The Sunshine Maker...

Well, tonight was the final performance of "The Sunshine Maker." It was an amazing experience for the girls. They loved every minute of it. This play was written by a Hamilton Native in the 1950's. It was first performed in the 1980's by many native "Hamiltonians" who now have children who were in the play this year. The author of the play is still alive at 94 yrs. old and was able to attend the play on opening night, Saturday night. The kids all worked so hard over the last few months learning their lines, their places, and timing to make it just a perfect play. The play is about a Texas Horned Toad named Toby who believes he can make the sunshine by digging himself into the sand at night and wishing very hard. It begins in Texas and Toby decides he will really see the world and hide in a suitcase to get to NYC. The horned toad makes it to NYCwith a scene in the airport and then off to the Central Park Zoo where he meets a mouse, lion, monkey, polar bear, some sparrows, and a chipmonk. He also has a conversation with a little boy and girl. It is so cute... I wish you all could have come. I took almost 100 pictures over the last three days. Here are the best to share with you. These pictures really show the costumes, set, and makeup that was done for three days to bring this all together! What FUN!!!

Lainey and her best bud, Abby. They would play barbies and color in the green room until it was time for the GRAND entrance of the sparrows. Creative Miss Lainey is so proud of the fact that she is the one who suggested we use painted birthday hats for the beaks. It worked great! Betsy and I learned we can learn lots of creative six year olds. Emiley is the one who "invented" the slots in the hats for breathing holes!!! They were so cute!!! They loved putting on the makeup each day and standing at the back of the theatre after the play to greet their fans.

Emiley made big buddies with the polar bear. It was a great chance for my kiddos to make friends with other children in the community. Emiley was so excited when the polar bear would let her in his cage after the show each night.

Abbey and Seth, aka Roscoe, were friends before because Seth is a good friend of Brody's... (Abbey's friend that is a boy... not her boyfriend!) They hung out backstage! Notice that she had Tinker Bell with her at all times for good luck!

Here is Lainey and the lion, Sam. I loved this costume and just had to include it. All these costumes were made by two ladies in the community. They did an amazing job! There was such detail to each one...

Here is Molly the monkey. She was the laugh of the play! She would climb up and down her ladder, eat bananas, pick at the trees, etc... all throughout the play. Katie is a talented little actress. She loves what she does and puts her whole self into it! I still am in such shock at the wonderful job done by all the kids in the play. The oldest one in the play was 12 and the oldest was Emiley who is four. They memorized every line!!

Leo the Lion in his cage with is lion hole. It was so neat to see the other kids in the audience in AWE at the play! I cant tell you enough how AWESOME it was to be a part of this!

Here are all the sparrows. Abbey and Sydney ( the two standing) had the speaking roles. Emiley, Lainey, and Abby K were their baby sparrows who flew ever so gracefully around the set. Aren't they cute!?!?!

This is Rosy the Skunk. I loved the extra large rose they put on her head! Once again the costumes and detail were just incredible. Hamilton is such a great little town full of opportunity that is not offered in every small town!

Here are the mice! They were so cute and paid close attention to detail in the play. Olivia did a great job at hiding under the park bench and had a great "mousy" voice! I am so thankful for this experience. The girls loved it and it gave them an opportunity to do something they have never done before. Lainey told me on the way home that next year so WANTS a speaking part. Abbey begins practice next week for a Disney musical that will be Aug. 18. She will play a part in the Pinnochio song... "Got No Strings.." She is really looking forward to it! Of course, Ms. Emiley is always ready to perform... So bring on the next show. The Hale girls are READY!!

Crazy Days of Summer...

