It's a NOT SO FASHIONABLE FRIDAY!!!It is Thursday already! The weather here has been wonderful this week! I contemplated turning on the AC yesterday but I do love these couple of months when we get a little break on utilities so I opened the windows instead. There wasn't much of a breeze yesterday which is very unusual in Texas.
Millie has been so much better this week. She still has her moments but it is not the continuous screaming! PRAISE THE LORD!
She is talking more and more each day. She has such a funny personality. She will look at me and say a bunch of stuff with a real serious look on her face and I have no idea what she said but she sure is cute saying it!
I was looking at some clothes on-line for Sallie and she walked in and showed me which ones she liked. However, there is one that she looked at and looked at me and twirled her finger beside her ear (you know like when something is crazy!) I guess she didn't like that one!
Sallie dumped half a bottle of dish detergent in the sink with the dirty dishes. God love her! I am sure she is thinking that someone has to do it and that as long as they have been there it will take 1/2 a bottle to get them clean!
I have said it before and I will say it again and again-I just thought parenting infants and toddlers was hard!!! They are physically demanding but this is a whole different level and Elleigh is a pretty good kid but this is HARD! Yes, I know this is not going to end anytime soon! I ask God many times a day if I can really do this!
I am reading Have a New Kid by Friday. NOTE: This is not directed at any particular child! I am always looking for thougths on being a better parent and this book addresses children of all ages. A brought it to me bright and early Monday morning. I have heard a lot about it and am just now reading it. I will let you know my thoughts as I get further into it.
Elleigh has a new love for laundry this week-washing and drying, not putting away. Oh well, it gets them clean for us to wear. I am not sure how long this will last but I am liking it for now!
For the third time in 2 weeks Lizzie pooped in her panties during naptime yesterday and uses it as fingerpaint all over her room! Disgusting-definitely but it is just the facts! This child is so prissy and will quickly tell you she doesn't want to use a public restroom because it is NASSY! Why on earth would she play with POO?!?! My exact words yesterday-"I can't for the life of me figure out the fascination with smearing crap everywhere." I know this is not the most tactful thing I have ever said but I said it!!!
I braved Target with all of them yesterday and everyone was looking at me like I was crazy! They were actually pretty good. Lizzie announced loudly about every item of clothing she saw-"AWWWW CUTE!" Sallie of course wanted to try everything on! She is a shopper! Elleigh says she needs to go shopping with Aunt Rhonda. If you know my sister Rhonda you know why she says that. I have never seen anyone who could outshop her. I think Sallie could hang right in there with her!
I am praying through some ministry opportunities that I feel the Lord is calling me to. No clear direction yet.
I have dealt with insurance issues this week more than I care to. This is one of my least favorite things to do. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for insurance but as my friend Kim says I could write a book on dealing with insurance and it is sad but true!
This season of 24 is great! I was disappointed last season but not this season.
I did not enjoy American Idol last night. I really like the welder guy but he was not that good to me last night. Danny is my pick overall so far and I don't think that will be changing but we will have to see.
I love DVR. I record what I want to watch and then watch it and fast forward through all the commercials. I get through a show in 1/2 the time!
See, WE ARE NEVER BORED!
And because I DO NOT take pictures of the poo paint (I know it is hard to believe there is something I do not take pictures of but I draw the line!) I leave you with a couple of the famous green dye pictures in case you forgot!
February is coming to an end and Ell's Upward basketball season came to and end on Saturday-Time REALLY does fly!
Elleigh is over half way through the 6th grade which means this was her last year of Upward-Time REALLY does fly!
Her team played a great game Saturday. Elleigh had the ball in the last few seconds and had to make it all the way down the court to score and tie the game (they were playing the undefeated team). She took her shot as the buzzer went off and it went in but didn't count of course-Time REALLY does fly!
I was an emotional wreck with the combination of the very intense game, her shot which almost tied the game and I knew how upset she was, and the realization that my little girl is about to move on to 7th grade-Time REALLY does fly!
All of which gives me a different perspective on the post below from Friday-Time REALLY does fly!
I want to slow down and take it all in and find joy in whatever season of life I am in-Time REALLY does fly!
