tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361291472024-03-04T20:37:18.004-08:00Collins ClanLeigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-28835178478454348952014-04-01T12:07:00.001-07:002014-04-01T13:44:48.857-07:00Spring Break 2014Well as it goes every year, Sam always ends up having meetings the same week as spring break, hence the reason we had a travel-around-the-world dining stay-cation last year! So this year was no different but we decided to go to him..well almost! He was in Knoxville and we stayed in Chattanooga for a couple of nights. He was able to play with us for most of the time. <div><br></div><div>We had a blast going to the Tennessee Aquarium, Ruby Falls, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Rock City. It was a great quick trip for the family with plenty for everyone to enjoy! Sam took Anna and Kirby to the Creative Discovery Center while I drove a sickly Mary Mac home...gotta love a sick child in a hotel...bright side was that we had 2 vehicles and could finish the fun with the other kiddos after drawing straws over who was going home with "THE SICK ONE!"</div><div><br></div><div>Oh but wasn't the week away from homework and activities such a wonderful thing? {as I'm sitting here like a drill sargent trying to get everyone to finish it before after school activities}</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1r9c-b28uSasRWy7jYShFTSZzu3-oFbiP291mh5c09zQrBkR4tyh6Iu4Qfa6cOhcL-iOrh90GRKjsteNnHorx_510Fjk5fePxHkToIAPUL-icAlnZJcRzKIhRQxvmv42CUWEzw/s640/blogger-image-1935480209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1r9c-b28uSasRWy7jYShFTSZzu3-oFbiP291mh5c09zQrBkR4tyh6Iu4Qfa6cOhcL-iOrh90GRKjsteNnHorx_510Fjk5fePxHkToIAPUL-icAlnZJcRzKIhRQxvmv42CUWEzw/s640/blogger-image-1935480209.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-UsV9xdqdd04Fx-8wIOvN0mK4thpjjPQwF_p2uASMUzF5IdGj1UGLsAz1bg7MPK3I5zvOdtc1HoUtR73rOdzChX1TG0NZksZwnY3gDZXWyWvWLtIie2Udce3Ss7lwq4vCZ_S1g/s640/blogger-image--755185048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpPKXYO_kaIiG0QYc8DQE3IzT5aG_66mA1GgMxI9xASLgJkbveTIQlXExukicwrvE5JO_VijijlgxeO44n7h9j89TqC1Uiqpj22ZtZxLxydrSKVFhD92kxeNHdqweF_Rjrbu1cQ/s640/blogger-image-1979076882.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70xCt9FZpAbiXhUD3RHBc2lBThi21pxuocSJjBkrRW1KWOe_pMT9auHe1Q64hvjV8Z3KOEEpkQwyF5rVPMmX5KrXx-Svj6g_HADe0S2UMqeftFhavuF4W-NhViyTaQfWkTg1hKw/s640/blogger-image--1251097049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70xCt9FZpAbiXhUD3RHBc2lBThi21pxuocSJjBkrRW1KWOe_pMT9auHe1Q64hvjV8Z3KOEEpkQwyF5rVPMmX5KrXx-Svj6g_HADe0S2UMqeftFhavuF4W-NhViyTaQfWkTg1hKw/s640/blogger-image--1251097049.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGR7RfnIM31fRNmlb3d82W3oyAFGnHg6XTD65SGkZDzGY8aTO6sTfJI1mpV576fg0822nFTOYlu0COV5JjDRkCDubD88qIrDC8-z68ZoK4ztCfomsnYhX3lQpNBP1hCVeWkp8tg/s640/blogger-image-1179965641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGR7RfnIM31fRNmlb3d82W3oyAFGnHg6XTD65SGkZDzGY8aTO6sTfJI1mpV576fg0822nFTOYlu0COV5JjDRkCDubD88qIrDC8-z68ZoK4ztCfomsnYhX3lQpNBP1hCVeWkp8tg/s640/blogger-image-1179965641.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Oh and I almost forgot that THE SICK ONE was well and able enough to show in her first official show of the year... 2 2nd place, 2 3rd place, 4th place, and 7th place. I cannot tell you how miserably rainy, muddy, windy, cold it was but she muttled through it! I think she got her nerves out of the way and she's ready for the next one! </div><div><br></div><div>All in all it was a great week as a family...SICK ONE and all! Love my crazy life and my crazy kids!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-85184678980818733062014-04-01T11:25:00.001-07:002014-04-01T11:26:08.065-07:00Happy Birthday Anna!I seriously cannot believe that this wacky, spunky, funny, silly, girly, giant-hearted little girl is 7 today! Where has the time gone? She might drive me crazy (only because she's just like me), but at the end of the day I can always count on her sweet hugs at bedtime. Even if I'm exhausted from the crazy day of working, volunteering at the school, running them around to activities, cooking dinner, cleaning the kitchen, getting everyone ready for bed, she never let's me get away without the biggest hug ever! And most of the time I have to tickle her to let go...I pray that she'll always love me this much because I know I surely will always love her that much! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rNI2gq2PWn6p6NWPW8Kl4XfdrB1hty_qg12u1BqzPQJ0mb6rb0yeYYvh6azsQqaCUwR2JIofSNdrjIy0xwBEgbCzU1fSRZj9xwj2AD0i0G6vw-Q195-I2qT4NAu-KkJ-ZzixPA/s640/blogger-image-762920681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rNI2gq2PWn6p6NWPW8Kl4XfdrB1hty_qg12u1BqzPQJ0mb6rb0yeYYvh6azsQqaCUwR2JIofSNdrjIy0xwBEgbCzU1fSRZj9xwj2AD0i0G6vw-Q195-I2qT4NAu-KkJ-ZzixPA/s640/blogger-image-762920681.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8rDf1TCFJ1z4WP-rFdFp0467qb0QcfhIVoMQmFIKzm3fIeiRRYRl4bMecyOG3Hd5aykm_JfjCQCWt7JG_i7n-YDJQLJQEq4u7usIBUf8mXELMOhyzfrzMw975kOfit_YNmQ2SA/s640/blogger-image--1510790394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8rDf1TCFJ1z4WP-rFdFp0467qb0QcfhIVoMQmFIKzm3fIeiRRYRl4bMecyOG3Hd5aykm_JfjCQCWt7JG_i7n-YDJQLJQEq4u7usIBUf8mXELMOhyzfrzMw975kOfit_YNmQ2SA/s640/blogger-image--1510790394.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Now if we can just get that wacky looking tooth to fall out...does the tooth fairy deliver on a birthday? That seems like double dipping in my opinion! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk_U9yt97x1UmZCZhkhpnz-iK_Xorsz2wXLiOMTs5qpK56cr1rltjZiOeYiV5VEvkOlfac0i-8V15JV2tOBEwv-1_ZRxNdnb9UcrempOajMZDVv09dy3BdRSzasgE_nfMPc7oTA/s640/blogger-image-1794195269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk_U9yt97x1UmZCZhkhpnz-iK_Xorsz2wXLiOMTs5qpK56cr1rltjZiOeYiV5VEvkOlfac0i-8V15JV2tOBEwv-1_ZRxNdnb9UcrempOajMZDVv09dy3BdRSzasgE_nfMPc7oTA/s640/blogger-image-1794195269.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Happiest of Birthdays to my sweetest Anna Boo! Love, mommy</div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-87757940464646938682014-03-04T20:01:00.001-08:002014-03-04T20:01:09.697-08:00Another Right of Passage<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">OH MY GOODNESS!!! All I can say is that I'm not ready for another child to reach this milestone! There's just something super sentimental to me about my babies losing their top front teeth. The first teeth (lower) has not bothered me but I guess it's just the beginning of their sweet baby faces turning into the faces that I'll forever see (after many years of orthodontist bills I'm afraid) in my dreams. And the awkwardness that I know is on the horizon...I mean, that's a given for everyone! Hopefully this time around we won't lose 1 tooth per week for a whole month like Mary Mac did - the tooth fairy was scrounging for money by that last one I'm sure!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbI8oOqrPt4D28C2m1kFOx1rXht7F30qwAVLfHQ8skW2xAHzLv2zhZzoWg6lVMhyphenhypheniiIHaPoY5TfOKa7Pmxq30uEuIFR6QLpY5D9PX16gAR0hZ-t6ikpw2ACj973DIGbA3e-Y83g/s640/blogger-image--1061447989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbI8oOqrPt4D28C2m1kFOx1rXht7F30qwAVLfHQ8skW2xAHzLv2zhZzoWg6lVMhyphenhypheniiIHaPoY5TfOKa7Pmxq30uEuIFR6QLpY5D9PX16gAR0hZ-t6ikpw2ACj973DIGbA3e-Y83g/s640/blogger-image--1061447989.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was totally caught off guard on this one too. Obviously I knew it was loose, but after being gone for work for 8 days, it had not even crossed my mind!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yesterday was the famed Book Character Parade in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday - serious business at our school - so much so that we've been planning our character for over a month. So after school, Anna (who's our overly dramatic one) casually informs me that her tooth (gums) is bleeding...clue #1! So I tell her to just work on wiggling it...knowing from her past tooth pulling history would NOT happen (very traumatic and ended in our family dentist pulling it). This momma thinks nothing of it, that is, until this morning after brushing her teeth she tells me it's "REALLY bleeding"! Low and behold, it was and she actually let me wiggle it (which she never does) and WOW it just dropped right out of her mouth! And thus begins the right of passage and the beginning of the awkward phase...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9X_0kVy2pKsRo0CNIY7kwaJagIzPCI-BLblSOsldW-VwLafC3srKL4N2eJvVa4Cv_3U3zqCR4NNXgzPpL1WhN6O0vv01DrRP4xo4oOjPgS82xDqsm3CcEyC18weawnJZ10XJ9w/s640/blogger-image-136009204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9X_0kVy2pKsRo0CNIY7kwaJagIzPCI-BLblSOsldW-VwLafC3srKL4N2eJvVa4Cv_3U3zqCR4NNXgzPpL1WhN6O0vv01DrRP4xo4oOjPgS82xDqsm3CcEyC18weawnJZ10XJ9w/s640/blogger-image-136009204.jpg"></a></div>So the few pictures I took at the book character parade are the last that we'll have of our baby girl with her top baby teeth...sniff sniff! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I guess I'll have to forever hold on to these pictures (even though you can't really see her teeth). And she did make a precious little mouse if I must say!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6q3Sce8m_5m7KeYQA2RZG7Z7luc6mAx13jDJ8oHBShK33RykAvMLNZNrc1RdNVWAHZUHbHvoOs-mSACfAjJKLRgK62q8xO8PDfWz83Qx5Tdkgc7bOJHDkMFzfaD-FRELJfawdg/s640/blogger-image-419154942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6q3Sce8m_5m7KeYQA2RZG7Z7luc6mAx13jDJ8oHBShK33RykAvMLNZNrc1RdNVWAHZUHbHvoOs-mSACfAjJKLRgK62q8xO8PDfWz83Qx5Tdkgc7bOJHDkMFzfaD-FRELJfawdg/s640/blogger-image-419154942.jpg"></a></div></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-78821709525651534862014-02-12T16:58:00.001-08:002014-02-12T16:58:45.278-08:00Winter Wonderland...NOT!