Yes, as our summer continues it is still very busy! We are going to and fro with all sorts of things going on to keep our summer a busy one...Here is a short list of what we have been up to this week...
1. VBS... It is next week at our church and once again I am in charge. There are lots of last minute things that have to be done such as sorting t-shirts, crafts, registration, last minute buying for games, etc... I am be so ready for it to be over! Please pray for the children who will be in our care this week. Prayer that they will be blessed by the messages of Christ that we are planning for them.
2. The Sunshine Maker... That is the name of the Children's Play that the girls are in. They are all three sparrows in the play, but Abbey is the only one with a speaking part. It is really cute and I hope that many of you will get to attend it sometime this Saturday, Sunday, or Monday! We have had practice everyday this week and look forward to the BIG performances. I am ready for it to be over, but it has been a great experience for the girls. They have all three really enjoyed it.
3. Ratatouille... Gina and I took the kids to see the rat movie on Thursday. We had things that needed to be bought for last minute costumes for the play, last minute VBS, and some fun home things for Gina's remodel project. We had a great day of shopping, lunch, and movie before we had to be back for play practice.
4. Work... Even with all the busy-ness of extra things this summer, Will is working like crazy and I still have to keep with the house. I can say I am not really proud of the meals we have had lately, but Hey... we are still alive. While Will was in Stephenville with a client yesterday, he stopped by the health food store and bought me my new favorite thing... Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Gloss... It is the best and I was all out! Great Surprise!!!
Thats about all that is happening with us this week. Lots to keep us busy!!! I will have lots of fun pictures to post after the play and VBS and Aunt Molly's wedding next weekend... Stay tuned!

The Horton's In Hamilton...

This past weekend we were excited to have the Horton Gang down for the weekend. We had a relaxing weekend not doing much at all. The kids all had a BLAST together as always. They arrived on Friday afternoon and the fun began. Kate, Kooper, Case and Kenna all brought their bikes and tricycles so they quickly unloaded those and began to ride up and down the drive. We learned Monday morning that Kate doesn't really know how to use her brakes... she would accidently run into others on their bikes and scrap her knees up terribly. Then on Friday night, the mommies and daddies called our awesome sitter and had dinner all alone. It was so nice to visit with Jason and Amy and Derek and Gina without our nine kiddos interupting througout dinner.

On Saturday, Amy, Gina, and I escaped for a three mile walk early that morning. The kids once again were just enjoying being outside. We then made some lunch and headed to the country club for some swimming. Of course it started to rain while we were there, but it did not stop us!! We swam for a few hours while the hubbies played golf. Oh Yeah... we were also fortunate enough to have Uncle Walt here from California. He played golf with the dads too. Late Saturday afternoon and into Saturday night we had a bomb fire from our tree that we cut down in our front yard and roasted wienies and marshed marshmallows. (Lainey calls it marshing marshmallows... she always has... and before the night was over all 10 kids were calling it that too!) We ate until we were sick! I think the mommies got all the marshmallows from the kids and of course we had to eat them!

The kids had a great time. They gathered sticks for the fire, road their bikes, swang in the hammocks, marshed the marshmallows, and roasted the hotdogs, caught frogs and kitties, petted the horse, and got extremely worn out. Case even let his little frog loose in the house. He came out and told Amy and I that he had put his frog in the house under the table. We quickly ran in the house and of course it was no longer under the table, but had hopped under the cabinets. Since I am not use to little boys and frogs in my house, Amy crawled on her hands and knees and caught the frog. We then made it a home in a butter tub!! I was wishing I had my camera near by to catch this moment for the blog, but I didnt!

Jason, Derek, and Walt played guitars by the fire and the kids slowed down around eleven that night. They all took good baths so we would hopefully make it to church on time. Somehow we did make it to church on time with all seven kids. We then had lunch at Storms just for Jason! That afternoon we took a trip to the park and back to the country club for more golf and swimming! We had a great weekend... The kids miss each other so much and have grown so much since our last get together.

(This picture was taken as the kids were waiting for supper on Sunday night. It looked like a mini daycare! The kids are enjoying their yummy suckers before dinner. Somethings you just let them do when they have company!!) We cant wait for another weekend of fun and reconnecting with our long-time friends! Now its off to finish up VBS and the Children's Play that is arriving too close for my comfort!

Bulldog Cheer Camp...

