Happy Halloween...

Happy Halloween Everyone in blogland! From my little ladybug

And my cute witch ( I cant believe I didnt get her cape in the picture )

And my precious zookeeper!

Don't eat too much candy :)

Happy Halloween and Happy Weekend!

My Pretty Little Pumpkin...

This is my pretty little pumpkin a.k.a... Emiley. She had a big day in her Kindergarten world today. First they sang at the nursing home. (unfortunately they were a little late getting to the nursing home so I only heard one song before I had to head back to the school and get my next group of kiddos. Luckily Daddy was there!) They then headed back to the school to carve some pumpkins! It was a messy task, but they LOVED it!! Of course I made Miss Em and Denver pose for a picture :) They are growing up way to fast. It seems like just yesterday Gina and I were changing their diapers and feeding them their bottles during church! What cuties :)

See ya tomorrow with pictures from trick or treating and character dress up day at school. Its going to be a fun one!!

Tu Tu Preview...

Here is a sneak peak at the tu tu's that will be making their appearance on Friday. They sure were simple and fun to make :) Miss Lainey's purple tu tu to complete her good witch costume. Her costume is almost complete. I just need to make a silver moon and silver stars to decorate her black shirt. Thanks to Betsy because she let us borrow the cape and witch's hat.

Lainey wanted her tu tu to be longer since Emiley wanted hers short. Of course there is no way they could be alike. Miss Emiley's tu tu is precious, too. It is short, fluffy, and red. Just perfect for my little lady bug.

I got the cute dots hot glued onto Emiley's wings so costume complete!

Cant wait to see it all put together on Friday...

A Tip and a Rip...

Yep, today I had a rip.

No, not a rip in a piece of important paper.

No, not a rip in a book.

No, I didnt even rip a good recipe out of a magazine.

I had a rip in my favorite black pants. Now I know you are wondering why I am making a big deal out of this. Well, it was a big deal because it was right in the back end of my pants and I had no idea it was there. I was in Temple at Scott and White for an appointment. After my appointment (around 4 pm) I went to the restroom before heading home. I saw the rather large rip when I pulled my pants down. Lots of things crossed my mind... How long had the rip been there? Oh my, I had been at work all morning! Did anyone see it? If someone saw it, why hadnt they mentioned it? OH MY!! So I hurried out of the hospital and too my car...hoping that no one could see the huge old in the seam of my backside. This is not the first time this has happened to me. When I was seven months pregnant with Abbey I bent over while teaching and heard my overalls rip clear up the middle. I know you are laughing at me. Let me tell you it was pure talent to get over to my desk and wrap my sweater around my pregnant body and get out of my classroom without anyone seeing. Today I was praying for a sweater to drape over my rip as I walked past hundreds of people in one of the largest hospitals in the state.

Ok... now for your tip of the day. First let me tell you I had an appointment for my IBS issues. (OK maybe too much info but it adds to the story) I had told the doctor that I hate such appointments because I hate discussing such problems of the body. Anyway, on the way home while listening to talk radio, I heard that passing gas helps lower your blood pressure. So pass gas girls... its OK... Maybe that is why my blood pressure is so low. So maybe I should be thankful for the IBS so that I dont have to be concerned about my blood pressure. Just trying to look on the bright side here :)

Happy Hump Day!!

Coming up for a breath...

Ok... I am coming up for a breath and a short blog post :)

We are crazy busy as usual and I wouldnt really have it any other way. Between gymnastics, ballet, homework, laundry, meals to cook, work, working out, and oh yes, some sleep I have started crafting a bit more in preparations for Halloween.

My girls rarely go for the normal Halloween attire and this year is no different. We have successfully made Abbey a zookeeper, I am in the process of transforming Miss Em into a cute lady bug, and an ever so sweet purple witch for Lainey is also on the agenda. When I arise from the tulle, elastic, and glue gun to take another breath, I will post pictures.

Happy Tuesday :)

Go Cats, Go...

What a great weekend we had in Abilene! It was lots fun to visit ACU (our home for so many years).

Will and I decided we may be slightly brainwashing the girls about their college choice. Really, they have no choice it is ACU or bust for them. After this weekend they are all three excited about college and becoming a Wildcat.

