Hi everyone, I don't know if this account will be open long, but I decided to use blogger instead. So our new blog address: www.azcollinsfamilyfun.blogspot.com It is going to be a work in progress.
Adventures in Weight Watchers
Favorite Links
Words to Bear Hunt Song
We’re going on a bear hunt We’re going on a bear hunt Take pictures with the camera Take pictures with the camera Open up the door – squeek Open up the door – squeek Walk down the road Walk down the road Coming to a wheat field Coming to a wheat field Can’t go under it, Can’t go over it Have to go threw it Have to go threw it – swish, swish, swish Back is to the wheat field Back is to the wheat field Coming to a bridge Coming to a bridge Can’t go under it, can’t go over it Have to walk threw it – clop, clop, clop Coming to a tree Coming to a tree Can’t go under it, guess I have to climb it Guess I have to climb it Climb to the top, climb to the top - oooo Do you see a bear Do you see a bear No, No Let’s climb down Let’s climb down - woo, woo Coming to a river Can’t go under it, can’t go over it Let’s get in the boat Let’s get in the boat – wush, wush Coming to a cave Coming to a cave Can’t go under it, can’t go over it Have to walk threw it Have to walk threw it Tiptoe inside Tiptoe inside It’s dark in here Is anyone around Is anyone around I see 2 eyes, and a big fury body Let’s take a picture Run, It’s a bear, Run, It’s a bear, Back to the river Let’s get in the boat, shishish Back to the tree Climb up, climb down, Back to the bridge, clop, clop, clop Back to the wheat field, swish, swish, swish Open up the door, squeak Close it boom Woow Hey every body, let’s go a bear hunt, Are you afraid, I’m not afraid hee, hee
March 07, 2009
March 05, 2009
March 02, 2009
San Diego after Christmas
We went to San Diego right after Christmas. Mainly because it is nearly impossible to travel with gifts for our family and others & ALL OUR STUFF! Tom's family was so wonderful. Many of them gave gifts to all of us - including the foster kids. They are so great! I have to do better on my part.
Here are the kids having fun at Grandma's playing the PS2: Jarom, Cody, Mike, David and Gabby
While we were there we took us all out to the beach. We had a great time - even though we were only there about 30 minutes ($8 to park!) and the water was FREEZING!!
This is David, Gabby and Erika (who is always up for freezing in the ocean)
Gabby, Jarom and David - not staying very dry
Here's Gabby rolling up her pants -- the ides....not get wet
Here is video from the day. It was very funny. Notice after Jarom comes out wet - David is standing in the background happy - then suddenly the water hits his feet and he does not like that feeling at all!
After the whole visit - Erika spent the most time in the water and stayed the driest. Gabby had to travel home with no pants and a towel and Jarom -- he just had a blanket. (We didn't take a picture of that)
Christmas 2008
For our ward Christmas Party nativity, Tom was asked to be a Wise Man!! How Cool!! As I was fighting David and trying to get pictures, sadly they aren't that great. Tom is the wise man on the left.
This was a really tough night with David. He was still acting up, yelling, screaming. We will still trying to understand his triggers and how to distract - so it was a REALLY long night for me during the play since Tom couldn't help. I spent most of the time in the hall. I was so frustrated by the end, I'm sure my blood pressure was through the roof!!
Then came santa. Here is my darling Jarom :-)
- I thought David would freak out...not so much. For that I was grateful! Here is Gabby and David with Santa.
Here is decorating our tree a little - at least Gabby & David: (some how I can't find one with Jarom)
Brittany, David and Gabby...anxiously waiting to open gifts.
Gabby opening gifts
Jarom having a great time opening too (should have caught him smiling - he did most of the day)
Gabby & her new bike...it took a little while to teach her to ride, but now she rides all the time and even to school!