The most anticipated three days of the summer have come and gone. The girls have been looking forward to cheer camp since the registration forms went home in early May! This was Lainey and Emiley's first year to attend, but Abbey had filled them in on all the ins and outs of cheer camp. Abbey helped them learn the names of all the jumps, practice their cart wheels, taught them a few cheers from past years, and even gave them her advice on what to order from the concession stand during snack. All three girls had a great week! Abbey has become an awesome jumper. There were many moms who commented on her herkie and toe touch. She has lots of bounce and "moves." Abbey did the dance without a hitch and can really shake it :)... She had practiced every night on her cheer and did a wonderful job. She is already looking forward to Pee Wee cheerleading in the fall. My friend Betsy and I are even considering coaching a squad... should be fun!

They did a little program for the parents today at 11. Lainey had been crying all morning that she did not want to go because she did not want to perform. I finally just left her there and it all worked out. Lainey was put on the front row in the very center of her group. Abbey told her the cheerleaders put her there because she was the best cheerleader in her group and all the other girls needed to watch her. (Way to go Abbey!!) Anyway, Will and I got there to watch the big performance and there was Lainey right on the front and in the middle. She smiled and did great!!! I was so proud of her.

Ms. Emiley was not quite old enough to attend this year, but I signed her up anyway and the coach let her go. She fit right in with the others and did great! She has real sharp moves and takes it very seriously. She was on the front row right by Lainey. She learned a really hard cheer and got every move exactly right! It was so cute... She even kept that HUGE grin on her face while she was performing. Emiley is all about putting on a show and loved the fact that hundreds of parents and other little girls were watching her show her stuff. Emiley was insistant that bloomers are called pampers! Not sure where she got it, but it stuck all week. She would come home everyday and say she needed to take her pampers off because they were making her hot. She would ask if she had to wear her pampers every morning. I would smile and say yes you must wear them so no one can see you panties... Emiley would just laugh and put them on... What a great three days!!!

Happy Birthday EE...

Happy Birthday Mom, EE... Hope you have a great day. Thanks for all you do for us! The girls love your willingness to teach them ballet, gymnastics, art, or whatever they are "in to" at the moment...Love ya...

The China Blue Tea Set

Sweet Lainey has been saving her money since late April, early May for a "China Blue Tea Set" that she saw one day at Hidden Valley. Aunt Lou and Aunt Freda sent her some money for Easter and she had gotten some money from the Tooth Fairy. Lainey kept talking about this tea set, that I had never seen, so the first part of June we went to Hidden Valley to see how much it cost and see if she had enough. She had $10 at the time. We went out there hoping that she had enough money and me telling myself I was NOT going to give her any money to help her out in this purchase. We found out the tea set cost $34. WOW!!! I told her to keep saving. Well, with her birthday money, and some last few dollars from Poppy in the mail, she was able to finally buy the tea set she had waited months to get. It was a BIG day for us! This was all she had talked about for months and the time was finally here. With lots of one dollar bills and a five dollar bill we made a trip to Hidden Valley on Monday after Cheer Camp. She was so excited!!! She had just the right amount... tax and all!

After we bought the tea set, we decided to stay for lunch. It was a great time just visiting with my girls who are growing up so fast!

Lainey played with her new "China Blue Tea Set" and her China dolls all day long. Today she had to have her good friend Abby come over after Camp to have a real tea party. Abby, Lainey, and Emiley got all dressed up in some dress up clothes, set the coffee table with the tea set and a white table cloth, and had a tea party with white grape juice. (I was cooking lunch and rearranging furniture and didnt get a picture!) Lainey said this was the best day ever!!! She has packed and unpacked that tea set a million times in and out of the beautiful blue box it came in. I am so proud of her for sticking with it and having the patience to save her money for something that means so much to her!

The Spring Ho...

Once again this Saturday, we loaded up in the suburban at 6:30 am and headed for another race. (It is still hard for me to believe I have been running much less running in a few races.) This weekend it was off to Lampasas to the Spring Ho Toughest 10K in Texas and one mile race. Will and Gina braved the 10K and Abbey and I ran the one mile. It was a very successfull day with cloudy skies and cool temps. Will and Gina did AWESOME. They both beat their times from Dublin a few weeks ago!!!

Abbey and I did pretty good, too. Abbey got second in her age group and I got first in mine. (I dont think there were many in my age division... they probably all ran the tougher race!) Anyway we ran the mile in 9:31! That is my fastest ever. I told Abbey it was because she was there with me saying, "Keep going mommy. We're doing good!" I just love her!!! I thought I was suppose to be the encourager, but instead it was her pushing me... and it worked. I was shocked when we passed the time at the end.

