Happy Birthday Molly and Aunt Cynthia

Happy B-day the two Hale girls!!!

We had so much fun with you all this weekend. Hope your days was filled with birthday happiness!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends out there blogging with me! We have had a wonderful year. Tonight Steve and I are playing Santa wrapping up and hiding out. I am so so excited for the kids to wake up and open their gifts. I feel like a kid myself. I can't wait.
Just wanted to wish all my sweet family and friends a Merry Christmas tonight. I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude tonight for the family and friends I have been blessed with. Some times I wonder why I am so blessed. Our lives are really full.
I love you all... So if you can hear me shouting out from over here....Merry Christmas to the Solomon's, Hales, Mathenys, Merediths/Fowlers, Sisks, Penningtons,Browns, Sharps, Reynolds, Hagemans, Galloways, Cramers, whittenburgs, and all the others that are my blogging friends. Have a great day! We love you

Happy Birthday Aunt Chrys

Happy Birthday to you! We sure Love you! Happy Birthday Dear Aunt Chrys. Happy Birthday to you.
If you sing this in the birthday tune it will be just as I typed it!
Love you!

Have a wonderful, fun, exciting best day of the year because it's all about you today!

I'm not dead just floating!!!

I am really here. I am actually coming to the close of this magical memories season. I finished my last Sat. for the year this last Sat with a Christmas party shoot. It was amazing. The busy season is now completing all the last minute orders and holiday cards.

My children are so so busy and excited for Christmas to come. My husband just got home from a business trip. Life is kind of crazy just as everyone else seems to be. I for the first time ever have nothing to say. Can you believe it? Me speechless- Crazy uh.

More Dress Photos!

Christmas Dress Time!

I love this time of year especially when I see little girls in Christmas dresses! LB's is almost done just have to buy some more ribbon. Had to share!

Blake

Happy Birthday Blake!

I am so glad the Lord gave me you first! We sure are blessed to have you in our home. I wish I had your brains and talents! It is fun for me to watch you get excited about learning. Things just come so easy for you. I won't embarrass you with all the stuff I really want to say! But only because I love you!
Happy Birthday Boy!
Mom

We have a teen-ager in the house!
Blake celebrated his 13th birthday yesterday. I feel like that makes me seem old except I was only 20 when he was born!

He brought in his birthday over the week-end since his actual birthday was on a school and wrestling night. He had a couple of pals over to go to Nashville and play laser tag. They came home with hungry written all over their faces. Instead of eating out he wanted breakfast for dinner. My favorite thing too!

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Forget Diamonds-A dishwasher means forever in my book!

I have been without a dishwasher for 5 months. Yep. 5 months. Although we spent the first 4 years-2 kids- of our marriage without one-It is def. not a thing we HAVE to have. Lots of people I know still don't have one. My SIL B. handles it well. But I have to say just knowing that you can have one and choosing to wait was really hard to do!
I just knew they would go on sale the day after Thanksgiving. They did. We saved $100 bucks waiting!!! I was so excited. Steve and I hit Best Buy Friday morning around 7:30 AM it was the funnest day ever.
I have washed so many dishes just to hear the sound of it going!

Thanksgiving Bliss!

Here I am a week late on my Thanksgiving Photos. I said I wasn't going to put this blog on my guilt list. But I wanted to share our fun Thanksgiving time with all. So better late than never RIGHT???

We had a great time at the Hale's missed the Solomon's. The first time in 6 or 7 years we haven't been with the Solomon's. It was strange to just go home when it was over and not have a week-end long of crazy!
Aunt C cooked and cooked. I took total advantage and didn't lift a finger. I felt bad later. But I am ever so grateful for a SIL that let me actually have the day off. It was totally amazing. I felt like a bum! But it wasn't enough guilt to do anything about it.

The kids enjoyed each other.. I don't think any one really got mad. C. didn't have a melt down. We had a nice peaceful visit. It is great to be in this new stage of life where the kids play and the adults actually talk. So what did we talk about???? Magical Memories Photography of course! I have been feeling some ya know growing pains again since fall hit. Actually since I moved into this house. I have been trying to make decisions like do I go for it really...or do I cut way back? It is so scary to take risk when it comes to business when it effects my family. So my prayers are to make the right decisions for my family. I don't want them to ever suffer because I am choosing to work. I just hope that even though I am feeling the stress right now they are not. I am excited as answers are beginning to come. My brother is a great business mind. So I picked his brain, stressed my dad completely out, and made my mom's wheels go turning for new ideas to help the business! Steve and Cynthia were just about done with us all!

The best Gift Ever!

