Yes, I am one of those moms!

I never thought it would be me...I am a mini van drivin soccer mom!! I never thought I would A: drive a mini van and B: let my kids play soccer. Wes and I love sports and hope that our kids share our same interest, but for some reason, neither one of us cares for soccer much. Maybe it was because I personally was never good at the whole foot coordination thing. I let the girls choose one activity for the fall and they both chose soccer over gymnastics or dance. Glad they chose the same activity. Their first practice was last night and their foot/ball coordination was much better than I remember mine ever being in the junior high PE days.


Pink bows are the key to becoming a successful soccer player. :)




Addy and her buddy Kade were paired up most of the practice. They were playing keep-a-way.


Cone dribbling practice.



Last Saturday we spent part of the afternoon enjoying the water and hot sunshine at the Shootout Boat Races. I have never been until this year and it was definitely a sight to see. We managed to wedge ourself close to the starting line, but probably over a 1000 boats were anchored out along the race course. The speeds that some of these boats reach on the water is incredible, 135++. Ocean sized boats out on the lake at top speeds equals, CRAZY!! I am so glad that my Grandpa was able to spend the day with us. He was equally amused watching the boats. My favorite was the Batman themed boat, too cool!






Levi in Jaidyn's pink hat. Why does he manage to always end up wearing something pink or purple?












Saturday morning we stopped at a farmer's market and Jaidyn bought with her own money 3 little pumpkins so she could give one to Addy and Levi. Seeing them on the mantle all week has been a subtle reminder that Fall is almost here.

Dear Grandma,

Dear Grandma,
As I write this letter to you, and while it has only been a little over a day since your death, I can still hardly fathom the fact that you are gone, gone home away from us to our Heavenly Father. Right now I am feeling along with so many other family members feelings of shock, numbness and despair. And maybe some regrets from not telling you how much we love you as we never planned on it being the last time we saw you. I want you to know that I am grasping fast to the hope that we will meet again one day and embrace in hugs. I can only imagine what you are experiencing in heaven right now seeing your loved ones sent home before you and the peacefulness of being home. This time is hard because while your passing hasn't quite hit me yet, I keep stirring up in my mind so many memories I have of you.

One of the most obvious that entered my mind is food. Yes food, Grandma. We knew we could always find you in the kitchen cooking up a feast. I know that none of the other cousins believe me, but I still remember the time when you fed us chicken noodle soup with raisins in it. It was delicious and every time I mention it, they roll their eyes as if I am making it up. I haven't had it since and have never heard of anyone else putting raisins in it, but it was genius. I know you have to remember doing it. And we have also learned never to compliment your sweet potatoes as you will be bringing the entire dish to our table and serving up 2nd and 3rd scoops of it on our plates when in reality we are all trying to get through dinner just so we can get to your dessert pies as we would much rather have 2nd helpings of those. And it was always a treat when Grandma came to visit because we knew you would be bringing a loot of sugary breakfast foods consisting of danishes, coffee cakes, and white powdered donuts something that we didn't come by very often on a normal basis.

Then there was the competitive games of Bingo that you made all of us grand kids play to see who got first picks of the souvenirs that you and Grandpa brought back from vacations. I still remember the jealousy I had for my sister when she won first pick and picked the blinking light-up visor hat from Las Vegas. Then as we grew a little older you finally let us out of Bingo and we would just get to draw numbers for first picks.

And then there is "The Quilt". I don't think you realize how much pressure you put on all of us grand kids to get our quilt. You gave the constant reminder for every holiday gathering that we were more than welcome to bring a significant other with us and and by your constant hinting we know that you were prying to get any info as we were all pretty tight lipped about our love relationships. At times, we would even be trying to scheme up a way to get a boy to come with us to a family holiday jut to get our promised quilt as we weren't sure we would ever find the one who we would share our life with. Even though you set back a quilt for each of us as our wedding gift once we were married over 10 years ago, still only 2 of the 6 of us have had the luxury of receiving it from you personally. Thankfully soon, one more will join the club. And while you won't personally be there to give it, it will be a joyful reminder of how you view the special bond of marriage to another. Both you and Grandpa are the perfect example to all of us the joy of being married to your best friend. The way you pride yourself in taking care of those you love is an inspiration to all of us. And while I don't see myself cutting Wes's meat for him anytime soon, I do try and follow your example of putting my family first.

I think my absolute favorite time spent with you was the afternoon that we were all together at the lake 2 or 3 summer's ago when we rented the cabins. You brought your photo albums from the early years of you and Grandpa's courtship and marriage. Looking through those pictures and hearing stories from your dating and early marriage years were so comforting and brought several laughs to hear it through your point of view and then see Grandpa in the corner shaking his head and grinning at the same time. Thank you for sharing the history of your love with us as much of it, I didn't know.

You were never at a loss for words and we always enjoyed when you started a conversation with, "Well, I really shouldn't say this, but..." You just couldn't help yourself and therefor we were never in a position to wonder what you were really thinking. I still remember coming to your house for Christmas break and walking in the door and you stepping back a little and while looking me up and down you said, "I have been worried that you weren't getting enough to eat while away at college, but I can see that you definitely aren't having any problems." Thanks, Grandma, I love you too!! :)

Grandma, I want you to know that you have left a legacy for your grand kids and great-grand kids. Today and always we will cherish the loving memories of you and pray that they will bring us strength, comfort, and peace.

