Baby Joshua

Baby Joshua Collins came much earlier than we expected, 3 weeks to be exact! Then he was supposed to be born around noon (by c-section) on the 28th of December!! That was too long to wait also ... Joy started having contractions around 1 AM!! They squeezed her in the operation room, and he was here around 7:15 AM, Dec. 28th! While his older brother and sister were both 8 lbs. +, Joshua was 5 lb.s 14 oz.!! Here are some from the day ... More will be posted later!!

Happy Birthday to our Miracle Babies!!

Shawn and Shane turned 8 today!! We can not believe how fast they have grown!! Here they are with their older brother Lance ... they are showing off Christmas presents (the jerseys)!!

Day TWENTY-ONE - Violet LuPita Neal

Violet was finally able to come home! Bryan drove to Coleman yesterday to pick her up! She is wonderful ... Bevo is a protective big brother already! There are so many things I could say about her ... we are already picking up on her personality! I can't wait until you can meet her!! Until then ... here are some pictures!!

Violet is a snuggle-bug! See the purple collar ... she is also supporting the Irion County Hornets!

My babies and I.

He is so good with her!

Sweet Little Girl.

Loving her new bed!

Look back at the picture of Bevo in this bed ... the size difference is outrageous!

This is wear she decided to lay when I was getting ready this morning!!

Day TWENTY - Our First Christmas Tree

So, I know it's not much ... but it's our's!! I put it up when we moved into the house last week ... but was too tired to put any ornaments on!! Bryan just realized last night that it needed some ... Bevo and I had a grand time watching him!

Day NINETEEN - Violet's New Bed

Bryan is going to pick up Violet tomorrow in Coleman! Well today, we went ahead and got her carrier, bed, collar, etc.!! I took the new tags off of the bed and just set it in the living room!! We have tried to warn Bevo that he has a little sister coming, but just doesn't undestand! He thinks that bed is for him ... here are some pictures of him trying it out!! The jealousy has already began ...

Day EIGHTEEN - The Evil Look

The video was on America's Funniest Home Video, and my family and I laughed for ages!! Just wanted to share some laughter!! Enjoy!

Day SEVENTEEN - Garfield and Friends

Garfield was my one of my favorite cartoons growing up, and still is today!! Here is the comic strip for today!!

Day SIXTEEN - Christmas Card

Last weekend, the West Texas Boy's Ranch opened up their place for everyone to come out and see! It had a great turn out with great food and wonderful music!! The cottages were all decorated for the holiday season ... and in this particular cottage, we found Santa Claus! So this is our Christmas card!!

Day FIFTEEN - CONGRATS!!

Our friends, Blair and Lacey Williams, tied the knot today in Abilene, Texas!! Very Elegant wedding at a hotel (like the Cactus in San Angelo)!!

A couple of Highlights from the evening:

- Road Trip ... Bryan, myself, Clint, Greg and Elizabeth piled into our car and made the trip to Abilene!

- A 26 minute wedding (they beat us by 3 minutes) ... Bryan and I always time weddings now!

- One of the Matron of Honors (bride's sister) walked down the isle with her son in her arms ... You could hear a baby crying in the back before she walked down! About half way through the service, she had him to her husband ... who walked out immediately because he started crying!

- Bar-B-Que for supper!

- Clint shoving a table camera in my face ... to catch those "off-guard" pictures!! I will have to apologize for Clint's behavior to Blair and Lacey when they get those crazy pictures back!

- Cheese Cake for the wedding cake with your choice of strawberry, caramel or chocolate for the topping!

- Ringing bells when they walked out!

- Someone shouting "Body Slam Her, Blair ... what? It's a wrestling move"!

- Bryan showing off his moves to all of our friends at the dance!

- Seeing THREE video cameras at one point (we forgot to have even one person video tape our wedding)!

- Having a blast with our friends!

- Getting home about midnight!

Day FOURTEEN - Best Boss in the World!!

Today I came into work at 8 am! I completed my normal Friday morning requirements by about 9:15 AM! The wonderful boss that I have allowed me to go home at that time and work on the house!! Between my parents, the guy moving into our old house, Bryan and myself ... we were able to move almost everything into our new house at the Boy's Ranch!! We only left a couple of small knick knack stuff (that probably needs to go to the salvation army)! Bryan and I are excited about all that was accomplished today!! Now, we still have boxes every where in our new house ... but at least they are there!! Thanks, To My Amazing Boss!! :)

Day THIRTEEN - Daily Devotional

I recieve these daily through email!! I enjoyed this one and wanted to share!

