Omaha Trip

 The family cruised up to Omaha the end of August for Brooke's wedding shower.

 We were able to fit in a trip to Henry Doorly Zoo on Sunday with Aunt Lori, Brooke, and Jennifer (Brooke's now-mother-in-law)

It was a great, but too-short trip.  I would like to get Sean to join us and go back for a visit in the spring!

Elise is a 2nd Grader!

 Elise is a 2nd grader!

 Elise started 2nd grade in August at Strafford Elementary.

 She loved posing for back-to-school pictures.

 We actually ran out of time taking pictures because she had so many pose ideas. :)  She rides the bus from our house most mornings, unless Daddy is going to the station, then she rides from Mrs. Melissa's.  She always rides to Mrs. Melissa's in the afternoon.

 I still can't believe how fast these two are growing.

 

Daddy was coming off-shift this year, but he made it home just in time to take her to her first day.  She wanted us to walk her in, but quickly shoo'd us away when we found her classroom.  She's growing so fast!

Summer 2016

 We spent a lot of Saturdays this summer at Farmers Markets--either on C-Street or Republic Rd.  The girls often talked me into face paint, and took money they saved twice to buy bracelets.

 There were a LOT of play dates.  Living two houses down from girls around the same age as ours has been so much fun over the last year.  I think they'll really miss being able to run down the street when they're bored on a Sunday afternoon after we move.  But I think they will also enjoy having 10 acres on which to roam!

 There was lots of cuddling with the new addition to the family, Case.  The girls adore him.

 On July 4th, Denise opened her home to the family again (thanks, Denise!) and there was a giant slip-n-slide set up for the kiddos this year.  I can remember sliding down this same hill on another giant slip-n-slide when I was a kid not much older than these yahoos!

 Cindy had a bunch of the old Dillons folks to her house to enjoy her new pool.  It was great to catch up with everyone!

 These sweet boys turned 2 and celebrated with a pool party!  Hard to believe Owen and Gage are two!

 We had SDC and White Water Season passes and made good use of them.  Erin was still nervous about the rides at White Water, so even though she was big enough for a lot of them, she still wouldn't ride.  I am hoping next year will be different!

 We celebrated Erin's 4th birthday with a trip to Build-A-Bear!

 We took Owen on a field trip to Nan and Pop's to see the horses and check out the creek.

 Case got baptized, and our family sure cleans up well!

 Elise got to participate in two camps this summer.  Her favorite was Art Camp at the Art Museum.  She also participated in camp at Springfield Little Theater and they put on a performance that MawMaw and Uncle Dave came to watch.

 We took a trip with the Kelbs to Branson.  We stayed close to the Landing in a hotel with a pool that the kids made great use of, and went to Silver Dollar City.

It was another busy summer that flew by very quickly!

Case Allen Collins

 An absolutely amazing thing happened on June 24th.  Yes, my Dad celebrated his birthday.  But it just so happens that he's going to have to share his birthdays from now on. 

 Case Allen Collins was brought into the world at 4:54pm, weighing 8lbs, 1oz.  I don't recall his length off the top of my head, but I do remember saying when he was lifted up for us to see that he looked so big!

Case's daddy cut the cord

 I was so incredibly blessed to be able to be in the room with my sister when she delivered.  It was something I wouldn't have seen otherwise (two c-section babies, after all), but I'm so glad I was able to see when my newest nephew was born.  Tears flowed from my eyes with every push in amazement of how strong Lac was, of how miraculous it is that God made her specifically to be this sweet boy's mama.  And let me tell you: when he was actually here, I could hardly stop crying long enough to snap pictures!

 Link is one proud big brother!  I kept him Saturday and he made sure I washed his Big Brother shirt so he could wear it again when he got to bring his baby brother home on Sunday!  He didn't really want to share him with his cousins, either.  

 Erin's world was rocked by the birth of her newest cousin, even if she doesn't quite know it yet.  She's not the baby on this side of the family anymore.  (She lost the title of baby a while back on the other side of the family).

 Case is the 6th great-grandchild for Nan and Pop.  Boys and girls are even until Channing has her baby girl later this summer (and Nan and Pop will be up to 7!)

 I snapped this picture right as the sweet guy yawned!  I loved it!

 Mammy and Popa now have two granddaughters and two grandsons.

 Sweet kids kicked Lacy out of her hospital bed less than 24 hours after delivering.  They're lucky she's a rockstar.

This little guy is already so loved and adored--and I'm going to spoil him rotten!

But what about the kids and Roxie?

 Don't worry!  The kids and Roxie were well cared for!  Roxie got to spend the week with her cousins Bear and Lola at Aunt Lori and Uncle Marty's house.  She hasn't moved much since we brought her home--don't know if she's exhausted from the fun, or missing her buddies, or both!

 The girls did the "Tour de Grandparents", spending the weekend with Papoo and GranGran (Sean's dad and step-mom), the early part of the week with MawMaw and PawPaw (Sean's mom and step-dad), and finishing up with Mammy and Popa (my mom and dad).  They got to take TWO trips to Silver Dollar City, and do some swimming at the Marshfield Country Club.  They hung out with cousins, and said they had a great time. 

Owen hung out with his grandparents on his mom's side the whole week.  When they told him his parents were coming home, he responded with "Elise?"  He was missing the girls!  So he and his daddy stopped by for a quick visit today!

Friendcation 2016, Part 4

 On Wednesday, we hiked out to the Fossil Ledges.  It was quite the hike.

 I was very glad Jessie, Elizabeth, and Cheratin talked me into getting Chaco sandals.  They were comfy for hiking, and no big deal hiking through puddles like this.

 From the Fossil Ledges, we could see Canada.  In fact, when we left our cabin, it would only be a few miles inland before we were on International roaming, picking up a cell tower in Canada.

 The fossil ledges were really pretty.  It was cold, again, and by the time we left our feet were numb, but it was well worth it.

 People stacked rocks along the ledges, and Mr. Adventure climbed up on them.

 The ride to the trail was so rough that Jessie and I decided it would be better to ride in the bed versus in the truck on the way back out.

 Chacos saved the day!  Don't mind that my feet are twice the size of Jessie's elfin feet.

 When I researched the trip, everyone raved about TeePee ice cream.  We had to try it.  Turns out, it was "meh" at best.  We preferred the Gourmet Galley, and it was cheaper, too!

We got in the hot tub every afternoon/evening--we were glad to have it with the chilly days.  The warmest day was Thursday (which was the day Viets and Will went golfing, so that was nice for them) and the high then was 74.  It was quite shocking to come back on Friday to 90+ degree weather!

Overall, it was a great vacation and we had a blast laughing and hanging out.  Next year, we'll vacation again...but we'll have the kids.  That will be a much different feeling than the relaxation and easy-going pace we experienced in Michigan!