Today is August 16th and I am so so ready for fall!

I hate to rush summer along..the fresh produce is nice..but this heat?! it's killing me.

I am done-zo.

I'm just not a big fan of summer to begin with. Who wants to show off their chubby arms and legs? NOT this girl! ha ha! I hate sweating, my AC has been out 3 times, and we have been so busy! D and I have literally been running around doing something, traveling somewhere since May. Seriously, on the rare Saturday mornings that I wake up in my own bed, I panic because I don't know where I am.

.....but fall? It's my season. pumpkins, crisp cool evenings, apples, carmel, carmel & apples, D and my annual pumpkin carving party (FYI it's Oct. 23 @ 4pm. and I've already ordered the most darling invitations!!!), chili, wreaths, sweaters, friends huttled around firepits, harvest themed decorations, trick or treaters, warm cider, I could go on and on.... I love fall.

kids who eat rocks and other fun adventures in preschool

Overheard in my classroom today:

3 yo. old: I have a new baby brother

Miss Halley: oh! How exciting!!! How do you like being a big brother?

3 yo. old: (With a shrug) It's good...but you have to be really careful because he has a cut off wee wee

Miss Halley: ......... well I hope he feels better soon ..........

8/9/10

Wanna know what I did yesterday??

Celebrated my 2nd anniversary with my dear husband. : )

Now let me brag on him for a minute. I came home yesterday to find our wedding champagne flutes setting out on the table...filled with champagne (love him!!), the wedding album on the coffee table, and roses.

Honestly the champagne won me over. He could have stopped there, but NOOO, we went to dinner at The Revolver. *swoon*

Halley loves.

We had a wonderful dinner filled with too much wine, good conversation, and amazing food.

In the past two years we've conquered salmonella, bought a house, lost a gallbladder, said goodbye to D's first car, and we're still kicking.

Going into year 3 I'm looking forward to overcoming new curve balls together, travelling (to Alaska! ha!), and settling into our home.

Happy Anniversary D! I adore you.
-h

In the past 48 hours...

My best friend moved to Alaska. K told me 6 weeks ago that she, P, and baby A were moving to Alaska. My heart broke. I see K and baby A just about every day. We go to lunch, shop at Costco, walk, run errands, or just visit together. I call K with my many daily antics and she listens! ha! She listens to my rants/raves...and still loves me. I'm sad to see her go. devastated. Fortunately with Skype, blogs, and cell phones we will be able to keep in touch. I won't miss any of Baby A's milestones and K still has the pleasure (ha ha!) of talking me down when I rant/rave. Love you!

I dropped my cell phone in the toilet. Speaking of keeping in touch..I'm now without a phone!! and phone numbers!!! I'm not even sure how the phone fell into the toilet, but it did.

My car has a flat tire.

and we got our high summer electric bill. To the tune of $271. boo.

Understanding all of this, I hope you'll forgive my lack of blogging lately.

But I'm back and I have plenty of time on my hands!

-h

p.s. Please e-mail me your cell phone numbers at h@thehalleydaily.com I feel lost without being able to contact my friend!

weekends at home

We have had a rip roaring summer full of weddings, babies, family, church festivals, and friends.

It's been so exciting that we have only had about 4 weekends at home over the past 4 months....and there are piles of laundry, dust bunnies, and weeds in our flower beds to prove it!

This weekend we are home. : )

The big plans?

Friday: Skyline chili for dinner (yum!) and finishing a bottle of wine while watching Mad Men season 3

Saturday: Weeding/housework, grilling out, and maybe a game night

Sunday: Church and chilling out

LOVE IT! We are basically doing nothing!

you get what you get...

...and you don't throw a fit!

ha! That's a little ditty that I say to my preschoolers daily. ; ) It also applies to my lack of blogging!

This past weekend D and I packed up the kitchen sink, I mean, car! and headed to Lake Hope State Park for the D family reunion. As usual it was great to see everyone and the beer was flowin'. There were quite a few activities planned for the weekend: hiking, card playing, eating, canoing. cornhole playing, drinking, chatting, and ziplining.

I agreed to zipline about 6 months ago. Oh! How fun! YES! I'd looove to go. Do you all know what ziplining entails?? HANGING FROM A 1/2 INCH ROPE 80 FEET ABOVE SHARP POINTY ROCKS AND ANIMALS! Needless to say, as the date approached I became more apprehensive.

Every time I thought about ziplining my heart would race and my stomach would sink. I was terrified.

Here's the thing. D's family is competitive. These people will sit around for hours comparing toes to see who has the longest, they will get out a scale and compare weights, they have even been known to compete to see who has the lowest or highest blood pressure. hard core, I know. D and his cousins could entertain themselves for hours competing...at anything....and they won't let you live it down....e v e r.

Knowing them and their competitive ways I knew I couldn't back out. I tried. All morning on Friday I cried and gnashed my teeth. I moped around. I couldn't eat or drink. I declared that I was backing out. In no uncertain way was I going to jump off a platform attached to a 1/2 inch rope.

D was supportive...or terrified. He had never seen me so distraught.

At the last minute I caved and agreed to zipline. Being the frugal person that I am I could not possibly let the $75 I prepaid go to waste.

On the way there I sweated through my clothes.

When it was our turn to zip I got picked to go first. fabulous. Thanks hippie zipline instructors!

D laughed. alot.

I screamed. alot.

Ziplining was not nearly as terrifying as I imagined. You are indeed hooked to a 1/2 inch rope 80 feet above sharp pointy rocks and animals but it's a smooth, moderately paced, surreal ride through the trees.

I actually enjoyed myself while screaming through the air and conquering my fear. Everyone else enjoyed my hysterical show. ha ha!

wow it's july!!

Welcome to July. This month makes me think of summer picnics, fireworks!, friends, family, and the troops.

In honor of July 4th, D and I are sending care packages to our servicemen and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I am incredibly proud and honored to know/love several Marines who have served our great nation while at war. D's cousin J is going back for his 3rd tour of duty...here's the kicker...his contract with the Marines is up and he has chosen to continue his service by volunteering for another tour in Afghanistan. I am proud and grateful of he and his family's sacrifice.

D and I chose to donate through http://www.troopathon.org/. You can also send care packages from here. Today Old Navy kicked off a campaign where you can donated an item from the store to the troops and receive 10% off your purchase.

There are plenty of options for giving.

While you are enjoying your hotdogs, beer, and fireworks please take a moment to remember our troops who are fighting for your freedom. Please consider making a donation, sending a card or care package to let them know that they are appreciated and thought of at home.

The men and women who serve our country are HEROS. This 4th of July I will be praying for their continued safety and success.

-h