I spent the 4th of July weekend in Canadian, Texas with friends and family, and throughly enjoyed every minute I was there!! I don’t know when the last time I spent this holiday there, but I know it’s been double-digit years ago!! I even managed to squeeze in a few mini sesssions while I was there!! Hurricane Alex made the celebrations a bit wet and chilly, but we made the best of it! Just thought I’d share a bit of my personal life Hope you enjoy!!

If you’re like me, you and 8 million other people have fallen in love with this hit TV series from FOX. I admit, I didn’t watch from the begining. My friend David posted a link to their “Somebody to Love” video on Facebook. I bet I watched it 2 dozen times - each time in awe. It wasn’t long before I sat at my computer and watched every episode I had missed - I was hooked. Maybe it’s because I was a choir geek (and band nerd) in High School? I love a good musical. I think it’s witty (I must admit, I think Coach Sylvester is one of my favorites!) I just love this show! A loyal fan here!!

Back in February I entered my name into a contest, to win a GLEE viewing party pack from FOX. Well, I never win anything so imagine my surpise when I received and email that I had WON!! I was getting a party pack that would arrive just in time for the infamous MADONNA episode! I was super excited (albiet stressed - I was still in school!) My amazing, wonderful, fantastic husband (yes, I’m hoping he reads this) really jumped in and helped make it happen. Our house was a wreck - well, it looked like a nursing student lived here! We were told last minute that our local FOX affiliate would be showing up to party with us - and to film!! We really had to kick it into high gear. My dear friend Lynzey made the cupcakes - aren’t they the coolest? We had a great time, though FOX ended up standing us up for another winner - I suspect it was on the basis of distance from the studios. Oh well, it was still fun! Just wanted to share a few pictures!! Want to know a secret, I’m wearing my GLEE shirt as I type this.

Hope you enjoy the party pics (only 2 months later….)

I was so excited to see this weeks theme for I Heart Faces pop up on Facebook tonight! I knew the perfect picture. Last month I was running typical Mommy errands and found a beautiful field of yellow wild flowers. That weekend, after nap time, I snatched up my daughter and headed to the field. She was less-than-thrilled,  but I snapped anyways. Turns out, it was a good thing that I did as just 3 days later the city mowed the fields down. I literally had tears in my eyes. I was angry that they could do that. You see, this dress that my daughter has on will never fit again. It’s not just any yellow dress. It belonged to her GiGi (my Mom) and it was made my my Mom’s Aunt Sarah, my namesake. So, the dress is roughly 57 years old. (My mother keeps EVERYTHING!) The doll that is hidden is also special. It is made from a pillow case that my Dad’s grandmother hand tatted - so it’s easily 80 - 90 years old. I was just sick that this is the only shot I got. At the same time, I love it. It is truly priceless to me. I really need to get on the ball and have it printed and hung, just need to figure out where! So, here’s my entry for week #21!

Be sure to check out other great photos by clicking on the camera below!!

May there be just enough clouds in your life to create a glorious sunset

~ Author Unknown ~

I have been wanting to go to this festival since Mike and I got married and I moved to the area 5 years ago! But something has come up each time….illness, labor, hurricane… it’s always been something! Not this year!! Not only were we able to go, but I was able to just relax and enjoy some quality family time because I didn’t have my usual Monday morning pharmacology test! It was a much needed break for all of us. I’m not sure why I have had such an obsession about going… I think it stems from memories I have of my Granny Gert and Joseph. The neighbors behind them were balloonist and invited us to go up one summer. It was absolutely amazing. I still remember all of it very clearly. Amarillo isn’t much too look at from the air, but the feeling of being in a hot air balloon is like no other. Not only do I remember going up and chasing the balloon from land while my brother took his turn, I also remember that my mom taped over the home video accidentally. (It’s okay Mom, I still love you!) My dream would be to someday go to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. But until then, the NASA RE/MAX Ballunar Festival is pretty darn cool!! Here are some of my favorite shots of the day….