We were also really lucky in that Grammy got to go with us and so did the Lainey and Emiley. They stood patiently at the finish line waiting for everyone to complete their race, yelling their hearts out and clapping. They were so cute and had a good time, too. We are tired this afternoon, but hope to catch a nap soon!

Tinkerbell...

Abbey is really in a fun stage of life right now! She has always been a really good girl and a mind of her own. She knows what she like, what she wants, and she doesn't care what others think. She is completely obsessed with Tinkerbell right now! She has always loved Tinkerbell... since she was at least two. But now, It is gone to the max. She has five Tinkerbell shirts, two or three Tinkerbell dolls, homes for the dolls that she has made beautifully, a Tinkerbell beach towel, hairbrush, and it goes on and on. She only eats out of a green bowl for breakfast and drinks out of a green cup. She is dying for a Tinkerbell backpack for school, a Tinkerbell swimsuit that Trinity had on at the pool yesterday, and for the Fairy Land set for her upcoming birthday. She only checks out Fairy books or Peter Pan books from the library. She has rented the "real" Peter Pan five times from the movie store with her money or her free pass for making good grades. Abbey even wrote a note to the fairies and left in on her bed for them... sort of like the tooth fairly coming... she thinks there are real fairies living all around her. The note said, " Dear Fairies, I believe that you are real. Please leave me a sign that you are here and turn me into a part fairy." She then drew a beautiful picture of Tinkerbell on it. Like any good mother, I left some glitter in her room sprinkled on her dresser. I love this stage in her life and hope to hold onto it forever. When Abbey was smaller she wanted to be a tom boy so bad. She wanted to be a cowgirl and be just like daddy. She would not wear pink... until I bought her a pink Tinkerbell shirt!!! She likes to dress up more now and sees herself as a pretty little girl instead of trying to be a tom boy! I want her to be whatever she wants... I am just really embracing this girlly stage that she is into right now. It brings tears to my eyes to see her growing up! She wants to be a big girl, but still wants to be my little baby. She still comes into my bed and cuddles with me... just because. I hope this never ends! She loves Tinkerbell but also craves an IPod... She is changing, growing up, yet holding on to Tinkerbell.

She also LOVES Faith Hill's new song Fireflies. We had to buy the CD and I was afraid we were going to wear it out after the first week. She has the whole song memorized. The song is so "HER!" It makes me cry everytime I hear it. We also saw Faith Hill singing it on Oprah the other day... It was really special. For those of you who havent heard it... I will share some of the words with you...
Before you met me I was a fairy princess. I caught frogs and called them prince and made myself the queen. Before you knew me I traveled 'round the world. I slept in castles and fell in love because I was taught to dream. I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes in the top to capture Tinkerbell. And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye But I could always tell.
I believe in fairy tales and dreamer dreams like bedsheet sails and I believe in Peter Pan and miracles anything I can to get by... and Fireflies...
Before I grew up I saw you on a cloud. I could bless myself in your name and pat you on our wings. Before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud, "Life is hard, and so is love child, believe in all these things." I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes in the top to capture Tinkerbell. They were just fireflies to the untrained eye, but I could always tell.
I believe in fairy tales and dreamers dreams like bed sheet sails. And I believe in Peter Pan and miracles any thing I can to get by, ... and fireflies...
I hope that I have taught Abbey Grace to dream. She is a very special girl with an amazing imagination. She wants to do her GT project on fairies and Tinkerbell next year. I hope she holds onto her imagination and reaches for whatever she wants in life... even Tinkerbell!

Sandifer Wedding...

This past weekend was another wild, wedding weekend for us. We had the privilege of being a part of our youth minister's wedding. Lainey and Emiley were the flower girls and had been looking forward to it all summer. My kids love Troy and Jodi so much... The rehearsal dinner had a Hawaiian themes so we all dressed in our hula outfits and had a great time. Will even got a new Hawaiian print shirt for the occasion! The place was decorated with beach balls, rafts, flowers, candles, sand, etc... It was really cute!