<div><br></div>So since my last post, I think I can honestly say that my kids have had more weather (snow) days than I EVER had growing up! As much as I love a good snow day, I'm over it now! Thank The Lord we don't live any further north! <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSDbmzRWSxiBLfsKd0ouYNPXJYLhyZdOp_T3tWxgQRWFttbkkfRdFfdB-FKFOdi2kfk9R6JHnaY8Rb54cSmMcuWIs3uOEo7p3PytQOr8jBl9t5wlj6Itd-LgdqKiCjORocH4VRQ/s640/blogger-image-484282954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSDbmzRWSxiBLfsKd0ouYNPXJYLhyZdOp_T3tWxgQRWFttbkkfRdFfdB-FKFOdi2kfk9R6JHnaY8Rb54cSmMcuWIs3uOEo7p3PytQOr8jBl9t5wlj6Itd-LgdqKiCjORocH4VRQ/s640/blogger-image-484282954.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9k_tdOocyYa9NNuCfxHtB0j5hmVgpxu7VXHZV-tOn4NjQPe3esotstocSmdRzCHvJSsVxSgrNPajqvJ8_GA0RCd3HXALdpHBF2wKZxDKL_y06f5ob3araIq3zZbXRJsMHy4h8w/s640/blogger-image-263249733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9k_tdOocyYa9NNuCfxHtB0j5hmVgpxu7VXHZV-tOn4NjQPe3esotstocSmdRzCHvJSsVxSgrNPajqvJ8_GA0RCd3HXALdpHBF2wKZxDKL_y06f5ob3araIq3zZbXRJsMHy4h8w/s640/blogger-image-263249733.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>In the meantime, Sam and I were able to take a sort-of last minute trip ALONE to Gatlinburg up in a mountain cabin. After all of his traveling, Christmas holidays, snow days with everyone at home...this mommy demanded a kid-free weekend and the hubs pulled through and booked us a long weekend cabin...aaahhh! Now, yes, we left town with still plenty of snow on the ground and headed to more snow but it was exactly what we needed! Just a few days to reconnect, relax, go to nice dinners, shop, etc. AND, because they had more snowfall than in years, we took advantage and took a ski lesson and spent the day "skiing". I'm not sure either one of us could say that we "ski'd" but it was a little like riding a bike for me (last time I ski'd I was Mary Mac's age-9) and I picked it up again fairly quickly. As for Sam, bow-legs and all, it was tiny bit more challenging and that's all I'll say about that! I still can't get over the fact that his family grew up vacationing in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area but never went skiing! What??? It was fun either way! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw8I43tZNmZ2Lwbih2_tCawqLwz4lQo7l-qAonkk72BNnPRUfZnDXYrN5Ku871u3ivEaVzxklViEVJ1HtWXOaaU9exEu0wbFk2bxZagW3DmYC0T7SMV5NDEqjYh2CpnwsO_QFxw/s640/blogger-image-1664745378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNw8I43tZNmZ2Lwbih2_tCawqLwz4lQo7l-qAonkk72BNnPRUfZnDXYrN5Ku871u3ivEaVzxklViEVJ1HtWXOaaU9exEu0wbFk2bxZagW3DmYC0T7SMV5NDEqjYh2CpnwsO_QFxw/s640/blogger-image-1664745378.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I finally felt comfortable enough to leave him still working on it and went up to the real slopes! It was such a fun day doing something new together...and we have the bruised shins to prove it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">All in all, it was the best weekend Sam and I have had in a very long time and it was completely worth it! Nothing fancy and just us! We all need that time to reconnect and unwind as a couple. I know I came home refreshed and ready to tackle the kids and work...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKDBy0si4_IZhKGDKajYtT_vnGtYX9ZyQA6M1oO-kej6IW6H3Hu_ABTr5Il0TN_KmKknPLO0gn0U_hTmGo6_ZHrNDjkBK_NsRdoAuml5a1VF3wrYZYZ_1Rbor5E1SjZWZ-jHGg/s640/blogger-image-1377580763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKDBy0si4_IZhKGDKajYtT_vnGtYX9ZyQA6M1oO-kej6IW6H3Hu_ABTr5Il0TN_KmKknPLO0gn0U_hTmGo6_ZHrNDjkBK_NsRdoAuml5a1VF3wrYZYZ_1Rbor5E1SjZWZ-jHGg/s640/blogger-image-1377580763.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Or at least I THOUGHT I was ready. So back to reality, more snow days, sick kids (we've all been fighting a nasty cold), and more work piling up than I can handle. Just for the sake of saying this...I am SO glad I don't work from home...I get very little done at home, but that could have more to do with having 3 stir-crazy kids running around - call me crazy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this week is also Valentine's Day! While Sam and I usually do not celebrate this occasion (I hate fixed price menus - never as good and the ridiculous crowds), I do like for him to give our girls a little special treatment. I mean, what girl doesn't like a little pampering? So tonight he is taking Anna on a dinner date to her favorite restaurant (and ours too). <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N0voDboleKjPGF9qVUjoB4ywekUQpw2F4sSU9TO1nqLFF2CRcph9GNIxx4ZEnewH4vZYXmen4Vr8X3yJFqgnw4Q7lJj4oAVwSg5rbvmKTv4UcjDpue9vmABuq7CGDRaMEvZ2qA/s640/blogger-image--2074506076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N0voDboleKjPGF9qVUjoB4ywekUQpw2F4sSU9TO1nqLFF2CRcph9GNIxx4ZEnewH4vZYXmen4Vr8X3yJFqgnw4Q7lJj4oAVwSg5rbvmKTv4UcjDpue9vmABuq7CGDRaMEvZ2qA/s640/blogger-image--2074506076.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And tomorrow night, he and Mary Mac have dinner plans with some other friends of hers and their daddy's and then a Sweetheart Father/Daughter dance at school. She is beyond excited and I cannot wait to see the pictures and hear the stories. Sam has already been telling her that he was getting "warmed up" to dance so she better be ready! Oh Lord, I can only imagine! I'll be sure to post pictures for sure! I've ordered them a boutineer and corsage! I absolutely LOVE that Sam finds it as important as I do to have these "dates" with the girls. You know "they" say that your girls will marry someone just like their Daddy, and they would be OH SO LUCKY to marry someone just as special as their Daddy! I know I certainly did! </div></div></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-15493437652891115802014-01-27T14:42:00.001-08:002014-01-27T15:25:25.835-08:00Finding Their PassionNever say never...isn't that the old adage? Well it's popped up again in our mission to try and find Anna's passion. Mary Mac's passion has always been known...horses, not a cheap passion, but plain and simple.<div><br></div><div> In a struggle to not let Anna fall through the cracks of being a middle child, I've made it our mission to try and find her passion...whatever that may be and wherever it takes us. </div><div><br></div><div>And that brings us back to Never Say Never. Today I find myself sitting watching her at her first cheer practice. Oh the many, many hours I spent on a cheer floor endlessly counting 8 counts, breaking ribs, constant soreness, but a love for cheering that no one could break. Now cheering has morphed into a completely almost unrecognizable sport but it's basically the same thing I did, only at a much younger age and much more competitive than I ever imagined. </div><div><br></div><div>As I write this I am watching her smiling ear-to-ear and already loving every minute and soaking it all in. I get the feeling that we just may have found her passion...or at least this a passion I have never seen from her. It makes my heart swell to see this side of her. And maybe just a tiny bit excited that she and I may have this special connection that none of the other 2 kids have. </div><div><br></div><div>So why not let her find her passion especially when it might possibly be the same passion I had? I loved this world of cheer and made some great friends had it paid for my college education...Never Say Never, right? I'm slowly learning that the things we don't want our kids doing are usually the ones they have a passion for. I think it's just a little bit of His humor in life...5,6,7,8 Yea!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBOVUWhzF2n4O6nL9Xg-0pJRJYuR8v7aGaB3Lvxe8_qLq-sYyquBJAgHlPCUZJB0K27Fy2QfQeI2YTTYVGT5H8KMYNsVcrrJv_hJ7G-6WbOCG4d3LTIQPkztZ5MGunQRfhkG94A/s640/blogger-image--1705462178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBOVUWhzF2n4O6nL9Xg-0pJRJYuR8v7aGaB3Lvxe8_qLq-sYyquBJAgHlPCUZJB0K27Fy2QfQeI2YTTYVGT5H8KMYNsVcrrJv_hJ7G-6WbOCG4d3LTIQPkztZ5MGunQRfhkG94A/s640/blogger-image--1705462178.jpg"></a></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-84212721498525563552014-01-12T12:47:00.001-08:002014-01-12T12:47:39.130-08:00First Horse Show In The BooksAfter a busy week back to school, Alabama gymnastics meet Friday night, birthday parties and basketball game Saturday, Mary Mac was super pumped about her first horse show in several years and on HER pony! It's just a local barn schooling show...good practice for sure!<div><br></div><div>Thankfully it ended up being a gorgeous day to spend at the barn. Mary Mac did EXCELLENT! She was a tad bit nervous but overcame the nerves and received a Champion ribbon overall in the walk trot division. Her trainer wanted to push her a little too and convinced her to enter the cross pole class. Her first past was great and she placed 2nd but on her 2nd pass she fell off! She was fine but I think my heart stopped for sure! She got back on her and finished her course. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wju3VA7m2_ub-HqD1o8hDsOps5Atku1rafZJitVqhMGVnUothrMNZcJsXL-T7b1rEeNLGGchjnUbv9Ze2XV918JI3pgLVco4a73O3uIR_KUvITDrhx9QCFbBoTsDi71RHDzu8A/s640/blogger-image-994904103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wju3VA7m2_ub-HqD1o8hDsOps5Atku1rafZJitVqhMGVnUothrMNZcJsXL-T7b1rEeNLGGchjnUbv9Ze2XV918JI3pgLVco4a73O3uIR_KUvITDrhx9QCFbBoTsDi71RHDzu8A/s640/blogger-image-994904103.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-36653206907274481912014-01-08T12:50:00.001-08:002014-01-09T14:22:22.561-08:00Ah the quiet houseAfter canceling the first day of school after Christmas and delaying starting Wednesday, all the kiddos are finally back in school. Don't get me wrong...I love these 3 stinkers more than life, but this has felt like the longest Christmas break EVER! If only they felt this long when I was a kid hmm. Between the girls fighting most of the break and trying to potty train Kirby...this momma was ready for school routine again! Now maybe I can get back to my regular routine of crossfit, tennis, and working. IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS!