Colin turns 5 + Lori Elwell

Colin is 5. He's 5. It didn't hit me until it was his actual birthday. We have a 5 year old!!!

Special breakfast cereal + birthday marble run = a great start to a birthday!

I took the day off of work to celebrate his birthday, but instead, he told me that he wanted to go to school in the morning. Birthday boys get crowns and lots of attention at school! So Lori and I brought birthday treats for the class and picked him up after lunch.

 For his special day, we told him that we were going to take him to the Lego store and to a store where he could get "a whole bag of candy," like he has been asking for since Halloween. And he responded, "can justin come too?" So at his request, he shared his special birthday outing with his brother. Makes momma proud.

 

 Auntie Lori time...

 Colin loves to build. (So much that he actually had his friends lay hardwood floor with him at school with their building blocks!) But I had no idea he was capable of putting together Lego sets all on his own! Those Lego people have mastered their instruction manuals because this 5 year old followed the instructions and put together his first excavator and truck set.

 Then, it was birthday party Saturday. "It is still Colin's birthday?" Justin asked me on Saturday morning. haha. Off we went to Playground World... Lots of friends, lots of fun!

 

 

Colin requested the same cake that we made for Justin. But we didn't want to hassle with knives and more utensils at the party site, so I made a cupcake pull-apart cake. After blowing out the candles, just start pulling cupcakes out to hand out! Highly recommend!

 Then it was time to head home and open more presents. Having fun...

 Lori living with us = 3 dates in a month for Jack & me!!!!!!!!!

 It just flowed, "C'mon, Lori Elwell." I declared my sister an Elwell about a week into her 1 month visit with us. She was part of our family - part of the laughter & fun and also part of the housework & parenting. She and Jack were workout buddies and vegan-ites together. The boys would call for "mom" and she would go running to them.  I finally had someone to share my day and night routine with, to chat with after the boys headed to bed and to inspire me back to Bikram. Lori Elwell, we love you and you will be missed!

We had great weather all month, and the day Lori left, it was windy and rainy.  After we dropped her off at the airport, Colin said, "I wish it was a sunny and warm day for Auntie Lori to go to the airport. She would have been happier." Nope, kid... She's sad because she won't wake up next to you tomorrow morning. =( About 5 hours after Lori took off, Justin asked, "When is Auntie Lori coming home?" Yes, our house became her home. She slept with the kids nearly every night, and it will be quite the transition for them (and her.)