End of Regular Season

Today was our last regular season game. And I have to say we went out with a bang! We didn't win. We played Alta and we knew from the beginning they were going to be hard. But being the last game the boys were ready to have a good time and let that be enough!
Jaxon had an AMAZING game! While he was playing nose guard he broke through the line (that was HUGE by the way!) and made the QB throw the ball away! More then once I saw him zero in on a kid and run faster then I realized he could! He ended up with 3 tackles today! The last kick off of the game the ball came right to Jaxon he picked it up and ran it! I started screaming! He got to run the ball! He moved it about 8 yards and broke off about 3 tackles! It was wonderful!
As we were leaving we saw a boy from our neighborhood and I asked him how he had done. With a huge smile on his face he said good! Then I asked if they had won and he said no. But you could tell he didn't care about that, all he cared about was he felt good about how he had played. After Jaxon's team was done talking and we were on our way to the car I asked him how he felt he had done. And the reply was the same. He felt good about how he had played and that is all that matters to me.
Regular season is over. I am so grateful that we didn't have to deal with a major injury. We are going to Jag Bowl (a fundraiser we do for any teams who don't go to play offs) so we will have games the next 2 weeks. If they can relax and play like they did today I think they will do pretty well!
Thanks Jags for a wonderful season! Jaxon, keep up the great work and have fun!

13 Years Ago...

13 years ago I became a mom. It took me days to refer to myself that way! I know that sounds weird that I referred to myself as Brook to my own child, but I had been the older cousin and babysitter for so long it was weird to call myself mom. It didn't take long!
I remember feeling like I had been in labor for about 6 weeks! I started having contractions at about 35 weeks and we were just sure he was going to come early. I went in one week begging my doctor to start me. It was my first baby and they had to give me until my due date to see what I would do on my own. Over the next week I heard every horror story under the sun about inducement. I went in 2 days before my due date and he was willing to take me ON my due date! And being the idiot that I am, I had to say no! Jaxon's due date was 2 days before our 1st wedding anniversary and when I found that out in the begging I thought, "As long as the baby doesn't come on our anniversary. I want us to have our own day!" Then I said no to the doctor and was over due (just by 2 days, I know I'm a big baby!) and totally miserable! Lucky for me my doctor didn't want me going too far over so 5 days over due I went to the hospital to have a baby! They got me going about 10am and about 5pm I was holding my baby boy!

He was perfect! He was 8lbs 6oz and 20in long! This was back when it was only a 24 hour stay and so Jaxon got to come home on Halloween! I remember getting home and having kids come Trick-or-Treating to the door! I felt so bad we didn't have any candy!



2nd snowmobiling trip. He was more afraid this year then he had been as a baby!


Jaxon's 3rd birthday!

This year Halloween was on Sunday and so we did Trick-or-Treating on his birthday. We had the cousins dress up and took them to a few houses at his party! It was then that he started telling us what he wanted to be for his birthday instead of Halloween!
Jaxon and Megan!


Jaxon and his 1st "best friend" Josh!
Even though Josh and his family have moved away (at times as far as Canada) he and Jaxon have stayed good friends!

They even have baby sisters the same age!

Jaxon and Emma!
Jaxon was ment to be the oldest child! He is the best big brother anyone could ask for. He is helpful and a good example. He has always had a special bond with Emma. It might have something to do with praying for a sister for almost 7 years!

Jaxon and Maycie!
This was less then a week after Maycie came home from the hospital. It was the night of Jaxon's first Priesthood Session of Conference. I think Jaxon prayed so hard for a sister he got 2!



It is hard for me to believe that I have a 13 year old! It seems like just yesterday they put him in my arms and I could hardly think of myself as a mom! He has grown up so much and is so responsible. I can count on him for so much. MOST of the time he does what I ask him to without complaint.

He is doing so well in school his doctor nearly fell out of her chair when we were in last week. I don't have to remind him to do homework or when to get ready for football practice. He always does his best to be a good example to those around him and to do what his Heavenly Father would have him do. Now if we could just get him to be that way with his chores! I guess he can't be perfect!
We are so grateful for you Jaxon and our family would not be the same without you!
Keep up the good work!
Love ya!

Carving Pumpkins!

