The Colvin Crew

Disney World

2012-02-09T12:39:00.006-06:00

Our trip was one of the most fun things I've ever done! We had great weather, it wasn't that crowded & the kids were in awe & very appreciative. I took 360 pictures most of which I have added to Facebook due to that process being much easier than this. It takes so long to add them to the blog so I've been putting it off for a while. I've finally decided I would choose my top ten faves & stop feeling guilty that I haven't added them yet. :)

Getting ready for the airport at 4:45 am.

Pirate transformation

Princess transformation

Always good to come back home!

The Perfect Day

2012-02-08T15:04:00.001-06:00

John John came home from school to find "workers" on our street. It was like Christmas for him!

A Quiet Place

2012-01-23T18:00:00.003-06:00

Working away on his laptop...Sometimes it takes a while to find a place around here where you can concentrate.

Life Lesson

2012-01-22T08:36:00.004-06:00

After cooking dinner, I walked into the kitchen & sighed..."Wish I didn't have to clean up this big mess..." Mary Mack patted me on the back & walked out. In a few minutes, she returned with a new sign for the kitchen. She hung it up & then proceeded to tell me that this is life & there will always be things I have to do that I don't really want to....

Spanish

2012-01-18T16:48:00.001-06:00

The Penguin

2012-01-18T16:25:00.001-06:00

John John was so proud of his marshmallow "pen-gwan" he made at school today. He said I really needed to take a picture of it!

Long Weekend

2012-01-17T13:28:00.002-06:00

The kids really enjoyed having friends over during the long weekend. Mary Clare & Patrick are siblings almost the same age as Mary Mack & John John. It was cute to watch them play! The girls didn't make a peep & cleaned up the two games they played over two hours. The boys...well....they enjoyed several activities for five minutes at a time!

Serious concentration on his homework! I've found several good websites that generate preschool worksheets. (http://www.tlsbooks.com/preschoolworksheets.htm &
http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/print-k/make-pk-all.htm) We try to work on the letter, number & concepts that are planned for that week of school. It makes him feel like a big boy!

And There You Have It...

2012-01-13T17:27:00.002-06:00

This must be from the same rule book as the Hwy 65 south sign going to the beach...(GO TO CHURCH OR THE DEVIL WILL GET YOU!)

In the Kitchen

2012-01-09T12:21:00.002-06:00

And this is why we will never be super skinny people....

Last Few Days of Vacation

2012-01-05T09:50:00.004-06:00

Reading

Going to see Alvin & the Chipmunks

Backyard fun

Before

After

New Year's Eve

2012-01-05T09:43:00.003-06:00

Our reservations for eight at the club dwindled to two due to sickness. It didn't slow Mary Mack down too much...the girl loves to dance!

Santa!

2011-12-25T15:20:00.001-06:00

Spreading reindeer food on Christmas eve

Food for Santa & his reindeer

A quick Frosty the Snowman rendition....sorry reindeer, watch what you eat.

Ready for church. MM said she knew Jesus must be SO excited!

Christmas in Aliceville

2011-12-25T15:12:00.000-06:00

We had such a great Christmas visiting with John's parents & brother.

A quick shave for the holidays with his new Diego shaving cream & "razor"

Playing football with Martin...and even stealing his shoes!

Christmas in Jasper

2011-12-25T15:01:00.000-06:00

Getting ready to leave for Jasper

Let the chaos begin

Thanks to my parents who have always made Christmas special for us!

Now to find a home for all of this...

Back home with the new toys!

What We've Been Doing With Our Time!

2011-12-22T16:24:00.004-06:00

Lots and lots of decorating...

Making reindeer food for friends

But the most creative thing they (Mary Mack) came up with was a fashion show. They chose their own outfits. Mary Mack's came from her dress up trunk & John John pretty much just pulled one thing from each drawer. I turned on some music & they worked the runaway.

And then enough glam....on to a backyard Alabama football game.

Nice choice of shoes & socks!

Silent Night - My Favorite Version

2011-12-20T16:09:00.005-06:00

Brookwood Forest Holiday Program

2011-12-19T11:55:00.003-06:00

This is our first year for the kindergarten holiday program. It was long...and cute...and long.

Christmas in Carrollton

2011-12-19T11:52:00.000-06:00

Visiting with John's grandparents

Visit With Santa

2011-12-18T13:56:00.001-06:00

The Polar Express

2011-12-11T21:10:00.001-06:00

We rode the Polar Express to the North Pole (also known as Calera, AL). The kids had a blast & we had so much fun visiting with the Hamners & Browns!