I did finish the shirts and thought they turned out great. I received lots of compliments on them. I saw lots of my blogger friends who were glad to see the girls wearing them :) I also had lots of strangers ask about the shirts. The also wanted to know if Em and Lainey were twins. I think we may get that more and more. They are really started to look more and more alike and they are virtually the same size. We made it to Abilene just in time to stop by McDonald's grab a cup of coffee and head to the Homecoming parade. The girls loved it!

We then headed to chapel and were able to hear Jarrod Brown receive his young alumnus award. We hope to go to Honduras this summer and make a trip by Mission Lazarus. What a remarkable man! I loved seeing the coming home court from my class '98. (Chelsea, I saw you but never ran into you during the day. You looked great.) The girls loved singing "Step by Step". I really think they were in awe at the singing. Of course, I teared up... I miss those days of daily chapel, daily singing, and daily inspiration. There is truly no place like ACU. We then toured the new bean, the bean sprout, and finally had some lunch at the Chick-fil-a in the campus center. We were also able to stop by the College of Business reception for Will and the College of Education reception while on campus. The girls loved seeing where we went to some classes and were a little surprised you didnt get your own desk in college.
Then it was off to the game where we cheered the wildcats on to a victory!! Way to go CATS. The girls loved watching the band and the cheerleaders. Emiley is convinced she will cheer for the wildcats on day :) and she just may!!
After the game we had a nice dinner, did some grocery shopping, got new tennis shoes and ballet shoes for the girls, stopped by Starbucks for a pumpkin spice latte, and then headed home. The girls were asleep before we hit the Abilene Airport. It was so fun to relive college memories with Will and the girls. Will and I were a bit disappointed that our favorite cheap date hang out, Burger King was closed. I enjoyed seeing so many girlfriends from club. I dont feel as though we have changed a bit. I miss ACU. I always tell Will I would go back in a second. I think he thinks I am crazy. ACU is one of the greatest blessings in my life. It is where I met my great hubby and some of the best friends I still have. It is where I became aware of who God truly is... It is where I discovered "who I am" and "whose I am." What a weekend :)

Compliment?...

Setting: Today, October 24, at 3:15 p.m. in my classroom.
Characters: Me and two fifth grade boys

Boy 1: "Boy, I sure miss second grade!"

Boy 2: "Me too."

Boy 1: "Yep, I am so ready to go home and in second grade we got to go home at 2:45."

Boy 2: "I think I miss Kindergarten even more because in Kindergarten we got to take naps and I could sure use a nap right now."

Boy 1: "Me too."

Boy 2: "Really I am just ready to get home and take a nap."

Me: "Me too!!"

Boy 1: "No, you arent. Teachers love school. They could just live here."

Me: "No, I look forward to the weekends and having a few days off, too."

Boy 2: "Well, most normal teachers dont! You are not a normal teacher."

So does that make me an abnormal?

Happy Weekend...

Crafting Everywhere...

I have been crafting this evening and it sure shows if you look at my kitchen. I am trying to make a go of the ACU t-shirts that I thought were such a great idea. Of course the girls think I am doing an awesome job.

I think they are turning out pretty cute.

If nothing else I am having lots of fun this evening :)

Got a call from Becca, one of my former ACU roomies, and she reported that she will be around this weekend. Cant wait to see her and her three babies.

Happy Crafting and Happy Hump Day!

Too Much Information...

We have all heard the saying "TMI" or "too much information." Well, be aware, be very aware... one of those posts ahead!

I am sore... very sore... the kind of sore in my quads that hurts to walk up the stairs, or down the stairs, to sit down, to roll over, OK, even walk! We are now members of the gym again and I have been meeting the girlfriends there between 4:30 and 5 am for a little cardio on the treadmill and some weights. Well, Monday's weights KICKED MY B*TT and now I hurt. ( I am hoping I can get myself out of bed tomorrow to meet up with everyone!)

