tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17912431715235408642024-03-14T09:54:47.995-04:00[roo-nik]"Nothing is yet in its true form." - C.S. LewisHaleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-71055737579676953142012-01-19T18:10:00.005-05:002012-01-19T17:11:56.098-05:00Bonnet, Bowler, Beanie, Beret<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >"When you wear a hat, it is like medicine for the soul..."<br />- Anonymous</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />L</span><span style="font-size:130%;">ately, I've been thinking we need to bring the hat back into everyday wear.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />You know, everyday wear as in - not just for royal weddings and couture fashion extravaganzas.<br /><br />Seriously, what could be more dashing/daring/darling/dapper than these stylish toppers?<br /></span><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gJrl9XUOZAB42h68M-31N-otJ2GMxV9eMHnYghCZE4QOVxT89yGdN-KM4Yehi0rK-ORL3ghVupU5igETvC_W9KyoxloayqG_m61f0kgbrj9oj_gjs6HALQ1ka2rY16zK8bVAl4nysKXp/s1600/cloche+hat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1gJrl9XUOZAB42h68M-31N-otJ2GMxV9eMHnYghCZE4QOVxT89yGdN-KM4Yehi0rK-ORL3ghVupU5igETvC_W9KyoxloayqG_m61f0kgbrj9oj_gjs6HALQ1ka2rY16zK8bVAl4nysKXp/s400/cloche+hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699456745733007138" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/normavalentine/123013332/">1920's Cloche Hat</a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt-Un8pZrTXgX4kZhSJOoM43E0FnJuKqgNiGo5uNy6lnHTCfGN7CfLYTXgMowngElarINBa7waQUiR1k8IXSSCKN_nlarOJp_g4WpGmCWyn5I42kf1yuH-M5xPVOFOjglGw52voD_rMPJ/s1600/hats.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt-Un8pZrTXgX4kZhSJOoM43E0FnJuKqgNiGo5uNy6lnHTCfGN7CfLYTXgMowngElarINBa7waQUiR1k8IXSSCKN_nlarOJp_g4WpGmCWyn5I42kf1yuH-M5xPVOFOjglGw52voD_rMPJ/s400/hats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699455673423238818" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">And you men aren't exempt from this look! Sinatra loved a good head warmer:</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWsaVX5RhzY_KqHVmRHzJt5RPtBqgzG8NIro_xpY3UHZzov1nnL9vszs2EHeXafGDvRKt0S-3i__vGN6cvneWWfT4YFwsSGhFOEl_ulJKtVEjiesxs8QXCmvSzNpt_wbGO-eEsPqqYOVK/s1600/Frank_Sinatra_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWsaVX5RhzY_KqHVmRHzJt5RPtBqgzG8NIro_xpY3UHZzov1nnL9vszs2EHeXafGDvRKt0S-3i__vGN6cvneWWfT4YFwsSGhFOEl_ulJKtVEjiesxs8QXCmvSzNpt_wbGO-eEsPqqYOVK/s400/Frank_Sinatra_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699460730291968738" border="0" /></a></span></span><br />"Cock your hat - angles are attitudes." -Frank Sinatra</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even US Poet Laureate, Billy Collins, has something to say on this subject...</span><br /></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Death of the Hat</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Once every man wore a hat.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >In the ashen newsreels,</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br />the avenues of cities</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >are broad rivers flowing with hats.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The ballparks swelled with thousands of strawhats,<br />brims and bands,<br />rows of men smoking<br />and cheering in shirtsleeves.<br /><br />Hats were the law.<br />They went without saying.<br />You noticed a man without a hat in a crowd.<br /><br />You bought them from Adams or Dobbs<br />who branded your initials in gold<br />on the inside band...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I officially declare the Hat Revolution begun.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Hats Off,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/264/294850C5A4AE6A7FF892EB145B3E35FA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; width: 151px; height: 85px;" /></a><br /></span></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /></div>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-67121997110151227022011-09-17T16:03:00.011-04:002011-09-17T17:20:52.371-04:00How To Enjoy Autumn 101<div style="text-align: center;">1. Purchase pumpkins, apples, and mums from your local farm or orchard.<br /><br />2.Pull out your best apple cider recipes. Serve in toile mugs with cinnamon sticks stirrers.<br /><br />3.Make s'mores by a campfire.<br /><br />4. Buy cloves and cinnamon. Throw them in a pot along with orange peels and some boiling water. Homemade potpourri is the best!<br /><br />5. Purchase a kitschy scarecrow from your local craft store. Name him.<br /><br />6.Bundle up, go outside, and appreciate the colors. Find the best acorns and leaves and savor them for awhile. Put them in your pockets. Hold them up to the light.<br /><br />7. Constantly be on the lookout for leaves with the best "crunchage".<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">8. Go to the county fair and walk through the quaint haunted house. Ride the ferris wheel. Eat caramel apples and cotton candy.<br /><br />9. Go to a corn maze. Throw away the map and just run around in the dark with a flashlight. With friends.<br /><br />10. Only eat things A.) Covered in caramel B.) Having to do with apples and pumpkins.<br /><br />11. Try to work the words "autumn" and "fall" into every conversation. At least twice.<br /><br />12. Take a drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains.<br /><br />13. Wear plaid and jewel tones.<br /><br />14. Invest in a pair of socks covered in leaves or pumpkins.<br /><br />15. Read "fall-books." Some of my favorites are <span style="font-style: italic;">The Perilous Gard, To Kill a Mockingbird, Wuthering Heights, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, </span>and any Sherlock Holmes adventures or Agatha Christie novels. Also, John Updike has a great children's book entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">A Child's Calendar </span>with some great fall poems.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">16. Watch mystery movies like <span style="font-style: italic;">Arsenic and Old Lace,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">The Village, </span>and Bob Hope's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Cat and the Canary.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">17. </span></span></span></span>Go on a hayride.<br /><br />18. Make a jack-o-lantern for Halloween. Then make another.<br /><br />19. Buy a candy-corn scented candle.<br /><br />20. Have a <a href="http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2010/11/pumpkin-spice-pancakes.html">pumpkiny pancake breakfast</a> with apple cider syrup and hot chocolate.<br /><br />21. Incorporate nutmeg into your life as much as possible.<br /><br />22. Buy new leather boots and a fuzzy scarf.<br /><br />23. Watch <span style="font-style: italic;">It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown </span>once every day. On Saturdays, watch it twice.<br /><br />24. Rake leaves together until you have a massive pile. Jump in them. Be gleeful and child-like as you do this.<br /><br />25. Be happy. Because fall is here!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFurtT0PjSnrdKKtfY9_Mkzy6jm-8EeWzNT2xwzbeCWXhufHsmp64E7mHDNlF9cql-xvOdIflQ_QP5BbS08V9Jsx3T1pvnLQwpzWt6GX7Ce8VtuRJ3_Y97JQTUArhij82I7WEuaVeLJ8i/s1600/FALL+2011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFurtT0PjSnrdKKtfY9_Mkzy6jm-8EeWzNT2xwzbeCWXhufHsmp64E7mHDNlF9cql-xvOdIflQ_QP5BbS08V9Jsx3T1pvnLQwpzWt6GX7Ce8VtuRJ3_Y97JQTUArhij82I7WEuaVeLJ8i/s400/FALL+2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653423963665178562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />~George Eliot~<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy,<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/264/294850C5A4AE6A7FF892EB145B3E35FA.png" style="border: 0pt none ! important; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" /></a><br /><br /></div></div>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-60317445224612158392011-08-19T10:17:00.014-04:002011-08-19T16:55:13.898-04:00Feeling A Bit Like Robert Frost Lately...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6DdIfq62NLzo8vBI7iRjd-6XvKV4_91nwOizGDBhDwCJyXxfKbyb_UrkOxUOIgfzY4Xxa-BFCh3RtYGNmEJC5e4VXIHNBptUYi83fOeSP65EszXGk_GyepMywNb9k50K7PqcteZrtPz1/s1600/two-roads-diverged1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6DdIfq62NLzo8vBI7iRjd-6XvKV4_91nwOizGDBhDwCJyXxfKbyb_UrkOxUOIgfzY4Xxa-BFCh3RtYGNmEJC5e4VXIHNBptUYi83fOeSP65EszXGk_GyepMywNb9k50K7PqcteZrtPz1/s200/two-roads-diverged1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642578507908708386" border="0" /></a>Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
<br />And sorry I could not travel both
<br />And be one traveler, long I stood
<br />And looked down one as far as I could
<br />To where it bent in the undergrowth;
<br />
<br />Then took the other, as just as fair,
<br />And having perhaps the better claim
<br />Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
<br />Though as for that the passing there
<br />Had worn them really about the same,
<br />
<br />And both that morning equally lay
<br />In leaves no step had trodden black.
