The Collings Family

Spring Break started out with a fun little Easter egg hunt in the house. We then settled into the office in our pj's, moon chairs and snacks for a wonderful weekend of conference. Tuck ditched conference for some lego time. He tells us that he has given up on trains...I sure wish he would have told me this last November (Christmas + birthday = a heck of a lot of trains) He spent 8 HOURS putting star wars legos together that Saturday. Dave and I enjoyed an evening of Micheal Buble and sushi! Don't know which part I enjoyed more - the sushi was that good. We got word that Dave's grandmother passed away and we headed to the Tri -Cities for the week. I forgot my camera and realized that I had no documentation of this wonderful trip until the end. Words cannot describe how wonderful that little trip was. It was filled with much love, tears, and a lot of fun. The picture below is our hotel. It was a cute, new little place that had only been open one month. The kids said i...

is there anything more enjoyable than a happy 2 & 4 year old? Holidays would be so bland without them:) Dave took Tucker on this field trip to the fire station. Tuck with his badge Two days later...Mrs. Cloud is helping the kids write a thank you card to the firemen. Addi listening to a story Mrs. Cloud reading the children an Easter story. This is Mrs. Cloud's mother that owns the AMAZING house on the lake where we hold our Easter egg hunt. Liza immediately took to her - showed her the lunch pail, her hair, her shoes, her smile and then insisted that she hold her. The wonderful woman couldn't shake her the entire 90 minutes we were there. Just goes to show-Liza LOVES her own grand and great grandmothers. she just doesn't get to see them near enough. Tucky placing his egg in the hula hoop Kids with their bunny ears.

My dear sweet children decided to draw glasses and mustaches on each other's school pictures this year. Rather than spend another $20 and get retakes, I decided to try and take some myself with Dave's fun camera.

In regards to activities, I pick one for them to participate in and allow them to pick the other. Mine, of course, will always be music lessons. Eden has been begging for this since she was 3: Yes it appears to be ballet, but that would be way too easy. No my friends, it is "make believe" ice skating. I told her ballet was considered "land skating" and she just wouldn't buy it. We've tried tap, ballet, musical theater, gymnastics - the works. She is sick of "instead of "and insists that her pick is, and always will be ice skating. There you have it, we start this summer. Not sure if I am going to allow Tucker a "my pick" :()

I read that swimming is supposed to help prevent running injuries. So, I joined a gym and 2 weeks later I got an ear infection. Annoyed by the silly yet painful infection, I called a friend of mine that is into natural medicine. She told me grind up garlic into olive oil and to rub it all over my ear and neck. Results = My house, phone, bed and pillows reek of garlic BUT the infection is gone. I kid you NOT, I applied this concoction at 7:00 pm, woke up the next morning and poof, it vanished!

Dear mother, my last post was 25 days ago---not TWO months. I will do better...I will do better... Let me tell you about my day. It started at 1:45 am. Liza was screaming...she didn't stop until 5:30. We had piano at 8:00, school at 9:00, baths, laundry, shopping (thanks to Makay for helping me with the sick ones,) naps, more piano, activity days, dinner, laundry, scouts and now a primary meeting. Life is great, actually. I am thankful for Motrin, Little Einsteins, sprite, soda crackers, an incredible local library, a sister that lives 1 mile away and THE SUN that has been shining shining shining:() Little Liza after a LONG LONG night. She is holding three pair of new underwear that I just bought her. I love how the simple things in life makes kids happy :)

January 22, 2010 marked our 10 th anniversary. It has been the most amazing 10 years with my very best friend. My sister took the kids for the day so that we could spend it doing our favorite things. Please note, what you see below is NOT one of Dave's favorite things...that my friends is called LOVE. We both love running but never actually get to run together. He took me on some of his wild trails that I never dare run alone. Did I ever mention how beautiful our little town is? We live within footsteps of dozens of miles of trails and 2 beautiful lakes. We ate yummy chinese food, drank smoothies, shopped a little and ended the night at Avatar. I LOVE movies and this one was definitely an adventure. So adventurous in fact that we both got motion sickness. Word to the wise, if you ever see an Imax 3D movie, sit in the center back. Our story ~"I knew I loved him before I met him" and I love him even more today. It all started when my little greenie missionary eyes wan...