7 years old...

man is this kid cool

He is insanely into Legos

Loves his electronics

Loves his momma:)

Loves math

and pestering his sisters.

He plays football

in the house:)

and is not a fan of getting up in the morning

We were invited to attend his birthday celebration at school

and he decorated his own cake:)

xo

These 2 goofballs

melt my heart daily

xo

I am loving this

little baby hatchling turtles...

I have had the coolest opportunity to photograph these

little guys...and learn all about them

The stretch of beach that bears the name Archie Carr refuge

is the densest location for nesting turtles in North America.

2nd largest in THe WOrld

It is 20 miles long.

It is in my backyard.

It is beyond awesome that THe National Fish and Wildlife

Foundation have been so active in turtle education in the area.

It is beyond awesome that a random string of events brought

me to participate, photograph, and experience rescuing these guys

I have to admit that this is one pretty cool thing about living

in Florida.

Far better than the 110 degree heat index.

xo

Lil Z

loves to pull hair:)

xoxo

Magic-Magic

These 2 attended Magic camp this summer.

Magic. Camp.

Hello, they have camps for EVERYTHING these days.

Their instructor was beyond awesome.

Brady Loved his experience but may have loved

the games of 4 square during free time even more;)

Keeg loved preforming and advancing her

mad magic skillz.

xo

COlorado with friends

These girls L.o.v.e.d. hiking Castle Rock.

It so reminded me of the many times my sis and I hiked, err,

got lost on a trail somewhere in Ft. Collins (darn logs)

Pardon the very crappy P&S camera; Brad took the good one

to Alaska:) Lots of good times.

Bai probably complained the most about going-she would

rather go shopping:) but She had a blast! She often got a

little TOO brave...

THis is Kara rescuing her:)

xo

Montana Goodness

These band of cousins LoVe spending

time together each summer

these 3 are thick as thieves and have the silly string to prove it!

Grandma feeds them ice cream for breakfast

before she busts out the Fruity Pebbles and a zillion gifts..

Nothing like family and awesome-ness to make for great

summer memories

xo

This weighs more than my child

my husband and family members are fishing in

Alaska-rough life, I know:)

I predicted his nephew would land the biggest one.

xo

4th of July

brought us a visit from lil Zoe

who has happily found her feet

and is drooling up a storm

The kiddos were very enamored with having a baby in the house.

I think Brady fell for her the most, though he is still demanding

a brother:)

xo

Baby alert

My little niece is-ahem-one month old.

I was ecstatic that I could fly back to meet her

at one week old....

ummm, time flies?

will edit these uber cute photos soon!

xo

These 2

call me "ha-ha"

could blow bubbles ForEVER

and make me laugh endlessly.

xo

She turned 5

and it was a quiet transformation.

She is still loving on baby dolls and "directing" her lil sis

to help her take care of them

She likes to play school

She is the best "share-er" Ever.

She is kind and sweet with a bit of spice and glitter all in one

SHe craves sweets...and likely sneaks them a lot:)

is addicted to the ipad stack the states game, boys, and Shoes!

She keeps us on our toes but oozes love and spunk all at once:)

Someone

going into first grade next year.

He was beaming and soooo excited.

yes, graduation is overrated for elementary school.

i get that.

But it is a big deal in his world to "graduate" from the 3-6y.o

Montessori room and enter Lower Elementary 6-9y.o. room.

more work

more expectations

more reading

more independence

more cursive

more advanced math.

more field trips...

and yoga and gardening and computers.

re-connecting with friends that advanced a year earlier.

He is ready.

I am not.

HeLLo Elmo:)

Hang ten

Keegan received a medal for league champ

in the 25 meter breast stroke this weekend.

Her swim coach hosted a beach get together

for all the swimmers, teaching kids how

to surf and have fun outside the pool.

this is Keegan surfing

This Guy

Is such an amazing kid.

He is awesome at math.

Adores his best bud...

and several girls:)

Is very polite when he wakes you up at night;

Has more energy and imagination than most.

Has sincere kindness etched in his core.

Loves his little sis.

Loves to rough house.

Loves to be silly.

Typically needs a haicut:)

Love you buds; never change.

xo

These two

are growing like weeds....

Can't believe that they would goto kindergarten

with Piper (if we lived in the same state!)

Since they were preemies-

and Piper was in the sumo wrestler category-

I was under the illusion that a bigger age gap existed.....

ANyhow,

The entire McCollom clan is headed to Michigan

to hang with the Hoffman/Weber clan in MAY.

THink indoor swimming, Elmo TV, a bit of knitting,

maybe a trip to the zoo, family dinners, Dillon cookies,

and lots of noise:)

xo

AND-perhaps birth of another cousin??

this makes me smile

xo

How Cute

is this??

xo

HOW did I miss these??

happy weekend

xo

Hidden Gems

From a previous visit to MI.

This is Maddie....

in Holly's old shirt...

that my parents got on the NJ board walk,

where, child labor is apparently legal?

And this is Miss Maddie chilling in the

antique potty chair.

All toddlers LOVE to park their bottom in

this chair for some reason.

Pool CLOSED

but we were all decked out in swimsuits

AND sunscreen was liberally applied

so we busted out last years slip-n-slide

guess who wasn't a fan?

guess who threw a water balloon at me and thus ended

the photo shoot...

(b/c the camera got wet, people, not b/c I am a wuss!)

xo

Cake Pops

and jelly beans...

we are the picture of healthy today:)

xo

the bulk of the day

this is what I am up against.

cute.

smile-y

than spitt-ey

sassiness.

hitting

kicking

sqwaking

little monsters

with big tears

and sad faces

than a burst of silliness

and smiles

and a spoonful of peanut butter

and wiggles

and jumping

and climbing

and a declaration that the 2 year old is going to

get EARRINGS when she goes to school!!

declared by the 2 year old!!

ugh!

xo