Before reality sets in...

Since we start to school next week we tried to pack as much fun into this week as we could and I think we did a good job! I tried to do things that each of the girls enjoy.

These pics are from the splash pad/park in Crowley. It was hot of course so the water is nice to cool down. It is not something to hold their attention for a really long time but it was fun (and free!)

I have no idea about the purple background that you will see in lots of these pics. We took them with Ell's camera and I am not sure if it is a setting or what. We haven't been able to figure it out yet.My friend Rebecca and I went to La Madeline for dinner one night this week. She homeschools as well so it was a good time to get out before we get started. She also has 4 kids (one of which is a 13 yr old girl!) so we have plenty to talk about!Ell and I went shopping for school supplies and to Mimi's for dinner. It is always great to get out one on one and to be able to listen to her and not be distracted and be able to give her my full attention. She is growing up way too quickly for this mama!These are pics from the park and the train ride on the miniature train. They love to ride the train. So, because something always has to happen with us I got bit by a bee as we are getting on the train. I am sure at some point as a child I have been bitten by a bee before but I don't remember it. Thankfully it bit me instead of Millie because I was holding her. The stinger was sticking out so I got it out but I immediately became nauseous and a little dizzy so I am thinking do I get on this train or not! I got on and within 5 min or so I was OK. It is still really sore but I put some stuff on it last night to draw out the venom because it was getting really swollen and hurting a lot. And because being stung by a bee wasn't enough-I had Ell's camera around my wrist and while we were on the train ride Mill tries to stand up and I reach for her and her arm knocks the camera out of my hand and yes off the train! Thankfully it was in an area that we could get back to because many areas along the route we could not have gotten to or it could have gone into the Trinity River. So, after we get off the train we have to get into the car and go back and track down the camera. I let Ell out and she walked the tracks until she found it. Typical Hall experience!!! Oh, and it did not tear it up which is a good thing!

A met us for a picnic lunchTexas has these birds that I call "crazy TX birds" and they were all over us while we were trying to eat. TX has brave squirrels too! They come right up to you. So, lunch was an adventure!
We ended our Fri grilling burgers and playing outside. And after burgers-SMORES!!!
YUMMY!!!

A little of what's been going on

Things have been really busy around our house lately. Nothing major going on just lots of little things. Sat nt I hosted supper club. A and the girls went on to Red Springs since it would be so late when we got finished and it is a long drive. I really needed some time go get some things done as well. I am so thankful for Aaron recognizing when I need that time and taking on our responsibility alone for a day!

I do not think I have shown any pics of our dining room since A painted it. He painted it in March so I am a little late but I took a pic while my table was decorated for supper club. I love the color for so many reasons! First of all, I love color! Especially since we do not own this house, paint is an easy inexpensive way to make it have that special touch that makes it feel like home for us and the owner does not care if we paint, second A told me a while back he was not painting anything else in this house! He painted the girls bedrooms a couple of years ago and one of the bathrooms last summer. He does not like to paint at all!!! That actually is an understatement! I finally talked him in to painting the dining room, mainly because the walls were so beaten up. So, I love it because he did it for me! Last of all, the color is mocha and well you know how much I love a mocha! The color is so warm and homey and relaxing (just like a mocha!). I would love to use this color in the next house we have. And again... Notice the chandelier. When we moved into this house I thought it was hideous! Now they are so popular and I love it. It had crystals on it and I took those off and got the shades at Fred's to put on there for under $20 total! We also have one over our bed which I thought was even more hideous but it has grown on me as well. It still has the crystals on it and no shades. It will stay that way because we don't have much longer here.
Here you can see the color a little more up close. I love when the table is set! Not something that happens often at our house. I love my fine china and over the past few years have used it more than I ever thought I would.

Grandy and Nanna gave Lizzie and Millie this kitchen for their birthdays and they love it! We have had at least 3 plastic play kitchens since Ell was little and they all end up tearing up. My girls can tear up things worse than any boys I know! So, I decided this time to go with the nicer wooden kitchen set and I am so glad I did. It is big and sturdy and the girls love it! Oh, in case you are wondering about the headband, Lizzie found this in a bag of hand me downs from our sweet friend Elizabeth and she loves it but this is the way she wants to wear it! She looks like a hippy! Oh well!!!

