Catch Up!

As I was going through all my pictures I've taken, one cute little face kept popping up. Yep, this cookie coated one. NY law makes all one and two year olds be tested for lead. As I sat him on my lap and the technician started prodding at his veins (or lack thereof), I felt so bad for him! He doesn't even understand why he's about to be stabbed! Then of course it's my job to hold him down. Not an easy task. Even the lady commented on how strong he was. Luckily, she got blood on the first take and he stopped screaming right when it was over. He seemed unphased afterward, but I still gave him what he rightfully earned. An Oreo. He scarfed that thing down so fast then got it all over me and the seat while I was trying to clean him up with a wipe. Worth it.

Dad likes to tickle. I'm just glad my thighs have gotten a break, but that means Collin's are fair game. During one session I thought it was a good opportunity to snag a pic of his chompers. Gap and all. So cute.

Miss Elsie had her one year party a week late (she was born the day after Collin), so we tried to do an impromtu photo shoot with the two of them. I think his outfit is funny... kind of like a fat kid's vest. Frumpy. Trying to hide something... only there's nothing to hide on him! :) It was impossible to get them both to look at us, but I still love the progression of faces Collin makes. Here, he's biting his upper lip and sticking out his bottom one (something he's been doing a lot of).... an unsure, almost pensive look.

Getting a bit more annoyed with all the activity of trying to get his attention. Hands go to ears. Frusteration is mounting!

He's HAD IT!! Stop bothering me people!!! Photo session is OVER! :)

This past Saturday, he had more professional photos for Easter/1st Birthday, so he was due for a trimmy trim trim. He hates the cape though so hair gets all over him. And when I'm done and looking at his hairy back, I can't help but laugh, wondering if this is what he'll look like in another 25 years! Probably.... sorry son. :)

For his birthday, Grandma Ann sent some money to go buy a book. Well, yea for coupons, because we were able to get two! I love Eric Carle, but he sure is costly. And the B is for Bear... well Collin loves it, but I may love it more. Very good buys. Children's books are wonderful. I was so excited to walk into Borders and be able to look around. I've always thought it would be so fun to own a bookstore. Smell books all day. Ahhh.

It's a very busy couple of weeks with Young Womens. Mutuals, Super Saturdays, meetings, broadcasts, etc. The kids had to perform a skit for Super Saturday a couple weeks ago, so I thought it would be fun to teach them The Evolution of Dance. They loved it. And it was fun to teach it to them. If you've never seen it you have to search for it on You Tube. Only, it's pretty long, so we set up a lap top on the stage so they could watch while they danced.... only the video was slower than the music and they got confused and kinda lost it. So I was in the back behind the kids who were watching (but in front of all the adults!) and had to do it too so they could watch me and catch back on. I felt kind of dumb, but oh well! It wasn't perfect, but they had fun and I was proud of them for at least trying! Here's a shot of us the night they learned it.

We also had a fun activity last month making {No Sew Fleece Pillows}. I found the idea online and it was a hit. Kind of a lot of work for me preparing for it, but again, worth it.

We must interrupt our regularly scheduled post for a New Moon shoutout! Karli invited me to an exclusive showing of New Moon at her house last Friday and I can't even tell you how much fun it was. I was not prepared for what I saw when I walked into her house. This girl went all out. The soda labels were now {Type A}, {Type B}, or {Thirsty?}. There was Twilight wrapped Sweethearts....

Movie theater popcorn.....

even a Concession stand!

And a banner of Twilight pictures over the seating area.... including a blow up mattress (that came in quite handy later)

What I loved most was that the girls weren't truly Twilight obsessed. It was a healthy combo of admiring you know who and rolling our eyes when Bella moaned and Edward whimpered while kissing. {Gag!} Just a fun girls night being silly and laughing our heads off. And laugh we did. All I have to say is Tasha is hilarious and at one point, Karli, Rachel N. and I were literally having fits of giggles, rolling/ jumping all over the aforementioned mattress. I could NOT contain myself! And by the time we checked our watches it was 4:20am. WHAT?! How does that happen? Seriously, a night to remember. Thanks ladies. I consumed so many calories. And I burned twice as many hysterically losing it.

I've also got some videos! Collin has figured out how to make us laugh, by scrunching up his nose and snorting air in and out. So funny.

                                       

Then, on Sunday, we were watching America's Funniest Home Videos, and we realized that whenever someone got hurt, fell, had a pie smashed in their face, etc, and we would laugh, Collin would start crying! He really would have fear stricken across his face and turn to me, screaming. Well that just made us laugh harder. It was hard to get on video, but this one is a bit of a sample. We think that he must just relate to the pain, because last week he fell down the stairs for the first time and got a good sized bruise on his forehead. I blame it on his father :) You see, only hours earlier, we were talking and Trav said, ya know, this kid needs to fall and hurt himself! EXPLANATION: Every time he goes to dive off the couch or something, we're there to catch him, so he doesn't understand consequences or that it's dangerous. JINX! Fate was listening, because later that day he learned all about consequences. Poor kid. It's called learning I guess.

                                       

Well, on a final note I was going to post a picture of my brother's open house on Saturday but it seems that my sister's didn't think to take pictures!! :) He was married a year ago in Switzerland and hasn't been back to the states since, so they finally had their open house in my parents newly landscaped backyard this past weekend. I really wanted to be there, but it's hard to justify plane tickets when loans are tight and you think...well these are the prices you just have to pay when you are away at school. But then, my extended family only gets together every couple of years for a nice picture and they did it last Sunday, so it was kind of a bummer to not be a part of that. And then our other extended family is having their reunion this weekend and we've already missed the last one. Plus it's Easter and Conference, so I'm feeling kind of homesick. I just didn't realize how much was happening so close together. If I had known, I might have caved into a flight home, but oh well. I suppose these are the times that will make me appreciate when we are able to live in AZ again, much more (If that ever happens!). It's also my mom's birthday today. I love my mom. She called me last Saturday (the day of the open house) to tell me she missed me and wished I was there. I had wanted to talk to her all week, but knew she was super busy and I didn't want to bother her. So it meant a lot that she called on the busiest day of all!

Hope you have a GROOVY birthday Mom! I love you!