<br />Oh, I marked the first for another day!
<br />Yet knowing how way leads on to way
<br />I doubted if I should ever come back.
<br />
<br />I shall be telling this with a sigh
<br />Somewhere ages and ages hence:
<br />Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
<br />I took the one less traveled by,
<br />And that has made all the difference.
<br /></div>
<br />There is a reason this poem graces the pages of every middle school literature anthology in America. It also makes sense that the immensely approachable Frost won a Pulitzer at least four times. This poem is real. It describes what all of us, 7th graders or MA graduates (as is soon to be my story), feel at some point or another.
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<br />I begin my last (!) semester of grad school this Monday. How quickly/slowly the time has gone! And after? I do not know what will happen. Perhaps an adjunct teaching position at my alma mater? International travel (My husband and I seem to have an unquenchable thirst for all things international)? Teaching homeschool groups English and Spanish? Publishing (writing is a given)? Heaven forbid, more school? I know that the possibilities are endless! I will try to keep you all posted on what is soon to be an exciting and scary season of our lives and will try to be a bit more regular with my posts as well!
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<br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/264/294850C5A4AE6A7FF892EB145B3E35FA.png" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;"/></a>
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<br />Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-49729695755832847402010-04-27T23:23:00.005-04:002010-04-27T23:42:40.959-04:00A Goal CompletedHello!<br /><br />Just wanted to post a couple pictures of Stuart's "Tar Heel" 10 miler a few weeks ago! This was his first race, and he did f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s! I was so proud of him! He had trained hard for this for several months, and was so excited about running around his old stomping grounds.<br /><br />So we got up at 4am on April 10th and drove to Chapel Hill, NC. It was a long day, but a lot of fun for everyone!<br /><br />Here he is before the 10 miles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2voSG1IDHIDx8CMcganuD41m2piwgU47LvfrLRDcpZR6f338vYMMd578Jgq1-aeeSKDkRskDINiRS-gYnUQLCbQI84K9HFTqcK6_8wX-bLwB5lascdSMPR9kSPd6lfHnmp9nrx9FIoCQX/s1600/April+2010%21+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2voSG1IDHIDx8CMcganuD41m2piwgU47LvfrLRDcpZR6f338vYMMd578Jgq1-aeeSKDkRskDINiRS-gYnUQLCbQI84K9HFTqcK6_8wX-bLwB5lascdSMPR9kSPd6lfHnmp9nrx9FIoCQX/s320/April+2010%21+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465026602333812194" border="0" /></a>Noah (my brother-in-law) and I both went to root Stuart on, which he said encouraged him a great deal. We would hurry to the various mile markers and shout his name and clap for him when he passed. As you can see, he always had a big grin on when we did that!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe1WSTpZFkVSMpINlOWsoSu8g4SMVVa93hMhbscYFfuuqEP-Nl_ZZ119HI4B-U_iOsB3OhLiKx6IWF6aY43csIMfOiI6bV4LB5nvQzf8f9F_qghJsFxEvWOR1AKlIR7E5pS6ZxBxONXwA/s1600/April+2010%21+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe1WSTpZFkVSMpINlOWsoSu8g4SMVVa93hMhbscYFfuuqEP-Nl_ZZ119HI4B-U_iOsB3OhLiKx6IWF6aY43csIMfOiI6bV4LB5nvQzf8f9F_qghJsFxEvWOR1AKlIR7E5pS6ZxBxONXwA/s320/April+2010%21+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465027651485737602" border="0" /></a><br />I believe Stuart averaged about 8 1/2 minutes per mile, which we thought was super great, especially for his very first race.<br /><br />I'm sure there will be lots more races to come in the future!<br /><br />Off for a run....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-51138496385961908812010-03-31T09:02:00.018-04:002010-03-31T11:13:27.374-04:00Long Time, No Blog.Hello Everyone,<br /><br />It has been a long time, huh? Fortunately, this week I have a small breather from school and I wanted to catch up with all my blog world friends. I hope all of you are well and that life is going swimmingly.<br /><br />Here's a short update, to prove that I really have been taking pictures the last few months!<br /><br />January:<br /><br />I started school, and life ended as Stuart and I knew it. Late nights, early mornings, many nights with little to no sleep, fast meals, eating out, whiny students, getting tough on whiny students, learning how to be a teacher on the fly, thinking about what to write my thesis on, endless streams of email, deadlines, deluges of 10-15 page research papers to write, irritating professors, learning how to be a student and a teacher at the same time, meeting lots of really cool people, and chaos in general has since taken over our lives. Welcome to the world of academia.<br /><br />Stuart 27th birthday! It was a great event! He requested we go to Ruby Tuesday to get one of his favorite meals: the "Smokehouse Burger." So we did! And we had a small party at home with presents and of course, his favorite chocolate cake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbPkmT0OJD6HQVghjFRmklGp9xScU_R8rtRyigw9onUHhEQMu7yoAqYaCfNv4Ye-gj5EF5CuXtUqUMsgxUOzqviPgNl9-rJo6FeYVSu_h9TI3GgR6rI4Dbqv8QSKA_mpeImxlhE-VHg34/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbPkmT0OJD6HQVghjFRmklGp9xScU_R8rtRyigw9onUHhEQMu7yoAqYaCfNv4Ye-gj5EF5CuXtUqUMsgxUOzqviPgNl9-rJo6FeYVSu_h9TI3GgR6rI4Dbqv8QSKA_mpeImxlhE-VHg34/s320/January+thru+March+2010+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454785220237437314" border="0" /></a><br />We also had a Tar Heels theme for his birthday decorations. You can see one of the streamers in the back has fallen down!<br /><br />Other January events: Going to see "Walking with Dinosaurs" with my brother Andrew and his family. So great to see them! We enjoyed spending time with the girls, and much to my surprise, they weren't scared of the roaring dinosaurs one bit! When I asked Zoe if she was worried about the dinosaurs (because her eyes were as big as saucers), she just said, "No. He'll eat those people over there!" and pointed to the other side of the coliseum. Haha. I love her so much.<br /><br />February:<br /><br />Valentine's Day was especially fantastic this year. We went out to eat at this great restaurant called "Main Street 221," which has a German flare to it. I think that was the name. Stuart would know for sure. He always remembers restaurant names. He gets it from his dad I think. Anyway, this is the Valentine I made for Stu-Baker.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDVp0vF2e3jbi3qH6KYBicZFkvVJ3MSMPezUBKreBrgay6l0TCD7mG9yb5KuFEFNZ2_weLnPa1hWBNxleQfN9hpzXFZhMnW6lVv4g5ITz4O_rZSrvGUZsgM7nnsVMD81-sMzC8xpc-wsm/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDVp0vF2e3jbi3qH6KYBicZFkvVJ3MSMPezUBKreBrgay6l0TCD7mG9yb5KuFEFNZ2_weLnPa1hWBNxleQfN9hpzXFZhMnW6lVv4g5ITz4O_rZSrvGUZsgM7nnsVMD81-sMzC8xpc-wsm/s320/January+thru+March+2010+019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454787260505128690" border="0" /></a><br />And this is me opening my V-Day gift from Stuart, which was absolutely fabulous! It was a picture album of all the things we did in 2009 together. He made it on Kodak Gallery during his lunch breaks while I was at work. He said it took him about a month or so to make it and get it just perfect. And it was! I cried. It was the <span style="font-style: italic;">best</span> Valentine's we've ever had together! The book consists of 85 pages of pictures in several different layouts on a pretty background and Stuart's captions. Precious! We are thinking of making it a tradition for each year!