When we began this wedding weekend, I told Abbey that she and daddy were going to be buddies this weekend. They hung out together, ran errands for us, and sat patiently through all the pictures and waiting.

Since we had to be at the rehearsal dinner and at the church again the next morning by noon to begin pictures, we decided to just get a room in Waco. I could not imagine driving the girls back to Waco the next morning with their hair fixed for the wedding. We had a great time at the hotel in the indoor pool and we even got some shopping done! It was great family time with no rushing around! The girls looked so adorable. The also did a great job (if I may say so) at posing and doing what the photographer said. Lainey did have a slight break down... but after a good snack and a DP she was good to go for the wedding!

Since the pictures were at noon and the wedding did not start until two... we had some down time to just hang out and wait! The girls loved this hallway in the church. It was the children's wing and they posed with every inch of this painted wall! It wasted time and about 30 pics on my camera.

As time for the wedding approached, Lainey and Emiley could not help but to stretch out on the stairs and wait for Jodi and her bride's maids to come down the stairs! (Love this pic!)

It was finally time for the wedding... and THEY DID IT! They walked down the aisle together. When they got to the front of the church... they had to put on a show like all flower girls do. Lainey put petals on Emiley's head and Ms. Em gave her on of her famous stares. Then Lainey began to giggle... and of course had to do it again. They were quiet though and remembered to walk out together just as they had practiced the night before.

Lainey was not quite as excited about the pictures after the wedding. She was tired! She looks like such a little lady in this pic. This was taken on the steps at the front of the church while real pics were going on to the right of her!

Emiley just couldnt wait to get some cake! It was a great wedding!! We had lots of fun being with Troy and Jodi on this special day... Afterwards we enjoyed a lunch/dinner at Oliver Garden, Will finally got a new racing bike, and I got some new running shoes! It was a successful weekend... then we crashed until nine o'clock Sunday morning... How we made it to church on time the next morning... I am not really sure!!!

The Last Few Days...

Like most of the state the last week or so, we too have seen our share of LOTS of rain. One day alone we got near five inches in just hours. This is what it did to the little creek that runs through our place. Our tank is still full and we are thankful for the rain we have had. Luckily we have not had any severe damage in Hamilton County. These pictures were taken just right on our road by the drain pipe that runs under our road.

Notice how fast the water is moving and how wide the "creek" is... it stretched way back and covered the base of all our pecan trees.
As many of you know, our summer is full of weddings. Last weekend we went to Will's cousin, JJ's wedding in Austin. We just went for the day so we were a bit tired after an evening of wedding events. The girls took this wonderful picture with their great-grandfather, Bill Moody.

The girls danced the night away at the reception. It was a beautiful wedding with a wonderful meal and dance afterwards. They had sitters for the children during the meal, but the children joined us soon after for dancing. They enjoyed eating pizza with the sitters. They later enjoyed Shirley Temple's and the great music.

Lainey especially had a good time. She did not care if she was dancing all alone. She did tell me that a little boy said to her, "Can I take this dance?" It was so cute to hear her tell about it on a quick break to the bathroom.

Abbey was a little more timid. She stayed close to the edge of the dance floor, but did dance some!

Emiley had more fun taking lots of pictures with the disposable cameras that were on the tables. I hope some of them turned out for JJ and Michael.
Then on Monday we celebrated Lainey's 6th birthday with hot dogs, cake, lemonade, and lots of friends. She wanted a kitty cat birthday... it was a little hard to stick with that theme, but we did get a kitty cat! The kids each got a water gun and sun glasses as favors and ran crazy around the pasture. I was so thankful that the rain stayed away.

My mom was able to come to spend part of her day with us, but was not able to stay for the party. Lainey received lots of wonderful things for her birthday. She got more ballet stuff, the munchkins from Wizard of Oz (her favorite movie), Moon sand, money, barbies, and Baby Alive.

All the kids loved playing with the Baby Alive. Abby and Lainey could not stop laughing when she wet her diaper!

We also were surprised with a basket of fresh vegies from the Killian's garden. They were so beautiful... I just had to take a picture!