Christmas at my Grandma Bull's in Jasper

2011-12-11T21:07:00.001-06:00

'Tis the Season

2011-12-08T12:53:00.001-06:00

For cooking & cleaning! (I do not have my camera right now so sorry these are fuzzy from my cell phone)

A Big Night!

2011-12-01T18:46:00.001-06:00

Seems like not too long ago, she was cutting her first tooth & trying out a Biter Biscuit!

It's The Most _____ Time of the Year

2011-11-30T12:09:00.001-06:00

I vary every day on which word I choose to complete the sentence! I'm long overdue on an update so I'm lumping together all the pictures I've taken since the last post. We have either been on the road, sick, shopping, decorating or sick again so it's been busy!

The only person I know who insists on decorating the tree after nap with no pants.

So happy to put up the trees & nativity scenes in their rooms!

My first button-down :)

A few Thanksgiving shots

The Perfect Gift!

2011-11-22T11:57:00.001-06:00

If you need a gift for a mom or daughter or really anyone, look no further! One of my best friends just published her book & it is AWESOME!!! Now available on Amazon!! You can click on her blog listed under my friends "Robin's Chicks" or click here to order. Finally an answer on what to get your friends AND support a local superstar!

Alabama vs. Georgia Southern

2011-11-19T17:41:00.001-06:00

Thank you Birdie & Papa for the tickets & the parking place!The best game took place outside the stadium!

"I GOT IT!"

This time the crazy person dancing at every time out was with us...

John John wanted to know why people were in "the big bathtubs"...we finally figured out what he meant...

Not quite the crowd like the LSU game

John John taking full advantage of the Zone...ice cream, cookie & chips!

Six Years Ago Today....

2011-11-18T14:10:00.000-06:00

Happy birthday to one of the sweetest children in the world....who accidentally gave out all of her birthday cookies in the lunchroom to teachers & friends....and only ate fallen sprinkles from the box.

Starting To Look Festive!

2011-11-14T11:42:00.000-06:00

Birthday Party Time!

2011-11-14T11:39:00.000-06:00

Mary Mack celebrated by having a tie dyed tshirt party at Do It Yourself Crafts in Homewood!

Leaf Catching

2011-11-12T16:27:00.008-06:00

It has become an annual tradition this time of year to catch leaves. John throws the football into a tree & whoever can catch the most leaves wins. It may sound pretty lame if you don't understand how competitive we take this sporting event!

Elbows being thrown

BUSTED

2011-11-04T14:49:00.002-05:00

When John John came in from school, he noticed a ring of Mary Mack's on the table. I told him to leave it alone & go get ready for nap. I put the ring away in her jewelry box, a place he is definitely not allowed. I told him to use the restroom & get ready for nap. I walked into the den & that's when I heard the familiar song of the twirling dancer in her jewelry box.

Classroom Halloween parties

2011-11-01T18:09:00.003-05:00

Praying before the ChickFila...one of my favorite pictures ever!

A little Duck Duck Goose after the treats

MM's class played candy corn bingo

Hot Potato

Daaaavy, Daaaavy Crockett!

2011-11-01T16:27:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T12:47:00.004-05:00

In a dead sprint the whole night!

I told them we would come back home to give out some candy. Mary Mack looked in her bag & said "Do you think I can pick out two pieces before we have to give it away?" She didn't understand that I had bought several giant bags for our own trick or treaters.

My Little Fall Babies!

2011-10-30T13:31:00.000-05:00

Going Nuts!

2011-10-29T11:46:00.001-05:00

To say we have a lot of nuts falling from our Oaks is an understatement. If you have seen me skating on one leg to the mailbox, this is why! I do not advise trying to cut through the grass; stick to the sidewalks!

PTCC Boo-ffet

2011-10-28T20:36:00.003-05:00

Listening to Davy Crockett to get pumped up

Davy Crockett & his candy corn fairy

Feeling the music!

Always the tiniest person in line...no fear!

Painting a pumpkin

Getting a tat

Oak Mountain

2011-10-27T13:26:00.005-05:00

Farm animals + rocks + water + sticks + mud = a happy John, Gray & George

PJ Day

2011-10-26T14:48:00.000-05:00

If only every day was as easy as pajama day!

