Here is Sonny's 16th birthday party!  He had most of his friends over and my fabulous friend, Melania, made is cake!  I can not believe he is so old, it just seems like yesterday he was a baby in my arms.

I probably should have put this post before the other one since it is out of order chronologically but oh well.

This was March 29, 2012 the day our daughter Eliana Juanita Collins came into our family.  Obviously the man on the right is the judge, but the woman on the left was her case worker.

When we set out on our adoption journey we had no idea how long it would take and what the outcome would be, but we are so glad we did!

Prom 2012

This is Sonny with is date Erin.  This was Sonny's first date!  We bought the tux jacket at DI in Utah and the pants were given to him.  We rented the shirt and tie.  He had a great time that night.  

Eliana and Sonny had their dates over for dinner before the dance.  I made steak and oven roasted garlic rosemary potatoes.

Here is Eliana and her date Michael.  We found her purple dress at DI in Utah as well.  I just love finding deals!!

She got her hair done at the local beauty school- it took 3 hours!  But it was so beautiful!  She had a  great time as well. This picture shows the back.

I know not many people read my blog since I never update it, but maybe with me being on bed rest it will be a good time to try.  We are expecting our 5th child April 29th and are hoping for a healthy baby.

Individual Pictures of the kiddos

Sonny-15 years old:

Benjamin-10 years old:

Julianna- 6 years old:

Family Pictures

We FINALLY have gotten our family pictures taken.  (the last time was 8-9 years ago).  I entered a contest to get half off a session with Lookhart Photography through A Thrifty Mom.  I WON!!  

My fabulous friend helped me pick out clothes for all of us, did Julianna's hair, did my make-up,- and even ironed the boys' shirts.  She rocks!!  Love you Tami!  

So the following are the long awaited pictures.  Susan did such a great job!

Our Family

Collins Kiddos
Sonny-15, Benjamin-10, Julianna-6

Brian & Krista (sorry, no ages)

My guys!

My favorite!!

I will post the individuals of the kiddos later!

Changes

I have decided that I have neglected this blog long enough.  I am giving it an updated fresh look in anticipation of me actually posting.  Let me know what you think!

Camping 2010

We went camping a couple of weeks ago.  We went to Three Island State Park in Glenns Ferry, Idaho.  We have a good time~ but it was TOO hot to be camping. 

Ben and Julie HAD to have a fire even though it was 100 degrees!

Sonny, Ben, & Julianna going on their hike with Dad.

I love this sweet picture of Sonny carrying his tired sister.

Julianna with her first glow stick.  She slept with it.

We are still alive!!

Well, I have been telling myself that I need to update our blog and post everything that we have been doing. I wanted to start where we left off and post Ben's Birthday and then his baptism etc... Well, I have yet to download the pictures from his birthday.
I 'll try to get that done. I am trying to organize my house. My mom asked what I wanted for my birthday and I told her I wanted her to come and help me organize my home. She kept asking and I kept telling her. So what did I get for my birthday? She is coming a few times a week and is helping me organize.
So when I am down organizing for a bit I will have the chance to down load pics.

Halloween

This year was very fun. We had a Halloween party during lunch at our Friday Homeschool Co-op school. Then we went to the church and had chili and apple juice for dinner. Then we did a Trunk or Treat. For those who do not know what it is: Everyone backs their car in a circle and decorates their trunk and hands out candy. It is safer then traditional trick or treating. Then we went to see our honorary grandma "Grandma Casto" and trick or treated at her house, then off to Grandpa's (krista's dad) to show off the costumes and get LOTS of candy.


Ben was a pirate. He decided what to wear. I tried to help him but alas, he is becoming independant.


Sonny was the guy from Monopoly. He is 12 so he is not into dressing up too much anymore.

Julianna was a fairy. I had lots of fun curling her hair and putting in the flowers and the butterfly. She has sparkles on her face.

Brian and I went as their parents.
krista

We are still here.

Well, canning season is not quite done,we still have a bunch of apples left to do but thought that we would post a little update. We are all doing fine. Krista's mom is retiring in November and will be over here for good at Thanksgiving!! We are all just doing the same old same old stuff.

krista

Canning

Well, we are finally finished with pears and peaches. Here is our tally!

Peaches~ 58 quarts

Peach jam~ 28 pts & 55 1/2 pints

Peach pie filling~ 7 quarts & 9 pints

Pears~ 34 qts & 6 pints

We also did tomatoes~ 36 pints.

We still need to do more tomatoes this week.

We are also going to try zucchini pineapple.

krista

This past week

Well, school went went well. Both of the boys were excited and happy with thier new books and courses. TEACH went well on Friday. It is always fun though. On Monday I gave them a challenge to make a least one new friend at co-op. Ben made a new friend named Zac. Sonny said he did not get a chance to yet.

Brian was off on Wednesday so we went to an orchard out past Greenleaf and picked 100 pounds of pears and 275 pounds of peaches. 50 pounds of the peaches were for my neighbor. They were $9 for 50 pounds. It tooks us 2 hours.

So now until the end of time I will be canning pears, peaches, peach jam, and peach pie filling. I have done two batches of peaches and 2 batches of jam so far. I also canned a bunch of tomatoes the other day.

