Collin's First Birthday Party!

Better late than never (really late!)...but finally getting to the post for Baby C's big 1st birthday party...what fun it was!

We held the party waaaay back on Feb. 27 at Kid City, our favorite play place. We had a Baby Sesame Street theme and a big red Elmo cupcake cake. Collin was a tired little party boy because he missed his nap, but everything went very well and everyone had fun! All his (and mostly Kate's :) little friends were there. Grandma Kitty, Grandpa and Uncle Jon, as well as Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill were there as well.

Here are some of the photos...it was a really great day...Collin's first year flew by...it was definitely tough balancing two little ones, but he has been a complete angel. And we can already see a strong bond developing between Collin and Kate. Now, we're watching our second baby turn into a toddler...and gearing up for a busy summer!

Kate checking out the Elmo cupcake cake in her dress-up clothes...

Collin with Grandma, Mommy and Kate...

Collin and Uncle Jon...

With Daddy...

With Uncle Bill and the little #1 "smash" cake.

Kate and Andrew eating cupcakes.

Collin and Sydney play in the "grocery store."

Collin with Mommy's cousins Sara and John Fitzpatrick.

Collin's 1st Birthday!

Our little man turned one today! What a year it has been - lots of hard work, but full of joy...

Here are some highlights of our little celebration at home tonight...he fizzled early and will have to open presents tomorrow!

Kate and Daddy decorating the Cookie Monster and Big Bird cakes

(kits are from Grandma Kitty from when Daddy was little!)

Donning our party hats...

The masterpieces!

Helping Collin blow out the candle...

Yummy!

Christmas in Wisconsin!

Wow, it is Groundhog Day, and I just realized I have not created our Christmas post! No better time than the present...

We had a wonderful, fun-filled visit with Grandma Kitty, Grandpa and Uncle Jon in Altoona. Grandpa made a real wood-burning fire a few nights and shoveled the snow with Kate. Kate helped Grandma Kitty feed the cats (and chase them!). And Uncle Jon did lots of playing and watching Jingle Bells videos on his laptop. Santa visited, and Collin got his two front teeth for Christmas! (ouch!)

Kate checking out all the presents under the tree!

Kate and Grandma in front of the fire...Kate set out cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph!

Grandma Kitty and Collin...

I'm gonna get those glasses Uncle Jon!

Kate finding the stockings left by Santa...

Love this pic! At brunch at Fanny Hill...

In their red Christmas PJs...

Kate LOVED shoveling the snow and Collin got his first ride on a sled...

Kate pulling Collin in the sled....our little snow bunnies!

A Kentucky Thanksgiving

I'm a little behind (a month!), but as we prepare for our next road trip for Christmas, I wanted to remember our Thanksgiving visit to Maysville! We had a wonderful visit with Grandmama and Granddaddy...Kate loved playing with the dollhouse, opening and closing all the doors in the house, riding the elevator with Grandmama, seeing Big Boy in person, and looking at the holiday lights. Collin enjoyed playing with his new truck, looking at Olivia, and trying some new real foods, as well as his new favorite activity - standing!

Kate with Mommy and Aunt Betsy's dollhouse...

she liked all the little furniture...

Kate and Collin playing tea party with Kate's new tea party set...

Collin and his new truck on the new floor...

Granddaddy with an armful of babies!

Collin and Grandmama in the "new" kitchen...

Collin and Mommy on the stairs...he's close to being able to try them!

Kate liked the holiday lights Granddaddy drove her past...

Merry Christmas!

Halloween 2009

I'm desperately behind, but trying to get caught up before Christmas! Here are some quick highlights from Halloween...Kate was a pink Tinkerbelle fairy and Collin was Yoda!

Their first Halloween together...

Baby Yoda imparting wisdom upon Tinkerbelle!

We attended a Halloween party at Kid City, a play place we go to frequently. Kate and her friend Sydney (the ladybug!) had fun...

In the Yoda-Mobile...at 9 mos, he already loves the Cozy Coupe!

Kate on the slide at Kid City...she loved her butterfly face painting!

Kate's first time trick-or-treating! It was cold out!

In their Halloween shirts...

Kate Turns 2 - October 24, 2009

Kate is still singing "happy birthday to you" although the party has been over for weeks. We had a wonderful weekend of celebrating with family and friends. Kate also had a little party at school in her two-year-old room (which she's actually been in for a couple months) with pink cookies and party hats.

Happy birthday to our sweet little girl...we love you dearly...

Six kids attended the bash and all had fun in the pool of balls...Pictured are Sydney, Andrew, Frida, Belle and Kate (Sam is not in the picture and must be preparing for his dive off the couch into the pool- which actually happened!)

Kate and Collin playing in the balls...

The birthday brunch!

First we decorated pumpkins...

Kate works on her pumpkin with Daddy...

Sydney and her mommy, Karen, with their pumpkin...

Then we moved on to Halloween cookie decorating...

Our neighbor Frida is busy decorating pink cookies...

Then we had "Hello Kitty" birthday cake!

Kate in her 2nd birthday shirt with Grandma Kitty...

I love this pic...I call it "Dezi and the Dads"

Kate's birthday banner from Grandpa...