It has been a busy few days, but filled with lots of fun and fellowship. We are awaiting our 4th of July guests, the firework festivities tonight, and yet another wedding this weekend!...

100th Post... 100 Things...

Well, between the birthday wishes, the parties and events from the girls' schools, and the crazy animals... I have made it to 100 posts on my blog. So in keeping with tradition (well, the tradition of fellow bloggers...) I will post 100 facts about ME!...
1. My full names is Shelley Dianne Everett Hale
2. I was born on November 22, 1975.
3. I was born in Ballinger, TX.
4. I have one little brother, Chad Stephen Everett.
5. My parents are Stephen Rex Everett and Ruth Ellen Everett
6. I grew up for the most part in Brady, TX.
7. I loved math in elementary school.
8. My friends and I use to play with rolly polly bugs on the playground and build forts for them.
9. I was in the gifted and talented program in school until I got grossed out by the study of the Inca Indians... then I choose not to be in it any more!
10. I started playing the flute in sixth grade, but quit when I got into high school because I couldnt memorize my music and march all at the same time.
11. I was a cheerleader all through Jr. High and for three years in High School.
12. I played basketball, but was not real great!
13. I only ran track in Jr. High... was not much of a runner, but I am trying to change that now.
14. I was the president of my class.
15. I was the student council vice president.
16. I was voted best looking of my class for three years in High School.
17. I loved my '65 Volkswagon Bug... mint green. (Wish I still had it!!!)
18. I was first runner-up Miss Heart of Texas... and had lots of fun traveling around Central TX riding in parades with my buddies Mikey and Michele.
19. I was in the National Honor Society.
20. I graduated number five in my class of 94 kids.
21. I attended Texas A&M University my first year of college.
22. I worked at Rother's Bookstore in College Station and loved my job... but hated school!
23. I transferred to Abilene Christian University my sophomore year of college.
24. I met my AWESOME husband at ACU the first day of Welcome Week at Taco Bell.
25. I LOVE ACU!
26. I worked at the YWCA of Abilene while in college as a Y-Teen Counselor. Met great friends doing this... Chelsea, Julie, Angie...
27. I also worked at the Abilene Salvage Pool (a junk yard for wrecked cars) while in college. It was a great job and my bosses were wonderful people and took care of me!
28. I grew up in the Church of Christ.
29. I pledged Kappas while at ACU and met many life long friends.
30. I was a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society in College.
31. I was able to represent ACU at the National Alpha Chi convention in Philadelphia, Penn. What an experience!
32. I loved Sing Song... I still do! We were Batman and Robin, Baseball Players, and House Painters.
33. I married Will Raymond Hale on December 27, 1997 in Ballinger, TX.
34. I graduated from ACU with a Bachelor's Degree in May 1998.
35. I taught special education at Jones Elementary in Abilene the year after I graduated.
36. I was blessed with my first daughter... Abbey Grace Hale on August 23, 1999.
37. Abbey was two weeks late and was finally delivered by C-section.
38. Will and I were both in graduation school the same year.
39. I graduated from ACU once again with a Master's in Education as an Educational Diagnostician in August 2000.
40. Will and I moved to Ft. Worth in July 2000.
41. I taught Kindergarten in Granbury at Cornerstone Christian Academy.
42. I was blessed with Lainey Elizabeth Hale on July 2, 2001. She was a schedules C-section since it had not been three years since my last C-section.
43. I stayed home after the birth of Lainey.
44. I home-schooled a little boy whom I had taught in Kindergarten while staying at home.
45. We moved to Hamilton in January of 2002.
46. Miss Emiley Morgan Hale was born September 18, 2002... yes a C-section again since it had only been 14 months since the birth of Lainey and only three years and three weeks since Abbey was born.
47. I am living proof that nursering and no period do not mean you cannot get pregnant.
48. I have had four knee surgeries... one from basketball, one from cheerleading, one from accident at the beach on Spring Break, and one from adult soft ball...
49. I love RED.
50. I love to cook and bake.
51. I am a person with a schedule.
52. I sometimes get a bit compulsive about sticking to my schedule.
53. I make the beds every morning.
54. I watch the news first thing in the morning and before I got to bed.
55. I had never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until Will made one for me while we werer dating in college.
56. Will proposed to be with the ring in a blender.
57. I do laundry everyday!
58. I hate ironing.
59. I dont really like to eat cereal.
60. I drink water all day long in a big Storm's cup.
61. I love water with lemon or lime in it.
62. I love COKE! I am trying to cut back.
63. I am planning on running a half marathon in December before my 10th wedding anniversary.
64. I am not real organized, but I try to be...
65. I love plants and flowers.
66. My dream job would be to sale roses on the street corner in NYC.
67. I really want to go to NYC sometime soon.
68. I love my suburban... the room in it is great for the girls and all their "gear."
69. I taught and was the director for the preschool at the Lutheran Church in Hamilton for two years.
70. I have never broken a bone.
71. I had braces from the fourth grade-seventh grade.
72. I have extremely oily skin... I hate it!
73. I dye my hair every six weeks because I am getting grey.
74. I hate to go anywhere without makeup on...espeically in Hamilton where you cant leave the house without seeing someone you know.
75. I love wearing jeans and flip flops.
76. I love to swim.
77. I love sweets... cheesecake is the best!
78. I love rainy days.
79. I am not a morning person... dont talk to me for a few minutes when I first get up... give me my space.
80. Will and the girls are the best "things" to ever happen to me.
81. I was baptized on Setember 18, 1988. (Em was later born on that day in 2002.. Weird, huh?)
82. I love my grandparents.
83. I felt blessed that all my grandparents were alive when I was married.
84. I miss Pi-Pa, Granddad, Momba, and Bob tremendously! I cry every time I think of the blessings they are in my life and how much I miss them.
85. My Mi-ma is the best... I use to stay with her all summer and I still make frequent trips to San Angelo to see her ... now it is just ME plus my three little ones!
86. I have awesome aunts and uncles who love me and my kids.
87. I have also been blessed with great in-laws... mother, father, brother, and sisters...
88. I love Rachael Ray.
89. I miss Katie Couric on the Today Show.
90. I love getting long stem red roses.
91. Christmas time is my favorite season.
92. I am trying my best to raise my girls in a Christian Way.
93. I pray daily for the future of Abbey, Lainey, and Emiley.
94. I cry lots!
95. I love having friends and family over to eat and play games.
96. I love a good hamburger and french fries.
97. My favorite verse is I John 4:7..."Let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
98. I love Christian music and also love Aerosmith and Bon Jovi.
99. I hope when I die... people will say "I was a good mommy who loved her family with all her heart and love her Lord and Savior."
100. I love the Lord and pray daily for Him to mold me into His perfect child!

