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!!!