Whew!

Well, Sampson and I stayed up until 4 o'clock this morning finishing the last book in the Twilight series. Edward and Bella are finally happy, now I can move on with my life:)

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I'll put in a Christmas update soon! We had a wonderful time spending Christmas in Mountain Home with Shane's family, then we came back to have Christmas with my family. I am currently busy reading the last book from the Twilight series:)

Pooped

These kids are wearing me out!! Due to the ICE (all schools and towns around were closed) Shane and I started out early to make the commute to school. Taylor was behind us and as it took us 10 min. to get out of our neighborhood we looked back and her eyes were big as saucers. She did fine getting out and we all made it safe, BUT the 20ish min. commute turned into and hour and a half...so we were a little late:) I have wonderful teammates so they took my class and got all of their things put away but as I was rushing in Karen says "I'm sorry but they are WILD!" This rang true the rest of the day! They would not calm down or be the least bit quite. Every once and a while one will randomly remember (as with most of their thoughts) that we are going to be out of school for a while and say "Mrs. Collins, I'm really going to miss you during the break" and I am thinking...I'm ready for some peace and quite! Don't get me wrong, I love all my kids, but gees...they're fighting and whinning and I just can't take it anymore. Anyway, only three days left...but it's hard for me to get excited about that because of the always so crazy holiday classroom party. Oh well, they'll get to have a little fun!

After that we are off on Saturday to Mountain Home to spend Christmas with Shane's family. Then back here for our family Christmas and New Years. Hope everyone is staying warm and safe!

Happy Birthday Tater Tot!!

I love you so much and hope you have a wonderful birthday! Another year older...another year wiser:)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

After weeks of Taylor and I talking about lights and trees and pumping Shane up (really bugging him to death) we finally are looking like christmas at the Collins' house. Shane and I put up the lights on the house in about 45 min...what a team we make. But to save time, Shane would only put a clip on every other light...so with the crazy wind we've been having lately some are a little "out of place". Oh well, it gives it character right? Then, we all put up the tree. One big happy family these days!

Thanksgiving #2

Saturday we had "Thanksgiving" at Sweets' house. We had so much fun! It got so cold so everyone brought a different soup and different desserts...it was wonderful. Then we played games and laughed all of the calories out:) The Trout's, Collins', Pannell's, and Braggs were there plus some friends. It was great!!!
Sweets is so creative...here are the snow people she made out of old swimming pool pumps, highway barrels and other things.

Our traditional pile on the bed picture:)

Shane thinking "crap...how am I going to act out New Kids on the Block" He did a good job and everyone got it!!

Making a game plan

Aunt Donna, Taylor, and Jason

The Grandkids

The Girls

The Boys

Thanksgiving Day

We had a great Thanksgiving. We went to Mimi and Poppy's and the whole gang was there which was really fun! After we ate, Daddy and Tommy got out there guitars and played and sang (with all of us as back up). It was such a pretty day, we did it outside and two stepped around the deck...good times! Shane and Poppy held down the fort inside napping and watching the football games.
Jammin' (Tommy and Daddy)

Aren't they adorable:) (Aunt Gaitha and Daddy)

(some of) The Gals (Momma, Gaitha, Taylor, Deborah)

Me, Poppy, Taylor

Taylor and Gaitha striking a pose

The Prep

Well, I have been a horrible blogger, but I only have time to catch up slowly. We always have Thanksgiving at Gaitha's. This year Poppy can't travel so we went to Mimi and Poppy's house...but Gaitha still was cooking, so Taylor and I help her cook on Wednesday. (She is grooming us to take over!) We made the dressing, (always delicious) sweet potatoes, and deviled eggs (my favorite). It was so fun spending time with her and learning our great grandmother Turner's recipes!

When you love mustard the way our family does...you do this when you have extra deviled egg filling. Looking back it looks pretty gross!

Mixing away. The dressing was so thick (from all the goodness:) we all had to take turns stirring!

My List

I saw this on AC's blog and thought that it would be fun to do. Like most...I still have a lot to accomplish!
Bold is what you have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

HOOP-LA

I know I haven't updated in a while...but there has been hoop-la. Some of you know...some of you will soon find out.
All I have to say is now I am OBSESSED with the twilight series. I have resisted until now...now I am addicted. It is the only thing I have in common with my high school helper that comes to school:) Love it!!!

BOO HOO

Well, the patriots lost this week...Shane was bummed, but the show must go on! It is 10:50pm...I am usually in bed by 10. However, I am missing school tomorrow and having to stay up to make sub plans. Why do I always mess around when I have things to do??

