Happy for This Moment, Happy for This Life

Fall Festival

2011-10-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

Collin and I swapped our usual lazy Sunday afternoon for a few hours at the Barnyard Bash Fall Festival (please note we didn't miss football completely).

There were farm animals to ride, pumpkins to hunt,

marshmallows to roast (Collin was most excited about this until the smoke got in his eyes, fortunately Mr. Baldwin was more than willing to help him out),

s'mores to eat

games to play

and pumpkins to paint.

The highlight of Collin's afternoon was the duck game (see picture with manual water pump). I really think he would have played until dark. It was such a simple set up, but he was so excited to pump the water so that the duck could race and fall off into the "pond" at the end. He has now decided that his daddy can build one of these games and that we should have one at home. We'll see what dad has to say about that.

Some Things Never Change

2011-10-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

It is interesting that this post comes from a church service where the sermon was about change, and the need for the church to embrace and accept it. While I completely agree with that, I am always so comforted by the fact that there are some things that never change. I grew up attending a United Methodist Church, but I've never been a "hard core" Methodist (so to speak). The reason for this probably has to do with the fact that I was educated in a Catholic school, married the son of a Presbyterian minister and have parents who currently are members at a Southern Baptist Church. Not to mention that most of my friends, throughout my life, have come from all different faith backgrounds and denominations. I typically consider myself to be theologically well-rounded, at the very least my theology does not wholly align with any one denomination. In spite of all of this diversity most my weekly church services have been in a United Methodist Church. I know the prayers, most of the hymns and the order of worship.
My parents came to town last weekend so they could see Collin play soccer. Since their plane didn't leave until late Sunday evening they were able to attend church with us. As we prayed and sang and worshipped I realized that we all knew exactly what was going on. I wasn't the least bit concerned that there would be a prayer they wouldn't know or hymn they hadn't at least heard. I was instantly transported to the church of my childhood as I realized that these things had not changed. I realized that despite the fact my parents have been attending a church of a different denomination for years, that they still knew this church. Yes, it's a different town, a different building, different minister, different people. I suspect that even if we went back to my childhood church we would find that much has changed, but I guarantee that we could step right in because some things would be the same.
As I stood in the sanctuary, in the middle of worship, feeling this incredible sense of comfort in the fact that some things never change, it dawned on me that God never changes (no, this is not the first time I've thought or heard this). He is, He was and He always will be. While the church itself changes with the times and is ever turning its wheels to find ways to bring people in, God does not change with the time. God is God, now and forever, and there IS GREAT comfort in that.

Fair

2011-10-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

Last week, Collin and his best buddy Joe Joe got to go to the Onslow County Fair. This was Collin's first experience at a fair. I knew it was going to be an interesting experience, but especially since I had never been to this particular fair, so even I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't even know if there were rides for children his height. So, thinking that this would be a relatively inexpensive experience off we went. HA, not so inexpensive, but a great a time!

The first ride the boys found was a motorcycle ride. As you'll see the various motorcycle rides were, by far, the most popular. This better not be a sign of things to come.

Collin handled this ride way better than I expected him to. It was actually a little mini-roller coaster, and went kind of fast. I was a little surprised, and Collin thought it was great!

Then there was the next motorcycle ride. It was a little vintage, it has apparently been thrilling children for more than 30 years, and still going strong.

And alas, the final motorcycle ride of the evening. Quite a bit newer than the previous and Joe Joe even got a passenger (if you can't tell, that's a girl on the back of his motorcyle).

Then the boys discovered that they could win a light sabre sword if they played a fishing game. Fortunately, it was a play until you win game. So, both boys went fishing for sharks, and both boys won!

We did have to confiscate the swords quickly so that no by-standers would get whacked in the head as the two began to play.

Of course you can't leave the fair without having sampled fair food, so we topped off the night with cotton candy...

...And the ride home was very quiet.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-11T16:45:00.000-07:00

One of the most wonderful things about our church is the never-ending attempts to involve the children in every way possible. I think it is such an incredible way to show children that church is more than just a Sunday morning thing, and that they too have an important role in the life of the church.

Each fall our church hosts a pumpkin patch, and each year the children are invited to come and help unload the pumpkins. So, this year we went to unload pumpkins.

Collin's best buddy, Joseph, and Joseph's brother even came to help. They must have worked hard because they were hot and tired when it was time to go home. Now, they just want to know when we're going back to BUY a pumpkin.

Faith in Action

2011-10-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

Each year our church chooses one Sunday on which none of us go to church. Instead, we go out into our community and try to BE the church. We find projects with which we can make a difference for someone or some group in our community. It is usually a great day of working together and hoping others "get it."
Being quite pregnant and having a 3-year-old my work options were quite limited this year. So, I stayed back with a handful of others, and the children, to make halloween decorations to send overseas. Now, it doesn't seem like much, I know. Really, they are fighting a war, do the soldiers really care about decorating for halloween?? Probably not. But, we did need something we could do with the children in an attempt to make the day "real" and understandable to them. So, full speed ahead. We made spiders, paper candy corn streamers, bats and cats, and even some turkey placemats, just for good measure. The children had a wonderful time and were well entertained while many of their parents were working projects around town.
On our way home, Collin noted that we did not sing any songs at church, nor did we go to Sunday School and Pastor Rick didn't speak. So, I began to explain, as best I could in 3-year-old lingo, what the purpose of church was for that day. I asked Collin if he knew why we go to church in the first place, he responded it's because of Jesus. I thought that was good enough. So, I told him that Jesus wants us to do things to help other people, it's part of believing in him and doing what he asks. I told him that Jesus spent his whole life doing things for other people. At this point I just asked him what we had done for other people that day. His response, "We made decorations for the guys with daddy so it's like our house, and that will make them happy." Yes, my child it will.
Even a 3-year-old gets it. He knows he will not get anything in return. He knows he will not even know if the "guys" actually received them or not and he is perfectly content having done something nice for someone else. There truly is wisdom in youth.

Since we were helping with the crafts there are no pictures of the children actually working. However, we were able to get this shot of them in front of the fire truck. As one of our projects the church provided lunch for first responders in our area. The firefighters were kind of enough to let the children explore the truck before they came in for lunch. Thanks guys!!

The Body of Christ

2011-10-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

There are no cute pictures for this post or funny stories about the comings and goings of my 3-year-old. No, this post is a reflection, probably 30 years in the making, on the Body of Christ.
Growing up in the church I always heard about the Body of Christ. Even at a young age I knew people weren't speaking of the physical body of Jesus, I knew it was something bigger, deeper than that. As I got older I began to understand that being a part of the Body of Christ carried with it a great repsonsibility to be His physical presence in the world. What I'm not sure I realized, maybe until recently, is that being His physical presence is so much more than helping in a soup kitchen, volunteering at church, or lifting a helping hand for a neighbor. While those things are important and a large part of what the Body of Christ is to do, it's not the full extent of it.
Many have heard the "Footprints" poem speaking of how God picks us up and carries us through the hard times. Recently I have begun to wonder if God doesn't use the Body of Christ to do some of that carrying, to be that physical presence in tragic situations, life altering situations. I'm not talking about cooking a meal for someone who has lost a family member, I'm talking about truly walking with them through the tragedy. Jumping into the muck of life and death with another person so that he or she does not have to bear that burden alone. This is surely not something you can do for just anyone, but I feel like it's something we run from even when it involves our closest friends and family. It's something that takes an enormous amount of energy, emotion and suffering on our part. It is allowing our heart to bear a burden with another and sometimes break for another. It is being in the middle of the sadness and devestation, listening to a cry that can only come from the depths of someone's soul. It is bearing the burden of a lost child with a devestated parent, the burden of a lost spouse with the one left trying to figure out how to live as a widow(er). It is bearing the burden of illness, addiction, financial ruin, and the list goes on, in such a real way that it truly alleviates some of the burden felt by the person experiencing the pain. It is sitting in the house, the hospital, the rehab center, the church regardless of how uncomfortable or emotional it makes us. It is knowing when to say nothing, because there is nothing you can say. It is knowing that you may have to stay all night. It is holding someone who is fighting mad or dropped to their knees in devastation. It is remembering that the pain doesn't leave in a week or a month or a year, and being there when it rears its head. It is being Jesus with skin. Someone to touch, to hold, to listen, to SHOW the depth and breadth of the love of God, as best as we can. This is the Body of Christ, this is what we are called to do.

It's a cylinder

2011-09-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

As I noted in the previous post, Collin got M&Ms today. We started with a regular bag from the check-out line. Then Collin spotted the aisles of halloween candy and we just had to go look there before a final decision could be made. And that's when he saw it, a cylinder of M&Ms.

And that's what HE called it. A cylinder, really?? So, I quickly responded by asking him how on earth he knew that. He said, it was a small cylinder, but still a cylinder. I repeated my question. Collin informs me that Martian Mickey uses a cylinder to help the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang get back to earth. Who knew???? Dare I say pre-school television just might be educational.

What a difference a week makes...

2011-09-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

...or maybe it was the bribe of M&Ms.
If you are keeping up you know that Collin's first soccer game was quite traumatic. So, needless to say, we spent all week talking about soccer, and how to play it. When he had friends over a couple of days ago I even found myself telling him that we do not take things from other people, unless we are playing soccer. Ha!!
We even watched a professional soccer game on television so that I could point out to him how the "big boys" were playing the game. He sat and watched, and even noted that none of them were crying. His coach spent some time in practice having the kids steal the ball from each other and then she stole the ball from them. Just to make sure the concept was sinking in I told him he could have M&Ms if he could make it through the whole game with no tears.
Well, it was more than just no tears, he played almost the entire game, did the kick-off, threw the ball in and SCORED 2 GOALS!!! It was great! He was having a blast! He even told me at half-time that he was playing so much his legs were hurting. That boy deserved a trophy for his improvement from last week, but he had his heart set on the M&Ms. So, after his snack (if you've ever been around toddler sports you know how important the after game snack is), we went to Target for some M&Ms AND a chocolate bar. Even though only one was promised they were both well earned.
WAY TO GO COLLIN!!! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you!

You'll have to excuse the mom's commentary in the video :)

Drama, Trama

2011-09-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

The only way to describe this picture is the calm before the storm, or better yet, the smiles before the tears.
Collin's first soccer game was Saturday and it was nothing if it wasn't dramatic. I knew the actual game would be difficult regardless of how well he did in practice. We had the advantage of having watched Collin's best buddy, Joseph, during his first soccer season this past spring. Practices always went off without a hitch and the games, well, the games were full of tears and stomps and hurt feelings. It all goes back to one of my previous posts; competitive sports go against everything a child is taught from the moment he begins to interact with others.
Needless to say Collin was super excited about this game. He loved his jersey and thought it was even cooler that Joseph had one exactly the same. The weather was perfect for a fall game and his grandparents and great-grandmother had come up for the weekend just to watch him play. He lined up with 3 of teammates, the whistle blew and the ball was taken (by the other team). This was ok at first, Collin was fine with them having a turn first, but when he got the ball and it was kicked away from him, it was not ok anymore. The tears rolled and he didn't even want to try to get it back.   So, off to the sidelines for a little pep talk, back in the game and the cycle starts again. Thus went his 45 minute game.
In his defense, he was not the only child crying on the field. As a matter of fact I think there were more children who were crying than not crying. I think it's just going to take some time for him to understand all of the double standards and nuances of "polite society." It's ok to steal the ball on the field, but not on the playground. It's ok to run into someone on the field, but not in your classroom. You should be aggressive on the field, but greatly temper that aggression everywhere else. And the list goes on, and on.
So, when the Manchester United game came on this afternoon, after the football game, I decided we should watch. Collin thought it was really cool that they were playing his sport on TV. I pointed out everytime the ball was "stolen" from someone. I noted that everyone was trying to get the ball to the goal. I showed him how no one used his hands. After a few minutes of taking all of this in he says, "and none of them are crying." Oh, break my heart.  But I acknowledged that none of them were crying, that they just ran super fast to get the ball back.
In the end, my little guy did pretty well while he was in there, and I think he will really enjoy it once he gets the hang of it. Until then every moment is a teaching moment. Right now he is super excited about next week's game, as long as that "red team" isn't there.

Playdates

2011-09-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

I am not sure when I first heard the term playdate. I am quite certain I did not have a child and that it was in reference to my friends (who also did not have children) getting their dogs together. I didn't have a dog at the time either, so I didn't pay it much attention. As I entered the stage of my life when more and more of my friends had children I began to hear this term used in reference to getting children together. While it all made sense, the significance of it was lost on me, until I became a stay-at-home mom (please note I didn't just say mom).

The older Collin gets the more difficult it is to keep him engaged, learning and tired at the end of the day. Add to that a pregnant mommy who needs more nap time than he does and somedays are quite interesting. So, in an effort to keep his schedule full we are trying to have at least one playdate a week. This is preferably on a non-school day, so as to help fill the down-time. Mind you, I don't think it is my responsibility to entertain my child every moment of his life, or to even provide entertainment opportunities for every moment of his life. However, I do think it is my responsibility to provide him with opportunities to learn, socialize and expend some energy, on a regular basis.

We have had playdates before, just not that often. Before I stayed home Collin was in a daycare during the day and had more than enough playtime with others, especially for a little guy. He was only 18 months old when I decided to leave work, and at that point was pretty easy to "engage" and keep busy. Now, it's a whole new story. I am looking for every opportunity I can find to have him learn, play, run, socialize and be outdoors.

The most interesting thing I have learned about playdates is that they are as much for the mommies as they are for the children. When you find yourself as your child's only companion, and equally as bad that he/she may be your only (day-time) companion you begin to look for opportunities to be around other adults during the day. The beauty of a playdate is that it is actually a "playdate" for everyone. I can have an adult conversation, Collin can play with someone other than me or by himself. I can enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend and without a child wanting to sit with (on, near....) me. Collin can run and play and yell and chatter with someone who loves to do those same things just as much as he does. So, as a stay-at-home mom, who has desperately done everything in my power not to be a stereotypical stay-at-home mom I have joined the thousands (probably way more than that) of moms who absolutely love playdates.

Sunday, Sunday

2011-09-05T09:07:00.000-07:00

We were both dressed up, and had a willing photographer. So, here we are (technically, all 3 of us) at church.

