Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary... (Let's get caught up!)

 Has it really been over 3 weeks since I posted.  I will become a good blogger again! I will become a good blogger again! I will, I will, I will! 

In the meantime, MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Hale House!  We had a great week of celebrating with our family! 

Also Happy Anniversary to the Hubs and I!  How have we been married 16 years.  Time is passing so quickly. 

Happy Weekend... and I promise to return hopefully sooner than later! 

Charlie...

 Charlie, our families' elf, have been visiting and making his appearance in our home for many years now!  It is one of the things the girls look forward to every year now matter how old they get!  Some mornings he keeps it sweet and simple like holding baby Jesus beside the nativity scene...

 Other mornings we find that he has drawn mustaches on the girls pictures!  (This is one of the girls favorites!) 

 He likes to make messes... Like squirting toothpaste or lotion in the bathroom...

 Or throwing toilet paper around the fans or Christmas tree!  This one morning he was hanging from the ceiling fan in the kitchen.  Silly little elf. 

The girls wake up every morning hunting for Charlie.  Its so FUN!  And no matter who finds him first, they never tell the other sister where he is!  They have to find him!  I love the joy and excitement he adds to the season! 

Happy Holidays! 

Oh, So Thankful...

We had the BEST Thanksgiving break.  We spent time with both side of our families and saw cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-grandparents.  It was such a blessing!  

 We laughed so much and told so many stories.  The kids are all growing up so fast!  It is so exciting and heart-breaking at the same time.  We held pet ferrets.

 I admit, I was a bit grossed out by the little rodent pet.  The girls LOVED him...

 We LOVED all the decorations that Mima and Aunt Vi set up for us.  They were so beautiful and special.  The kids had special decorations, too. 

 Looking back through my pictures, I wish we had taken time for more family photos but you take what you can get...

 We compared these two... I have ALWAYS thought that Lainey and Lily looked SO MUCH alike.  We had such a good time visiting with the college cousins.  Talking to Lily about ACU made me miss the college days but made me SO EXCITED for her! 

 Oh, yes... and girl cousins are the BEST.  Tonya and I had lots of laughs with each other this visit.  Mostly watching our kids and our dads!  Good times at Mi-Ma's! 

 And finally, we are so Thankful to our Lord... He is always Good!  What a great Thanksgiving.  Thankful for the memories made! 

Only 21 Days Later...

 Well, 21 or so days later, I have finally found some times to hit the good 'ole blog again.  I have thought our "her" MANY, MANY time in the last few weeks but haven't had any time at all.  We've had the best time with life and I'll try to give you a brief recap in a numbered post to 21~
1.  We are in the pig business once again.  Miss Em has 2 sweet piggies that she will show in stock shows this year.  I still don't know much about it all but smile and leave it to daddy/daughter time!
2.  I celebrated another birthday.  Yep, another year closer to 40... WOW, this is happening too fast!
3.  We traveled to San Angelo and had Thanksgiving at my Mi-ma's house.  It was so good to see my aunts, uncles, cousins and for my girls to see their cousins.  (above pic!)  Aren't they adorable?
4.  Since we were in San Angelo we got to have Thanksgiving with Will's side too.  What a blessing!  both sides of the family in one trip!  LOTS of family and food in a few days! 
5.  We headed even further north to Lubbock to watch some playoff football and see Will's high school BFFs.  OH MY, they always have so much fun together!!! 

 6.  We have had spells of warm and then freezing cold weather.  That is TX for ya!  I like the cold weather in short spells.  Makes it feel like Christmas time! 
7.  The girls are working on their Christmas play for church.  It's going to be so cute...

 8.  I put our Christmas trees up early because I knew life was going to get busier and crazier around here... if that's even possible.
9.  Since the trees were up, Charlie the elf, made his return!  He is so silly and so fun.  On this particular morning he just wanted to hold baby Jesus. 

 10.  Abbey and her team of started basketball.  They are on their way to a winning season! 
11.  Emiley and Lainey are also playing basketball in the city league.  They are on the same team.  This should save us a little time and running back and forth. 
12.  Lainey has entered lots of photos into the Home Economics division of our county show.  She has some great photos again this year. 
13.  Along with her pigs, Emiley is going to make a cake, some salsa and fudge for the county show. 
14.  One of Abbey's friends was diagnosed with cancer this last month.  It has made us slow down, enjoy life and not take things for granted.  She and her family are one of strong FAITH.  Prayers are powerful so pray for Emma. 
15.  I am on a mission to clean out this house!  Slowly and surely it is happening. 
16.  The girls are all participating or have participated in UIL here recently (post of its own soon!)
17.  We had an ice storm these last few days.  We have been stuck in the house and it has been so nice to relax and get a few things done. 

18. My girls are little rednecks at heart.  They were redneck sledding in the ice. So sweet. 
19.  One Direction tickets have gone on pre-sale... so... guess where we will on August 22... the day before Abbey's 15th birthday?!?!?  So fun!  And on the floor no less! 
20.  I am just about finished Christmas shopping and it feels so good. 
21.  This is the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!  I hope you all are soaking it up!