<br /><br />Other February Events: Finding out my brother and his wife are expecting their third baby. If all goes well, I'll be an aunt for the 10th time!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9drCbWZobe9hlMyCSLZ4Y8AqkyXPRIJtiS3QMFwIficwX9rNoijcVJi691wwtmT3qE_E9p7otbPyhPh4cwihurUc8PPINvhxP68oot9dweqqb6pE-nXvHGis0jNnWkP1geyPl_lhgu6X1/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9drCbWZobe9hlMyCSLZ4Y8AqkyXPRIJtiS3QMFwIficwX9rNoijcVJi691wwtmT3qE_E9p7otbPyhPh4cwihurUc8PPINvhxP68oot9dweqqb6pE-nXvHGis0jNnWkP1geyPl_lhgu6X1/s320/January+thru+March+2010+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454790544150950882" border="0" /></a><br />March:<br /><br />Big month! I finished up one of my grad classes after several grueling weeks of projects (yay!), Stuart and I officially joined our church and attended a reception at our pastor's house, I had a wonderful Spring Break in New Bern, North Carolina with Stuart and my bro, Harrison, and I attended a lingerie shower for my lovely sister-in-law Mary-Alice, who I only get to share a last name with for a few more weeks. We also had some great fellowship with our friends Everett and Mary Mounts, who are friends from my old church in Danville. They are so encouraging to us and we loved spending time with them! Here are a few pics of the shower and Spring Break....<br /><br />The lovely table of refreshments set up for the bride-to-be....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4tR2FBv6s-_nwhFEzC1q1nxS9HiSiFmMIs7u8KG42SUksV9CZxWsLh3KWEnvEA1piwPwzM9sLy8TtLXn0mwaPj5fPkQY8MbWVMY8qxBJNZ-rCVawpDupIcBz9heIYMN62g6Pm27u1jk/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDE4tR2FBv6s-_nwhFEzC1q1nxS9HiSiFmMIs7u8KG42SUksV9CZxWsLh3KWEnvEA1piwPwzM9sLy8TtLXn0mwaPj5fPkQY8MbWVMY8qxBJNZ-rCVawpDupIcBz9heIYMN62g6Pm27u1jk/s320/January+thru+March+2010+028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454795031745612082" border="0" /></a>Michael Stuart- the only boy allowed at the party!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-h_8HinAmvsp4PqMJjn9-cR-5kn2ohYOfQq3FH-1bmKyEuZORtxrmw6w5wvcNJ_oB0qrzbrlrnxCEe1LKTIih8Flhtjyjef_UhnMJvqSoTb_hBZYfpqCskR2uwxnnCh2eKOgfYbBcKij/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-h_8HinAmvsp4PqMJjn9-cR-5kn2ohYOfQq3FH-1bmKyEuZORtxrmw6w5wvcNJ_oB0qrzbrlrnxCEe1LKTIih8Flhtjyjef_UhnMJvqSoTb_hBZYfpqCskR2uwxnnCh2eKOgfYbBcKij/s320/January+thru+March+2010+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454796343828713458" border="0" /></a><br />Mary-Alice enjoying some shower treats....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DrYqZzWyuOm0pydF1RAMJvA4-pPYrjYZ4gz-hARpvQUeGINGaj4tFxrskbP8bZF1TFQz0UKZwFha_T7kK3pDv_kl3k6Isz8CWEiAd4RENphBRDvoFEheH4gI_iisfG9IN8Fpeb66nd0Q/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DrYqZzWyuOm0pydF1RAMJvA4-pPYrjYZ4gz-hARpvQUeGINGaj4tFxrskbP8bZF1TFQz0UKZwFha_T7kK3pDv_kl3k6Isz8CWEiAd4RENphBRDvoFEheH4gI_iisfG9IN8Fpeb66nd0Q/s320/January+thru+March+2010+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454797691663881842" border="0" /></a>The guest of honor enjoying a cuppa!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5VxIQoc9A9SoFzdfT3l0jtnIuUr-xWHMDMEN02Y8Od1Lg2-qgRRGlevkRJIHlh1jzDUDJ-oNtT3pMvzRilMu9_tsGkifULwZuZLsyjZbhm3ExELQcpkc7e_INEPWgEux3Vupm80zDMdz/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5VxIQoc9A9SoFzdfT3l0jtnIuUr-xWHMDMEN02Y8Od1Lg2-qgRRGlevkRJIHlh1jzDUDJ-oNtT3pMvzRilMu9_tsGkifULwZuZLsyjZbhm3ExELQcpkc7e_INEPWgEux3Vupm80zDMdz/s320/January+thru+March+2010+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454799044106276642" border="0" /></a>Mom Graydon served up punch to everyone!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uVO1uIpZRE1Qtu9MKTRFIwVmgcwdIzt5wP7PFKE7vG_27WiSAOvCN3cF1FgsUH3n8U1qbAgd1boxylJiLml45f7qSK5cE97Xz-eqX5-tQcQX395cHFSsBjHPv5tVbuArp_IIZvvHlt5-/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9uVO1uIpZRE1Qtu9MKTRFIwVmgcwdIzt5wP7PFKE7vG_27WiSAOvCN3cF1FgsUH3n8U1qbAgd1boxylJiLml45f7qSK5cE97Xz-eqX5-tQcQX395cHFSsBjHPv5tVbuArp_IIZvvHlt5-/s320/January+thru+March+2010+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454799974110855954" border="0" /></a>Next up - Spring Break!<br /><br />The water at Atlantic Beach was freezing, but that didn't stop me from dipping my toes in....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7luWOFwWtZZqD0K1RUsAW-Y9RpRcFM46-n-_BH3XBigvJLJPR1bLb3InrQYYws_4Pu4uJp4_UJ-6gmuFBh-aCB7RVlrQ0m3dLWUp0jvMHZ-B0INXaUNYy_ruXNMMNDKJq_c2rUvrNDy-/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz7luWOFwWtZZqD0K1RUsAW-Y9RpRcFM46-n-_BH3XBigvJLJPR1bLb3InrQYYws_4Pu4uJp4_UJ-6gmuFBh-aCB7RVlrQ0m3dLWUp0jvMHZ-B0INXaUNYy_ruXNMMNDKJq_c2rUvrNDy-/s320/January+thru+March+2010+096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454801548435686338" border="0" /></a><br />Stuart the beach bum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOYN8EZMNlVweyUzJOIcJSyn_Ya1XKqsmcfbETKCrJGSAgr0IuAFW4ilTMtVDFkv8c4hpZEcsTw-wSpGqsk3VNDK07CZ_GpJMNhDrOY9mzRIZgJgQqeI1Ai5o4saucRgfMkJZ9d_gYAoQ/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOYN8EZMNlVweyUzJOIcJSyn_Ya1XKqsmcfbETKCrJGSAgr0IuAFW4ilTMtVDFkv8c4hpZEcsTw-wSpGqsk3VNDK07CZ_GpJMNhDrOY9mzRIZgJgQqeI1Ai5o4saucRgfMkJZ9d_gYAoQ/s320/January+thru+March+2010+084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454802494235697682" border="0" /></a><br />Harrison entertained us the entire week with his crazy antics and impersonations. Here he is experimenting with the effects of static electricity on his hair.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT12DU6XIhrINGc4bKo3kRFwftkNYbwszK-pvdXMfliZdgazQ1J8OX-s21mRPfDrK_jpGhFrmDIfR53jIlAyrFvEboEUoCuLJkGAG4mVRZnUMpTfmhzLSql52klSrd3cxAQm30_8dfriW9/s1600/January+thru+March+2010+106.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT12DU6XIhrINGc4bKo3kRFwftkNYbwszK-pvdXMfliZdgazQ1J8OX-s21mRPfDrK_jpGhFrmDIfR53jIlAyrFvEboEUoCuLJkGAG4mVRZnUMpTfmhzLSql52klSrd3cxAQm30_8dfriW9/s320/January+thru+March+2010+106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454813988368359986" border="0" /></a>So, that about wraps it up for this post. I will try to be more diligent in my updates, but no promises! : )<br /><br />Things we are looking forward to in April....<br /><br />*Stuart's first 10 mile run in Chapel Hill, NC.<br />*Mary and Fred's wedding!<br /><br />See you all in the funny papers!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-14999500562178272272010-01-04T21:15:00.005-05:002010-01-04T21:50:03.837-05:00Happy January!What a joy to be writing this post to all of you out there in this new, wonderful year of 2010! Stuart and I had a wonderful trip home to see family and friends, and we hope you all did as well!<br /><br />A few short thoughts from me and I'm off to enjoy the evening and the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Up</span> with Stuart (which I've heard is actually pretty fantastic)!