And this is as "baby bump" as you get, at least for now.

First Day of Preschool

2011-09-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

Friday was Collin's first day of 3-year-old preschool. He was so excited to see some of his friends from last year and meet new ones. He was all smiles and ready to go.

Usually, Collin is dropped off in a carpool line, but for the first day of school (inspite of his objections) Mom had to walk him in. He barely had the patience to stand still for a picture. Fortunately, he has already learned how to humor me, most of the time.

Finally it was to the classroom with his new teacher, Mrs. Segebarth (yes, he can pronounce her name). She helped him with his bookbag.

Then, came the instructions on their morning routine. He was shown his cubby, and told where to put his things for the day.

And mom was out. I didn't want to disrupt the classroom routine, and of course one of his friends from last year got to school and Collin was off to play.

He had a great first day (from what I hear) and here's hoping for a wonderful year!

Soccer Mom

2011-09-05T05:56:00.000-07:00

I am officially a Soccer Mom!! I'm not sure I could have ever dreamed I would be here, but, SUV and all, I went with Collin to his very first practice. It was hysterical and he LOVED it!! 5 toddlers were able to focus and listen for 45 minutes. They were sweaty and dirty and tired by the end. And oh so excited. The only issue they may have will be at game time, when there is only ONE ball. See, as parents, we teach our children to share and not to take things from other people. Then, we sign them up for sports and don't understand why they get upset and cry when someone takes the ball away from them. It must be horribly confusing for them. So, at practice, each child has his/her own ball, and all works pretty well. We'll see how it goes at game time :)

Geared Up and Ready to GO!

2011-08-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Collin is officially entering the world of organized sports, and he is so excited. We (meaning me, the mom) missed sign-ups for spring soccer. Each time we went to watch Collin's best buddy, Joe-Joe, play soccer Collin would ask when he was going to get to play on a team. Finally, it is time for fall soccer. I almost missed sign-ups again, but we got in just in time.

After searching a couple of days for soccer gear small enough for a 3-year-old, we were able to order the whole shabang. Collin has soccer cleats, soccer socks, soccer shorts and shinguards. The only thing we are missing is the team jersey, which he is actually concerned about getting. He has asked multiple times when he is going to get the shirt for his team. I am assured we will have it before the first game :)

To top it all off, he is playing on the same team as his best buddy. Needless to say, he is geared up and ready to go to practice tomorrow!

Birthday Party!!!

2011-08-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

Not even a hurricane could stop a 5-year-old's birthday party. We returned from our hurrevac just in time to celebrate the birthday of one of Collin's friends. It was a great time. There is no way to go wrong at a bouncey house place.

Then, to top it all off, Spiderman was there too. Collin wasn't quite as thrilled to see him as I thought he would be. He wasn't afraid, just not so interested. He was way more concerned with playing and when he realized Spiderman didn't want to go play on the bouncey houses (Spiderman is too big for the bouncey houses) he was fine to leave him.

Happy Birthday, Scott!! Best wishes for a wonderful year!!

Hurrevac

2011-08-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

Just a few hours after we returned from our 5-week southeastern tour, Hurricane Irene started gunning our way. What a welcome home surprise. I was not excited about packing up and leaving. I have never left for a hurricane and I've been through a few (Hugo, Dennis and Rita). There was one point in my life, where I actually stayed on purpose, equipped to stand like an idiot in torrential rain and down pours to let everyone else know just how bad the hurricane was. In any case, this was my first hurricane with a toddler and a baby on the way, and that made all the difference. So, we packed up and went to visit my family in SC. Even though we got out of town in plenty of time my mom still felt that Collin needed a hurricane survival kit.

So, the brown truck delivered his package to my Uncle's. It was complete with non-perishable snack food, a video game (for his mobigo that runs on batteries), a soccer ball (that matches his new cleats) and some flashcard games.

Alas, those indoor games weren't really needed. We didn't even get rain at my Uncle's. So, he and Collin had plenty of time to play outside. Collin kept trying to beat his "best time" on his tricycle.

Then, of course, soccer season starts this week and so Uncle Woody played soccer in the backyard. Huey (the dog), even got in on the game.

Since my grandmother lives in the same town, we were able to spend some time with her as well. It was wonderful. I can't imagine what those two were plotting...if you knew my grandmother, you'd be afraid too.

There was even time to sit on the front porch and rock, but not for too long.

And of course, we bring the race car everywhere we go. Collin and Uncle Woody had a blast racing Lightning McQueen up and down the driveway, and into the grass, garage door and whatever else got in the way.

In the end, we had a wonderful weekend and the only time Collin really had to play the mobigo was the trip home.

Fortunately, all was well at home when we returned. Hurricane Irene just gave us a great excuse for a fun little vacation.

FOUR!!!

2011-08-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

Collin has a new best friend, his name is Bryan and he's 16-years-old. What is so funny about this is that, to Collin Bryan may as well be his age (except that he's so much taller). We met Bryan through his parents and he so kindly "took" to Collin about as quickly as Collin did him.
Bryan is a very talented golfer, and Collin wants to be a very talented golfer. So, Bryan invited Collin for a day of golfing, just the guys.

So, I packed Collin a cooler, got his clubs set, and he was off to play golf with his new buddy. Bryan was so good to not only play friend and coach, but caddy too.

He worked with Collin on how to stand and swing, and have some fun. It was a hot day and they played hard.

I didn't realize that Bryan stays at the golf course all day. Collin wasn't really up for that so Bryan's mom came to the rescue. When Collin had enough of golfing, Mrs. Allen took him to the pool.

Collin got to cool off and, as he says, "play, play, play" some more.

I'm pretty sure he even convinced Mrs. Allen that Chick-fil-a was the only place to go for lunch.

And after a long hard day of play he was one sleepy boy. No dinner or bath and the mobigo was still playing.

Collin loves his friends who are his age, but he so enjoys the attention of the big boys. He couldn't have been more excited about his day off with Bryan. Bryan may never understand the impact the "big boys" have on the little boys, but both of the moms do. So, here is a special thank you to Bryan and his mom for creating such a special and fun day for my little guy and for giving me and my mom some time together.

Chopsticks

2011-08-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

At Collin's request we had Chinese food tonight. Ok, so it was Japanese, but he didn't know the difference, and it was so much better than any of our Chinese options. The waitress asked if we were interested in chopsticks. I quickly said no thank you only to hear my son say, "Yes, I want some chopsticks." I think the pictures say the rest.

Kachow!!!!

2011-08-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

If you have ever been to build-a-bear and you have a little boy, (or a medium boy or a big boy) you HAVE TO GO to Ridemakerz. It is a guy's dream. Instead of build-a-bear, it's build-a-car and any car you want, any way you want.

First you pick the shell, and of course Collin chose a Lightning McQueen...Kachow!!! He kept jumping, and punching the air, saying "Kachow, Kachow!!" He moved to quickly for me to get a picture of that.

We stuck with the stock wheels, but opted for an upgrade on the rims. Collin picked the red ones to match Lightning McQueen

Then it was time to choose a chassy (street car or monster truck). I couldn't believe he didn't want a monster truck. Lately he's been pretty fascinated with "big trucks." But no, Lightning McQueen is a race car, not a monster truck. Then there was the remote control option, of course we had to have that. Lightning McQueen HAS to be able to race and race SUPERFAST. I think Collin got a little bored on the explanation as to how the remote works :)

Then it was time to build. Yes, they even let Collin build it! There were some screws to drill...

tires to outfit and accessories to choose.

Admiring their handy-work.

Papa explaining how long the battery needs to charge, and how to take care of the remote.

And there it is...a Lightning McQueen race car, customized just the way Collin wanted it. He had a blast! It was the best couple of hours, and money we've spent lately. Now, he thinks Daddy and Papa each need one so they can all race.

Sunset on the Beach

2011-08-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

I have known since I was young that I did not want to get married in August. My parents did and it seemed that their anniversary was always overshadowed by something, usually something having to do with their children (like back to school). Well, with both children out of the house we are somehow still interfering with their anniversary. So, their sunset anniversary dinner on the beach included Collin and me, and some of our dear friends.

Collin got to play beach soccer with Papa and his new best buddy Mr. Scotty. Mr. Scotty went with Collin on his golfing trip last week, and now he plays soccer. He is the best!

Then of course they had to look for seashells. Amazingly enough they found a handful (the west coast of Florida is not known for an abundance of seashells).

These two just don't need words...

We had a wonderful sunset dinner, and I think inspite of all of the company my parents still had a wonderful anniversary. Maybe after 36 years, the "extra" people can make an anniversary just as special as being alone. Maybe it's the people, who show you some of how your relationship has grown and what it has meant over the years.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my parents, the couple who showed me what it meant to have a loving, committed, Godly relationship (and a whole lot more, but that's another post).

Sunday is Funday

2011-08-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Collin would spend all day, everyday in the pool if we let him. So, when we were looking for something low-key to do Sunday afternoon it became the obvious choice. The most exciting part for Collin, mommy and Kaka got in the pool too. It's usually just him and Papa, but this time the girls got in on the fun.

Mom jumped in to spend a couple of hours floating around the pool.

Kaka hung out in the spa and showed Collin how to climb from the big pool to the little pool.

And of course, what could be more fun than playing a little baseball in the pool?

It was definitely a fun day!!

Think, Think, Think...

2011-08-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

What on earth could possibly be going through his mind?????

I asked what he was doing, his response, "I'm just sitting here thinking." I asked him what he was thinking about, his response, "I'm just thinking."

I can only imagine.

Tee Time

2011-08-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Collin loves all things sports and one of his new favorite games is golf. He has had a few sets of plastic clubs that inevitably break the first time out or quickly become a dog's chew toy. So, after noticing a continuing interest in the game we bought Collin a "real" set of clubs.

He loves them!! He can identify all 3 of them. Yes, that number is not a typo. There are only 3 clubs in a child's set; a driver, an iron and a putter. Hey - what more could you need at 3 years old?

We brought the clubs with us on our trip to Florida and off Collin and my dad went for Collin's second trip to a real golf course. He was so excited, he even got excited about being able to carry his own bag. Thank goodness for the backpack straps.

Collin even noted that it was so hot outside that he needed to take a Gatorade with him. Ha! He is such a funny little guy.

The girls did not go on this outing, and my dad and one of our dear friends were so involved with teaching the art of golf that these are the only pictures from the day. However, I am assured that everyone had a wonderful time and Collin has been showing us his golf stance.

Out Came the Sun...

2011-08-11T19:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, after 4 straight days of rain the sun appeared, and actually stayed all day. So, Collin got to play outside all day. It was great for him and for me. He slept in a little, had a great breakfast, chatted with daddy and then he was out of the door to the sandbox. There was some soccer played and time with the dog. While I was unable to capture everything Collin did outside today, I did get his pool time. Papa even made it home from work in time to play for awhile.

He is so proud of himself for going under the water. Ok, he obviously didn't do it on his own, BUT he didn't come up flaling and crying like he usually does. He just had a really shocked look on his face. The he kept talking about telling his daddy because daddy would be so proud of him for going under the water. Too cute!!

Then there were some attempts to repeat on his own, not quite as successful, but he did get his whole face in the water on his own. BIG success for us.

Of course there can't be a sunny day by the pool without a popsicle.

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

2011-08-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

...and I have a little boy who NEEDS to go out and play. The forecast isn't showing any improvement, not for two weeks. What to do with a high-energy child who has not been outside to play in 3 days????? Well, we did the best we could.

We braved the rain and headed toward the mall on the chance that there was some sort of play area. I don't know why we thought there would be. My mom had never seen one, but surely, since the mall has been completely redone in the past few years, there should be something.

And alas, after braving the pouring rain, there it was, an indoor play area. We could hardly get a picture. Collin was bouncing off the walls, or should I say bouncing off the benches. He jumped on, climbed on, slid on, went through and over everything that was there. I think it was as much of a relief for him as it was for me. I'm not sure how often we'll be able to do this (refer to the above mentioned forecast) before the "new" wears off, but we'll take it as long as it will work.

I will say, I think every mall should have something like this. There was a store front called the family room. It had a restroom, nursing room, and large play area with a television. Just outside of that is the above play area. This isn't just good for a rainy day, this is good for any shopping trip. Mom can shop for awhile and then the kiddos can play. Everyone is happy!

Camp-out with Kaka

2011-08-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

There are some things that only a grandmother would do. Ok, so maybe a mom would do it too, if she weren't very pregnant and trying to keep her toddler on a schedule. In other words, it's more likely to happen at grandma's house (in our case, Kaka). It's a camp-out!

They had everything they needed: a movie, comfy pjs, sleeping bags, pillows, toys...oh, and headphones. Yes, headphones for the mobigo (in case the movie got boring) and for the ipod (when it's time to actually go to sleep).

We all watched the movie together (Collin probably saw about half) and then I went to bed, leaving my mom and Collin downstairs. Apparently they saw 12:30 a.m. (keep in mind Collin had had a 4 hour nap from 2 - 6 that afternoon). My mom told me the next morning that Collin woke up about 3 a.m. to tell her not to forget he wanted to go get a Candyland game. Holy cow, that child's brain never rests.

He had a great time, and would have done it all over again the next night if I had let him. It was neat to see how excited he was for his "special" time. It sent me back to a summer at my grandmother's house, my sister and I begging to have a "sleepover" in my grandmother's room. She finally agreed to share her bed with the two of us. I don't think anyone slept, but everyone had a great time. Most importantly a memory was made, a memory that is still vivid more than 20 years later. What a blessing to see my own child making those memories (with all of his grandparents) that will last a lifetime.

Pool Time with Papa

2011-08-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Collin has never been really comfortable in water that is much deeper than a bathtub, but he has come so far this summer. Even after a week of swim lessons and the purchase of pool toys and inflatables he still wasn't real sure about the pool, until we got to Papa's house. There is nothing like daily practice to help a child become comfortable in the pool.

Collin is even helping to clean the pool while he plays.

After a quick scrub of the walls they are off! He is swimming, with some flotation assistance, all over the pool. I can hardly believe it. He is putting his face in the water, getting his hair wet and just having a great time.

Now, about the deep end.....

Saturday with 2nd Cousins, or is it 1st Cousins Once Removed????