Better shot of Hippie Lizzie baking cupcakes!
Believe it or not, sometimes the girls play with trucks and front end loaders! My sister Connie gave several of these things to me to pass along to any little boys I knew might want them. The girls loved them (because we don't have anything like this!) and I decided just to keep them here for when boys come over so they don't have to play with all girl toys!

A started back to class last week and is in full force! I feel it! We all do! I just keep telling myself that we can endure anything for 8 more months!!! I just don't know how he has the energy to do it all. Well, yes I do. It is all from the Lord!!!

We start back to school on Monday. We are busy trying to play a lot this week! It is nice to get out and do some things while schools are back in session. Everywhere is much less crowded!

I want to end on a note about encouragement. I have really been struggling with some things lately. Life is just hard sometimes. I reluctantly say that because so there are so many people all over the world with so many issues to deal with that I do not feel worthy to say that but it is just the truth that I have been struggling emotionally. Life feels a little overwhelming right now with the anticipation of it getting more overwhelming soon and I just am not dealing with it well. I am working on it but sometimes I just want to throw up my hands and say I can't do it all. I know you have all been there. There are days when I just long for help! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband who is so much help to me but it is also hard for me to place more on him so sometimes I just wish we had a little help! I know there are so many of you who read my blog and are far away from family and you feel my pain! When I stopped working at the Seminary and came home to be with the girls, my office gave me a glass jar filled with notes from all of my co-workers and a Target gift card. I greatly appreciated the gift card but those notes of encouragement will last forever. This morning I was sitting on my bed and I noticed the jar which 2 plus years later still sits on our dresser and I got it down and I read every one of those notes and it made my day. They were all so encouraging and it reminded me of that time of transition and it reminded me of people who cared and still care so much for me and it meant a lot to me over 2 years later and I know that over the years those notes will always mean a lot to me. So, to my old co-workers who read the blog-you encouraged me today and didn't even know it! This also made me realize how important it is for me to be an encouragement to others. Another thing it reminded me is to keep notes of encouragement we receive and when life is tough, read them, and be encouraged!

Check-ups, Christmas, and Cuteness

Millie and Lizzie went for their 2 and 3 year check-ups on Monday. It was much easier than it normally is! Taking 2 at one time can be a challenge but it is getting better and it gets it over with in one trip. I thought that Lizzie would not do well and that Millie would. Actually, they both did well but Lizzie did really well. She never cried and I couldn't believe it! She didn't want them to look into her nose but otherwise she was fine. She never even cried for her bloodwork! Millie did not want to get out of my lap and she cried but I held her for them to do everything and thankfully she was not hysterical! Our pediatrician retired and we loved him. We had the best pediatrician in AL and it took us a long time to find one here that we really liked and then we found Dr. Jeff and now he has retired. We saw a Dr who they have filling in for him and she was OK but not sure who we will end up with. We will for sure stay in the group but not sure which Dr we will end up with. They both got good reports. Millie weighs 25 lbs and is 36 inches tall. She is 90% on height and only 25 % on weight. So, according to the Dr. tall and lean! Lizzie weighs 34 lbs and is 38 1/2 inches tall. She is 75% on both height and weight so the Dr. said perfectly proportioned. They finished and Lizzie said "OK, now we can go to the bank!" That is the highlight of their Mondays! Since A gets paid by the church on Sundays we usually go to the bank on Monday and they love to ride to the bank and get suckers. Our bank is downtown which is out of the way but they there is a lot for them to look at and of course they love the suckers. The simple things that kids love!

Cheesing for me at the Dr's office

I bought my first Christmas present yesterday! I always start early but the past few years I have still had things to buy at the last minute and I am determined NOT to do that this year! I have my list and pretty much know what I am getting most everyone and I am going to buy a little each month and hopefully be done by the first of Dec. That is !my goal! We'll see! Hard to believe it is just over 4 months away.

I have to share my conversation with Lizzie a few days ago:

Lizzie: "Mama do you have makeup on?"

Me: "No"

Lizzie: "Well you need some on"

Me: "Why"

Lizzie: "Because I'm trying to make you cute!"

SHE IS GREAT FOR THE EGO!!!

I also overheard her saying this on a pretend phone:

"Daddy, you need to come home and spank Sallie and Millie is being whiny and I am being sweet!"

