Happy 1st Birthday Collin

These pictures are kind of out of order but here it goes. Collin's first birthday was Sunday, April 26. We all gathered at Grandma and Grandpa Egbert's house for Hawaiian Haystacks (Kelsey's Birthday dinner request) Great Grandma Egbert came and Auntie Moriann and Uncle Justin as well as our regulars, Mommy, Daddy, Collin, Adon, Uncle Ryan, Auntie Heather, Auntie Kelsey and Jo-Jo, Grandma Egbert, and Grandpa Egbert. Here is Collin eating his first birthday cake. He was unsure about the candle, but dived right into the cake. Mmmmm... Yummy!

Collin's first taste of birthday cake. Mom had to kind of force him to try it. "Hey, this isn't so bad!" Then he got right into it. He even picked up the whole cake and looked as if he would throw it, but decided to eat it and spread it all around instead.
The Birthday boy. He loves balloons and he got a handful of them for his birthday. What else do you need to make a party?

Collin's first cake made by Mom. Three layers of green goo with six frogs. Adon helped to crush up the oreos that were on the side. Very yummy. Collin was showered with wonderful gifts. Shoes, clothes, books, cards, and toys. Everything a little boy could want. Thank you to every one for the beautiful gifts. He really loves all of them.

Ultimate Looser Update... Our first challeng

Hello Everyone,
This week our team did great! Every one lost weight, even those who didn't last week. This week Mom lost two pounds and a total of 8 inches all over. I lost 3 pounds and 5.5 inches all over. Last week our team was in third place but I haven't received the email yet to see where we are at now. Today we had our first challenge. We started at the Sports Academy and ran all around town looking for our trainers. Before we left the SARC we were given an envelop with a clue as to where our trainer was. We found him at the local Subway. He had a some food (a subway sandwich) there where we had to guess the calories that were in it. According to how close we got, depended how long we had to wait to get our next clue. We couldn't guess until our whole team was presant and then we only had one guess. We were only off the sandwich by 25 calories. We then ran to a local park near a tech high school. We had a little trouble finding this trainer because the campus was big. Any way she had a regular BK Whopper with everything on it, a medium french fry, and a 32 ounce sprite. This one, our team was 300 calories off (ouch) the total caloric contnt of the meal was over 1600 calories (double ouch). We then had to run to a local market called Lee's. There we had to guess a healthy snack, a chees stick, a medium sized banana, and 12 almonds. We were off again but only by about 10-20 calories. Our third stop was at a local creamery where we had to guess what was in a container. There was an unknown amount of frozen yogurt and rasperries. We guess right on! 190 calories. We then booked it back tot he SARC to try to beat the other teams. Well, we wern't first, nor were we second, but we didnt' come in last. Our whole team came in third place. I was the second person of our team to make it to the enterance. We ran a total of a 5 k. Even Diane, our team member who hurt her back last week made it through! It was awesome.

Collin Loves his Papa

Grandpa Egbert has been kind enough to watch our boys while Grandma and I go exercise every night. So when i get home, I sometimes get to witness this cute little boy totally relaxed in his Papa's arms.
There's a lot of love out there man!

Feel the love! Thank you Papa! Pardon my drool :P

Our baby is growing up so fast...

This Sunday is Collin's first bithday. He is growing up so fast and the past year has gone by so quickly too. Just a little announcment, Collin has 8 teeth now. Four on top and four on bottom. We have been enjoying the sunshine and dont take it for granted. The days lately have been one sunny day, then two rainy/cloudy days, then another sunny day. So we get outside when we can. Collin loves to swing. We got him a bright orange bucket hat for the sunny days. Adon loves to look for bugs and jump on the trampoline. We love you all and think about you often.
Love,
Carly

Morning Bike Ride

Good Morning All,
This morning I rode my bike the 9 miles to my mom's house. It took me about an hour. I woke up before the sun and got ready. With my helmet, my bike (that my awesome husband fixed up), my ipod, cell phone, water bottle, and one glove (couldn't find the other) I headed for Logan. The back roads aren't very busy any way but they were exceptionally quiet for a Saturday morning. Even the busy airport road had very few vehicles on it. Yeah, it was just mostly me with a few cows, marsh creatures, birds, and more dead skunks than any one could hope for. I was ready for anything with my ipod packed with anything from Queen to John Schmitt, from Debussy to Rascal Flatts, and from MoTab to Linkin Park. A rouge screw ripped a hole in the knee of my pants. I was nervous because I was alone and hadn't ridden my bike for years. Most 16 year-olds ask for a car for their birthday, me I wanted my Schwinn. We've been good buds for a while. I am much more a biker than a runner (sorry kadie you tried) Yes, running is hard for me but a stationary bike is just torture. I think I will make my 9 mile run every saturday for the next 8 weeks just as a base line.
Just an update for Ultimate looser; Mom lost 4 pounds in 5 days and I gained 0.8. So that is our first weigh in folks. Fridays are our weigh ins and ever other Friday we get our inches measured. Now go live like you mean it.