2011-08-08T14:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we headed over to the east coast of Florida to visit my Aunt and Uncle and their children. We haven't seen them in a little over a year, and it was a great visit.

Collin and his cousins got a pool lesson from Papa (Uncle David). That was hysterical. My dad trying to teach 3 children ages 8, 6 and 3 learning to play pool. HA!! Everyone else in the restaurant got a kick out of it too, except maybe the guys trying to play at the table next to them. I know they got knocked by a kid carrying a pool stick on more than one occassion. They had a wonderful time though. Then it was back to my Aunt and Uncle's for a dip in the pool.

The girls are great swimmers, but Collin held his own, especially once the water guns came out. I'm pretty sure he got her.

The tubes also let him "swim" around the pool with them.

Still all smiles, even at over 2 hours in. Collin really enjoyed throwing rings and dive sticks and then having Brooke and Lauren go get them.

Then there was the pirate ship. That was of great interest to Collin until he was on it. He wasn't nearly as interested in the pirate ship ON the water as he was the pirate ship on the ground.

Just for good measure, because he is too small for playtime in the pool, but the most wonderful baby, here is Jack.

It was a great trip. We hadn't even met baby Jack yet and it was so nice to snuggle with him. We also enjoyed our time catching up with my Aunt Diane and Uncle Jeff and spending the day with their family.

Have I Mentioned How Much I LOVE Children's Museums???

2011-08-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

This post was going to just be pictures of our latest adventure at a children's museum, but then I realized that not all children's museums are equal. While that may seem obvious, I learned that it doesn't have as much to do with the museum as it does with the parents. At the first three museums the parents were WITH their children, helping them, playing with them, directing them, interacting with them. At this last one, most of the parents were hands-off, just letting their children run around. Now, in theory, that is exactly what a child should be able to do in a children's museum, but there are a couple of things (sharing with others and cleaning up after yourself) that a little parental guidance can help with, making things nicer for everyone. All of that to say, if you take your child to a children's museum, go WITH him/her, enjoy it WITH him/her.
Needless to say, we had a wonderful time at our latest children's museum.

Now how does this work???

Your forecast today...thunder storms

I can hear you...

Stomp on the flashing light

Virtual soccer

Ever the engineer

Paper airplane flight tester

Paper airplane launcher...this was cool!

Fireman Collin to the rescue!

This was a stethescope that when put to a sensor on the body would make the sound (heart beat, stomach growl...). He is laughing because he found that one that passes gas :)

Planting with KaKa

2011-08-03T18:45:00.000-07:00

Every time we are in town my mom has a yard project going and Collin is always excited to help. This time they were planting new hibiscus plants around the pool. Collin was a little apprehensive at first when my mom told him he might find a worm. Ha!! We had to tell him that worms were cool before he'd stick his hands in the dirt. Then it was on.

So, I missed the show (I got to go shopping ALONE), but I am told that he was covered in dirt and mud from head to toe. He chased two frogs around the yard until they got away. Then, when asked to water the newly planted hibiscus he watered the plant and my mom. Needless to say she returned fire and the fun ensued.

The only way to top it all off, a swim in the pool.

Party Time

2011-08-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

Inspite of the fact that we are currently a good ways from home, Collin still received an invitation to a birthday party. He was very excited to be going to a party, especially when he learned he could wear his swimsuit (which meant water) and that there would be cake. So, off to the Tangled party we went.

Collin had a great time! There were 10 children all 4 and under...whew!! I was tired when we left and all I did was watch them play.

It was wonderful for him to have the chance to play with some other children. Small children are funny, it doesn't take them long to warm-up to each other and become best buds. Every other child there had known the others since birth, and yet here they were, taking Collin in like he'd been around for years. I so often wonder, when I watch children play, why adults can't be the same way.

Children's Museum

2011-08-01T13:19:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love a children's museum. While they are all different in size and what they offer, they have one HUGE thing in common, they are child friendly. Children can touch, talk loud, play, explore, run, experiment and just be kids. They can do all of this without a single adult telling them (or their parents) not to touch or that they are being too loud.

Collin drove a race car (Lightning McQueen, in case you were wondering),

flew a spaceship

tested his strength,

worked on the farm,

got to be a cowboy,

made some music,

tried his hand at dentistry,

climbed a summitt,

played with the lilypads,

and finished an incredible day with a trip to Burger King :)

Playtime with Nana

2011-08-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I've known for awhile that when traveling with a child it is important to bring toys, his toys. What started as a small bag with some rattles, rings and balls has turned into something that looks like an equipment vehicle for a high school athletic department. Instead of a small bag of toys we bring: a set of golf clubs, a bag of baseballs, a glove, a bat, a kickball, a bike and a plethora of cars.

Fortunately, Mommy doesn't always have to "help" play with the toys. Nana was on-hand for a golf lesson...

...some batting practice and a game of kickball. Collin had a great time playing on the farm.

We grew french fries!!

2011-08-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

On our Easter visit to the Wickers' Collin got to plant potatoes. He and Stella had a great time playing in the dirt and learning how to hoe and plant. He was a little confused that the actual potato would become a plant, but when we told him he was planting french fries, all was well. So, he and daddy put the potato pieces in the ground and covered them up.

Then, it was back to check out the results of his handywork. Inspite of the heat and complete lack of rain potato plants had grown. Collin wasn't quite as interested in the work of pulling up the plants as he had been just dropping a potato piece in a hole, but he helped.

The potatoes were a bit small, because of the weather, but there were just enough to make french fries for dinner. So, into the kitchen with Nana to learn how to fry homemade french fries!!!

He did a GREAT job!!

Cousins and Friends

2011-07-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

They are like two peas in a pod; only 11 months apart and equally matched in opinion and spirit. While the latter of that leads to some interesting confrontations, these two love each other as much as any cousins ever could. They always look forward to seeing each other and have such a great time together. So, it only made sense that we started our southeastern tour in Columbia.

We got to spend a few great days with Erika and Stella. We went swimming at the pool, bouncing at Bounceriffic and had lots of fun just watching the two of them play. Stella even got to come and spend some time with us at the Wickers'.

Both children love to cook with Nana. Their most recent creation, french fries (more on that later). So, in the spirit of all good cooks Nana found aprons for both kiddos.

"CHEESE!" Boy, can they ham it up! "Now, what can we cook up next?"

The Polar Express

2010-12-18T18:50:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl my favorite Christmas story was Polar Express. We read it every Christmas Eve, and every time I would proclaim how I could still hear the bell (I knew if I couldn't "Santa" wouldn't come). As I got older I began to understand the importance of "hearing" the bell. It meant that the spirit of Christmas, the innocence and wonder of a child's belief was still alive. So, my first Christmas out of college I received my own copy of the Polar Express.
Now, that I have a child of my own he hears the Polar Express every Christmas Eve, and sometimes a few times before. The Wilmington Railroad Museum hosted a reading of the Polar Express. It was wonderfully done, complete with a "first" gift of Christmas.

After hearing a local news personality read the children got to see Santa. Along with a bag of candy, each child received a bell from Santa's sleigh. Collin was pretty excited, but was much more interested in the trains. He loves trains. Then it was off to a place of his choosing for dinner. Of all of the places in Wilmington Collin wanted to have dinner Chick-fil-a.
It was a good night. Collin was a hit in his pjs with Santa in a rocket ship, and note the rocket ship slipper to match :)

A Tribute to My Husband, My Hero

2010-12-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

I nominated Robert for an award at our alma mater, The University of South Carolina. He made it to the final 14 (out of more than 200), but did not make the final 5 that go up for vote. After looking at the applicants who won I realized that Robert just wasn't who the university was looking for anyway. I may be more disappointed than he is. Guess we aren't as young as I thought.
In any case I am posting his application here for you to enjoy.

Why should you be the face of y'all?
I am a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a Marine, an alumnus, a Gamecock; I am the face of Y’ALL. Like so many other Carolina graduates, I have been a Gamecock since I was a young boy. I have loved, cheered for, and cried over our teams my whole life. I followed my passion to Columbia in 1999 and graduated cum laude with a degree in civil engineering in 2003. That very same day, I was commissioned by my uncle as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. While we didn’t all follow the same career path, we have all been living as ambassadors for our alma mater since the day we walked across the stage.
During the past 7 years as a Marine Corps pilot I have taken my pride in and passion for Carolina and the lessons I learned there into the cock pit and half-way around the world. With a gamecock on my helmet, I have flown the V-22 Osprey into combat in Iraq, on relief missions in Haiti, and in support of our forces off the coast of Africa. The Carolina flag has even found itself flapping in the winds of an Iraqi sandstorm and hanging on a wall of the USS Nassau . Late at night, in the ready room of a naval ship, half a world away, I saw our baseball team win the college world series. I spent my first weekend home from my last deployment in Williams-Brice Stadium enjoying the sound of 2001 as I watched the Gamecock football team run onto the field amidst a cheering crowd excited for the promise of an incredible season. I checked the status updates on my phone while training in Arizona as our football team beat Alabama this year. And even now, I am cheering our basketball team to victory as I help my squadron prepare to deploy to Afghanistan this summer. I am the face of Y’ALL.

Just like so many other Carolina graduates around the country and around the world, I am leaving a legacy; a legacy of service, a legacy of pride, a legacy of tradition, and a legacy of honor. I am proof that a dream can be realized, that perseverance pays off, and that hard work has its rewards. I am proof that the University of South Carolina educates and grooms young men and women who will leave a legacy. I am the face of Y’ALL.

What would you say to over 47,000 alumni and friends who made a gift last year?
A wiser man than me once said, “Our children are the gift we leave to a time which we will not see.” I believe our legacy is the same, a gift we leave to a time which we will not see. The change in the world we want to see and choose to make, the imprint we leave on those around us and those we love, the life we choose to live for the betterment of others; these things create our legacy.
I am leaving a legacy because those who came before me chose to leave a legacy. Years ago, someone sitting in your seat chose to support the University of South Carolina. With their simple donation, they were investing in a dream, not their own, but the dream of a young man who years before had decided he wanted to be “Top Gun.”

My dad always jokes about how parents should be careful which movies they allow their children to see. This doesn’t have much to do with ratings, but it has everything to do with dreams; because my dream to be a military pilot started in the living room of my parents’ home as we watched Top Gun. As a 10-year-old, my dream was based on Tom Cruise’s cool factor; the great glasses, the pretty girl, the awesome motorcycle, and of course the jet. But as I got older a sense of tradition, honor, and service to my country began to take root. I realized my dream had more to do with the legacy great men like my grandfather, a career marine, left; and the legacy I want to leave for future generations. What I didn’t realize at the time was the importance of the legacy alumni from the University of South Carolina chose to leave.

Because generous people with a passion for their Gamecocks and a passion for education chose to invest in the University of South Carolina, they were choosing to invest in my future. They insured that the Carolina I attended was even better than the Carolina they had left. They don’t know me, they don’t know the others who graduated with me, and they don’t know the students here today. What they do know is that they want others to have an even better experience and an even better education than the one they received, and in so doing they leave a legacy.

It’s much like the work I do in the Marine Corps. Marines before me, like my grandfather, made investments in our Corps and in our country. These investments came at a high price, for some, the ultimate price. These great men and women knew they may never see the returns on their investment, but they did it anyway. They were leaving a legacy for me, for all of us, so that our lives might be a little better. With that same thought, I invest to leave a legacy to those Marines and Americans who come after me. I also invest in the University of South Carolina with the hope that I am paying forward the investment made for me.

So when you are thinking of whether or not to donate to the University of South Carolina, think of your own experience here. Think of the number of donations, small and large, that it took to make Carolina the place you remember it to be. Think of what it takes to make Carolina the place it is today. What kind of legacy do you want to leave?

Ronald Reagan once said, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they’ve made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don’t have that problem.” While I believe President Reagan was right, I also believe that applies to those who donate to this great university. You don’t have to look far to know that your investment made a difference; your legacy matters. To those of you who donated before 2003, I stand before you as a testament to the legacy you chose to leave. I graduated cum laude with a degree in civil engineering. I attended Carolina on scholarships, some of which were possible because of your donations. The day I graduated I was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. I attended The Basic School in Quantico, VA, from there I went to flight school and earned my wings as an MV-22 Osprey pilot. I have since deployed twice and attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor Training, which is the Marine Corps version of Top Gun. While I am not here to belittle the hard work I’ve done and the contributions of my family, know that your choice to give to Carolina allows me to stand before you today as a man who has realized his dream. I am part of your legacy. I am the face of Y’ALL.

How do you carry out the spirit of Carolina today?
My freshman year at the University of South Carolina was the year our football team was 0-11. My wife, who was a freshman the same year, always tells the story of calling her dad and asking him if she should be concerned because the fans were cheering for a first down. But I think that one action demonstrates most completely the spirit of Carolina. It is a spirit of passion, undying hope, and perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is the electricity you feel as the student section at Williams Brice vibrates with excitement and energy just as 2001 is about to play. It is the whisper of fall leaves as they blow through the Horseshoe while students study, question, and discover. It is the apprehension in a parent’s eye on move-in day and the prideful tear at graduation. The spirit of Carolina never dies, but lives on through its alumni.

I so often find myself living out this spirit, whether it’s at a Carolina game feeling the same excitement I did as a student; reminding my 3-year-old son that he can do anything he puts his mind to; or bringing my plane in for a night landing on the deck of a dimly lit ship in the middle of the ocean. It is the spirit I saw flying relief missions in Haiti and combat missions in Iraq. It is the spirit I feel as I study for a flight and train for a deployment. It is the spirit I see as my toddler comes running in the den, with his Carolina t-shirt on, shouting, “Go Gamecocks!” It is this Carolina spirit that keeps me always cheering for, always hoping for, and always expecting the best.

