The Collins Family: Spontaneity and "Coming Home"

Something I miss from "the old days" (what? I'm 30!!) is the freedom to be spontaneous. Now, with young kids and full time jobs, the spontaneous moments are more few and far between. It has become a rare occasion to get together with friends on a whim because schedules are full, plans are already made, naps or bedtime are impending. This means that those last-minute events are just that much more appreciated.

Last weekend, Jeff and I decided at about 10:00 on Saturday morning that we wanted to go somewhere and just "get out" for a day. An hour later, we were in the car with haphazardly packed bags and two girls who were up for the adventure because they don't know any better. We drove over the ~~mountains~~ river (and through the woods, actually) to Chelan. Nothing says "escape" to me like Chelan. I breathe more freely, smile more easily, and feel an extra skip in my step. Yes, I know I'm being dramatic and cheesy, but I just love that place and every feeling and memory it releases in me. It's like coming home.

By the time we hit the pass, Austen was making it clear that she didn't think it was fair that Kaitlyn could see the DVD player and she couldn't. So, we made a pit stop for Jeff to turn her car seat around. She thought sitting in the driver's seat for 7 minutes was the coolest thing since pureed bananas.

A girl just cannot go to Chelan without some new shades:

I love to catch Austen with this look of "I bet my big sis could walk on water..." They aren't hard to catch.

Yes, please:

This girl...there are no words:

;

Ditto:

Let's see...is she her daddy's daughter? Yep:

I just ~~want to cry~~ love the fact that Kaitlyn is old enough to make little friends wherever we go. Guess how many times she looked back to be sure Mommy and Daddy were still there?

Love my Toms. And I'll keep talking about it until I get sick of them.

If I ever want a glimpse into the teenage years, I need only look at this picture ("You hang up first. No, YOU hang up first...heeheehee!")

That blur on the right would be Jeff flying onto the bed to the delight of his youngest daughter (I believe Kaitlyn is still talking to her boyfriend)