This and that...

I almost forgot the pics from Millie's b-day. Of course you know we had her and Lizzie's "day party" while we were in AL but just as Lizzie did we had to have something a little special on her actual b-day so we took a Hola (aka Dora) cupcake cake to Red Springs to celebrate on Sunday. She loved it of course!

Excuse the nakedness. This was after church on Sunday and we strip the girls as soon as they get in the door so their Sunday clothes do not get messed up. Here she is waiting on me to bring on the cupcakes!

Blowing out her candles! And licking the icing off "hola"

My friend Shannon asked for the Cherry Limeade Punch recipe from the girl's party. I made it once before for a GA sleepover at church and everyone loved it. It is so simple-mix 2 liter of sprite with frozen concentrated limeade, and then add in the juice from 1 jar of maraschino cherries. I then slice a couple of limes and throw in and a few of the cherries. One recipe makes a gallon (maybe just a little less than a full gallon). At the girl's party I served it in the bowl with Sonic ice which made it even better! LOVE SONIC ICE! For those of you who might not know you can buy ice by the bag at Sonic.

A few people had asked if I made the blue dresses (and top for Ell) the girls have on in the beach pics. Yes, I did. They were probably the easiest things I have made them so far. I made them and then had them monogrammed. I wish I could monogram them! That is on my wish list directly after my dream camera!

Speaking of dreaming-a friend of mine was telling me about this book she was reading titled Calm my Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow which is about contentment. I think especially as women we all struggle with this. I am so much more content with "things" than I once was but I seem to struggle in other areas like being content with situations, etc. I shared the recommendation with my friend Susie and interestingly enough she had heard about the book as well at a meeting she was attending. So, we decided we would get it. It "happened" to be 1/2 of at Mardel this week so I got it and have only had a chance to read the first few chapters but it is really good. It really makes you think and it is strongly backed up with scripture.

We are winding down our summer. I will start school with Elleigh and Sallie in a couple of weeks. I had wanted to start a little earlier but there are some things around here I really want to get done and in order before we start. Elleigh will be doing Switched on Schoolhouse this year which is a computer based program and she is really excited about that. Lizzie and Millie are going to be going to Discovery School (1/2 day 2 days a week preschool) at our church here. Their first day is Sept 1st. The primary purpose of this is for me to be able to completely focus on Sallie during that time. Please pray for me as we begin. I know that this will not be an easy task. We have explored so many options for Sallie and I just don't have it in me to get into it all right now but schools meeting special needs is a nightmare. So, I am going to be much more aggresive with her this year and we will see what happens from here. The pressure that places on me is very overwhelming and as time draws near I am feeling that more and more. I greatly appreciate your prayers! For the next few weeks we have check-up and projects and some playing to do! I have not felt well the past couple of days so I am hoping to get back to normal to wind up the summer and get ready for the school year.

Details

I never want to forget the details of the our girls and their personalities at each stage which is one of the main reasons I blog. So, in honor of Lizzie turning 3 and Millie turning 2 here we go!

Dear Lizzie,

First of all you bring a lot of drama to our house! As if a house with 5 girls is not drama filled enough we have you to add extra drama and we love you for it and can't imagine you any other way!

You are very orderly and want everything in it's proper place.

Like your mama you are very into the details (of everything!). Your mommy really loves that about you! I think we drive Daddy a little crazy sometimes but he loves us just the way we are!

In the past few months you call all your sister's by their full names (no Mill Mill, Sall Sall, or Elle Belle anymore). You often call them by their full names. Sometimes you call daddy and I "mama Hall" and "daddy Hall"! We all think that is really cute!

You say "do what" a lot!

You are a very affectionate child. You love to cuddle and to be held.

You aggrevate Millie a lot! If we are getting ready to go somewhere you will tell her she can't go, that we are leaving her by herself. Often when we are in the car you will tell her she can't have a lime. We love to get cherry limeades from Sonic during Happy hour and no matter what time of day you will tell Millie she can't have a lime. You do love her but I guess you think you have to play the role of the aggrevating older sibling and you do it well! Millie still thinks you hung the moon!

Like Sallie, you like to change clothes! So, you tell me that you have had on your clothes "all day" or "forever" or "a long time" and you smile really big at me as you run off to change clothes. Yes, it does work most of the time!

