Sorry...

...for the lack of posts this week.  It seems like we have been pretty busy around here with just daily life!  So, here's a recap of the week in the Collier house.

Monday: Memorial Day
Jared was off (yay) but we didn't relax.  Instead we, mostly he, built this!

 

And don't believe the box, this is not a 'nap time' project.  It takes a bit longer than that.  We pretty much spent all day on it.  But we did drive to pick it up, got stuff for the foundation and dug out/built the foundation before we started on the 'in as little as 90 min' building project.

While shed building was going full force in the backyard.  Ethan was busy guarding his lawn mowers from Braden.  Not a beautiful sharer today!

Tuesday:  Work for myself.  Jared worked most of the day and then headed to Indiana for a conference.
Since Monday morning, Ethan had been up and down with a fever, but never acting sick.  I picked him from the sitters early on Tuesday and we've been pumping tylenol into him since.  No pictures Tuesday, sorry.

Wednesday:  Jared still gone.  Ethan's 2 year well child visit.

Here is Ethan when we got up....

Pretty pitiful

After about an hour, he was fine again, fever free and we headed to the doctor.  Other than the ear infection and up/down fever (we have meds now) he's a healthy 2 year old.  He weighs 26 lbs and is 2'9" tall.  Oh and has a whopping 97th percentile head size...he is a pretty smart kid.
Wednesday night we went to Zach's (Braden's older brother) baseball game and you would never know Ethan was supposed to be sick...or something.

Hanging out on the big boy swings

Thursday: Work again for me and Jared is coming home! 
Ethan again woke up with a pretty high fever, but by the time I was ready for work he was fine and back down to normal.  Took him to Arika's (she knew everything, by the way) with Tylenol/Motrin and instructions.  She said he was fine all morning and then after nap...high fever again.  Jared was almost back in town, thank goodness, so he went and got him and by the time they got home, no fever and just a little boy wanting to play outside.  So they did!  (These pics are from Sunday, but you get the idea)

Look at that form!!

Trying out the new bike!

Friday: OB appointment for me and unexpected Dr. visit for Ethan
I am 19 weeks along today!  Almost halfway.  I will post a picture next week (hopefully).  Ethan came along today and loves seeing the fish in the aquarium at the office.  Baby is healthy with a strong heartbeat and moving a lot!  I will have an untrasound at my next visit.
After we got home from my appointment, I noticed Ethan had a nice rash that had just appeared.  I decided to have him checked out, since we have a quite full weekend.  Nothing big, just part of his virus showing up as a rash.  Oh and he has been fever free today since about 30 minutes after he woke up! 

So...3 doctor visits, Jared gone for 2 days and work somewhere in between makes for a busy week!  Check back for posts from this weekend.  Cardinal game tonight, Abby's wedding shower tomorrow and Squibb family reunion Sunday.  I'm sure we'll breathe again sometime!

Party Time!

We had Ethan's birthday party on Saturday.  The weather was so-so but we had a great time anyway.  We were able to be outside for the majority of the party and Ethan got to try out a few of his 'outside only' toys.  Now for the pictures...

Braden and Ethan hanging out

Dustin: The Sign Holder

Ice Cream Cake! 

He didn't try to touch the flame this year...he blew it out! 

Abby at the kid table

Present time.  He looks a little frustrated here...

 As I said before...he got to try out his cool new toys.  We got him his first bike.  It doesn't have pedals and is supposed to teach him balance.  He really likes it and we went for our first 'ride' tonight...slowly.

First time on the bike!

Loving the tractor from Grandma and Grandpa!

I'm sure there will be plenty more posts with biking and mowing involved! 

Here's the party group!  Thanks to everyone who was able to come celebrate with us.  We know Ethan is very loved by all of you!

Birthday Boy

Ethan turned 2 today!  He is such a sweet little boy and we had a great day celebrating with him.  Here are a few pictures from our day...minus the party (I didn't take any).  Abby was my designated party photographer and I know she did a great job.  So check back tomorrow (or later) for a full party post!

Birthday Breakfast...Cinnamon Rolls!

Bday Hat and PJ's...a nice fashion statement

This is what happens when it rains on your birthday and you get a T-ball set.  Oh, and he took his clothes off all by himself...we're so proud!

Balloons and a big box.  What more does a 2 year old need?!?

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!  We love you lots!!

Florida Vacation!!