We have had pumpkins for almost a month now and every Monday night the kids would bug us about carving them. Every week we would explain that if we carved them too early they would shrivel and be ruined by Halloween. So we planed to do it last night! As with everything else in life things didn't go exactly as planned and we ended up doing it at 8, only the same time the girls should have been going to bed!

Jaxon decided a headless horsemen picture would be cool for his phone so...

Mom got out her camera too and the next thing you know we had pictures of all the kids (except Maycie, sorry!) with no head and bellies hanging out!


Connor

Porter

Emma

The kids and their pumpkins! Mom and Dad (mostly mom!) dropped the ball and didn't do a pumpkin for Maycie. I didn't even think about it until we were getting ready to take this picture. So I guess I will find some time this week and do a pumpkin for Maycie!

Side note: Connor was the only one to do his pumpkin without any help! Emma told mom what to do and mom did it! Porter did most of his dad just helped some with the mouth. Jaxon did some but was kind of like what ever! When I realized Connor was going to get his done all by himself I said something and then Connor spent the rest of the night saying, "I rock!" Yes, Connor, you ROCK!

14 Years Ago...

14 years ago today the weather was very different! I'm not sure when it changed. I know it was sometime in the next week or so. All I know is that October 27, 1995 the weather was beautiful. The perfect day for a wedding!

Jeron and I drove to Manti separately. I went with my family and worked on a cross stitch for Jeron as a wedding present. I was doing it as a surprise and only worked on it when we were not together. (When does that happen for an engaged couple!!) It was not finished and I was getting very frustrated with it. Just so you know I did finish it on our 1st wedding anniversary! As my mom and I walked into the temple I saw my uncle who was doing our wedding video had arrived early to make sure he got both Jeron and I going into the temple on video! I remember them changing my name on my Temple Recommend. I remember that there was no one else in the brides room and I had like 3 cute temple workers gooing over me. I remember that I got to carry my mom's hankie from when she got married (my great grandmother crocheted it for her) and my temple apron was a family heirloom from Jeron's family. I remember getting to sit in the Celestial room together. It was so peaceful. We got married in the lower of the two tower rooms and I remember them taking Jeron and I into the room first. We got to watch everyone walk into the room. I remember the Sealer talking to us for quite sometime and then Jeron's aunt and Grandma got there just before the actual ceremony. They had had car trouble on the way down and the sealer was waiting for them. He gave us so much good advice and I tried to pay attention but I don't remember any of what he said! I do remember Jeron looking at me over the altar and the love that I saw there. I knew we were doing what Heavenly Father wanted us to and we really were going to get to be together forever!




My mom made my dress! It was everything I ever wanted and more! These picture just don't do it justice! Don't we look like babies!

We had so much support! So many people came even though we went all the way to Manti. The whole time we were engaged, and even now sometimes, people would ask if one of us was from down there. No, would come the reply, that is just where we want to get married. Actually that is how I knew I was supposed to marry Jeron. For the longest time I have been in love with that temple and knew I wanted to be married there. When I was a teenager my mom would ask, "What if that isn't where your husband wants to be married?" I would reply, "Then he won't be my husband then will he!" And then one night we were talking about temples and the moment Manti came up I knew, I knew we would get married.

Now, 14 years latter I am more in love with this man then the day I knelt across the altar from him. We have been through so many things together and I could not have done it without him. He is such a strength to me. He upholds his priesthood and honors it and is teaching our sons to do the same. He is teaching our daughters to follow Christ and does that by example. There are so many things I would like to say, I just don't know how to put them into words.

Ours is a crazy life. I'm not sure one thing has turned out the way we "planned" it would. We had kids sooner then we planned and college and a house latter then we planned! The boys came fast and the girls took their time. To say our life is a roller coaster just doesn't do it justice, it is more like the "Wild Mouse" at Lagoon! Besides the ups & downs there are the sharp turns that come completely out of the blue! But it is a ride I wouldn't trade for the world and wouldn't have anyone else sitting by my side for the whole thing!

I love you Jeron, Happy Anniversary!

Wheeler Farm (and the BIGGEST pig I have ever seen!)

This last Friday the girls and I went to Wheeler Farm with a friend. It was a nice day and perfect for an outing! We went to feed the ducks first and the geese were, to say the least VERY hungry. They wouldn't leave us alone! We decided to go on the wagon ride and see some of the other animals and try back with the birds. It did not get any better when we came back. The girls didn't really get to feed them because they couldn't break the bread apart fast enough. Even when the bread was gone they kept coming after us! I was going to try to get a video clip of them but was too busy running away while pushing a stroller so I got these pictures instead!

