Neighborly Neighbors

We have the most wonderful neighbors--Mr. Jim and Mrs. Rosemary.  They are just two of the sweetest people you will ever meet.  Mr. Jim is so much like my own daddy, it's hilarious!  If those two were able to run our country, we wouldn't have near the problems we have now!  Ha!

Today was an especially warm day (for March, that is)...and Hallie was outside riding her trike.  Mr. Jim said that he was about to turn on the sprinklers and that Hallie could play if she wanted.  That's ALL he had to say!  She had a blast, and I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of her fun.  During her fun, Daddy came home...and I got the best picture of him admiring our little girl.  He's not smitten by her at all! ;o)

And yes...she is fully clothed.  She is all about being spontaneous. :o)

Saturday Morning Fun

The Ladybug Game...this is Hallie's new favorite game.  And let me tell you, Jonathan and I love it, too!  It is the sweetest little game; and it was created by a first grader! :o)  This game is wonderful for your preschooler!  It will definitely be a go-to birthday present for us.  Hallie has learned so much--counting, reading the words "move ahead" and "go back"...she has learned to play fairly and to be a good sport if she doesn't win (though she usually wins!).  In the game, four ladybugs are trying to get back to their home.  You have to get past a praying mantis (either by sliding across the branch) or with a Mantis Pass that says "BUG OFF MANTIS" card (and don't be afraid to scream it)!  lol. Along the way, you collect aphids...and you'd better hope you have ten of them by the time you get to the angry ants or you'll be stuck in a continuous loop before ever getting home.  It is truly an adorable game that Jonathan and I don't mind playing with Hallie over and over again. 

(You'll have to excuse the appearance of my two models...it was Saturday morning and we had all just gotten up! HA!)

Hallie with Nonna and Pop

Hallie really enjoyed getting to spend two weeks with Nonna and Pop!  They picked her up from school every day at lunch time and spoiled her the rest of the afternoon.  What girl couldn't get used to that?  We were pretty spoiled, too, with laundry getting done and the house staying clean! :o)  While in Alabama, Hallie makes herself right at home at Nonna and Pop's house--and I know they wouldn't have it any other way.  

We love y'all and miss y'all already and are eagerly awaiting our next visit with y'all!!

The Museum of Natural History

 Thanks to The Busytown Mysteries, Hallie was super excited about getting to see mummies at the Museum of Natural History!  The only disappointment...they didn't mumble!  LOL! :o)  The girls had a fun time going through the museum...it hasn't changed a bit since the last time I went--at least 15 years ago!

Sweet pictures

Birthday Pictures

 A week after Hallie turned four, we planned on going to Birmingham to have Hallie's and her cousins' picture taken together.  HG turned 3 in January, Hallie turned 4 this month, and Abby was turning 8 in just a couple of weeks.  While I'm not a fan of indoor studio pictures, some of the pictures turned out pretty cute.  Of course, the impromptu pictures were my favorites. :o)

The Paci Fairy

Hallie has finally given up her paci.  I know, I know...just now?!  It just wasn't something we were concerned with, and it was the last thing that was keeping her our baby. :o)  We knew she wouldn't go to kindergarten with it!  And she had only been using it at night.  It just wasn't a big deal.  However, we thought we would use her turning four as a chance to rid ourselves of the paci.  We've had stints where we've gone without, but it never failed...Hallie always went back to her beloved paci.  Don't we all have something that's comfortable for us?! :o)  The week before Hallie turned four, we gave up the paci...left it for the paci fairy...sort of.  We really bribed Hallie to go a week without it and then she'd get a little surprise.  Of course, we knew there was a VERY good chance that Hallie would go a week without it, get her surprise, and then demand her paci.  haha.  Surprisingly, that didn't happen.  She asked for it a few times, but we didn't give in.  I thought the drive to Alabama might be a nightmare, but since we drove through the night, it wasn't bad at all.  But once we got to Alabama, Hallie's attitude about the paci changed.  I reminded her that the paci fairy had it...she didn't like that idea.  So one night, we went to sleep remembering that the paci fairy had Hallie's wonderful lovey and woke up with a wonderful little letter and gift from the paci fairy herself! :o)  Hallie was VERY surprised and loved every second of it!

The great thing is that a couple of days later, Hallie found a paci from one of our previous visits stashed behind the clock in our bedroom and laughed at the paci fairy for forgetting one.  Oops! :o)