The Wild and Wierd 8th Birthday of Collin

As is the case with most of our birthday parties for the kids, expect the unexpected. Natalie and I planned out this great night to have Collin's friends and our family go swimming at the Draper pool. It was a beautiful day until precisely at the moment we were supposed to start the party. The skies brought down a fury: rain, hail, wind, and dust that only a harden storm chaser could appreciate. Of course, being teachers and experienced birthday organizers you would have thought that we would have had a "PLAN B." The weather has been so nice and the forecast was not calling for any rain in the next 5 days, so there was no need for "PLAN B." Next year we need to think a little less about PLAN A and more about PLAN B. However, with a lot of help from Nana playing Simon Sez and Aunt Shannon keeping the eight boys and two girls at bay with games, we were able to pull off something that resembled a birthday party. In fact, I think the kids had more fun tearing up our house and running wild than if they would have gone swimming (just a little tip for future birthday organizers). The following pictures are a little bit out of the norm because of the weather but they are fun to look at.

THE STORM!!!!

FINS TO THE LEFT, FINS TO THE RIGHT!! These are all the kids with their goggles on without being in the swimming pool. They are also showing their "finning" skills.

This is Collin recieving a collection (compiled by Jay): TaeKwonDo certificate, white belt and the board he broke during testing in a shadow box.

This is Brandt trying to keep the boys safe from Taylor. She had the most fun being a big kid and beating up the boys. She had a blast!!! We did miss Soupy.

Collin blowing out the 8 candles on the Bakugan cake he designed with the help of Mom.

Here is another "out of the norm" picture. Pictured left to right: Top Row: Max or Alex, Alex or Max (they're identical twins so your guess is as good as mine), Collin, and Cameron. Bottom Row: Dresden, Logan, Gavin, and Gabe.

Collin had a great birthday party and wants to thank all of you for contributing to his DSi Fund. He was able to get it. He really enjoys the upgrades of the internet and the camera. Another huge thanks to Brandt, Carlee, Shannon, and Nana for helping out with the party. You guys were lifesavers. There is a reason we both teach high school kids, not 2nd grade.

Diving Board

We have spent lots and lots of time in the pool this summer. The kids have refined their swimming techniques, too. Recently, Collin has expressed an interest in jumping off the diving board so, after making sure he could swim far enough, Jay let him try it. He loved it! Sydney saw that Collin was having so much fun (and getting so much praise) for being daring enough to jump that she decided that she would try it too. Here is the first night she jumped:


Jay coaching the kids from the side of the pool.

Sydney, getting the courage up to jump and giving a last smile and wave to Mom.




Collin makes the coolest facial expressions when he jumps!

Collin's next challenge was to try the high dive which he did at Shannon's neighborhood pool party (no picture, though). Maybe we can convince Sydney before summer ends???

Meet Oscar

This little guy was my Mother's Day gift from Collin and Sydney. He was the tiniest little angelfish just 2 1/2 months ago and has more than doubled in size. The kids loved his coloring and thought he would be a nice addition to my aquarium. I love him because he IS the cutest little guy but especially because he has such personality. (Who new fish could have personality?) This little guy will position himself in the tank so that he can watch everything I am doing in living room. He eats out of my hands and will even let me pet him now. We named him Oscar because the named seemed to fit him. He is so cool! (Pic's just don't do him justice.)

Collin earned his yellow belt!!!!

Last Friday, Collin passed his test to move up a belt in Tae Kwon Do (or however you spell it. I normally spell it KARATE). Collin also got to show of his new found inner force of breaking a board with nothing but his first. Master Kim (Obi-Wan) has shown Collin the ways of the FORCE! He has really improved and is looking forward to his next goal of being a Purple Belt. It was awesome to have Nana, Dresden, Logan and Aunt Shannon there to support him. He really appreciated it! We are very proud of his efforts.

This is Collin kicking some kid's butt!!!



Master Kim (Obi-Wan) is showing him what he needs to do to break the board.

Master Kim (Obi-Wan) explaining to dad how to hold the board so the young apprentice can break the board.

This was much harder for me than you might think because I cannot understand a word that Master Kim (Obi-Wan) says. I just nod my head, bow and try to figure out what in the world he is trying to tell me. It is funny, all of the kids understand Master Kim. However, none of the parents have a clue what he is telling them.

Collin is channeling all of his energy and his focus to break the board. May the Force be with Collin!