A Ho-Hum Day

2010-10-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, it was actually supposed to rain in Yuma today. I didn't believe it until I walked outside and saw the looming clouds. Contingency plan: the bowling alley. However, in Yuma fashion, the clouds lingered, but no rain. So, I decided we'd go to the park so Collin could play since we may get trapped inside at any moment. Played at the park, home for a long nap and still lots of hours left to entertain him. The bowling alley was sounding like a good idea rain or no rain. I got him all excited about it and off we went. Only to learn when we got there that it is closed, Mon - Thurs. from 4:30 - 9 for a competitive kids' bowling league. We weren't even allowed to stay and watch because apparently it upsets the parents. Wow - I had no idea that competitive bowling was that big of a deal. And now, what was I supposed to do? We had only left the hotel room for an hour today. We were not going to last until bed time cooped up in the room. In addition to concern for my sanity, Collin was crushed. He looked up at me and asked, "why won't they let me play?" Ugh - tug at the heart strings.
I couldn't think of anything around that would make it better. Then, like a light bulb: Chuck E Cheese. So, off we went for our impromptu date. He loved it!! Some pizza and basketball, cars, skeeball and so much more made all well with the world. Especially when my little cowboy saw the horse.

Then we topped it off with a trip to the ice cream store. It will never cease to amaze me how easily a ho-hum day can morph into an extraordinary day for a toddler, and his mom.

Lessons Learned in Yuma

2010-10-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

We've been in Yuma for two weeks now, with two weeks left to go. We've visited almost every park in town, gotten to know the local shopping centers quite well, seen camels, visited the pool, played by the Colorado River and jumped aboard a Southern Pacific railcar. Whew! It's been a great time, and there's still much more in store for our final days here. In the midst of it all something "hit" me the other day. We've done more here than we ever do in Jacksonville.
This is a town that doesn't look like it has much to offer. It really was just dropped in the middle of the desert. The shopping isn't that great and there isn't much in the way of attractions. Yet, I realized we have had a fun-filled time here.
I am always willing to admit that entertaining a toddler is significantly easier than entertaining an older child. However, I was worried when we came out here that we'd both be bored out of our minds. Robert is working 12 - 15 hours a day, six days a week. I don't have a house to "keep." Not much in the way of errands to run. No appointments scheduled, no time at the gym. All of the things that end up consuming our daily lives back home just don't exist when we live in a hotel. Knowing the potential for boredom I researched and talked to friends who live here. I committed to getting Collin out on the move for an adventure at least once a day. That's what we've done. So I'm left wondering what all we miss when we're in Jacksonville.
A good friend of mine does an excellent job at planning weekend adventures for her children. I've always envied her as I read a blog post about their trip to an art museum, or a Saturday morning farmer's market. She enriches their family time with such exciting, and educational outings. In my envy I just tell myself that it's because she lives in a big city where these are more readily available. What I've learned is that we can have the same enriching adventures, it may just take a little more research.
Since we live in Jacksonville I never felt the need to research fun adventures. We just go on about our daily lives, Collin goes to school, plays with his friends, and so on. Then, what will end up happening is that when it's time for us to move we'll be running around trying to "do" all of the things around to do. So, I've decided to plan adventures in Jacksonville as if we are visiting the area. I'm going to research parks, sites, aquariums, historical landmarks (there are a lot), nature trails, anything to give Collin a chance to know his home, have fun, and maybe learn something.
So, if you're bored in your town or just tired of the "rut" get online and then get out of the house. There's just got to be something to do.

Is it a zebra, or a donkey????

2010-10-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

No, it's a zedonk. Yes, that is the real name of this animal. It has stripes like a zebra, but the gray coloring (instead of white) and size of a donkey. It was fascinating. So were some of the other "exotic" animals at The Camel Farm in Yuma. We enjoyed our Sunday with Robert walking through the park of animals, most of which we had never seen. It was all a little rustic, but we had a blast!! Collin loved running from one animal to the next with his cup of alfalfa cubes. He wasn't completely sure what he thought about the animals eating out of his hand. He thought it was better to just throw them into the pens.
We saw an ostrich, a coati, different types of goats, sheep, deer, and of course camels. It is supposed to be home to the largest herd of camels in the United States. I'm guessing there aren't too many camels in the US considering there were only about 10 at this park. All the same, just one would have been more camels than any of us had ever seen.
While I know it won't always be so easy, right now keeping Collin entertained and squeaking out quality family time is a breeze. $13 and a little over an hour and he was a happy boy, and we were happy parents.

Roxaboxen

2010-10-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Forever immortalized in a children's book, Roxaboxen Park sits atop a small hill in a neighborhood in Yuma, AZ. With completely romantic notions of taking Collin and having him pretend and play like the children in the book we went to Roxaboxen. I knew we would find a hill of rocks in the middle of, well let's say, a neighborhood in which I would not purchase a home. However, I thought my toddler's memory and imagination would spring to life when he saw it. We had read the book multiple times with him oohing and aahing at the pictures. I had excitedly and eloquently explained the art of make believe and what the children had been able to create in Roxaboxen. Yet, when we arrived all he could say was, "Ooh, cool, rocks!"

It was neat that there were still some larger rocks fashioned in the same way the children in the story had placed them. Though I'm sure it was the work of someone who has read the book and visited. Not included in the book was the man passed out behind a bench. Collin saw him and very loudly says, "Is he sleeping? Why is he sleeping there? Hi! What's your name?" All of that spilled out of his mouth before I could stop him. YIKES!

So, this is the famous (or not so famous) Roxaboxen park. In spite of its lack luster appearance it was well worth the trip. Just a neat little adventure, and the first of many times Collin and I can read about something in a book and then go see it first-hand.

Parks, Parks and More Parks

2010-10-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

Maybe I really could have a future writing for the Yuma Visitor's Bureau. It really isn't that hot here :)
The weather has been gorgeous since we arrived; refreshing mornings, warm afternoons with a cool breeze, and cool evenings. Despite the gross overuse of the color brown the landscape is beautiful. Ok, so the dirt that is used instead of grass isn't that great, but the mountains that border the town are gorgeous. The varied hues that paint the sky at sunset and wrap themselves around the mountains are fantastic. But the best part, at least for anyone with a toddler, is the parks!
This city has spent a large amount of money creating and maintaing its parks. While we have only visited a few so far, they have not disappointed.
The Gateway Park is located on the Colorado River. Granted, this portion of the river doesn't look like anything special, but it's still the Colorado River. There is a swimming area, multiple picnic areas, plenty of room to run,

and a covered playground. Now, this is the most genious idea ever. Every town that gets hit with scorching heat and blistering rays needs these. The canopy not only shades the children while they play, but more importantly, shades the equipment. This way it's not hot to the touch. Did I mention I think this is genious!

To top it all off the Gateway Park is home to a Southern Pacific Railroad engine. Collin loved this! He thought the train itself was much more fascinating than my history lesson. He could climb, and sit, and pull levers, and run, and could even fit underneath. He's pretty sure this train is Thomas (even though it's not blue), and that Yuma is the coolest town ever.

The next park we found is the West Wetlands Park, or the Castle Park (as Collin has now named it). This was unbelievable. I have never seen anything like this that wasn't in some sort of an amusement park. Built for children from tots to teens (ok, so the teens might be a stretch unless they got a good game of hide n seek going with their friends) this park is great. The castle and fortress behind are built like mazes on the inside that lead to slides, monkey bars, swings, bridges and jumping boards.

One of the slides even opens up as a dragon's mouth.

There are trails that lead to "nature" sites in the surrounding wetlands. Plenty of places to go on a nature walk and other, less interesting equipment configurations.

So, next week we are off to a local park which was memorialized in a children's book. We'll be reading the book together then off on our adventure to see it in person. We'll also be scoping on the exotic animal park, the territorial prison and a wild west show. Stay tuned.

A Dream Deferred

2010-10-07T13:48:00.000-07:00

Every now and then my still burning passion for television journalism and that "fab" career flares up unexpectedly. Sometimes it comes from watching a reporter who should really find another career field, other times it comes from hearing the stories of friends who are "making it," and still other days it might come from the question of an old friend asking, what have you been up to?
For those of you who know me well, you remember a time when motherhood was nothing more than a fleeting thought for me. Something to check off on the list of things "to do" in a successful life. For years my career was my driving force and focus. As far back as my senior year of high school I remember plotting, planning, taking careful steps to insure that one day I'd be swinging through studio doors in New York City, or working on Capital Hill. I could hear the Kelly Clarkson song ringing in my ears - "Buildings with a hundred floors, swinging with revolving doors, maybe I don't know where they'll take me, but I gotta keep movin' on, movin' on. Fly away, breakaway...I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly."
And fly I did, off to school, a White House internship and the fast track to a career that, even on the worst day, was still great.
As I sit here, not a television reporter, but very blessed to have experienced it, even if for a moment; I wonder what happens to a dream deferred. Does it really shrivel up like a raisin in the sun? Does it really rot? I contend that it does neither. I think a dream deferred grows and matures. I think takes root in things more important than impressions, fame and self -importance. Sometimes, it may even change.
Today I am in a hotel room in Arizona, trying to squeak some family time out of a crazy, military life. I realize that now another song is ringing in my ear - "I'm letting go of the life I planned for me and my dreams. I'm losing control of my destiny. It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe. So I'm letting go. This is a giant leap of faith. Trusting and trying to embrace."
What I couldn't have imagined as the focused college student or driven professional is the joy and satisfaction that comes from being a wife and a mom. As simple as it seems, and almost embarrassing, in this "she woman, hear me roar" world, it is what it is. I am happy and mostly fulfilled with my current job - wife and mom. I can say mostly fulfilled b/c even on their best days no job is completely fulfilling. No one thing was ever meant to be, but that's a post for another day.
In the end, it's hard to believe that before I've even turned 30 (yes, i'm NOT there yet) that a dream could be completely gone. There is no telling what the future holds. I couldn't have imagined being where I am, and maybe that's part of the excitement. I can sit and plan all day, and still not have a clue about what is going to happen next. Do I think this burning desire that I still have is just to inflict pain? No. Do I think I'll be anchoring the network evening news? Hmmm....probably not. Do I think that this drive and passion will go to waste? Not a chance. I do know this, my experience and education makes me one of the most over-qualified stay-at-home moms around, but it also makes me good at my job. Because without hesitation, any day of the week, I can tell you, I am a mom and I am GREAT at my job.
So, what happens to a dream deferred - we'll just have to wait and see.

Football Season is Here

2010-09-11T18:41:00.001-07:00

It's a beautiful sight to behold. There is not much better than Carolina football, and there we were for the first game of the season. I still get chills when they play 2001 and the players come running onto the field. It's amazing just how electric that stadium can get during a game.

We are loving our new seats and so excited to make it back for the Arkansas game. We did realize that we are going to have to get more than 2 tickets soon, because Collin loves to watch football and neither mom nor dad are willing to give up a seat :)

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

It's official - Collin has started school. Ok, so it's only 2 days a week for a few hours, but it's "real" school. We went and met his teachers, and got a little list of things he needed. So, it was off for school supply shopping. Mom wanted to get the cute Pottery Barn Kids bookbag with Collin's monogram on it. As you can see below Mom lost that battle. Standing in the middle of Target Collin picked up the Toy Story bookbag, squeeled as he put it on, then with a huge smile, shrugged his shoulders and said, "This is just right." How do you say no to that??

Just a few days later he was off for his first day of school. It was way harder on mom than Collin. As much as I joke about him never looking back (which he didn't), I'm glad he is so confident and comfortable that he wants to experience new things on his own. I also know it means that he is certain I am coming back for him. Oh that we might all have someone we love and trust that much.

Collin is learning new songs every day and is studying the number one, the color red and learning to use scissors - aaahhhh!!! Don't ever dismiss the job of a preschool teacher she/he is doing something most of us would never do - teach ten 2 1/2 year olds how to use scissors, and so much more.

The Craziness...

2010-09-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

that is my life. I'm starting to wonder how I ever had time to work. Ok, so that is a little dramatic. I am the first to admit that I lead a life of relative leisure since I resigned from teaching last year. However, my life still is, none the less, crazy.

In the past 4 weeks we have welcomed Robert home only to see him off again. But, we were able to pack in a ton of family time before he left. I was spending time with my guys instead of blogging, so here's a recap.

Thanks to a little help from my sister we had a wonderful vacation at the beach. Collin loved playing in the pool with daddy, and really isn't interested in water that doesn't have an appropriate ledge from which to jump. We took Collin to see his first movie in a theatre - Toy Story 3, of course. We went to the park, worked in the yard, watched pre-season football and just had a wonderful time being a family. Fortunately this latest trip won't be as long.

Playtime

2010-08-16T16:52:00.001-07:00

This is my view from the couch as I sit back and enjoy watching my guys play with legos and Mr. Potato Head. This picture brings about the most amazing feelings of happiness, relief and love. My husband is home and my family is whole. Even if the time is short, it is wonderful!

Alone

2010-08-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, with all of the fan fare and people at the hangar to welcome home the men and women of VMM-162 some marines went home alone. It was such a sobering sight as I held on to my husband and watched this young man walk away alone.

He is just one of a handful of marines that returned home with no one there to greet him. Regardless of the reason(s) why no one was there for him he still returned from deployment to no one.

While all members of the armed forces deserve your gratitude and thanks, men and women like this deserve it most. Not because they are any better at their job or any braver, but because they do it all with little or no support and thanks at home.

WELCOME HOME MARINE! JOB WELL DONE! THANK YOU!

Never Underestimate...

2010-08-13T11:16:00.000-07:00

...the power of the written word. In our world of technology and an ever shrinking world we have more "friends" than ever, and yet, we are more alone than ever. In our busy lives it seems we don't even have time to smile at each other, much less write. Despite this truth, this week I saw a show of such great thanks and appreciation come pouring into my living room floor.

About two weeks ago I took on the project of helping to welcome home the single marines in Robert's squadron. We had more than 200 young men and women who would be coming home to the barracks. Some had family in town, but not all. So, I set to securing more than 200 dozen homemade cookies (never underestimate the power of women on a mission - thanks ladies!) and a thank you note to go with each of them. With one click of the mouse the email was out and the responses came as quickly.

Men and women across this country so excited and honored for the opportunity to express their gratitude to young men and women they will never meet sent letters of thanks. Some came with pictures, some in emails, some on index cards and some in beautiful envelopes; all filled with such pride and emotion for these "kids" who risk their lives so that we may continue to live ours as we wish. One of the neatest ones said this, "If you ever wonder who you are fighting for I've included a picture of my children."

