happy happy birthday colin!

 My baby boy is 6!!!

We had a great fall day of fun for his birthday.  Some fierce corn hole games were waged in the backyard..

while darth vader wandered about (because if it's your birthday and you want to wear an orange t shirt and a darth vader mask, you go right ahead).

Eventually of course we got around to the most important part ... the presents...

Colin's little superviser was ever-present...

Still supervising... she got up the next day and asked, "now it's my birthday?"  haha!

This is our third consecutive year with orange cakes....  I don't know that this will ever change....

We continued the celebration the next day on his actual birthday with cupcakes at school, and an offer to have dinner anywhere he chose.   He chose McDonald's.  Because he's 6.

We finally dragged him home with the promise of a few more presents.  He lost it at this new pair of orange shoes...

new globe from daddy.. already getting lots of use!

Although I sometimes feel like we're back to the terrible two's with Colin lately, I'm so proud of the big grade school kid he's become.  He's reading sight words and working so hard with his writing and his numbers.  It seems like he's grown up overnight.  He's still our happy, smart, funny little guy!  Celebrating six years of the Colinator in our lives... it just doesn't seem possible.  Happy birthday!

Harvest Fest

We had the best fall day yesterday.  We decided to check out the Harvest Fest at Laumeier Sculpture Park.  None of us had ever been before, but it was a gorgeous day and it looked like fun.  So glad we went!   They had music, farmer's market booths, and tons of delicious good fall food and drinks.  

The kids were immediately enamored with the place when the first two sculptures they found were a maze (fun for literally minutes!) and this sparkly kitty cat.  Just look at the excitement on Colin's face.

And if a giant sparkly cat wasn't enough, we continued to explore and found this exceedingly creepy giant eyeball.  Which was, of course, Colin's favorite. 

Charlotte preferred the "big red" sculpture ("for the Cardinals!" she said.  I'm not telling her.)

Despite signs everywhere about "no climbing on exhibits", no one there seemed to be paying attention so I could hardly drag my kids off the exhibits...

Remember when he used to be scared of doing things like this?  :(

I'm sure this is not what the artist intended. 

Ok, this one is just asking for it.

(these are early pics.. it got quite crowded later and I assure you there were tons of kids climbing on things, not just mine...)

Charlotte played peek-a-boo inside the tire...

They were both very interested in this "tall man" for some reason.

Charlotte called him "snow man" and wanted to give his leg a hug.

Aunt Zoe and Guiness joined us too!  

To say these kids like this dog would be an understatement. 

 This event was great because there was so much space.  All the food and drink vendors were in one area, a stage with live music nearby, and yet there was still so much open park space for the kids and dogs to play.   Here the kids are confusing Guiness with two balls.

"I want that cracker.  So bad." 

Selfie time

we should bring a third adult and dog along with us everywhere.  Look, we are sitting, together, for 30 whole seconds!

 Some of those are my kids inside this creepy face.

What a great day!  Not pictured but playing an important supporting role:  pumpkin whoopee pies, pumpkin beer, veggie chili and dogs, belgian fries.

touch a truck!

One of the kids' favorite activities every year in Indiana was the Hands on Trucks event.  As usual, there was a similar but SO MUCH BETTER event in E'ville this weekend at Touch a Truck at Township park.  Rather than sweltering on a paved parking lot in August, we enjoyed a beautiful fall day walking around the park.  And as usual, the kids had a great time.  Kids love trucks!

I asked charlotte what she wanted to see first and she didn't hesitate - the PINK TRUCK!!

Then we boarded the school bus.  Colin didn't bother with this one, he "already rides the bus."  Big man on campus. 

They both enjoyed swinging off of this tow truck :)

Colin got to climb in the cab of a few big rigs...

including this garbage truck that was literally the one that used to come to our rental house as we "know" the driver.  Edwardsville.

And then Charlotte tried to steal a fire truck.