Party Animal

This weekend we had 2 parties to go to. First we went to my cousin Cassie's graduation. She graduated with her Master's degree and passed her CPA exam. Wow! And I remember babysitting for her and other embarassing things! Then we had a first birthday party for our niece Lizzy. Both were on Saturday so by Sunday we had a very tired and crabby little boy. But we definitely had fun.

Cassie's party was really fun. We didn't get to stay long but Colby and I did get to swim. It was interesting sitting at the party because we celebrated Cassie's mom's birthday this time last year at the same home. It was at that party that Colby saw a swimming pool for the first time. It was there that Colby scared me by jumping right in the water. Amazing to think back to that party and watch Colby as he swims "all by mineself". After just a few lessons he thinks he can swim by hinself, and he can with a noodle under his arms. Otherwise Mommy helps. This year, Colby even went down the slide. Wow! Maybe next year we can try the diving board. See the link for that post below. http://adoptingcolby.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-faces-and-new-things-to-try-part-ii.html

We also had fun at Lizzy's first birthday party. There were a lot of little kids there for Colby to play with. And now Lizzy is big enough that she and Colby were playing together. They had fun playing in her big playhouse. And Colby enjoyed rolling down the hill with another friend, Jair and his sister Brin.

On Tuesday we went with Colby's cousins Eva and Jack to Mt. Tom for a quick swim. The kids loved playing by the rocks, although Colby and Jack both fell off the rocks and Colby scratched his little nose. They found some old fishing line and tied it to a stick and took turns "fishing" and of course they threw rocks.

So another busy weekend. Except for a meeting for me ( I volunteer at the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven. It starts on the 20th. Lots of great tennis.) on Saturday, no plans this weekend. Eva and Jack are back in Utah. But I think Daddy and Colby might just go fishing.

Fun In The Sun

Mike's Uncle Steve and his family were visiting from Utah for the past couple weeks. Steve and his wife Kay stayed about a week and then went home but there kids Eva (8) and Jack (5) stayed with Mike's grandparents and aunts for the past week. It was the first time Colby has met them and they hit it off. Colby and Jack became best buddies and Eva loved playing Mommy Hen to both of them. Colby and I spent a lot of time with them enjoying the summer weather.

Last Thursday Eva, Jack, Mike's Aunt Jo, Colby, and I went to Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island. On the way there we went to Voluntown to see a sunflower field. A farm there grows the sunflowers as food for their cows. The also see ice cream which I am told is really good but we were there in the morning. Mike's Uncle Mark has his grandkids at the beach too. So, Colby was able to spend the day with Eva, Jack, Jake (8 or 9), Julia (4 or 5), and Logan (just turned 2). They all had a great time. Fearless Colby loved the waves and laughed everytime they pushed him over. Jake had a buggy board which the kids took turns using and Colby loved being pulled while he sat on it. On the way home we stopped for dinner and then stopped in Middletown for Lemon Ice. It was delicious! A full day, with no napy but Colby did really well.

Buttonwood Farm and Sunflower Field. Very beautiful.

Colby and Logan. Eva, Julia, and Colby.

Jack and Colby. They look like they could be brothers. They loved digging a hole in the "dirt".

On Friday Eva, Jack, Aunt Jo, Colby, and I went up to Barkhamsted. It is a small lake made by the dam. We spent the afternoon playing in the water and enjoying another sunny day. The kids were a little tired from the big day out the day before so we only stayed a few hours. Jack wanted to swim with me so I brought him out a little deeper and Fearless Colby decided to follow. He walked in right up to his neck. Thankfully Eva swam with him and enjoyed holding him in the water. There are no waves so it was easier for the kids to swim and enjoy the water. When we got back, Jack stayed with us to play with Colby on the swingset and Eva went with Jo to start dinner. We went down to Mike's grandparents' for dinner. Another long day with no nap.

Eva, Jack, and Colby. He walked right in up to his neck!

Saturday night Mike's Mom's sister, Aunt Jaycee, was down from Buffalo, NY. They were going for 3 days to Foxwoods Casino, to enjoy the sights and visit other family in Mystic. So, Mike, Colby, and I went to Mike's parents' for dinner. Mike's Uncle David was there to along with Uncle Ernie (Mike's Mom's Uncle). We had a nice dinner. Colby was tired though so we made sure to get home on time for bed. These long days were starting to wear him out.

Sunday we spent a quite day at home except for lunch with my mom and Mamie. We definitely needed time to catch up on chores and just relax.

