30!

This past weekend, I turned the big 3-0. For the record...I do not feel any different. I actually can't believe I am really this old. I truly still feel about 24. :) That is a good thing, I suppose!

I was very well remembered on my day. Ben and the boys got me a treadmill! I have wanted one for a long time because it is so difficult to exercise with two boys and a basketball coach for a husband. Having a treadmill at home means I can run/walk anytime...I am taking full advantage of nap time until I have to go back to work! I love it. Peyton does to....he tells me that he needs to "get in shape" too.

Peyton also picked out a ring for me...he is so sweet. He told Ben he wanted to give me a ring like Dad did...so he found a red one... I love it. :)

My parents decided to come down on the 24th and help me celebrate. They brought Tate's sandbox and a bag of soybeans to use as sand. We have had SO much fun scooping them and teaching Tate how to keep them IN the box and not throw them OUT! We had a great supper together! The next day, my dad and Peyton went to HyVee to pick out a birthday cake and get ice cream. It was very nice. Then Mom and I went to check out the sales at a couple stores and I found some great jeans and a sweater! Thanks Mom and Dad!

After Mom and Dad left, we were invited to go to the lake with our neighbors. We were probably on the lake for 5 hours, and enjoyed tubing, swimming, and hanging out. Peyton LOVES tubing and our friends pulled two tubes...one that had three seats and one normal tube. We had 6 people tubing at once! SO fun! Our neighbor Jackie and I even went out. Of course, we were screaming...."slow down!" as the boys were saying, "go faster!" Tate loves the water and loves the boat ride as well. He gets in complete relax mode and falls asleep so easily!

Overall, it was a super day. 30 is going to be a great year!

Carnival...bike...boating...

We had a very busy weekend at the McCollum house. ON Friday, we went to the Nodaway County Fair right here in downtown Maryville....we actually only went so Peyton and Tate could ride on some rides. They had a blast and poor Tate did NOT want to get off the boats...he was frantically signing more...and signing finished when I picked him up....it was like he just wanted to scream..."NO Mom! Put me back in there! I am finished with you...I want MORE boats!" Peyton got to go on a few more rides than his brother and had a very good time.

We stopped by my classroom on the way to the carnival so Ben and boys could check out all of the hard work i have been doing...I am switching rooms this year because I am one of the 5 first grade sections that they will always have. Last year, we had to have 6 sections because of the size of the class...this year, we will be back to 5 sections and thankfully one of the former first grade teachers is going to stay at home with her children so I get to take her spot. If she hadn't decided to stay home, I would have been teaching 4th grade. Last week, our nanny Natalie came for two afternoons and I went up to work. There was a lot of organizing to do and a lot of dust to clear...I am happy with my progress so far, but there is still a lot I would like to do. The good thing is that I have some time...and now I won't feel so overwhelmed when it is back to school time.

After the carnival, we decided to take Peyton to Wal-Mart to pick out his very first big boy bike. I will be posting pictures of it very soon. He looks so big on it! He has been riding very carefully around the driveway and a little on our road. We need to take it to the college and ride there because the sidewalks are better and he would actually have some room to ride! I sent a picture of Peyton on his bike from my phone to my parents and Mary and my dad says that he will continue to get bigger and time will continue to go faster and before I know it he will be driving a car. I am NOT ready for that!!!

On Saturday, our neighbor, Neil Elliott, and his boys were heading to Mozingo Lake with their boat and asked if we would like to join them. We did and had a wonderful time with them! Peyton went tubing for the first time and did very well! We anchored the boat and enjoyed a little swim time in the water. This could have been Peyton's favorite thing to do as he jumped into the water to Ben about a million times. Tate and I stayed in the boat...the ride put him right to sleep...and when he woke up, he was more interested in watching and having a few snacks. It was a fun afternoon!

I love our weekends and time we spend as a family. It is so fun to play together and enjoy whatever activity we are doing. I am very lucky to have such a great family...two awesome little boys and a wonderful husband. Life is good! :)

vacation pictures 2

Peyton and Joey at the parade













Tate during the first half of the parade...














Playing at the lake with Grandma and Mary Rose















Ben and the boys at the lake

vacation pictures

Peyton enjoying the boat ride!















Tate and I enjoying the ride!















Peyton riding the tractor in the shed at Grandpa's














Tate's turn!















Peyton helping Grandpa...

Vacation...

We just got back from Iowa yesterday. We left last Thursday and headed to Ben's family first. We got to see one of Mary Rose's games as we came into town! She is quite the softball player and has been hitting very well! The other night she went 4 for 4 and had a couple RBI's. We are so proud of her! Mary Rose was an absolute HIT with the boys. Tate loved her....he went to her with no problem... While we were at Ben's mom's, we helped organize her kitchen. It looks quite amazing and it was really fun to work together and help make it look like she wanted. We found some treasures, made some donations to charity, and enjoyed the final product quite a bit...(along with some Blue Moon's and wine....). We did not spend the entire time working though. We had a great time at the park, lake, and taking long walks. We were going to go to the new water park, but then decided that since the lines to the water slides were from the top to the bottom of the LONG steps, that going to the lake would be more fun...so we headed to Ben 's best high school friend, Josh's parents' house. Josh met us there and played in the water, mixed fabulous drinks, and took us out on the boat. This was the first time the kids had been on a boat ride and they both loved it. Josh also took Ben knee boarding....just like the "good old days." We had a great time!

On the 4th of July we went to church, then to the parade and the activities at the parks by the lake. It was a busy and fun day....my parents met us and we all walked to a park to watch the fireworks together. It wasn't the best...the mosquitos were out and in full force...they did not seem to respond to the gallons of Off I sprayed. Peyton thought they were "boring" and he and Ben left early. Shortly after they left, mom, Mary, Mary Rose and her friend, Tate and I left too. I always look forward to fireworks, but I am not sure they are worth it. However, it wouldn't be the 4th of July without them!

On Monday we went to my mom and dad's house. They are getting their house sided by one of our family friends, so it was fun to see him and his crew. Ben and I helped my dad clean out grain bins, and Peyton enjoyed rides on everything imaginable. Ben worked a lot harder than I did cleaning out bins....he is kind of a go getter. The time seemed to go by really quickly while we were there. Peyton got a new "johnny popper" tractor and wagon from Grandpa. He claimed that his "Model A" John Deere at home..."needed a friend." He was really excited to have his new tractor come home to his house to show it to the others. He is a funny little guy.

Overall, we had a wonderful and relaxing trip. We had a great time with both of our families and feel really lucky to have such great families to go visit. Ben and I also celebrated our 5th anniversary! These past 5 years have gone so quickly and so much has happened since we got married. I love Ben more every day and am so glad I am able to call him my husband.