You can see it in there eyes that they want the food that we have and they will go to any length to get it! I have to say the girls all handled it really well! And I don't remember the last time I was so freaked out AND laughing at the same time!

There was a mommy pig with her piglets! We got to see them get the piglets out for some outside fun! Emma really loved the piglets. Maycie loved everything! She couldn't quite pointing!

This is, without a doubt the BIGGEST pig I have ever seen. The picture does not do it justice! It kept moving around or I would have had Emma and her friend Kylie stand in the picture too to have something to compare with. The girls really enjoyed the pigs, all of them!

Emma and had fun driving the tractor! She thinks she is so big! Do you think she knows that the steering wheel is as big as she is?!

Two More Losses and Out of Playoff's

Jaxon's game two weeks ago was against Riverton. The game started out great and they seemed to have a real momentum going. My mom called and I told her that if they wanted to come this would be a great game to come to! They were doing so awesome! Jaxon recovered the ball on a fumble on the kick off and got us the ball! He was on fire!
After the half we started to loose the momentum some how and Riverton took over. I think it is my fault! I was bragging them up a little too much I guess! Jaxon did a really great job the whole game (I am not just saying that because I'm his mom!) and ended up getting another fumble recovery! And did his best to help keep the team fired up. In the end Riverton won. It was another hard loss for these boys. Winning the first three games didn't prepare them for what they would face with some of these harder teams who have been playing together since they were 8.

I decided the only way to make sure I get pictures with my boys actually IN them is to take pictures while they are warming up! Jaxon is the one hitting on the left, Jeron is standing on the sled (hey Jer, what do you call that thing?)

Getting fired up!

Now we just need to find a way to keep that fire!

Last Thursday Jaxon came home from school telling me he was sooo... tired and went down to his room and slept for the next 2 hours! When I informed him he would be missing school the next day I was met with despair and argument (shouldn't it be the other way around? Despair and argument when I tell him he HAS to go to school) "Mom, it is almost the end of the Quarter I can't miss now!" Wow, what a good kid!

By Saturday the fever was basically gone but we banned him to the basement and told him NO football. :( Connor had run a fever on Friday as well so they both had to miss Porter's last game. After Porter's game Jeron, Porter and I went up to Bountiful for Jeron to coach and Porter and I to cheer the team on in Jaxon's absence. It's really too bad Jaxon was sick because they really could have used him on the line. We got there late because of Porter's game and we were already down by ALOT! The line was falling apart and so was everything else. But then they found the fun! We still didn't win, but they didn't let them shut them out either!

They are a great group of boys and I'm glad Jaxon has been able to be a part of it. Two games left. Here we go Jaguars here we go!

Porter's Last Game!

While the computer was out of commission the boys had two games. This last week was Porter's last game. He has really enjoyed playing flag football this year even if it wasn't tackle! He had a wonderful coach who really did a good job of teaching them the game of football.

Before every game he would meet early with them to go over plays and make sure they were all warmed up and ready to play!

Porter blocking (he is in the blue shorts!)

We are going to take you down coach!

This game was the perfect last game! They won (not that they keep score - whatever! I promise I am NOT holding a grudge!) They had an amazing pass that was carried in for a touch down. They were all on fire! Porter had some really amazing runs.

The thing I think I enjoyed the most about Porter playing flag football this year is that he learned it takes a whole team to win a game. He got to try almost every position so now if :)* he plays tackle football he will have a good understanding of the game and what he is supposed to do, along with what position he would like to play!

Great job, Porter we are all so proud of you! Keep up the good work!

*We all know that it is not if, but when! :)

I AM BACK!

Some of you may have noticed (most of you, I'm sure ha ha) I haven't done a blog entry in a little bit. I had done so well since football started and then our computer died! AAHHH! It was awful! I felt like I had been cut off from the world and sent back to the 1800's! I guess I had forgotten just how much I use the computer. When we went into stores we kept telling them we didn't do much with the computer, just basic stuff. But at the same time in my head I was screaming JUST MY WHOLE LIFE! Jeron was giving me a hard time: "You HAD to start blogging THIS year didn't you!" Yes I did! And I have to say how much I love it! I love checking all of your blogs and keeping up on all of the day to day things that happen in your lives! I love keeping a record of what is going on in our lives in our little Collins Clan! I know most of what I blog about is not all that interesting, but it is our record! I have always loved journal writing (just ask my mom!) and just have not had the time to keep up on it the way I used to. This so fills that void for me! So thanks to all of you for letting me be a part of your lives through this amazing thing we call a blog!