I began my life as a Wildcat and when I was just 11 years old, my parents threw a wrench into my life! We were MOVING! In my limited mind, it was the end of the world. The worst thing ever. I soon came to grips with the move, made friends, made memories and even graduated from High School as a Perryton Ranger. Now, 16 years later, my parents have sold our home and moved back to Canadian! Yah, it’s another wrench! I still considered Perryton to be my home, even though I moved to Houston almost 5 years ago. I guess it kinda grew on me! When we first moved to Perryton, there was always one Friday night in September when we didn’t know where we belonged? Were we Wildcats or were we Rangers? After time, we became tried and true Rangers. I was a cheerleader and I had a brother that played with Big Red deep into the playoffs! I bled RED! Actually, my parents graduated 3 Rangers! And now… we’re back to the “not belonging” You see, tonight both my homes meet up to battle it out on the big green field. I’m actually glad I’m not able to be home this weekend! For one, I wouldn’t know where to sit and secondly, I think I’d be too emotional when it came time to leave. I haven’t been back since my parents sold their home, and I know it would have been difficult to have to drive 45 minutes home, instead of just around the wheat fields!! So, tonight I will have my radio on and I will Cheer for both teams! After all, no matter who wins or who looses, Wildcats will always boil at 212 degrees and Ranger Pride Will Never Die….

And the final outcome?? The Wildcats just didn’t boil tonight. The Rangers managed a huge upset and sent the cats home with their tails between their legs… 51-35

I’m a little late getting this posted, but better late than never, right? I cannot believe my sweet little boy is 3! I know it is so cliche, but it really did happen in just the blink of an eye! He’s such a sweetie -and very much a mama’s boy! I love it! When we move back in after the toilet incident, he got a new twin bed - he’s still so excited to go to sleep everynight in his new firetruck bed (he got a firetruck tent for his birthday!) He adores “school”, even asks every night if he can go back tomorrow! I love hearing him talk about his little sister - he refers to her as “my madeline” - it’s adorable! We had his party at the Hotel where he caused us to live for 3 months, only fitting we thought! It was an Elmo swimming party and even one month later he’s still talking about “Big Elmo” that came to his party! Some kids loved Elmo and some, not so much! Aiden sure did (and special thanks to Christopher for helping out at the last minute and donning the oven suite when the original character couldn’t stay!!) Jennifer of Cakes By Jennifer did the awesome cake! In this area and need a great baker? I can hook ya up! I need to get back to my books, I just wanted to make a quick post! Enjoy!

He was cute then, but look at this ham Now! Such a cutie patootie!

The cake was adorable, but even better, it was chocolate AND melted in your mouth! Cakes by Jennifer rock!

 The party favors!
I made the suckers using a mold from Ebay and then melted over 70 crayons to make the characters to go with the coloring books. Again, used molds from Ebay!

Aiden loved “Big Elmo” but poor MJ wasn’t as crazy!

Mike made the Birthday Street sign, it was too cute!

All in all, Aiden had a great time! He is now loaded down with Elmo stuff I really do wish time would slow down a bit though, before I know it I’ll be walking him into Kindergarden!!

