking out the Virginia Living Museum next week. Colin enjoyed the painting and this year painted 3 airport pictures. And they dried this time before we left so we were able to bring them home (not like last year) Both Joel and Colin liked the light table.  Brent works in Newport News on Tuesdays so after a quick stop at Bead Retreat to pick up supplies for this week we met Brent for lunch at Panera.  All day Colin had been acting fussy and grumpy so we quickly came home and then after talking to my grandma figured out that Colin has some molars coming in.  Great.  Now I have a baby who has yet another tooth coming in and a 3 year old with molars coming.  We're never going to sleep!

The weather was so beautiful we played with trucks outside when we got home and then when a meltdown started I told Colin it was time to come in and rest.  He told me he wanted some alone time so he had it (mommy needed some alone time too) Then we were playing in his tent later and Bambi (his stuffed animal) asked him about why he needed alone time and Colin replied "Me needed alone time because mommy said bad things to me that made my heart sad."  So Bambi (ahem... me...) asked him what bad things did mommy say and Colin said "that I needed to have a better attitude and to stop crying or we can't go on a bike ride"

Kaitlin comes to visit

 The week before Christmas I got a call from my friend Kaitlin asking if it would be ok for her to come visit us in January.  OF COURSE!  We never turn away friends and especially for it to be Kaitlin.  I haven't seen Kaitlin in almost 3 years. She graduated the same time we left WVU but have kept in touch the past few years.  Kaitlin was in my bible study for 2 years and was and still is such a joy to be around.  We became great friends and I think really bonded over our weekly trips to MOPS each week (kaitlin babysat for us during MOPS) driving around the block a few times to get Colin to sleep in the car, or singing songs to get him to sleep :)  She was also brave enough to babysit during the fussy hour for us so Brent and I could go out to a quiet dinner.Colin just loved her.

 

 She is very encouraging and someone who opens up and not only shares her life but also wants to know all about your life.  We spent many hours at a coffee shop talking and praying together in West Virginia. Thats the one part about leaving wvu that I miss - I just loved my bible study girls and spending time with them. Kaitlin and I decided that we definitely need to get a bible study reunion with everyone soon. Kaitlin flew in from NY on Wednesday night and was greeted by Colin and Joel Thursday morning. (unfortunately Joel decided he couldn't sleep more than an hour at a time all week so I think at times we were a little out of it being sleep deprived) Colin was very intrigued by Kaitlin coming and kept asking who she was and wanting to see pictures of her before she came.  And in showing him pictures of him and Kaitlin when he was a baby really reminded me of how much Joel and Colin look alike. One of these days I will have to post them. And Colin was just in awe of Kaitlin. They became fast friends and had a blast together.  Joel loved to stare at Kaitlin and also shared in the playing time. There were lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggles given by all.

 

The weather turned warm and we spent a lot of time outside. The beach one day and Yorktown the next.  We spent the past few days talking and catching up while playing with the boys. And I know some of you have also gone almost 3 years without seeing Kaitlin so here are tons of pictures to enjoy!

 Isn't this little guy so cute!  He discovered the joy of eating sand.

 

 Joel is eating sand, Colin not looking at the camera. Typical for my life right now

 

 This picture makes me laugh since Joel looks so small and I look so big.

 

 Kaitlin and Colin had fun running down to the ocean

 

 Kaitlin playing airplane with Joel.  She also spent a lot of time snuggling with Colin reading books - even keeping him company in the potty with Clifford stories. She also started teaching Colin how to read. I'm thinking I should start working on that since he just kept soaking it all up.And Kaitlin even played at least 10 rounds of Candy Land in a row - and she taught Colin how to play without cheating (since he always wanted the green ones)

 

 Joel and I at Grace Church (below) Its in the historic part of Yorktown - also where Brent and I got married 6 and a half years ago. Friday the weather was just beautiful so we spent every minute we could outside. It was so relaxing because we just took our time and walked around Yorktown and let Colin play as long as he wanted. Joel just went with the flow. It was so fun to watch Colin just run around and get so excited about everything.

 

I just love it.

Colin loved running around the church and in and out and on top of the tombstones. Reminded me of all the times I did growing up too.

Playing in the graveyard. Its beautiful with the old tombstones and big shady trees. We ate lunch near the playground next to it.

 Joel loving his hugs and kisses from Kaitlin

 

I love this picture. Thank you Kaitlin for getting taking this for me!  She was able to get amazing pictures of Colin - maybe I just need to pass the camera off to people from now on.

 

 Colin was very interested in who was buried underneath each stone so we spent some time reading all of them. Its amazing the spelling of the old english and how they worded things.

 Then we walked down the street and saw some of the historic building. Like the one below. That is the Nelson house, one of the signers of the declaration of independence. There is still a cannon ball in the side of the house from the war. Colin thought that was very cool. But the best part of the house was the "maze" or the gardens. We spent a lot of time there.

