Colin's 1st Birthday!

Saturday was officially Colin's 1st Birthday! When he woke up he crawled into Liam's room and got up on his bed.  Anytime Liam is not awake before Colin, Colin is all about finding his brother first thing.  We do our best to keep him out until we hear Liam stirring though.  Anyway, we let him open a couple gifts right away.

He got a couple of books. "My Monster Mama Loves Me So" and "Happy Birthday, Little Pookie"  We did a little reading.

Chris and I got the kids dressed and ready for the day and they spent the morning with G and G Casson so we could finish prepping for the party (cleaning, baking, yard-work, and multiple runs to Safeway).

At 4PM the festivities began!  Colin had a monster themed birthday which was a lot of fun for me!  Check out the fruit monster.

Monster cupcakes

The kids immediately gathered in Liam's room and started playing

Cason and Colin

Uncle Matt was on duty but he stopped by to wish Colin a Happy Birthday.

Colin joined right in with the kids.  It was pretty neat to see because sometimes in larger crowds he will shy away a little but not on his Birthday!

Colin and his Birthday balloon

Eventually, the kiddos made their way outside and they all seemed to LOVE the sandbox.

Birthday boy with his monster shirt

Colin with his presents

Colin wasn't too interested in opening presents but once he saw a new toy he was ready to play.

Liam and Minuet in deep discussion

Colin did tear at a couple of presents

After Colin opened gifts all the kiddos got to open their monster bags, complete with a mini monster plush, candy, monster bubbles, and a pencil.

Then it was time for the birthday cake.

I found a monster fork and had to get it for Colin.  He was very proper and ate his cake with the monster fork the whole time.

Happy little guy

I did a pretty terrible job of getting a picture of Colin with all his guest but here are a few. 

Colin and Tyra

Emily and Aunt Sadie

Riding on one of his birthday presents from G and G Snay

Loves playing trucks

Great Grandma finally had an opportunity to hold Colin once he needed a bottle.

Grandpa and Colin

After cake G and G Casson pulled out Colin's birthday gift, a pirate ship water table, it was a big hit with all the kiddos!

Colin was having a blast outside with the kids and the water table.  He kept getting really excited and would get a HUGE smile on his face.  I kept missing it but I finally got this picture and I LOVE it!

Some of our guests, Ronnie, Brooke, Aunt Trudi, Grandma and Grandma.

Mama and Dada with the birthday boy

Colin and daddy

Mommy and her sweet one year old!

The next day we put together Colin's new ride.  He seems to enjoy it

Overall, Colin's 1st Birthday was a success!  We all had a great day, thanks to all that came to celebrate and those that sent our sweet boy birthday love.

Last Week

Last week we finished making our backyard area a little more kid friendly!  The boys now have a huge sandbox, and a little patch of fake carpet grass, AKA Liam's "baseball field". On Monday morning Grandpa C. was going to be delivering the pea gravel.  All the sudden Liam says "We should sing a song"  Then starts singing "Grandpa's a good guy, Momma's a good guy."  It was funny.  They LOVE being outside and it really turned out great. We couldn't have done it without Grandpa I just wish there was more shade, but I can't have it all ;)

Colin playing on the baseball field

The boys

Colin is also a very outdoor baby.  He loves to play in the water table or pool and then go sit in the sandbox.  So usually he comes in with a very muddy bottom.

Wednesday morning the boys and I were on a mission to get some things done!  First stop was Safeway to order some cupcakes for Colin's birthday.  The nice lady in the bakery gave each boy a cookie.  They were very happy.

When we got home Liam wanted to be outside and of course it was blazing hot.  So I used our weak tree to hold up a shade umbrella it worked like a charm!

Grandpa Snay's birthday was Wednesday.  We all went over to the house to celebrate.

Grandpa and his new water jug.

I was feeding Colin nice chopped up bites of pizza when he decided he wanted the whole thing!  He did great at taking bites and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Liam helped Grandpa blow out his candles.

Then we went outside and played.  Playing out back at G & G's is great because they have a nice big shade tree and lots of grass.  The boys can run anywhere and I don't have to worry too much.  Although, Liam is becoming quite dare devilish with the swing set.

Colin and Grandma blowing bubbles

Liam running around.

In other big news, Colin upgraded to a bigger car seat! We decided to get a new one for Liam since it would convert to a booster seat when we need.  

