The new redo!

the furniture finally arrived (in several boxes) and my helpers set to work very quickly organzing screws and bolts to make their apartment complete! We still need to add some finishing touches, but at least the beds are off the floor and coloring can take place...nothing like cramming as much as possible into the very last week of summer!

furniture

If this is summer...

then why am I working so hard??? Too much to do for a Monday, but we managed to do ALL of the following:

1. Cream 60 ears of Silver Queen corn.

2. Put up (this is the southern term for preparing vegetables to spend the winter months in the freezer) one bushel of butter beans and one bushel of elite peas.

3. Wash and fold four loads of laundry.

4. Take a dip in the pool.

5. Finish Charlaine Harris's Dead over Heels (very light beach trash).

We are going to have corn-on-the-cob and fried okra for dinner and then I am going to hide in my bed. Surely Tuesday will not have so much fun to offer!

Farewell...

A fine farewell to our short-term friend...a "gift" from Vacation Bible School. Can you guess the theme this year? You got it - "Fishers of Men" and every child received their very own goldfish on the last day. One died during a sleep-over, so I disposed of the body without much fanfare. With the second death, we thought would should do something a bit more formal so we had a brief ceremony around the toilet bowl. Please take note of the flowers for the send-off!

A bookstore in my hand...

Welcome to the world of Kindle! Yes, I have gone to the dark side and I LOVE IT!!!! I never thought I would say that because I am one of those book snobs who has to break the spine of a book and breathe in the special scent of the printed page. Well, the Kindle has cured me of those desires because I have access to over 600,000 books! Truly a bookstore at my fingertips.

I must say that the device is catching, or I actually learned something from my Marketing degree, because I convinced an English teacher, a Math teacher (who should really be an English teacher but she didn't want to grade essays - who does???), and a Media Specialist (the new term for librarians) to purchase a Kindle. Yes, I managed to convince a keeper of books to purchase a Kindle.

It is beyond amazing...my personal Kindle will hold up to 1,500 books. When I am finished with those 1,500 books, I can tranfer them to my computer and start adding more to my Kindle. I am loving the promotional features where author's previous works are FREE or ONE DOLLAR to garner interest for their upcoming releases. I just finished Lisa Gardner's HIDE (never read any of her books) and completely enjoyed it! I am a sucker for a thriller with interesting characters.

I urge everyone to stop reading this post immediately and go to http://www.amazon.com/ and purchase a Kindle. Tell them Chanon sent you - I might get a free book!

Oh, and thanks to Marshall for my very early anniversary present - I love it!

Summer on the course...

You can probably guess where Camden has spent the first few weeks of summer...on the course. I have had a large time serving as Camden's gallery as he played his first few sectionals. I am a much better golf mother than baseball - driving a golf cart, chilled water in the cooler, peace and quiet on the course, and my Kindle for entertainment during the score tabulations - definitely an improvement over the dirt and grime at a ball field.

You can see that Camden has had some expert advice on the course from his caddy, Marshall. So far he has performed quite well and we hope to make it to the state tournament at the end of July. Stay tuned for more amazing pics!

Thanks for a blooming great year!

you know how I love a home-made gift...so I assume that everyone else with any sort of taste desires the same. The girls and I made these flower pots for their various teachers (Camden's teacher received one also, even though he wasn't in on the crafting activity). Hopefully the flowers will bloom through the summer and then the pot can be used to hold the plethora of objects a teacher seems to collect. Just a small token of our deep appreciation for the teachers who endure the act of teaching to inspire our children.

Happy Mother's Day!

yes, I realize that this is a bit late, but when I have I ever gotten a gift to someone in a timely fashion. I hope that the festiveness of the gift helped with its delayed arrival...I think my mom and Miss Lou enjoyed their gifts. I know the girls and I enjoyed making it.


This idea was stolen from Pendy. Her daughter-in-law Ashley gave her a name picture for Christmas. I thought it was adorable, so I did some research on the internet and discovered that these items are rather pricey. So, I loaded the girls in the golf cart, grabbed my marvelous camera, and we headed off in the neighborhood to see what we could find. I thought we did relatively well considering this was our first attempt. We only had to cheat on the "L." You would think that this would be an easy letter to find - not really. Caelan was overjoyed to find the "R" sticking up in Pendy's yard.


Miss Lou's was a bit easier to do (fewer letters), but I thought the flower was a nice touch. They might not be the most professional pictures, but we were certainly proud of our handy work.

And the award goes to...

Camden for Honor Roll status for his 5th grade year! We are very proud of his academic accomplishments even if he earned his grades kicking and screaming. Definitely gets his logic from him father...if I could only get him to read!

Sorry the picture is so small...google chrome and I are just starting our relationship and I am definitely not the one in charge!