Daily Devotional by Max Lucado

"the One who came still comes and the One who spoke still speaks" December 13God has given a son to us... His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God... Prince of Peace."

ISAIAH 9:6

Every Christmas I read this reminder that came in the mail several years ago:
If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.

Christmas cards. Punctuated promises. Phrases filled with the reason we do it all anyway. He became like us, so we could become like him. Angels still sing and the star still beckons. He loves each one of us like there was only one of us to love.

When God Whispers Your Name

Max Lucado ©2000 - 2007

Day TWELVE - Busy Busy Bees

The next week is going to be extra busy for Bryan and I!! We are in the process of moving ... and all of sudden it needs to be done now!! Bryan and I hope to finish up the painting tonight! We have moved a bunch of kitchen stuff in our house already ... but tomorrow it will be time for large items!! Tomorrow just happens to be his Christmas luncheon for work ... that both of us are supposed to attend!! Also he has a meeting with our Landlord and the new guy moving into our house ... we will probably fill my car up with whatever will fit!! I will take the load after work! Friday - the guy moving into our old house wants to start moving his stuff in!! So they will be moving our stuff out ... and his stuff in!! Kinda hectic ... and you would think that we would be able to stay home and work on it over the weekend!! NOPE! We have a wedding IN Abilene on saturday at 6 ... and another work thing at 5 PM on Sunday!! Then we are already up to Monday! Monday and Tuesday are calm ... but then Wednesday comes!! Bryan and I both have doctors appointments ... and Thursday, Bryan is going to go pick up my puppy!!! Friday - We plan on leaving for Kerrville to celebrate!! SO ... our plan was to be in the new house by Christmas, which would actually be the 21st (because we won't be back until Christmas Eve and will not be moving then)!! Pray for us ... we are not very good at this "moving" stuff!!

PS - I am keeping up with the challenge ... some of the posts just might be kinda borring (like this one)!!

PS (again) - If anybody has any suggestions for moving, we are all ears!

Day ELEVEN - Mrs. Claus' Cookbook

This was sent to me in an email!! Click on the name ... and it should take you to a website with hundreds of recipes!! ENJOY!!

Cookies

Fudge & Candy

Cakes

Pies

Breads

Misc.

Day TEN - Fantasy Football

Bryan asked me to play in a Fantasy Football league with them! I said only if they need me ... If you have an even number of people, then everyone plays every week ... If you have odd, someone will have a bye! So nine was the number of boys ... one was the number of girls!! During the draft, I picked my own players! During the weeks, I would pick up more on my own! There was one time when Bryan told me that I should drop so-and-so because they were hurt and wouldn't play again ... the next week that guy scored a touchdown! I never listened to him again! Here was the final outcome from our league!

Standings

1st - Kerrville Pterodactyls (10-3)

2nd - Rough Ruff (10-3)

3rd - Hurricane Ditka (9-3-1)

4th - What the French, Toast (9-4)

5th - Warren Wallace (8-5) <--- BRYAN

6th - Team NOT LAST PLACE (6-7) <--- ME

7th - Team Taylor (4-8-1)

8th - Team Garmon (4-9)

9th - Team Tito (3-10)

10th - Optimus Semi's (1-12)

I was not that far behind him!

In Landry's words, "I so proud of me!!"

ps-Also, that "1" win next to Optimus Semi ... that was from me!! I was happy to give it to him!!

Day NINE - "Lap Dog"

Why I want a small lap dog ...

Day EIGHT - New Addition

This morning, Bryan and I made a special trip up and over to Coleman, Texas ... the Humane Society of Coleman County to be exact!! I have been emailing the lady all week about this dog!! I told her that I was 99% positive that we would be making a deposit on her ... as soon as she brought the puppies out, I said I was 100%!! She was born on Novemeber 7th ... Bryan's birthday!! When I saw that, I knew we had to get her!! She will be ready on Dec. 20th!!

I have a name in mind ... but I'm up for suggestions if anyone has one!!
She was my first pick out of the four puppies!! (ps- sorry, the others are all spoken for.)

Our first picture together ... There will be many more!!