We're home...finally!  (More about that later).  Anyway, we had a great trip and I am so proud of how well Ethan did traveling!
We started off bright and early last Thursday morning.  Libby and Josh were gracious enough to put us up for the night and watch Max for us while we were gone.  Thanks guys! 
Here we are on the shuttle from the parking garage to the airport (at about 5:45 am).  Ethan thought riding the bus was really cool!

Just having some fun on the airplane!  We had 2 flights both ways so both were fairly short (which was nice).  Ethan loved looking at all the guys outside the plane working and driving around, he asked where they went after we got in the air. 

Airplane #1- Snuggling with Abby

Airplane #2- Naptime

After we got to Ft. Walton Beach and got our rental car we headed to the condo.  My cousin, Micah and Kacey were vacationing about an hour from where we were and they drove over to meet up with us for some swimming and dinner. 

Finely and Abby getting ready for some sun

All ready for the sun!

Ethan and Finley

Grouper sandwiches all around...pretty much.  We went out to dinner with the Puricelli clan to a really great outdoor seafood restraurant on the water. 

Scout and Ethan

The Whole Group (minus my dad, he had gone to pick up Tyler)

After dinner we played outside on a boat and then headed back to the condo for some playtime.

Ringing the bell

Jump!

Sitting on the boat steps

Tyler and Ethan

Scout very proud of covering Ethan up

Day 1: 1st full day
Jim and Shannon weren't there yet since Jim was still working.  But would be in around noon.  My dad had gone to get Tyler the night before so we all suited up and headed to the beach.  Ethan loves the sand (I wasn't worried though, due to his love of dirt). 

Almost there

Digging in the sand

Exfoliation by sand

More digging

Ocean fun with Daddy, Pop and Tyler

We also had access to a splash park that was by the beach (a nice way to rinse off)

After beach time we headed back to the condo for lunch and rest/naptime.  Then more cousin playing!

Josiah (or 'Go-siah) and Ethan

Relaxing on the balcony

Pop and Paige

Crazy Kids...Piling the pillows on top of each other and loving it!

Day 2:  More sun and water fun!  And Birthday party for Paige (she turns 5 on June 14)

Ready to go!

Football under the waterfall

Cookie decorating time

'My do it!'

Birthday Princess!

Later that evening Abby wanted to photograph the sunset, so we took a walk and had some fun taking pictures.

Beautiful!

Our Growing Family

Day 3:  More sun and pool fun.  And goodbye to Grandma & Pop and Jim, Shannon, Tyler, Paige and Josiah.

My parents drove out so they were planning on heading back on Sunday afternoon and finishing the drive on Monday.  Jim and family were also needing to head out Sunday afternoon.  Our flight didn't leave until Monday, so we had the rest of the afternoon/evening to fend for ourselves.

He loved jumping into the water (I think he really wanted to do it by himself)

Jim, Shannon, Paige and Josiah on the lazy river

Ethan and Josiah getting ready for some lazy river action

Cute kids!  Paige (almost 5), Tyler (almost 12), Ethan (almost 2), Josiah (3)

That evening we cleaned up and headed out to dinner and then found a little boardwalk area to check out.

We found a train to ride

Going for a train ride

Feeding the fish

Day 4: The day we thought we would be home.
We got up on Monday, got our things together and checked out of the condo.  After we got to the airport and turned our rental car in we were informed that our flight was delayed, making us miss our connecting flight in Atlanta.  While we were trying to figure out what to do, we were informed again that our flight was canceled all together.  We were given food, taxi and hotel vouchers for that night and told to come back on Tuesday for the same flight times.  So, we tried to make the best of it.  After finding a place to stay, eating lunch and renting another car, we headed out.  Abby found a Science Center that was about 25 minutes away so we went there.  It was small, but perfect for Ethan.  And we were the only ones there!


Blocks



Big bubbles!

Little Bubbles

Since the Science Center was about half way between our hotel and Jim and Shannons house, we decided to head out to see them and order some pizza.  It was a nice evening and I'm kind of glad for our 'bonus' vacation day!

Comparing their Cardinal birds

Paige and Josiah with their new cat

Our travel day home went better than I expected.  I didn't really expect much, actually.  Our first flight out of Florida was delayed again and we barley made our connecting flight in Atlanta...but we made it!  It was a great trip and no one turned into a lobster...that's a plus!  Thanks for making it to the end of this massive post!