Happy Birthday to My Little Man!

To say that Asher warms my heart with joy every single day would be an understatement. He is the sweetest boy I could have EVER asked for. As far as little boys go, I think he sets the bar pretty high. Now that he actually sleeps through the night, I would almost venture to say he's close to perfect...in my opinion anyway =) Even though I hate to see my baby disappearing, he just keeps getting better with age. So here's to you little man...I'll love you forever and always.


He's slightly obsessed with Tom and Jerry and I found this shirt on clearance for 3 bucks!

And yet another video, in honor of Asher's birthday!

Is it too early to start worrying about Ayris' first car?

So I was on my way over to my mom's house when this idiot couldn't decide if he wanted to drive or not...and it made me think about when Ayris starts driving...and the expectations she'll have of her first car.

In my personal opinion, I'm sure her car will be rockin because I imagine that we'll have it timed to where she just gets whatever car I last had before purchasing a new one...which means, it will only be about 4 years old, since that's roughly how often I get a new car (Once the warranty runs out, I'm onto the next). So, I think that's a pretty good car, whatever it might be...if it's only 4 years. However, I imagine there'll be Mercedes and BMW's in her high school parking lot as there was mine which will lead her to believe she is completely mistreated in life.

I remember when my dad called me at Dayton's (my job during high school) and told me to come outside for a minute. I had a sneaking suspicion that MAYBE it was a car but I was half tempted to run back inside when I saw him and my mother putt putting around the parking lot in this old as the hills maroon Ford Tempo. FORD should be all I have to say to relay the crappiness of this car (although I didn't know at the time how much Ford sucked...and I'm not dissing ford because of this particular car...I'm hating on Ford because of my second car which I got NEW and it ended up in the shop for about 7 months on and off...three separate visits, three separate rental cars...eventually my engine block was replaced...on a few months old car! Ridiculous...so I'm a Ford hater because of that one experience.)

When I got my Tempo, the gas gauge didn't work so I was constantly putting gas in it as to not run out of it unknowingly somewhere...at some point my muffler fell off and my dad jerry rigged it back on with a hanger...and the coolest part was that I had the privilege of driving it around like that for who knows how long. I'm sure it wasn't forever but it felt like forever with that insane noise roaring in the background...super embarrassing when driving to and from high school.

Anyway, with all of it's problems, I have really great memories of that car because it was my first...and hey, it was a car...and it was mine. Here's hoping Ayris can find the same appreciation for her first car 12 years from now... =) And also appreciate when she gets to haul around her brothers and sisters in it too! =)

Life is Beautiful...

Life is Beautiful from Michelle Collins on Vimeo.

Will trade 3 year old for my sanity...

Chris and I were just talking the other night about how we're not sure how the term "terrible two's" came along...we both thought that age was fine...it's like anything 3 and older and you might as well just hunker down with the idea that you're life is probably going to be miserable during the waking hours while you're around this little person...

Ayris has become a challenge...to say the least. Every single day, I hear the words "why is she so psycho?" floating through my brain. It's like that phrase is on repeat...sometimes mixing it up..."Why is she so psycho? Seriously psycho? Like certifiably psycho?"...

She doesn't want to listen, she cries and whines all day long...she does things to annoy her brother so I not only have one crying child but two. It is insane.

A friend of mine just wrote on her facebook: isn't it funny how your child can make u feel stressed all day then u look at them asleep and realize you love them more than anything in the world!

So true...I've alluded to something similar in the past...that I find myself appreciating them AFTER they've fallen asleep. It's the first chance that I have time to actually form a thought...demon child by day, angel baby by night.

I've also said before that it must be really tough to be a kid (even though it might seem like the ideal spot in life to an adult) but it's sometimes tough to be a parent to a child who thinks it's tough to be a kid.

But, still, I am thankful...that she is healthy and has the ability to be difficult with me. My mom sent me this video below a long time ago...which at the time sucked because it was depressing and IS depressing but...this too makes you thankful for what you have versus, what you don't have (i.e. the perfect child...the one who doesn't wake you up at the butt crack of dawn screaming bloody murder because there is poop at the bottom of her bed...when really, there is no poop in the bed or anywhere else...must've been a REALLY real dream about poop!)



Children are a miracle...no matter how much grief they can give you =)

My Gratitude

So I've been meaning to write this post since last weekend BUT I've pretty much had an ongoing migraine since then and it's difficult to focus on the things I'm thankful for when my head is throbbing...