<div><br></div><div>So now that the holidays are over, who else is ready for spring and warm weather? ME! </div><div><br></div><div>FBF (that's what I'm calling Facebook free time) 1 WEEK IN THE BOOKS!!! So I asked my BFF if I had missed anything on Facebook since last week and her only comment (totally in jest) was that someone had learned to do a back bend...exactly my point in giving it up. Is this really what I was wasting hours each day reading about? The best part of this is that I've changed from wasting time on Facebook to using that time to be God's Word and reading more scripture, as well as "hearing" my kids instead of just nodding my head saying "Yea, uh-huh!" because I was too busy reading my News Feed. So no offense to any Friends of mine on Facebook, but I'm super happy with my change and super proud of myself! </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiC0ESMtu5uCg-zGOyfmWXgH7VKojRK9rnUQP1quCGhT3g2R3AS0u__huMkH6x7byBg_QFPEcFCeCZn9P1Pz6UkPaeXRvqAUz_fTKyFA2nWqnXdjHVJQrdBkB4hgtNQlnK4uWhg/s640/blogger-image--2023255686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiC0ESMtu5uCg-zGOyfmWXgH7VKojRK9rnUQP1quCGhT3g2R3AS0u__huMkH6x7byBg_QFPEcFCeCZn9P1Pz6UkPaeXRvqAUz_fTKyFA2nWqnXdjHVJQrdBkB4hgtNQlnK4uWhg/s640/blogger-image--2023255686.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7LiPiW0xgrvPrd0n0BXhkGOKBKidMa-g7htX9t1UXtXlL5dQzfwmtqrpaiacCWb4AkonflyhnT4oFb6THxPc_Rx-4VaDl1ubQEC5c180ZIfF5eOSUO9ZnCMKn4b3qNJc33x-yw/s640/blogger-image--1001738818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7LiPiW0xgrvPrd0n0BXhkGOKBKidMa-g7htX9t1UXtXlL5dQzfwmtqrpaiacCWb4AkonflyhnT4oFb6THxPc_Rx-4VaDl1ubQEC5c180ZIfF5eOSUO9ZnCMKn4b3qNJc33x-yw/s640/blogger-image--1001738818.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawdr0iHm9eoMIZS8L7jVNXOvP_wvZNSuSg73c7RBaMubOCtUMzWc_6ofRTKIY5wCQPH0WAPD5nnLBDGnR200QaNZYH0lAXp-p-Txbegnk63-i9b5LhGEIUgHidPkCc4_ef7LFDg/s640/blogger-image-1454533456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawdr0iHm9eoMIZS8L7jVNXOvP_wvZNSuSg73c7RBaMubOCtUMzWc_6ofRTKIY5wCQPH0WAPD5nnLBDGnR200QaNZYH0lAXp-p-Txbegnk63-i9b5LhGEIUgHidPkCc4_ef7LFDg/s640/blogger-image-1454533456.jpg"></a></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-62327507763090118852014-01-05T19:37:00.001-08:002014-01-05T19:37:50.023-08:00Speaking of saddles...Other than the usual things that all kids do over several years, you know, grow...the biggest addition in the past several weeks has been the addition of a family member of the 4 legged kind. Yes, we are now proud owners of a pony. Yes, I said a pony! A real live pony named Rosie, or Ring Around The Rosie as she's known in the show circles. I guess you could say that this was something we've been trying to put off for years and we finally took the plunge. The best part was being able to surprise <br> the kids on Christmas morning. I mean what little girl DIDN'T dream of getting a pony as a kid? I know I did and I didn't even really like large animals! <div><br></div><div>On another note, we are currently in the potty training process with Kirby...ugh! Isn't that all that needs to be said about that? I think so. I actually had no intentions of even starting the process until the spring when we can just go naked...yes, I said that too! But Kirby had higher aspirations and decided to start training himself so we figured we better jump on the boat or else we would regret it later. And who can't blame us for looking forward to a diaper free house and a little raise? "They" say that boys are harder to train than girls but so far Kirby is proving us wrong, or else he was just ready before mommy and daddy! Didn't I say that nothing needed to be said about potty training...oops! </div><div><br></div><div>FACEBOOK FREE DAY 3 IN THE BOOKS! I can honestly say that not being on Facebook has been a little bit of a relief. I'm not going to lie and say that it's been super easy because it was obviously an addiction of sorts, but I really haven't missed anything...or at least I don't think I've missed anything! </div><div><br></div><div>Enough for tonight. It's time for bed and to get bundled up for this cold front coming through tonight and over the next couple of days. I am soooo ready for school to start back but with the bad weather coming through it looks like we will have a delayed start, if not longer, on Tuesday. And here's just a couple of fun pictures from our trip to the beach in the fall.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8WDnZCPWv8uyaY2-L-iDjKhPAgBd7GmvmPsVfcrK1QoWnosT26oNSEaPmII3gOu7b9tvbnU3ke0Ay8wQ-a5om5hTznCkW1W1yPAS9Afke8YBHO9ayzFRD2E3-nCE67tkdqf91w/s640/blogger-image-1395673344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8WDnZCPWv8uyaY2-L-iDjKhPAgBd7GmvmPsVfcrK1QoWnosT26oNSEaPmII3gOu7b9tvbnU3ke0Ay8wQ-a5om5hTznCkW1W1yPAS9Afke8YBHO9ayzFRD2E3-nCE67tkdqf91w/s640/blogger-image-1395673344.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8WDnZCPWv8uyaY2-L-iDjKhPAgBd7GmvmPsVfcrK1QoWnosT26oNSEaPmII3gOu7b9tvbnU3ke0Ay8wQ-a5om5hTznCkW1W1yPAS9Afke8YBHO9ayzFRD2E3-nCE67tkdqf91w/s640/blogger-image-1395673344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSpb_HZfIb-zdBPoSDLX3zM6EsBFA9fmiO1-204ZysAFB7IV6XfZOCXXoi-23TH0DgtuW7rIA5aKXGCSFQt1twLxaWBhJXykpSmkrgC3wZoXkr7qfMQDrK_Ct8C7_gLY_YtLgMQ/s640/blogger-image-1543500198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSpb_HZfIb-zdBPoSDLX3zM6EsBFA9fmiO1-204ZysAFB7IV6XfZOCXXoi-23TH0DgtuW7rIA5aKXGCSFQt1twLxaWBhJXykpSmkrgC3wZoXkr7qfMQDrK_Ct8C7_gLY_YtLgMQ/s640/blogger-image-1543500198.jpg"></a></div></div></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-52719418600705481252014-01-03T18:08:00.002-08:002014-01-03T18:08:49.693-08:00Back In The Saddle...Happy 2014!!!! I cannot believe it is 2014!!!! And my last post was in July 2011...where in the world has all of this time gone? All of a sudden we have a 9 year old, a 6 year old, and an almost 3 year old!!!<br />
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Well I feel like I'm a blogger beginner all over again, but I am determined to get back to blogging.<br />
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Sadly and/or honestly, I'm not sure which, I admit that the social networking world has totally taken me over and in an attempt to pull back from it, I have landed back in the blogging world. I've been wanting to scale back my time on Facebook, but the honest truth is that Facebook had become my "scrapbook" for the kids...the only reason I could see of staying "in" it. No more.<br />
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New Years Resolution 2014...no more Facebook (except to post blog updates - that's my only connection I will allow right now) and MORE blogging! The whole reason I started blogging to begin with was to create a virtual scrapbook for my family! So I'm back...<br />
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While I will attempt to catch us up to where I left off (if that's possible after 2 years), my main focus is to spend more time "hearing and seeing" my kids instead of reading news feeds of people that I otherwise wouldn't hear from. I would also love to start adding some of my favorite recipes so who knows where we go from here...<br />
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<a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img alt="signature" border="0" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-19080996791498028332011-07-29T06:45:00.000-07:002011-07-29T07:07:03.710-07:00Changes...<div>Before I start updating the blog, I want to take a minute to say I am such a slacker! Well, not really, but in the blogging world I am! I have not even updated my pictures or headers or anything since the arrival of Kirby! Actually, the pictures on our header are sooo old too! I am not apologizing anymore for lack of posts, but just excusing it with the simple statement that I am now a mom of 3 kiddos and I work (well, officially I go back to work August 1)! Enough said!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now on to the good stuff, but I promise not to bore anyone. In a quick summation of what has been going on in our world since the arrival of Kirby, I will do a quick list because it's too much to detail:</div><div><br /></div><div>1)school got out and I stayed home (for the most part) with the kids for the summer - what was I thinking? I have learned that I am definitely NOT a stay-at-home mom! The girls have driven each other and me crazy! </div><div>2)signed the girls up for all kinds of camps and activities for the first part of the summer while I tried to get adjusted to life with 3 - little did I realize that when I scheduled all of these activities, I would be running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to drop off and pick up and keep Kirby on some sort of schedule. The poor baby had many a bottle in the car and many a nap in his car seat!</div><div>3)spent some awesome quality family time at the lake house - and got a few good, full nights sleep while my parents got up with Kirby at night!</div><div>4)took a last minute trip to the beach for 5 days - it was a much needed/deserved break from the monotony of staying at home!</div><div>5)started Crossfit (and eventually the Paleo diet) to get this body back in shape once and for all after having babies! Man, I didn't realize how out of shape I really was until I started Crossfit. Back in the cheering days, I was used to doing hundreds of crunches/sit-ups a day - it was a HUGE blow to my ego when I could hardly do 10 sit-ups those first couple of weeks! Yes, I realize that I was just 6 weeks out from my 3rd C-section, but still...UGH!