Shaving with Pop

Ethan and I made a quick trip to Salem Friday and Saturday.  Ethan is always taken with his Pop and wanted to do everything with him.  Saturday morning I caught them shaving together.  (Out of respect for my dad, I did not include the picture of the 2 of them)

Getting a close cut

Visitors

This past weekend, Grandma Karen, Uncle Dustin and Amanda (Dustin's gal) came up for a visit.  They came Saturday afternoon and stayed until Sunday afternoon.  We all had a great time and Ethan especially loved his time with Uncle Dustin (and saying Dustin over and over).  Dustin had to sleep on the areobed in the living room and Sunday afternoon Ethan thought the bed looked like a good time.  He enjoyed jumping on it, jumping off it, and being popped up when Dustin pushed down on his side.  I didn't get my camera to document, but it was fun to watch. 

Catching some playoff football action

They were up in our region to watch Jared's cousin, Darcy, compete in the Miss Illinois County Fair pageant after she won Miss Marion County this past summer.  We weren't able to go due to the late hour, but I saw pictures and she looked beautiful.  Congrats Darcy! 

Miss Marion County Fair Queen, Darcy!

This and That...

I haven't been the greatest at posting pictures lately...sorry.  Here are some that I've missed over the past several days.

My cute Cardinal fan!! (He loves hats, as you will see)

Night time dog walk...Max wasn't too thrilled

His love for hats again, the diaper hat!

1 more hat...Baby hat!  The one he wore right after he was born. 
A little small, but he looks so proud!

Fun With Aunt Abby!!

Abby (my sister) came up last night to spend the night and day with us, just hanging out.  We had a great day.  She brought her new, fancy-shmancy camera so we took a lot of pictures!  It was a fun day full of playing!!  Ethan loves his Aunt Abby and keeps saying her name over and over.  Enjoy some pictures from our day with Abby!

Playing in the tunnel!

Jumping lessons...he did get both feet in the air at once a few times!

Chilling in the tent with pillows made by Abby

This was a fun game...see how far Abby will let me stick my hand in her mouth.

Too far, too far!!

Animal drawing on the computer

Dragging all the pots, pans and bowls out, to sit in

Thanks for coming Abby!! We had a great day!

Happy 2011!!

Today was a great day here at the Collier house...and we didn't even leave!  I love lazy days with my boys.  I think I was in my PJ's until noon!  Other than just hanging out and playing we got the Christmas tree and other decorations down and put away, even the outdoor ones.  Here are a few pictures from the first day of 2011 at our house...

A favorite for both of them...PGA tour here we come??

Hanging out in his tent

Stocking cap and no shirt...

...pretty styling!

   

Forgotten Photos...

I guess I was so wrapped up in getting the Christmas posts up that I forgot about Ethan and Jared's sledding advendures.  I was looking through my pictures today and remembered I needed to share these.  Before we headed home after Christmas, we took the sled over to my Uncle Mike's house for a couple runs down the hill with Ethan.  He seemed to really enjoy it and wasn't too happy when we quit to go inside.  It was daylight this time...so I got some pictures.

Trying it out on a small decline first...

Weeeeeee!



Our attempt at a family photo

 Happy New Year!!

Christmas Day!

I have about a ba-gillion pictures from Christmas!  I feel like all we did was EAT!!  We had a great time visiting and hanging out with family.  Check out some Christmas 2010 pictures!

Discovering his stocking

I found snacks!!

Hanging out in his new tent with Rex

Not too sure why he wandered upstairs...but it's a cute picture : )



Building a tower with Pop

 After breakfast/snack in Salem, we headed out to Jared's parents for Christmas with them. 

Beautiful country road snow...on Christmas day!!!!

Opening presents with Grandma

Grandpa helping with the tools

Golfing on the stairs

After opening presents and trying to get Ethan to take a nap we bundled up for some playing in the snow.  It was getting dark so my pictures of the boys sledding didn't turn out.  So, I'll just leave you with a quick description of how it went...Daddy and Ethan went sledding and ended up in the ditch.  They were both smiling and laughing the whole way, but after that we decided to bring the snow playing into the garage.

Showing us his snowball

We hope you had a wonderful and blessed Christmas. 

Christmas Eve 2010

We headed to Salem last Wednesday night for the long Christmas weekend.  Thursday, we just sat around and hung out with family.  It was nice to have a 'free' day.  Friday, Christmas Eve, we had lunch with the Woolbright side of the family at Jared's grandmas house.  Ethan did really well for no nap, other than a few car rides here and there.  We had a nice time visiting and watching Ethan run all over Great-Grandma Woolbright's house.  Here are a few pictures from our afternoon.

Ethan, Grandma and Aunt Pam

Really wanting to touch the Christmas tree

After a great afternoon we got ready for church and the Christmas Eve service.  I have always gone to a Christmas Eve service and I love going.  There is no child care during the service so I was a little afraid how Ethan would do and he was great.  I think he really liked all the singing!  After church we had dinner at my parents house and then went to spend a little time at Jared's Grandma Collier's house.  We didn't stay long due to bedtime.  After visiting for a while, we went back to my parent's house to hang stockings, hear the Christmas story and head to bed. 

Trying it on to see if it fits...

Stockings hung by the chimney with care

Hearing Pop read about the birth of Jesus Christ

Sisters!

I'm a little upset at myself for not taking a family picture with Jared and Ethan, but oh well.  Next year I'll be sure to get one.  Christmas post coming soon...

Oh Silly Boy!

Pants on the head AND the swiffer...

Needing every last bit of the cream cheese from his bagel!

Weekend Update...

We had talked about having a little family Christmas 'get together' at our house on Saturday, but it was looking like we might be the only ones 'getting together'.  So, we decided to head to Salem on Saturday morning.  My cousin, Steve, who has been in Haiti since August is home for Christmas and was in town, so we were able to see him and catch up a bit.  I also decided to have the party at my parents house.  Jared and I made soup and invited the Colliers over and we all had a great time eating and visiting.  And, of course, watching Ethan 'perform'.  I remembered my camera...but not to use it, sorry. 
Sunday, Jared and I had tickets with Abby and Alex to the Rams game.  I have never been to a NFL game and we had a really good time (except for the loss and the obnoxious KC fans behind us).  My parents kept Ethan and took him to church and then met us in Vandalia for dinner and the switch-a-roo.  It was a quick, jam-packed weekend, but that's not going to change for a few weekends!  Here are a few pics from the Rams game.

Abby and Alex (note the forced smile on Alex, the Chiefs had just scored)

Jared and I

Child Labor??

I was vacuuming this morning and Ethan really wanted to give it a try...

Vacuum Fun

Snow Day!

We didn't get too much snow over the weekend, but enough for Ethan to notice it looked different outside.  It is really cold so we won't be venturing out to play in it.  But I did scoop up a cup full and bring it in so Ethan could play with it.  He had fun, and Max liked eating whatever he dropped.

This is how you play in the snow when it's -10 degrees outside (including wind chill)

Showing Max where to lick...

Snowball=Cold Hands