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.</span> I'm in grad school mode right now. This is a very busy week I have ahead of me, filled with test taking, book reading for early assignments, and several tasks to complete at LU, such as getting an office badge made and visiting Human Resources. It is my last week of freedom, so I'm trying to enjoy it as well as get everything on my list done!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.</span> Stuart's 27th birthday is this Friday! So this week is all about keeping birthday surprises from the birthday boy. I would tell you what I'm getting him, but he might be reading this.....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. </span>As we speak, Stuart is hanging some shelves my brother and sister-in-law so generously gave to us up in our kitchen. We also bought some other furniture for the kitchen while we were at home as well as a few accessories. I am so excited about this! Everything is coming along so nicely and it feels great to have at least one room that seems to be almost done! I really adore interior design and I enjoy scrounging around antique and home stores looking for that little item that says, "Staley!" on it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.</span> Time for a few blog changes! I'm not sure if I'm going to change my blog background (although I've been thinking about it), but I am changing up a few other things. Obviously, I'm not doing the "100 books" challenge anymore (see #5 for more info), so that'll be coming down, but I probably will keep up something to do with my reading. This year will obviously be filled with more academic readings, but I am hoping to fit in some biographies as well. And since it is a new year, I thought I would replace <span style="font-style: italic;">The Importance of Being Earnest </span>quotes with a new book! I haven't decided what yet. All in all, just be on the lookout for some switch-ups. Got to keep life interesting you know!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.</span> Soooo, I didn't make it to 100 books in 2009, but I did make it to 54! Over half way! I was extremely happy with this, as the reason I gave myself the exhorbitant goal of 100 books was so I would push myself to read more. I was looking back over my list for the year and thinking, "Wow! I read so many great stories and authors last year!" I am also super proud of Stuart, who read 9 books this year! He said that I inspired him with my passion for books (awww) and that he was also concerned about his brain "rotting away" after his college graduation. After I told him about some of the benefits of reading, and some of the sad statistics about adult readers, he was hooked! We are both committed to reading and studying our whole lives, and handing down this wonderful gift to our children too. I strongly urge all of you to <span style="font-style: italic;">read</span>! Even if it is only 1 book a year, set a goal for yourself and start! It will reward you your whole life through....<br /><br /><br />So, that is about it for now around Neverland! Hope you all are having a great 2010 so far!<br /><br />Love,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-27247858940496972482009-12-17T13:10:00.018-05:002009-12-17T22:07:33.413-05:00We're No Scrooges....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPOW7_KN1Lz0U6QTxUUZKmFFb_9URwpsTaZUk66C_BLVhwkL4ujhk6-vO54aHjmAdmR4t9a8EfxuwX-rmMnxGdpZVcrcyxv-w77T8LAwPlIAd95h5M0a3D9k-fdKl5uNS-FSAaXlHpItF/s1600-h/Christmas2009+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsPOW7_KN1Lz0U6QTxUUZKmFFb_9URwpsTaZUk66C_BLVhwkL4ujhk6-vO54aHjmAdmR4t9a8EfxuwX-rmMnxGdpZVcrcyxv-w77T8LAwPlIAd95h5M0a3D9k-fdKl5uNS-FSAaXlHpItF/s200/Christmas2009+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416275612182040434" border="0" /></a>Merry Christmas!<br /><br />As the cheery sounds of "It's a Marshmallow World" dance down our hallways, I am writing this blog post to give you a peek of our very first Christmas at Neverland!<br /><br />I have immensely enjoyed our decorations thus far. As of today, I am done with tutoring until next year (I think Christmas break is even better as a teacher than it was as a student), and I am basking in the simple pleasures of the season; taking a few extra moments to shake packages under our red and silver Christmas tree, standing under the mistletoe with Stuart (many, many times a day!), and reading my favorite Christmas stories.<br /><br />I hope you and your loved ones can find time to do the same in this over-too-quickly time of year!<br /><br />Enjoy the photos!<br /><br />Our staircase wrapped in Christmas garland...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqX8LSxdGhc2rM-NhtW5QxpuNpJKPZMy5Vu8DT4H3AfoKUpgfxHKt0F71jGlGFhy7UPBGD3U-fq4d-H2NwG1mBNMB1cusAjcm3ENEehXO1f1QoN3TIJwAsGQ_DFT6_MSfPR-0r0X9rp0W/s1600-h/Christmas2009+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqX8LSxdGhc2rM-NhtW5QxpuNpJKPZMy5Vu8DT4H3AfoKUpgfxHKt0F71jGlGFhy7UPBGD3U-fq4d-H2NwG1mBNMB1cusAjcm3ENEehXO1f1QoN3TIJwAsGQ_DFT6_MSfPR-0r0X9rp0W/s320/Christmas2009+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416274992831350274" border="0" /></a>Our front door Christmas wreath....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP-lMSKXCxkQz3bquAagtzq63dd524bB0JUZihF69KnrLNeI8GoK56U2iX1NZywLrQ6usi3kxQlAA7TnYQNqHvGefREvYhx4RPkqg-j_BCUoEQ0tyIr_efLyOyPB1wf-g-OrHGcDFDeOm/s1600-h/Christmas2009+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP-lMSKXCxkQz3bquAagtzq63dd524bB0JUZihF69KnrLNeI8GoK56U2iX1NZywLrQ6usi3kxQlAA7TnYQNqHvGefREvYhx4RPkqg-j_BCUoEQ0tyIr_efLyOyPB1wf-g-OrHGcDFDeOm/s320/Christmas2009+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416273938376082722" border="0" /></a><br />A close up. I love the butterflies and the fruit, even though it was a giant pain getting the latter attached!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilJ-rEliJGvp0zoyN-e0hQKM8o7UgKubPCMjNEUJFVKPz0v137Y089egYs6I9-UZF7RmAlU4ec4ArxF12bKkOwop8Bbr4ZyhGjTmfhG3fYElZn01mcVYh6agg-xw9krtH2wa_hlTUalXl/s1600-h/Christmas2009+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilJ-rEliJGvp0zoyN-e0hQKM8o7UgKubPCMjNEUJFVKPz0v137Y089egYs6I9-UZF7RmAlU4ec4ArxF12bKkOwop8Bbr4ZyhGjTmfhG3fYElZn01mcVYh6agg-xw9krtH2wa_hlTUalXl/s320/Christmas2009+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416274445881649442" border="0" /></a><br />This is the miniature tree we put up in the office for Stuart. I went up there one day, and peeked in and it made me sad that I was enjoying all of the decorations everywhere else in the house while he was stuck at the desk. So, voila! He has his own Christmas cheer near his desk!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkRc-_5vV5z1XK7hrZkdEfxjIQlnnzkYbum7HguXlKS4xW8uBoP6K5X6UxWgS06wo-0Vv0oUPSxV_Kyu-cXBLk8Ej8qNqFXTj2id9Wj-XRdlwq5_oW8jweYkD0Ngk56PbQ-wvcv-xRyDJ/s1600-h/Christmas2009+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkRc-_5vV5z1XK7hrZkdEfxjIQlnnzkYbum7HguXlKS4xW8uBoP6K5X6UxWgS06wo-0Vv0oUPSxV_Kyu-cXBLk8Ej8qNqFXTj2id9Wj-XRdlwq5_oW8jweYkD0Ngk56PbQ-wvcv-xRyDJ/s320/Christmas2009+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416273122546664546" border="0" /></a>This is a portion of my Christmas library. All of the downstairs windows are sporting their own Christmas titles, including some of my childhood favorites like <span style="font-style: italic;">Madeline's Christmas</span>... it is so fun to decorate with books!