Yiiiieeehhhaaaahhh. For those of you not familiar with Tae Kwon Do, Karate or Kung Fu this is the scream when you hit something. I'm really not sure how to spell Yiiiieehhhaaaahhh. But I am sure it's close enough for all of you martial arts novices. OBTW, Collin snapped that board like Luke cutting down a storm trooper with his light-saber.

Until next the next blog, May the FORCE BE WITH YOU!

Tooth Fairy To Make First Visit To Sydney

Tonight, shortly after our return from camping, Sydney asked me for help with her loose tooth. Her new adult tooth has nearly grown in behind her baby tooth but she has been too scared to wiggle it enough to make it come out. She finally decided tonight that it was time for it to come out.

I took a paper towel, put it over her tooth, gave it a little tweak and out it came. It wasn't without a lot of blood, however, and she nearly made her dad sick when she ran outside to show him the new hole in her mouth. Jay took one look at the bloody paper towel hanging out of her mouth and almost lost it. He had a really tough time trying to give her an enthusiastic smile back but she didn't notice!!!

Collin is sleeping on the floor in Sydney's room tonight. He wants to make sure the Tooth Fairy gives Sydney exactly what he got (and not a penny more)!

Bear Lake '09

Bear Lake with the family: We stayed a couple of nights at a local campground and spent a day at the lake relaxing, reading, playing, digging in the sand. Unfortunately Larry and Carlee couldn't be with us this year. (Hopefully Mike, Nicole and family might even be able to join us next year, too.)

Collin says: We all had a great time!!! (He is getting to be good at typing, too.)

His favorite part of the trip was riding the wave runner with Brandt - you can tell by the big smile on his face here.

We decided to buy what appeared to be a "heck of a deal", a 1990 personal watercraft as they're called for a mere $600. We thought we'd take it with us on our trip to Bear Lake hoping that the nearly 20 year old machine was more than just a pile of junk. In any case, the trailer it came with would be worth at least half of the price we paid so we felt it was worth the gamble. We new it wouldn't be the quickest or coolest-looking machine in the water but wanted to see if owning a wave runner would be something we would enjoy with the possiblity of trading it in for something better at a later time.

It worked great and we spent the whole day taking turns on it. Maybe we'll keep it?

The cutest baby in the water:

Even Nana took the machine for a spin.

Sydney usually collects lots and lots of sea shells. This year, she also found a pet that she kept with her nearly the whole day: a little ladybug. We just had to take a picture of her with it.

New tradition (year 2): Last year, Nana and Papa brought paint for the kids to put handprints on their tent to remember the trip. The kids all choose a different color and signed their names to their handprints.

And the jumping pillow, of course, was another favorite part of the trip for the kids.

Independence Day Celebration @ Thanksgiving Point

Our Fourth of July this year was somewhat uneventful. Since fireworks aren't allowed anywhere near where we live we decided to try something new this year and go see the firework display at Thanksgiving Point. We went with Donna and John and enjoyed a nice dinner in the park and the fireworks too - everything until it came time to leave. It took us forty minutes just to get out of the parking lot! We still had a great time.

Sydney and Collin dueling with their sparklers! Accio! In the words of Harry Potter.

Falling fireworks and the full moon.

Hey Collin! How about those great fireworks in the sky? ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Collin and Papa arguing about the causes of the American Revolution. Okay, not really, Papa was just torturing a 45 lbs. 8 year old.

Sydney enjoying the finger-licking-good chicken!

1,000 Baskets for Collin, 400 Baskets for Sydney

On Monday Collin made his 1,000th basket this summer. And dad is creating his 1st blog. I think that it has taken Dad longer to create his first blog than for Collin to make 1,000 baskets. Not to leave Sydney out of the glory of these ground breaking achievements, she has made 411 baskets. Both their diligence and determination have been enjoyable to watch. Many morning they want to wake up earlier than the other so they can make more baskets. Collin has made 16 in a row and Sydney has made 10 in a row. Collin has made 271 in one day and Sydney has made 125 in a day.

One of the many misses that have occured.


The 1,000 Basket

Well, the kids and I have learned valuable lessons through shooting baskets and blogging. If at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again. I certainly don't want to over shadow the kids accomplishments, but I am pretty darn proud of myself creating this short blog entry. Especially, since my usually helpful wife did not help at all. I realize that this is nothing compared to "Posts from the Shower" authored by my famous brother-in-law, Larry, but it is a genesis. I think I will call my blog "Sitting on the Porch of Indecision Somewhere Southeast of Disorder." Until next blog, Have a beachy day!