Anyway, in one of the books I was reading, it was talking about Africa, and Darfur (it was only a James Patterson novel...nothing completely intellectual BUT I've heard in the past about Darfur and have also seen Blood Diamond) and the woman and children who get raped, the violence, the killing...at the hands of little boys even who are basically trained to be these little killing machines. Anyway, it's stuck with me a little more than most things and I'm trying to remind myself on a daily basis of all the little things I'm thankful for. I'm often thankful for my children, for my husband and for the luxury of being able to stay at home with my kids...but simple things like having running water...just being able to take shower...that whole expression of having a "roof over your head"...I've heard that a hundred times but it was always in one ear and out the other. But I bet there are MILLIONS of people out there who would give anything to take a shower...or to have a hot meal...have shoes on their feet...a bed to sleep in...medication to take, dentists and doctors to visit...PEACE OF MIND...that they're not going to be raped or killed.

Obviously I know not everyone is in dire straights like this...but there are plenty of people who are...so I'm trying to remind myself that though the weight watcher meal that I'm eating is not the McDonalds I'm wanting...it's at least something to eat, etc.

I did hear about a website that that Zach Braff guy from Scrubs was promoting...something about, if you donate $5, two pairs of shoes will be given to a child who needs them. That was another thing that got me to thinking...I just go about my daily life...not ever really thinking that there are kids out there without shoes. That just seems crazy to me. I'm pretty much completely blind to the rest of the world. http://www.50000shoes.com/

I just wanted to put my gratitude out there...because I don't always focus on it...and can complain way too much for someone who really does have it all...hopefully I will forever be stumbling upon things that guide me back into a state of appreciation.

Happy Birthday Chris!

Happy Birthday Chris! from Michelle Collins on Vimeo.

My little man and his new favorite toy...

Does this not just exude the "look of love?"

Someone to talk to...
To love and hug...

It's weird how you can have a toy for what seems like forever and then one day...it just becomes the most wonderful thing in the whole wide world...

Below is a video of Asher and his turtle...he started doing funny things with his eyes that were cracking me up.

Asher and his turtle from Michelle Collins on Vimeo.

A year already!

I can't believe it's been one whole year since I decided to stay at home with the kids. It's crazy to think that in that amount of time, Asher started walking and talking...and Ayris...well, she turned into a hormonal teenager...attitude and all. Even though I was nervous to be quitting my job, it was by far, the best decision for me and hopefully for the kids as well. I couldn't be happier with where my life has taken me thus far.

I decided to ask Ayris if she preferred daycare or staying at home with me...here's what she had to say:
(None of it was coerced on my part...I was a little taken aback when she said daycare at first!)

And as for Asher and his naps...since climbing out of the crib, it's been a chore to try and get him to take a nap unless all three of us lay down for one (and Ayris hasn't taken naps for almost a year now) BUT, the last two days, I've found that if I just let him hang downstairs with Ayris and I...he manages to fit a nap in on his own time:

It's been a great year and I can't wait to see what the next year brings! I'm just thankful that I have the luxury of being a stay at home mom.

Random thoughts of the day...

I was just sent this in an email...some are slightly funny...some of them, I couldn't stop laughing...I will highlight my favorites because I know you all care =) And sorry, I'm too lazy to take out the ">"'s

Random Thoughts of the Day:


I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid
> Ghetto" routing option.