Any time that I post on here that I need prayer, things really start to improve. Coincidence-I think not! So, here I go. Basically, I need you to pray that I don't lose it with my children or lose my mind completely. REALLY! I know this is all part of it and it comes in spurts but the past few days have about gotten the best of me! Millie is in this stage that is very undesirable. That is the nicest way I know to put it. She is so whiny and so clingy. One advantage to having kids so close in age is that you remember the stages and I do remember Lizzie going through a stage like this but not for this long (I don't think). She wants me to hold her all the time. It started a month ago or longer. She hasn't shown any signs of sickness (other than the stomach bugs we have had) but I was really hoping the Dr would say she had an ear infection when I took her for her check-up so that I could explain the crying. I have tried everything-sometimes I hold her, sometimes I refuse (which I don't like to do but I know that I am creating a bigger problem if I give in every time she cries), I have popped her (yes, call me a terrible mother!) because she pitches such a temper tantrum about it. It is really driving me crazy! I live for their naptime each day and then when they get up I live for Aaron to come home! Elleigh said she was running away. I don't blame her. Sallie and Lizzie are fighting big time. I am trying to think of some creative new things to do with them to keep them occupied some and out of trouble. I am really big on allowing them to play on their own and so I insist that they do this but I need to get some of my ideas that I have in a file out and see if there is anything new to entertain them some. I know this is all normal but it is my life right now and it is overwhelming. This is the greatest job I have ever had but I admit it is by far the hardest and as a mother I always blame myself when things get "out of control". What am I doing? What am I not doing? CALGON (Elleigh looks at me like I am such a nerd everytime I say that!) I have to remind myself over and over that "with God all things are possible" including being a mother 24/7. I know so many of you can relate. Thanks for listening!
Nothing my girls could ever excel in could make me any happier than them having the desire and willingness to share the Good News with people all over the world. Elleigh has recently begun helping 2 days a week in 2 different public schools here in town with Good News Club through Wedgwood (our Fort Worth church). Hundreds of children in this area have come to know Christ each year through this program. This past Monday she taught the bible lesson and I hear she did an amazing job! She did not want her daddy or me there for the 1st time. She put a lot of time an energy into preparing which was something we emphasized to her. I think too often we take lightly the responsibility of teaching God's word and we don't prepare enough and therefore lives are not changed because of our teaching. She has now been asked to teach every week at this particular school. We are so proud of her and thankful for this opportunity.
The kids really look like they are listening to her. She told her daddy that they listened well but it was hard to stay on track sometimes when they distracted her. There were no decisions this week and she was a little frustrated by that but she and I talked through all of that before she taught and I think that helped. Her daddy told her he could completely relate to both being distracted and the frustration of no decisions!
WE LOVE VALENTINE'S! So, we celebrate as long as we can as you are about to see.
WARNING: This is a super long post with LOTS of food!
The girls and I at the party
A does a WONDERFUL job of taking care of us on Valentine's Day. He loves it! First thing as is tradition he makes us pancakes with sausage and bacon (to create the X's and O's on the plate).
The highlight of the girl's day is receiving their new teacup from Daddy (this is something he started last year and plans to continue each year). They drink out of them Valentine's morning and then we clean them and put them away for them until they want to take them to their own homes. He started thinking about these right after Christmas this year. He found this particular one and had one of the gift shops in town order them for him. He had to have these and they are great! Here he is placing them at the table. Have I ever mentioned that he is GREAT! Really GREAT and the perfect Daddy of GIRLS! He knows how to treat us right!
I love them! There are 2 of each kind. They are alike except for the colors are a little different. These are called tea for one. The top is the teapot and the bottoms the actual cup.
The other color combination
Elleigh pouring
The separated pot and cup
It's a big cup but Lizzie was able to handle it!
Daddy helping his baby girl! Oh how I love this picture. 
It is also our tradition to do a fancy meal on Valentine's night. We had an early dinner this year since we had to head to Red Springs. We had to have Ell's favorite-chocolate covered strawberries. My sister Connie gave me this heart shaped tray years ago for Valentines and I love it and love using it each year.
The table set and ready for our meal. We use our fine china and each year I think I will be brave enough to do our crystal and each year I decide they just aren't quite ready so we do cheap goblets. They don't know the difference and think it is great.
Heart shaped ice is a must!
In the past we have done different meals but Elleigh suggested that we always do A's shrimp alfredo for Valentine's Day (any excuse works!). Yummy, as always.
Daddy with his girls before dinner
A told me over a month ago (when he saw me looking at it in my new cookbook) that he wanted this cake so I waited for Valentine's day to make it. It is called Elegant Chocolate Torte. It was time consuming but worth it. He loved it and deemed it the best chocolate cake ever.
A slice of the cake
To end our wonderful Valentine's festivities A and I went on our date last night. Every year we don't get each other anything but we get a babysitter and we go out. We originally planned to do this on Fri nt and ended up re-scheduling for last night and I am glad it worked out that way. I am thinking it was less crowded. We had a WONDERFUL time. We went to the Melting Pot and it was a great experience. We had never done this and it was a lot of fun! We were there for about 2.5 hours. We were actually eating and cooking for a good 2 hours. Definitely a neat thing to experience. 
A cooking the beef. If you know A, you know he loved doing this!
Me with my favorite part-THE CHOCOLATE! SO GOOD!