Picking Cotton

2011-10-24T20:41:00.003-05:00

Mary Mack went to Old Baker Farm today on a field trip with her class. Last night I was looking on the farm's website & noticed that a cotton festival was taking place there. I was thinking out loud & mentioned that I wish she was bringing home some cotton so I could use it in holiday decorations like I often see in Southern Living or like this centerpiece featured by Martha Stewart.

As soon as she got home, she put her little pumpkin down & began digging frantically in her pocket. I am still thinking of the perfect place to add this to our decor.

Fishing at PTCC

2011-10-23T19:04:00.001-05:00

Carving the Pumpkin

2011-10-23T14:34:00.000-05:00

Dressed And Ready

2011-10-21T08:36:00.001-05:00

Up and at'em early because today is Doughnuts for Dads at school!

Kudos to Dads

2011-10-17T13:54:00.002-05:00

Thank goodness for Dads who can take over! I spent the entire day in Jasper for a close friend's funeral & left John with one well child, one not so well child & a Halloween craft. I was so impressed he even took pictures.

Boosterthon 2011

2011-10-15T11:21:00.004-05:00

Mary Mack finished all 35 laps for her school fundraiser...just over 2 miles. I thought it might be hard to spot her on this video....but it's not! :)

Silly Hat Day At School

2011-10-13T10:48:00.001-05:00

More Back Yard Baby

2011-10-13T10:45:00.002-05:00

When we realized last year's cupcake party tshirt was too small, we had to quickly replace! MM loves this one..."big girl" (not smocked) and "sparkly"!

Check out Back Yard Baby collections designed by my friend from Jasper!

The Mommy

2011-10-06T13:44:00.002-05:00

As we were cleaning up from making a pound cake, I told John John to dry the dishes. Trying to seize the moment I said "When you get married one day, you should always help your wife clean up the kitchen." His response? "Or the Mommy there can do it." Don't worry Mrs. John Colvin, Jr.; he's a work in progress.

Defensive Player Of the Week

2011-10-06T12:12:00.002-05:00

To Market, To Market...

2011-10-06T12:10:00.000-05:00

Feeling Patriotic!

2011-10-02T18:40:00.002-05:00

Roll Tide!!

2011-09-29T13:19:00.001-05:00

Oh the Similarities....

2011-09-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

It's Good To Be Three!

2011-09-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

Crafting

2011-09-19T14:13:00.003-05:00

Arts & crafts are a way of life around here. They are mass produced & displayed everywhere. Our art table is forever jumbled but I don't mind because I will miss the day that there isn't a little body over there frantically cutting & pasting. Mary Mack is already turning out Halloween & Thanksgiving decorations if anyone is in need. :)

My Babies Are Big!

2011-09-16T09:28:00.002-05:00

Another day of just realizing that my kids are growing up. Mary Mack disputes basically everything I lay out for her to wear & even asked if me if I thought her name sounded "babyish". :( I bought a new smocked Christmas shirt for John John & he said "Is this Mary Mack's?" insinuating it was a girl's shirt. I'm hanging by a thread with dressing my kids the way I want to & it hurts.

Before school today in denim shorts with embroidered flowers that I let her pick out. (my mistake)

Don't fail me now red Keds; you're all I have left.

This Week's Feat!

2011-09-15T16:28:00.002-05:00

I guess I am pretty much useless in his eyes now that he can pump! And by the way, he has not stopped since he realized his new skill.

Last of the Barefoot Season

2011-09-13T17:15:00.001-05:00

What I will not miss after this week....dirty footprints in the bathtub!

Game Day With Friends

2011-09-11T20:03:00.002-05:00

Nursery Rhyme Day

2011-09-09T12:40:00.002-05:00

Today is Nursery Rhyme Day in kindergarten. Fortunately we still had the Little Miss Muffet Halloween costume from two years ago....although a little small now.

FLASHBACK! Halloween 2009 - Little Miss Muffet & her spider

One Sweet Child

2011-09-04T13:25:00.001-05:00

Helping me get some game day food cooking!

So pretty for church!

Tree House Update

2011-09-04T13:17:00.002-05:00

The obsession to build a tree house has continued to grow & so has the construction. I now have a sheet of plywood hammered to a tree & a 2 x 4 in my backyard. They were thrilled with something to paint. I was thrilled just to see the paint leave my basement that the former home owners left here.

