Front Yard Autumn 2006

Isn't our tree pretty this year? This photo was taken on Wednesday, November 8. (Bonus question: Who can spy Kaylin in this photo?)


But by Thurdsay the 16th all those pretty leaves had fallen. It was also the first nice day in a week, so the kids and I (mostly I) went outside to rake. Ethan took this action shot. Did a nice job.


Of course, Ethan also took THIS shot. But it actually is pretty neat. I wondered why he kept pointing the camera a little lower than I thought he should and saying, "Mom, I see me" :)


3 cute kids in a pile of leaves


Another "3 cute kids in a pile of leaves" shot :)


Sleeping cuties


As you can see, Krystin preferred playing on the bench to sitting in a pile of leaves


Of course, Krystin also found the tree interesting.


A typical Krystin expression. (only eyebrows are usually even more furrowed) I prefer to think she is just deep in thought and not really so scowly as she seems.


A sweeter expression from the sweetheart :)


Krystin kept insisting the bench was just a stepstool to climb up the side of the house! If you look closely, you will see her right leg is over the top already. Caught her just in time.


Ethan leaping in. For the longest while they were happy just sitting in the leaves even though I suggested jumping. It took the neighbors coming over to make jumping in the leaves sound like a good idea!


Kaylin taking the plunge


Two neighborhood kids came over to join in the fun. Bree and her brother Zach.


A blur of leaves. So much for my nice neat raked pile :) (Although it must be noted that Bree helped me re-rake the pile when we were all done)


Dan mowed the last time of the year on Saturday, Nov 18. This is the backyard on the east side of our house. No, Dan didn't set the mower too low. "Come next spring" we are going to put in rock and paver stones and add a shed and sand box. (So in preparation - in part due to bugs that ate the grass roots - we pulled up the grass)


How the front yard looks now after raking and mowing.
So sorry, but this is the last picture in the exciting “transformation of the front yard” post. :) If you want to see our front yard anymore, you will just have to come visit!

Krystin is now 1!

On Sunday, October 29, Krystin turned ONE!
We went to church that morning. Then after rests, we had cake and then let Krystin open her presents from us. We kept it simple, but it was a fun family time.


Just after church on Krystin's birthday.
Thanks for the cute outfits, Grandpa and Grandma Collingwood!


The cake. I wanted to say "Happy Birthday Sweetheart", but ran out of room at the point. :( It was Duncan Hines Strawberry cake with french vanilla frosting. Very Tasty!


First bite.
The kids thought she should get "K" for Krystin.
Krystin turned out to be a very methodical and neat cake eater. She primarily used her left thumb and pointer/middle fingers to daintily (for a baby) grab small bites at a time. Side note to the Collingwood Clan: Do you see Dan's left hand?! Captured on film. :)


Kaylin and Ethan choosing their piece. Ethan wanted the "H" and Kaylin wanted some middle letter. But after encouragement from Mom and Dad, she decided on the "B" piece! (for Britt - her middle name)


...drink break...


...balloon break...


...digging in again...


...maybe just a bit more...


Ahhh. That was tasty!


In between cake and opening presents, Kaylin and Ethan burned off some sugar by pretending to sing into the microphone (camera stand) and dance.


Ethan taking his turn at the mic.


Opening her gifts. Ethan and Kaylin were on stand-by in case Krystin needed help. They actually did a pretty good job of letting Krystin open and only helping when necessary.


Krystin's gifts.


Britt and Krystin playing with the birthday balloon. While Strawberry shortcake was not the theme, we DID have strawberry cake and as I was going for a sweetHEART theme - the heart shaped balloon fit.


Dan being the good Dad that he is and playing with Krystin. Her favorites (in her hands) were the "Noah" figure's head and the door of the ark. :)


Britt helping Krystin practice her walking. About twice a day Krystin will lock her legs when I go to set her down and that means she wants to walk. We usually go back and forth between 2 rooms twice and then she is done... or else I distract her with a toy because while I am not tall, the back DOES get a bit strained leaning over like that for very long!

Halloween 2006

Do you get it?
I wonder how many more years I have of imposing my ideas upon my children?!?!


Ethan the Scarecrow.
I thought maybe the raffia (sp?) might scratch at him, but I did cover it with wide ribbon and he didn't mind it. Didn't hear one complaint about it being pokey, but I WAS a bit concerned as I was making it, Keely! :)


Kaylin as "Corn on the Cob". The green thing on her nose is a worm. Ethan got face paint, so I had to think of something to paint on Kaylin.


Krystin as "The Crow"


Every year the kids get to trick or treat at Dan's work. It's a fun way for the employees to show off their kids. (Our's were the cutest, of course... although, Jenny, if you are reading this, yours were a close second!!!!)


First candy from the loot. Back at Dad's cubicle, Ethan had candy corns and Kaylin had a crunch bar.


Sweetheart got smarties....and she LOVED them. She remembered them the next day as Ethan and Kaylin got to have a couple pieces out of their buckets and Mama had to break out some smarties for the sweetheart :)


For supper and "trunk or treating" we went to our church. Mama took Ethan and Kaylin around to trunk or treat while Dad fed the scarecrow in the "barn”. (Our church left a sizeable one story building-shed-thing up on the property the preschool and church are built on)


The "Ear of Corn" or "Corn ON THE Cob" - for you non-Iowans :) - grew a little plumper at night. Scarecrow had a shirt and an extra sweatshirt on under his straw as it was in the low-30's!


The next morning the first thing Ethan and Kaylin did (once they were downstairs) was find their candy buckets!


Kaylin sorting her candy.
She is saying, "This is GOOOD"


Ethan sorting his candy…in very organized piles.
He is pointing out that he likes Dots.

Updates coming soon....I promise....

.... but since tomorrow night Dan (who is safely back from China, thanks for all your prayers)and I have a date (YEAH!!) and Friday night is our "Family Fun Night" and our weekly "Sci-Fi T.V. date-night-in-house", and Saturday is the dress rehearsal and concert for the symphony I recently joined (I play bass drum in one song), I won't get around to posting Krystin's Birthday and Halloween pictures until probably Sunday, THEREFORE, I am quickly posting 3 pictures to tide you by.... :) (How is that for an uber-run-on sentence?!)

Just after church on Krystin's birthday. Thanks for the cute outfits, Grandpa and Grandma Collingwood!

Almost done with the birthday cake :) (Strawberry with french vanilla icing)

Do you get it?!?