This morning I was feeling completely overwhelmed with life. I had a preschool shoot. Hours of work still lying ahead of me! LB couldn't find her shoes. My house was a mess; nothing was really going very smooth. I had talked with Heather on the phone while on my way to the preschool shoot telling her all about my troubles! When I got home from the big shoot the sneak was here cleaning away. She had a gold canyon candle burning with Ms. Claus' kitchen. My house felt so warm and clean. The floors were clean, bathrooms done, dust gone. I could go on and on. What a gift! The gift of service was more than a gift. My worries changed to gratefulness. It's amazing how that works.
Thank you Heather for giving me peace while I work tonight to know my house is clean and laundry done. What did I do to have such a good friend? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You will never know the burden you lifted today!

picture of cookies for Chrys!

This is Rhonda's recipe that I posted a couple of days ago. Chrys requested a picture. Rhonda puts choc. chips in them-but I didn't have any so we used MM's...It is such a basic recipe but it is so good. Heather and I have discovered you can add dehydrated eggs. We love cookie dough so if you get scared of food poison you can use these eggs and eat all the cookie dough you want. This #10 can cost around 15 bucks. I ordered it from Honeyville food products. This can has 170 eggs in it. It can be stored for 5 years in case you need this for food storage...(Katie I'll explain food storage when your not so sick!)
So just in case your a visual eater, there you have it!

Barnes and Noble

The girls had school night at Barnes and Noble last night. They have been so excited and looking forward to this event. The boys left for Nana and Papa's last night. Nana has let us know she hasn't seen these kids in a very very long time. So Papa met us at school to pick them up for some good spoiled rotten time.

Leah Beth wrote a little book called "Bad Dog Lady" We were so proud of her because her book got chosen to be read! She was so excited.

Leah Beth went on a date night with grandma! So that left Caroline and I for a pj party. We made ornaments, watched and barbie movie and ate taco bell/pizza hut!

The Half that makes me Whole

Even though we are always running with kids, sports, church and work, Steve and I always get time to catch up and talk on the week-ends. I am going to miss him so bad this week-end. He has a boy scout leader training. He has been so helpful lately. Which makes me miss him more! He even made eggs for breakfast this morning. He told the kids he makes the best eggs from this side of the mississippi! Yeah they know even though mommy is not that great of a cook at least I can make the best eggs in this house!

So honey I am gonna catch you if you are really reading my blog and not admitting it. I can't believe how much I am already missing you! Can't wait until Sunday to see you again! Can you believe it's been 15 years? Pure Bliss! Ha
You are a wonderful husband and father. I don't know how you do all the million things you do. It is amazing to me and you still have energy left for me! Thanks for going this week end even though I am sure you didn't really want to-Blake and Andrew are so lucky to have such a good dad that wants to be their scout leader!

I love you!

I'm not going to finish!

My eyes are starting to blur...it's only 1:15 wish someone was up so I could call and talk while I work. It makes the time go faster!

Rhonda's Cookie Recipe

This is a simple recipe but I love it.
Rhonda made these for me the day we found out LB was a girl!

2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
3 tsp. vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
pkg choc. chips

I always add oatmeal instead of choc. chips because steve doesn't like them with choc. chips!

Heat oven 375 Mix shortening, butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla
Stir in remaining ingred.
Bake 8-10 min. Yummy!

some cute shoots from this week!

Late night work

Well here I am doing what I said I wouldn't do this fall. I promised myself when all the children started school I would:
1. Have a clean home
2. Have an organized home
3. Do magical memories in the day while they are gone and not all night long!
4. Exercise more
5. Take a nap once a week
6. Take a long bath once a week
7. Read a book

oh and I am sure when the babes were little and every where- I could've listed a few more things that I was sure I would do as they grew.

Here I am working into the night. It is November of C's kindergarten year and I haven't done anything I said I would do! What is the matter with me? I guess then I didn't know how needy they still are when they grow. Just a new kind of needy. I didn't know that it is still really exhausting just a different kind. I didn't know what teen age hormones were. I didn't know how hard it would be to follow through with punishments. I didn't know it would hurt my feelings too when someone hurt my daughters feelings at school. I didn't realize my phone would ring off the hook -my kids would be calling and I would have to run up to school because an eye got scratched by a contact.....or a terrible head ache or Thanksgiving lunch that would last all day!...or.....or .....or....The desperate words of please Mommy please bring me my homework I forgot. Most always I say no but some times I am a softy and if I am not S. is! Someone should have told me all this before I went into this child rearing thing! It is really never ending isn't it!

So in between uploading this past weeks photos online I thought I would catch up on some blogging!