</div><div>6)now we are all sooooo ready for school to start back. I've decided that this is the true reason for summer break - the kids (and parents) are so excited to not have to be up and out the door on a schedule for a little while and then we all get bored and tired of each other and tired of all things summer (the heat mostly) AND then that's when it's time to get back in the groove of school days again! It's a welcome relief! Mary Mac starts 1st grade in a couple of weeks, Anna starts her first day of her last year in preschool on August 1, and Kirby starts his first day ever of preschool on August 1! </div><div><br /></div><div>All of that being said, and I know it sounds like I've not enjoyed my summer with my kids, it has been a GREAT summer with lots of great memories and times! The girls have gotten so big and mature and Kirby is growing leaps and bounds! For him to have been so sick in those first couple of days of his life, he has just progressed and grown so much so fast! And he LOVES his big sisters! They make him laugh already all the time! We have been most surprised at how good and involved Mary Mac has been with him. She has never been much of a baby-lover, but she wants to do everything with him AND she's very good with him! I'll post pictures later, but for now, I'm out! </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-48042290153575489012011-04-18T09:53:00.000-07:002011-04-18T10:48:04.566-07:00Welcome to the World, Kirby<div>Well, let's just go ahead a proclaim that my body is just not meant to carry babies to full term and in a "routine" manner - they call it the curse of the nurse, even though I haven't practiced in years! So this past Saturday, after a birthday party and an Easter Egg Hunt, I was exhausted and laid down with Anna to take a nap. About an hour later, I woke up and had a major contraction that was the most painful one I'd ever had then had another one right after that and was really hurting. I called Sam (who was out at the lake) and called my doctor who told me to go ahead and come on in and he would check me out. As soon as they put me on the monitor, it was obvious that I was contracting about every 1-2 minutes and the baby was also having some heart decelerations when I contracted. My doctor was not excited about what he saw on the monitor but couldn't figure out what had changed since my weekly check-up on Tuesday (I was having to go in for weekly non-stress tests on the monitor due to my history). After watching this go on for several hours, he made the decision that even though I was only 35 weeks along, it was going to be better for the baby to be born than to continue to be put under the stress of the contractions. My parents had the girls with them and they were so excited about possibly meeting their new baby brother, that they had not gone to sleep yet and it was 10:30pm so I told them to just go ahead and all come to the hospital to await his arrival. These first couple of pictures were from the waiting on his arrival (yes, they are in their PJ's). They took me back to the OR and <b>Samuel "Kirby" Collins was born on April 16, 2011 at 11:43 pm weighing 5lbs 13 oz</b>. As they delivered him, my doctor found why he was struggling so much and why I was hurting so much - my placenta had started to abrupt (separate) and was only halfway functioning, but it was in a place that had not allowed for any of the blood (the cardinal sign of an abruption) to escape. He came out screaming and was looking great, until they got him back to the nursery. They ended up having to admit him into the NICU and eventually put him on a ventilator. He had a rough first night and next day and gave us all a little scare, but it looks like he's turned the corner for now. As we know all too well, the adventures in the NICU is usually never a smooth ride - there are almost always bumps along the way, so we are praying that we are over that bumpy road and on the road to coming home very soon. He is so sweet and we cannot wait to be able to hold him and cuddle him. The girls are so proud of their baby brother and have been very brave little girls when going to see him with all of the tubes and wires connected to him. We are hoping to have him weaned off the ventilator within the next 24 hours! I should get to go home tomorrow, but we don't really know when he will be able to come home yet. </div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5631375785/" title="DSC_0472 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5631375785_f86b863b64.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0472" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Waiting patiently with Daddy</div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5631958714/" title="DSC_0477 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5305/5631958714_de253bce85.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_0477" /></a><br /><br /><div>Watching through the cracks in the nursery </div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5631376495/" title="DSC_0487 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5631376495_77726f43a1.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0487" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5631959570/" title="DSC_0492 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5631959570_2f4a3421f6.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0492" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5631959964/" title="DSC_0498 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5631959964_05f4473e8d.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-47439128661331860632011-03-10T06:13:00.000-08:002011-03-10T06:36:56.442-08:00Happy Belated Ash Wednesday!<div>While we did not make it to our church's Ash Wednesday service this year (they only held one at 6:15 this year for some reason), I would like to wish everyone a Happy Ash Wednesday, a day later. Are you giving something up or taking on something new? This year, I've decided to give up all thing iPhone-app-related!!! I know that sounds crazy, but Sam has declared that I am officially addicted, and I think he may be right to some extent. So, this includes Facebook and I'm hoping that, at least for the next 40 days, I can devote the time I've spent on Facebook to our blog to document these last weeks before we move from a family of 4 to a family of 5! I'm actually kind of looking forward to not being directly connected to my phone for a little while - it may be refreshing, which is what would be a nice change in our hectic lives these days! </div><div><br /></div><div>As for Samuel Kirby Collins, we are doing great and moving right along on target for a May delivery - fingers crossed! He is measuring much larger than both of the girls, so I am anxious to see how big he is at birth. Right now, the earliest my doctor would schedule my C-section is for Friday, May 13!!!!! Yikes! He said he would consider taking a tiny bit earlier, but we would have to wait and see! I guess, in one way, all of our kids would have a unique birthday - Mary Mac shares her day with Sam's dad and Anna is an April Fool's baby, so why not have Friday the 13th baby!!! Sam highly disagrees! Last night, while at the dinner table, Sam told the girls that we really needed to settle on what we are going to call this little man. And as it's been for a while now, we were still a house divided. So, Sam suggested we let the dog make the final decision - crazy, I agree! And the dog chose Kirby (YEA!), but only time will tell if this sticks or if Sam goes back on his word and says that the dog shouldn't be the deciding factor - which would totally be MY argument if Kirby had NOT won the vote!!!! We are about 95% ready for the baby already - clothes washed and hung up, room almost ready, bottles washed, new car seat ready, etc. Oh, and next week we get to have our 4D ultrasound while the girls are out of school for Spring Break! I will be sure to post pictures!</div><div><br /></div><div>Mary Mac is playing her first team sport this year and believe it or not she's playing SOCCER! Sam nor I know NOTHING about soccer, but she is pumped and so excited, especially since she is on the same team as 2 of her best little friends! Her first game was supposed to Tuesday night, but got rained out so tonight is the makeup night. And, it would only be right that she picked out the #7 jersey to wear! She is actually really good at soccer in practice, but we'll know tonight how she is during a game! I will have my camera ready! </div><div><br /></div><div>And last, but not least, Mary Mac's school celebrated Dr. Suess's birthday last week with a Book Character Parade. It was so cute to see all of the kids all dressed in full costume of their favorite book character. And of course, Mary Mac's favorite book is Every Cowgirls Needs A Horse, so luckily we already had a costume for that character and we made a big poster for her to carry. She also took a horse, but said she didn't have enough hands to carry the poster and the horse in the parade. Here are some pictures from the parade. The principal and the librarian even got in on the fun dressed as Cat In The Hat and their were 2 kids (twins no less) that dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2! Sorry the pictures aren't great - they were moving pretty fast through the halls!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5514986810/" title="DSC_0361 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5514986810_2f263cae29.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_0361" /></a><br /></div><div><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5514389597_7481c7a8cf.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_0350" /></div><div> </div><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-23123252171625612912011-02-09T10:06:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:18:45.416-08:00More Fall Pictures<a title="DSC_1749 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345052988/"><img alt="DSC_1749" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5345052988_07b6ece686.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Our Little Cinderella<br /><a title="DSC_1783 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344458963/"><img alt="DSC_1783" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5344458963_2413a148c9.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />My Little Pony - of course!