Kaylin's 5th Birthday

On (Easter) Sunday, April 12th, our little girl turned a whole hand :)

What a joy watching Kaylin grow. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

She is empathetic, loving, energetic, and creative.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie :)

We love you!

Making cupcakes to take as treats to preschool

Kaylin chose vanilla cake (surprise, surprise) ;)

Birthday girl gets to lick the beaters.
Kaylin was a very kind older sister and shared with Krystin :)

This week on Thursday, Kaylin is having a "Littlest Pets" pizza party in the park to celebrate her birthday with preschool friends. So I made her cake "Littlest Pets"


She loved her big 5 balloon

I'll post Easter pics later. But as her birthday was on Easter, here is a sneak peak.

We went to the pancake/fruit/ham breakfast and church service. It's extra special knowing the birthday girl knows that Easter is all about celebrating Jesus is Alive!

Since we went to early service, we had some time before lunch.

Mario Bros still held it's appeal ;)

(Ethan slipped on the kitchen rug and landed hard on his knee. So I sat down to help him ice it, and gave him his game to distract him.... it worked ;)

Kaylin asked if she could open presents before lunch. We said sure.

I love how excited she is here to be getting her beautiful bike. She is literaly jumping for joy.

Her other presents. A new bike helmet, an ice cream charm necklace, and a rug for her room (she was maticulous about it's placement on her floor)

Attempted long arm shot.

(took Kaylin by surprise and the sun was in her eyes)

Dad helping Kaylin figure out the rules to "Toss your Cookies" - Kaylin's game from Grandpa and Grandma Jordan. We played it as a family after supper. Pretty fun game.

Lunch of choice:

Dino-Nuggets, Baked Beans, and Applesauce

After lunch, we had our own egg hunt at home. Here is another sneak peak. I'll post other pics with the Easter post. Kaylin found the extra big egg by looking under the (pictured) garbage can lid.

Cake for afternoon snack

We burned off cake energy by taking the bikes and trikes for a spin.

Krystin inherited Kaylin's old helmet.... and trike.

She's so proud of herself that she can peddle like a "big kid - 'cuz babies can't peddle"

Dad took off Ethan's training wheels. He is about to go 2-wheeling :)

And the birthday girl on her birthday bike

The girls split up from the boys....

.... so Dan could work with Ethan

My view towards the end of our "ride" :)

At one point around the loop, Kaylin got clear far ahead, to the other side. So I told Krystin I needed to carry her trike across the grass and she could get back on at the other side.

She did NOT like the idea....

Grandpa and Grandma Collingwood called to sing Happy Birthday

(OK - so if anyone talks to Kaylin on the phone and can't hear her... this is why) ;)

She wanted Shrimp Cocktail

(Thankfully, the Lord provided it on sale!)

Caesar Salad and Garlic toast rounded out the meal

2 to Tide you By

I know you are all anxiously awaiting Birthday and Easter pictures.

We've made it successfully through the first 1/2 of this crazy weekend. I even already have the pics from today selected and set aside to post. But I still need to swap out pink balloons for the red, iron Easter dresses, thaw the shrimp, finish wrapping Kaylin's presents, get to bed in time to wake up for 7:30 breakfast at church, and Gildar to frame for it. I'm swamped.

Hopefully these next 2 postings will tide you by until (maybe) tomorrow night :)

Thank Goodness for Washable Markers.

I guess a black and white shirt needs more color.... and the jeans were plain

No. She's not lined up for arrest. Kaylin was the culprit :)

(She got off easy. No markers for a week. And yes - the marker came out)

We're making progress!

Look at those glides.

And has anyone seen Krystin? Wait. THERE she is. Under the water! She is so proud of her "humming" and going under (....just to her eyes)

She definitely has the crawling out of the pool "elbow-elbow, knee-knee" down :)

Marathoner in Training - April 09

Let me give you a hint. It is NOT Britt :)

Yep. Dan is training for the great Potato Race in May. Just one day after my husband turns 32, he will run 26 miles.... for fun.... just to say that he did. Can you be crazy in your early 30's ???

Seriously, I am very proud of him for going after this personal goal. And a healthy one at that :)

(Did you note in an earlier blog that I, Britt, got a gazelle? I DO use it...)

Anyway. Here he is lacing up his running shoes.

Heading out the door for a leisurely 16 mile Saturday run

He made it!

Now for the post run stretches

He was spotted.
"Dad! Are you OK?!"
Dan reasured them he was fine - just stretching.



Kaylin wanted to know if it hurt to stretch on the cement.
Krystin wanted to know. "Wike Biss?"

Personally, I think Dan is in it for the free baked potato at the end of the run :)

Go Dan Go!!!

Special Outings ('09 catch up - part 1)

Before talking about the Special Outings, I need to make this general statement:

The next 7 part "2009 catch up" picture postings and 8 video clips are to catch you up to speed on our January - March 2009.

This comes just in time for me to draw a quick breath before the whirlwind of April Birthdays and Easter photos!

I shall endeaver to post those pics before 4th of July ;)

Enjoy!

Special Outings

While Papa was visiting us, Dan and I were able to take each of the kids on and extra special outing. They got both Dad and Mom all to themselves!

Kaylin's was actually on December 30, 2008.

We took her to the Botanical Gardens Christmas Lights.

We all 3 had such a good time. It is amazing how fun and relaxed it is when it is 2 parents with just 1 child. :)

Afterwards we stopped by Shari's and Kaylin ordered a banana split

On Friday, January 2, 2009, we took Krystin out for breakfast at Denny's.

(hmmm.... I'm seeing a trend to go to restaurants with 1st names....)

Just before, Dad put puzzles together with Krystin while I had a dentist appointment.

Krystin really enjoyed her crazy cup.

She wanted to share with Dad :)

That afternoon, Ethan wanted to go to a family fun center to play arcade games.

This was a favorite.

Shooting the infared beam at targets made different objects spin/light up/talk

Eagle eye Ethan!

Mom and Ethan racing cars

He ended up with quite a few prize tickets.

Here is the bounty

Paddle Ball and Harmonica Videos (early '09)

Papa picked these paddles up for the kids.
Kaylin is distraught at the end because hers breaks.

I would post her rendition of "Drummer Boy".....

but just imagine 40 more seconds of the same thing... an octave lower :)

Sisters ('09 catch up - part 2)

This is a pretty common sight these days.

Kaylin and Krystin like to fill up any bucket like object with various sorts of treasures.

What is so funny?

Look at their pants.

They filled their pajamas up with various toys.


Papa made this 2-headed burrito
(and then ran to the other room for 2 minutes of peace and quiet) ;)

Hair Salon

I still can't believe Krystin sat still long enough and tolerated Kaylin putting all those barretts in her hair. I have a hard time just getting TWO in her hair!

(and I think she wasn't done yet in this picture)

Dan and I are just glad that Kaylin asked first before cutting Krystin's hair!

I had some apples going bad, so I decided to make dried apples.

The girls loved running the peeler/slicer machine.

And the apple peels kept them entertained for a long time!

Pretty dresses on pretty girls.

I especially love their shoes....

My Little Pony Dress up shoes :)