The last few days I have had to sub in first grade. One of our first grade teachers had a bad infection and has been in the hospital and there were no subs to be found so they closed my content mastery classroom and moved me to first grade. Anyway, today as I was teaching about rocks and how they are formed, I had a sudden bathroom urge from my 64 oz. of water I had been sipping on. Since I had 16 first graders in my care, there was no way I could go down the hall to the teacher's bathroom. I had to use the one in the classroom. The potty is literally less than one foot off the floor. I was in the worst pain as I tried to lower myself on my oh so sore quads so that I good "use the facilities." I know it may not be funny to you, but there were tears falling from my eyes. I was praying for a big girl potty so bad. I am just thankful there were no hidden cameras to capture me lowering myself onto the potty and wiping my tears away! I am also glad that none of the six years olds that were in care walked in on me. They would have really thought I was an old lady the way I was grasping the sink to lower myself and raise myself.

But all the pain is worth it right?? Please reassure me that it is!!

ACU Homecoming, Anyone?...

Since I know that all you blog readers truly want are picture of my babies, I will begin with picture from the weekend. We had Abbey's last soccer game on Saturday. And, in keeping with Hale family tradition, we host a hot dog party for Abbey's team and their families after the last game. One of Abbey's coaches bought green hair paint to celebrate. Miss Em even had to get a few sprays of it along with a little red on her pony tail.
Abby K. and Lainey have been babysitting their first grade teachers baby at all of the soccer games. They love little Addison! Here are some of Abbey's teammates chillin' in the hammocks. (I didnt get a single picture of Abbey at her own party. Mother of the Year!)
And of course, what is a visit to the Hale's funny farm without rides on Jasper. Gracie did not like waiting her turn for a ride!
And, as always, lots of monkeyin' around!
So... on to next weekend...

This weekend is my ten year college reunion. REALLY?? Has it been ten years since I graduated from good 'ole ACU?? It simply cannot be!!

I am really excited about taking the girls to the homecoming parade, chapel, tailgate party and football game. I am so thankful for Whitney, who keeps us updated on the AWESOME Wildcats this season.

Anyway, my crazy, busy Monday also included a trip to Wal Mart while Miss Em was at gymnastics. I bought long sleeve white t-shirts, purple ribbon, and some black and white polka dotted ribbon all in hopes of making the girls some super cute, homemade ACU Wildcat T-shirts. They are excited about going to ACU for the weekend. We have the brainwashed that ACU is the ONLY college acceptable :)

So, Is anyone else headed to ACU for the weekend. If so, I will keep my eyes peeled for ya! Hopefully the girls will be sporting super cute T's. If they arent done mention them... they must have gotten ruined in the "crafting" process or time flew too fast this week to get them done.

Happy Monday!

I Got Nothin'...

NOPE... nothing.

...no cute pictures of the girls.

...no snake that was caught at the school this week.

...no more half-naked daddies in the car lane. (thank goodness)

...nope, I am fresh out of everything.

Happy Weekend!

We all need "Funnies"...

We all need "funnies" in our lives. You know the funny things that catch you off guard, but have you laughing all day long. I feel as though I especially need them here lately. Ask my kids and hubby (OK, maybe dont really ask them) I have been hard to live with the last few days... Anyway, here are some "funnies" from my day today...

*One of the first cars I opened this morning, while I was on duty, had a daddy who was half dressed. NO shirt, NONE! Only a pair of shorts. I was thanking God he had shorts on :) One of the other teachers said I deserve a medal for the facial expression I had when I opened the door. The other teacher on duty said, "That should not be allowed on campus unless they are a buff daddy!" I agree...

*One of my younger students informed me her "Mommy had put cream on her butt because she needs butt cream because orange juice gives her a rash."

*One of my fourth graders in computer class informed me that Kyle, TX celebrates Christmas on December 25th. (They were suppose to be researching cities in Texas and finding interesting facts or sites to visit in the city to put in their power point presentation!) All I said was interesting :) I had to turn away before I laughed.

*As I was working with a group of fifth graders on a very challenging, but fun math game one boy said, "My mind has been racing and now its taking a pit stop!" Love it!!

Happy Hump Day!!

Tag, You're It...

Mrs. Amy tagged me to post the sixth picture found in the sixth file of my computer.

Here it is... nothing great... nothing fancy. It is of Abbey at the children's museum on Baylor's campus during her GT field trip last year. She is testing out a weather device that shows a tornado. This is a WONDERFUL museum if you ever get a chance to go. So come on everyone... Tag, You're It!