In the end I received over 600 thank you notes in just a little more than a week, most from people I don't even know. The single marines received a package of letters, as opposed to just one. While myself and those who wrote, will never hear an audible thank you or get the joy of seeing the look on a 20-year-old's face as he/she sits in a barracks room alone to read the greatfulness of a nation; we know to never underestimate the power of the written word.

And Daddy Makes 3!!

2010-08-12T08:58:00.001-07:00

On what can only be described as the HOTTEST and MOST HUMID day of August we waited...and waited...and waited. Sweating more than I do at the gym and Collin soaked to the bone we searched the skies for Robert's plane. Ok, so Collin tuckered out and I searched.
Then from over the horizon we saw them. Finally, after 7 months they were overhead and coming home! Flying in a beautiful formation with Flight of the Valkyries playing in the background the Ospreys flew in to MCAS New River.

After a parade rest shut-down, and a formation the Marines were released to find their families; and we were anxiously waiting. The anticipation was over and a I felt a flood of relief as Robert snuck up behind us.

Kisses and hugs for everyone, and our family is back together. Our undying thanks and greatfulness to our friends and family who have supported us and prayed for us during this time. It is one of the things that gave us the strength to make it through. Just remember, they aren't all home and some are returning soon. Never stop praying for our military members.

Your People Will be My People

2010-07-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16).

While it may seem odd to be thinking of this nearly 5 months before our anniversary, it is often present in my mind due to the interesting lifestyle we have set-up for ourselves; and because I read a devotion today in regards to this very verse. Here is my adaptation of the author's thoughts (some lines are used verbatim).

It's been almost 7 years since my grand-mother stood before a crowded chapel of witnesses and read those words (Ruth 1:16), as I promised to love and honor my husband no matter what. When I made this promise, I meant it. I just didn't realize what it meant at the time. I wasn't thinking deployments, multiple careers (of mine), 7 moves in half as many years, and holidays trying to split time equally. But I would learn.
I have been learning through doing. What I promised then, I am living out now. Nearly a decade, various cities, and a child later I am learning that marriage is a committment of super glue proportions. And it's the committment that sticks even when the feelings ebb and flow. That's the beauty and courage of marriage.

Penny-pinching so you can accompany on an un-accompanied assignment. Going to family events (weddings, birthdays, graduations...) alone?
Your people will be my people.
Strange accents, foods, politics and television preferences?
Your people will be my people.
Death, divorce, and adoption?
Your people will be my people.
Trying to understand the purpose of sitting silently in the woods with a gun for an entire day?
Your people will be my people.

Because, after all, marriage is the ultimate parable, isn't it? It's the living picture of a God who looked at us in all our silly, selfish ways and then loved on us regardless, so that he could make US - His People. Amazing, crazy love. And all we have to say is, "I do."

So, now and forever, to both men in my life (God and my husband, to avoid confusion) - I DO!

(post adapted from (in)courage - http://www.incourageme.com/)

Chugga, Chugga, Choo-Choo

2010-06-07T17:37:00.000-07:00

For those of you who do not have little boys you can't fully appreciate their fascination with trains. They love them, everything about them. They love the speed, the noise, the movement, the horns, the bells, the tracks, everything. Collin is no different.
We are very fortunate to have a train museum in Wilmington. As we embarked this morning with some friends to see the train museum I was a little nervous. It's one of those places that you know could be overrun with older folks who don't appreciate a child's energy. My fears were quickly assuaged when we got there.

It's kid friendly! There was even a play-room just for children. There was a model train that the boys could control, a wooden caboose in which they could play and toy trains galore. Then, there was an entire room of model trains set up for the boys to watch. It was wonderful. Collin and his friend had no interest in the museum part, but were quite excited when they realize there were also "real" trains on which they could play.

So, we ended our outing playing on the real trains. The boys were happy and tired as we headed to lunch. It was a good day.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2010-05-31T16:39:00.001-07:00

Collin watched his first, live baseball game this weekend. He got to see The Citadel (my dad's alma mater) play Elon in the Southern Conference Tournament. It turned out to be a great day. Collin was much more immune to the elements than the adults were, but inspite of the sweat and exhausting heat we made it through almost the entire game.

Collin thoroughly enjoyed his hotdog and french fries. He's not 100% sure about boiled peanuts, since he thinks you are supposed to eat the whole thing :) He watched a few minutes of the game at a time, every few plays. he was much more interested in the food. He also was not very interested in having his picture taken, hence just one for this post.

The Citadel was not playing well and we were all roasting. Not to mention our sleepy 2 year old had had enough. So, bottom of the 9th with 2 outs we left. As we exited the stadium the place erupts with cheers. We made a mad dash to the car to find out what happened. Sure enough, with 2 outs an error by Elon's pitcher allows 3 runs, ties the game and sends it to a 10th inning and The Citadel pulls out the win. GO BULLDOGS!!!!

As a Carolina fan I should know NEVER to leave early :)

Cute Cousins

2010-05-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

It was fun in the sun this weekend for these cute cousins.

Collin and I were so excited to have his Aunt Erika and Stella come to visit. They got in Friday and were able to stay with us until Sunday afternoon. It was a great weekend. We didn't rush to do anything. We had time to just visit and play outside - yes, the mommies went too :)
The kiddos enjoyed digging in the sand box and playing in the water.

And posing for pictures. Ok, they didn't really enjoy posing for pictures. We had to take 10 just to get one to turn out. But they humored us every now and then. In the end they just had a great time running around and playing together.
It must have been tiring work, because at the end of the day they were exhausted.
We can't wait to see Aunt Erika and Stella again in June. We're hoping that Uncle Brian, Nana and Grandaddy will be there too. I think we'll even get to go to the zoo :)

Fun with Friends

2010-05-13T17:21:00.001-07:00

It is definitely summer time! The temperature is rising and the water activities have started.
In a rare moment at my home it was 4 against one (God Bless you all who have more than one child). Collin was in 7th heaven. He had 3 friends spend the day with us and we all had a blast. The slip n' slide island was running, along with the plastic pool. Don't forget about the sand box and pirate fort if fingers were too pruned. The kids enjoyed diving straight into the ground in an attempt to slide through the water.
Then it was to the pool! They would kick water, dump water, put sand in the water, try to put Zach (the dog) in the water. It was great fun to watch. They definitely ran/swam off all of their energy.

Because once inside they were quiet and zoned out. It made for a wonderful day!!

Time with Papa

2010-05-01T19:10:00.001-07:00

Collin has spent a lot of time with his Papa since we got to Florida, however this was the first trip girls were allowed to follow. So, this is the first trip that has photographs :)
Our last Saturday here we spent at the aquarium. We have visited so many times because we have a year pass. Collin loves it too :) He really enjoyed showing my dad around, since Collin is now a regular there. He pointed out all of the big fish, turtles and eels swimming in a coral reef.
Then, it was off to try to find the "hidden" fish in the tank. We saw sharks, crabs, jellyfish, Dory, Nemo and lots of other fish from the sea.

We even watched a scuba diver swim in the one of the tanks. Ok, so that show was a little disappointing and Collin could not have been less interested. It was a great day though! Collin even wore his Tampa Bay Rays hat. This is a big deal for two reasons. 1 - the Rays have the best record in franchise history, and the best record in the league, 2 - Collin never wears a hat. He always takes them right off. He is really weird about things on his head, but he loves this hat.

So, he and his Papa have matching baseball hats.

Sunset and Snow

2010-04-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, the title says snow. There wasn't really any snow in Florida. However, when we went to the beach to watch the sun set Collin grabbed handfuls of sand, threw it in the air, and yelled, "snow!" I guess the last time he saw everything covered in white it was snowing. Just funny that this little boy from coastal Carolina, who only sees snow once a year and sees sand way more, thought the beach was snow. I'm sure everyone standing around thought this little boy was from way up north and seeing a sand covered beach for the first time. Too funny.

It was, however, a great end to a wonderful day. We concluded our fun-filled day of shopping with dinner at sunset on the beach. It was beautiful and good for the soul.

We live in a Sand Box

2010-04-30T09:58:00.001-07:00

Per the previous post you know that Collin has a sandbox. You also know I have some slight obsessive compulsive tendencies about cleanliness. One of those is that I do not like sand. I LOVE the beach, but I can't stand sand. It only belongs on the feet. I constantly brush off my beach chair, am meticulous about having extra towels so I don't dry off with a sandy one. I don't hold Collin close to me when we're at the beach unless he's in a towel. Now, before you go crazy about what a fun draining mom I am, I am working on this. I will say I am getting better. I think even my own Mom (who LOVES sand) would say I'm getting better :) I would think so since we've been living in a sandbox since we got to Florida. While Collin is awfully tidy he has not caught on to the notion of wiping his hands and feet (and face, head, legs, arms, rear end, etc...) before coming in. So, he will play for hours outside and bring it all in with him. There is sand everywhere - and we're cleaning. You can feel it when walk barefoot or sit on the couch. AAAHHHHH!!! The funny part is that we will sweep or the cleaning lady will come and within minutes of finishing here comes our sandman. I don't recall ever getting away with this type of thing when I was child, and yet here is my child trekking "mess" all over the house. Even Papa is in on the action. Note, I am not in the sandbox. I haven't gotten that good yet.

The sins of the father...or, in this case, the mother

2010-04-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

I am not the best housekeeper in the world. I don't like to unload the dishwasher, so sometimes dishes pile up, rinsed of course, in the sink. A few times a week toys don't get picked up before bed time, and clothes aren't put in their rightful place immediately. Important mail can, every so often, make a temporary home on the kitchen counter. With all that said, I have come to realize that I do have some obsessive compulsive tendencies when it comes to cleanliness. I have learned these things through the tendencies of my own child.

We are spending some time with my parents and they have set up a play area for Collin in the backyard, complete with a sandbox. Oh boy!

When we first arrived he would not go outside without his shoes on. When he finally did, he kept saying, "oh messy," "it's dirty." I can hear my words coming back to haunt him. My child has no clue how to play in the dirt b/c everytime he has gotten dirty his mother rushes in to clean him up. Then, we caught him sweeping the ground around his sandbox. Aaahhh!!!! While, I love his tendencies for tidiness and truly hope they will stay with him throughout his years in my home, I am also convinced that all children need to play in the dirt. So, we have worked very hard at making the mess ok. Though he still enjoys sweeping the ground, he does it with sand and dirt and mud from head to toe

The Red Barn

2010-04-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

The name surely implies a big barn full of different types of farm animals. The perfect outing for a two-year-old boy, right? Well, I'm not sure that a series of stores full of home decor and antiques is exactly what Collin had in mind.

At least there was a little reprieve for him. He really enjoyed the open, "garden" area around the pond behind the barn. He was such a trooper.

He behaved so well. I surely didn't expect anything less, but all of the ladies working at the Red Barn were impressed. One of them even gave Collin some M&Ms for his excellent behavior. It was a great afternoon, at least for me and my mom. Collin was just relieved when we got home and he could play in the sand box.

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming....

2010-04-21T09:33:00.001-07:00

We have spent the last few weeks with my parents, at their home in Florida. My mother loves all things ocean. So, it is no surprise that her favorite Disney movie is "Finding Nemo." She has been watching it with Collin almost everyday since we got here (not in its entirety of course since my two-year-old doesn't have that long of an attention span). Needless to say, at this point, he loves Dory, Nemo and Nemo's Daddy. Thus, our trip to the aquarium took on a whole new meaning as he desperately searched for Nemo. If you look closely enough at the first picture, you see he found him :)

Collin loves the aquarium. He went from tank to tank singing, "just keep swimming. just keep swimming." I think the blowfish enjoyed the song. He followed Collin all along the wall of the tank. I'm not sure what Collin would have done though if the blowfish had actually "blown up." It was amazing though how accurate the Nemo movie is. Collin was able to point out each fish. There was a tank of sea anenomes with little clown fish hiding in them. It really was incredible, and even more so to see it through the eyes of an ever amazed toddler.

We topped off the day at the toddler splash park the aquarium has. It's perfect, and the most genius idea. With no standing water, children can run through misting water that comes out of every step, corner and plank. Then there are water guns (think cannon:), water spouts, water slides. Everything perfectly sized for the little guys. Though Collin is a little wary of shooting, falling, misting or splashing water - he loved it. Once he ralized the fountains wouldn't hurt he was jumping on each one, laughing. What a great day!!

We ARE Family

2010-04-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

What is family? I am surely not the first person to contend that often times family may consist of more than just those people who are related to you by birth. Though there is no denying those, often times crazy people, who are your flesh and blood are family :)
I spent last weekend with my mom and a dear friend of ours (who IS family) at a women's conference. The topic of the conference - you guessed it - family. It was amazing to sit there and realize that just to my left was my own mother and another woman who has been with me for so long that she could be. A woman who, if needed, would step up and step in. Even more amazing is knowing she is not the only one.
We (my biological family) have never lived closed to either side of our family. I don't believe it was ever intentional, but speaks to the need in all of us for family, that we ended up seeking out people to fill the void that was left by not being with family. As a young couple my parents forged a friendship with an older couple in their church. Little did they realize at the time that this couple would become our family. This couple needed children (theirs had moved away) and my parents needed, parents. Sam and Martha Kraft would become my grandparents, as real and close and loving as my biological grandparents. We developed a relationship with them as strong, if not stronger, than any biological family has. What a loss I still feel to this day that they have both passed.
Then, there is our Summerville family. Though most of us don't even live there anymore. It is where we, all separated from family, created our own. This is where we met the Burkes, Dwyers, Woodhams and Seases; families that have walked with ours through joy and sorrow, triumph and defeat. These are people we could run to in a second to celebrate a victory or find comfort in a time of loss. These are people who we can go weeks without speaking to, pick up the phone and never miss a beat. We ARE Family.

Of course, there is no denying my own family - as crazy as I feel it is sometimes. Though I am not naive enough to think that I am not a part of the craziness. But, despite the craziness we are as close as they come. We would move heaven and earth for each other. As children my parents used to tell my sister and me that as long as it was the 4 of us, we would be fine. How true that has proven to be. While there have only been a handful of instances where we've circled the wagons and pulled in to support each other, closing off to others, there is such comfort in knowing we WILL do that for each other and WANT to do that for each other. There is also comfort in knowing that we can have fun - just us.

