Brought to you by the Letter "S"...

Seven Super Silly Sentiments from our last Six Hours...(well, not really six hours but it started with an S)

1. Swine Flu Mania- The girls got a letter from school asking everyone to take precautions. Wash your hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze, etc... Thus far nothing in H-town has been cancelled because of the hysteria.

2. Snakes- The girls also got a letter from the school warning parents that two rattlesnakes had been found on the school's tennis courts. Only in Texas! I think the school should get a few cats :)

3. Songbirds- Abbey's latest passion. Making birds out of playdoh, since it has been rainy and wet outside.

5. Softball- Go Pink Dragons!

6. Soft baby kitties- Rosalina, our beautiful calico, had four baby kittens today. So Sweet!

7. Success- The girls' closets are cleaned out and looking good. Man, its a good feeling! Decluttered + Reorganized=Refreshed Momma Shelley!

Before (Emiley's)

After (Lainey's)

After (Emiley's)

Cute as a Button...

My sweet nephew Garrett makes me wish for a little boy. Isn't he as cute as a button?

I Should Have Believed Her...

Everyone that knows Miss Lainey knows she is bit of a drama queen. Any little thing can get her all worked up and send her little world into a tailspin. The little things such as a change in weather, not enough sleep, a slight change in schedule, or an anticipated day at school can rock her entire being. Sweet Lainey has always been this way.

Well, this morning Miss Lainey woke up saying her tummy hurt and she needed to stay home. Lainey did not have fever nor had she thrown up so I sent her to school since house rules are house rules. You MUST got to school unless the thermometer shows 100 or I have seen puke! I assumed that Lainey was just tired because we have been running around this little place like crazy or that she was nervous about the first grade benchmark testing today. (Lainey has been listening to Abbey go on and on about the TAKS test this week so she truly could have gotten some test anxiety from big sister because it is contagious!)

To make a short story, well short... I made Lainey go to school. I dropped her off with her sisters and drove three blocks down the school hill and my cell phone rings. You guessed it... Lainey had already puked in the hallway! Dang it, I should have believed her.

Let's just pray now that its not the swine flu :)

And just because it appears to be "one of those days!"...

This is our silly cat named "Hootie" because she is so funny! She sleeps like this everyday on the front porch. Let's hope she doesnt have the swine or feline flu either!

Happy Tuesday...

WHAT a Day!...

It is only 2:00 pm and we have had a busy day at the Hale's Household. Today was the long awaited Art Show day. We arrived at the local Art Show this morning to see that Lainey had won THIRD place in the 1st-4th grade division! I am so very proud of her. Art is her passion and to see her succeed just makes my heart do flips. Way to go, Lainey!! You are one talented little seven year old :)

Before the Art Show this morning, Abbey had a softball game. I MUST be a bragging momma again and tell you Abbey hit not just ONE, but TWO homeruns in today's game. She also caught a popfly and tagged a couple of girls out at third base. Needless to say, Abbey does not get her athletic ability from me, but she is sure fun to watch! Love you, Abbey Grace. You and your buddies are sure fun to watch play ball!!

Abbey also won a "Great Artist" Award or Honorable Mention for her painting at the Art Show. Miss Emiley has been a wonderful little sister today and encouraged and congratulated her sisters all day. Today Emiley has spent most of her time gathering flowers from the pasture to make little bouquets around the house. She stopped for a pose with this one in her room! Now, that is a girl after my own heart! I am so very blessed with beautiful, talented, and sweet little girls! Thank you, God!

Happy Weekend!...

Friday Favorites...

This week my Friday Favorite is my green piece of furniture (really I am not sure what type of furniture it is so I dont know what to call it!) and my white shelf made with old tin. I bought the "green monster", Will's name for this particular piece of furniture because it is so heavy, from a friend who was moving for only $50. My dad made me the white shelf.
Aren't they adorable? Perfect entry pieces for our home.

Fluffy...

Our conversation as we were watching Biggest Loser... and NO, the title does not have anything to do with Lainey's little bunny :)

Lainey: "Momma, Is it possible for an adult to only weigh 100 pounds exactly?"

Me: "Yes, Honey, It is."

Lainey: "Momma, Do you weigh only 100 pounds?"

Me: "No, I weigh 100 + something."

Lainey: "Momma, You are a little fluffy and Daddy is a little stiff. "

Yep, I got up at 4:30 am and made it to the gym this morning. Thanks for the encouragement, Lainey. I love you!

Swollen...

Lainey: "Emiley, My arm is swollen where you bit me!"

Emiley: "Well, Lainey, my hair is swollen where you pinched it and pulled it!"