Monday was another day with Eva and Jack. Mike's Aunt Mary went with us this time and we went to Mt. Tom, another lake nearby. Uncle Mark, Aunt Karen, Jake, Julia, and Logan were there too. They all enjoyed seeing eachother again and playing in the water. Logan doesn't like the water much but Colby wanted to splash with the big kids so I brought him out. He was really starting to "swim" kicking and moving his arms about. I was amazed. Karen and Mary were too.

Yesterday we stayed at home. Colby was a cranky little boy. I don't think he likes the fact that Eva and Jack went home. Mike and I told him they went home on a plane to see their Mommy and Daddy. He wasn't happy with that. I think the week was too much for him and he became a little stinker. Not listening and definitely not working on the potty routine. Ugh! Back to reality today! Only a trip to the library. We'll see what tomorrow brings. We really should visit Mamie and maybe swim in her pool!

New Faces And New Things To Try Part II

Wow! The past couple of weeks have really flown by. Here it is already Friday and I haven't even finished my update from last weekend. Well, here goes:

As mentioned last Thurs we met up with my friend Kathleen from school and then on Friday we had lunch and a wonderful visit with Jill and Nicholas. Nicholas was also adopted from the Ekat region in Russia. He has been home about a month now. That was just the start of a crazy, fun-filled weekend.

On Saturday we went to a party for my Aunt Jackie's 50th birthday. We had a lot of fun catching up with friends and meeting new people. It was also Colby's first experience with a swimming pool. We already knew that he loved water but this was crazy. I didn't realize there was a pool so I didn't have any of our swimsuits. Because it was hot I decided to bring Colby down to the pool when it was quiet and just dunk his feet in. I took off his clothes just in case he got wet. Well, he did! We sat down at the walk-in steps and before i knew it, he had jumped off of them! I almost went swimming just to get him. I thought he would have scared himself and not do it again but I hadn't even sat down and he jumped in again. Boy I wish I had my suit! But, I didn't so I asked my cousin Andrew to bring him swimming. He was glad too and all the kids went back in the water. Colby had a blast, but then we found out that Pull-Ups do not belong in water! Luckily I had an extra set of shorts in Colby's bag and he wore those. He had a blast swimming with my cousins Andrew and Stacy and friends of ours Amanda and Michael.

Andrew and Colby enjoying Colby's first swim in a pool! Stacy and Colby.

Amanda and Colby, yup still in the pool. Aunt Jackie and Colby ready to hit a pinata.

At the party I was able to catch up with a family friend, JoAnn and her family. JoAnn now lives in Virginia and she and her husband have adopted 4 children from Russia. First 2 boys about 4 years ago and now 2 girls about a year ago. The kids are 7, 8, 9, and 10 this year. The girls are the older two. We had a nice discussion with her and her husband about our trips and the whole adoption experience. It was nice to share our story with someone who can relate to what we have gone through. The girls were adopted in a region in far Easter Siberia.

Michael and Colby. Two little ones who have come a long way to find wonderful families.

On Sunday Colby and I had lunch with another friend of mine from school. It is amazing who you can find again on Facebook! Kelly and I were really close in elementary and middle school. She now has a son, Joey, who is 9. The four of us went to the Rainforest Cafe and had a great time. Joey was nice enough to give Colby his Thomas the Train wooden train set. There are a ton of trains, a few buildings and enough track to build a great set. The weekend must have worn Colby out because while Kelly and I talked and finished eating in the restraunt, he fell asleep. Thunderstorms and gorillas all around and my kid falls asleep! I loved just holding him and getting the chance to relax.

Then on Monday Mike, Colby, and I walked down to Mike's grandparents' house after dinner and met more family. Mike's one uncle, Steve, and his family live in Utah so Colby hadn't met them yet. Steve and Kay have 2 kids, Eva is 8 and Jack is 5 (I think). Colby had a lot of fun playing with Jack and the Hess trucks. Eva and Jack will be here for about a week after Steve and Kay go back home so we hope to see a lot of them and maybe even go to the beach. I hope i get the chance to take some great photos because Jack and Colby look like two peas in a pod. They could be brothers!

Well, I think we are now up to date. I'm sure we will have a lot more to post about soon. If it stops raining we might get to the beach next week. Another first time experience. We've been to a lake but the beach is very different. We did walk along a beach in May but he hasn't gone swimming in it yet. I can't wait!