Home from New Mexico

Yes, we made it home safe and sound. A little cold (or something), stopped up ears, but we had a wonderful visit with Brittany, Phillip, Addie and Elena. Here are a few more pictures of Addie and Elena. Off the rest of the week on vacation. Heading back out of town Thursday with Tara, Lola, Abe and Maggie. Until next time...



Elena after her bath enjoying watching her little feet.


Elena Mae...such a sweet and beautiful little girl


Elena and her daddy's hands. Love this picture.


Sisters...Addie and Elena


Elena and Addie's frog cap. Thanks Cousin Abe.


Yes, Addie's eyes just about sums up her personality. Elena enjoys getting hugs from her big sister.

Our first couple of days with Brittany, Phillip, Addie and Elena

Here are some pictures of our first couple of days with Brittany, Phillip, Addie and Elena. Addie (2) is so very, very funny. She makes some of the funniest faces I've ever seen. She keeps us entertained. Elena (6 months) is just a little sweetheart. You don't hear much from her until it's time for her to eat. Phillip has had to work, but he's only a mile from their home. We've taken walks every morning pushing Addie and Elena in their stroller. We dropped Addie off at music class yesterday. They said she just sat and didn't participate at all. Her best little buddy, Tristen wasn't in class, so they think that may have made Addie sad. Enjoy my pictures and until next time.....
Elena (6 months)Check out her outfit
Brittany, me, Addie and Elena
Pop, Addie and Elena
Sisters....Addie and Elena
Brittany giving Elena kisses
Brittany and Phillip
The view around the post. That is snow on top of the mountains. Beautiful!
Addie and Grana (me) swinging at the play park
Addie swinging at the play park

White Sands New Mexico....BEAUTIFUL

The landscaping is all brown and rocks. It's a different kind of beautiful than we're use to in Tennessee, but beautiful just the same. Pop, Grana, Brittany, Addie and Elena all took a walk this morning (2+ miles). I actually took my jacket off because the weather permitted me to do so. Sun is out and shining bright. I'll post pics later. Until next time........

Packed and Ready to Travel

Gary and I leave really, really early in the morning for the airport. We're going to spend the next week with our youngest daughter Brittany and her husband Phillip and their two precious little girls Addie (2) and Elena (6 months). Weather in TN is still very cool (sometimes "cold") and cloudy. We're heading to sunny skies with temps in the 70's. I hope to post while we're there. Enjoy the rest of your week and weekend. Until next time......

Making Memories with our MG's (McGuire Grands)

We've had a wonderful weekend. It started off by Tara coming over on Saturday with the kiddos, Lola (5), Abe (4) and Maggie (2). Tara and I spent the day getting her boy clothes (baby and toddler) ready for a consigning. She is pregnant with their 4th child...a baby girl due in the middle of July.

The grands wanted us to break out the Wii for them. Lola and Abe were pretty good at bowling. Maggie, not so much. She and the control didn't work well together. Maggie wanted to box with the Wii (Lola said, "Maggie likes to hit people.") She was pretty good at boxing. She takes that control and just swings and swings until she knocks the other boxer out.

Tara left for she and Jeffrey to have a quite evening together. The grands spent the night with us (with daylight savings time even). We took them to Opry Mills to eat and ride some rides. Lola worked on separating my quarters for me today (I save quarters and the state ones needed to be separated out.) We took some of those quarters and let them ride two rides a piece. We went to Bass Pro to see the "big" fish and there was one. A catfish that looked to weigh at least 150 lbs. It scared Lola, Maggie cried and wanted to be held and Abe watched from a squatted position on the floor....so funny. On our way out through Apple Barn, they each got a lollipop (orange for Lola, butterscotch for Abe and cotton candy for Maggie). We headed home and time for PJ's. Maggie insisted on sleeping in the ballerina skirt (part of their dress-up clothes), Lola put one on also (hers didn't last through sleeping). We kept one of Abe's hats from years past to take to Addie, our granddaughter in New Mexico who loves hats. We leave Wed., March 17th for a week in New Mexico with Brittany, Phillip, Addie (2) and Elena (6 months). Lola and Abe tried it on for laughs. Maggie wouldn't have anything to do with it.

On Sunday, up for Connect Groups and Worship. Abe spent some of his class time in class with Pop and Grana. I told him how he would have to sit, be quite and have no fun because it's an adult class. He lasted about 15 minutes in my lap and then whispered that he wanted to go to his class...off we went. Returned home for lunch and Walt Disney movies. Pop has this thing about singing "any" singing in movies. So, he thinks it's cute to cover his ears when the singing starts.....so Abe also thinks it's funny to cover his ears.

So, enjoy our pictures from another fun weekend just making memories with our grands. Enjoy your week and until next time...

Come on Spring Time

Well, the Collier household starting "springing" into "spring" tonight. Yes, I came home from work ready to pack up my winter/snow decorations until next time......I unpacked my spring decorations and was so happy to see spring colors. I know spring isn't officialy until March 20th, but we'll be in New Mexico visiting our youngest daughter Brittany, Phillip, Addie (2) and Elena (6 months)(5 days and counting before we leave). So, spring is starting early in our home. I snapped a few pictures of some of the decorations. I need to add a little more here and there...I hear Hobby Lobby calling my name. I definitely need more throw pillows for the family room. The one I'll show in the picture below is what I'm using for my "inspiration" pillow. I'll take it riding around with me one Saturday to buy it some company. Enjoy your weekend.

"Rambling's with Ali"

So, after looking at "amazing" blogs of my crafty and creative blog friends ("Beneath my Heart"), I asked my husband if I could paint our bedroom furniture. He had it "years" before I ever met him. It's cherry and really is in need of updating. He's a retired carpenter. Needless to say, painting "wood" is a no-no to him. Although he didn't tell me "no," he didn't tell me "yes." What exactly does that mean?

Starfish Lunch and Celebration of Birthdays

A wonderful day in Connect Group this morning and during worship. Then off to my "starfish" girlfriend's home for lunch with the other "starfish" (except Rhonda...she's cruising with her family). We got together to celebrate 4 of our birthdays....Janet, mine, Wendy and Faith. It's so much fun just relaxing and hanging out with your girlfriends. Here are some pics of our day together.


Debra, our hostess..... thanks Debra!




Alison and Alison....one of my college freshman girls....so very proud of her!




Janet, Wendy, Kim, Courtney, Ginger, Alison, Faith, Debra, Toni and Julie (miss you Rhonda)





Very pretty picture frame from Toni and also the letter "C" for hanging


me and my gift from Wendy (Kelsey picked it out for me....THANKS Kelsey!) "Life is such a Beach"

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Oh my goodness! I went to exercise tonight at our church. We have a wonderful lady at our church, Amy Hardy, who brings different DVD's for us to exerise to. Tonight....Jillian Michaels. We did level 1 and then level 2. I had already told myself that there would be no level 3 for me tonight. Praise the Lord Amy is a "Lost" watcher like me, so no level 3...we had to rush home to shower and then sit and watch Lost. So, if you are looking for a great/kick you in the pants "20" minute workout, I suggest this one!