 

 Colin liked to tell us to go through the maze and then told us to concentrate but if we got lost that he could come and help us find our way.  I'm so glad he was there because we would still be there all the times we got lost if he didn't come rescue us! ha

 

 Telling Mommy which way to go

 

 The maze. I promised Colin we would go back again very soon

 

 Our Colonists.  Aren't they cute. 

 

 The historian at the house was related toThomas Nelson.  He was his great great great great great grandfather and very proud of his heritage. It was fun finding out some of the family history firsthand. Colin was excited when he was told that the kids games were in the back room.  In the picture below you can tell that he doesn't believe Kaitlin that rubbing sticks together was a toy.

 

 But then he decided to try it. But he thought it was sad that the kids a long time ago didnt have toys! ha

 

We took Kaitlin back to the airport this morning and I think spent a few hours there afterwards playing in the terminal. We watched her plane take off and then colin wanted to play. He liked the people movers but really liked the escalators. Up then down, up then down.  Several times over and over. He also wants to go back to the airport and play again.

 

 Thank you Kaitlin for spending your vacation with us and loving on my boys. It was such an encouraging weekend for me that was greatly needed. We loved every minute of it and hope we get to see you again - hopefully before another 2 years go by.

This little guy is now 6 months old!  Its hard to believe.  He has 3 teeth now, is obsessed with the vacuum, and scoots everywhere.  (his scooting is what we refer to as "wounded soldier crawl) He also has to sing himself to sleep.  He is now 15 lbs 12 oz and 27 inches long.  He is in the 25% for weight and 75% for height.  His head shrunk 1/4 cm which could be from measuring wrong last time but since its definitely not any bigger we have to go back in a few months to get it checked out.  But the fact that he is hitting milestones early doesnt give the doctor or us too much concern with his head not growing... yet.  He even has said "mama" several times.  Genius! The doctor asked how he responds to peekaboo and I hadn't even thought about playing it with him yet so we tried and he LOVES when Colin plays it with him. Laughs and wants more.  When I do he gives me a blank stare. Joel has also started sitting up by himself for a few minutes - until he plops over. He has no interest in baby food and just wants whatever we - or more importantly Colin - is eating. He is such a joy and growing too fast.

 Joel tries so hard to scoot over to you but if he doesn't get to you fast enough he will give you this look so that you go over to him and pick him up.  Smart kid because it works everytime.

Always wanting to know what big brother is doing

So pleased with himself for sitting up.

And speaking of big brothers... this is my favorite combination of clothes that Colin wears now.  Haha I love how he dresses himself and he was so proud of this outfit.

no heat

This morning I smelled wires burning and now our heat doesn't work.  Of course it always happens on the weekend.  Its cold in our house but someone is on their way to see what the problem is. Hopefully its a simple cheap fix!  If not we're heading to my parents for the weekend :)  But Colin has spent the cold morning eating icecream while i'm sipping hot tea.  He seems to think the power will go out and you need to eat the essentials before they go bad.  He asked Brent for one more scoop and Brent said "if I give you another scoop will you help me with the yardwork this morning"  To which Colin replied "I will help any friend if they give me food"  Like father like son

*Update on heat  - its back on.  A simple fix.  At first he thought it was the motor and said he had never seen a motor like ours - of course nothing in this house has been built normally. but some small part and we are now warm!

astronauts...

Yesterday we went to RJ's house to play in the morning and then Mary came over to play in the afternoon and then we went to homegroup at our church. It was a busy day. The boys had a great time with Mary as usual.  So sad she'll be going back to college saturday.  Homegroup was a bunch of young families (unfortunately Colin was the oldest kid there by a few years but one of the boys was sick so hopefully he'll be there to play with Colin next week) We all had a great time and I think are going to keep going. We all go eat dinner together and then the kids all play together while we have the bible study. Joel fell in love with another little baby there.  She is 9 months and he just kept scooting over to her and touching her face.  Giving her smiles. Laughing at her.  He's a big flirt already.

 

 

Today Eli and Jasper came over to play while their parents packed up to go back to Hungary. Although now they are mostly packed and that means they really will be going back soon. Colin's pirate hat was the prized item today as all three boys (and even Joel) wanted to wear it.

Eli hit hit leg on the ottoman and got a bruise.  I gave him our boo-boo bunny and look at all the boys. They were all so jealous and kept showing me their "boo boos" so they could have a turn. ha!

