Fire Pit

So, last year I tore out a tree in our backyard that was planted too close to our garage. Since I already had this huge hole from ripping it out, I decided to build a fire pit in that same hole. I got some fire bricks from Katie's grandfather, and bought some decorative retaining wall bricks to finish it off. Its about 41/2' in diameter. Really only took a day to build it! Now we are ready to cook up some Hot Dogs and Smores for those chilly spring nights! Her is a pic from my phone.

Starvation Diet

So, today starts another try at dieting. This is crap! I know it always seems to get pushed aside, but not this time! Its too easy to get side tracked and then one thing leads to another and I'm eating mint chocolate chip ice cream out of the container! Umm... that sounds really good right now.

So somethings gotta be different than the last try at this dieting thing, or I'll fail again.

So here are a few goals I'm striving for

-Drinking more water, "i never drink water"

-Eat 4-5 small portions of food a day "no more late night 4th meal"

-Start hitting the treadmill. "or running on it"

-Use my iron gym "to get muscles like Arnold"

-Sign up and commit myself to run in a few local races this spring.

I'll keep you updated on how things are progressing. Right now it just feels like I'm starving myself. Haha

Any tips you can think of for me? post a comment below!

Where The Wild Things Are...!

Does everyone remember how great this book was?

Well check out the trailer to the movie!

Do you Twitter?

"If we can't twitter, we don't exist!!!"

Hilarious video!

New Header Pic

Our friend Susie Linquist is the cream of the crop out in San Diego, CA. She did a little work on my Header picture at the top of the blog. Did you notice??

Thanks Susie it looks great!

Susie makes frequent trips back up to Ohio for photo sessions if you are ever interested. She does amazing work! She actually got the chance to do a photo shoot of Jason Mraz, so go check this girl out @ http://www.susielinquist.blogspot.com/

More Babies!

Yes, it seems everyone we know has had, or is having a baby. Must be that time in our lives, man that kind of makes me feel old! Well here is a quick story of two brothers I've known since kindergarten! No joke. Ryan and Josh are only a few years apart in age, their Mom used to babysit my brother and I all the time after school. Ryan, Josh and I have been in the same school together all the way into college at Mount Union. We have had some hilarious episodes growing up together " I'll save these for another post". About a little under a year ago, Ryan, Josh and their wives went on a little vacation get away together. As competitive brothers would be, they made a bet on which couple could get pregnant and have a baby first! Ha! Now, I would of loved to have been there when this conversation was going on, I'm sure over a couple of beverages! So they both agreed to start trying after the vacation

SO THE RACE WAS ON!

The day they get back from vacation Missy and Tara (the lucky ladies) are PREGO!

They both cheated and started early! Ha!

This is a joke right? Nope, and the docs say they are only a few days apart on their due dates. Missy the 12th and Tara the 13th

This is really going to be a close race!

9 months later?

Ryan and Missy had theirs first, a baby girl Natalia

and

Josh and Tara had a baby boy Gabe

So CONGRATS! to the parents and new babies, all are doing great. What a great story, can't wait until the look on Natalia's and Gabe's face when they tell them how this all went down. Here is a picture of the two below.

Natalia and Gabe

Meet Inbetween Us

Here is a great tool that was passed along to me, when you want to meet up with someone but don't want to drive all the way over there! Go check it out and use it!

Click the link below!

Meet Inbetween Us

New Addition

ATTENTION: We have a new addition to the Collard family.

Kate and I decided to sponsored a boy in Ecuador through Compassion International. Our church did a special a few Sundays back and we really felt moved to reach out and help.

His name is Kevin Ivan Farinango! He is 5 years old and loves soccer.

Typical houses in Kevin's area are constructed of dirt floors, brick walls and tile roofs. The most commonly spoken language is Spanish. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, rice and potatoes. Common health problems in this area include malnutrition, parasites, diarrhea and respiratory diseases. Most adults work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $100 per month. This community needs vocational training, educational resources and permanent jobs. Our sponsorship allows the staff of Carita Feliz Student Center to provide Kevin with Bible teaching, medical exams, health instruction, nutritious meals, recreational activities, vocational courses and academic support. In addition, non-schooled children are provided with preschool classes. The center staff will also provide parent's school, evangelism and medication for the parents of Kevin.

I would encourage everyone to sponsor a child and give them hope!

Welcome Kevin!

I'm back!!

Sorry to all of you checking this blog and not getting any updates! I have really fallen behind on this site, and am now dedicating myself to getting back on track! We have had so much going on the past few months, I don't even know where to start. Katie got a new job, I was in Atlanta and St. Louis, I had a awesome birthday, our friends have had a baby, our other friends are about to have a baby, we've been to a bunch of kids birthday parties, Braily was sick, I was sick, Braily goes on the potty, my brother and sister in law in Atlanta are preggo, Katie looks delicious, we did our taxes, you get the idea! So I'm starting with a few pictures of the girls, so you can see how much they have changed since the last time you saw them. Jayla is just about 5 months now, which puts Braily at 19 months, crazy how these girls are so close in age and look nothing like one another.

I'll be back!

For some reason this looks like a mug shot! Look at all those freaking ponytails!

Swim Class

So for a Christmas present, Braily got swim lessons from her Uncle Nate and Aunt Kristy. Let me tell you this girl loves to be in the water! Shes fearless, jumping off the side of the pool, going under water, no big deal. This past week they made them wear life jackets and I thought she looked really cute so I want to post some pictures on here. This weekend is her final class and I believe they are teaching the butterfly stroke. Ha!

Keep Shooting...

"I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why . . . I succeed.”

-Michael Jordan

I read this today and thought it was a very inspiring quote. So keep shooting!

Down below part deux

So here it is, the finish product! except for the ceiling which we have yet to do. I didn't really get anytime to put it up yet. As soon as we got this far Kate wanted to put everything in it, so as you can see the girls little play area is done and immediately got filled with their junk. Sorry, I haven't been keeping up to date with you guys, I'm trying!