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwrzK8War1xtk9K5ossUlw2PkGFu5LO2bIS_L8N6VNupuPoF1jBjLaLAEBNnZHWApXaouZXaLdCqweTHVxdzzBa87ZPo4aY8Ek2q_0EzeV8BeUNd0MnczLKi6Qp6aR3mDp_Er3RExc0Rg/s1600-h/Christmas2009+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwrzK8War1xtk9K5ossUlw2PkGFu5LO2bIS_L8N6VNupuPoF1jBjLaLAEBNnZHWApXaouZXaLdCqweTHVxdzzBa87ZPo4aY8Ek2q_0EzeV8BeUNd0MnczLKi6Qp6aR3mDp_Er3RExc0Rg/s320/Christmas2009+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416272139797252482" border="0" /></a><br />This is Iorek (pronounced "your-ick"), and he actually doubles as Christmas <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> Valentine's decor. Look at him, living the life on our bed....Stuart gave him to me, because he loves to give me stuffed animals...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYURCGkRVWH8CpHzwWNNemnSG3lE11F4qJ_C-o_VpceDSi_51RFOoCubHbBgSSb5QGimCt-sY4xQI4TsIC7SlU0BMgDzS8vQ1LIPZ8enHNeAIOM8eV2vlseFnw2SeXt-SHGsLnVmSxFpU/s1600-h/Christmas2009+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYURCGkRVWH8CpHzwWNNemnSG3lE11F4qJ_C-o_VpceDSi_51RFOoCubHbBgSSb5QGimCt-sY4xQI4TsIC7SlU0BMgDzS8vQ1LIPZ8enHNeAIOM8eV2vlseFnw2SeXt-SHGsLnVmSxFpU/s320/Christmas2009+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416272555497008258" border="0" /></a>Our sophisticated, not cheesy at all, snowman countdown piece.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISmkuIoNapueRfijNzWSG0owJ5ckFgwSw7IGcB_5LUu6RLuTfBh_HFphylqwH1Pb0GdypSq40Gh3JcUHzkIyZGd8kAkq7TEF9WsBmoG28DXHsRkSyFF1MhWdaSePBFfROKjXOqS_eLQ6S/s1600-h/Christmas2009+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISmkuIoNapueRfijNzWSG0owJ5ckFgwSw7IGcB_5LUu6RLuTfBh_HFphylqwH1Pb0GdypSq40Gh3JcUHzkIyZGd8kAkq7TEF9WsBmoG28DXHsRkSyFF1MhWdaSePBFfROKjXOqS_eLQ6S/s320/Christmas2009+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416271742362933554" border="0" /></a>Ah...this is my "A Christmas Carol" table. This year most of it consists of snow, because I am slowly building my Jim Shore figurine collection. I have two more to get, and some other copies of the book as well. I just love it though! Especially Jacob Marley's miniature chains....such a great Christmas story! I don't why, but Chuckie D. (I call him that because we're pretty close) just makes me want to cry like a baby....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXBt69XKu4ASLw1wZ8nyIhUGNZKIhxYZw6iU3lQ3ykMBeTkVZPrM4sldbxfSjWCj-rhXwf4WxnnfAawRAuH_YkfmhN8YLlHfCTOS5KSgcTGD-hItcueTvHiYxYQ73Jm1tjUzeNkKj2cKP/s1600-h/Christmas2009+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXBt69XKu4ASLw1wZ8nyIhUGNZKIhxYZw6iU3lQ3ykMBeTkVZPrM4sldbxfSjWCj-rhXwf4WxnnfAawRAuH_YkfmhN8YLlHfCTOS5KSgcTGD-hItcueTvHiYxYQ73Jm1tjUzeNkKj2cKP/s320/Christmas2009+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416271186495299602" border="0" /></a><br />Here is our first beautiful Christmas tree! We've had one neighbor stop by and compliment us on it and the wreath! And I must admit, Stuart and I are very proud of it. We worked hard coordinating the colors together...well, Stuart told me what he envisioned and I coordinated, but still, it was a team effort! We're thinking about adding other trees as the years go on....huh. It is funny, but I never pictured us as "Christmas people." You know, the ones who have 12 trees in their house and all that, but we have had such a good time decorating together, that I think we might be after all! Maybe next year we'll add a UNC tree for Stuart and a Victorian one for me! I'm also thinking about a Travel tree. It is our tradition to buy a Christmas ornament wherever we go, and we've accumulated quite a few! It would be fun to have them all on one tree as a tribute to our adventures together!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEkwFpGKXDqMkuw5E0vAkUSHEhfhhezt7jvlOuf6iz0VjjrvKzmiA18p2FucNwpMF50Kc9l-17bisxAdSMSFRfrwlq8JKDmXXDgj6KdfrwfzU7RABNw1vpCLigu8Jj1BSKGm-4IpirXsI/s1600-h/Christmas2009+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEkwFpGKXDqMkuw5E0vAkUSHEhfhhezt7jvlOuf6iz0VjjrvKzmiA18p2FucNwpMF50Kc9l-17bisxAdSMSFRfrwlq8JKDmXXDgj6KdfrwfzU7RABNw1vpCLigu8Jj1BSKGm-4IpirXsI/s320/Christmas2009+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416269765245683874" border="0" /></a>Okay, our stockings were so fun to pick out! We went to Target together and decided to pick out each other's stocking. Our only rule was that it had to "reflect" the other's personality. And all I can say is...wow. Stuart knowingly picked out a pink Shabby Chic stocking for me, trimmed with pink velvet and adorned with a jeweled crown. I was more worried about Stuart's...mine was so obviously me, but his was harder to pin down. Then I saw it! A reindeer stocking dressed in green (a color Stuart is in half of the time), with the little reindeer <span style="font-style: italic;">holding a chalkboard</span>. Augh! Stuart loves chalkboards. Stuart <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> a chalkboard. I remember when I would visit him at UNC, I would write little love notes on the chalkboard he had for him to see when he would practice his math problems on it. And whenever we made a meal together there, we would make up a name for our imaginary restaurant and I would write it on the board in artistic lettering. Anyway, the stocking was such a perfect representation of that piece of his personality that of course I picked it up and waved it in triumph! We've hung them on our little banister at home...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZwm2Y_Bvh6CpcfswVmd6wwFugtpUX43WkGDp_g66SoY-yczjxzIDhpq8UtKe3uj3CqlPe1C_80hFlS9SWYMxN_qgFfhFKX6XcW3TOlGKtX1rzDJzLqbsR6Iy1Qby3iMt8la185pfxttR/s1600-h/Christmas2009+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZwm2Y_Bvh6CpcfswVmd6wwFugtpUX43WkGDp_g66SoY-yczjxzIDhpq8UtKe3uj3CqlPe1C_80hFlS9SWYMxN_qgFfhFKX6XcW3TOlGKtX1rzDJzLqbsR6Iy1Qby3iMt8la185pfxttR/s320/Christmas2009+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416270353940624706" border="0" /></a>In short, we're really embracing our Christmas together! We've watched several Christmas movies together, and are making many new traditions together, but trying to keep some old ones as well. Stuart was actually leaning towards not going home for Christmas, but having our own celebration here, and just going home for New Year's Eve, but eventually decided against it because both of our families are expecting us already. So, we're keeping that tradition for now! Also, for those of you who don't know it, Bedford is actually "The Christmas Capital of Virginia." Seriously. We have a sign and everything. We've gone to look at some great lights, but missed the town meeting in the square with the hot chocolate, carriage rides, and the decorating of the town Christmas tree. Also we missed the Christmas parade. We just found out too late because it is our first year here. Next year we'll be there because we love living in a small town and want to show our support!