Now that "just us" includes my own beautiful family; the wonderful man that God has so graciously blessed me with and the precious child we were given. I can tell my child the same thing I was told, as long as we have the 3 of us, we're ok, and we ALWAYS have the 3 of us. We, in the same fashion as my parents, do not live near either of our families. We are so fortunate to both come from such close knit families, that we maintain those close ties in spite of the distance. We know that is where we can find guidance, refuge, support and unconditional love. We can be ourselves with family and everyone loves us anyway - in spite of their frustrations with us sometimes :) We ARE Family.

So it is with the family of God. We, I believe as Beth Moore said this past weekend, all have roles that need to be filled. Some of us need mothers, some of us need to be mothers. Some of us need sisters or brothers, and some of us need to be a sister or a brother. Thus, the family of God is maintained and flourishes. In the end though, one was never meant to be a substitute for the other. Both are vital in each of our lives. Both need to be fostered and sustained, regardless of past trangressions. In the end, after God, family is all we have.

HAPPY EASTER!

2010-04-07T11:09:00.001-07:00

Collin enjoyed dying Easter eggs this year for the first time. We opted out last year since we were traveling and because Collin didn't really get it. This year, he definitely got it. He figured this was the coolest thing he had done in weeks. I'm not sure if it was because he was allowed to make a mess or if it was his fascination with cracking the eggs. He first realized that the eggs would break when one accidentally fell on the floor. His, "oh, no" was quickly followed by "oooh..." Colling really enjoyed peeling the eggs, so he began to bang them on the countertop. My mom and I were able to rescue most of the eggs from Collin's torturous destruction. By the time he finished we had a huge mess. Gentle is not an adjective we would use to describe Collin. He had dye sloshed everywhere, a few cracked eggs, some half-peeled eggs and a few that made it successfully through the whole process. Fortunately, my mom was there to assure me that the mess was easy to clean and that Collin was having a blast. He did think this was his latest and greatest project.

The next morning Collin was very excited to see that the Easter bunny had come to visit. It's so much fun to see him begin to understand what a present is and what a surprise is. He was thrilled with his new choo-choo train, books, sidewalk chalk and, best of all, jelly beans. Collin loves jelly beans. Then it was off to church for a great service. Collin enjoyed playing in the nursery and coloring pictures :) Kaka made a great Easter dinner and we enjoyed a laid back afternoon. The day was perfectly complete with an after nap Easter egg hunt.

Cowboy? Fireman? Pitcher?

2010-03-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Family Fun Day gave Collin a chance to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. At first, he thought maybe a cowboy. He could be totally independent, riding the range. It wouldn't matter if his clothes were dirty. He could be outside all of the time, which is his favorite place to be. Not to mention no one would be around to tell him what to do. Needless to say, he was sorely disappointed when he realized that he couldn't ride the pony BY HIMSELF. In spite of the assistance though he really enjoyed it. I could hardly believe he wasn't scared at all. I feel a birthday party theme coming on.

So, then it was off to the fire truck. Again, not afraid at all. Are you sensing a them yet? He jumped up in the fire truck. Ok, someone lifted him into the fire truck, once again crushing his dreams of independence. But, there was still the excitement and adventure of running into a burning building to save a stranded puppy. Alas, no burning buildings around, not even a siren. Collin actually wore the hat though, which is a pretty big accomplishment for him. I'm just not certain he got it on exactly right :)

So, he was off to try his hand at pitching. Ok, he wasn't really pitching, just trying to get the bean bag in the bucket. It seemed like a good precursor to me though. Alas, hitting the target was a little more difficult than he expected, though he got one out of 3 - not bad for a beginner. He also won a lollipop, which was payment enough for him. He had a great time playing the games and winning a prize for each of his efforts.

Collin is quite certain that all 3 career fields are still options. He would love to try them all again.

The Calm Before the Storm

2010-03-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, and for most of us it's about time. I love seasons, each of them, but I'm always ready when the next one comes. We had perfect spring weather on Monday. So my friend and I packed up our children and headed to the park for a picnic. It's always an adventure when we leave the house. She has 3 children of her own, add in my two-year-old and we make quite a crew. Her 3 children are all older than Collin so we opted for the 'big kid' playground. I was a little nervous, as he started his climb with Jessica's middle daughter, Elle.

But they headed for the little slide and even took a second to give us a smile. He absolutely loves to play. He is his happiest running around with few boundaries. He'll even comply with the boundaries if he can be outside and play. So, after giving mom a heart attack as he took off to the "big slides" way up high, he agreed to stay closer to the ground and only slide on and climb around the little slide.

He learned how to climb up a small, plastic rock wall type structure in order to get to the slide. He certainly can't do things the easy way and use the stairs :)

Then Abbi agreed to take him down the "big slide" that had terrified me earlier. Collin was thrilled. He does seem to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He loves things that make his heart race and give him a thrill. Oh the adventures Robert and I are in for as our little boy grows up.

Just before we left I thought it would be fun for Collin and me to go down the slide together. This would also give me a chance to get a picture with him. So, we posed for this cute picture and off we went down the little slide. Only for Collin's foot to get stuck between my leg and the slide. When this happened the rubber on his shoes gripped the side of the slide and his foot stuck while the rest of his leg came down the slide with us. Oh, boy! It was our first playground accident and he was hysterical. I couldn't believe it. We made it through 2 hours on the playground, up and down slides and stairs and a rockwall with no injuries, not even a scrape; and here we are at the end, Mom gets in the picture and it all falls apart. Good grief! Yes, I do realize that this is not my fault. However, that does not change the fact that Collin ended up really hurting himself. We were at the doctor the next day for X-Rays to make certain Collin hadn't broken anything. All is well and Collin is starting to walk again (yes, he wasn't even walking for 2 days). I'm still a little concerned, but I am assured that he will be fine. Oh, I know, it's the first of many.

Reading Day

2010-03-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Collin and I went with some friends of ours to Wilmington for Reading Day. Since I am raising a child prodigy (just in case you didn't know :) I thought he would just love this education outing. Well, he did love it, but not because of the reading.

The event was hosted by the Children's Museum of Wilmington. If you have never been to a Children's Museum you are missing out. It is an absolute wonderland of hands-on experiences.

My upcoming American Idol tried his hand at karaoke, complete with a band :)

Then it was off to the longest train table he has ever seen! For those of you who don't know, he LOVES trains. He could play trains all day everyday. Thomas, Chuggington, "choo,choo" - whatever - he loves it all.

He did manage to put the trains down long enough to go grocery shopping. He really likes to push the car and this one was just his size. Not to mention he actually got to pick out whatever he wanted and put it in the cart. What a sweetheart, he picked flowers for mommy.

Alas, his other favorite love - driving. He asks everytime we walk to the car if he can drive. I swear I haven't put him in the driver's seat. How does he know this?!?!?! So, he got to drive, at least as far as he was concerned.

As you can clearly see we weren't doing much reading. That activity was just too still. He did have a wonderful time though. We will definitely be returning.

Moments with Meme

2010-03-07T14:22:00.000-08:00

YES, that is my 87-year-old grandmother playing catch with Collin. It was the most precious thing ever. The kind of moments you carry forever in your heart that can make you smile at any moment. The red ball in the middle is airborn and Collin is laughing hysterically. He had such a wonderful time and Meme did too.

After we left the Wickers we drove to my grandmother's in Sumter. It is the perfect place to split up the trip and is a great reason to stop and stretch the trip. We got there only planning to stay overnight, but ended up staying for 3 days. It was wonderful. We just had such a great visit with her. Meme and Collin played the whole time. All I can say is that I hope I can still keep up with a 2-year-old when I'm her age.

Visit with the Wickers

2010-03-07T13:55:00.000-08:00

Running around the farm! Collin and I had a great visit with Robert's family a couple of weeks ago. Mr. Wicker had knee replacement surgery the beginning of February so we went down there so that I could try to help Mrs. Wicker and so that Collin could provide an amusing distraction for Mr. Wicker. I think it worked. Collin did a wonderful job taking care of his granddaddy. He helped to rub granddaddy's leg each evening and would cover him up with a blanket whenever Mr. Wicker laid down. Collin just played and laughed and had a great time. He did such a great job understanding that granddaddy couldn't jump and play this time. At least with a new knee though he can jump and run with Collin around the farm the next time we are there. Collin will be so excited.

The recovery is going well and the therapy is working. From the sounds of it Mr. Wicker will be good as new in no time. I hear he is even headed back to work this week.

We also got to see Uncle Paul and Granny Mary Lou. Collin is finally spitting out Uncle Paul's name so that it doesn't come out like "applesauce." Though that was pretty cute. It was a great visit.

Fuddrucker's Fun Day

2010-03-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was as much fun as it looks! We went with my Sunday School class to Fuddrucker's for lunch. One of the couples in the class is moving this week so we all enjoyed lunch together as a nice way to say goodbye. We got to the restaurant and hardly anyone else was there. So, the children had a great time playing with all of the games. The best part for me is that Collin doesn't know the difference between a game that is actually running and one that is waiting for you to insert money. So, he played for an hour for free. He had so much fun! Gavin, the boy playing with him in the picture, is a little bit older and so great with Collin. He is patient and acts like a big brother showing Collin how to do different things. They had a wonderful time. So much so that Collin forgot all about his chicken nuggets and french fries. You have to know my child to understand what a feat that is. When they weren't shooting the screen they were driving the race cars or pushing buttons on the other video games. It was nice for their parents too :) We had a wonderful lunch and only had to keep an eye on the children.

All the best to the Persons family. We will miss you!!

Potty Party!!!

2010-03-07T12:34:00.001-08:00

Before becoming a parent (and after) one of my greatest apprehensions was potty training. I just did not want to do it. So, as in all things about which I am apprehensive but know I need to do, I bought a book - "How to Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day." Surely, this will work I thought. The author was interviewed on Dr. Phil and her method is touted on the NickJr. network as the best one going. She must know what she's doing.

So, here's her philosophy - throw a potty party. Yes, I wrote that correctly - a potty party, complete with cake, balloons, games, videos, prizes, treats and presents. For the first part of the day the child is to work with mom (or whoever) on teaching a doll (yes, we bought the anatomically correct one:) how to use the potty. Research shows that the best way to learn something is to teach someone else the concept. The doll drinks and eats with the child all morning and then uses the "big potty." The child shows the doll how to pull down his/her pants, sit on the potty, wash hands, etc... The doll also has accidents so mom has an opportunity to reinforce the notion that accidents happen, but that it's really important to go to the bathroom in the big potty. Then, lunch is a little party for the baby doll who has successfully mastered the potty. After lunch it's the child's turn. The same treats, games, and all around encouragement take place in the afternoon, just directed at the child this time. By the end of the day family and friends should be able to celebrate successful potty training with presents.

30 pair of underwear, cookies, candy, pizza, decorations, books, games, videos and a plastic covered couch later we had an UNpotty trained little boy. At the end of our party all we had was a tired Collin and a frustrated mommy (who maintained patience and understanding the whole time - yes, I was proud of myself). While I thought Collin showed all the signs of wanting to potty train (interest, knowing when he goes, wanting to go and over the age of 2) I learned Friday he was missing the biggest sign of all - knowing BEFORE he actually goes.

So, we've put the big boy underwear in the drawer, pulled the diapers back out and we'll try again another day. In the mean time, I would still recommend the potty party method. It makes the day way more exciting for all involved and if a child is truly ready I think it's a very positive, fun approach to potty training.

SNOW!!

2010-02-14T19:12:00.000-08:00

I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't seen it for myself; almost 8 inches of snow in eastern North Carolina. This is the best picture from the day, at least the best picture of the two of us (thanks Jess!). I had Collin completely bundled up for our trek in the snow, though I'm not sure he appreciated it or that it helped. Keep in mind my two-year-old's legs are only about a foot long and I did say the snow was almost 8 inches deep. If you do the math you can only imagine the amount of icy coldness going up his pant leg each time he took a step. Then there was the subsequent fall with each step because he couldn't walk in the snow. It made for great entertainment for his mom, but not so much fun for him. Since we live in eastern North Carolina and it only snows about once a year he doesn't own snow boots. He doesn't even own rain boots. At his age if it's raining I carry him, his little legs just can't move that fast.
He was able to enjoy some of the morning riding on a boogie board, attempting to throw a couple of snowballs and sliding down a snow covered slide. That was about all he could handle before nap time. For some reason little children don't enjoy the snow nearly as much as their parents want them to. It seems we remember the excitement of snow from when we were about 6 and forget that at 2 it just doesn't hold the same mystique. To a two-year-old it's just cold, wet and hard to walk through. So, needless to say "good" pictures from our snow day morning are hard to come by.

Then, after we got home from a great day playing with friends, the sun was setting and Collin had no extra clothing on he decided to run and play in the snow. No one else around but me, no heavy jackets and he's ready to pose for pictures so we did. I think he did it on purpose. Just to clarify he did not spend an extensive amount of time in the snow with this little clothing on :) But it was the most fun he had in the snow.
To our friends who also got snow we hope you enjoyed it. To our friends who have been shoveling snow for weeks now we hope you are warm and still able to see some of the beauty, mystique and excitement of freshly fallen snow.

Never too Old for a Pajama Party

2010-02-14T09:58:00.001-08:00

The pajama party is still wonderful, even when you're an "adult." The basics don't really change, no matter how old you are. Everyone shows up in crazy pajamas, junk food abounds, and giggling laughter fills the air. However, as you age the parties don't tend to last all night (it is way too expensive to hire an overnight babysitter), the pajamas seem to cover more and the comments that send giggles soaring are a little different than before :). This pajama party was no different. We had a wonderful time laughing our way through the evening as we enjoyed fondue and each other's company. Then, to top it all off the snow started to fall. So, as crazy girls at a pajama party will do, out into the snow we go in nothing but our PJs.

