Spaghetti and Cheeseburgers...

Yes, you heard right, spaghetti and cheeseburgers. This was the answer I got from our oldest boy, Josh, when asked what he wanted for his birthday dinner. Whatever, Josh!

He's 14 now, a freshman is high school and us still as cool as ever (ask anyone at school or church) he has this amazing ability to adapt to his surroundings like a cameleon! Within the first week of school here in Marquette, he already had his "peeps" and was getting invited to parties.

How does he do it?

But I think what amazes me the most is even though his ego is obviously larger than his cranium, he still manages to be a decent kid...actually someone I enjoy hanging out with!

Josh, thanks for being you! Happy Birthday!

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas!

This year we did our traditional Mexican dinner on Christmas Eve with enchilladas & Spanish rice. Then we opened one present each. I tried something different this year as I teamed up the kids with "big partners & little partners" taking after the program at Bristol Elementary School. So, on the 24th, the kids got together with their partner and had a list of items that needed to get accomplished before we could enjoy the day together (ie: CHORES). This team approach went over well as nobody felt like like they had to do EVERYTHING by themselves and much to my surprise, the jobs actually got done! Hooray for Mom!

So after the house got straigtened up, Craig came home from work to have dinner with us and witness the present opening. I've been conditioned to begin dreading Christmas, thanks in part to my wonderfully ungrateful children who have become accustomed to getting everything they want in terms of presents. This year, I had them make clear lists of needs and wants, and as far as I can tell, they were richly blessed. Which brings me to my confusion as to why these wonderful spirits can still manage to squeeze out tears when the carnage is over and they are counting in their little head how many presents everyone got, and realizing they somehow got shorted. This even after we had a long discussion about the birth of Christ and read the scriptures and talked about the importance of Christmas and the significance of gifts.

Where did I go wrong then?

New ways to occupy my time

OK, I'm not sure about you, but I have been finding these websites where you can upload a picture and put it on a dancing Santa or other character and make a video. Ya know what I'm talking about? Anyway, I have been having more fun doing this with pictures of the kids and friends! I've come across 2 sites, the first one was JibJab.com (actually I saw that Larissa had done a few videos with the kids and just had to try it out myself. Then I ran across myfacelol.com which is similar but seemed to be a lot faster and just as funny. Check them out...it's a hoot!

Good morning...

This is the view from my front door this morning...SNOW! I personally love the white stuff. It instantly makes everything look so clean and pure. Like a cleansing of the earth. Truly amazing!

Ward Christmas Party!

Yup...this ward LOVES their parties! What a blast we had!

Here's Craig and our two studly missionaries...

Rachel (not our Rachel) and Matt played Mary and Joseph...and they even used a REAL baby Jesus! Yes, Matt is 2 feet taller than Mary and they're the same age!

This is our friend Aaron...yes, he's a snowman!

That's Craig with Lauren's slinky from Santa!

Rachel finally had a seat on Santa's lap after numerous attempts to get out of it!

Aubrey and Santa...

Lauren was VERY intent on letting Santa know just exactly what she wanted this year.

Youth Temple Trip

In November, the youth of the Marquette ward traveled to the Chicago Temple. Here are a few pics from their trip.

The Marquette Ward Halloween Party 2008

Here's a few shots of the party...

Life is interesting...

...wouldn't you agree? I've had some time recently to reflect on this past year and boy, has it been a doosy! I've endured quite a few life altering events this year. Many things that you wouldn't even experience in a lifetime, I've been through in a year. I guess I can't help but be thankful I'm still standing. Isn't there a saying that what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger, or something like that. If that's true, I must be the female equivalent of the hulk, because I'm not dead...yet!

Carving pumpkins

What happened to the good 'ole days when all you had to do was cut out 2 triangles for eyes, one for the nose and a jagged smile for the mouth and you were DONE?! Each year, the designs keep getting more and more complicated and I seem to spend more and more time on these darn jack o'lanterns!

I don't know how it is in your family, but I pretty much dominate the pumpkin carving process. It's one of my MANY shortcomings. It's just that I've seen what these 6 wonderful, creative, bright children have produced for the last 15 years when it comes to jack o'lantern designs, and (quite frankly) they stink! So, I've taken it upon myself to be the designated carver. I let the kids chose their pattern (as long as it isn't one of the expert level ones!), I even let them scoop out all the guts, but that is where their assistance stops and my insanity begins.

I know, I know..."just let go, Joy...let them create whatever they want..." I've heard it all before, but I just can't seem to relinquish my grasp on this one.

So, here are a few that I carved this weekend. Not one of my better years, but they're not too bad either!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

...and the birthday's keep coming...

It's Craigie's turn this time...

Check out the view!

Amazing views of Fall Colors atop Sugarloaf today in Marquette. Reminds me of our hikes up to Bristol Cliffs in Bristol, VT.

Where are we anyway?

Who has ever heard of being able to walk on the beach, in shorts & t-shirts, in the UP of Michigan on October 11th?! Crazy, right! Not this year...it was 72 degrees and BEAUTIFUL, so we had to go out and enjoy it. Here's what we saw...

Haircuts!

After countless mornings of brushing out their "bedheads", I broke down and took them for haircuts. Good-bye split ends!

Birthday season is upon us!

October 1st begins the Collins Family birthday season. Fall is my favorite time of year and it can get a bit busy with so many birthdays. Sara started us off this year with a bang.

15 years old! You know what comes next...Driver's Training! YIKES!

Piano lessons

As many of you may know, I have been dreaming of the day we could have a piano in the house. I prayed and prayed, saved and saved, even got so close as to put a deposit on one once, but it was just never meant to be.....UNTIL NOW!

The house we are renting in Marquette is amazing and I have finally been blessed with a piano that the owners left behind. It's been many, many years since I played last (15 at least) but a few days after we moved in, I peeked in the piano bench and found a beginners book. Of course, the kids all wanted to learn, but Matt seemed to be the most interested, so I began teaching him.

Now it's been a few weeks and on Sunday, we had our first recital.

The girls also wanted to perform, although they haven't had as many lessons as their brother.

The last hoorah

The day before we left Vermont, we took some time to see our friends...

...these are a few of our favorite things...

Shelburne Farms


Lawrence Memorial Library

And 2 of our favorite Vermont restaurants!

Here goes nothin'!

OK....I've decided to join this whole "blog" thing...FINALLY! I got tired of having to send enormous emails to everyone just to keep them updated on what's happening with our family. And for those of you who know us, you know that it's hard to keep up with The Collins Family!