The Tree House

2011-09-02T14:28:00.003-05:00

Every day John John builds a tree house with the two pieces of wood his dad gave him leftover from a project. He positions them in just the right place and hammers, drills, saws, what have you...for hours. Just these two pieces of wood & a little determination go a long way.

Update on his cicada collection....disgusting!!!

First Day of School

2011-09-02T14:23:00.002-05:00

Once again, it was tough trying to get a picture to capture the moment. He was very excited to start today!

He was so excited after we took Mary Mack to school & it was his turn to get ready. We had a quick celebratory moment!

A Dreaded Day

2011-09-01T21:01:00.003-05:00

Mary Mack: Today I was the only kid at my whole school who had a bow on.

Me: Wow, it must have felt so good to know you were the cutest one.

Mary Mack: (spoken in a quiet voice) That's not really how I felt at all.

And that was all we said.

Meet The Teacher

2011-08-31T13:19:00.001-05:00

Today was orientation for John John at preschool. I couldn't quite get him to be still & look at the camera...surprise.

Lunch Notes

2011-08-30T12:53:00.001-05:00

Today I found a special note in my chair when I sat down to eat lunch. I always send Mary Mack little notes in her lunchbox so today was my turn to find one. :)

Neighborhood Friends

2011-08-30T12:52:00.002-05:00

These three would get right up next to the sprinkler while John John would sneak off to turn it on.

Visit From Uncle Martin

2011-08-28T13:27:00.003-05:00

Martin brought John John his birthday present....a Trent Richardson jersey.

The resemblance is uncanny!

Cold Lemonade!

2011-08-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

I AM A WINNER!

2011-08-25T15:03:00.006-05:00

Some of you may have seen the link on my friends section to Back Yard Baby. My friend from Jasper, Winslett Watson, began this adorable company & she recently held a giveaway. I was the winner...yippee! I chose a cute Christmas shirt for John John but the choices are endless. There is a design for every season, occasion or holiday. You can also see these cute shirts in The Pants Stores here in Birmingham.

Grandmothers take note! They make great gifts & come in a cute, wrapped gift bag with treasures for your little one. Be sure to check out Winslett's blog & website!

QT

2011-08-24T14:13:00.002-05:00

Now that MM is back in school, I am enjoying spending some quality time with my little buddy. He just wants to spend the entire morning outside "working".

Weekend Work

2011-08-21T16:49:00.004-05:00

We worked on a homework project of decorating number vests for the number parade at school. Mary Mack had to create groups of 1 and 17 and take pictures or find pictures of them in magazines or online.

MM stringing 17 Fruity Cheerios

The finished project...hope MM gets an "A"!

John started building a cornhole game and had a lot of help from the kids.

John John veered from the path & started taking his house apart with his tools.

Notice all of the gate was unscrewed by Day 2.

The almost finished product!

Prayers for Children

2011-08-18T17:32:00.002-05:00

We got this from our preschool a while back & I have been meaning to share. I would be glad to email a copy to anyone interested.

Day 2!

2011-08-18T12:48:00.003-05:00

The kids asked if I was going to take their picture before we left, so why not???

This lunatic claims he is going to kindergarten every day. So, with pajamas still on, he insisted on wearing a belt for carpool.

1st Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-16T08:33:00.003-05:00

She denied my offer to walk her in, gave me a kiss & hopped out. And just like that, she's gone....walking around in a school with SIXTH GRADERS.

We've come a long way!

Meet the Teacher

2011-08-15T12:45:00.004-05:00

So anxious to get to kindergarten!

A picture she drew for her teacher

Waiting to register

She found her seat, right next to Charles. He was in her preschool class & his father & I went to high school together!

Very impressed with the reading tower

Listening to her teacher read "The Kissing Hand".

Playground time with all four kindergarten classes

So glad to find her best bud Harper

The Brookwood Forest Gang

2011-08-11T20:06:00.001-05:00

Cute picture of the girls from Abigail & Eva's birthday party

Come On School!

2011-08-09T19:56:00.002-05:00

Are my kids ready to go back to school? Yes. Yes they are!

Bright Spot

2011-08-03T18:45:00.002-05:00

Grateful for a sweet moment in an otherwise starting-to-feel-hot-and-tired-and-grouchy-and-super-over-the-heat blase day.

Computer Work

2011-08-03T17:24:00.001-05:00

I always love to find what Mary Mack has typed on the computer.

