Memorial Day

This year we celebrated Memorial Day with our first outing on our "new" boat!  This was the first boat ride of any sort for all of our kids, including Hunter, so it was a BIG deal!  They all reacted differently.  Hunter was ecstatic and really took to the idea that he was co-pilot.  Brody was perfectly content in the front of the boat.  Tyler was very hesitant about the whole thing and mentioned several times before even boarding that he didn't want to go.  Then while on the boat he insisted, "Mommy, hold my hand!"  Greyson was silent for the first 15-20 minutes, taking it all in and then decided he did not like the life jacket and started complaining loudly for the rest of the time.  John and Hunter fished for a little bit but mostly we just drove around the lake.  Brody, Ty, Greyson and I headed home sooner to have lunch and naps (and a break from the crying, which ceased immediately upon removing the life vest) and Hunter and Daddy stayed out to fish for several more hours.  We are all very excited at the prospect of many fun adventures on our new boat, even Tyler.  As soon as we stepped on dry land he said, "That was fun!"

Greyson's first surgery

On Monday morning (the day after Hunter's big party) Greyson went to Children's Hospital to have a dermoid cyst removed from the bridge of his nose.  This was something he was born with and we were told at his very first doctor's appointment (when he was one week old) that it most likely had to be removed.  In other words, we knew it was coming but it obviously wasn't something we were looking forward to.  I asked the doctor what was the harm in leaving it be and he told me "risk of infection" and "deformity of bone growth" due to its location.  He also recommended that the sooner the better but not before he was six months old.  He had to have an MRI a few months ago to determine whether it needed to be removed by a plastic surgeon or a neurologist.  The results showed that it didn't go very deep so a plastic surgeon is who did the procedure.  This was Greyson's second time being put under anesthesia because he had to for the MRI as well.  He slept most of the day and all night long both times.  I almost asked them if we could set up a weekly appointment.  Just kidding!!  He was a trooper and did very well.  The nurses were fighting over who would be the one to carry him into surgery.  He had to have one internal stitch and two outer.  The doctor said that there was just a minor dent in the bone and not a cleft so it was good that we had it done while he was so young.  There is a chance it could grow back but he didn't suspect it would.  I snapped this picture to send to the doctor because I was concerned that two nights after his surgery the bandage had fallen off in his sleep.  The nurse asked me to email me a picture of what it looked like since I had described it as a "gash" on the phone.  She checked with Dr. Jensen and he said it looked fine.  I'm trying not to worry about scarring but I can't help myself.  It seems to me like this should be closed up more but I'm no doctor.

Morning birthday boy!

On the morning of Hunter's birthday (Thursday) I told him he could have anything he wanted for breakfast.  He told me, "pancakes and a milkshake" and so that is how he started his day.

Calling all ninjas!

We had Hunter's birthday party on Sunday and while everyone seemed to have a great time I was a total stress case and decided that from now on we will be doing destination parties for Hunter.  Bowling sounds very appealing.  Or a swimming party at the Y would be nice.  Wherever it doesn't involve Hunter and 10 classmates arguing about who's winning what and what rules are being broken and 17 total kids running rampant in the yard, neighborhood and my house, and most importantly, wherever the entertainment doesn't fall on my shoulders.  OK!  I feel better now that I got that off my chest...
Hunter requested a "Ninjago" party.  That's Lego for ninja.  He wanted to invite his entire class but we limited it to 10 kids because we also had our four kids and three other friend's kids coming, not to mention 11 adults.  Twenty eight people is enough.
He also requested a scavenger hunt "like we did for the Scooby party."  So after I spent hours leading up to the party devising the hunt with rhyming clues and hidden homemade weapons (thanks Dad!) I thought I was pretty well-prepared.  That was until 15 minutes before the guests had arrived I still had a major component missing to the hunt and was frantically trying to finish, along with much help from my in-laws, and friends, Sara and Keem.  We were trying to make four balloons (wrapped in crepe paper) to resemble the ninjago ninjas...Kai (red), Jay (blue), Cole (black), and Zane (white).  What a nightmare!  I finally finished one and it was wrapped with so much crepe paper that it sunk to the ground despite being filled with helium.  I needed them to float!  They were marking key locations to where games were to be held.  John came up with the idea to float another balloon higher and tape it with a string to the top of the ninja balloon to pull it up higher.  It worked!  First one done so I ran out and hung it in the yard.  Bing bong.  First guests arrive.  Sent them to the backyard where much jumping in the bounce house ensued.  Meanwhile, Laura & Dean are wrapping more balloons.  Bing bong.  More guests.  And more guests.  And more, well, you get the idea.  And as I was bringing yet another kid to the backyard I hear someone say, "uh oh.  Mrs. Collins, that balloon string just broke and it floated away."  I looked over and of course, it was the ninja balloon that I had just spent half an hour making.  Gone with the wind.  It was tied to the climbing cube in the backyard and a neighborhood kid named Alex knocked it with his foot, the string broke and away it went.  I just about cried but I tried my best to hold it together to finish this scavenger because that is what my birthday boy wanted!  About 20 minutes into the party the ninja balloons were all done and hanging and we started the hunt.  Phew!