> ·
> More often than not, when someone is telling
> me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for
> them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not
> only better, but also more directly involves me.
>
> ·
> Nothing sucks more than that moment during an
> argument when you realize you're wrong.
>
> ·
> I don't understand the purpose of the
> line, "I don't need to drink to have fun."
> Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and
> sticks when they've invented the lighter?
>
> ·
> Have you ever been walking down the street and
> realized that you're going in the complete opposite
> direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead
> of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from
> which you came, you have to first do something like check
> your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter
> to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area
> thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on
> the sidewalk.
>
>
> ·
> I totally take back all those times I
> didn't want to nap when I was younger.
>
>
> ·
> The letters T and G are very close to each
> other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent
> to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email
> with the phrase "Regards" again.
>
>
> ·
> Do you remember when you were a kid, playing
> Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge
> out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem.
> Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how
> to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards
> or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are
> soft.
>
>
> ·
> There is a great need for sarcasm font.
>
>
>
> ·
> Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I
> watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no
> idea what the f*** was going on when I first saw it.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think everyone has a movie that they love so
> much; it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other
> people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing
> around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right
> parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder
> (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the
> only one who really, really gets it.
>
>
> ·
> How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted
> sheet?
>
>
> ·
> I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery
> bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries
> in.
>
>
> ·
> I think part of a best friend's job should
> be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
>
>
>
> ·
> The only time I look forward to a red light is
> when I’m trying to finish a text.
>
>
> ·
> A recent study has shown that playing beer
> pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if
> you suck at it.
> ·
> Was learning cursive really necessary?
>
>
>
> ·
> Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out
> loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
>
>
>
> ·
> I have a hard time deciphering the fine line
> between boredom and hunger.
>
>
> ·
> Answering the same letter three times or more
> in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
>
>
>
> ·
> My brother's Municipal League baseball
> team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on
> the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He
> explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us."
> Classy, bro.
>
>
> ·
> Whenever someone says "I'm not book
> smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is
> "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary
> smart".
>
>
> ·
> How many times is it appropriate to say
> "What?" before you just nod and smile because you
> still didn't hear what they said?
>
>
> ·
> I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire
> line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at
> the front. Stay strong, brothers!
>
>
> ·
> While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in
> the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks
> Mario Kart.
>
>
> ·
> MapQuest really needs to start their
> directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my
> neighborhood.
>
>
> ·
> Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if
> they told you how the person died.
>
>
> ·
> I find it hard to believe there are actually
> people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the
> water.
>
>
> ·
> Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants?
> Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
>
>
>
> ·
> I can't remember the last time I
> wasn't at least kind of tired.
>
>
> ·
> Bad decisions make good stories
>
>
>
> ·
> Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and
> I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on
> Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I
> always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
>
>
>
> ·
> Is it just me or do high school girls get
> sluttier & sluttier every year?
>
>
> ·
> If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got
> together, their offspring would probably just be completely
> invisible.
>
>
> ·
> Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the
> whole room has to go around and say their name and where
> they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my
> name, I know where I'm from; this shouldn't be a
> problem....
>
>
> ·
> You never know when it will strike, but there
> comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind
> that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the
> rest of the day.
>
>
> ·
> Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes
> after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my
> collection.
>
>
> ·
> There's no worse feeling than that
> millisecond you're sure you are going to die after
> leaning your chair back a little too far.
>
>
> ·
> I'm always slightly terrified when I exit
> out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to
> my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any
> changes to.
>
>
> ·
> "Do not machine wash or tumble dry"
> means I will never wash this ever.
>
>
> ·
> I hate being the one with the remote in a room
> full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure.
> 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it
> on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this.
> It's only a matter of time before they all get up and
> leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
>
>
>
> ·
> While watching the Olympics, I find myself
> cheering equally for China and USA . No, I am not of Chinese
> descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes
> don’t win, they are executed.
>
>
> ·
> I hate when I just miss a call by the last
> ring (Hello? Hello? Darnit!), but when I immediately call
> back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd
> you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run
> away?
>
>
> ·
> I hate leaving my house confident and looking
> good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire
> day. What a waste.
>
>
> ·
> When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of
> mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that
> I have learned from some light internet stalking.
>
>
>
> ·
> I like all of the music in my iTunes, except
> when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every
> fifteen songs in my iTunes.
>
>
> ·
> Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like
> the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
>
>
> ·
> As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a
> pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of
> transportation, I always hate cyclists.
>
>
> ·
> Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3
> consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
>
>
>
> ·
> It should probably be called Unplanned
> Parenthood.
>
>
> ·
> I keep some people's phone numbers in my
> phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think that if, years down the road when
> I’m trying to have a kid, I find out that I’m sterile,
> most of my disappointment will stem from the fact that I was
> not aware of my condition in college.
>
>
> ·
> Even if I knew your social security number, I
> wouldn't know what do to with it.
>
>
> ·
> Even under ideal conditions people have
> trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their
> cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d
> bet my a$$ everyone can find and push the Snooze button from
> 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time
> every time...
>
>
> ·
> My 4-year old son asked me in the car the
> other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a
> ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
>
>
>
> ·
> It really pisses me off when I want to read a
> story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of
> text.
>
>
> ·
> I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the
> fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
>
>
>
> ·
> I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
>
>
>
> ·
> I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on
> any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with
> Miller Lites than Kay.
>
>
> ·
> The other night I ordered takeout, and when I
> looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of
> plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the
> restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it,
> and then estimate d that there must be at least four people
> eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was
> eating by myself. There’s nothing like being made to feel
> like a fat b@st@rd before dinner.

Ayris feeding the ducks...