<br /><a title="DSC_1508 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345034042/"><img alt="DSC_1508" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5345034042_9a84a46a86.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />School Birthday Party - her teacher makes their Birthday such a Big Deal! And the cookie cake is a unicorn!<br /><a title="DSC_1557 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345037136/"><img alt="DSC_1557" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5249/5345037136_689af52744.jpg" width="332" height="500" /></a><br />The real Party!<br /><a title="DSC_1558 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344426761/"><img alt="DSC_1558" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5201/5344426761_b44731ba1a.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSC_1583 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344435953/"><img alt="DSC_1583" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5344435953_01c0368253.jpg" width="332" height="500" /></a><br /><br /><a title="DSC_1561 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345039168/"><img alt="DSC_1561" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5345039168_d80ec1d764.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Silly Girls!<br /><a title="DSC_1515 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344433625/"><img alt="DSC_1515" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5003/5344433625_dfb37f32f4.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Our "famous" pumpkins!<br /><a title="DSC_0027 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344446531/"><img alt="DSC_0027" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5344446531_e2875bf3c3.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Our Little Indian Performer - Thanksgiving Program. She obeyed our instructions of making sure she was front and center!<br /><a title="DSC_0039 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344448711/"><img alt="DSC_0039" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5344448711_303f03f985.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Ahaha! I'm out from the behind the camera for a change! After the program.<br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-82119596194200991522011-02-09T10:00:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:06:13.621-08:00Christmas Pictures<a title="DSC_0168 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345076452/"><img alt="DSC_0168" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5244/5345076452_d9221e39e2.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />My grandfather, cousin, and Anna<br /><a title="DSC_0179 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345091734/"><img alt="DSC_0179" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5345091734_1bda07b07e.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Some of the great grandchildren<br /><a title="DSC_0186 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344481657/"><img alt="DSC_0186" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5288/5344481657_425ac1e8e4.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />My mom's siblings and spouses<br /><a title="DSC_0198 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345093792/"><img alt="DSC_0198" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5345093792_e5e58b8036.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Our family (minus my brother's family)<br /><a title="DSC_0206 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344484145/"><img alt="DSC_0206" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5344484145_ce92be0234.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Almost all (except my brother) of my cousins<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-21351293677073753422011-02-09T09:54:00.000-08:002011-02-09T10:00:28.082-08:00Fall Pictures<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345026054/" title="DSC_1276 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5345026054_6ab5f783a3.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1276" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345047828/" title="DSC_1544 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5345047828_1293cf41d3.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1544" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345048736/" title="DSC_1573 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5124/5345048736_68cd1156e2.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1573" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344462855/" title="DSC_1625 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5088/5344462855_02e152fde9.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1625" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345102166/" title="DSC_1722 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5345102166_1ba2400d6f.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1722" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345101298/" title="DSC_1689 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5345101298_868ebdda74.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt="DSC_1689" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-66030138855638643642011-02-09T09:02:00.000-08:002011-02-09T09:54:28.371-08:00Here we go AGAIN...Before I get too carried away - no, I still haven't had time to make any collages of fall pictures, but if I feel froggy I may try and add a few pictures to this post (fingers crossed).<br /><br />So, now on to more exciting things! Since my last post, the weather here has been totally crazy! Mary Mac finally started back to school, at least for only 2 days before we were out for another 2 days with snow/ice (more ice than snow in our neighborhood). Then she went back to school on that next Wednesday to only be called by the school nurse Thursday to tell me that she was running fever! GREAT! So she was out half of Thursday and all day Friday. Then Monday was MLK day so another day out! You can only imagine out crazy I was by the time she finally was able to go back to school. AND add to that - this is one of my most crazy times of year at work so she was BORED to tears sitting with me at the office for all this time! And since then we've had snow flurries and sleet several more times and another snow storm expected to come tonight! I do not remember a time in my life that we had this much "winter" weather in Tuscaloosa!<br /><br />Another exciting moment - Mary Mac has lost her 2nd tooth! The toothfairy has surprised her with gold dollar coins for each tooth so far! She thinks that is so cool and Sam and I think it's pretty nice too since it's still money, but a little harder to spend than dollars or change! The first tooth, she pulled on her own (I know, we were shocked too)! She just kept wiggling and playing with it until one day it just popped out in her hand! Thank goodness - Sam NOR I are really big fans of being "Teeth Pullers!" It pretty much grosses us both out! So with the 2nd tooth, it has been really loose for a while but she had a little more hestitation with this one. The first one didn't hurt, but I think she just wasn't convinced that this one wouldn't either. Anyway, it was getting pretty loose and she wouldn't let me mess with or Sam. So one night, I told Sam I was just going to leave them alone for a little while and see what he could convince her to do. He tends to be able to "talk her down", so to speak, better than I can - I guess it's b/c they have similar personalities and he knows what works! Unfortunately, he came downstairs without success, but he was able to get it really loose. He was afraid that he would hurt her and then she wouldn't trust him anymore (such an awesome Dad!)! The next night, we had a babysitter and Sam and I went to the Alabama basketball game. Well, when we got home, we had a missing tooth! I'm not sure if it was the threat of having a dentist appointment the next day or what, but whatever, it worked! She pulled it herself, AGAIN! Now the only issue we have is her new permanent teeth that are coming in! YIKES! That's about all I can say. She has no room for her permanent teeth and they are HUGE! One is turned totally sideways and the other is coming in so far back in her mouth. Braces are definitely in our future!!!<br /><br />Now, on the title of this post: Here we go AGAIN... this pertains to my pregnancy! I've been doing really good so far, but I really think he's going to be BIG! Right after my last post, we learned that one of Mary Mac's little best friends was diagnosed with Fifth's Disease which is NOT a good thing for an expecting mother to be exposed to. We were keeping our fingers crossed that none of us would get it, but I'll reference my above comments about Mary Mac having fever and you can guess that, unfortunately, after the fever came a rash and then last weekend she had the typical "slapped cheeks." So that being said, as soon as I confirmed that her friend had Fifth's Disease, I called my doctor immediately and was told to come in for some blood work to check to see if I was already immune to it or not. Well, I got the results yesterday at my check-up and it showed that, yes I was immune, BUT, that I had just recently been exposed and/or infected within the last month! The risks with this to the baby is possible fetal anemia. So for now (and I'm guessing the rest of the pregnancy), we are having to have ultrasounds and check-ups every 2 weeks to make sure he is ok and not developing anemia or other issues. So, any extra prayers will be greatly appreciated that everything remains good! Oh and we had an ultrasound yesterday that showed him already weighing about 2 lbs!!!!!! And I'm measuring 30 weeks even though I'm only 25 weeks! And I failed my first glucose test! As you can imagine, it was NOT the best check-ups for us! I just have to keep telling myself that this was all meant to be and that God does not give me anything that I cannot handle! And as my doctor said - I wouldn't have expected anything different from you Leigh! (Meaning, I've had some kind of crazy issues with each pregnancy!) So here we go AGAIN...