Hale Family Tales

Some of My Favorite Things:

(in no particular order)

-chocolate cake

-my husband

-my girls

-spending time together

-enjoying God’s Creation

It was a great birthday…but I forgot the camera so you will just have to take my word for it!

I thought I would post some pictures from the last several weeks because since school started I haven’t been getting around to doing much blogging.

Here are a couple of shots of the girls playing around while we picnicked at the “Taste of Colorado” and listened to a band on Labor Day Weekend.

Any guesses who they were pretending to be?

Ellie was so very happy to have dumplings at the festival – can you tell?

This is in the spirit of “Where’s Waldo?”

A couple of cute scuba-girls.

Hannah attends an enrichment program every Friday for homeschool families.  This was the first day of class.

Ryan had a fire on in the outdoor fireplace and Hannah was sharing some new songs from her drama class.  You can tell from their nightgowns that we were sort of pushing it on the “need” for a fire and were going more for setting the mood.  Now, all of a sudden, the evenings are chilly and I am looking forward to quite a few evenings in front of the fire.

Ellie started Cubbies.  She has been delighted with everything – especially making up her own Bible verses.  She says them with such passion, she sounds like she is preaching.  Makes me just want to Prwaise de Yord! 

Today, Ellie accomplished the big milestone of learning how to swing.  This is rather bittersweet for her because she LOVES for her Daddy to push her on the swing.  He has spent a lot of time swinging her over the last couple of years.  I will admit don’t have as many patience to swing a little one as he does so it has sort of been a daddy/daughter thing.

We had a last minute visit from Uncle Dave and his girlfriend, Lauren, this weekend while they were in town for his class reunion from the Air Force Academy.  We went to an Air Force football game on Saturday and spent some time hanging out.  It was a fun time and we were all happy to have a chance to visit.

I got up first thing this morning and baked a cake for Bible Study tonight.  It has been sitting on the counter waiting to received its crown of cream cheese frosting and caramel sprinkles.  Yum!  Spice cake with cream cheese frosting – my family requests it as their favorite. 

I just walked into the kitchen and found a hunk gone out of the cake.

“Someone” – who shall remain nameless, but who is three, Chinese, and rather impulsive is the guilty party.  It is on days like this that I ponder her middle name – Grace.

This will be funny, not today, but – someday – when she is not three and hopefully, has a bit more self-control. 

Ellie stumbled into my room last night and asked me to scratch her back at 11:22 pm.

So glad I could be of service – in the middle a sound sleep – to help her out.

Boy, how, my girls have grown this summer!  I always joke about how much effort parents make to grocery shop and cook nutritious meals for our kids and how do they thanks us?!?  By growing out of their clothing!

One mark of Hannah becoming a “tween” is that she wants to go shopping and try on clothes.  (This is new – just ask both of her Grandma’s – they have witnessed many times her lack of enthusiasm in a store.)

The weather is turning a bit cooler this weekend, so we headed over to Kohl’s to see what they might have “on sale” – my favorite phrase concerning shopping.

We made a few good selections and they each went into a dressing room – or “cabin” as Hannah called them.  Ellie noticed the “jewelry” display next to the dressing room and chose a few items to complement her outfits.  They had a blast taking turns trying on clothes and accessories then parading in front of the big three-way mirror. 

It was fun – really fun! 

…Until it was not because an argument ensued over a necklace.  It was time to make our purchases and head home. 

On the drive home, I smiled to myself because my girls are so wonderfully made – so healthy and beautiful inside and out!

Out of the blue at dinner, Ellie said, “Mom, you are a genius!”

Ryan didn’t miss a beat, “So says the 3 year old…” and then,”…but you have to get your accolades somewhere.”

I will happily take her compliment.  What a great kid – she gives the best hugs too!

So…

I had to call Poison Control last night for the very first time.

Yep!

It was Ellie.

Yes!

She is (and was) just fine.  We just wanted to be sure…

Our plan had been to go camping this weekend, but Ryan and both girls have colds; Hannah has a terrible sinus infection, and Ellie has a terrible cough.  The weather in Lake George is supposed to be cold and rainy and we thought we better not chance anyone getting more sick.

So, Ryan thought we could at least have a campfire and went to Lowe’s to purchase a patio fireplace.  Ryan and Ellie went right to work on the assembly so we could get this holiday weekend started last night.  I asked Ellie to come inside and take a nebulizer for the cough she has been having the last last several days.  My plan was to have her do her medicine while Ryan put the fireplace together and then be able to participate in the fire building and s’more making.

Ellie wanted to do it faster than waiting for the nebulizer to turn her albuterol into steam to be inhaled.  So she drank it. Right through the mouthpiece.  She was very pleased with herself and her own ingenuity, because, gee, Dad really did need her help with the project.

I was stunned.  She was right back outside with Ryan and I was holding the empty mouthpiece wondering if I should be worried – and gee, how worried.

Ryan said, “Call Poison Control.”  So I did and the wonderful lady told me that Albuterol is ingestible, is even given as a syrup sometimes.  She told me what to watch for – Thank goodness for a voice of reason when your own experience and knowledge fall short.