Good Times!

When Stephanie and I were both single ladies (all the single ladies, all the single ladies...er, sorry), we would often take trips to visit the other.  I'd drive to Birmingham and spend the weekend and then we'd trade off and Steph would drive to Atlanta for the weekend.  I honestly can't tell you at what point Stephanie and I became best friends--it certainly wasn't when we were making fun of each other behind Mawmaw's house...although maybe that was a test to see how much the other could take (ha).  I don't think it was when she called me a snob when I was about 10 years old or when I tried to get her to kiss our cousin. (Sorry about that...and if you don't remember that, just pretend I didn't just write that).  At any rate, we are now the best of friends.  Morris blood runs pretty thick in both of us, so I guess you could say we had that friendship coming.  Yeah, I didn't think that made any sense either.  We're family.  We're friends.  How's that?  E-mails go back and forth daily...and if for some reason they don't (yeah, we both have to work...we've GOT to talk to our bosses about some free time during the day for e-mailing), we miss those e-mails.  Well, I can speak for myself when I say that I miss Stephanie's e-mails.  She's probably glad to not get some whining e-mail from me.  HA.  At any rate, usually when I'm home we're able to squeeze (and I mean squeeze) in some time together.  But this time, we got to see each other THREE times.  It was bliss!  It almost made me feel like we didn't live 14 hours apart.  And I finally got to see their adorable new house (I'm a little jealous of its cuteness!).  And even better than that, Hallie and Nora got a lot of playtime together and Steph and I got a lot of gab time together.  This particular day, Hallie and I drove to Birmingham to see their new place (new...well, new to me; they've been in it a year now).

 Look at the smiles on these two!  These two crack me up! 

It's such a shame these two didn't have any fun!

What did Wes think this tent was?  A dog?  Poor thing.  LOL.

Beautiful Nora (Hallie was being a toot and wouldn't sit by Nora...why, b/c I wouldn't let her wear Nora's flip flops.  haha)

I think this was maybe before they nearly flipped the swingset over b/c they were swinging so high. Steph and I had to anchor both sides down.  Haha.

Let's see...this may have been take 50 with the self-timer.  Oh well.  It documents the day and Steph is gorgeous as always!  And no, we didn't plan on dressing alike.  Great minds just think that way.

Actual Date: 06.29.11

Splish Splash!

The following pictures pretty much sum up every day in Alabama. :o)

Sweet, happy Hallie

Hallie the chipmunk fish (look at those cheeks)!

Haha...this will totally be in a future wedding video. ;o)

Sweet Abby

Actual Date: 06.27.11

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

...or I-20 to 459S.  Regardless, head on over to The (Historic) Alabama Theater for some fun summer movies on the big screen!  We did and we had a blast!  We went to a Saturday matinee for The Wizard of Oz...a movie Hallie has seen more than a hundred times, but never in such a glorious capacity!  If you've never been to The Alabama Theater, you must go.  It is breathtakingly gorgeous!  This summer they are having a Summer Movie Series (I believe through August 21).  It was definitely worth the drive to go and watch The Wizard of Oz on the big screen in such a beautiful venue.  Hallie, my mom, and I surely enjoyed it!  Beforehand, they had someone playing the organ (orginal to the theater) for a few sing-a-longs (along with two witches--haha).

 Hallie and Nonna before the show!

EXCITED!

Where in the world is Hallie Shea?

Actual Date: 06.25.11

Sweet Cousins...Sweet Friends

A fun day swimming ended with some blueberry picking.  There were so many blueberries on the blueberry bush (which really looks more like a tree) that each girl had their own cup full of blueberries (and there were more left to pick)!

Hallie loves picking blueberries.  And she used to love to eat them...not so much anymore.  But she sure does have a mommy who doesn't mind benefiting from her labor! :o)

Aunt Steph reaching the high ones.

Beautiful Nora!  Look at that smile! 

Cousins and friends!

Four "Morris Girls"...don't let the sweet smiles fool you.  These four can definitely cook up some trouble!