Its fun to hear their conversations.  Colin and Eli were in the bathroom with flashlights or Colin's constellation lights and I overheard this conversation.
C:  I want to be an astronaut when I grow up
E: Are you sure you want to be an astronaut because you might DIE.  All the energy you could burn up
C: But I have a space suit and space helmet
E: You might just want to be a regular person. I want to be with my daddy when I grow up. He has two jobs. Don't you want to be with your daddy when you grow up. You might need more practice
C: But Ant Ant has 2 jobs She works weekends. I dont want 2 jobs. I want to be an astronaut
E: But you might die
C: But astronauts go up in space and theres a space home.

haha I dont think Eli convinced Colin that it wasn't safe to go up in space since he still wants to be an astronaut. There were several more conversations like this. There was another one about TREX. Since I made them dino pb&j's there was a big discussion about trex and baby trex and how big he was.  I just stayed in the kitchen laughing while they were having this very serious conversation!  I just kept laughing overhearing them.  We went outside for maybe an hour and half after lunch and the boys had a great time running around. Its been so cold that Colin hasn't been outside much. I'm glad its getting warmer but I wish the snow they predicted for tomorrow was still going to be here. It was fun having the boys together all morning. And I'm glad I could help out.  I hope Eli and Jasper had fun too.  Although I got a glimpse into how much boys can eat.   between 11 &1 they ate 3 bags of popcorn, 4 pb&j sandwiches, 1 huge plate of french fries, and 5 chocolate chip cookies. And Joel joined in the fun and ate almost two handfuls of puffs.  Just wait until they become teenagers. Thanks Julie &Zach for sharing your boys with us for the morning.

bare feet

"Mommy, you know when you go to ma-ma-maa's house and you have no shoes no socks on she says you have BEAR FEET!!!!!!"

Colin gets a kick out of this and I hear it at least once a day.

Happy New Year!

(a little grainy but i don't think the flash was on. still a great picture I think - regis the professional photographer might disagree...and if he does I'll know if he reads this blog! ha!)

We just got back from a last minute new years eve trip to the farm.  We thought about having people over to our house to watch the hokie game but decided against it with the kids going to bed early and I honestly didn't think I'd be able to stay wake the whole time and felt rude inviting people to our house when I'd probably go to sleep early. Brent, Sarah and Regis came up with the idea of going and spending new years eve there and I wasn't a huge fan of the idea. I love the farm but the lack of sleep has finally hit. Julie asked how I do it every day with only getting 3 hours of straight sleep (if that) and I was doing pretty good until now (I think)  So staying up until midnight when my kids don't sleep already wasn't appealing to me especially when they sleep even worse when we're not home.  But we went.  And it was fun.  Very tiring but fun.  Joel must have known because wednesday night he slept 6 straight hours!  (he has another tooth coming in... not fun for mommy or him) so I also slept 6 hours and was able to stay up until midnight. We held a dance party with colin in the dark with glow sticks and music from an iphone. Then did those party popper things and tooted some horns.  (We definitely know how to party!) Then after Colin went to bed we played games.  We didn't get the VT game on tv but Regis kept looking up the score on his phone and Sarah was getting texts from our friend Christy.  I am impressed Regis cared since he did go to UVA.  It was a fun way to ring in the new year and I laughed so hard I cried several times. Very fun.  Its always fun with Regis and Sarah.  And we introduced Regis to the southern tradition of eating black-eyed-peas on New Years Day.  I'm not sure if he liked them or not but if he has good luck this year he'll be coming back for more next year. Ha! 

Colin was very excited when we were driving there to see snow on the ground. Or "crow" as it sounds when he says it. And even more excited when we got to the farm and there was still snow on the ground.  He loved running around in it and then Brent showed him how to make snow balls.  Regis and Brent had Colin run out into the field and then they threw "SNOW METEORS" at to him.  Colin thought it was great.  When he's older he'll catch on. Then on Friday Ant Ant brought out her snow tube and she pushed him around the fields.  He loved it.  Joel even got in it for a minute.  Joel wasn't so sure about the snow.  He didn't like being out in the cold but he did like to eat the snow. 

Regis, Sarah, Brent and Colin walked down to the creek Friday afternoon. Colin had already gone for a long walk in the woods with Brent after playing in the snow and sledding so its no surprise he asked to go to bed at 6pm that night. And he slept and barely moved all night for 12 hours.  He moves a lot in his sleep.  I never realized until new years eve when we were in the same room and he fell out at 3am. I had gone to bed at 12:30 and then got Colin in bed after he fell out.  He had just fallen asleep again when Joel woke up at 4am. I fed Joel got Joel back to sleep and then finally drifted off to sleep when Joel woke up at 6am ready for the day.  That's my life right now. Lets hope 2010 is a year for sleep!

Colin did not want to leave the farm and kept asking to stay for 5 more days.  He made friends with the ladybugs he found in the house and brought 2 of them home with him.  He was playing with one at the farm and accidently squished it and then his heart just broke when he realized he had killed it. Its a hard thing to learn.  "my friend!" is what he kept saying. He is all boy but has such a tenderhearted side to him.  I hope his "friends" that we brought home will stay alive for a little bit.

As we were packing up to leave Colin told me "mommy, uncle re-re called me buddy. He must love me!"  And I said "he does love you very much" and Colin just beamed. So sweet. It was fun and now I hope my boys will sleep tonight. Sarah got some great pictures that I want so I might post those as soon as she sends them to me (hint hint) since one of my new years goals is to get started on my new blog book so I can do it a little at a time.