Four Years Ago...

Four years ago today I got to go to the hospital knowing I was coming home with my baby girl! There had been a longer break between Porter and little Miss Emma then we had planed. It was a little bit like the first all over again! Everything went pretty much the same as with all the boys. The thing I remember the most as being different was how fast after I actually delivered that the boys were able to come in and see us! I delivered at 3:12 and they were all coming in to see us by 3:30!

My first memory of seeing Emma was how chunky she was! She was 19 in. and 8lbs 4oz! Her face was round from the day she was born. Her hair was so dark and curly. I know no one would believe me now! No one would believe me by the time she was a few months old! But I promise she did have curls when she was born!

We waited to tell the boys we were expecting until we were ready for the whole world to know! Having another baby was something we had been praying about as a family for almost 2 years. We had talked to the boys and told them that if we wanted Heavenly Father to bless our family with another baby we needed to tell Him! They took us very seriously! Especially Connor. We even had his primary teacher ask us if we were expecting because Connor was praying for a baby in every prayer he said! We told them as an Easter present by giving them an ultra sound picture! It took them a minute to understand it was OUR baby! After we found out Connor and Porter were pretty insistent it was a boy (mostly Connor) and Jaxon (he had been praying for a baby sister since Connor was 2 weeks old) was pretty sure it was a girl. I was a little worried about Connor accepting a baby sister until we found out it was a girl. From then on if he ever saw anything pink he insisted baby Emma NEEDED it!

After she was born I think the only thing Connor said for about 2 days straight was "She is so cute!" Jaxon and Porter were right there too! She had them all wrapped around her finger from the day she was born! Not one of them could stand to hear her cry. I still don't know that they realize the monster they have created! She still thinks they should do everything she tells them right when she tells them! I keep telling them that they are doing it all over again with Maycie but I'm not sure they care!

When ever we have anyone tell us how spoiled she is going to be with all those big brothers Jeron just tells them "it is okay, she'll never be able to date!" I'm not sure he is kidding either! I'm going to have to sneak her out of the house!

She has grown up so much in the last little bit! She has defiantly made the transition to big girl. It is hard for me to believe she is 4 (going on about 24)! A girly girl from the very beginning. Shoes and purses are a must have and you can never have too many! I need to pull out my beads because she keeps asking for a new necklace and then looks at my beads!

I love this little girl so much! I hope I am able to teach her the things she needs to know to be able to return to her Heavenly Father. As least I have been able to teach her that I love her even when she is naughty! That is one of her favorite questions! From time-out, with tears in her eyes: "Mommy, you love me even when I naughty?" I just hope she understands that her Heavenly Father does too! It's not okay to be naughty, but she is still loved!

P.S. Emma's baby pictures are stuck on our other lap top and it didn't want to let them off! As soon as we figure out how to get them off I will do a post with baby pictures, 'cause you so need to see them! :)

A Big Deal To Me!

I know this probably seems a little over the top to some, but this is a picture of Maycie today! This is the first time she has pulled herself up to the side of her crib! This is something that ALL of my other kids had done months before now. I have learned at Physical Therapy that the Tortocllis has affected all of her muscles from her neck all the way down to her legs. It delayed all of her large motor skill development. All the way from rolling over to this. Just when we think we may need to worry or up the Physical Therapy again she pulls it out of her hat and starts doing what ever it is we are worried about. This is no different. We go back to Physical Therapy on Wednesday and so that we don't worry she starts pulling herself up! What a little turkey! At her 1 year well check our pediatrician asked if she will wave when she wants to. I said yes she will but the when she wants to is the key! Maycie does not do anything until she is good and ready! I'm just glad we have had so many good people to help us along the way! Thank you to everyone for all of your wonderful support!

I Have Changed!