I love you! We all love you! And you will be deeply missed until we meet again.

Love,
Jenny

A Day of Firsts

Jaidyn started her first day of Kindergarten today. She woke up extra early on her own because she could hardly contain her excitement. It was surprising as she is usually the last one up if we don't have anywhere we have to be. Addy also had her first day of preschool. Addy was a little upset first thing in the morning when she saw that I didn't have a dress set out for her to wear like I did Jaidyn. Her calendar said that she had gym time and had to wear tennis shoes, and I'm trying to be an on-the-ball mom early as I am sure there will be days throughout the year that I forget to send her in tennis shoes for gym days. Tomorrow, I will be sure to have a dress set out for her to wear. I was able to distract her by having Addy help me pack her lunch. Jaidyn was all for eating the school lunch of a hot dog, baked beans, applesauce, and cake, but Addy not so much, with the exception of the cake. Both girls were so excited to be at school that both Wes and I were lucky to get a hug and a kiss out of them before they wandered off to see what their teacher had in store for them first thing. Both Jaidyn and Addy wanted to ride the bus so we compromised and will take them in the mornings and let them ride home. Addy is just on a little bus with only preschoolers and she just loved it today.




The Big Kindergartner on her first day!


Preschool, here I come!


Family picture in front of the school parking lot.


Jaidyn with her Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Beth.


Addy's first school bus ride.

By the look on her face, I think she had a great day!


Jaidyn's first words out of her mouth, "Can I ride the bus again tomorrow? That was fun!" I wonder how long that sense of fun will last?


Celebrating their first day with the neighbor girls.

Gotcha Day!!

Happy Gotcha Day, Levi!! Your contagious smile and high energy keeps us hopping and grateful for God's gift of placing you in our lives. We are crazy about you and love you from head to toe. It's only one year later, but we can't imagine our lives without you.
One year ago Wes and I woke up to a brand new day, we finally met Levi and were able to hold him in our arms. At that time, it seemed like such a long time to wait from the time we first saw his initial referral photos. But to think that a year has gone by hardly seems possible. He truly feels like he has been part of the family forever and since he was destined to be a Collins he probably has. It is so much fun each day to observe Levi grow from a baby into a toddler. Now if only I could get him interested in the potty as he is only interested in the bowl of Skittles sitting on the shelf above it.

ONE YEAR AGO






AND NOW, ONE YEAR LATER







As a family, we squeezed in one more little hoot-rah before the girls first day of school (tomorrow). Levi received tickets to Big Surf Water Park from Papa & Nana for his birthday back in May and we finally made some time to enjoy them. So thanks to Levi and his birthday tickets, we were able to enjoy an afternoon as a family. The kids were so brave and tackled as many of the slides as they were tall enough to ride. And Levi, Addy and I played around in the little tiny kids area for awhile until some kid pooped in it and it had to be shut down for the rest of the day. Blech! To give the girls and Daddy some time to ride more slides, Levi and I lazily floated around the Lazy River at least a handful of times. Pure enjoyment!







Apparently Jaidyn and Addy thought Levi needed a makeover...

One Year Ago Today...

It is hard to believe that just one year ago today Wes and I boarded a plane taking us to the Philippines to spend a few days exploring and experiencing Levi's birth country before finally meeting him. I will be sure to post pictures of then and now of Levi on the 11th, his "Gotcha Day".

We continue to fit in as many activities before the girls start school next week. Last Saturday we enjoyed the perfect summer weather on our annual float trip with family. For some reason Jaidyn and Addy never wanted to be in our canoe. I guess we aren't cool enough. So the poor kidless couples were stuck with them. :) Levi stayed with Aunt Charlene since she isn't a big fan of the sun and enjoyed having an "All About Levi" day. I am sure he was spoiled rotten and got his way all day long.


The gang before boarding the canoes.


The gang (minus Wes & I) with full bellies from dinner and lots of dessert.

On Tuesday we had a playdate with some of Jaidyn's preschool friends and suffered through the 105+ heat index and ventured out to the Orion Dinosaur Center, lunch at McDonald's and then to the lake for some swim time off the dock.


T-Rex was hungry for several snacks. Ahhh!


Addy's ambitious and maybe someday she'll make it to the moon.




Trying to find the perfect weight balance on the teeter-totter.




This might have been their favorite part...the zip line swing.


Poor Levi, he pushed on one of the outdoor swings and it came back and hit him right in the nose. I was unprepared for a nose bleed and we had to walk all the way back up the huge hill to get to a bathroom. The heat was just almost unbearable and we had to take a break about halfway up. Levi did not want me to take his picture (can't say that I blame him) and was trying to push the camera out of his face. However, by the time we got to the bathroom the nose bleed had stopped and dried to his face. Still today, he has a light colored bruise on the bridge of his nose.



Lake Time!!