Much LOVE from 4 Hall Girls!I am always curious as to who reads our blog. Our lives are pretty much an open book so I am glad to share our crazy lives with you. I often run into people here or talk to people from back home who say, oh I saw on your blog whatever and I had no idea they even knew we had a blog. So, leave me a comment and let me know who you are! I don't want anyone to feel pressured to comment. I am just curious! I read several blogs of people who I don't know so don't feel bad if you don't know us (or if you do). You do not have to have a google account to comment. Simply hit the comment button at the bottom of this post and then when you are ready to post hit anonymous (of course put your name in the body of the message). Looking forward to hearing from you!
UPDATE: So, I got a few people to comment (all of which I knew read the blog). I appreciate your commenting. My counter says I have around 40 visitors each day so I guess I'll just have to remain curious!
Baby girl, you are 18 months old today!
You are the baby in every way
You love to be held and to cuddle
You are very tender hearted and when upset you poke your lip out really far and it quivers and yes, everyone around you melts!
When Lizzie announces she needs to potty you hold your nose and run to the bathroom and insist on sitting on the potty. No results yet, but you really want to.
Not only do you look just like your daddy but you act just like him as well-you have such a sweet disposition until you are mad, and then you are really mad! I love both of you like crazy!
You love your big sisters and watch them very closely
You are a daddy's girl but you like your mama a lot too!
All 3 of your sisters are very protective of you. You are their Mill Mill.
Lizzie wants you with her all the time. She wakes up earlier than you and she always wants to wake you up. The minute you wake up she is so happy.
Your favorite toy right now is any type of play phone. You walk around talking and you say Hola a lot!
You love shoes. You want them on all the time but you take them off very quickly and want them back on and take them off again and again and again
We are all head over heels in love with you and we have to refrain from always giving in to you.
You have an adorable smile
You refuse to use a spoon. You must have a fork. I guess it makes you feel big.
You are petite and mommy loves that because even though you are getting older your size makes you seem younger. You see mama is very sentimental about her baby getting older.
The minute you wake up each morning you want to eat. You are very demanding like that! It could be that you have 5 people in your house who are here to serve YOU.
You often walk around the house with a purse on each arm telling us bye.
Your eyelashes are still amazing to me.
You are quick to tell your sisters to STOPPP as you point your finger at them.
When you don't want someone to bother you or you want someone else to pick you up, you yell "back, back, back!"
Right now you are in a very clingy stage and even though mommy loves to hold you I can't do it all the time!
Rocking in the rockers on our front porch is one of your favorite things to do. You will rock and sing "I wock, I wock, I wock" Have I ever told you how adorable you are?
Just like each of your sisters you have brought so much joy to our home. I praise God for you, my 4th baby girl!!!
In goes the thumb!
Yes, by the time A and the girls get home tonight they will have been gone for 32 hours straight (all of them). Several weeks ago A mentioned that he would like to take the girls to Red Springs and me have some me time. My initial reaction was no way. You work on Sundays and I have to be there and I would feel so guitly and no, I just can't do that. Elleigh was quick to say that she would pitch in and help. I think they were tired of me!!! So, Friday was a very challenging day and I called A at work and said OK, you don't have to persuade me, I need this! Elleigh's friend Sarah went with them also so I know she has been a lot of help and she loves the girls. I convinced myself that it was OK (at least almost). I had the am I a terrible wife/mother thoughts and what will everyone say, will I be known as the preacher's wife who is who knows where while he has the kids. But, I knew I needed it and I always with them so I did it. Then something happened Sat afternoon and I really started to doubt my decision again. I hurried and got ready for the supper club girls which I was hosting this month. When they got to my house I shared my feelings with them and they all reassured me that I was not a terrible person. They were all able to stay later than usual since the husband and kids didn't come in which is usually our signal that our time is ending. I wish I could say that I have been more productive but I started several projects today and just talked myself out of finishing them. I woke up before 8 this morning which was a little disappointing but I decided to just lay in bed for a while. It is now almost 7pm and I still have my gown on! I really need to go shower. I am thinking a long hot bath will be the perfect end to my night. This time has been wonderful and I am so thankful for a husband who recognizes when I really need something (and that my sanity is really almost gone!) and sacrifices so much to give it to me. Thank you! It's been fun, but now I am ready for MY MAN and MY GIRLS!!!
I made these as placeholders and gave them to the girls to take home. I was pleased with them. I always have a head full of ideas and they often don't turn out like I envision but I was pleased. I love anything with fruit!
Another highlight to our weekend was getting a new couch and loveseat (new to us at least and FREE!) Our furniture had seen its better day. We were rough on it and the fabric just wasn't very durable. People will sometimes give furniture and other items to the Seminary for any family that might need them. For probably a year now I have had A on the lookout for a couch and loveseat and finally he got me one! I love it!!! I am very thankful for those who God uses to meet our every need and in this case a want as well because I really like it. Rhonda-you can't see it well in this picture but notice that I hung the frame you gave me for Christmas. I love it and you were right, that picture is perfect for it.