Our Final Summer Hurrah

2011-07-31T17:03:00.010-05:00

We managed one last trip to Orange Beach before the kids go back to school.

The kids sporting their new Alabama Forever shirts to support tornado recovery.

The obsession for this trip was the water gun & action figures. We had target practice at the pool every day!

There was a big storm the second night of our trip. We awoke to a huge lake on the beach & the kids were thrilled. It was so nice because they could play in the ocean that was only two feet deep. You can see how there was a strip of sand, the new "lake", another strip of sand & then the ocean. The waves were huge & the undertow was the strongest I have ever felt so I was grateful for the new little ocean.

What great fun for a boy...a dead fish on the beach.

The next day was the most beautiful day ever. The kids ran up and down the beach like wild Indians & the water was so smooth.

We decided to try out The Track in Gulf Shores. It was heaven to the kids & John & I got a lot of laughs.

Somehow Mary Mack & I were the only girls on the bumper boats. The boys ganged up against us & we were completely soaked!

Rainbow on the way home

Happy 3rd Birthday John Walton Colvin, Jr!!!!

2011-07-22T07:48:00.004-05:00

School Days

2011-07-21T09:27:00.001-05:00

The last few days these guys will carpool together... :(

The Many Faces of John John

2011-07-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Tennis Anyone? Golf Anyone?

2011-07-18T12:45:00.003-05:00

Party Time

2011-07-16T19:10:00.007-05:00

We celebrated John John's 3rd birthday today even though his actual birthday is the 22nd. He had a few neighborhood friends & classmates over for a football/jumpie party. We were so lucky that the weather was actually nice!

Jump time before the guests arrive

Karate Chop by Hudson

The hula hoop always comes out!

JJ got really embarassed when everyone started singing!

Opening gifts

Further Evidence Of a Heat Stroke

2011-07-15T14:39:00.000-05:00

Yes I know it's mid July but Garden Ridge rocked our world today!

Heat Warning

2011-07-13T21:40:00.003-05:00

I keep reading the heat wave is dangerous for the very young & elderly....but I'm here to tell you that it's hurting us middle aged people as well.

Reading Camp

2011-07-13T21:35:00.003-05:00

It is neat to see how Mary Mack is learning to read! She has enjoyed Reading Round Up camp & it's fun to see the things she brings home. I am really proud of her for doing so well at only five years old!

Funny to see how children write exactly as they hear things.

The cactus project

The Library

2011-07-08T15:37:00.003-05:00

There really is something for everyone at the library!

Shopping With Dad

2011-07-06T19:56:00.000-05:00

Watch Out Kindergarten!

2011-07-05T19:50:00.002-05:00

Mary Mack shares my delight in seeing the UPS truck. We were so excited the new backpack & lunchbox arrived today. Preschool has always provided a bag so this is her first backpack ever!

So proud of how her lunchbox clips onto her backpack

The Heat Is On!

2011-07-05T19:43:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I wonder if my kids have some sort of problem where they cannot detect the heat. They want to play outside every day despite the 100+ heat index.

One day the mosquitoes were so bad after the rain, poor John John had to change into some thin pj pants. That may be the day he nearly melted.

Hot

Hotter

Keeping cool at tennis camp

A Few More Randoms

2011-07-05T19:30:00.006-05:00

I admit I am falling behind on blogging! I am trying to soak in every minute of summer break before the next 15 years of my life revolve around a school calendar.

Fun Playdate with friends....Harper, Livy & MM

First look at a popup tent I brought home from a shopping trip....it's crazy what the heat can make you do.

MM being a good little mama at a fun neighborhood babydoll birthday party

I was taking a shower when I realized no one had flung the door open & pottied, no one was laughing uncontrollably, no one sounded like a herd of elephants....So I quickly turned the shower off to find this.....Two pairs of little legs snuggled in a chair watching Sesame Street. WOW!

Do Not Disturb: On Summer Vacation

2011-07-01T19:58:00.001-05:00

A Few Randoms

2011-06-27T13:02:00.001-05:00

Lightning Bugs

2011-06-25T16:03:00.006-05:00

MM stayed up late to catch lightning bugs for her first time ever!

Watching her new sunflower from Papa's store. I explained to her that it stored sunlight & then would change colors & glow at night with help from the sunshine. She replied "kinda like solar energy?"

Oh, um, yes a lot like that.

Little Pirate

2011-06-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

On The Farm

2011-06-18T14:14:00.004-05:00