Yo ho, yo ho

Collin's obsession with pirates has not waned. He loves to build pirate ships with his blocks and he's the captain of any play structure. He now has two swords (but sticks also work) which he uses to fight crocodiles, Captain Hook and any other bad guys that get in his way.

So of course we had to take our little matey to the Pirate Festival in St. Helens. The Pirate Festival was complete with grown-ups and families in full pirate regalia. We're talking costumes that looked like they came off a movie set. It was a 90 degree day so the men and women in long sleeves, heavy pants and jackets get props for dedication. Or geekdome...

There were cannons blasting off, games for kids, live music and bounce houses that Collin was immediately drawn to. We found a skull cap with for Collin as well as some more action figures and toys and a Jolly Roger flag to hang up on the new balcony off of Collin's room. He also got to take a picture with "Zombie Pirate." Some kids might be scared by the creepy skeletal face, but not our Collin. He loves creepy crawlies, monsters and all that is morbid.

He sat still for a skull and crossbones to be painted on his face, one that he did not want to wash off for a day. We were ready to go after a few hours of pounding heat and Collin was one worn kiddo who fell asleep promptly in the car. The only thing that would've made the Pirate Festival even better was combining it with the pirate ships we saw earlier this summer. But as Collin still talks about it, I think it was definitely a memorable experience.

Of course stay tuned for Halloween. I think it's pretty obvious what Collin will be dressing up as.

Arrr Mateys

Collin is obsessed with pirates.

Obsessed.

"Is it scary?"

"Is it a pirate ship?"

These are two of his most used phrases. Skeletons, ships, anything nautical is somehow associated with a pirate. Then of course there's his signature greeting (to kids he just meets at the playground, to checkers in the grocery store, to anyone who says hi)--"Skull and crossbones!" Followed by a flash of his arms criss crossed across his chest like some sort of preschool gang sign.

I will admit, it's pretty cute though. Sure I have a morbid kid. At OMSI, the science museum, he could stare for hours at the real live skeleton behind glass or put the puzzle pieces of a skeleton together. I'd like to think that maybe all this attractiveness to skeletons means that one day he'll follow the path of science, pathology, medicine...

Or who knows. In a few months he may latch onto a new obsession. But for now, I'll enjoy my honorary pirate.

And when we found out real life pirate ships, that were used in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie were a little over an hour away in Rainier, Mike convinced me that we had to go first thing to show Collin.

Nona and Papa came too and we all got to tour the pirate ships with real life pirates! Okay the ships were actually replica pirate ships used in the movies with 20 something year old pirates but they were sorta dressed in period garb. It was pretty cool. We didn't get to hang around for the mock battle or the three hour sailing adventure, but the free walk-on tour definitely intrigued Collin.