Ian Turns 3

We have been practicing how old Ian is and he says "me twee" but still holds two fingers up.

Cant decide which is yummier cake or cupcake, so he enjoys them both

Make a wish

Ian is into Scooby-Doo, big time, in fact he picked out his cake himself.

Collins pile up on the slide

We were not sure what we were going to do until Monday because since Daniel hurt his hand we were not sure if he would be off on his birthday (Tuesday) or if we needed to celebrated it on Monday which was a family home evening family get together at the park for the Collins clan. So after doctor said Dan could go on light duty Tuesday we decided to celebrate his b-day later that day at the park. Sorry my side of the family there was not enough time to tell everyone, but we will plan something Sunday at moms :)

Presents, Presents, Presents

Milk, anyone?

What mom! is what he said to me when he finished drinking the milk.

Spring Break Camping Trip 3/16-18/09

It has been a few months since we went camping, so we decided on spring break we would go to the White Tank Mountains and go camping with the kids for 3 days. Some asked why so close to Phoenix, well since we have small kids and would use tents is one reason but also its beautiful up there and it had many kid friendly short trails and a kids playground, but the main reason was because if we went up north it would be too cold for the kids at night.

1st night there

Just Chilling

Ian never sleeps in but I guess when were camping he does, so I suggested to Daniel we need to go camping more, don't you think?

Alana the photographer

On the trail and you can see the desert surrounding which are just as beautiful as a forest would be.

This was a short trail but man when you have kids it becomes a long one just for this reason, they had to stop and pick the flowers.

Indian writing on rocks

At the end of the waterfall trails which was of course dry.

Don't Look Down IAN

The Girls

This is my favorite picture of Ian and I because if you know Ian at all you know he is a Daddy's boy big time and never comes to me so this pictures means a lot to me, besides I'm his favorite :)

Dan on top of a huge Rock

Ian always trying to follow his daddy's way

Forget cave man, its Cave Kids

One reason Ian did not like the outdoors

Watch Man Ian, always on the look out for danger.

It was perfect temperatures at night that we did not have to wear our jackets at all.

Ian always turns at the last second for a picture, oh well.

The boys making breakfast

Eating Breakfast on the morning that we leave. Yum Yum.

Still on Camping Trip but in Town at the Rainforest Cafe.

So when we got back from camping and after everything was put away (which took forever it seemed) We were tired and did not feel like ending our vacation and wanted to still enjoy the wild so we decided to go to the Rainforest Cafe at Mills Mall, which is the wild outdoors, indoors. HAHAHA :)

Alana, Monkeying around (Gorillas in the background)

Alana, is very happy to be out anywhere and well Ian, I think is just happy to be in the wild indoors and does not have to deal with the bugs, mice, and cold from being in the wild outdoors.

Melia's Surprised 29th Birthday

My birthday started by taking Alana to school then Daniel had a dentist appointment and told me to wait for his police bike to get here which was suppose to come around 9-10 but I had to leave by 10:30 for Ian's speech. Well I waited and waited and waited and Daniel kept calling me "is it there yet" finally at 10:30 I saw a white van pass and thought that's it until it drove past my house then it came back and parked in front so I opened the door, Yelled at the guy " I'll open the garage" he looked at me funny as I shut the door ran to the garage to open it then ran back to the front door to make sure the bikes being place then I see the guy walking around and I'm thinking you dummy what are you doing get the bike in the garage because I have to leave then I see a string and flowers and it hit me "I was fooled" first thing that came out of my mouth "what a nerd". Then I brought the balloon and flowers inside and went to the garage not sure if the bike was there or not and looked in and sure enough it was sitting right there in the garage

Then my love took me to lunch at my new favorite restaurant My Big Fat Greek Restaurant and I got a phone call from my best friend and she asked if she could take me shopping for my gift I had to ask Daniel to make sure it was not going to interrupt any of his plans and he said Yeah go ahead I'm going to do some yard work while your gone with my brother Bryce who came to help him. So I go shopping and Kelly (My best Buddy) keeps getting text but she tells me its her friend so I think no big deal. Then Daniel tells me after about 45 minutes that we need to come home now because we are going bowling as a family activity and he said he had the lanes reserved. So Kelly kept on getting text and says well don't worry about it we can come back on Saturday and go shopping and say OK. We get home and were chatting in the car for a few minutes as Kelly is texting.

So then I walk up to the door thinking that Kelly and Me are going to take some pictures together for my birthday, well I open the door and see it decorated and its dark inside so I was thinking Dan and the kids are outside but as I walk through the door I hear a surprise and the light go on and blah blah, I was Shocked and happy of course I thought everyone forgot. And I thought my husband could never keep his surprises for long but he showed me. So Kelly was involved in the whole thing .

Daniel was the Master Mind of the whole thing. And I took a picture of us and my brother Bryce stuck his face in it, I would have deleted it but its funny.

So Here is my family and you can see all the decorations that the kids helped put up.

I turned 29 but man did I get teased about turning 30 next year, but I'm going to enjoy still being in my 20's :)

Opening Presents

AZ Wild Life Zoo, were acting like an animal is O.K

About two months ago we went to the wild life zoo over on the west side of town, and as far as the drive I wish we stilled lived over on that side to make the trip shorter, but oh well. Its a cool zoo because the animals are much closer to the people, so much that well lets hope Ian did not kill one of them. He throw a paper close to a monkey cage and the monkey came over and grabed it and ate it. OOPS Just take a look at the video and see for your self. Sorry about the bad movement of the camera.

The zoo is really cool because it has tons of rides we went on the Sky Ride, Log ride, and aquarium. As Seen in video's below :) This zoo is hands on close views of everything.

And while we were there just about to leave we saw Alana's favorite Movie Star Jack Hanna: she told him that she had all his movies and he said at least someone does, she was happy to see him, I thought out of all the things to say to your litte fan would be something better but she was proud to have met him and thats good enough for me, I guess.

Finally The Swing/Play Set is DONE

And to think this play set would actually make the kids play nice together WOW, we should have gotten this sooner. HAHAHHA

So Finally after 3 days Daniel finished this wood swing set that we got at Costco. The kids love it and all are welcome to come on over and have fun with us (of course call first). Special Thanks to Everyone who helped him get started like Eric and the boys, Jon and the girls and Yes, I did say Jon :)