The Ultimate Looser

Dear Family and Friends,
Some of our family members (especially me) are fans of the Biggest Looser show. Locally our Fitness Accademy has a program called the Ulitmate Looser. The first year they did this program the prizes were really big and there was some cheating. So they've modified it a little so as to prevent such cheating. Well, to make a long story shor (as if I could) my mom and I have joined this program to get bathing suit ready for Mexico. I have my "before" picture on my fridge and will not be posting it. I do know that it is on the SARC site and will get that to you if you are so interested in tracking our progress. Every Friday we weigh in to see how we are doing with our nutrition and our exercises. So I will post those.
We go to the SARC every night at 7 pm to exercise with one of our two trainers, Patrick and Greg. They have helped us track our calories through the dotfit program online. So here is to us, and I will post more info as we get it. Wish us luck.

The "no" to "why and what" transfer

For all you mothers out there who have experienced this in its full glory just sit back and smile and say to yourself "ah hu, I've been there." Adon is in the wonderfully independant stage that two year old go through where "no" is the answer to everything and tantrums attack at any given time. Adon's tantrums cannot be labled as such because they are small and very manageable. Call me lucky. But the word "no" is no answer at all in our house any more. It has transformed (or morphed) into the words "why" and "what". Now Adon is a big fan of the character Super Why from PBS kids. So sometime when he starts on his "why" antics he will end with and exclimation of "Super Why" and I laugh. But it is the "what" that sometimes gets me going. He repeats "what" so often that he sounds like a deaf old guy or a broken record player. Personally I really really don't like repeating myself, especially to a two year old who compies my every gesture and word. I know your listening.... :P But this is good that he is out of the "no" stage because that means we are one step closer to potty training!

This face that Collin is pulling reminds me so much of his cousin Faith. Collin and Adon are checking out their stash and shoving it into their mouths as fast as they can.
Yes, I dressed them the same on purpose. They are a cute pair of kids. Collin does this hand thing for Papa where he "tosses it up" for patty cake. Adon is just focused on counting his loot and shoving it into his mouth before someone else gets it. Who cares that Mom wants them to smile for a picture.

Adon hunted for Easter Eggs, hidden by Nana. Every one helped. Thanks so much for all the goodies. I've got this egg huntin' thing down.


Ryan was talking about something and I caught this way macho picture of him holding such a cute kid. Hey its balanced right?

Collin and Papa hanging out at our hot dog roast while the "big" kids played on the jungle gym and went down the slides. Collin loves his Papa so much.

Dad being one of the "big" kids. Having fun is what we do best. Love you sweetheart!

Random Pics

Here are some silly, random pictures that I haven't published yet. Here is Collin. He was actually in a tired mood then auntie Kelsey put this in his hair and made every one laugh and that made him laugh. I love that this picture shows his bottom teeth. What a goof!
Collin's personality is really coming out. He loves to chew on everything, especially these glasses but we managed to stick them on him a catch a picture before he quickly yanked them off.

Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub and who'd you think they's be? The butcher (adon), the baker (ethan), the candlestick maker (collin), as they all went out to sea. Gotta love those handsome boys, and we can't resist taking a bunch of bath tub pictures. Its not very often when we can get them all looking at the camera at the same time.

Ah, my sweet Collin with lunch on his face. Those big eyes say it all. "Mmmm, thanks for lunch. I love you Mom!"

Amalga Easter Egg Hunt

There is a park about a mile away from our house where there was an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the town of Amalga. At 9 am sharp (lol) the kids were let loose to find Easter eggs. After we emptied our eggs, Adon was excited about all the loot he had collected.
Adon got a little basket for Easter to put his eggs in. He was a very good hunter. He found a few for Collin too. Happy Easter!

Nana came to watch the festivities. It was a little cold but that didn't stop the whole town from showing up. Even Collin was excited to get an egg or two. He mostly just like the fact that they rattled when he shook them.