Chester's Big Week

Eight really is great!

On his birthday we headed to Curry N' Kabob for his favorite meal

At home ready to open presents!

We held a football themed birthday party for 12 boys.

It was as insane as it sounds.

After the party on Friday night we quieted down and I wrapped a ribbon around a set of scriptures inscribed with Chester's name for his baptism

pre-baptism hair cut with Dad

His baptism was a family affair with Henry and Audrey giving talks, Lucy sang a musical number, Grandma Collins played piano, Clay performed the baptism and confirmation and I guess I orchestrated it all :)

So proud of his tender slash tough heart

After church on Sunday we took Grandma up to the Peak to Peak highway and onto Brainard Lake....

my favorite spot here to get away to

the 2 "fall" ladies

Lucy told me this was her new favorite photo of me as I halfway take off my sunglasses, nice.

Chester was so worked up over this birthday. He spent lots of restless nights thinking about being baptized, having his buddies over for a football party and the eve of his birthday he was so worried kids would tell him his birthday was "cursed". I guess last year a couple of kids said his birthday was on a cursed day because it is September 11th. The build up for him to all of this was overwhelming but I think this is what gave him the most anxiety. I told him with his head in my hands that maybe Heavenly Father wanted him born on this day so he would remember to live up to being a patriot at heart, so he would remember to help others no matter what or where. That many heroic acts were done on his birthday, that miracles happened.

Whatever I said worked, he went to bed and the week was just fine.

Next year it will be low key family and cake...phew!

And just a little more fall foliage from the mountains. Some of the aspens are this coppery red and hot red mix.

Fall is my favorite....

except it only means winter is coming :(

Comments

Sports Mom Era

I think I saw this coming but maybe I didn't really see this coming:) I am a sports mom. Plain and simple. I had other hats too like library mom, classroom aid mom, costumes for musicals mom, outdoorsy hiking mom, musical mom, jazz band mom, tech crew mom, art mom, spring break mom, etc etc etc But sports mom has been a pretty big theme in my life:) So, in honor of my Dad's birthday today and his absolute love of sports, I share this to save the memoires. Because one day, it will be just that, sweet and crazy sports mom era memories:) Okay, so I love JV games because the weather at 4pm in the Bay Area and even coast side was amazing last year. Tee shirt and jeans? Heavenly Fall 2024 (he already looks different) Friday morning fits Becky Ruppel photography↑ In the middle of football season lies the beast of the high school basketball pancake breakfast. It was actually fun to serve all of the people coming through... even the complainers...haha Homecoming! And nothing better t...

Audrey Opens Her Mission Call!

It's been so long since I wrote. but THIS! This needs to be recorded for all. Earlier in the fall of 2024, after wondering why she hadn't had any specific experience letting her know if she should serve a mission, Audrey did receive her own personal answer. You already know. She called me and relayed her quiet yet powerful experience. She later met with her YSA Bishop and opened her mission papers! Everything fell into place with all her appointments and paperwork *phew On the morning of December 31st...she received an email alerting her she had her call waiting to be opened in her missionary portal! She was all nerves haha So, we got ready and headed to Montara Beach per her request to read her call...and thankfully, we were all home to share this with her. Such a sweet and tender moment to launch 2025 with💗 Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission! Spanish speaking June 2nd Mexico MTC after a week of home MTC :) I'm really proud...

We Are Officially Building That House!

And....we're off! First concrete pour was a success Along with a crew involving other people outside of our humble brigade! This is the garage floor which really should be called Clay's shop floor haha let's be honest here :) the mastermind at hand :) ten years ago we took this photo upon our move into the Milkbarn, the home that changed me, changed all of us really. What an era that was for us! I mentioned to Clay as we build our home here on the coast, my heart will finally mend from leaving Boulder. We are much older(sigh), much wiser(that's good!), and even more patient(almost killed us and we wanted to quit too many times to count). But here we are. The immense joy we get when we work together creatively is really something else. It's taken us forever. The pieces are fitting together. God definitely took his time with us. And now...we're back :) (p.s. most of what we'll do will be in my stories section on my instagram @jenniferjoycoll...

Hello Collins

Search This Blog