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!