I asked Hunter to divide the kids into two teams.  Big mistake.  Too much arguing about who was on which team so I took over and numbered them off fair and square.  I read the intro to the scavenger which was a short story about how evil Lord Garmadon had taken the ninja weapons and they had to perform a series of tests to find them.  Hunter read, "To receive the first clue a ninja must try to defeat the evil balloon placed underneath Kai."  The kids ran off to the red ninja balloon where they played their first game.  This involved kids spinning around, putting on ninja headbands, spinning again and striking their best ninja pose.  They were going to have to pop a balloon instead of striking the pose but I had forgotten to have a bunch of balloons blown up at the site so I changed the game last second.  This game would've gone better had all the kids been good at tying their own headbands on and had I not split them into teams.  I heard a lot of yelling from kids telling Hunter he wasn't going fast enough and Hunter yelling at me to tell them it wasn't a race.  Mental note...seven year olds do not do well with competition!  We eventually all donned our headbands and moved on. 
The next clue read, "To find the next clue a ninja must play a star-throwing game that is right next to Jay.  The kids ran to the blue ninja balloon where they each received a large paper origami ninja star that they had to throw through a hoop.  This was meant to be done in two teams but I learned my lesson and had them all just try it once so as to not invoke anymore arguing and yelling.  This was a BIG HIT!  They loved the stars and kept asking if they could keep them and take them home.  Their eyes lit up with I told them of course they could. 
I randomly picked someone to read the next clue, "The next clue will be given once you prove you can train.  The test you will take is located by Zane."  Off we all went to the white ninja balloon whereby the kids were put into two teams (agh!) and they tried to pass a fortune cookie placed on a spatula to the next kid waiting a few feet away without dropping it.  This actually worked pretty well and arguing was kept to a minimum.  Almost done!  "A ninja you've succeeded to meet your goal.  The weapons you'll find once you've located Cole."  Finally, we all ran to the black ninja balloon where John had hidden his homemade ninja weapons underneath the big bush in the front yard.  The kids looked around to find the weapons and once they were located had a blast acting like ninjas with them.
I kept the food very easy this year.  My mother-in-law made a jell-o using the colors of the party (red, black, white and blue) as well as a large fruit platter.  We ordered Rosati's pizza.  I made some rice crispy sushi rolls and chocolate dipped fortune cookies.  Hunter wrapped water bottles with Ninja labels.  And we all threw together a spinach, pecan, dried cranberry, pear salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette (obviously for the adults...and any adventurous kids) at the last minute (thanks Laura and Keem!).

Hunter opened his presents and we ended the party with cake!  Watching Hunter while we all sang to him was my most favorite part of the day.  He looked so happy and I could tell he felt very special.  Just after we served cake it started raining so all the kids panicked and ran inside.  I sent them down to the basement while the adults scrambled to get everything (presents, cameras, valuables) inside.  Just as soon as we had it all cleaned up, the rain stopped so I sent everyone back outside.  At least the yard was mostly cleaned up!  But the basement (where the kids were sent) was another story...I didn't find that mess until much later!
Shortly after the rain showers the parents arrived and Hunter passed out the goody bags (Chinese takeout boxes filled with tootsie pops wrapped like ninjas, fortune cookies and another smaller origami ninja star.)  All in all it was a three hour party and a success.  Afterwards I asked Hunter to tell me what his favorite part was and he said, "the presents!"  And then he offered his least favorite part...the scavenger hunt (the part that took me the longest to make and caused me the most stress).  Another lesson learned...Let's bowl!

Baptized!

Little Greyson was welcomed into God's family on Sunday. He did great and the ceremony was just awesome. I love the priest at our new church. He holds my attention at mass on Sunday and he does a really special baptism. Greyson was fully immersed in the baptismal font during the 10:30 a.m. mass on Sunday so there was a great big crowd to witness this important event. Father Mike got in the font with him and immersed Greyson up to his shoulders three times in front of him (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The first time Greyson was a little alarmed. He didn't quite cry but I definitely heard a whimper. By the last time he calmed down a bit didn't make a peep. Then Father handed him off to an assisting Priest who then held him high above him and walked him around for the whole congregation to see. Everyone applauded our little Simba! It was definitely a Lion King moment. I cried. After Father blessed everyone with (lots of) water we were called up in front for the chrism blessing. Hunter, Tyler & Brody joined us. Father Mike used the oil very liberally, spreading it all over Greyson's head. He smelled soooooo good!! Finally, John held Greyson up for the final welcoming into the church. (More applause)

My mom flew in from AZ to be a part of it and thanks to her, we have these photos to share!! Thanks Mom!! She also helped bring up the gifts (bread, wine and monetary donations) during mass, along with my mother-in-law, brother, Hunter, and cousin Dolores. It was really great to have those closest to us witnessing and being a part of this celebration. My best friend Becky and John's Uncle are Greyson's sponsors. They were a big part of the celebration as well. Becky held up his white garment and Uncle Hank lit the baptismal candle. I'll carry all of these memories with me forever. It truly was such a special day. After mass we lined up outside in the narnex for those attending mass that day to stop by and congratulate us. It reminded me of the receiving line when we got married almost 12 years ago. I teach at the church's school so many of my students and their families came up to wish us well. After taking many pictures we headed back to our house for lunch and cake. I made ham and cheese empanadas, hummus with pita chips, and spinach salad for everyone and my mom made mini-caprese salads on toothpicks and some delicious fruit dip for the strawberries. Laura (John's mom) made a beautiful seven-layered ribbon jello that the kids thought was really cool and then we ate cake. What a beautiful day I will cherish forever.

Too bright!!!

What do you think of our new shades?

On the move!

Greyson officially started crawling yesterday. He is on a mission to at least try to keep up with his big brothers. It happened in the kitchen. He was on all fours rocking near the oven and made a break for it toward the open dishwasher door. He made the smallest movements but he was making forward progress instead of moving backward, which is the direction in which he has been moving for the last few weeks. I know it has only been a day since that happened but he has already gotten much better at it! It's amazing how fast they learn. I think he's pretty proud of himself!