Well, I did it... a bit random... but hey, THATS ME! Love you all and keep reading for the next 100 posts!

Happy Birthday Lainey Girl!...

Happy Birthday Lainey Elizabeth... you are one of a kind! You are special in so many ways. You keep us moving and thinking with all of your gifted ways. There are so many things I love and cherish about you... I will try to name the top six...
1. You are a free spirit. You know what you like and dont like and are not afraid to say it. You dont feel like you have to follow the crowd. You do your own thing all the time! You can be found dancing in the ailes of the grocery store or singining your heart out during church. You love life and others are attracted to your free spirit.
2. You are so crafty and gifted. You can draw anything you set your mind on... and I mean anything! You are always amazing people at your art of drawing and the detail in every special picture.
3. You are so smart! You are already starting to read and sound out anything you want to. I am so proud of the books you have already read and the progress that you are sure to make next year in Kindergarten!
4. You are so sweet! It is so special to see you care about the older people at church and babies. You have a heart of gold and take time to tell others how special they are too! I appreciate you remembering to tell me you love me every morning and every night... You also have very sweet kisses!
5. When you smile... you smile all over. Your eyes squint, your cheeks fill, your mouth widens, your shoulders raise, and your toes even seem to curl. You are beautiful!!!!
6. You only like to wear dresses and love to "make outfits!"
Who knows what you will be someday... an artist, a fashion designer, a dancer, an author. I cant wait to see!

Happy 6th Birthday, Lainey!!!