<br /><br /><a title="DSC_1490 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344504025/"><img alt="DSC_1490" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5344504025_7e8e884847.jpg" width="332" height="500" /></a><br />The girls and 2 of mour neices at the Pumpkin Patch in September<br /><a title="DSC_1403 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5345126764/"><img alt="DSC_1403" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5345126764_d6df14365e.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Sister Love - ha! Notice Anna is not sure what to do with MM hugging on her!<br /><a title="DSC_1447 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344532433/"><img alt="DSC_1447" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5344532433_56eae186ee.jpg" width="332" height="500" /></a><br />Mary Mac finding her prized pumpkin - she looked long and hard for hers!<br /><a title="DSC_1442 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5344531281/"><img alt="DSC_1442" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5344531281_e1173721a4.jpg" width="500" height="332" /></a><br />Anna found hers - she didn't look so hard and long - she picked the first one she saw!<br /><br />The weather could not have been better that day!<br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-76164626105573094182011-01-03T12:23:00.000-08:002011-01-03T13:02:26.681-08:00OMG! It's been way too long!!!Yikes - it's really been almost 3 months since my last post???? Ok, so for months now I've been trying to figure out how to update the blog on what all has been going on in our crazy lives and everytime I think about it I start to cringe because I KNOW how long it's been and it will take sooooo long and too much information and pictures to post to catch everyone up. So, part of my New Years Resolutions (no, I actually do not make any because I feel that they set you up for failure and we have enough of that in life as it is - so my "resolutions" only serve as a "guide" for me to try and live by, but if I don't then NO SWEAT!) is that I would just start from a clean slate on the blog this year instead of trying to play catch-up! That way I'm not so overwhelmed with what I haven't blogged about and can focus more on the HERE and NOW (which is also one of my "resolutions")! And just maybe, if the mood strikes me and I have the time, I will digress back to some of important events of the past year and slowly get caught up. So, just know what that if you start reading one day and it sounds like I'm living in the past, don't be confused - I'm just catching you up!<br /><br />So, to start this year of 2011 off better (blogging-wise), I am starting from what has gone on this past week! I am officially halfway through my pregnancy with Baby Collins #3...<br /><br />**Oh yeah, I just realized that since my last post was in October (announcing Baby #3's arrival), some of you may not know that we were lucky enough to have an early ultrasound from a friend when I was 14 weeks and found out that we are having a BOY!!!!!! Sam is still awaiting more confirmation on this (I have another ultrasound this week) before he gets toooooo excited, but we've pretty much wrapped our brains around having a baby boy in the house by May!**<br /><br />...and I'm finally feeling really good, for the most part! Everyone has gotten to feel him kick a little bit and he seems to already be a very active baby! We are pretty set on the name although we haven't settled on what we will call him - Samuel Kirby Collins! After much deliberation, thought, and conversations, we decided to stick with the tradition of using a family name (as we've done with both girls). Some of other considerations that were eliminated were Lane, Colt or Colton, Henry, etc.<br /><br />We have had a FABULOUS Christmas and New Years - it has definitely been the best ones yet! I am usually the one that is quickly packing up Christmas decorations and getting my house back to normal (like Christmas day or day after), but this year was very different! I'm not sure if it was hormones or just growing up. The day after Christmas, the girls were playing at my in-laws with their cousins, and Sam and I had the house to ourselves until he left to go hunting, but I just couldn't bring myself to put it all away yet! I kept tearing up and when Sam asked why I was crying, all I could say was that I wanted the girls to stay this age forever because we had had such a fun year with them and that packing it all up made me feel like I was closing that chapter of our lives! I know - it sounds ridiculous, but I'm so afraid of them growing up too fast and not being able to enjoy the mystery and fun of Christmas! But, then Sam reminded me that we still had another baby coming along and that unfortunately the kids all have to grow up! He's such the realists!<br /><br />Then we left last week for the beach to celebrate New Years with my parents and Sam's parents! We had a ball!!!! The weather was not bad at all down there - just really windy! We shopped at the outlets (great sales!), ate lots of yummy food (too much), watched lots of football (Roll Tide! Even Sam and Dad said they had had enough football for a while), and rang in the New Years! It was so fun this year though because this was the first New Years that we felt the girls could actually "stay up" to see 2011 - well, at least we stayed up to see the Eastern time zone ring it in, but don't tell the girls! We had a yummy home cooked dinner (by my mom), fabulous dessert (by yours truly), sparklers, and even some sparkling grape juice in plastic champagne glasses! Needless to say, we all napped the next day! We came home Sunday and it was back to the grind today (except for Mary Mac). Mary Mac does not start back to school again until Thursday, but it was nice to get the rest of us back on a normal routine. She told me when she got out of school for Christmas break that she would just rather not go back to school again (we were all ready for a break!)! I'm pretty sure that by Thursday, Mary Mac will be more than happy to go back to school after spending the week at the office with us!<br /><br />So, that's where we are for this week! Like I said, just starting from NOW! I have my 21 week check-up Thursday and another ultrasound. So far so good with this pregnancy. We are praying for an uneventful pregnancy and birth for this special baby! I'll keep you posted as much as possible!<br /><br />Oh, and YES, I did finally get the Christmas decorations all put away, but it wasn't until last week right before we left for the beach! The thought of having to come home and get it all done before getting back into the work week was all it took to get me over that little emotional attachment to the decorations! Also, I plan on finally posting more pictures on the next post. I may try and do a little collage of pictures from the fall and Christmas instead of overloading you with tons of pictures! Happy New Year to all you Bloggers - and even though I wasn't blogging, I was still keeping up with you!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-45576061829599024362010-10-13T09:52:00.001-07:002010-10-13T09:52:31.922-07:00SURPRISE!!!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5078807708/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/5078807708_cabe8d117e_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/5078807708/">img001</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/samandleighcollins/">Leigh Collins</a></span></div>Yes, you're eyes are not deceiving you! We are pleasantly surprised to announce that we will be adding to our sweet little family! I say surprised because we had decided that we were done and happy with our 2 sweet girls, but God had a different plan for us. As a matter of fact, we had already had a consultation and appointment set for Sam to have a vasectomy, BUT, the weekend before he was to have his procedure, we received the shocking news that we were expecting! After the shock wore off (finally), we are really excited and the girls are beyond excited! They have already come up with many many names - some, not so great! The good news we found out today was that it is only 1! Yea - although Anna will be so sad - she really wanted twins!<br /><br />We are only almost 9 weeks along, so we are continually praying for a healthy pregnancy (and first trimester)! And, just so you know, this pregnancy has already wreaked havoc on my body - could this mean it's a boy, OR, does it just mean that my body is OLD! Our family has mixed feelings on this one! As Sam has said, there are advantages to both - if it's a girl, we already have anything she could want or need, BUT, if it's a boy, well simply, it's a boy! So, stay tuned...<br clear="all" />Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-56940506476785588662010-09-17T11:19:00.000-07:002010-09-17T11:33:56.939-07:00School DaysNo pictures with this post, but a couple of funny stories of the girls and their first days of school:<br /><br />Anna: Her class in preschool is working on learning to write the letters of the alphabet. Each week those focus on that one letter and everything they do that week involves that letter somehow. So a couple of weeks ago, she was just singing and playing around the house and I heard her saying this one thing over and over and I couldn't figure it out. So I asked her, "Anna, what are saying?" And her reply was, " Mommy, we are learning the letter B this week. And my teachers told us that to learn to write it, all you do is straight line down, belly on the top, belly on the bottom!" I mean, how cute and creative is that! I am so blessed that we have such a wonderful preschool that prepares our kids both spiritually AND educationally!