<br /><br />We're trying to do something Christmas oriented every night, so tonight I think we're decorating Christmas cookies together, and I'm trying to find "Charlie Brown's Christmas" or the cartoon "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" because Stuart hasn't seen either one of them. Sadness. They are two of my favorites! When he first told me that I thought he was teasing me, but no! There are really people who haven't seen these Christmas classics! One thing we do have in common is our love for "Mickey's Christmas Carol." We ordered it off of Amazon last year and love it, it brings back great memories of childhood for both! And of course we both love Patrick Stuart in "A Christmas Carol" as well as "It's a Wonderful Life" and many others!<br /><br />I encourage all you bloggers to do something fun this last weekend before Christmas! It only comes once a year!<br /><br />Signing Off,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-27675256071887877322009-12-13T23:41:00.011-05:002009-12-14T00:04:13.034-05:00Typical StaleyThis picture sequence pretty much sums up our relationship....<br /><br />Haley enjoying a book, soaking up a good storyline....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DbOLkRvoxw082-yedoR0jGs3M0mKDBBlAb8zB5z5ivtnB8HprxlUfCpgTJaiLtCz0sCPdqsfS7Svv5ikLX2Fgb3fA2LLZH4hwNgdrAkzwiwxUDrldlqgoizgVfegaeIdyfGPlb8-8IBk/s1600-h/Christmas2009+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DbOLkRvoxw082-yedoR0jGs3M0mKDBBlAb8zB5z5ivtnB8HprxlUfCpgTJaiLtCz0sCPdqsfS7Svv5ikLX2Fgb3fA2LLZH4hwNgdrAkzwiwxUDrldlqgoizgVfegaeIdyfGPlb8-8IBk/s320/Christmas2009+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414951133115854626" border="0" /></a><br />Stuart enjoying a book, seeking intellectual stimulation and very interested in what he's reading....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a_Ij6FTNGmNNazWsoHDzHeSM-k2fUzIRWRfPGt0rfDIDoAPcmC1sT6zjWAuQlth6rUdSaLVGH8lQJ1xGTZmHM-AiEyEf-jGD_IZuzlwcenVCK2ZkD0iyoFQrO0vBhft8M3caKrTb77ei/s1600-h/Christmas2009+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a_Ij6FTNGmNNazWsoHDzHeSM-k2fUzIRWRfPGt0rfDIDoAPcmC1sT6zjWAuQlth6rUdSaLVGH8lQJ1xGTZmHM-AiEyEf-jGD_IZuzlwcenVCK2ZkD0iyoFQrO0vBhft8M3caKrTb77ei/s320/Christmas2009+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414950726056118450" border="0" /></a>Haley getting jealous and saying, "Hey, I want to be what you're interested in! I'm intellectually stimulating <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> cute!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawnnRrZlvfgAghzwVNELAc4e7HUk8DcrMtddTZMgZHsO_Lr7ZVOcWK5MgYN0t04CT7VifZDf8FYHrKvudyP7_lMJ460TYmlXYkxRC4Xl7QjGGfH5h5K3keNXn_ol2rWHYT6FWZpJSsvN7/s1600-h/Christmas2009+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawnnRrZlvfgAghzwVNELAc4e7HUk8DcrMtddTZMgZHsO_Lr7ZVOcWK5MgYN0t04CT7VifZDf8FYHrKvudyP7_lMJ460TYmlXYkxRC4Xl7QjGGfH5h5K3keNXn_ol2rWHYT6FWZpJSsvN7/s320/Christmas2009+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414950321782724274" border="0" /></a><br />And as usual, he falls for my wiles hook, line, and sinker!<br /><br />Evil laugh....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-70234332068012543212009-12-04T00:34:00.013-05:002009-12-04T01:43:11.958-05:00Turkey and SuchI'm just going to give a quick recap of our Thanksgiving week in photographs....<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><br />Stuart relaxing on the couch at my Mom and Dad's before lunch...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRfyYdf57FrIvChazmEH6VvvRbIYr1X8mC4xRRW3xtwCrzWvFINa_O93ezl23LHkvbBv2Tcxz1eiEmiJW5DqovTnG_rMqFeARhEESIEcU7H4o_nb_cIFmgTnuWXlpCCeG0wpkCF3HzWDL/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRfyYdf57FrIvChazmEH6VvvRbIYr1X8mC4xRRW3xtwCrzWvFINa_O93ezl23LHkvbBv2Tcxz1eiEmiJW5DqovTnG_rMqFeARhEESIEcU7H4o_nb_cIFmgTnuWXlpCCeG0wpkCF3HzWDL/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411251142703529746" border="0" /></a>Stuart stocking up on the Thanksgiving goodies (<span style="font-style: italic;">especially</span> the potato casserole!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOhwU5FMxO_uTqVBth-Bv_XRwGU0Kax4qhLinCUlDO5NnZxw0GLJnqnWcBlW_SiE-Zq2S2wf9HVgQxdjDAHIVPFXNN8aAcpxXfPbvxYJ4xyofeVf-KRWHA1uAOsL89LWMuJ0XThok_KZ6/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOhwU5FMxO_uTqVBth-Bv_XRwGU0Kax4qhLinCUlDO5NnZxw0GLJnqnWcBlW_SiE-Zq2S2wf9HVgQxdjDAHIVPFXNN8aAcpxXfPbvxYJ4xyofeVf-KRWHA1uAOsL89LWMuJ0XThok_KZ6/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411252994740789186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My fantastic parents! They were also the hosts of our first Thanksgiving dinner that day! When we went around the table and shared what we were thankful for, it was unanimous...Mom's restored health, her safety through her thyroid surgery, and most of all....a cancer free body! Thank you, Lord!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrT0xCS6bMwBVfUvp48NWKEQUZxat2RWfQMboG4vcwrciV57mMQxOFMsfgz1YncK2lPFhtJejNwQwREHnceyDDzrf3JIukGOXSiIsBgTkh7_Z0dKYKCtiLrzCPy3cVlg8aZ8DZweCanMz/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrT0xCS6bMwBVfUvp48NWKEQUZxat2RWfQMboG4vcwrciV57mMQxOFMsfgz1YncK2lPFhtJejNwQwREHnceyDDzrf3JIukGOXSiIsBgTkh7_Z0dKYKCtiLrzCPy3cVlg8aZ8DZweCanMz/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411254581098167202" border="0" /></a><br />The whole Thanksgiving crew (we missed you Young and Williams families!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYVSjur690ExT7e79OrY9s2K0w4Iid9CjWwK_t0yjNkM_54nuwG0Y-EXup9FQ8sVS5xKDy1S2-yOF-5zaGBF3PDUJG9l8-0xZ2PbZ43yOhuYHYp07KjPmUNzCbqWZ-nbS7PAScN7OxX8y/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYVSjur690ExT7e79OrY9s2K0w4Iid9CjWwK_t0yjNkM_54nuwG0Y-EXup9FQ8sVS5xKDy1S2-yOF-5zaGBF3PDUJG9l8-0xZ2PbZ43yOhuYHYp07KjPmUNzCbqWZ-nbS7PAScN7OxX8y/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411256497162532674" border="0" /></a>On to Thanksgiving #2! This is me holding my always happy nephew, Michael. What a cutie! I'm only sad that I don't get to see my newest nephew, Matthew Thomas, because he's on the other side of the world from me!<br /><br />Anyway, this Thanksgiving was held at Stuart's aunt and uncle's home. There were over 30 people there! Crazy!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-3MHneakflxMAz8yBMfJyO-ociErq-4ozijqdcDvDW9heIOKatgRgbToe9NGCT_j-7bIxSymmdFtYn4GdKYGTgzS4JkUXB2Ep4_rNxlObhTLGRQPXF0H55kn10uqPHB_7BIL-KFdjeaH/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-3MHneakflxMAz8yBMfJyO-ociErq-4ozijqdcDvDW9heIOKatgRgbToe9NGCT_j-7bIxSymmdFtYn4GdKYGTgzS4JkUXB2Ep4_rNxlObhTLGRQPXF0H55kn10uqPHB_7BIL-KFdjeaH/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411259993370517810" border="0" /></a><br />Apparently, everyone was tired after eating <span style="font-style: italic;">except</span> Mary......<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lLK1H1gnbj1BrNtA1CXzNaHpeGZeR__8wvyW5SQz712HX6y1p9JiA3UWJIVRfhCkWaJCVDZamx3qPYKoa15_1qJzCJMfbi56umkrGVy8D99kg7qubNkNYPNXcMc6NskbP7aB8e5OHjOH/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lLK1H1gnbj1BrNtA1CXzNaHpeGZeR__8wvyW5SQz712HX6y1p9JiA3UWJIVRfhCkWaJCVDZamx3qPYKoa15_1qJzCJMfbi56umkrGVy8D99kg7qubNkNYPNXcMc6NskbP7aB8e5OHjOH/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411262126770800322" border="0" /></a>And this last picture is of my niece Zara the day after Thanksgiving. She was helping us decorate the Christmas tree. It was adorable. She would watch my dad unravel the lights and try to help him, which of course, complicated things! Her whole face lit up when we finally turned the lights on for the first time. Here she is with some ornaments.