Brighton Kevin: 5 Years Old

 Dearest Brighton Kevin,

Oh sweet boy how on Earth are you 5 years old today?! You are still my little baby boy in my eyes, and it is hard to believe that you have grown into such an incredible big boy. You are as cuddly and fun as they come. Life is never dull with you and you constantly make others laugh. Your sweet demeanor and social personality make for the best combination. You are just a joy to be around.

 

 

You began Junior Kindergarten this year at SMM with the magical Ms. Wheatley. Your class is small and you have made fast friends with the other kids. You come home with great stories, and I am loving the progress you have made with your school work. Your bubbly nature and your very direct comments are making for some hilarious moments in class!

 

You are a big fan of golf and love to play with daddy. You have enjoyed playing the executive course at HCC and spending some one-on-one time doing so. You are also coming along nicely in tennis and told your coach, "Hey I am getting good at this stuff!" While you are little, you are mighty & smart which is proving to serve you well. 

You love swimming for fun and are a little fish. It has been great this summer as you can be found going off the diving board or zipping down our slide. You love to have late night swims in the dark as well as early morning dips in the pool. You also love fishing and catching frogs to put back in the pond. Water is one of your favorite things in all aspects.

You have been such a big helper with your little sister lately. You are her best buddy and always include her in your play time. Whether its dinosaurs & cars or dolls & dress up, you are a great sport about letting her pick things to play too.

 

Brighton Boo, you are truly one of a kind and have the biggest heart for all. It is a gift that I pray you carry with you always. The world is difficult and people do not always have pure intentions; but you my son have a heart of gold which can heal & bring hope.

You are loved beyond measure by so many and have had so many prayer warriors be with you from the start. 

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

An American Girl: Adelaide Jane Makes 8 GREAT!

For Adelaide's 8th Birthday, we headed to Columbus, OH and the American Girl Doll Store. It had been my plan since last year to take Adelaide for a girls trip to celebrate her 8th birthday. Something about the wonderful memories I have of my mom, sisters & I enjoying girls trips made me want to recreate that for Adelaide and Salem. 

We drove up on a Friday afternoon and enjoyed dinner at the Rusty Bucket. They have high chairs for your dolls which the girls thought was so cool. It was nice to enjoy a change of scenery, dine outdoors, and take in the excitement. After ice cream for dessert, a sleepover/slumber party at the hotel took place with lots of sister giggles and cuddles for all.

The next day we walked around Easton Park until our "party time." The anticipation and window shopping had the girls very excited and ready to shop until they dropped :) With a 3 course meal in the fanciest AG chair for the birthday girl, birthday tiaras for her & her doll, the most delicious cake we've ever had, and a precious goodie bag for girls & dolls, we certainly loved the royal treatment. We came home with two new American Girl Dolls, a slew of accessories, and some fun new "pets" for all to enjoy. 

It was a weekend that we will never forget, and I hope the girls cherish it for years to come!

 

 

 

Sprinkling Baby Beckam: Coming Soon!

Nephew #3 and Gradbaby #11 is set to arrive just before Christmas! So we decided to throw a little sprinkle for Kendahl & baby Beckam before the holiday craziness set in! He is one of the greatest surprises of the Collins family and we cannot wait to meet this little prince!

We had a delicious brunch at Finn's Southern Kitchen with close family & friends. You could see the excitement in Kendahl's eyes as she came to her semi-surprise sprinkle. Her friends from all walks/phases of her life came to celebrate this little guy!

We sprinkled baby Beckam with winter wear, lots of diapers & wipes, a basket for bath time, and a basket for feeding time! 

And we all have some champs to POP once the little guy makes his grande arrival!