<br /><br />Mary Mac: Well, her favorite part of school is lunch and PE! Go figure - I think she gets that honestly from Sam and I both! Fortunately, we just had our parent-teacher conference and were told that she was waaaay beyond the majority of the class in all areas (which we already suspected)! So proud! Again, thanks to such a wonderful preschool experience! Anyway, the other day they were supposed to be serving Beefaroni (yuck in my book) for lunch. Our rule when we started school was that she had to "try" everything in the lunchroom and if she found something she really did not like then I would pack her lunch - so far I have only packed 2 lunches! Woohoo! She had been looking forward to the Beefaroni day all weekend, so when she got home, I asked her how the lunch was. Her reply: "Mom, we DID NOT have Beefaroni today - it was FISH!" My reply: "Well, how was the fish?" MM: "What is the word that ryhmes with "ducky"? Me: (thinking she was searching for the right word) "Um, I don't know, yucky?" She pointed her finger at me and said "You got it!" I almost pee'd in my pants laughing so hard. She is such a funny girl and the older she gets, the funnier she gets!<br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="signature" src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-46786057034577340792010-09-07T18:08:00.001-07:002010-09-07T18:30:25.752-07:00Random Summer Fun PicturesHere are a few pictures from our fun summer we had! Hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968804743/" title="DSC_1285 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4968804743_a9a328f35e.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1285" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lake Nights!</div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969415216/" title="DSC_1290 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4969415216_7b2f539376.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1290" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">First Lessons in hooking a cricket to fish with!</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968808159/" title="DSC_1296 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/4968808159_1ee6811569.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1296" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Waiting patiently!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968815601/" title="DSC_1317 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4968815601_52c5a5c029.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1317" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Yea - our first fish caught at the lake! (learning how to hold it)</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968816925/" title="DSC_1321 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4968816925_dc70d664df.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1321" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">OOPPSSS! Yea that little dark spot at the bottom is a the fish! We let it go!</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968837361/" title="DSC_1149 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4968837361_276bded043.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1149" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bowling With Gran!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969454352/" title="DSC_1181 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/4969454352_a09506c016.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1181" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Playing in the rain at the lake house!</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968844765/" title="DSC_1178 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4968844765_003e32d496.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1178" /></a><br />There is no better saying, according to our families! Just FYI... may parents lake house and Sam's parents lake house is only about 2 minutes from each other - it has made for a really FUN summer for all of us!</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969463576/" title="DSC_1242 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4969463576_9a8a56e988.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1242" /></a><br />Anna on the Dancing Porch (that's what she calls one of the porches at the lake house).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968856731/" title="DSC_1274 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4968856731_1c9304d353.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1274" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">All of the summer fun has caught up with Anna - we found her like this in the playroom at the lake!</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968851139/" title="DSC_1217 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/4968851139_818c5bf0aa.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1217" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sophie - our lake dog!</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969467718/" title="DSC_1282 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4969467718_2945c74e70.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1282" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One of the few times we actually got all cleaned up for church this summer - we took a sabbatical with Dr. Durham!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968859867/" title="DSC_1287 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/4968859867_d4e772e576.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1287" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Redneck (backyard) version of a waterslide! I came home from the grocery store to find this little amusement park in our backyard!</div></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969470596/" title="DSC_1293 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4969470596_62d3e3ebab.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1293" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-68727693805266404862010-09-07T18:03:00.000-07:002010-09-07T18:08:21.482-07:00Anna's New Class<div>Ok, so I realize that Anna's first day of preschool occurred a week before Mary Mac's, but here are Anna's pictures from her first day as a Friendly Frog! Her favorite thing about being a Friendly Frog is being able to play on the "big kids" playground instead of the baby one. </div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969411812/" title="DSC_1305 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4969411812_fc99e4f015.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1305" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969412464/" title="DSC_1307 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4969412464_74493e2927.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1307" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969412930/" title="DSC_1309 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/4969412930_6f6d96a6ed.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1309" /></a><br /><br /></div><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-38157823062814281922010-09-07T17:55:00.000-07:002010-09-07T18:03:49.372-07:00New Adventures In The Collins Clan<div>Yes, again, I am waaayyyyy behind in posting this, but Mary Mac started kindergarten back in August and it was a huge month for our house! On top of starting "real" school, Mary Mac also has her first loose tooth! Wow, I really can't believe that I have a child in the same school that I went to and with our first loose tooth! It seems like seconds ago that I Sam and I were married and that we were delightfully (after the shock wore off) surprised by that positive pregnancy test after only 7 months of married life! </div><div><br /></div><div>Not only has it been a huge adjustment for Mary Mac (which, by the way, she LOVES kindergarten), but it's been a HUGE adjustment for me and Anna too! Anna is having to adjust to being at preschool without her Big Sis there to comfort her when she's having a rough morning. And I am having to adjust to EARLY MORNINGS, early pick-up times, and homework (a little). Man, I didn't realize that 2:30 pm came so fast until this year! I have had to set my phone to alarm at 2:20 just so I don't forget to go get her! She LOVES her teachers, PE, Lunch, and Extended Day (although she doesn't get to go as much as she'd like)! </div><div><br /></div><div>Since the first day of school, we've already experienced PTA night and a hugely successful school-wide fundraiser for Promethean Smart Boards for every classroom in the school. This is HUGE because at the start of school (4 weeks prior), only 7 boards existed in the school and the parents would have to raise the money for the remaining boards because we are not federally funded school (those of which already have one in every room - go figure - we basically have paid with taxes and donations for our school PLUS the other schools!). In 4 short weeks, the amazing parents, donors, and grand-parents were able to raise $63,000 for every class to have a board! I am SOOOO proud to be a part of this amazing public school (and alma mater) Verner Elementary! I have never seen a public school rally around and become almost like our very own private school!</div><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969429004/" title="DSC_1330 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/4969429004_daf46ac195.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1330" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969427316/" title="DSC_1325 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4969427316_e5c0004914.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1325" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4969431728/" title="DSC_1339 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/4969431728_4dcd57e2be.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1339" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968823373/" title="DSC_1342 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4968823373_922ffd1ced.