MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So, Colin...what do you think of all these presents???

Dylan is exhausted! What a fun day!

New brothers in 2005

What a difference a year makes!

The happy family!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2006 part two!
A tradition in Richmond is the Tacky Christmas Lights Tour. Basically, if you have 50,000 lights or more on your house, you can submit your address to the paper and the addresses are published weekly during the holiday season. We went on a driving tour of these houses and they were pretty amazing. One even had their own radio station that played music that the lights blinked in time to. Now THAT was something to see!
So, Dylan really had a good time.

Colin had fun but was not quite as entranced!

When we got home it was time to put out cookies for Santa and reindeer food for his reindeer! Dylan previously had on short PJs. So he quickly went upstairs and put on pants....nice fashion statement!

Then he very carefully put out the reindeer food...making sure there was some in each spot on the lawn!

Christmas Eve 2006
One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to set up the train under the tree. Last Christmas, Jonny and his brothers sort of took over the project. This year, Dylan and Colin got to help out! They enjoyed it.
Dylan and Daddy putting the track and train together.

Colin wanted in on the action!

Success!

The boys were mesmerized! Colin was actually screeching with joy!

Colin's turn to be the conductor!

COLIN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!
Colin had a great day today! It started off with him walking through the streamers on his door! "Hmm...what is this?"
Next we went to day care for a party for him! FUN!
He sure LOVES his cake! I suppose we really should not be surprised that he weighs 27 pounds and is 32 inches long!
Jonny's aerial view!
Then at home, Colin got to eat his first baumkuchen (German for tree cake). Jonny's family used to have these all the time when they lived in South Africa. We found a bakery who makes them (in Canada Carla!) so we each get one on our birthday!

I would say he has the hang of it, don't you think????
Opening his Darth Tater from his birthday buddy Bennet. A nod to my Potato Head painted belly when I was pregnant! Thank you Kari!
What a great day! Thank you all for your happy birthday wishes! We are so blessed with Colin in our family!

The Grand Illumination! Every year a neighbor has the Grand Illumination of his house (a TON of lights). We had fun this year and Colin certainly enjoyed it!

COLIN'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!

We had a great time with friends from the neighborhood and special guests Arati, Tom and Neil from Philadelphia and Wayne and Max from Maryland! We could not believe the temperature was about 65-70 so the party was unexpectedly partly outside! What a great treat! We played games, did crafts and had yummy food. A great time was had by all...especially the Little Man of the Hour!

Colin enjoyed being the center of attention among the older kids in the neighborhood!
Are these ALL for ME????
SMILE!
Make a wish Birthday Boy!
Hmm...I could get used to this food!
I did not realize turning 1 would be SO FUN and YUMMY too!

Neil and Colin get to hang out together while Arati and Tom visit us!

Colin's first Birthday Invitation
Just thought I would share.

Raking the leaves. Dylan and Colin enjoyed playing in the leaves that we raked up. Not all the piles survived but it sure was fun!

HALLOWEEN



Our little Superman and Batman!!!



Dylan decided to try a skeleton headband on Colin!

And now on to carving the pumpkins!



Colin finally woke up and joined us for one of the pumpkins!

A visit to the pumpkin patch!

Dylan tries to choose the best pumpkin in the whole patch...this is before he walks around in the mud, falls and gest mud ALL OVER himself. He was kind of upset about so he would not allow pictures.


But Colin seemed to have a great time!

The Neuroscience conference in Atlanta


Tom and Jonny played catch with Dylan in the Olympic rings.

Then Neil and Colin had some huggie time!


Finally, Arati got some of the cuddles!

Halloween Decorating


We decorated early for Halloween and the neighborhood kids really enjoyed playing with the grim reaper. Someone would set him off, then they would all scream and dance with him. It was VERY cute.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONNY!!

So, we decided to go bowling. Dylan really enjoyed himself.





Especially sad was the fact that Dylan was actually IN THE LEAD for some time!!!!

Even Colin was laughing at us!