Happy 5th Birthday Colin!!! (Happy Valentine's Day too)

I am so proud to be your Dad!! You are an awesome kid and your mom and I love you more than you'll ever know!! I love that you pray for us at every meal. I love how you take care of your sister and give her lots of kisses. I love how God made you! You really are an incredible gift and I am so proud of you! Have a great birthday, Son!! All my love, Dad

STAR WARS at the Library!!!

Members of the local Stormtrooper Legion made an appearance at the library. It was advertised that Stormtroopers would be there along with science experiments about space travel. To the kid's surprise, the stormtroopers told us Darth Vader was inside!!! Colin was so excited to go see the Stormtroopers (OK, I was too). I had never seen them up close and personal in their $1,200.00 costumes. One of them told me Darth Vader's costume was $4,000.00. The lights on his costume flashed and his infamous breathing was prevalent and part of the costume. Now, when Colin actually got close to them, he reacted just as I thought. Daddy's leg turned purple he was squeezing so hard. One lady said to her son, "Why don't you want to stand by Darth Vader for a picture?" I said, "Maybe because he kills people in the movie??" Just a thought.

It was like being in Hollywood!! It was a fun day. Thanks to Bill, Cole & Carter for going with us.

"Don't let me go, Dad!!!!"

DV was a big boy! He stood a little taller than me.

Another Random Thought from Colin

On our way home from Bible study Colin asks - When will my dad be home? After we pick up Hannah I tell him. So 3:30? Is that correct? Yes, that is correct Colin. I love being correct he says. I tell him - you get that desire from your mother. :)

Sandi

Our Little Princess

Sandi here~~

So Colin, Hannah & I were getting ready to play some card games. Hannah starts this whimper/cry so I pick her up. She continues wimpering so I start asking her some questions. Dave was at work so I figured she was missing her Dad.

Hannah, do you miss your Daddy?? She gives me a stare and then one blink. (one blink is NO; lots of blinks is YES)

I ask her again, not believing her first answer. Hannah, do you miss your Daddy?? Again, same thing.

She continues to whimper. At the time I was thinking - well it must be me. Boy was I wrong.....
Hannah, do you miss your Mommy?? Roll of the eyes and then one blink. I didn't ask her a second time.

As a side note - Hannah really cracks me up. For a girl that doesn't use words, she gets her point across!!

It then dawns on me to ask the following.......

Hannah, do you miss your GRANDMA?? To which she blinks about 15 times and nods her head yes about 6 times. Now we are getting somewhere!!!

Would you like to call Grandma?? Again, more blinking and head nodding.

We call Grandma and the wimpering stops, she calms down and listens very intently to her grandma.

Her world was right again. Thanks GRANDMA for loving her so!!!!! She can't wait to snuggle with you again!!

Lions & Tigers & Bears, "Oh Yes! Sweet, Love it!!"

Thank you Bill, Sara, Cole, Carter & Mya for taking Colin and I to the zoo to check it out for later excursions with our family. Colin loved it! This is obvious in the following photos. This is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and it overlooks the city. Amazing views! There is a lot more to see here than the Bever Park Zoo in Cedar Rapids!

Asian Tiger

Cole, Carter & Colin learning about the turtle. (Bill in the background)

All I could thhink about looking at this moose was how bad it can damage a van in Canada, remember Denny??

Yep, I made him mad. There are 4500-5000 of these mountain lions in the wild in Colorado.

OK, I'm not THAT brave. There is glass between us.

Giraffe eating out of my hand. Colin wasn't interested in this. I told him their big purple tongue only tickles your hand. Still not interested.

This monkey was hilarious the way he was sleeping.

Another monkey.

Upper Iowa University mascot, GO PEACOCKS!!

(my alma mater if you couldn't tell)

The Carousel, always a good time!

Overlooking the Springs

The Owl's Nest

LARGE scene or small boy? He's checking out the live chickens.

I hope Sandi and Hannah are ready for the next trip, it's a blast!

A Princess Night Out

Sandi preferred this picture. :)


I can't wait for Friday February 27th!! Click A Daughter's Heart and read more. It's a formal night on the town with just me and my Beautiful Princess. There will be a formal dinner, a guest speaker and dancing with just fathers and daughters. It will be a night we'll never forget!

Random Thoughts For Your Weekend

To follow in the Baumi Family tradition, here ya go.....

So there we were, driving in the Suburban (all 4 of us).

Colin's random thought went like this: "Mom, I didn't know you have a Verizon wireless phone. That's sweet!"

Hannah's was more like this: "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

Hilarious!

Iowa, if you hit your -35 degree record today, that means we were 95 degrees warmer. Crazy. Stay warm!!