Trip to the Zoo

After the Birthday bash on Saturday, Micah, Kacey and their wee ones stayed for a couple more days.  We had a great time just hanging out, and on Sunday evening we decided to take a quick trip to the Decatur Zoo...yes, Decatur has a zoo.  It was our first trip and I must say, I was impressed!  It's small and it only took about an hour to walk through all the exhibits, including the petting zoo, but it's perfect for the little ones.  Since the exhibits are small, they can actually see the animals.  We saw camels, cheetahs, some box turtles :), a red panda, baby prairie dogs, monkeys and other assorted animals.  The petting zoo was full of very playful little goats, some of which got a little too close to baby toes.  All in all, we had a great time and the extra days with Micah, Kacey, Finley and Scout were a blast.  Enjoy a few pictures from our extended weekend and zoo trip.

Ethan, Scout and Finley

Micah, Scout and Finley inside the bird exhibit.

Jared and Ethan checking out the goats

Scout getting his toes nibbled on while Finely 'pets' the goat and Micah poses for the picture.

Par-tay!!

Ethan's 1st Birthday party was at our house on Saturday.  We had great weather (sunshine and HOT) and a great group of party goers.  I think Ethan was a little overwhelmed with the heat and all the people, but he was a great birthday boy.  He had a chocolate cake and wasn't too sure about what to do with it.  As soon as I put it on his tray he buried his hand into it and then proceeded to put his cake/icing covered hand all over his head, pants and highchair.  I gave him a little taste from my finger and he seemed to like it, but wasn't interested enough to try for himself.  Enjoy some pictures from the day!  

Singing Happy Birthday and Presenting the Cake!

Not too sure about it...he never put it in his mouth, I gave him a taste and I think he liked it.

He loved the balloons!

Present time!

Apparently we make the same faces : )

Party goers...Josh, Alex and Abby

Swinging Finley & Haley and Hazel, Finley & Haley having a little snack

More party goers...Grandma & Ethan and Pop, Great-Grandma Woolbright, Linda & Great-Grandma Collier

Alex, Abby, Ethan & Heather and Heather, Eric & Braden

Hazel & Finley peeking out of the playhouse (looking rather warm) and Ethan acting shy after opening all his presents and everyone clapping for him.

Happy 1st Birthday to Ethan!!

Our little guy is 1!  He is such a fun and happy little boy.  He has 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on bottom.  He crawls everywhere, can stand without holding on to anything and could probably walk if he would just give it a go.  As soon as he sees something he wants he squats and takes off on his hands and knees.  He loves to be outside, and just about everyday this week I've had to clean the dirt out from under his fingernails (such a boy)!  His hair is growing more and more everyday, and is sporting quite the baby mullet.  I will be taking him to get it cut soon.  I was told that if he had his hair cut before his 1st birthday, it would stunt his growth (and with my height, he needs all the help he can get).  He likes food (like any good Collier boy).  His favorites right now include cheese, any type of fruit, cheese puffs, peas, noodles and on occasion chicken or ground beef.  He talks and babbles all the time.  He says mama and dada to the correct person, he says 'ba', for ball (when he wants to), and I'm pretty sure he says bird.  It's so much fun watching him grow and learn new things everyday.  And we can't wait to see what comes next!

Playing in his playhouse on his Birthday!

P.S. Check back soon for party pics! 

Enjoying the Outdoors!

We recently had our backyard fenced in and we are enjoying it so much!  Max loves being able to run free...and we love that we don't have to chase him down when he gets out.  As you will see from the pictures, Ethan also loves being outside.  Everytime I open the door without going out with him, he starts pointing and wanting to go out. 

Having snack time in the yard

His new play house/swingset (he loves that little door)

Inside his house

Happy Birthday Mr. B!

Our neighbor and friend Braden is turning 1 on Wednesday and we celebrated his birthday on Saturday with a great party!  He and Ethan are 2 days apart and we all have a great time when we get together.  Ethan didn't get to try any cake...he will have to wait until his party : ).  

Braden with his first bite of cake and he liked it!

Ethan and Braden playing some sports.

Go Cards!!

Friday night we headed down to St. Louis for the Cardinals vs. Angels game.  My sister, Sarah, wanted to go while she was in town so we got 14 tickets in all.  It was a great game, one in which the starting pitcher hit a grand slam home run to help seal the 9-5 Cardinal winner!  I'm no baseball expert, but I would venture to say that that's not a very common occurrence!  My mom and Linda graciously volunteered to babysit Haley and Ethan at Libby's house while the rest of us enjoyed the game.

Timm, Caleb, Kendra, Sarah, Patrick & Lily

Mike, Patty, Dad & Wayne

Alex, Abby, Me & Jared

Josh & Libby

Haley & Ethan happily playing at the house

Lots of pictures!

Sorry for the time span between posts.  It's been a busy last few days.  My sister, Sarah and her family came into town from Washington so I took a day off work and spent some time in Salem.  We had a nice visit with lots of family.  Ethan had fun playing with Lily (his cousin who is 5 weeks younger than him), Finley, Scout, Haley, and Caleb.  We tried a group picture of the 6 of them, but it proved to be pretty difficult.  Here are some pictures from our extended weekend.  

Having fun with Grandma and Grandpa Collier

Sweet Smile

 Libby with Haley and Caleb (Timm and Kendra Squibb's little guy)

Cousins...Lily and Ethan playing

'Group Shot'

Finley, Ethan, Lily, Scout, Haley, Caleb

(At least they are all in the same area of the room)

We had a Birthday party for Lily, she turns 1 on July 4th

(Scout is helping with the tissue paper)

The girls with their cell phones in their pockets : )

Lily Rose

Ethan loves his Pop!

Meltdowns are so fun...

Poor Ethan has been teething up a storm.  He's drooling all over the place, his nose is runny and he's just not his normal happy self all the time.  Monday morning was especially full of meltdowns...so I snapped a few pictures.  I think he's still adorable...even when he's mad.   Happy Wednesday!

So pitiful, I know.

Before & After

One of our biggest projects this spring was landscaping our front door area.  We had tried different things in the past and never really liked how it turned out.  This year we looked at the area from a different perspective...and started the demolition!  I love how it turned out and I'm looking forward to seeing everything grow in.  Jared did A LOT of heavy lifting like moving a 12 x 8 section of grass, leveling/smoothing the remaining dirt and unloading/moving 1.5 tons of rock...not to mention helping me pick out the flowers and plants. 

Before (actually this is after the demo had started) & Jared smoothing out the dirt

After!!  We rocked both sides of the door and planted a few plants/flowers.

Note the front step...we had the concrete lifted since it was quite dangerous with a huge step from the sinking.  Surprising to me, it made a huge difference!

Happy Mothers Day!

This is my first Mothers Day and I have to say that I am enjoying it!  We had a good morning at church followed by a nice lunch (pizza, my favorite) and now just some relaxation.  Ethan and Jared got me a rain barrel for Mothers Day.  Actually Jared made the rain barrel.  He got a couple planters along with some hardware and other accessories and just put it all together.  I had seen them on advertisements and thought it was a neat idea.  He did a great job and I love it!  Now we just need some rain to fill it up. 

Mommy and Ethan on a beautiful Mothers Day!

1st Mothers Day present...a rain barrel made by my wonderful husband!

And a quick thanks to my mom for how amazing she is!  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  You are the best mom I could have ever asked for.  I can only hope that some of your mothering awesomeness has rubbed off on me.  Now that I'm a mom, I have a different kind of respect and love for you.  Thanks for everything!  I love you lots!

 

My Mama and I just a few weeks after I was born.