Fayetteville

I am a little behind on these, but we had so much fun I had to post them. Last weekend we went to Fayetteville to met Sam and Anne-Camille for what we hope is our annual trip to Fayetteville for the game. We LOVE getting to see and visit with them! We love them so much and wish we could be around them more!
We also got to see our friend from college and Shane's roommate, Tony. It was great getting to see him...and as always, turned into a very exciting time:)
GO HOGS...even though they lost:(

Shane with his Uncle Sam who he loves so dearly!!

Me with AC...I love her so much! We can talk about anything and always come away loving each other more. We can be silly or serious and it never disappoints!

Shane, Me, Tony...We miss him so much and loved getting to see him!

Momma L:)

Last weekend we were in Fayetteville (watching the HOGS lose) and we met my sweet friend Lindie, her husband Justin, and their little boy Jackson for breakfast. We had so much fun! I haven't seen her in so long. We talk a lot, but it's just not the same as getting to see each other! I college she was always the responsible one...earning her the name "Momma L". Love you!!

First Win

The patriots won their first game last week! They played really well and Shane was proud and excited! Then they won their game yesterday too! I win the best wife ever award for being the film girl!

Gross but Funny

Well, I take my kids to music this morning and as I round the corner, I hear a little boy whispering "Mrs. Crump"..."Mrs. Crump". This is a Kindergarten teacher's name, so I walk over and he is around the corner at the bathroom. I asked him if he needed some help (as he's poking his head out of the bathroom). He says yes so this is the conversation that follows:

Me: Do you need help?

Boy: Yes, I need Mrs. Crump

Me: Well, Mrs. Crump is busy teaching, let me help you.

Boy: Okay. I had to poop, a lot.
(At this time I am thinking...Oh boy, should have gotten Mrs. Crump)

Me: Okay, what do you need help with.

Boy: Well, I had to poop, and there was so much poop. So then, I had to use A LOT (motioning with his hands) of toilet paper. Now, there's so much paper, I can't flush or it will flood.

Another teacher walked up at this point...and as I was barely holding in my laughter:
Well, let's to have a look to see what we can do.

Me: That is a lot of paper, maybe next time you don't have to use this much.

Boy: There was A LOT of poop!

Me: Okay, just be careful. GO WASH YOUR HANDS!

It's just things like this that keep me going through the day:)

Very Excited

So...I am super excited about Darius Rucker's new CD. If you haven't heard his new song "Don't Think About It" you should! I used to LOVE Hootie and the Blowfish back in the day and now can't wait to buy this September 16! At first I wasn't too sure about it because I am tired of people who can't make it in any other music genre (jessica simpson) moving to country. But I even busted out the old Hootie and he sounds the same. He's not "twanging" it up which I appreciate!

Catching Up

I have been a horrible blogger this summer! I thought I would do a catching up. I just posted several and there are tons more but I feel my Sunday nap coming on:)
Shane and I have both survived our first week of school! He has started football and has several HUGE kids playing this year so he hopes it will be a good season. The first day of school he came home and said no one was kicked out or put in ISS so it was already an improvement from last year:) He is feeling much better this year because he knows what to expect and what's to come. We were both sad to see summer come to an end but happy to have some structure again.
We started the comute and so far it hasn't been too bad. We have been riding together most days so thank goodness for the HOV lane! Traffic is just crazy in the morning. A 20-25 min. drive can turn into an hour quickly!
I have a really great class this year! It was sad to see all my kids from last year and have them walk past me in the hall! I tried to get several to come back to first grade and had several convinced! I'm sure I will have some stories this year! The second day of school I picked them up from lunch (I actually ate with them and only left to go to the bathroom for two min.) one my little boys was covered in ketchup! He is little bitty and VERY active (havn't been successful in having him sit in his chair yet) but so cute. I said what happend bud? He said he was just trying to take home his ketchup to not waste it but the more he pushed it in his pocket, the more it came out! He had stuffed opened ketchup, not the little ones either, the plastic dipping kind in his pocket. It was EVERYWHERE! Pants, shirt, socks, hands...what can you do?

Pat in Paris

So last night we went to a little honky tonk in Paris, Texas to see Pat Green! Since we are all back in Texas again we thought that was what we needed! It was so much fun! He was hilarious and they always put on a great show!

Shane, Me, Taylor and Eli ready to rock:)



We ran into Nikki who used to babysit us when we were little! We LOVED her and thought she was just the coolest so it was so wonderful to see her again!

Talkin to Pat!!

My Room

When I finally got the courage to return to my classroom, this is what I saw. DEPRESSING! You work to hard to make it cute and then you have to take it down and cover it at the end of the year. Then the cleaning crew comes and destroys it even more. On top of that, I decided at the end of last year that I wanted to redo a lot of things...stupid. Taylor came to help me and we worked hard for DAYS with no air conditioning to boot! But we finally got it finished and it looks great and ready for kiddos! I'll post those soon but I wanted everyone to see just how much we accomplished:)

Great Surprise!!!