It is always amazing to me to look back over my life and see how I have changed even though I don't really feel any different! As I was drooling over a Suburban the other day I realized how much my taste in cars have changed over the years.
When I was in high school I was in love with muscle cars in particular a '67 Mustang! I wanted one and thought I would always want one. Now, I can still appreciate a beautiful Mustang and any muscle car for that matter. The new Camero, very HOT car! I love that my boys are trying to learn all about these cars and ask what they are looking at and can appreciate them along with Jeron and I.
After I got married and had Jaxon I decided I wanted a Nissan Pathfinder! Very cool "mom" car! Very cool SUV and yet not too big (because I would NEVER drive some huge van or suburban! Not me!). Very quickly I realized that our family size and money were not going to add up to a Pathfinder. We did have a Pontiac Grand Am and even though we had some problems with it I really did love that car! I did realize, at what point I can't remember, that we were going to end up in a mini van one day. I came to grips with it, but that was as far as I was going! I would never drive anything bigger then that! Porter was born and I moved from "wanting" a mini van to "coveting" a mini van. It got so bad that Jaxon, at 4 years old, was drooling over mini vans! Keep in mind he was in between his brothers in the back seat!
We are now on our 2nd mini van and I have truly loved this van! When we bought it I was sure I was never going to drive anything else! And then about a year and a half ago we found out our family was growing again! Even then I saw no need for a Suburban. We would all fit in the van just fine! The closer to delivery we got the more I knew we were going to end up in something bigger but was just sure we would be just fine for at least a couple more years! We are just fine but we have made that move from "wanting" to "coveting" yet again! I was talking with my sister-in-law the other day and stopped in the middle of a sentence to google over a Suburban! Actually it was a Yukon XL Denali! I felt so bad! I had just stopped talking!
Every once in a while I check KSL to see what is out there and what they are going for. I looked for my first car for almost 2 years! I drove my mom and dad nuts! So now I am driving my husband nuts! He worries that I am going to be sad if I find one and then we can't get it. I did find one once that I was trying to figure out a way to make it work. And then we went and test drove a newer one! They even let us keep it for the day thinking we would come back willing to do whatever they told us to be able to get it! I did love it! I did want it! But I knew when we left the dealership with it it wasn't going to happen. So when we went back and they wanted some outlandish price we were able to walk away with no regrets! I do know exactly what I want now though! One day we will have one. In the meantime I am trying not to covet too much!

Busy Saturday!

I normally love Saturdays in the Fall! Especially when they are rainy and cool like this last Saturday! I love to lay in bed a little longer then I can other days of the week - that is if my kids will let me - and catch up on some TIVO with a cup of hot chocolate! But with the boys playing football we have not and will not have a Saturday like that for quite some time!
As busy and hectic as this Saturday was it was all good things! Jaxon's game was at 9am, 1 of only 2, and a good thing it was too! (Read blog entry: Do They Hear The Things We Teach?) And Porter's game was at 10am! So dad and Jaxon left for Jaxon to be to the field early while the other kids and I were supposed to get out the door just in time to get to the game. So much for that! We didn't leave until 9 because of a missing cleat! When will they learn that I tell them to put things away for a reason?! We were playing Bingham and so we knew it was going to be a hard game. I got there between 9:15 and 9:20 and we were already down by like 21 to nothing! Total bummer! I stayed and watched a little too long and then took the wrong way to Porter's game and got stuck in construction so he was REALLY late for his game. They have all started RIGHT on time and so I was totally flipping out and feeling really bad we were getting him there so late! He was late but for the first time they had started our game a little late and so he wasn't as late as we thought!
They both played really well! I missed all of the good plays in Jaxon's game because I had to leave. We actually got a TD! We have 4 boys on our team who have played before and that is the first time any of them have ever scored against Bingham! And we are still in the running for playoffs. Up until this week we were tied for 1st place! So I don't know if this just drops us to 2nd or 3rd but they are still giving every one a run for their money! Porter did really well too. I think being late kind of threw him for a little bit. He really has a natural talent for this sport and is going to unstoppable as he gets older!
Dad and Jaxon made it to the end of Porter's game, thanks mostly to it starting late! Unless he is helping on the side lines he follows up and down the field to have the best view. This week was no different! He got right up there so Porter knew he had made it! What would I do without such a good husband/father? And then we all headed home listening to the end of Conference! We got Maycie down for a nap and then Jeron took me for my hot chocolate! What a good hubby! Then he headed off to have a friend help him with his car. The blower motor still isn't working and so he has no heat or defrost! I came in and sat down on the bed for "just a minute" and the next thing I know Jaxon is waking me up asking what he should have for lunch! AHHHH! He needed to be at the stake center in an hour and we didn't have anything good for him to eat! Off to Wal-mart to get him something high in protein HE will eat (my mom says I deserve him!) and back home in time for him to eat, get dressed and to the stake center by 2pm! Whew, one more thing down!
And then off the Target for birthday presents for Maycie and Emma because we were doing parties with both Jeron and my families on Sunday! Home so I could see Jeron for just a minute before he headed to the Conference Center to see Jaxon - we got one ticket for dad! And then off to Costco for the things I forgot when I was there on Friday! Back home to get Connor and Porter and then off to Grandma Sue's to be with cousins during Priesthood Session! Then the mom's went to Target (thanks to Aunt Melissa for staying home so I could leave Maycie too). Shopping is so much more fun when you are with other people! I had no idea I would be going to two different Targets on the same day but so worth it! We didn't even leave Target until after the session was over! Jeron AND Jaxon beat me home!
You know, for as much as I LOVE those lazy Saturdays this Saturday was a pretty great Saturday! Don't get me wrong! I WILL enjoy a lazy Saturday too when football is over, but in the mean time there is nothing I would rather be doing then seeing my children doing well in the things they love and making the choices their Father in Heaven would have them make!