** Update: Still no snake. I made Mrs. D. search the computer lab for the lost critter. No signs. Mrs. D. was laughing at me. I told her she would really be laughing at me when that little booger crawled out and I tee teed all over myself :)

Happy Monday!

Happy Fall, Y'all...

Well, I decided to honor Amy's request and share with you some of my fall decorations. I am really loving my new front door wreath. It as a GREAT bargain from Ross. Every year I buy these small pumpkins and the girls paint them however they choose. I think they turned out really cute. I added this little wooded jack-o-lantern to this grapevine wreath... just a little more decor for the season!
Then there is the pumpkin plate and cute little paper pumpkins for my dining room table, of course.
Every year we pull out these three cute teddy bears posing on pumpkins. They decorate my entry way.
And Mr. Jack himself, NOT REAL... I love to plug him in in the den and let him light up the room for some evening TV watchin'.

Thats all I got! I already shared the picture of my cute Autumn Blessing sign for the front porch and I added a real pumpkin to my porch yesterday. After Jasper ate our pumpkins last year and really made me mad, I decided to save my money and only buy one pumpkin to tempt him with instead of five like last year.

Happy Fall, Y'all!!

I LOVE it, I LOVE it not...

Everyone who REALLY knows me, knows I LOVE red! So of course, I LOVE my new purse.

Everyone who REALLY know me, knows I DO NOT love snakes. Maybe my fear of snakes started as a young girl when my daddy found one in our bar-b-que pit. Maybe my fear of snakes started when there was one spotted on top of the shower stall at church camp. I quickly ran out of the bath house with only my towel. Maybe my fear of snakes is because of the huge snake that we found "sunning" on my wicker chair in the sunroom just a few years ago.

Well, guess what got loose in our school today... on my hallway... in the classroom next to mine... You got it, A snake! Mrs. D, the lady who also works out of my room, thought I was joking when I told her to search our room while I stood on a chair to be sure the snake had not slithered over to our room. She sweetly made a run through our room looking behind the trash can, storage boxes, and in my purse before she announced their was no snake. Mrs. D then said the snake may have gone to the computer lab since it is dark and warm in there. That was an OK thought if I had not just been in the computer lab teaching my fourth grade computer class. As of 3:30 when the bell rang, still no snake. I hope the snake finds his way back to his cage soon. I did tell the science teacher, my school neighbor, about my fear of snakes. He said he was sorry that he had gotten out but this must be a strong snake because he had duct taped the cage shut because he had gotten out two times before!

I personally think it is time to get rid of the snake! I do not love him and I am not sure I can be comfortable teaching knowing he is on the loose :)

Happy Weekend...

I am TOTALLY PUMPED!

YEP! I am back up and running and I am TOTALLY PUMPED. I will back super soon with updates from Will's Ironman race in Austin, the girl's school play, and much more that I cant remember at the moment.

But now I must go because there are blogs that have been calling my name for weeks!

Missed you guys!!

Hello. This is Amy!!

To be honest with you, I have never been given the chance to hijack someone else's blog. But Shelley emailed me today and asked me to do a quick post for her. I have spent the last few minutes trying to think of something super funny to do one here, being that she hijacked MY blog on my birthday and posted funny pictures of me!!HAHA! Shelley! Don't think I am not going to keep this username and password forever!!HA...HA...HA....(evil laugh!)

Anyhow, Shelley's router box at home has crashed and she is waiting on a new one. She is having a bit of blog withdrawal and wanted me to give you guys a shout out! She'll be back soon. (No wonder she hasn't left any comments on my blog!)

Miss ya, Shel. Hope you're back in blog action soon!

Jasper Strikes Again...

Yep, Jasper the horse did it again... He has ruined everything on my porch...
The poor watermelon vines were his victim this time...
He ate every leaf off of the vines. I am so thankful that we were able to get a few watermelons before he realized how good the vines tasted.
To console myself (and Lainey because Lainey was in tears when we walked out this morning to the destroyed vines) I bought this cute autumn sign for my porch. Isn't it cute? I hope Jasper doesnt like to eat painted wood!