I love this picture. :o)

Actual Date: 06.21.11

We're Alabama Bound

OK...so we've actually already gone to Alabama, spent three weeks, and then come back to Texas.  Still.  The title was catchy.  Ha.  After the dance recital, swim lessons, and Father's Day, Hallie and I heading back east with Nonna to spend some lazy days by the pool.  And lazy days they were.  We would wake up, eat breakfast, swim, go inside because it would start raining (every. single. day.) and watch movies.  We did this for three weeks straight.  Every now and then we'd shake it up--you know, The American Girl Store, visits with friends, lunch with friends, going to the Alabama Theater to see The Wizard of Oz movie on the big screen, "going to town" (that's what it was when I was little), and a few trips to Zaxby's and Top o' the River.  Mostly, though, there was a whole lotta nothing going on.  And I was spoiled and loving it!  I love visiting my parents.  I love the feeling I get when I cross over the Alabama state line.  It's almost like things just automatically slow down.  The smell of the air is different...the breeze is a little sweeter.  And let me tell you...the temperature was pleasant.  A lot of days, it didn't even reach the 90s.  At night it was in the 70s.  That is so different from what we left (and what we returned to).  It's so hot here, we rarely get out of the house.  And it hasn't really rained here for weeks.  Usually I'm able to bring some of the rain back with me...this time it didn't work.  I guess b/c I didn't really have any outdoor activities planned.  Ha!

Overall, our Alabama vacation was wonderful.  I wasn't even all that disappointed that we didn't go to the beach.  A nice pool, a comfy bed, and good company is all we really need for a good vacation, and we had those things in the comfort of my parents' home! :o)

The next several posts will be "back-blogging posts" of our Alabama trip.

Here, Fishy FIshy

 Practicing her kicks on Parent's Day.  You can't tell by her face that she cried almost every day (June 6- June 16)...she did NOT want to go to swim lessons.

While others practiced their kicking skills, the little ones stood on the steps and waited--Hallie's face is priceless as she's getting splashed by a swim friend.  And check out the little girl on the end.  Relaxed.  Ha.

From standing on the steps, Hallie would swim to one teacher, then to the other, and then to the steps.  I'm telling you--these swim teachers had it down to a science.  These swim lessons worked!

My little swimming fish!

Getting ready to jump off!

Whoa!  What a jump!  In case you haven't caught on, Hallie doesn't do anything halfway. :o)

Swimming to the other teacher after jumping off.

And then swimming to the steps.

The kids were taught to swim under water only...and I was so impressed.  Hallie really knows how to swim!

Sweet friends after swim lessons!  

The Greatest Show on Earth!

No, I don't mean the circus (although I will have a post about that)...I mean Joy's School of Dance's "The Greatest Show on Earth" 2011 dance recital.  Hallie had her second dance recital (first with Joy's) on June 11th. I was so pleased with the organization of this recital!  For the preschool aged girls, they offer a ballet and tap combo.  So for 30 minutes they do ballet and then they switch and do tap for 30 minutes.  I loved watching Hallie learn tap (since she took ballet last year).  She loved it and decided it's her favorite!  I really enjoyed seeing what Hallie learned throughout the year!  We are so proud of our little dancer!  Warning:  Picture Overload! :o)

DRESS REHEARSAL 

This was Hallie's ballet costume.  I thought it was super cute!  Her ballet routine was to "Doll on a Music Box" from the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Hallie loves that movie, so she was SO excited when her ballet dance was to that song!

Look at these sweet friends!

As many of you know, Hallie doesn't have thick hair like her mommy...but that's OK, I think her hair is beautiful.  And I doubt you can deny that this is one of the sweetest little ballet buns you've ever seen! 

Love!

Tap!  Hallie's routine was to "Never Had  Friend Like Me" from Aladdin.  Hallie hasn't seen that movie yet, but I believe this dance routine was her favorite.  She knew all the steps and had a lot of fun with it!

Hallie likes to squeeze her friends as tightly as possible.  Haha.  Sorry, C!

The girls had to stay at dress rehearsal all morning--until they practiced their finale bow.  This made for some restless little girls.  Thankfully, I had thrown Hallie's notepad and bag of Twistables in my bag.  The girls were beautifully entertained!

RECITAL NIGHT!

Even though I wasn't a backstage mom, I made a basket (I used a laundry basket) of goodies for Hallie and her little friends--games, puzzles, crayons, drinks, snacks...etc.  And it was a hit.  I'm so thankful I did this because those little girls were hungry!  I didn't bring home very many leftover snacks. :o)

My little doll on a music box.

This is how they began their routine.

Daddy and his little tapper!

Mommy and the little dancer!

Nonna and the little dancer!

(Pop had to head home before the recital--he had to preach...wish he could've been there!)

Hallie receiving flowers from RahRah and Grampsy!

Hallie and Grampsy

RahRah, the little tap dancer, and Grampsy

Hallie chose Cheddar's as her after recital celebration supper. :o)

We're looking forward to another great hear at Joy's School of Dance!