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaWX_0ln1L3ouR2PaxcQyifQSKP7MtwAILV_ChqQ7Z4ygmBMagc3TSdixmiqkwDyP2BH77SXqBcniy0pO75z6OBNCsVXpF4i0S3AO46v5A1bq7gVlguUETs7aQ30qSy3zyxzouFGzsVod/s1600-h/Thanksgiving+2009+038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaWX_0ln1L3ouR2PaxcQyifQSKP7MtwAILV_ChqQ7Z4ygmBMagc3TSdixmiqkwDyP2BH77SXqBcniy0pO75z6OBNCsVXpF4i0S3AO46v5A1bq7gVlguUETs7aQ30qSy3zyxzouFGzsVod/s320/Thanksgiving+2009+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411263067704942850" border="0" /></a>All in all, it was a great week! Except for the part where Stuart and Harrison talked me into going to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wal</span>-Mart in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Danville</span> at 1am to view all the Black Friday mayhem. I was dead on my feet by the time we arrived there. All that Thanksgiving food sinking into my body no doubt! I'm a night owl at heart, always lurking around until early hours of the morning, reading, cleaning, or, in tonight's case, updating our blog. So imagine Stuart and Harrison's surprise when I, the ringleader of all nighttime activities, zoned out and trudged around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wal</span>-Mart after them like a zombie......When we got back, I slid in between the sheets while Stuart and Harrison went to the kitchen for ice cream. All Stuart could say was,<br /><br />"I can't believe you're in bed before me!"<br /><br />I didn't hear the rest.....<br /><br />Happy Christmas-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ing</span>!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-67094081379380371272009-11-10T23:14:00.011-05:002009-11-11T01:17:38.847-05:00It Ain't Easy Being Green... or... How We Spent Our WeekendThis past weekend was really wonderful and really, really awful all at the same time....which in my experience is a lot like life in general. Great times corresponding with really hard situations...but I digress! On to the good, the bad, and the scary...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday</span><br /><br />A great day! Stuart was on what I like to call his "Friday High" all day long. I think for him, the anticipation of the weekend is better than the weekend itself sometimes! He likes for me to stay in the office with him sometimes if I'm not tutoring or doing other chores around the house, so on Friday afternoon I basked in the sunshine filled office with a worn copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Women</span> and my journal, keeping him company while he worked. Bliss! We had plans later that night to eat at Moe's Southwestern Grill, go shoe shopping, and see this:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNAbot30Js320Pw-GT7sWbYMdXg0Z1gm1DuOzj8TcFL3dqGeD_hqizGqGS9uQ-g2Pyfi15UiUe1L3GS7bj8iBJmTAmGyHtFrKMgkpO4ykFIkVF6ervKMPH4mxTsce0Wqc2f87HW4kHqFg/s1600-h/christmascarolposter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNAbot30Js320Pw-GT7sWbYMdXg0Z1gm1DuOzj8TcFL3dqGeD_hqizGqGS9uQ-g2Pyfi15UiUe1L3GS7bj8iBJmTAmGyHtFrKMgkpO4ykFIkVF6ervKMPH4mxTsce0Wqc2f87HW4kHqFg/s320/christmascarolposter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402698216961323730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Those of you who know me know I am a huge fan of all things<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">A Christmas Carol </span></span>(and all things Charles Dickens for that matter), and this was the perfect opportunity to kick off the holiday season! What I didn't know or expect was that it was digitally animated (think <span style="font-style: italic;">Polar Express </span>with Tom Hanks). We actually saw it in 3D, which means we had to wear those goofy glasses they charge you a fortune for. But! No matter to us! We were on a date, and Stuart <span style="font-style: italic;">of course</span> had me giggling like crazy with his glasses and general hilarity. The storyline really didn't vary much from the book version, and the visuals were really stunning, especially with the 3D effects. Stuart was a little disappointed that it wasn't more humorous (being that Jim Carrey was playing pretty much every role in the movie), but still thought it was very well done. We shared our usual Coke Icee and popcorn and were two very contented lovers!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday</span><br /><br />Mostly bad! I woke up sick, sick,<span style="font-style: italic;"> sick</span>. Ugh. All I could do was curl up with my heating pad and try and rest. Achy, dizzy, headache.... No fun Saturday adventures for us! Or so I thought. Stuart very sweetly stayed with me and talked to me, and somewhere during that conversation we decided to paint the kitchen...for real. No more deliberating on the green swatches splattered against our wall! Just pick a green and go with it! So we did! I blame that decision on the Extra Strength Tylenol....no really....because there is no way I would have spent all of Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, and Monday afternoon painting if I hadn't been feeling...extra powerful. But we love it! Sure, it took forever because I needed to rest quite often and we had to tape up 3 million things, but hey...<br /><br />it is so done....<br /><br />Here's a picture of the painful taping process...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXGBu24gbjsvqhkNniwG0y3r7Xe05_MH0Umh7GetxSl3VDQ8DJc-XTmyUW7ZAX9NCvW6d05LQPKUgrpzYKmh8nSEnNJYrm4HMk8U2gfZuZZZKayV42q-b2euahkoUd8NDlHY0e3IIaVAF/s1600-h/Fall+2009+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXGBu24gbjsvqhkNniwG0y3r7Xe05_MH0Umh7GetxSl3VDQ8DJc-XTmyUW7ZAX9NCvW6d05LQPKUgrpzYKmh8nSEnNJYrm4HMk8U2gfZuZZZKayV42q-b2euahkoUd8NDlHY0e3IIaVAF/s320/Fall+2009+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402705631721554738" border="0" /></a><br />Don't have one of the finished product yet, because I don't consider it one! So you'll have to be patient!<br /><br />Well, after collapsing into bed on Saturday night, I thought the excitement was over. No no! At 3:45ish I woke up not feeling too well (I went to sleep with a bucket by my bed...I <span style="font-style: italic;">hate</span> nausea, don't you?) and was pretty restless. I got up to go to the restroom and then I slid beneath the covers once again and tried to fall asleep....<br /><br />So there I was...<br /><br />minding my own business.....<br /><br />trying to go to sleep.....<br /><br />trying not to be sick.......<br /><br />when................................................................................<br /><br /><br /><br />I heard a noise. A car actually. Somewhat in the distance. Which isn't highly unusual being that we live in a neighborhood and all, but still.... I noted it.<br /><br />And then....my stomach tensed.<br /><br /><br />Was that a gunshot?