Before Christmas Gabby & David got Build-a-Bear's Gabby got the bunny and David just got a bear. After stuffing the bunny and getting the birth certificate Gabby started acting like the biggest brat - because I wouldn't buy her bunny clothes. This was pretty expensive [and as of yet (4 months later) we have still not been reimbursed for any clothing or gifts we have purchased] and I told her we would have to wait. She was such a brat - after paying I ended up taking her bunny and keeping it until the next day when she finally apologized. UGH!!! David was for a change - easy going. Sometimes he plays with his bear, sometimes not. So for Christmas we gave Jarom a gift certificate and he went and picked out a Dog. The trick we learned with Build-a-Bear - give them the amount of money and don't bring in your wallet!!! Jarom was quite the shopper, for his money he got the dog and 2 outfits and 1 pr of shoes. Because Gabby wanted to have princess clothes - she was limited, but got some nice things. David was happy to have with anything we got him. Here they are with their animals!
Random pictures from December... except Christmas
When you get this behind on blogging...it's hard to know where to begin. So since pictures are what I love to see, HERE WE GO!!!!
This is at the temple lights in Mesa. It was of course beautiful! Since I have a hard time getting there twice - Tom was kind enough to drive over with the little kids when I was there with the youth from our ward.
This picture would have been so cute, but it is a bit blurry.
This one is of the little kids in front of the camels
Jarom, Gabby & David (Hawking - foster kids)
We also took a trip to Tuscon to support Sage Nelson's baptism. Because we had only had Gabby & David for a few weeks and we were still figuring out David's challenges - he went into respite(foster care babysitting). But the rest of us went down and had a great time.
This is the Nelson family. I took this picture but with Sherri's camera - so this is a picture of a picture...not so great. Back row: Zachary, Sherri, Malory, & Kevin. Front: Seth & the baptism lady - SAGE!!
After the baptism we went to the park
Seth, Jarom, Gabby & James (Sage's cousin) on the Merry-go-round
Seth is my bud!! Our birthdays are right together and we just have a great bond! Here he is being such a great big brother pushing Sage.
Jarom "King of the tunnel!" and sweet Malory in the back climbing the web
Danette & Gabby hanging on the slide
Cute Sage hanging in the tunnel
Now -- I'm not sure who had more fun at the park..the kids or adults:
We burned lots of calories pushing this Merry-Go-Round!!
Then Seth and Gabby let me ride...so much fun!
No - I'm not foaming at the mouth...just blowing a bubble, catching a ball and riding Merry-Go-Round!!
Elizabeth Musselman(Sherri's sis), Sherri & ME!! The reason this is so cool -- I haven't fit on a slide in too many years to count! We had so much fun!
Sherri swinging with Mallory - spider style!
Elizabeth and Sherri - hanging out!!
This is a little video of us on the rings...no Olympics in my future!!
Brittany also had a choir concert. They did a great job and the songs even mentioned Christ...made me happy!
Brittany is on the 2nd row - 3rd one from the left. Also in the picture front row Heather Tatlow(my YW), ?, Tiffanie Tatlow - cousin to Heather and Britt's friend.
December 04, 2008
Such a proud mom moment!...
I know every parent thinks their kids are the best, but I hate to tell you all - Mine are!! I love my kids especially my teenage girls! They are simply amazing and I love them...even thought they probably will never read this post. The are remarkably talented and strong. What a blessing!
Brittany is in her 2nd semester of American Sign Language. So last year I made a post about how she signed to a song in a group and I forgot to bring my camera...NOT THIS YEAR!! And since it is ASL 2 she had to do a song all by herself and she did GREAT!!! She has such beauty and feeling in her signing. I've always thought she was great, but seeing her class - I know she is. (there were seriously some kids I was depressed for after - I just want to send them love!) Anyway, this is Brittany's ASL video. Don't mind the camera shaking - her sappy mom was crying so bad I had a hard time keeping the camera steady -- next year I'm bringing a tripod!
Brittany had several friends who also did a wonderful job. Kayla signed Butterfly kisses and since that is one of my all time favorite songs I'm posting it... sorry about the extra noise. I missed it when she did it at the beginning, but her parents were late and missed it so she did it again and I taped it - but it was a bit noisy - especially at 1st.
December 02, 2008
New Foster kids...
