My first tag!

I got tagged for the first time so here goes. Tina tagged me to pick the 4th picture from the 4th folder. It is little Isabelle on her first Easter. I love her in her little pink seersucker.

Collin's first day of Kindergarten!!! My baby is all grown up and in real school. He loves it of course and feel all grown up and independent. I know this blog is a little out dated but it is still good to document. And I think I get little leeway since an am completely exhausted all the time and my brain is shrinking (it shrinks 8% when you are pregnant).
Both kids with their "backpacks." Isabelle too wants to go to school and sneaks off and runs into Collin's classroom every chance that she gets. Her purses are her backpacks. She just saw this picture and said "There's Isabelle and my backpack purple!"

Collin is 5!!!!!

Collin and his friend eating their pinata spoils at his first 'friend party.' They are a lot of work! But they are definitely a lot of fun.
Collin and Daddy on the big day. I can't believe I have a 5 year old who is starting kindergarten next week! Collin loves to golf and so we golfed (miniature style) for his birthday. He wanted to go to Island's for dinner and get their quesadillas (my tortillas and cheese just can't compare) and he got his first big Legos set (with little Legos). I can't believe that I have a child big enough for little Legos! It was a great day.
This is a picture of Collin when he was 1. Cute boy!!

Our First Real Earthquake!

Well, we experienced our first real earthquake today. It was measured at 5.6!!! This was a real southern California quake. I was on a play date at my friend Rachel's house when everything began to shake. I didn't believe it was actually happening at first. Luckily my motherly instincts overtook my shock and I quickly grabbed my kids and ran to a door way. I don't know if that is the best thing to do now that all this controversial information is out there on what to do but...anyway we lived through it just fine and no damage has occurred (only a crooked mirror on the wall). Collin had a lot of questions about the earthquake and although he was clutching my leg during it, he told Daddy later that it was kind of fun. I was pretty scared because I had never really experienced anything like it before (unless you count the studio tour at Universal Studios, which I don't) and my heart was racing for quite a while afterward. Isabelle, my fearless child, wanted to get down and go back to normal play the second the quake stopped. We are all fine and safe and I am not scared anymore but it does make you think about emergency preparedness and how important it is. I have a lot more work to do in that area.

Trip to Utah

Me and the kids took a quick trip to Utah in the end of June. I drove all by myself and although I made it, I am not looking to do it again any time soon. It was fun to see everyone and the kids had a great time with all the cousins! Collin of course uses their names when he talks about them, but Isabelle just calls them 'cousins' and she is always calling them on her phone and saying 'hi cousins.' All 17 grandchildren were together which was wonderful especially because the scattering of the tribes of Collins has really begun. Luckily some of the scattering happened to a closer location to me.


Emmy got married!!! I had a great day and it made the long drive worth it!! She was a beautiful, beautiful bride and the whole day just said "Emmy" in the best possible way. I love that girl and I hope that it's not another 8 years before I see her again. Cam and his family are moving into her ward so there will be more connection and hopefully more contact!
The last night of the trip the kids were soooooo tired. They actually fell asleep in the same bed and I couldn't resist snapping a picture. I guess after 4 days of all party and no naps they could finally lay in the same bed and sleep instead of play. It was a great (but short) trip and the kids still talk about how much fun it was (Isabelle always says Utah with a smile)!

Isabelle is now 2!!!

Isabelle at 2.
Isabelle at 1.
Isabelle at 5 weeks.
Okay so I totally stole this idea from Lark. She did it for Afton and I loved it. Isabelle just had her 2nd birthday. I can't believe she is already a two year old and yet so much has happened to our family in her lifetime. She is a joy everyday, we all love her terribly and can't imagine our life without our little Isabelle.

My Favorite Things

Last week Daddy took the day off to go to Disneyland. Collin was so excited to go on the big rides like Space Mountain (which he will not go on for another few years I think). When Daddy comes we buy stuff (Mommy is cheap) and Collin got to make his own light-saber that is even bigger than me. He knew that he had hit the big time and was feeling pretty cool!
A day at the beach with the kiddies!! One of my favorite things (how could it be otherwise?).
Isabelle does not do anything without Kitty. She and Kitty are inseparable. Sometimes she even has to come to church (to avoid disruptive tantrums and we are working on that). She loves her Kitty and loves to show everyone else her Kitty and puts her right in their face and says "Meow, meow, meow..." I sure hope strangers like Kitty because they get to develop a close relationship with her.