The S.S. Minnow...

We spent the weekend with David and Stacy during a recent baseball tournament. It was wonderful to have family literally two minutes away from the ballpark - this was especially helpful because it rained the first day of the tournament. Despite the rain, we did manage to take a spin at on the lake. While I look less-than-stunning in my windblown state, the children had a large time - especially Camden. Who knew he was a sailor at heart?

My first pound cake...

was a very large success! Not so much in that every member of the family thought it was the best thing that they had ever put in their mouths, but in the fact that it was truly LARGE! I enjoyed it with strawberries and even added MORE butter and toasted it for a lovely breakfast. After I had eaten half of the cake since the rest of the family was apparently bothered by a cake without icing, I decided that the next time I venture into the pound cake realm, I will make smaller cakes and freeze the majority so I won't be forced to eat the entire cake (which I could have done - much to the dismay of my hips).

A tiny dancer...

As May brings the year to a close, Mary Mauldin is set to star in her second dance recital. She doesn't remember her first one (she was three), so we are not sure if it counts. At any rate, her big performance is this Sunday and she is a bit nervous. The stage is much bigger than she imagined, the lights very bright, and the music is TOO loud. We will hope for the best and wish this tiny dance well for her debut (second time around)!

Big Dog turns 40!

It is sad to say, but Big Dog has joined me in the 40 realm! I can no longer say my husband is in his 30's! Holding true to Big Dog form, we had a small crowd to wish him well. Plenty of food (thanks to my mom) and a cooler of beverages to ease Marshall into his twilight years. Thanks to Shae and Brady for the entertaining gift of charred chicken wings - Brady's specialty from the grill. Here's to 40 more!

An Easter in Edison

Thanks to the rest of the Collins clan for a wonderful Easter. We enjoyed the bountiful spread, the engaging conversation, and the traditional egg hunt. Even though Caelan couldn't find her golden egg (all the grandchildren had a special money egg), we still enjoyed the day. Actually, Charlotte found the egg several weeks after Easter when she was watering her rose bushes. Obviously Caelan is not one for digging for eggs!

Happy Easter!

Here's hoping your Easter was

at least as exciting as Camden's was!

Sleep-over extravaganza!

The girls played host to little Kate Marie Friday night...

after they all pretended to eat pizza, the girls jumped

into the tub for some good clean fun...Ree Ree even

did a bit of a mermaid show.

Once they were dry and Ree Ree had a few sugar

cookies, the girls settled in to watch a few cartoons

before bed. I would like to tell you that they all fell

asleep before ten, but that is what I did...Big Dog

managed to quiet the girls and all was well.

Eve visits the Bluestockings...

From eve

Thanks to my dear friends for joining me on Fat Tuesday for an evening of wine, the first woman, and some very interesting food. The baba ganoush was a hit! Second only to the delicious dessert - kanafeh! Once I put out the fire in the oven, we had a large time.

...til sock be snug!

A culinary adventure...

It is my turn to host the Bluestocking Society and I expanded my culinary talents (we think) to include authentic food from Eve: A Novel of the First Woman. While I wouldn't recommend the book (unless you really enjoyed Tobacco Road), I have enjoyed trying my hand at unusual dishes.

Our first course will consist of baba ganoush...you see the steps to the dish (which no one in the house will sample)...hopefully the Bluestockings will be a bit more brave...

The rest of the menu will be a mystery until tomorrow evening, but I can share the delectable looking dessert...can you kanafeh?

Sunday night on Eagle Drive...

our tradition continues into 2010...tonight we dined next door (we usually eat at our house so the children only destroy one home) and we were greeted with a wonderful surprise...little miss ellie is in town to visit EW and Mia! Mary Mauldin enjoyed playing head playmate while Mini me reclined in her favorite chair with a book...the perfect way to end Valentine's Day!

Dante was right...

apparently the Underworld has frozen over because it SNOWED in Tifton, Georgia! And I have the pictures to prove it! The children were out of school (teacher workday), but I was dismissed due to sleet - yes, sleet - in Tifton, Georgia. I came home to wrestle with children (Marshall had had enough!) and we stood at the door all afternoon waiting for it actually snow...and about 4:30 that afternoon, we saw flakes. Not just annoying little flakes that won't stick together...we saw HUGE beautiful Yankee flakes! We just thought Chicago had lake-effect snowflakes...they don't have anything on Tifton! The children had a large time...even Uncle Cranky got into the mix...thanks for the "dead aim" snowball in the living room! The snow has melted, except for the sad snow family in the front yard. Mary Mauldin is attempting to replace the head of the snowmomma...she looks a bit like a mad scientist at work (especially since the head keeps rolling across the front yard).

