Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Classmates

Have you ever had a classmate that kept bugging you? Borrowing your book or your pen during class? Kept talking while you are trying to pay attention? Interrupting your reading for some request, like refilling their sippy cup?



Being an online student is fun at times, but my little "classmate" can be somewhat distracting some days. However disruptive, though, I wouldn't trade being home with her for anything!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Pregnant Woman's Dream!

The NC Pickle Festival! What better place to be when you are six months pregnant??? Sure it was nearly 90 degrees and humid. And there was no shade. And there was almost no place to sit. And only a few port-a-pots in a remote section of the festival. And did I mention it was hot?

But we had a great time! You know Mt. Olive pickles - the second biggest pickle brand in the US (and the most popular pickle in the south)? Well, the festival takes place in Mt. Olive, NC -- the pickle capital of the world! I had hoped there would be more pickle-style food (I was dreaming of pickle ice cream, fried pickle spears, pickle salsa), but we did get to try some different Mt. Olive pickles, including one made with hot sauce. We also got to race in the Pickle Derby (Rich and Mae won) and Rich used a sling shot in the Pickle Fling! And while we were there, Mae pet her first goat! Actually, I think it was her first farm animal.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Something to chew on...

... I know they say that kids go through these stages where they try to put everything in their mouth, but this one caught me by surprise.




Mae has never done this before, and hasn't done it since, but she was pretty determined today to put her foot in her mouth. (Honey, that's what you do by ACCIDENT when you say something silly!)

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Uncork the Fun!

This is slogan for Great Grapes wine festival in Cary. The people who run the wine festival here also run the one back home in Annapolis. It was great to see several of the NC wineries, and Rich enjoyed sampling what he could! The lines were so long, with record attendance for the event. Mae really loved all the people and music -- she wouldn't stop dancing, and went craxy when a Rolling Stones' cover band came out to play! She also surprised us by not only going after Rich's empty wine glass, but also drinking from a straw (Kirsten's fruit smoothie) for the first time with great success! Luckily for us, the rain held off until the end of the day marking a good time to head home.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Collins Family MIA

From ear infections (Mae) to bronchitus (Rich), we've been out of commission lately. Even poor Robyn, away in college, has been getting over a bad cold. It's been so yucky here that we had to miss seeing our dear friends, the Prather's, when they came to Raleigh this week because we were afraid of getting them sick. We hear they had a great visit, and we hoping to see them someday soon!!! For everyone else, we will be up and posting again once everyone is feeling better.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Curly Sue

On a good day, when Mae gets her nap, she wakes up a happy baby with a head-full of matted down curly locks! We spend most of our time trying to brush them out, but I thought it would be fun to share.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Wheee!

Aunt Lulu (Jenn) came to stay with us for a week while Rich was away at the Plainfield Bonsqueal. We had a wonderful time hanging out, and Jenn was a big help in getting some things done (things that Kirsten can't seem to reach or do with her growing belly!) Good luck Chesapeake teams!



While she was here, we took Lulu to see our neighborhood park! They took on the big slide together, but only because it was the only one that was dry after some brief (but much needed) showers.