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1342" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968824763/" title="DSC_1346 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4092/4968824763_75cd532e4f.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1346" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968825307/" title="DSC_1348 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4968825307_29a3032824.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1348" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-90968043366153617082010-09-07T16:25:00.000-07:002010-09-07T17:58:01.377-07:00Dinner With Old Friends<div>Several weeks ago (sorry Mary and Jay it's taken so long to post this), we had some friends in town and they came over for dinner with their 3 sweet kids who are close to the age of our 2 girls. We had many laughs at old times and laughs at what our lives have become - none of us ever imagined we would be where we are now when we were all single and college-aged, but I think we've all done pretty well! Our oldest girls were born about 5 days apart and we all got a big kick out of taking their pictures on this night and that hopefully this would be a great picture to hang on the wall of their dorm room at Alabama as freshmen! Ha - you think we're a little ahead of ourselves? They all had a great time playing together and making homemade mini-pizza's for themselves. You should have seen the way they decorated them all! It was a great night and hopefully something we can do again real soon!</div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968800651/" title="DSC_1278 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4968800651_d11845ea68.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1278" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4968801513/" title="DSC_1281 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4968801513_f55fecb210.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1281" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-35367967761914014772010-08-18T15:23:00.001-07:002010-09-07T16:24:04.421-07:00Wow Time Flies!<div>Well here I am again apologizing for no posts in over a month! We have had so much going on and I really should not have any excuses except that WE WERE BUSY!!!! Since my last post (yes, over a month ago), we decided to take a last minute family vacation to the beach. And when I say last minute, literally, last minute! On Sunday night as we were getting in bed, Sam looks at me (he's just gotten home from a trade show) and says, "So do we have any plans this weekend?" "Well, of course not! Why?" was my reply. Sam:"Why don't we go down to the beach?"Me:"Ok, so like when do you wanna go?" Sam:"Well, I can be ready Wednesday." Me: (internally)YIKES! "Ok, well let me see what all I get done over the next day or so at work!" </div><div><br /></div><div>So, being the beach-lover that I am and the endless begging each and every night from the girls, I was a mad-woman at work getting tons of work accomplished in a few short hours and getting all of our clothes washed and packed. Before you knew it, we loaded the car on Wednesday afternoon (after Sam came home to cut the grass first) and were on our way! This was the first trip that we made with both girls where we left in the afternoon and drove into the night, arriving about 10:00 pm. Keep in mind that I have a HUGE show that was coming up in August (another reason I've been really busy).</div><div><br /></div><div>Very rarely do we get away on vacation where NONE of our family is with us. Ok, I realize that we are VERY spoiled in that way, but on the other hand (and we LOVE our families - don't get me wrong) it was sooooo nice to have just the 4 of us! Needless to say, our last minute family vacation was the BEST EVER!!!! We spent 5 days at my parent's condo (ah...the luxury of family owning a place down there). While we packed, the girls energy was out the roof, so I sent them into the playroom to illustrate (i.e. draw, which is MM's favorite activity) all of the things that they wanted to do at the beach! It was so cute and we made sure to do all of the illustrated activities!</div><div><br /></div><div>***Ok, quick funny sidenote...as I type Anna is totally torturing MM in the playroom. I can hardly stop laughing! Anna keeps blowing on this deer whistle thingy and MM screams every time she blows it. Of course, Anna continues to blow it just to make her scream! Is that cruel that I think that's kinda funny? (Molli, I can read your mind and I know that you are on MM's side on this)***</div><div><br /></div><div>Ok, so back to the original post! At the beach, we had picnics on the beach, swam (BTW, no oil), built sand castles, hunted for shells, hunted for crabs, and went out to dinner (yes, I claimed I was on vacation from cooking!). So, here are some of my fave pics:</div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4836130998/" title="DSC_1104 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/4836130998_38e6577e6a.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1104" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/a/4836136620/" title="DSC_1226 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4836136620_69f699236c.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1226" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4835532839/" title="DSC_1250 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"> </a></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4835532839/" title="DSC_1250 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/4835532839_88a009b201.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1250" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4835532839/" title="DSC_1250 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4835543167/" title="DSC_1142 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4150/4835543167_f5e63dd611.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1142" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4836166518/" title="DSC_1198 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/4836166518_8e12b2d687.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="DSC_1198" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4836166518/" title="DSC_1198 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4836170652/" title="DSC_1216 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4836170652_ab0138f887.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="DSC_1216" /></a></div><div>There were many more pics that I cherish from that much-needed vacation so if you are interested, click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/sets/72157624473046299/">here</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/samandleighcollins/4836170652/" title="DSC_1216 by Leigh Collins, on Flickr"></a><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></div>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36129147.post-18306440725187617362010-07-15T19:10:00.000-07:002010-07-15T19:25:39.376-07:00Another Girl Day<div>Two Words...Mission Accomplished! I made another last minute decision this morning (after my tennis was cancelled) that I would go ahead and make today Anna's school supply shopping day. Like I said yesterday, I had already scoped everything out, so her trips were a much quicker (and fewer). And, even better, she opted for Wal-Mart instead of Target - you think that says anything as to what she will be like as an adult - I mean I've already designated her as the best money saver between the two girls! And, since I had already checked out the school supply section at Target, I agreed that we would do her shopping at Wal-Mart, especially considering most of her "supplies" were things like paper towels, plates, utensils, tissues, etc. and you can definitely get those much cheaper at Wal-Mart! We then ventured on to buy her 2 new outifts - it was a really tough choice for her though since she loves clothes. She was so funny and kept pulling out stuff and saying, "Oh, Mommy, isn't this so cute?" And, yes, she was right, but I had a limit of only 2 new outifts (not to mention she has more hand-me-downs than we can fit in her closet)!!! After her day (or half day) of shopping, we met Gran at Ruby Tuesday (that's a little more along the lines of what I consider a "nice big girls lunch" than a deli) and she had her favorite, fried cheese sticks! YUMMY! Not very healthy, but then again, it was "her" day! It was another GREAT girl day with my youngest! I do have to admit that it is soooo nice that I can finally do things that like for both girls (separately and together) and actually enjoy our time together! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, as I said in the first line...mission accomplished! All of our supplies are bought and ready for the first days of school! </div><div><br /></div><div>Man, though, I really wish these years would SLOW down! I feel like I'm on a treadmill of life watching my girls lives fly by me as I'm just casually jogging along, all the while, huffing and puffing to keep up with them!!!! I really have to remind myself to just STOP and take it all in because it all goes soooo fast! I cannot really grasp that my first-born baby is starting kindergarten. In a weepy sort of way, I feel like our "fun times" are over because once real school starts, it's just another rat race to help her get to her ultimate dream, whatever that may be, even though she is only 5! Sorry for the sappy-ness, but it's just the plain and honest truth! </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://s285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/?action=view&current=signature3copy.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll41/lcollinsmgs/th_signature3copy.png" border="0" alt="signature" /></a>Leigh Collinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01978190810381045822noreply@blogger.com0