Big brother burdens and a playdate

Last night while we were getting ready for bed Dart, Arielle and I were practicing saying fun words.Throughout the course of this Dart would say something silly and then Arielle would try to copy him.  After a few minutes he looked at me and said, "Mommy, sister likes to copy me doesn't she?"

I replied, :"Yes son she does. She watches you and see's what you do. When you make good choices she see that and she will try to make good choices too."

He continued on half playing with toys and half picking them up and putting them away. Finally, after watching Arielle follow him into the closet where the toy boxes are he came back to me and he said, "I need to make good choices more so sister will to. Its an important job to do."

If only he can hold on to that thought as they grow. Please continue to be a good example for your sister to follow.


Today Dart and Arielle had a friend come over to play. For 2 whole hours Dart got to share his toys with someone a bit closer to his own age. Arielle tried to play with them as well but between needing a nap and just not feeling well she spent more time following me around than actually playing with the toys.

During said playdate Dart and S saved the world from the bad guys, raced through the house to see who was fastest, and downed and entire box of mac and cheese. It was the most fun that he has had in a very long time.

When it was time for S to go home it was like Dart's whole world was crashing down. Nevermind, that S just lives next door and that we see her several times a week.Or the fact that he was over at her house just yesterday for 2 hours. No, when he had to say good by today his world came crashing down.


Then again, maybe it was because as soon as she left it was time for a nap.

Dart and S watching Wild Kratts

Name change and new direction

When I started this blog I did so with the encouragement from my mother. On an almost daily basis I was calling her to tell her of something else funny that Collin had done or said. It was getting hard to remember all that he was doing and as much as I was trying to I just couldn't keep up with it all, even on facebook. Not only was Collin way to smart for his own good but I was also very pregnant with Raelynn and we were preparing to make a life changing move.

So with that, the original "Epic Adventures of my Genius Son" was born. And then RaeLynn was born, we moved cities, states, and time zones and I got busy. I have been VERY bad at keeping up with writing and recording what has been going on with my amazing little man. And for that I apologize to those of you who looked forward to reading what crazy shenanigans Collin was getting himself into in our new little world.

Once RaeLynn started getting active and somewhat verbal my mom reminded me that I would need to start a blog for her as well since all the world would want to know what she was up to also. And I hated to admit that she was right. I just kept thinking, "I don't have time for the 2 blogs I currently have. How am I going to create and maintain another one?"

So I came up with a brilliant plan. I'm not. For the most part everything that goes on around here takes place with both of them participating anyway so why not combine the two and make it a bit easier. Thus the new title and direction of this particular blog has been established.

My goal is to update on the kids at least 2 times a week but I'm not going to make any promises. Sometimes the post will be about something they have both done together and sometimes I might post 2 stories in one day to give each one a bit of spotlight. Either way, it will all be right here!

I hope that the stories I am going to be able to tell will help to lighten up your day and keep you updated as Collin and RaeLynn, or better yet, Dart and Arielle as they will now be known, (mostly because I think its fun to call Collin Dart and so does his grandpa!) grow and learn in this crazy world.