I know many have heard or seen that we have some new kids in our home. After loosing Savannah it has been VERY difficult to get back into foster care. We decided no more babies because my heart just couldn't handle it any more. So our criteria was a 4 or 5 year old little boy. Well at 12:30 at night Saturday November 8th or very early on the 9th, we got a call about a little boy that needed a home. He also had a 7 year old sister. Grandma wanted them so we figured it would be a week or so. So we said sure. Well it has turned into a longer stay. David is 4 1/2 and Gabriella (Gabby) is 7.
It was obvious the 1st day something was a little unusual about David. He didn't act like a normal 4 year old. No interaction, fits like a 2 year old, melt downs for no apparent reason, pacing...after 2 days a thought came to my mind - I think David is autistic. After talking to Grandpa, he thought so too. So mom says no, but we are getting him tested. He is adjusting after being here for 3 1/2 weeks. He now knows we NEVER give in to tantrums and we mean what we say - it has gotten better. The testing...takes FOREVER!! You know the state.
The 1st week I had the kids at home with me. The 2nd week I had a million things - field trip, Dr's appointments, a temple trip planned...so I decided to enroll the kids in Tutor Time. Gabby is in 2nd grade but we still thought they would be leaving soon, so Tutor Time for a little while. We did this for a week and it became obvious they weren't moving soon - so she is now enrolled in school. Unfortunately because Jarom is varianced to another school in the district and 2nd grade it full, she is at our home school. Making another school to get kids to and from.
David is still in Tutor Time for social interaction, but today he went back after 5 days off for Thanksgiving and he just cried. It broke my heart. But Brittany had a American Sign Language performance and he could not come. He is so unpredictable, and that is usually when you can count on a major melt down. He actually did okay at preschool, but has bonded nicely to us - so he lights up when we go pick him up. So cute.
Mom is currently in jail for DUI with the kids in the car so Child Endangerment. She has a mild drinking problem (she uses alcohol to cope) that the state wants her to get treatment for, so she can't have the kids back for 9 to 15 months. Grandma isn't getting them, now they are checking into grandpa. He seems like a great guy, but he is disabled and can't drive so there is some concern about his ability to take care of the kids - especially with David's special needs. So now we....wait. Our favorite thing to do. I reminded the case manager that Christmas is just around the corner, so we did need to know if they would be here so we could plan/purchase accordingly.
David is a highly functioning autistic. He actually has better fine motor skills than most 6 year olds. It is socially and emotionally he struggles with. Luckily since the tantrums have slowed down he is a sweet little boy. Our pediatrician thinks with a loving, stable environment we may actually find he doesn't have autism. Who knows. Only time will tell.
More pictures:
Decorating the tree
Gabby just looking cute
Veteran's Day
Jarom's new school is SO AWESOME!! They had a really great veteran's day program and invited veteran's to come speak, the kindergartner's sang. It was a really neat program. This is Jarom's class waiting to sing -
This is Jarom's song! They are so cute!!
They also made the coolest - huge flag. (This was the day after we got Gabby & David who don't look so excited to be here)
They made the flag with everyone from the schools hand print - students and staff!!
I thought this was such a tribute and a neat way for the kids to appreciate the country we live in!
Jarom fall stuff....
Jarom had a fun pumpkin patch with his class this year. Usually we have small little pumpkins for the kids, but this year a truck dumped a bunch of pumpkins in an accident and we got the pumpkins! So we had a large pumpkin to carve - YEAH! Here is at the pumpkin patch
Then a few weeks later at the Halloween party here is some cute pictures...I'm a little worried about the cat girl on the left. Ninja's were hot this year - Jarom is brown
This fall we got to have the sweetest Grandma come in and volunteer for our class. She had no grandkids in our class, but was there every day for nearly 6 weeks! She was amazing and the kids all loved her. They called her yaiyai which is some language for grandma. (I thought she said German, but when I looked it up it wasn't right) Here is Jarom and Yaiyai!
About this same time Jarom was begging me to make cookies, so we broke out the Betty crocker cookie mix and made peanut butter cookies. He had a great time! Here he is smashing the lines into the cookies.
Now, I'm not sure why, but he was going to karate chop the cookies. Silly boy