21 Kids and Counting

2010-02-12T05:21:00.001-08:00

No, that is not my new philosophy on growing families, however it is the number of children that were at my house for the Super Bowl last Sunday. Oh my goodness! You cannot believe the deafening silence that fell when everyone left. Believe it or not, it was a blast though. All 21 children played wonderfully together. The older boys created their own entertainment with their DS Systems and the younger kids spent the evening playing upstairs and then downstairs, and then upstairs, and then downstairs. We had knights sword fighting, architects working on the latest skyscrapers, civil engineers designing roadways, mommies going shopping and taking care of little ones, there were artists coloring the most beautiful pictures and even making some origami. It was a wonderful night, though I think most hard core super bowlers would have been very disappointed in the fact that no one watched the game. The real moms thoroughly enjoyed an evening of adult conversation to the soundtrack of the laughter of our children, played out in front of a spread of all that is unhealthy and yummy. While it didn't bother us to have not seen one play, we do know who won the game - Way to go Saints!!!

Morning with Friends

2010-01-27T19:49:00.000-08:00

For as big of a personality as my little guy has, he really is a little guy. It's so funy to see him play with his friends because so often they look like Mutt and Jeff together and Collin is always Mutt. Hmm...maybe he'll continue to not realize how much smaller he is than everyone else and it won't be issue. Apparently, the mind trick worked for his dad :)

Some great friends of mine came over this morning. I taught with Megan and Sarah for a few years and we have developed a wonderful friendship. Not only are we all teachers (were all teachers, we all stay home now which is why we can have coffee at 9 on a Wednesday morning), but we're also all military wives. It's given us such a great connection and a wonderful support beyond our individual units. They are truly a blessing to me.
We had a wonderful morning watching the boys play together and catching up. The best part is that if Sarah and I get too bored in Jacksonville we can just pack up and head to Hawaii - at least we'll have a floor to sleep on there (housing in Hawaii leaves much to be desired as far as square footage goes). Watch out Megan you may get a call from the airport :)

Monkey See, Monkey Do

2010-01-27T19:21:00.000-08:00

I must begin this post by noting that I did NOT pose this picture. However, as I rushed to capture this hilarious moment on film the reality of all that it represents began to set in.

First, and foremost, my child is watching, and mimicking everything that I do. The responsibility of parenthood seems to be increasing exponentially everyday. Not that I didn't realize that my child would watch what I do and listen to what I say. I just didn't realize he would do these things so accurately and with such attention to detail. I must say I'm a little embarrassed, as I publish this post, to admit that I obviously spend a lot of time sitting in the recliner typing on the computer. My son has his own toy laptop, which he is using in this photo. He hasn't played with it much, but today decided that as I was fixing lunch he had work to do. So, he promptly grabbed his laptop, climbed into the recliner and began to work. He was also unphased, and maybe even a little annoyed as I chuckled and took pictures when I noticed what he was doing. He thought what he was doing was perfectly appropriate. It is however what he sees mommy (and, in my defense, daddy) do regularly. So, why wouldn't he do the same? And I guess that's just it - am I really doing things regularly that I want my child to do as well? I have never subscribed to the "do as I say, not as I do" method of parenting. So, here I sit, a very imperfect person and therefore imperfect parent, trying to analyze the habits I want my son to mimick and those that I need to stop so that he won't try to mimick them.

In addition to this reflection on parenting (and my own shortcomings) I also had a realization of how truly different the world is today than it was when I grew up (and I'm not that old :). I remember when I was teaching middle school the principal was always reminding us that we (the teachers and administrators) are technology immigrants and our students are technology natives. We have learned the language, and in some cases speak it well, but we'll always struggle a little and have an accent. The generation behind us, however, doesn't know anything else. Collin will never know a world without the internet or cell phones. He'll never know a world without the internet ON your cell phone. He'll never know a home without a computer (or two or three). He'll never know film, VHS tapes, portable CD players - those things that were such a big deal when I was young. He'll never know a world without facebook, online library book renewal. He'll never know Encyclopedia Brittanica. WOW!! It is truly amazing.

Again, I don't think I'm that old, but when I begin to examine all of the technological advances that have become common place in my lifetime it is astounding and no wonder that my students always thought I was so old. Good grief, Collin will think I grew up in the dark ages. Then, I think of my grandmother who is 87 years old and still mows her own grass with a push mower and can find her way around the computer and the internet as well as the rest of us, and oh the stories she has about the changes SHE has seen in her lifetime. She remembers when her family first got a car. If we've come that far in her lifetime, what on earth is coming in the rest of mine?????

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLIN!!

2010-01-25T15:07:00.000-08:00

Today is Collin's 2nd birthday. It is so hard to believe that 2 years ago he entered our world. Robert and I have never been the same. It never ceases to amaze me as I look back through pictures over the last two years how much he has grown so quickly. Even pictures from just a few months ago show a totally different child. WOW, time is just flying by!

We celebrated Collin's birthday with a party at the beginning of the month. Today was a little more low key. We had a play date this morning with some of our friends, complete with Thomas the Train cupcakes and a candle (thank you Ms. Betsy). We spent the afternoon playing at home and topped it off with chicken nuggets and french fries for dinner (gotta love an easy to please two year old) - his favorite meal.
Since he is still working on how to say words he kept calling today his "Happy Day" and he wanted "Happy Day cake" all day today. He is too precious for words. He talks non-stop (I know that's hard to believe) and just when I've had about as much as I can take he wraps his arms around my legs and says, "I nudge (love) you mommy." Then all is well with the world. He makes all well with my world :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY COLLIN! Your mommy and daddy love you more than anything else. You are our happy place. Our wish for you this year is that you continue to explore and love life with all of the energy and excitement that you do now.

Flight Suit Party

2010-01-23T09:32:00.000-08:00

The girls were out in style Friday night, dawning a new style of flight suit. I'm not sure the Marine Corps is interested in adopting our adaptations to their uniform, but we thought it looked good. Complete with fur, flowers and leather flight jackets we took the Air Station Officer's Club by storm.

All smiles and kisses we played and danced the evening away. The music was great! The DJ even taught us how to "walk it out." I won't be posting those pictures :) The drinks were better, but the company was best.

We posed and smiled and danced for pictures to show our hubbies. It was a great way to kick off a new year full of promise, friendship and unending blessings. You usually don't have to go far on a military base to understand just how blessed you are.

It was a great way to kick off a new year full of friendship, promise and unending blessings. It always seems that no matter the amount of fun happening on base, the ever present roar of an airplane engine or shutter of a canon is a reminder of just how blessed we trully are.

So, we raised our glasses (actuall theirs, seeing lipstick stains and amaretto sours for the first time :) to the men who love us, the ones who serve and protect us all, and the crazy women who stand next to them with an undying love.

Visit with Papa and Kaka

2010-01-23T09:03:00.001-08:00

We had a great visit with my parents this week. They came in last Saturday and just left this morning. Collin loves his time with Papa and Kaka. He gets to go to Chuck E Cheese and play his favorite games (the ones where you can push buttons,

throw balls,

or turn a steering wheel.

I think the steering wheel infatuation may be my fault. Maybe you shouldn't put the toddler in your lap as you pull the car from the driveway into the garage. All he wants to do is drive, every time we go to get in the car. YIKES!

Collin and my parents also indulged me with some retail therapy :) The three of them entertained each other so I could shop.

To top off our shopping day we had lunch at a great, waterfront restaurant that had a fish tank. Collin loves fish. So he and Kaka spent time identifying and making up names for all of the fish in the tank.

It was a great week and we really enjoyed the time. Collin has been looking for his "papakaka" all morning. He misses them as much as I know they miss him.

The Soldier's Prayer

2010-01-20T15:52:00.000-08:00

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, etc...

2010-01-15T04:37:00.000-08:00

Since I uploaded the pictures for this comprehensive post in the WRONG order I guess I'll be writing from most recent back. It's been awhile I know. Life has been busy, wonderfully busy, but busy none the less. We ended this whirlwind holiday season with a wonderful visit with our friends Robyn and Eric. They live in a beautiful area in the mountains of VA. It was great! Even though it didn't snow while we were there, there was a lot of snow still on the ground. Collin loved it. He kept touching it saying, "Ooh, cold!" We got to tour the grounds of SweetBriar College, where Robyn works. It is a gorgeous campus and holds such neat traditions and history. Then, it was off for lunch in a neat little downtown area. The next day we did something much more up Collin's ally. The children's museum in Lynchburg was great! It was four floors of hands-on, educational experiences. Uncle Big E showed Collin the display of the water cycle of the area, as their boat left the creeks coming out of the mountain, through the locks, into the river down to the Lynchburg waterfront. Once there they were even able to make it rain over the city :)

Then, our aspiring doctor used a stethoscope to listen to daddy's heart.

Before making it to downtown Lynchburg we made an attempt to drive there on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We went widing up the mountain only to find the Parkway iced over and closed. Our winding drive was well worth it anyway though. The view was gorgeous! You can't see it so much for the trees, but it was beautiful. We only got it out for a minute though because it was FREEZING!

Just before we went to Robyn and Eric's we celebrated Collin's 2nd birthday. Wow, how time flies! I'll save those sentiments for his actual birthday post :) We celebrated a little early this year with a sports party. There were soccer balls, footballs, baseballs...you name it, we had it. Collin got a slide for his birthday. It's pretty cool, if I do say so. There is a "rock wall" on one side to get to th slide and then netting on the other. He loves it! He couldn't have cared less that it was 25 degrees outside and windy. He had a blast!

The birthday party was a great way to end a wonderful holiday vacation. We spent Christmas morning and the days leading up with my family. We all met at my grandmother's house to celebrate Christmas. This year I think Robert and I had way more fun shopping and preparing for Christmas than Collin had Christmas morning.

He loved it though. We did end up caving in and waking him up - ha!ha!! Who is the real child here? He was a little groggy when he first came out, but good call on Robert's part not to wrap Collin's presents. He was so excited!! He saw the baseball set first, then the basketball goal, then the big Thomas the Train tent. He just went nuts! It was a blast! Then, we were off to the Wickers' to celebrate Christmas with them. We had a wonderful time with both families. Uncle Paul gave us quite the scare right before Christmas, so it was really nice to have some quality time with him and see him on the mend.

The Christmas holiday has always been special. It is, by far, my favorite time of year. Now, with Collin, it is taking on a whole new meaning. As we go from receiver (let's not pretend that we don't receive, we still have wonderful Santas, it's just not the focus anymore) to giver and our joy becomes the joy of our child, Christmas has gotten a renewed sense of wonder and excitement. Then again, every holiday, every season, (who am I kidding) everyDAY has gotten a renewed sense of wonder and excitement.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STELLA!

2009-12-13T06:37:00.001-08:00

Even though Stella's birthday isn't until Monday Collin was ready with birthday kisses at her party Saturday. It was a wonderful end to a great trip with the Wicker side of the family. Collin (and me too) has gotten to spend some great time with his Nana, Grandaddy, Uncle Paul (or Umple Caul as he calls him) and Grandma Mary Lou over the last couple of weeks. Fortunately, he has had some other trips to hang out with Uncle Brian and Aunt Erika and of course his favorite cousin, Stella.

We were able to get to Columbia early enough to help get ready for the party. Stella looked absolutely beautiful in her hot pink outfit. It was very funny as people commented to her that this must have been the best birthday ever, all I could think was that the adults involved thought last year's birthday was her best ever! She is a precious little girl and such a wonderful addition to our family. As her aunt I am so excited to watch her grow and see the little girl and woman she will become one day (she comes from good stock :). I am also so glad that Collin has a cousin so close to his age. They already play so well together and we sit back and just laugh at all of the mischief the two of them are going to get into together.

Nothing could have topped the day off any better than watching Stella, who is not the world's best eater, thoroughly enjoy eating her birthday cake. She had a whole one all to herself and she LOVED it! She was surrounded by family and friends her love her dearly, and who are so excited to watch her grow and change through another year.

Happy Birthday Stella! This year only promises to be better than the last. We can't wait to share it with you. Love, Uncle Robert, Aunt Kaiti and Collin

Oh Christmas Tree, Deja Vu

2009-12-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

...And here we go again, but this time Collin was with his Grandaddy this time and at a REAL Christmas tree farm. He even got to ride in a "Gator" (for lack of a better term). Between the Gator and the Christmas tree hitting the ground he had a great time. Then, it was back to the house to help Nana decorate the tree. So, now the house that was going to remain undecorated this year smells of evergreen and is glittering with lights.

This is all after a wonderful morning of shopping with Uncle Paul. Collin and Uncle Paul and I went back to the barber shop where Collin got his first haircut to take the barber some pictures (yes, we are way late, but better late than never). Then, it was off to help Uncle Paul find a Christmas present for Nana, lunch at Panera and then some more shopping.

Collin loves his Uncle Paul. He calls him Umple Caul - it comes out sounding like applesauce, but Uncle Paul loves it!!

Collin is topping off this napless day with a bowl of peppermint ice cream he is sharing with Nana...and here he comes, sticky, ice cream face, pacifier and blanky in hand. Some days life is just good.

On The Road Again....

2009-12-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

...I just can't wait to get on the road again - ok, so that last part may be a lie. As I pulled out of the driveway all I could hear was Willie Nelson in my head. Funny, considering I've never listened to his music. I love visiting the people, but the road tripping is tiring, especially with a 2-year-old. Oh, how many chicken nugget meals can one child eat :)

In any case, we left Tuesday afternoon to start our trip around SC. Seems we tour this state a lot. Must be all of those people we love that live here. So, we made it to Laurens Tuesday night. We are here enjoying time with Robert's family until Saturday. Then, Saturday is Stella's big day. My niece turns 1 next week and we will be celebrating her birthday Saturday. That post is to follow.

So, after Stella's birthday we will go to my sister's house in Charleston to finish Christmas shopping (not shopping AT her house, but to that town to finish shopping WITH her). Then, it's back to Jacksonville for a Christmas party. Whew! No matter how hard we try the season is always busy, but busy with family, friends and festive events - which makes the time joyful.

Here's to our crazy schedule, busy lives and all the love one family can hold.

Breakfast with Santa

2009-12-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

Collin and I were up early this morning to have breakfast with Santa. Per the previous post you know that Collin doesn't really understand all of this Christmas stuff, as much as we try. However, he did thoroughly enjoy his morning of food, music and crafts. He could have done without Santa though.

All started off well when Santa arrived. Collin said hello and even reached out to shake his hand. But after some time to think about he decided that Santa was just not someone he wants to spend time with, not even for a picture.