This summer sunglasses and flip flops have been your favorites! You think you have to have both before you go anywhere!

You ask lots of questions. You always want to know who bought everything you have and you like to know what store it came from. I guess that's just the girl in you!

You are just simply needy! Daddy says you just can't help it and that you are just too much like me but I think you have me beat on being needy!!!

You tattle which is very helpful to mama and daddy! Right before you are about to tell on someone you say, "Ummmmmmm Mama" in a very dramatic voice and then you tell all!

You pretend that you are shopping at Old Navy and Target on a daily basis!

You require a lot of sleep and when you don't get it we all pay!!!

You have become a very picky eater lately. You only want the toppings on pizza but you love breadsticks, you do not like fries, you like most meats but not to into veggies at this stage.

You love to listen to Taylor Swift on the radio and on Elleigh's ipod.

You like to watch ICarly with your sisters.

You say, "yes I are" many times a day

You have THE LOUDEST squeal on the face of the earth

Just today you were singing over and over, "God I love you, God I love you" Such sweet words to me!

Daddy is the interim pastor of a church in Red Springs, TX and we spend Sat-Sun there every weekend and you love to go there. I think that is because they love you and your sisters and give you lots of attention! You ask everytime we leave to go if we are going to Red Springs, Texas and when we leave there you always tell us we are going back to Fort Worth, Texas (and sometimes you cry about going back to Fort Worth).

Everyone still notices your curly hair and it is the first thing people say about you. It is pretty cute! Although, I am not sure that your sisters are crazy about all the attention you and your hair get!

You are a wonderful helper! Even though you are only 1 year older than Millie you are a great big sister!

I can never tell you enough how much I love being your mother! You keep me (and everyone else in our house) in check every day and you bring so many special qualities to our family. I pray that I never take for granted what God has given to me by giving me you!

This was mama holding you not long after your birth! You will never know how emotional this time is until you are a mommy!

At 1!

At 2!

You are not big on getting your picture made and this is the face you give me when you don't want me to take your picture

But when it's your idea then you play it up!
3 years old already! I can't get enough of this 3 year old!!!

Dear Millie,

You are our family clown! You have such a fun personality and it's just hard to be around you and be in a bad mood! I pray that you are always like that!

You are also very easy going. Yesterday on your b-day as we ate lunch we discussed what we were most thankful for about you and we all decided that as for your personality we were most thankful that you are easy going!

Your daddy says that you have magic in your eyes (like him) which really scares him!

You do NOT like loud noises! You cry when the garbage truck comes or you hear a lawn mower. You don't like dogs and will say "puppy hurt me" or "garbage hurt me" or "lawn mow hurt me." A couple of weeks ago we were at Grandmama and Pappa's and you woke up in the middle of the night crying because Pappa was snoring. He would get louder and you would cry, HURT ME!" It was a long night!

Although you are scared of noises, you are fearless when it comes to so many things. You will jump off anything. Elleigh and Brother went bungee jumping and you cried to go!

You tell us instantly when your diaper needs changing but when you potty in panties you really don't care! Mommy and Daddy really would like for you to potty train soon so we can not buy diapers for the first time in a really long time!

You make THE funniest faces

When we lay you down at night you always say "cover up" meaning you want to be covered up and then you take it off and do it over and over!

You say "carry me" in a very desperate voice!

If Lizzie says she doesn't like something then you say, "I don't like it!"

If Lizzie is finished eating, you are finished eating.

You do eat a wide variety of foods for now.

If we are going somewhere you say "I go???" many, many times! I think this is because Lizzie teases you a lot and tells you that you aren't going with us!

The thing you say the most is "I BABY" You make sure we all know that you are THE BABY!!!

You are right, you are the baby and you bring incredible joy to our home! I praise God for allowing us to be your parents. You are such a joy and keep my smiling! YOU ARE OUR BABY!!!

From the moment you were born you were laid back! The nurses could not believe how calm you were!
Your daddy could not have been happier than to meet his 4th baby girl! He was always so anxious for his girls to be born!
At 1!
And now 2... Did I mention you still suck your thumb??? I LOVE everything about you BABY GIRL!!!
Always being funny! That's our Mill Mill!

This face makes me smile really big!!!