Campout

We decided to go camping this past weekend!  We loaded up the truck and headed for the hills above Coeur d'Alene and found the perfect little campsite.  Our friends Justin and Courtney came with us, along with Uncle Travis. Collin loved being in the outdoors, crawling around in the dirt, but really loved playing in the tent on all the blankets and sleeping bags.  It was hard to get pictures cause he was so wiggly!

This was the face he made when he saw it was Trevor shaking the tent and making growling noises 

We had a lot of fun sitting around the campfire and eating good campout food! 

Trevor, Justin and Travis found the perfect sticks and made quite the setup for cooking, it was fun to use it, I've only seen this done in the movies.

Hangin out with Uncle Travis

Collin napping

About a Boy

It makes me laugh that pretty much the only thing I blog about anymore is Collin.  I told myself I wouldn't do that.  While I'm sure I am capable of writing more interesting or conversational posts, I find I really want to share the things Collin is doing.  So I will work on being more interesting, but for now, enjoy this adorable video Collin playing with his dad.

Before I shed the work hat to become a stay at home mom, I worked in the field of child development for the last 5+ years. It makes me excited when I see him doing all these great developmental things that I have been studying and helping other kids learn to do.  In other areas, Collin has 12 teeth, and walked across the living room the other day. I'm sure I'll post more of that later.

PS excuse my voice, I have a cold.

Birthday Boy

One year ago we had this sweet boy change our lives for the better.

Can you believe one whole year has passed? Collin is 4x the size he was a year ago.

We had A BBQ birthday party with some family and some of our friends from work.  It was a great day.

 

I love this kid so much!  I'm so happy to be his mama.  At one year old, he is just weeks away from walking, eats anything and everything I put in front of him and, his cowboy blanket is his favorite thing and he cries and cries when daddy leaves for work and races to the door anytime he hears it open.  He gives high fives, and kisses and is already being engrained to love football. 

Vacation!!

At the beginning of May, Trevor and I were able to go on our first ever cruise!  Trevor and the team of guys we work with up here have been working really hard and because of all that hard work we were able to go on this trip!  I'm so grateful to have a husband who works so hard and provides such wonderful opportunities.

 this is the lobby inside the boat right in the center

 One of my favorite things about the cruise, beside the wonderful food and comfy beds,  was the room service.  Each day after we came back to our rooms to get ready for dinner, our bed was made for us, and after we returned from dinner the bed was turned down, ready for us to jump in and sleep.  Each night the stewards had created a different animal out of the towels. the monkey was my favorite

Crab

Monkey

seal

we guessed Elephant

Of course we spent a lot of time just lounging in the sun, we got a little rosy, but too bad or painful!

And each night was a magnificent sun set

  

We did some fun things off the boat as well, lots of snorkeling and a little sight seeing.

   

Me after an afternoon driving around on dusty roads

We had such a good time, and it was great to just get to spend some time together.  We went with some of the guys Trevor is working with and it was fun to get to know them and their wives better as well.  Collin stayed with his cousin Paislyn, his aunts Jordan and Randi and Uncle Devin.  He was well taken care of and didn't seem to miss us at all.  We were glad he was so well taken care of Thanks to Jordan Randi and Devin for that! I would recommend anyone who get the chance to go on a cruise!

Show Me Your Muscles!

This may have totally been coincidental, but he was doing it all through lunch, so I figured I'd see if I could catch it on camera!

Bed Head

Collin has taken to sleeping on his tummy, and his nose, and is hands and any other position other than his back. This is often what we see when we get him out of bed.

We have been giving Collin lots of new tastes. He's quite efficient at feeding himself whatever I put on his tray. Some of his favorites are peaches, peas, green beans and potatoes (a true momma's boy!) But here is a short video of his first taste of lemonade.

Washington?

That was my response when Trevor said "What do you think about moving to Washington?" My parents started their early marriage years in Seattle, and I'd made a few trips there growing up and I always liked the state. Not to mention a move would mean I could quit my job, which I wasn't enjoying and stay home with my growing baby. My answer was quick "I like Washington!" The months from when we decided we were moving until we actually did were hard. Trevor was traveling a lot, which means Collin and I missed him a ton. Work wasn't getting any better, in fact in my mind it seemed to grow exponentially more difficult each day. And I found myself constantly reassuring friends and family that we were making a good choice and there was no need to worry. But the time finally came when I left work behind, packed up our belongings and hit the road. I cried as we pulled away from our home. OUR HOME. The first one we ever had. The place we came to rest, where we ate and prayed together. The place where we became a family. Collin's first home.

from the frontIn the back yard

Washington is grey. Often. Although we live on the east side of the state and the grey is significantly less than the coast (Thanks Heavens) it was a struggle for me. I've debated sharing this, I don't want to give people the wrong impression, but it was hard being here. Our routine was all messed up, I wasn't used to being with Collin all day and Trevor's schedule was completely unpredictible. I felt so lonely. I called my mom and sisters several times a day just to have someone to talked to. BUT things did settle down. It didn't take long to swing into full-time Mommy mode and I can say now, I've never been happier.

I have to give props to some of the ladies in my family. I was so anxious about moving, even though I knew it was for the best. I was comfortable in Benson and wasn't ready to give that up. My parents were in the Army and moved every couple of kids. When they settled in Twin Falls they were expecting me...#6. Mom I admire you that even more. My sisters, Kim and Becki, moved across the country and back with children in tow as well. My brother and his wife have done the same. But I think Juli, takes the cake. She and her husband Shon who works in the Oil Industry have lived in Louisiana, Texas(2 times), New Mexico, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada and Australia! It made my move, just one state away, manageable. At least I wasn't moving across the biggest ocean into a time zone with more than a 24 hour difference from home.

My point is, this move has helped me and blessed me in so many was already. I appreciate family and friends more than ever. Trevor and I, already close, are that much closer. Collin is growing like a weed, and I get to see it all. The new business venture is turning out to be successful as we had faith it would. My life is good, and I love it.

But who wouldn't?