I have really been thinking lately what is it that I get so far behind on working...I think I have finally realized it is so hard because I don't just leave and go to work. I am trying to work around every one's schedule. I am grabbing an hour here and there and in between shoots. So that is why tonight I am so excited to have uninterrupted WORK!

I grabbed my hot chocolate and cookies. Rhonda's recipe. I 'll even post it in a few minutes. And I am reading up on all of you while I load and edit! I can feel my hips growing ugh! I guess I'll have to leave off the cookies NEXT TIME!

Way to go Andrew!

Andrew is officially in the Beta Club. We are so excited for him. He is following in his big brother's footsteps.

congratulations

Congratulations to the Green Family! We can't wait to hear all about Graci Kate! www.goingbackforgraci.com

I had no idea!

I had no idea when people told me how hungry boys become when they start getting bigger. I can't fill em up! Blake is eating non stop. This morning after breakfast he ate a pb and j sandwich! For those of you that remember B. he was the so fat when he was a baby but became this skinny little toddler. His brother out weighed him before A. was 9 months old. They stayed right together with weight and height for a long time.....but out of no where- this less than a month away from being a teenager- has enter my home. He is so hungry.He is growing so fast! My grocery bill is about to seriously go up! He has finally started growing and gaining a little weight. I am sure his coaches love that. But I am not so sure I am ready for one of my kids to be as tall as me. I feel a little sad. Where are the years going so fast? I am not ready for teenage years.

We had the craziest weekend ever. The boys are overlapping sports between football and wrestling season. Friday was the boys first middle school dance. I guess they along with all their buddies graced McFadden with some Soldier boy dance. I am way out of the loop. I used to know all the latest and greatest dance moves. HA! Sat. was the first early bird tourn in wrestling and the last football game of the season. Steve took some video of the tourn. so I will post them soon. He is uploading it all. I worked all weekend. This is the picture season so I hate to turn it down as it comes. I had around 10 shoots this weekend. It was a beautiful day on Sat. The leaves are turning and I got to see so many families I haven't seen in a year!

Wrestling photos to come soon!!!

Boo Boo's

This week has been a CRAZY! I am sure for everyone. After going to the doctors office yesterday I can tell everyone must have had a sick week!
Tuesday night the girls and I were having a fun craft night. LB wanted to make carmel apples for everyone. So we bought all the stuff and got busy! I wasn't even thinking about the hot carmel. The girls were dipping their apples in and some hot boiling carmel dripped on C.'s hand. Oh my gosh. I was not expecting the next couple of hours of pain. My poor baby girl. Wednesday (Halloween) she stayed home from school and we just doctor it really good. But in the night Wedn. night it totally got worse. UGH. So Thurs. we took her to the Dr.... Steve went too. It was nasty. I won't go in to details. We had to keep her home again today so the wound could close up. The medicine is kicking in and she is doing so much better this morning.
So much for my fun craft night with the girls.

so I am posting the pre burn pictures and Halloween night. C. was a dog, LB a pig, A. a obese jailman ( I think) and B. changed from a mummy to a mask at the last min. We had a great night riding on s trailer trick or treating with cousins. I loved it and didn't want it to end.

Happy Halloween!

Twas the night before Halloween and all through the house
Leah Beth is creating her costume mouse! (I mean Pig)
The excitement and joy fill the air
because right now our treat bags are completely bare!
The boys overlapping seasons in sports..No Way!
Mom driving them every where every day.
Gymnastics, dance, wrestling, and football too.
There not much more time left for any one to do,
the hanging out out and being together...just enjoying each other in
this great fall weather!
We anicipate all the candy this year
that will fill our bags with a great big cheer.
A night off with our family to walk down the streets
Will be a fond memory we will hopefully keep.
We wish all you goblins, ghost, and gouls in every way...
the safest and happiest Halloween day!
Happy Halloween!

Crazy hair day

This week is red ribbon week. The school fighting against drugs. So everyday the kids have to do some crazy clothes or hair. Today is crazy hair day!

Happy Birthday Uncle A!!!

Where has the time gone? I can't believe we are raising kids-when I feel like we are still kids. To the best brother in the world. I know today ( with Harrison being sick) doesn't give you much time to reflect on ALL your years!!! But when you do I hope you know how amazing I think you are. You have a gifts that most people only dream about. Your work ethic is the strongest of any one I know. You teach me still all the time. You are a great father and uncle always taking time for my kids (even Caroline) and turning every moment into a teaching one. I love you! I'm so glad you are the one getting the gray hair and not me!!!
Happy Happy Birthday!
And today I will generously give you for the day favorite child!