Anyone out there that would like to try to home can stuff please see your local extension office for correct canning methods. I do not want anyone to become ill.

No cooking tonight ~ we are going to the opening social for our local LDS homeschooling group.

krista

We start school on Monday!!!

Well, it is that time of the year again. It seems like I have spent the entire summer getting ready for our new school year. I guess I have. I took the month of June and researched curriculum, July I ordered, and for this past month I have been doing scheduling. I schedule everything through December. During Christmas break I will schedule the rest of the year. I really do enjoy this time of the year though. We get to make new goals for the year and learn new things. We also have new curriculum. The boys think it is like Christmas.

This year Ben (2nd grade) will be doing:

3rd grade Math
3rd grade Social Studies
3rd grade Science
Language Arts
Music~piano
Art

This year Sonny (7th grade) will be doing:

Pre-Algebra
Western Hemisphere
Literature
Language Arts
Life Science
Keyboarding~1st semester
Into to Computer Technology~2nd Semester
Young Living

Julianna (preschool) will be:

learning to write her name
basic ABC & 123's
Lots of other fun stuff.


We also go to a co-op on Fridays. (see www.teachcoop.com)

This is going to be a fun and busy year.

I am currently working on a new devotional schedule it will include:

Scripture reading/studying.
Learning about the prophets and general authorities and their talks
A good uplifting story
Pledge of Alligence
Songs
Prayers
Word of the day

We did not do word of the day last year and the boys missed it so I will be bringing it back.

As a family we also do a character trait a month. On the first Mondayof the month during devotional I introduce the trait and then a couple days a week we talk about it, play games, role play etc... On Sunday after dinner we give out awards to the child who did the best at that trait for the week. Sometimes it has been candy bars, time with mom or dad, or a special ice cream treat. Every month is different.


Well, I will post next week what a day at the Collins Academy looks like.

Dinner tonight:

Chicken Fajitas

krista

Dinner

Well, since it will undoubtedly be another very busy day (we are cleaning out the garage this morning) we will be having hot dogs (yes ~ YUCK~ but my children will eat them) and homemade jojo's, with mixed veggies. I think I may cook chicken for me or saute zucchini since I am really not a huge meat eater and I really do not care for hot dogs. Only when I am pregnant (at least with the last two) and they have to be the polish kind from Costco with lots of mustard, onions, and sauerkraut. I know weird. Well, I better get back out to the garage before Brian thinks I abandoned him.

krista

Busy

We have been very busy this last week. We have been "spring"cleaning~ in the summer. Anyway, we got the homeschool room organized. That was a HUGE task. On Thursday we went and visited my dad. Brian set up his home theater for him. Last night dad came over. He babysat Benjamin and Julianna while Brian, Sonny, and I went to the broadcast of the Twin Falls dedication at the church. When we got home we had dinner~ lasagna and salad.
We did not make it to the discovery center Thursday so we are going to try and go today. We have been so busy with other things that we need to take time for fun.

I will try to post a picture of the new inproved room later.

krista

I know, I know

Okay, I have been very busy. I am sorry I have not been posting.

Tonight I made up a crustless quiche recipe. It has sausage, zucchini (of course) and cheddar cheese. Then I made cinnamon sticks to go with it.

We had a garage sale yesterday. It was sooooo HOT. I think it was in the 100's but do not really know. I got sunburned on my face. I can not believe I forgot to put sunscreen on. I do not like to tan or burn. No skin cancer for me thank you.

My dad is all moved in and trying to find his bearings. He is driving around to see where eveything is.

Brian is off this Thursday through next Tuesday. We were going to go camping (we LOVE to go camping) but decided we were going to stick close to home and do a couple of fun things around here. On Thursday I have an Orientation meeting for our co-op (TEACH-see teachcoop.com) then we are going to go to the Discovery Center in Boise. For those out of towners the Discovery center is like a children's science museum. It is very fun. The kids really like it. Of course Sonny would he love science stuff. Julianna likes the little shopping store where the kiddos can pretend to shop and be a cashier. Ben likes the bubbles. You can blow HUGE bubbles.

Brian and I will be going out on Friday evening for our weekly date. We have been busy for the past little while that we have missed them. We feel it is important to get out with each other even if it is a bike ride or walk. We are going to dinner- maybe Macaroni Grill since we have never been there and have a gift certificate. Next week we will be going to the temple and then the Elder's Quorum is having an ice cream social afterwards.

Well, I will try to post more often.

krista

Dinner

Well, I am not feeling really well today (and Brian has to work late tonight) so it was sandwiches for dinner.

krista

oops~ dinner

I forgot to post dinner on the previous post.

Bean burritos
Corn
Pears

krista

Hello

Well, I had a WONDERFUL visit with Karin yesterday. It was so nice to reminice and catch up. We miss each other so much. She just graduated 2 weeks ago with her nursing degree from BYU-Idaho. Whe will take her boards in September in Boise, so I will get to see her again.

My dad is moved in and my mom is helping him unpack. She flies back home to WA on Saturday.

We are starting school on September 2nd. Sonny will be in 7th grade and Ben will be in 2nd grade, but doing 3rd grade work. Julianna will be doing preschool stuff. I plan on starting her on Kindergarten stuff next year. So, for the next few weeks I will be planning our year out.

Krista