So, it was off to the arts and crafts. After 3 hours we had a dog bone reindeer, a foam Christmas Tree and lots of pictures - none of which were with Santa to be used for a Christmas card. Oh, well! He had fun!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

2009-12-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

The one nice thing about being on a tight schedule is that things get done earlier than usual. While it may not seem early to anyone else, having our tree up before Dec. 5 is early for us. As we prepared for Robert to go on the last hoorah before the final hoorah we knew we only had one shot to get the Christmas Tree up if we were going to do it as a family.

Collin loved his first trip to the Christmas Tree lot. He ran around among all of the trees until he finally decided on one (mom helped in the decision a little), our perfect Christmas Tree, at least for this year :) He enjoyed decorating the tree even though he couldn't figure out why the ornaments wouldn't just "stick" to the branches. He would place them so carefully and then we'd hear, "uh, oh!" as they fell to the floor. Maybe next year he'll understand that they hang on the tree, not stick to the tree.

After all of Collin's investment in our tree I really thought he'd love it, but he couldn't care less. I get an, "ooh, look" when the lights are turned on, and then he's off to something else.

Why are we as parents so much more invested in our children being excited about Christmas than they seem to be? Collin is afraid of Santa (see Breakfast with Santa post), has no idea that a present is exciting and only says "baby" when we show him a manger scene. So, we continue to push the holiday, knowing that in just a few short years we'll have red and green paper chains crossing the house and advent calendars with no chocolate left after Dec. 3. It won't be long before he'll be dying to wait in line for an hour to see Santa, will be unable to go to sleep on Christmas Eve and will be bouncing on my bed at 3 a.m. shouting, "Santa came, Santa came!"

GO GAMECOCKS!!

2009-11-30T18:14:00.001-08:00

I think I've posted it every-where possible, but just in case - GO GAMECOCKS!!

This year Robert and I fulfilled one of our dreams. We became University of South Carolina season ticket holders. Now, you have to be a Gamecock fan to truly appreciate this accomplishment - those of you out there, you know who you are :) Now, the seats aren't amazing, but they are lower level, which is a feat all in itself. As season ticket holders, who live out of town, we knew we wouldn't make all the games. But we did know that we would be there for the Clemson game. As every true fan knows you go in to every game with high hopes, but with the knowledge that this team can break your heart at every turn. So, while I was so excited about the game I was nervous.

The stadium was packed (first time all season), the crowd was electric and even the players were civil. Then, on the first kick-off of the game, it happened, boom, 88-yard touchdown - Clemson. Oh, it was going to be a long afternoon. But, the Gamecocks came back strong and then this amazing thing happened, they played strong the WHOLE game. They DOMINATED the WHOLE game. It was amazing. It was the team we had been hoping to see all season - where had they been? Nevermind, didn't matter - they showed up for the most important game of the season and proved that, at least for that day, they were the better team - they ARE the better team.

So, Clemson fans say all you want. Tell me about our long losing streak. Cry to me about your precious Spiller (who we held to 18 yards). Let's talk about the ACC tournament hosting two teams that BOTH lost to SEC teams last weekend. Give me your poor sport sob story about next year. Go ahead - all I've got to say is that for THIS YEAR, THE PRESENT, THIS MOMENT, WE ARE THE WINNERS!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-30T17:48:00.000-08:00

Our holiday week took us on a whirlwind tour of the great state of South Carolina, but that's nothing new. We enjoyed time on the farm, though the weather was significantly colder than predicted when I packed our things. Fortunately, Uncle Paul got a jacket for Collin so that they could play outside. If you look closely you can see it's Elmo, one of Collin's favorite characters. Collin enjoyed learning to drive the tractor and bake cookies (he likes the rolling and patting part :). Then it was off to Sumter to see my side of the family. My grandmother is doing better, which is a huge blessing all itself. Collin enjoyed more time with her and my parents than Robert and I did. I'm guessing from how well he slept on the way home that they had a great time! Though our time with family always seems rushed and fleeting we are so blessed that we get it as often as we do. Our week gave us some much needed rest and time to "see" how truly blessed we are and how much we have to be thankful for.

Marine Corps Ball

2009-11-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY USMC!!

Despite being a couple of weeks late Robert and I enjoyed the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Since most of you reading this are our close friends and family you know how much we love to get dressed up. So, we made a weekend out of the event. Dressy dinner Saturday night, a relaxing day strolling around downtown New Bern Sunday and then the ball Sunday night. Everything was very well done making it the best ball I've been too, and I've been going to these for almost 10 years :) My thoughts and prayers to all of you who serve in the military or love one of those that serves in the military. Semper Fi!

2009-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

"Chuck E Cheese's, where a kid can be a kid!" Or should it be where an adult can still be a kid? What compels parents to take their young children to Chuck E. Cheese (or ShowBiz Pizza, as it was when I was a child)? As Robert and I planned our evening out with Collin we both fully understood that most of the games were too old for Collin, and that he would not ever remember the trip. None the less, we loaded him up and off we were for pizza and games. It was a great evening, full of games, music and fun. However, we realized, as Robert was shooting baskets over Collin's head and I threw balls around Collin up the ski ball ramp that we had gone for us as much as we had gone for him.

Somewhere in my memory were images of me and my dad at ShowBiz Pizza, enjoying some one-on-one father/daughter time for a good report card. Skiball, Pac-Man (ooh - did I just date myself?) and some more skiball, fun I still remember today. Then, there's Robert who was quite certain he had never even been to a Chuck E Cheese or ShowBiz Pizza.

So, in the end maybe we do go for our children. While yes, we have fun as well. Maybe what we really want is to give them the opportunity for the same memories and fun we enjoyed as children.

The Computer Illiterate CAN be Taught

2009-11-18T17:02:00.001-08:00

Yes! I figured it out, and mostly on my own I might add. I have given the blog a new look and mastered (ok, not really mastered) Adobe Photoshop. I usually count myself as an intelligent person, but when it comes to computers the blond comes out strong (no offense to my blond friends :)
So, here we are revamped and excited about keeping our friends and family up to date on the comings and goings of the Wicker family. I figure if my working friends can keep up with a blog I surely should be able to find the time to keep up with one. Then again, I should be able to find time to exercise too :) One thing at a time.

Favorite Picture

2008-10-11T10:37:00.001-07:00

This is my favorite new picture of me and my Daddy!! Don't ya like the Gamecock outfit!! I am watching Carolina football with my Daddy today!!!!

My Daddy Is Home!!!

2008-10-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Soon and Very Soon!!

2008-10-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

Soon - VERY SOON - my Daddy is going to be home!! When he left I was just a tiny, tiny baby boy. NOW, I am a BIG BOY!! Daddy is going to be so surprised when he sees everything that I can do now!! See you soon, Dadd y!!!

Guess What I am Doing Now!?!?!

2008-09-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

READING!!!!!

Whew!! We are so busy!!

2008-09-20T06:45:00.000-07:00

Alright - I know, I know - it has been awhile, but you just don't understand how busy Mom and I are!?!?! Everyday I get up around 5:30 - now, I need something to eat as soon as I wake up. I am really trying to grow big before Daddy gets home so we can play guy stuff!! Then after I eat, I have to get ready for school - and of course, Mom has to make sure that I am the cutest and best dressed kid in the class. I am not sure why - she knows that I am probably going to barf all over myself or get carrots, squash and green beans on everything - even in my hair, ears and nose!! She says "yuck" all of the time and I think that is so funny!! I play with my friends and teachers at my school while Mom is teaching 8th graders at her school Sometimes I take a nap, but mostly now that I can sit up - I am having so much fun with my friends. They don't seem to like it when I try and grab them and pull them around, tho. I don't understand - Zack let's me do that at home. After Mom is done at her school, she races over to my school and takes me home. We have so much fun playing in our house in the afternoon. I laugh all of the time and talk even more. I just wish that everyone could tell what I am saying. I guess it's ok - because they talk right back to me anyway!! Mom keeps feeding me, and I keep eating. I am a growing boy!! I love to watch TV. I keep hearing - "You are so much like your Daddy!" I think he likes TV, too. I even have special tv channels that Mom says are just for me. I like to play with the remote and Mom''s cellphone. I almost got in trouble for that, so last week, Mom got me my own cellphone from Babies R Us. I know that it doesn't really work and that it's just a toy. Doesn't Mom know how smart I am?? I think one of my favorite times is bath time. I love to play in the water!! After that, I can hardly keep my eyes open. I am in my bed and sleeping before it gets dark outside. Life is great in my world!!

Oh - I am going to have a baby girl cousin!! YEA!!! Aunt Erika and Uncle Brian are having a baby girl and she is going to try and be here for my 1st birthday. This is going to be the best birthday present!!

Mom keeps telling me everyday that Daddy is going to be home very, very soon. This is going to be so great - I am going to have someone else to play with at home. I bet that I get to start riding in that truck that's in the driveway. Hmmm - does Daddy have a DVD player in the truck? Do I still have to sit facing the wrong way??? What kind of music does Daddy play in the truck? I can't wait - not sure how long I have to wait, but I just don't think it's very much longer.

Here is an awesome GameDay picture of my dad and one of his friends right by his Osprey Airplane!!! Gooooo Gamecocks!!
Ohhhh - and I know it says on the sidebar that I am 5 months old -well, I am already over 8 months old!! Collin R. Wicker!!!

FINALLY!!

2008-09-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

I know - I know...it has been so long since I have left a post on my blog. We have just been so busy since the end of July. Mom and Aunt Kelly loaded the car with all of my stuff, then they loaded Zack into the car, then they loaded me back into the car and we all started driving on the boring interstate again!! This time we were heading north instead of south, tho. After just a few hours we stopped in an awesome little place called Amelia Island. I loved it there!! We got to stay with two great people - Pat and Robert. They knew my Mom and Aunt Kelly when they were babies. They just kept laughing and telling the craziest stories about when they were little girls. Miss Pat is the best cook - BUT, of course Mom still wouldn't let anyone feed me real food. BUT - Miss Pat was a great holder, hugger and rocker, too. We had to leave all of the fun there and get on the road again heading north. After a long, long time we were back in SC at Aunt Erika's house. That was another fun, fun night. Then after playing with everyone they put me back in that car again - this time we were off to MeMe's for one night. After getting the best barbecue in the world - of course I didn't get any of that either - we were back in that car AGAIN!! Zack and I were very, very tired of the whole car ride by then. What I just don't understand is why Mom and Kelly get to sit in the front seat or beside me facing the right way - and I have to be strapped so tight I can hardly move - and I don't even face the front so that I can talk to everybody. And then, Daddy made sure that our new car had a DVD player in it - well, how can I watch the movie if I am facing the wrong way. I just can't figure this out yet!! So soon we were right back where we started - Jacksonville, NC. I guess that I am really getting to be a big boy now because I am sleeping in my own bedroom ! All of this time I had been sleeping in a little bed in Mom and Daddy's room - now I am upstairs in what Mom calls the "big boy bed". Now before when Mom went to teach school there was always someone in the family staying home and playing with me. Well, life has changed. Not only am I in the "big boy bed", now I going to a great school everyday while Mom is teaching. I have friends to play with and so many toys. There are two nice ladies that play with me, take care of me, feed me and even rock me to sleep. One weekend right after school started Mom and I went on another road trip. This time NaNa was teaching teachers in Summerville. We got to stay in a hotel and play with her after work. Then PaPa, KaKa and Kelly came to Summerville. PaPa was driving a big, big orange and white truck full of everything that Aunt Kelly had for school. Everyone helped move Aunt Kelly into her new apartment. I met so many people that weekend that my Mom knew when she was a little girl. I am so excited that Aunt Kelly moved closer to us and is going to learn how to be a nurse at Charleston Southern University. Being at home with just Mom is so much fun!! I loved all of the company we had last year after Daddy left - but it's really fun with Mom. After we get home from school we play and play. I can sit up now and play with all of my toys on the floor. One of my favorite toys does all kinds of magic to the TV. Mom calls that toy a remote. I get so mad because every time I finally find the remote and start playing with it - then Mom wants it to play with. That just doesn't seem fair to me. Oh, I did get a great new toy last week. Mom and NaNa found me this crazy chair to sit in. It moves around. It has more toys than I have ever seen that are stuck on it. I can sit or stand up on it. This is supposed to keep me busy!! So now we are just counting they days until Daddy gets home. I am not sure when that is, but I sure hope that it's before Halloween. I already have my costume and a HUGE Boo-Bag to put all of my treats in!! I can't wait!!! I will try hard to stay awake late enough to post again sometime soon - but that's hard after a long day of playing!! Keep praying for Daddy so that he can com home soon. Oh, and I am over 7 months old now!!

My mom is running for president!

2008-07-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

Card for Daddy

2008-07-18T20:08:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

My Daddy is famous!

2008-07-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so he's not famous but he got to meet someone famous. I was so excited. Now, I know who Gary Sinise is because my mom is addicted to CSI. He plays the main investigator on CSI: New York. What he is most famous for is playing Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. Now, I've never seen that movie before, but mom says it's really good. Daddy was really excited. He got to fly Mr. Sinise around for about an hour. Daddy says he's a really nice guy. I guess they had fun talking and flying around. I hope I get to meet someone famous one day. Daddy sent us some pictures from the flight.

My Daddy, My Hero

2008-07-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

My mommy tells me everyday that my daddy is in a far away place and will be home soon. She tells me it's like a business trip, as if I'm supposed to know what that is. All I get is that business trip has something to do with his job and it's not at home. Even though he is not home all the time he is still my hero.

Daddy flies these super big planes. They're so cool, like a huge computer game. My daddy is so, smart to be able to fly this plane. When he isn't flying his favorite thing to do is hang out with me and mommy. We had so much fun before he left. He hung out with me all the time. We watched the Super Bowl, basketball, the news and these other shows I have no idea what they are. What was best is that he loved to nap with me on the couch and walk me around if I was having a bad day. He's so tall and strong. I can't wait for him to show me all the cool things he likes to do. I want to be just like him!!

He hasn't been home in a little while, but I still get to see him every night on mommy's computer. It's great. Then, when he calls he always wants to talk to me. Can you believe that, I can't even talk back yet and he wants to talk to me. I get so excited. I try really hard to say hi to him. Mommy is practicing with me. It won't be long and then daddy can help me learn to talk too.