Do They Hear The Things We Teach?

I know I have wondered more then once if my children hear the things we have been trying to teach them since the day they were born. Most of the time I have felt as if it goes in one ear and out the other. (Thank You Elder Bednar! It was nice to hear that even an Apostle of The Lord felt that way a time or two!) Every once in a while I have been given a glimpse that at least some of it sticks inside the head before most of it passes out the other side!
Over the last month I have been given such a glimpse with Jaxon. About a month ago we found out that ours and some surrounding Stakes were asked to gather an Aaronic Priesthood Choir for the Priesthood Session of Conference. The first practice was hard. He had to miss a trip to Grandma's to visit and see cousins. Jeron and I asked him to make it a matter of prayer. He decided to go. At that practice he found out the practices would be on Sunday nights (not a problem) and on Thursday nights at the very same time as football practice. They had been told that they had to be to every practice and so Jeron and I just didn't see any way for him to be able to do it. See, we are trying to teach our children when they commit to something they commit. He had committed to football first, and even though this was an acceptable thing to say "I want to do that instead" what do we do the next time and he says "I want to do that instead" to missing anything for something that was NOT acceptable and then throws this in our face? So the next Sunday when he came to us and told us he was going to go to practice we asked him how he was going to make this work. He told us that he was just going to talk to them and see if he could just miss Thursday practices. WOW! I have to say that I truly believe when we counseled him to make it a matter of prayer that he did so. When he was faced with a problem he listened to the council his parents gave him, took the problem to the Lord and then listened to the answered that he received.
Many more times we have been able to point out ways the Lord had paved the way for him to be able to do this. He only had two 9am games, this morning being one of them. Last week he hurt his knee even more in his game and so coach didn't want him dressing in pads for practice this week. See this week was the dress rehearsal practice that COULD NOT be missed so football practice would be. (This practice was on Wednesday not Thursday) But just to be extra sure we had so much rain before Wednesday practice they couldn't hold practice! The ducks had taken over the field! Not a huge surprise to me. I have grown up by this park and have seen water in it for days after a rain like we had this last week! What was amazing to me was that by Thursday there was NO water left at all. And I mean NO WATER! It blew my mind!
The Lord truly watches over us. And I have to say that more then Jaxon remembering the things he has been taught, I have been reminded of a few things over the last month. I have been reminded that the Lord is mindful of me and my little family. He wants to see all of us return to Him again and will give me the teaching moments I need to be able to do that if I will take those opportunities. I am grateful for a wonderful husband who helps me see and take those moments. I am grateful for wonderful children, despite the many times I think they are not listening, who try to take the things that we teach them into their lives. I am also grateful for my Savior who died for me so that I can be with Him and this wonderful family again.

P.S. If you would like to see a picture of Jaxon at the dress rehearsal go to the blog "Noble Moments"