Aloha!

Please don't mind my blogging absence. I will be basking in the glorious Hawaiian sunshine for a week! I'm not ashamed to say that I am thrilled to be leaving the bitter cold of home to spend a romantic week with my husband! Aloha!

Words Cannot Express....

So..today was the first day in a very long time I didn't feel like I had to force myself to get out of my bed. I didn't feel the incredibly strong desire to crawl under the mounds of warm blankets and go back to sleep. Why?? Because (angels singing) the sun was shining! This has seriously felt like the longest winter of my life! I know I've complained a ton about this...so I couldn't go another minute without sharing my joy for the beautiful 50 degree weather we had today! Now I'm just praying that it will last for a few days! I took these pictures outside of my back door. I think we might possibly live in the most beautiful place around (it may be the weather talking...but seriously!) Oh...I also was able to put my big blow up Santa back in his box today. He has been buried under several feet of snow for over 2 whole months! Yay! It's a happy day!

Extreme Makeover...room edition

Out with the old
In with the new
The boys new karate room

Thanks to the wonderful painting skills of my husband and the awesome vinyl from my father-in-law we now have a fabulous "big boy room" at our house. The boys love the way their room turned out! Their quilts turned out so great! I am so excited about them! (thank you Grandma Gail for finding the perfect fabric)...Jace (the difficult one to please) did however mention that his new quilt wasn't "bery comtable". Oh well...he has definitely taught me that I can't please everyone...and he always keeps me laughing! :)

A Little Bit About My Mom

I seriously have the world's best Mom! My Mom is the type of person who never puts herself first...she is always doing things for others. Her kids and her grandkids are constantly spoiled by her (and we all love it). Just yesterday I got a text from her saying that "I had a surprise at the salon"....she had scheduled a hair appointment and an eyelash tint for me. Anyone will tell you that she is the absolute best listener around. She has a love of learning and we all think she should have been a psychiatrist (don't get any ideas about going back to school again mom)! My Mother never raises her voice...if you're in trouble...the silent treatment it is. (This doesn't happen to me too often...being the favorite child and all!) She makes friends easily and is loyal to the end. I know that her friends love her like she is family! I had a wonderful childhood with a Mom who was always fair and had time to listen and talk with me. I have never had a day in my life where I have doubted the love that she has for me or my family. I just wanted to say thank you Mom for all that you are and all that you have taught me. I love you with all of my heart! I hope to be half the mother that you are! I am forever grateful to have had the good fortune to be your daughter! Have a happy birthday!

P.S. your gifts await you at our house since we will see you in 11 days! Yay!

Spelling B-E-E

Tonight was the school spelling bee. This was our first experience. Camry is an amazing speller and she did great! She seemed to keep getting all of the really difficult words (of course this may be my distorted view as a mother). But seriously she misspelled "patina" She spelled it "petina"....which is exactly how I think it should be spelled! The kid after her got the word "noodle"! What an injustice! But really...she ended up taking 5th place which I think is great! I was very proud of her that she wasn't one of the many little girls who sat down after being eliminated and cried.....honestly I don't think I would have been able to handle it...it was breaking my heart watching them cry and they weren't even mine!

Camry accepting her certificate.

Speaking of spelling....why in the world is spell check still not working!? Seriously...it's driving me insane! Please excuse all of my spelling errors!

Boys And Their Toys!

I've been considering buying a couple of banana chairs for my boys' room so that when they play their video games they will have something to sit on.....apparently there is no need! This is how I found Jace today. I was cracking up! Who needs banana chairs right?! Oh...and just wondering...does every male have to stick out their tongue while playing video games or is it just my imagination?

Just A Little Update...

The Halliday's are now a "tablecloth-less" family. I'm not too happy about having to conform to my dog...but it was that or the pound for Emmy! On a happier note..."the big stuffed pillow" won first place in Camry's 5th grade Valentine box decorating contest! Yay!