I thought I might have been avoiding this post because I'm sad over Collin turning 5, but honestly, it's really just that life is insane around here and I'm totes exhausted. Like, I want to be in bed at 8:00 every night after kids are FINALLY settled, but that's not possible because I still have to pump, clean the kitchen and get things situated for the following day.
This week alone we have been battling strep throat (Collin), continued ear infection (Grady) and people who feel that sleep is for the weak (Atalie and Grady and sometimes Collin)! We woke up 5 times one night, so the next night when we only woke up once, it sounded better to the people who saw our disheveled, zombie selves. That is until we told them we were awake for THREE hours during that one wake up. I have no clue what's going on around here. I've seriously lowered my standards these days, and I'm choosing to count it a success when I make it out the door with pants on and all 3 kids in tow.
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Collin turned 5 on a Wednesday, so I was left with the decision to have his party the weekend before or the weekend after and we opted for before. Because, HELLO! Everyone wants to party sooner rather than later :)
So the day of Collin's party, we also had our very first ever soccer game. He has been talking about playing soccer for a long time now, and he was psyched about his uniform. In fact, we had to tell him to take it off that morning because it was way too early to be dressed. Collin is not an aggressive boy, and he's not super adventurous by nature. He needs lots of affirmation, to watch others go before him and often times to feel like his Mommy and Daddy are right there with him before he will try something on his own. I wondered how soccer was going to go, and I got my answer pretty quick on that Saturday morning!
He did great during the 1/2 hour practice before the 1/2 hour game, but once the game started with the other team, he got super anxious. He played for the first 5-6 minutes and then he got subbed out for a rest, and it was during that rest he decided he was NOT going to go back in to the game. He hid in Jarrod's lap and kept saying he just wanted to go home. We made him stick it out for the rest of the game and kept encouraging him to go back in to the game, but he refused. Of course, he perked right up after the game when his teammates went to get sno-cones!
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He picked #2 |
I'm happy to report that he did significantly better at the next soccer game! He just needs to get used to the game and become a little more aggressive!!
We settled on a theme of Super Heroes for this year's party! Collin received an Iron Man costume from his Aunt Jami last year, and he was determined to dress as Iron Man for his party this year. He even wore an Iron Man t-shirt under the costume. Dedication!
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Some pre-party shenanigans with his Papa |
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It has been pointed out that Collin has this pose mastered. He won't break character once the costume is on him! |
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Super Heroes Everywhere...The Joker and Batman battling it out in some mini M&Ms |
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I made the cake and The Plum Peacock made the cake topper. I bought a mix of sprinkles that came with red, blue, yellow, green and orange sprinkles all mixed together. I thought I could get over the orange and green sprinkles, but it turned out the night before that I just couldn't stand it. I only wanted red, blue and yellow, darn it! So Jarrod's mom and I sat on the floor of the playroom and hand picked the red, blue and yellow sprinkles out of the mixture. Of course, Jarrod and his dad sat by rolling their eyes and laughing at us. |
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Aunt Kiki and Atalie |
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Blowing out his candles! |
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Sometimes I can't believe it's not just the 3 of us anymore! Love this boy to pieces!! |
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Super Grady! |
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It's safe to say we had a SUPER time! Also, shout-out to Aunt Kiki for hooking everyone up with a costume. It made the day super special for Collin! |
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Flying Captain America with the cutest, little Mia Chung looking on |
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The Ooms got Collin a white-tailed buck and a bison that have made their way all over the house. They were part of the scenery on his train table, they were our companions in the car on the way to school for several days, and I'm just waiting for them to be part of Nerf target practice one day soon! |
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Captain America! Collin told me this was a "doll", and therefore he should be allowed to sleep with it. He's a good negotiator, but I told him this thing would leave bruises based on the way he sleeps! It's safe to say he really likes it though! |
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Oh, man. The ultimate present. He got a Dune Racer from his grandparents, and there is no looking back now. He is happy to make endless laps around the house in this thing. |
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Probably my favorite moment from the party... He let Mia get in to go for a ride with him, but he needed to back up first. We all looked up to see him with his arm on the back of the seat and his head turned to back up safely. He did it so instinctively and with a girl in the seat next to him, it was like looking into the future 11 (or 20!) years. |
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And to end Collin's perfect day, dinner at Fuji's! He had been requesting to eat at "the place what throws your food at you" for weeks! He also says they have "the most yummy soup EVER". He ate with his hat on the whole time and used his chopsticks the entire meal. I don't think it ever occurred to him to eat with his fork! He was exhausted from the day's events and wouldn't crack a smile for the hibachi chef, but he was in heaven! |
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Since receiving the Dune Racer, Collin has taken both Atalie and Grady for a ride. They both really enjoyed it, but Atalie was a lot more vocal in her excitement. She was laughing and kicking her feet! I think she might be our daredevil!! |
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Such a good big brother and careful driver! |
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Before school on his actual birthday. HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, COLLIN! |
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We kept on with the Super Hero theme...cookies for our classmates from The Plum Peacock! |