You better believe that I miss myself!  I knew when I started this program that it was going to be very fast and incredibly intense. I was aware that I was going to clearing my social calendar until May 2010. However, I was not prepared for being so exhausted and overwhelmed, nor did I realize that I’d always feel so guilty. I not only miss my friends, but I also miss my family! Mike has become Mr. Mom. He takes the kiddos to daycare and picks them up on most days as well.  He cooks dinner, bathes them and puts them to bed. I feel like I’ve been having an affair with my books! I made it through my first semester with flying colors. 3 b’s and an impossible-to-get- A from Mr. Cooper in clinicals. I was super happy. Now that this semester has begun, I feel that all the air has been deflated from my motivation balloon. It’s a struggle to open my books and accompolish any effective studying!  (Case in point - I’m writing this post instead of studying!) Just so my followers can have an idea for what I’m doing, I’m attaching my the syllabus for each of my classes this semester. I’m on campus M & F for lectures all day long and in the hospital T&W.  On Friday, I have 6 hours of Med-Surg Lectures - I’m pretty sure that qualifies for cruel-and-unusual punishment! And see all of the highlight on those schedules? Those are exams! I have one almost every Monday in Pharmacology! So, now you will know what I’m up to when I disappear for weeks at a time. I will still be accepting photography appointments, but they will be on a very limited basis. So, if you know now that you want a session, please don’t wait until the last minute to schedule. Keep watch for information about Mini sessions specifically for holiday cards! My holiday dead-line will likely be the end of October this year to help avoid adding gobs of stress to my life And as always, I appreciate the prayers and support. Right now it feels almost like the end of the world, but I know when Mother’s Day gets here next year, it will all be worth it!!

After 86 very, very long days, our home is finally completed!!! Who knew that one roll of toilet paper + one busy toddler + one tired mommy could do soo much damage!! Actually, we’ve been back in the house for a week now, but nursing school has kept my nose buried in my books, so I’m just now getting around to posting! It has certainly been an adventure! A few wrong paint colors, floor decisions, bad texture jobs, ahh, the joys of dealing with contractors. For a while, we weren’t sure if we’d survive this ordeal. But we have and we are finally back in our home. It’s still a wreck, but at least we’re home! It doest feel a bit strange though, the floors are so different that at times it doesn’t even feel like this is our house! I just have to brag on my amazing hubby, he stayed up til 4am one night last week to paint our room as a surprise! It looks awesome. And Mom, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!! I’m very fortunate that you spend an entire week down here just to help get things back in place! We’d be wading through boxes at Christmas if it weren’t for you!!

I know some of the Staybridge staff read my blog, so I just want to say, on behalf of our entire family, thank you so much for your amazing hospitality! Chirag & Raul, you two have built a beautiful hotel and I feel very fortunate that we were able to call it “home”. Chenille and Leah, you guys are the greatest managers ever! Thank you for the love and attention shown to our kiddos - Aiden is really going to miss that place!! Nathan, Sam, Sarah, Rachel & Cherise - thanks for always giving me a new key card with a smile At last count, I believe we returned 12!! Ha ha! Purida - I’m going to miss my fresh towels and made bed every day!! And Mr. Morris, I’m already missing you! Okay, I confess, I miss your breakfast!! But seriously, you are a wonderful man - we’ll miss your laugh and smile! I promise to bring the kids by to say Hi from time to time though! I guess it’s true… all good things must come to an end. Thank you again Staybridge - it was a wonderful 86 days! Mike and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you guys to anyone! And readers, if you happen to need a room, be sure to call Staybridge… and tell them that the Collins’ sent ya!

I must get back to my books now, I just wanted to let everyone know that we were finally HOME!

Better late than never, right? I hope so! I’m still trying to make my way through nursing school and most days I feel like I’m failing miserably! It’s become very difficult to juggle all of my many roles - there simply isn’t enough time in the day! We didn’t do much for the 4th this year, it was moving weekend, so we just tried to quickly unpack boxes so that I could feel some sembalence of “normal” when I went back to class on Monday. We worked all day, went out to eat, then took the kiddos to watch fireworks in Webster. Nothing major, but it was great to have Gigi with us! Maybe next year I can take Mike and the kids back home for a Canadian 4th (no, not Canada… Canadian, Texas!!) Aiden loved the fireworks. I wasn’t sure how he was going to react at first, since he doesn’t like noise, but he ended up being fascinated with them! MJ didn’t really care, she just wanted to sleep. Poor girl was exhausted! We weren’t in a great location for good firework pictures and I was too lazy to mess with my tripod… maybe next year I’ll get the awesome firework shot I’ve been dreaming of! Anyways, just wanted to share some pictures from our Holiday. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!!