I hope you enjoy the pictures...we certainly enjoyed this wonderful gift from above!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ready to spread some sweet cheer for February 14th! The girls "grew" some flowers and gave one to each of their "bud"dies at school. Hears to your Valentine's Day...may it be as sugary sweet as a cherry blow pop!

Bookworms go to town!

The girls met this month to try their hand at a bit of writing. Thanks to the expert tutelage of Anslee, the girls crafted their own silly rhymes to follow Audrey Wood's Silly Sally. We are waiting to hear from the author to see what she thinks of the new rhymes the girls created.

LOL!

The girls and I wanted to start the month of love with a surprise for Big Dog. It was also a very festive way to use the leftover tissue paper from Mary Mauldin's birthday party. We had a large time cutting out the hearts and couldn't wait for Big Dog to discover our surprise. He put on a good show...much easier to clean than a car full of balloons (maybe next year =)!)

Happy Birthday to Mary Mauldin...

our little one has turned 7! Just think, in ten years she will be getting ready to walk Brody Field! Hopefully Marshall will be strong enough to wheel me into the stadium for the big event...cultivating children is exhausting! At least the girls proved that you don't need all the bells and whistles to have a large time...just some tissue paper, glue, and straws - fun for everyone!

Like father like son...

Camden made his basketball debut today with the Upward basketball team. He scored the first time he touched the ball and made a very good showing of his first time on the court. Even though he thinks his dad is too tough on him (he keeps forgetting that he father spent several years pacing up and down a basketball court) he did quite well for a short white boy with half of my genetic composition. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a great season!

Before and after

Since we had a snow day - yes, a snow day in Tifton, Georgia - I thought I would use the time to my advantage. I had two unvoluntary volunteers to help clean since there wasn't actually any snow to capture their attention. We spent 5 hours (yes, 5 hours) cleaning the rooms and closet. I am sure that the small family living in the back of Caelan's closet was not happy about being evicted, but I was thrilled to have order restored. Yes, I realize that this will not last (which is what Camden quickly point out to me) but for a short period of time, there was perfection in the universe...

From before and after

A wish for the new year...

The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions. -Alfred Lord Tennyson

May your year be filled with passionate happiness!

Marshall and Chanon

Happy New Year in the hood!

out with the old and in with the new! We continued the Bowers Springhill tradition of bringing in the new year with friends and fabulous food. Many predictions were made (some true and others great fantastical wishes) but the highlight of the evening was definitely the fellowship. Thanks again to Pendy and Emmet for opening their home (which has had a revolving door since the middle of December) to their so-not-wild-and-crazy neighbors!

An Oklahoma Christmas...

With Marshall maning the camera and I played elf, we celebrated yet another Oklahoma Christmas. No pictures of the Dirty Santa game we played, but I am happy to report that I am currently under the heating throw I stole from my sister and we enjoyed homemade ice cream last night from the Cuisinart ice cream maker. A good time was had by all!

You know you are a big girl when...

your favorite Christmas gift (other than the amazing camera Marshall gave to me) is a 10 quart stock pot! Thanks Mom! I have already put it too good use and made a double batch of taco soup. Only drawback, I am too short to see into the pot so I have to stand on the tips of my toes to see what's cooking!

Snow bunnies...

The day after the blizzard of 2009...

Caelan went to Nana's to help cook and Camden and Mary Mauldin decided to venture out into the snow...a bit was eaten, but mostly they attempted to master the drifts in my grandparents backyard...not too successfully as you can see.

Christmas Eve...

Much thanks to Whitney for hosting this year's Christmas Eve gathering...the presents were slightly damp due to the snow and fire brigade transfer from car to garage to living room, but the children didn't seem to notice. After enjoying chicken nuggets, shrimp, and chips and dip, we dove into the presents to see what we could find. I was not fast enough to get a picture of Diego as he unwrapped his 4,000 piece Lego Star Wars set, but I hope to have a picture of the finished produce soon.

The Blizzard of 2009!

Nothing like a white Christmas! Try 14 inches of white on top of a few inches of sleet...welcome to an Oklahoma winter wonderland! The children enjoyed the weather - managed a few snowball fights, but being from South Georgia, they couldn't take the wind! We had to postpone Christmas because all the highways were closed. You can tell by the roads and those attempting travel, it was rather tricky. We did not even attempt to tackle the roads in the minivan!

Happy Birthday!

Caelan and Camden have done it again! Caelan celebrated her 8th birthday with her bookclub friends and Camden is officially old enough to watch his sisters for at least two hours without adult supervision! His parents are thrilled - he is not. We managed to pull of Camden's favorite Oklahoma meal - hot tamales with beans and rice and had a cake (no thanks to Wal Mart - the bane of my existence!). All-in-all, the birthdays were a success!

From December_2009_birthdays