The Collings Family

My official due date was August 17th or 15th depending on who you ask. Both Eden and Eliza were born exactly 13 days before their due date. So, when I went in for my 38th week appointment Monday morning, August 4th I reminded my doctor that not only do I come early but when my water breaks, I deliver lightning fast. He checked me. I was a 2 and 80% effaced. His last piece of advice was to rush to the hospital if I started contracting at all due to my VBAC risk. He also joked that he would most likely be seeing me next week...my contractions started 7 hours later... Driving Eliza to harp lessons they were 5 minutes apart. Came home for dinner at 7 and then varied from 5-7 minutes. Contractions stopped at 10:30 but woke me up at 12:30. Dave and I decided to go to the hospital at 1:30. Despite the intense pain, the nurses check revealed that I was still only a 2. She hooked me up to the monitor, and for one hour I suffered through some intense contractions spaced at exactly 1.5 minutes ...

  Decided to stay local this year and take the kids to one of my favorite places in Utah. Dave had a work trip in NY so we invited Talmage's family to join us. First stop: Goblin Valley  We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express complete with a pool and free breakfast, which by far was their favorite part. Day two we ventured off to Arches. Believe it or not, this was my very first time!

The last two years have brought new meaning to February - May, we now call it competition season. I am not and have never been a dancer, so this dance world is so very new to all of us. Aside from dance, we had another annual competition - Pinewood Derby! Tucker designed, painted and helped cut his very first Pinewood Derby car. Had an amazing night with 6th place overall (2nd in his den)   This is Eden performing her first time ever solo "Joy". In this competition at Taylorsville High School, she went up against 42 other girls and took 2nd overall. We couldn't watch her do this solo without tears. Truly beautiful.   Eden's dance team Firelights in their "Dreamer" costume. This too was a tear jerker of a dance. They took 1st with this piece at every competition and grand champion at their final comp of the year.      

Our sweet Tucker turned 8 on January 28th. I can't believe this sweet little baby of mine is big enough to be baptized. Things that we love about Tuck: Loves everyone and can make a friend with anyone. He is always sticking up for the little guy and never talks negative about people VERY goal oriented. Put a challenge in front of him and he will work until it is done He is a memorizing machine and can whip out a cello piece faster than anyone I know Loving his Chinese class and can interpret almost anything that mom and dad say (not such a positive for us - our secrets are now up in the open) He memorized all 13 articles of faith before his 8th birthday and passed them off in primary Loves soccer and is an amazing goalie Shared his baptism day with his cousin Landon