We went to Mountain Home at the beginning of August for Grace and Lyle's wedding (beautiful!). At the reception AC said we needed to come by their house before we left because they had a surprise for us!! Well Sam spilled the beans:) but it didn't make it any less sweet!

OUR VERY OWN POLLYANNA BOARD!!!!

We were supper pumped! When we got back to Texas we went immediately to get the playing pieces and started playing. Then I took it to my parents and we played and they love it too!Thank you sooo much Sam and Anne-Camille! WE LOVE IT!

Miguel's Birthday

So Michael turned the big 3-2 and we went to this really neat bowling alley in Addison. There were these huge screens everywhere with music and the best part...I beat Shane!!!! Hope you had a good one Michael!

Birthday Boy

The Boys

The Girls

Happy Golfer:)

Shane might not be to happy with this but I thought it was a hoot! He and my cousins went to play golf and when they got back they were all so hot and then Shane took his shirt off...when he turned around this is what we saw! We laughed so hard! His salty sweat lines looked like a little smiley face. He had a good time and it showed!

Earthquake

So, on Tuesday Taylor and I were sitting at her apartment talking and we started shaking and we heard rumbling. Being from Texas, I have no idea what's going on and I look at Taylor and say, "Is someone on the roof?" Then she screams "It's an earthquake!!" So I jump up and run to her and we grab eachother and squat IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THE FLOOR. Real smart move. At this time the shaking is not that bad so we think it may be over...NO. Then it starts these violent crazy shakes and we are running through the apartment jumping over piles and dodging things and Taylor yells in my face, "Get under that table right now!" So we huddle under the table holding onto eachother so tight we will have bruises. Then all of a sudden it was over. Can I just tell you how freaky that is!!?? It is so crazy because there is really nothing you can do. It only lasted about 45-50 seconds...but that's a long time to shake! We went outside and the neighbor's were all out there going crazy, people were crying, it was nuts. But we are okay and now we are just sending constant prayers that it doesn't happen anymore while we are out here! Momma called and told us to stay away from the edge of the ocean:) However, I'm not worried about that, I am worried about driving through the cannon with the 2 ton rocks that have rolled down the mountain that could fall from being shaken lose and crush us! Anyway, several people that knew we were out here called so just wanted to let everyone know we are okay.

Thanks AC!!!

Thanks to Anne-Camille for the new look of the blog! Didn't she do a great job! I love being around her...I'm used to having Taylor doing things for me and now I have AC to do it too:) Love those big sisters! I love you both and thank you for taking care of me!!

California

Just got back from California. Me, Momma, and Taylor went. While it was a working trip...we had so much fun together. Taylor has all the pictures on her camera which she is supposed to email to me (yesterday) but I have yet to see them. LOVE YOU!! It was so much fun to have a girls trip. We talked about the good ol' days back in Texas and had TONS of laughs (which was a good thing because we ate horribly) so hopefully we burned a lot of calories. We did find a place for them to live!!! It is in Irvine and it is so adorable.
The last night we went out to eat with Ryan and I got a frantic call from Shane. Daddy was staying with him because he had an early doctor's appointment. Well, he missed his snack and wasn't making since but Shane saved the day!!! He was a little bit freaked out-but he made it. Thank you Shane for taking care of him!!!

Couples Date!!!!

One of the last nights we went out with Sam and Anne-Camille. We had a wonderful dinner at the 178 Club and then went back to their house for some Pollyanna (I think I've spelt it two different ways...not sure which is right) This is us on the way home. We love them so much and always have so much fun when we are with them!

Side note: AC and I went to the pool and we just got to talking and didn't put on sunscreen. Well for AC that's fine with her pretty olive skin, but for me aka white as paste not a good thing. Four hours later we were huddled under towels still talking. Though she turned a beautiful tanned color, I peeled in sheets:)

The greatest game ever played! Her grandfather made this game and it has been passed down! Shane showed NO mercy toward me! I thought I would win at least once...didn't happen. I am now in the process of making my own board so I can practice:)

July 4th

For the 4th we had a fabulous time and Sam and Anne-Camille's. We tons of food, yummy root beer floats, fireworks, and Pollyanna!!!

Cute little Connor. I love this child. He has the cutest little personality!

Watch out...big sister mode coming out. (You know I love you AC!!!)
The Girls
The Boys
Ashlyn really didn't want me to take her picture. She too is a hoot!

Kenzie Lynn and Shane playing catch
Sweet Cort
Shane and KL
Alicia and Ashlyn
Laura Beth's little girls were so precious! I only got one of the two though.

I know I am a tad late on all of these post, but right when we got back from Mountain Home, I flew to California with Momma and Taylor so I'm catching up as fast as I can!!