Anyway this little peanut seems to enjoy his new ride, even though he still has to face backwards..

Friday the boys and I had an adventure together.  I decided that I would take both of them to Vegas with just me.  I wanted to get Colin's one-year pics done and thought a trip to Costco before the party would be a great idea.  We had a lovely trip.  On our way there Liam was looking out the window and said "Look at all that trash on the mountains"  He was referring to houses on the mountains but since they looked so small he thought it was trash. Ha!  Then on our way through Boulder, he saw his "Angry Monsters" aka as transmission towers.  Anyway, these ones had orange ball looking things on them and Liam said "Hmmm, that's a different looking monster."  He is a funny guy.  Colin got his pictures and we even had a half smile in one of the pictures.  Then we went to Kay Jewelers so I could get my ring cleaned.  The boys were hungry after that so we made a stop at Cinnabon, then a quick trip to Hobby Lobby of course, and lastly Costco.  Costco was the only part that got a little interesting.  Liam said he needed to go potty so we went to the bathroom but his underwear must have gotten caught somehow and he peed on them while he was going to the bathroom.  I couldn't believe it.  I'm still not sure how or what happened since I was there with him the whole time!  We grabbed some lunch on the way out of town and both boys fell fast asleep on the way home.

Later that evening Liam wanted to take some pictures.  Here is a self portrait, Ha!

Exciting Stuff!

I'm a little behind, as usual, but I have been working more than normal and the boys were sick.  Last Monday (7/29) we took Liam to check out a preschool/daycare.  I had been on a waiting list since March and they said at that time there should be some openings in August.  When I called to check in they said there was no one on the waiting list.  I was going to be upset but there were openings so it was all good! We checked out the place and Liam thought it was pretty cool so we decided to sign him up for two half-days a week and see how he does.  Basically, we felt he needed some social interaction because he LOVES being around other kids and lets face it Kingman doesn't have much to offer during the week.  Afterwards we had a lovely lunch date.  As we were sitting eating our Sonic, Liam said he needed to use the potty.  I hurried frantically getting Colin and our food gathered so I could walk him over to the bathroom.  I was sure he had already gone by the time we made it to the bathroom but he hadn't!  It was one proud mom moment!  

He has been doing really well with potty training except for a few accidents here and there.

Last Wednesday Hayley was in town with her kiddos, they stopped by for a quick visit.

Colin, Isla, and Liam

Greta stayed close to her momma

Isla and Liam had a blast.  Isla would take water out of the water table and pour it in the pool and then Liam would take a bucket of water out of the pool and pour it in the water table.  I thought it was quite hilarious.

This sweet boy likes to dance when you tell him too.

These sweet boys LOVE playing outside with the water table.

On to some exciting stuff!  Colin started walking Friday night!! Of course it happened while Chris was gone.  He was on his He-Man Woman Haters camping trip.  Anyway, Liam had a maraca and Colin wanted it and he just walked on over! Then on Saturday he continued to show of his walking skills!

I was trying to catch a sweet photo of this boy for his 1st birthday invitations!  He struck a few poses.

I love babies in overalls!

While Chris was gone camping the boys were both sick.  I was wiping snot right and left and neither of them slept very well at all!  Saturday Liam even started running a mild fever.  It made for a couple long nights without Chris.  He was so kind to come home late Saturday night and got up with the kids all night long.  Thanks hunny!

More exciting stuff: Tuesday (8/6)  Liam had his first day of "school".  We decided to send him on the days that I work so Grandpa gets a little break.  Chris took him on his first day.  He got a couple pictures.

Heading into school with his George backpack!

Apparently Liam had a very easy time parting from his dad once he spotted this police car to play in.

He had a great day and told us how he ate beans (we are assuming that was part of lunch).  He even went back for a second day today and seemed to love it.  I am so happy that it seems to be working out well so far!

Yesterday, Grandpa Casson came over and helped me build a big sand box for the kiddos.  This house we moved into has TONS of stickers in the backyard so we decided to fix up about 1/3 of it so the kids can play.  I cleared a 10x10 area and attempted to scrape all the stickers out for a play area. After we got the first load of sand Liam was perfectly satisfied!

It was wonderful tonight.  The playset is in place and the boys enjoyed being outside.  I think we will spend a lot of evenings out back :)