Me: (in my head, of course, because I couldnt quit laughing) "Both of your heinies should be swollen for fighting!"

We Will Take It...

When we (maybe I should say "I") get a chance for a date night, we will take it any way we can get it. Saturday night we had a couples wedding shower so it was the perfect time to get away together with no little girls (who we LOVE with all our hearts!) even if it was just for the night. Grammy and PaPa graciously kept the girls for the night and we were off for some adult conversation!

I decided since we were all dressed up we should take a few pictures... Just for FUN!

"Smile Will. It's not that bad!"

"OK, Babe. I would rather you open your eyes AND smile."

YEAH! We finally got a keeper.
Taking pictures is fun! "Aren't you excited that I have the camera out tonight, Will?"

"Self-Portrait, of course""OK, I admit it... Maybe I had a bit too much fun with the camera!"
But it was fun to get out for the evening with the best hubby in the world...

Happy Monday!...

Friday Favorites...

This week my Friday Favorites are these super, yummy cheese raviolis sold exclusively at HEB. I love them because they are quick and easy to make (just boil for about 10 minutes) which is perfect on nights we have softball practice until 7 or on a gymnastics night. I also love them because they are cheap ($2.50) and they fit perfectly into our family's grocery budget. I usually serve them with either red sauce or alfredo sauce, a salad, and French bread. CHECK... supper is done! Happy Weekend!...

My Silly, Silly Girl...

This middle child of mine is a silly, silly girl. Anyone who knows Lainey, knows that she is definitely one of a kind. I love her like C.R.A.Z.Y. for her genuineness. I must also admit that some days she drive me absolutely C.R.A.Z.Y because she is so different, particular, and has very indivual thoughts. Lainey has had a rough couple of days. When Lainey is feeling a bit "off" she likes to play and organize in her room all alone. This morning as I was making Lainey's bed, I founds some redecorating that she had done yesterday. She had made all her stuffed animals on her bed a bit more "fancier!" Ling Ling, her Build-A-Bear is now sporting a pink jeweled necklace.

Minnie Mouse is the proud new owner of a silver and red beaded bracelet.

And Bambi, has a mock-pearl necklace on. Notice that all the pieces of jewelry match perfectly with each animal.

Super Cute, Lainey Beth. It definitely adds a special touch to your bed decor!

Lainey's class took a trip to the zoo on Monday! Her is Miss Lainey (in the grey T and pink plaid shorts) with some of her best first grade buddies...

We're Off To See...

The past Easter weekend we were "Off To See" Poppy and Dee Dee, EE and Jim, and the "Wizard of OZ." Mi-ma met us in Hamilton and drove down with us! It was a GREAT weekend full of lots of visiting, laughing,eating, Easter fun, and not much sleeping. Here are the girls and I dressed and ready to hit Houston for the show! The girls thought they had truly arrived in the CITY so they posed with the Houston skyline in the background.

Here are all the girls... Megan, Abbey 2, Me, Emiley, Abby 1, Dee Dee, and Lainey (who really thought she was Dorothy!)

Miss Dorothy, I mean Lainey, even had to pose in the star mirror in the bathroom!

We got settled into our seats and ready to watch the show.

Lainey insisted that she sit between Poppy and Dee Dee.

After the show, Dee Dee took us all back behind the Hobby Center to meet the stars. I couldnt believe we were actually able to do that! Lainey had mentioned that she wanted to get Dorothy's autograph, but I never thought it would be possible. This was the PERFECT ending to a great day.

We got back to H'ville around 1 am after the show. Luckily we did sleep until 8! Then we went back over to EE and Jim's to see they progress they had made on their new house. The girls had a great time riding all of Jim's bikes, especially the motorized one! Then it was picutre time with EE's flowers.

I LOVE this picture of Abbey. She was being silly and getting the orange pollen on her nose and then making us all laugh.

Miss Em had to pose with this dying flower. Oh well, her choice and she is still super cute!

Then a picture of all the girls with EE!

Abbey helped Jim get the Direct TV set up! Then it was back to Poppy's to dye Easter eggs, eat an awesome lunch, and hunt Easter eggs.

The girls got way too many eggs and way too much candy.

They ate candy all the way back to Hamilton. We had to rush back to Hamilton Saturday evening for another egg hunt and so that we could go to church with Will on Easter Sunday.

More eggs were found...

More candy was acquired and I had three super tired girls on my hands! Abbey got to do some LOVIN' on Harper... only because Betsy and Bridgette quit fighting over her!

It was a fun, busy 48 hours! It makes me pooped all over again just thinking about it!