I thought I would never find a couch as comfy as the one I had but this one is even more comfy. Trust me-I have spent a lot of time on it today!
A couple of nights ago Sallie had taken a bath with me and when she finished she got out and got dry and put her pjs on and then she came back in the bathroom and got her stool out, got the hairdryer out and started to dry her hair. This was not the first time she had done this but as I sat there watching her, I had a moment. I know I am emotional and well that's just who I am! I sat there and I watched that same little girl who I watched and wondered when she was born if she would live or would she ever walk or would she ever be able to do anything for herself. We still have so far to go but I have learned that I HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY MILESTONE. I know this might not seem like a big deal to everyone but I praise the Lord for everything she can do and that all my children can do. Every child can not do these everyday tasks. We have spent way too much time the last 7 years in hospitals and other places surrounded by children who are challenged in so many areas that we take for granted. THANK YOU LORD FOR EVERY ABILITY YOU GIVE TO OUR CHILDREN!
Her cardiology appt: She was very nervous but she tried to be a really big girl. She did cry some but not the huge fits that she has been doing. This was her first time to see this Dr and she was very good. She said that there was no change with her aortic valve (which is bi-cuspid as opposed to tri-cuspid). It will just need to continue to be monitored to make sure there is no change or it is not affecting the function of the heart. They did an EKG and she said that one of the rhythms of her heart is longer than it should be. Once again, she said it is not causing any complications at this time but will need to be monitored. She gave us a list of drugs that we will need to avoid with her. She said that in the future they would need to monitor her during activity to see if there were any affects and come back in 2 years. The heart always makes me nervous obviousely but I have to give it to the Lord and keep it monitored. Maybe I should begin doing Random Monday! It seems that on Mondays I always have lots of random thoughts filling my head.
First of all we have had what feels like a never ending stomach bug!!! I have already posted about the Millie, Sallie, and Elleigh's first round. Then on Wed nt Lizzie and Millie threw up during the night and back to upset tummies the next day. Thurs afternoon my head started hurting really bad and I woke up during the night with the full blown stomach bug. The little girls all seemed better. By Sat afternoon I was feeling some better so we packed up the car and headed to Red Springs. During the night Sat nt, once again Lizzie and Millie threw up and they along with Sallie had upset tummies most of the day Sunday and I was sick again. It is the strangest thing. We are still having issues today and A woke up during the night last night with it. Please GO AWAY!!! When there are 6 of you in the house you just pass around everything!
I am very thankful that A did not get sick yesterday. He had to preach as well as do the services at the nursing home. The churches in the association take turns doing the services at the nursing home and this is our month so he had to do that Sun afternoon. Bless his sweet heart he did all he could do for us in between church stuff.
Because I was at the parsonage sick and with sick babies I missed the skunk that A found when he opened the front door of the church after services. A skunk just sitting on the front porch of the church! Gross!
One of the couples in the church gave us 3 dozen fresh eggs from their farm. So, now A is waiting on me to cook him a pound cake! The stomach virus has bought me a few days though.
Ell went with the GA's to visit a cowboy church because they had studied about them in GA's. She came home and told me we wouldn't fit in. HA! She said mama the girls would be out of place in smocked dresses! Of course she and her daddy then discussed whether or not the sermon was Biblically sound (not because it was a cowboy church but just because they always do that). I love them!
Lizzie has been on thumb patrol lately. Of course, Lizzie is on every kind of patrol most of the time! Every time she sees Millie sucking her thumb she yanks it out of her mouth and tells her loudly "no, no Mill Mill YUCK!" Maybe she will break her. However, Millie looks at her like whatever and puts the thumb back into the mouth!
I am ready for a normal week-no sickness, no ice, no sickness, no sickness!
Sallie's appt with the surgeon went really well. He said that everything looked good and he wanted to see her again in a year. A took her and he said she did so well. She never cried and she just showed him her ear. My sweet girl! Hopefully we are headed in the right direction concerning her fear of scrubs! She goes tomorrow to cardiology and that will mean machines and tests and I am thinking she might not be so calm but maybe. We originally had this appt last week during the ice storm. The receptionist apparently was not happy that she had to be at work but I called to tell her we weren't coming. She instructed me I NEEDED to be there this week! Excuse me-don't I pay them??? I will leave that topic now!
Yesterday morning Lizzie was asking me where everyone was as she does oh about a million times a day! She goes through the whole list of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. My answer to all was church. Although I think some were sick like us and not in church but they would have been had they not been sick. I thought how great to be able to tell her that her family is in church. I am thankful for all of my girls examples.