Day SEVEN - Vent

So it's the Christmas season ... and you can catch a Christmas movie on at least one of you TV channels from now until Decembe 25th! Some of them have a very similar ending! The parents, who quit believing in Santa early in life, find out that he actually is real! There was one thing that I never understood about these movies: Did the parents ever wonder where those extra presents came from? Maybe Mom thought that Dad bought them ... or the other way around! Usually the kids still believed in Santa Claus, and so there is no reason why he would pass them by!! Maybe someday I won't be bothered by this!

Day SIX - Elf Yourself

My friend sent me a link called, "Elf Yourself." It was him and 3 other co-workers dressed up liked elfs, dancing around! I decided to make my own "family" of elves! ENJOY!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1201143862

Day FIVE - Pet Guardian

Bryan and I have been on the lookout for another dog! We went to the Animal Shelter here in town to see what they had! We found one dog that we liked, but wasn't available to adopt! So we went online and found a couple more places in town! We found the Pet Guardian!! This place goes to the Animal Shelter and adopts the dogs that they were fixing to put down!! Bryan went today, and he said the people were so nice! These people have jobs, and so they open it up from 11-1 to come play with the dogs! They have them all running around in a huge area! If you are looking at adopting a dog (or cat), try and find a place like this! You can tell that they really care about these animals!

Day FOUR - Blessings

Bryan and I are Truely Blessed!! We have both known this all along ... but to this day, He still surprises us with more blessings!! Bryan is the "Director of Activities" at the West Texas Boy's Ranch ... which means he plays basketball, football with them, takes them to movies or games, etc.!! He loves it!! He drives a company vehicle, to and from work ... which is a blessing in itself because we live 20 minutes away from it! Well, his boss decided that he didn't want to pay for his gas anymore ... he would rather us live out there on the ranch!! They have a vacant 3 bed/2 bath house that they are letting us live in ... rent free! What a great way to save money for furture expenses! Might I add we are coming from a 1 bed/1 bath duplex ... It is an amazing blessing from God! Yes, I will have to commute a little farther to work each day ... but God has provided a vehicle to us that will get me to work and back! Thank God for all of those blessings ... even when we weren't expecting anything!!

Day THREE - Favorite Holiday

CHRISTmas is hands-down my Favorite Holiday!! What better holiday to love than the birth of our savior!! I love the season, the decorations and the FOOD! I love how most people seem to be in a better mood ... they are merry! I love all of the family time - I come from big families, and so spending time with all my family is very important!! Now since we are married, we have double the family and love!!

Day TWO - 6 Months of Marriage

Everyone has heard the saying, "Time flies when you are having fun." Well, Bryan and I have been married for 6 WHOLE months today!! It's amazing how fast it's gone by!! It's been a wonderful 6 months ... where we have learned more about each other than all the dating / engagement period! Thanks to all of you who have given us advice, support and love!!

Day ONE - Our Romantic Engagement Story

A couple of my blogging friends are attempting something that I just couldn't pass up!! 25 Days of Blogging!! Christmas will be here before we know it! Join in on the fun ... even if you start late!!

December 1st, 2006 - Bryan and I got engaged!! Bryan planned a wonderful night for me! We were actually celebrating our 7th month of dating! We and some of our friends were going to eat at Bonsai Garden for the occasion! Bryan was going to pick me up from my house to go eat, but "supposedly" he was running late from work ... so he asked me to come to his house to save some time!! I drive up ... Bryan's pick-up is not there, and I can see something on the door! The note said that this was a game with 2 rules: 1.) I could not call him. 2.) I could not give up. He gave me clues that sent me to a friend's house (who actually introduced us)! Steven would answer no questions and just handed me another letter! This letter full of more clues sent me to Buffalo Wild Wings ... where Darren and Adam were waiting for me! More clues from them sent me to the softball fiels at ASU (lots of softball games here) ... where I found Nacho Libre and his sidekick, aka Jaime and Clint! Finally, I drove to the ASU Football field and my cousin, Elizabeth was sitting there with my final letter! This letter sent me home! I drive back home ... Mom and Dad are sitting there like nothing is happening! They finally told me Bryan was on the back porch!! I walked outside (tears were already in my eyes) ... He handed me flowers and got down on one knee!! He asked me to marry him and I said, "Are you kidding me?" hahah then I said YES!! After that, we actually did meet all our friends at Bonsai!!