Collins N' Company

We had our Ward Family Christmas Party a couple weeks ago. We had a really good time and since the Primary was in charge of part of it, I was put to work. We had breakfast, Christmas Bingo, Christmas stories, made gingerbread houses, sang Christmas carols, and had a visit from the "big guy". Alan is getting more and more interested in him. We'll see how it goes next year.

Chason and some of the Young Men got first prize on their ginger bread house.

And I think Alan has a girlfriend...

Don'tcha just love it! Alan loves his Grandpa Welch and they look like two peas in a pod in their hats. I'm so happy that we live so close to both sets of grandparents. They are such an important part of our lives and we love them very much.

Yesterday, Alan went Trick or Treating at Mimi and Grandpa Welch's house. He was so cute in his little lion costume. Then we made homemade pizza with Daddy. After dinner, we set up our pumpkins on Grandma and Grandpa Collins porch and helped give out candy to all the kids in the neighborhood. It was so much fun to see Alan's reaction to all of the costumes. He had a look that said, "What's going on here?" We look forward to next year when we can really take him out.

"You've had a birthday shout Hooray!" We love you Mimi! Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives! We hope you have a fantastic day!

Tonight, we carved our pumpkins. It was a lot of fun! We thought it would be fun to see Alan's reaction with everything. I think he thought we were nuts for cutting up pumpkins and he didn't like the slimy insides. He picked it up, thought it was something to eat, and put it right in his mouth. Luckily, Chason's a little faster and he didn't get too much in his mouth.

I love this time of year. There are so many things to do and see. Here in Utah the leaves are changing. I love the yellows, oranges, and reds that fill the mountainside. It's so beautiful.

We found two nice big pumpkins for Chason and I
and little baby pumpkin for our little baby pumpkin.
We went at dusk and before we had chosen the perfect pumpkins, it had started getting dark. I think next year we'll go on a Saturday afternoon so Alan can play. Tomorrow night we'll carve our pumpkins and hopefully blog the finished results.

This was when Alan was about four weeks old and we were trying to get a good picture with the two of us. I looked horrible in most of the pictures before this. I really should delete this one because it's so blurry.

I was supposed to pick the fourth folder and the fourth picture from my pictures and explain it. So now I tag... Katie, Haley, Merci, and Jen

Yeah! I love this time of year! It's the beginning of some very fun holidays. Of course, you know I love Halloween and how much fun it can be. My decorations are simple this year, but I love them just the same. Maybe next year we'll have a bigger place and I can really bring out everything. I'm still working on costumes for the big day.

We woke up this morning to a couple inches of the white stuff. It felt more like Christmas was coming than Halloween. Thank goodness it would stay too long. Since I've lived here, I don't think it's ever come this early. When we took Alan home from the hospital, it had snowed a little, so technically this isn't his first snow. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it. He did love his hat. That's my boy!

We had spent the week at Grandpa and Mimi Sue's watching the love puppies for her. Their backyard was covered.

Mimi and I went garage saling a couple of weeks ago. I didn't see much until the very end when we stopped at this antique store. It looked like they had invited some people to sell out front. I saw this yellow basket and thought it would be great storage for our little apartment, but I wasn't completely sure about it. It needs a little work (spray paint and a little fix at the bottom) but it'll do for now.

Well, Chason and I went back to buy it and Chason saw these four chairs. He loved them. They were $20 for all of them. I know it was a good deal but we didn't really need them and we could use the money for other things. The man who was selling them came over and Chason asked him what kind of deal he could give us. He said he'd take $10 for the four. That was too good to pass up. I put red cushions on them. Now, they need a cute table to go around. Maybe next summer.

Last night Chason, Alan, and I went to my mission reunion. I was a bit nervous going because I wasn't sure if I would recognize anyone or if I did how they would react to me. I know I'm silly. Right off, I saw Candy (Sister Eash) and it was great getting caught up with her. We sat at the same table with Sabreena (Sister Merritt) and her huaband. Let's just say, there were a lot of sisters and senior couples that I was able to talk with and it was fantastic. I loved every minute, until they had a game/quiz and I couldn't remember much from the mission. It was still fun. President Winwood spoke and I was flooded with great memories. It seems like such a long time ago that we were all there on Temple Square but when we were together last night, it felt as though hardly any time had past. That sisterly bond is sure strong!

These are all the sisters and senior couples who went last night. (I'm in the front row.) Such beautiful women!

I finished a fleece blanket by simply adding a satin ribbon binding around the edge. And I finished some burp rags that I've had on my list before Alan was born. (Thanks Annie for the good idea!!)

And, finally, I finished Alan's high chair...

Before



After

I thought the cushion turned out pretty cute. At least we'll save the leather bottom and Alan's head from the back of the chair. I added little black and white checked ribbons to tie it to the chair. It was fun to get creative and finish some of my to-do tasks.
It's been a great week!

There is absolutely nothing sweeter than this (slobber and all)
and knowing that your baby loves you!

Alan had his first bowl of baby cereal. I think we got more on his face than in his mouth. He would "open up" when the spoon came close and then would make the funniest face. I had a hard time not laughing everytime. He's been watching Chason and I eat our food with such facination, that we had to try. I don't know if he's really ready, but it's been fun practicing. If you haven't noticed, I'm still working on his high chair. Hopefully, this week I'll finish it and post it. He's such a funny boy and always a joy.

Chason's birthday was this week and boy, did we have fun. Some friends of ours dropped off a gift with a balloon attached. Alan was a bit confused by it. He would stare at it and, it seemed like he was trying to figure out what exactly it was. We let him play with it and his eyes got really big when he touched the ballon and it would float away and then float back again. He would do it again and again. It is so interesting to watch Alan as he discovers all the new things in this world. Something as simple as a balloon could cause such wonderment with him. It makes everything new and exciting to us too. When he gets a bit older, Disneyland will be so much fun!

Alan is such a boy! He burps! He passes gas! And he likes to wear his bibs as capes!
He's so much fun!

Alan makes me laugh when he's in his exer-saucer. He likes to tell his woes to a little blue horse. It's very cute! One day I'll need to get it on video.