<br /><br />I thought, "No, it's just the car backfiring. It sounds like it has a really loud engine and all that, so that must be what it is. How obnoxious!"<br /><br />But then all in a rush, I heard tires squealing, and the engine roaring closer and closer and then...<br /><br />another gunshot!<br /><br />A really loud gunshot.<br /><br />"Stuart!" I cried ( in what can only be described as a panic-stricken voice), sitting up like a rocket in bed.<br /><br />Stuart was awake in an instant saying, "I heard it! I heard it! It was in my dream! Gunshots in my dream!" (We've kind of laughed about this since then, because his reaction was so fast but still so muffled and sleepy sounding. If I hadn't been so freaked, I probably would have laughed right then!)<br /><br />We ran down the hallway and into the office, both of which are on the second floor of our house. The office has 5 windows in it, and you can see everything that's going on outside, so that was naturally where we headed. Instinctively, we dropped into a crawl once we hit the office, not knowing what might be going on outside. Stuart warned me to stay down as he looked out of the windows, but whoever it was had turned around in our cul de sac and gotten the heck out of dodge. Needless to say, we were exhausted, shaken up, and worried. What on earth had happened? We found out later from some neighbors that no one was hurt, but some windows were shot out of at least one of the houses being built around us. Sooo, in the last couple of days I haven't been sleeping too well, and tense up every time I hear a car driving by. I don't know if it was a prank or what, but it definitely messes with your security, you know? And we live in a really safe, family friendly area, so nobody is really sure why this happened as of right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday</span><br /><br />Well, after a not so restful night of being sick and worrying about being murdered in my bed (you know, the usual), we slept in and missed church. Stuart let me sleep. And sleep. And sleep. I woke up about noon, still not feeling like myself, but a bit better with no nausea. We pretty much just rested and painted a little and that night, since the kitchen was totally destroyed, we did something absolutely unheard of in the Graydon household. We went out to dinner for the second time in one weekend. Ruby Tuesday is only about 5 minutes from our house, so we got all cleaned up (which made me feel a lot better in and of itself) and headed out the door, talking about how approx. 4 years earlier (November 5, 2005 to be exact), on our first date at the Colonial Ball, we had no idea that on this night approx. 4 years <span style="font-style: italic;">later</span> we would be married and painting our kitchen and going to Ruby Tuesday because we were tired and our appliances were all covered in plastic (I'm sure all you married couples know this game). We snapped a fast photo as we headed out...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGk1hNhCpewGUPuiUs9JZb96VhvzaRujaPzqqiVrT0W2pAC8cZ-jumVtErwi88TV7GJKdtOMEQk02z1KCyqQsKuFAud4vu9pJ8gX0vDe04Nq7snI_QDNL0M3UVFAQL-d3OqqTFyvDaeXs/s1600-h/Fall+2009+010.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGk1hNhCpewGUPuiUs9JZb96VhvzaRujaPzqqiVrT0W2pAC8cZ-jumVtErwi88TV7GJKdtOMEQk02z1KCyqQsKuFAud4vu9pJ8gX0vDe04Nq7snI_QDNL0M3UVFAQL-d3OqqTFyvDaeXs/s320/Fall+2009+010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402718765137885890" border="0" /></a>See? Not a speck of green or a single bullet hole on us or <span style="font-style: italic;">in</span> us!<br /><br /><br />Well, that was the first weekend in November for us! Hope yours was a little <span style="font-style: italic;">less</span> exciting than ours was!<br /><br />Kicking off the holidays with a bang-bang,<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-84060384831837152882009-11-02T15:54:00.004-05:002009-11-02T16:09:59.432-05:00Acceptance...It Feels NiceSo, I didn't want to leave everybody hanging about my grad school application...<br /><br />I got accepted!<br /><br />Please pray for Stuart and I as we have to make several choices between now and December! We both feel that this is where the Lord wants me to be as of right now, so unless he leads us down another path before January...grad school it is! I will be pursuing a MA in English, an opportunity I am elated about!<br /><br />The next step in this process is pursuing a GSA position, which stands for Graduate Student Assistant. This position is harder to get, as it is a full scholarship for the program, and several people want them! The education is free, and you are assigned two English 101 classes to teach under the guidance of a full-blown professor. The great part? It is a paid job as well! Not very much, but coupled with the free Master's and the teaching experience, it is a pretty sweet deal. On the down side, I am planning to start the program in January, and I'm not sure if there are any GSA positions open until <span style="font-style: italic;">next</span> fall, so we may have to foot the bill for at least one semester.<br /><br />We would ask your prayers on this issue as well, as we really can't afford grad school without one of these positions. I'm pretty nervous about it because I know many smart, qualified people who want these positions too, and I can't help but think, "Yeah, right! This isn't going to happen!" But, we are just trusting the Lord! If this is really what He wants then I think we'll be fine... if not.............. I know He has something else for me out there!<br /><br />God Bless You All!<br /><br />Hope your Halloween was great!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-70563470049702315582009-10-30T15:14:00.009-04:002009-10-31T00:20:52.832-04:00Pridefulness, Thy Name is (Gulp) Haley!This morning while I was having my quiet time, I was perusing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Vision-collection-Puritan-Devotions/dp/0851512283/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256933144&sr=1-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Valley of Vision</span>: </a><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Vision-collection-Puritan-Devotions/dp/0851512283/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256933144&sr=1-1">A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions</a>, </span>along with my Bible reading<span style="font-style: italic;">. </span>Before I proceed with this post, let me just say that this is a wonderful book brimming with spiritual insights. Many of the prayers convict my heart and bring tears to my eyes. They are beautifully written, but not in a showy way. These prayers are sincere, humble, and cover every subject imaginable, from a convicted sinner's prayer to longing after God. I ran across this book because our pastor, Dr. Kroll, read from it several Sundays ago, and the words struck a chord with my heart. Stuart and I have read some together as well, and enjoy discussing how they apply to us, how we can take our prayer lives more seriously, etc.<br /><br />Anyway, I ran across this convicting prayer on pride. What a snare it has been in my walk with Him! How many times it has kept me from going to Him with repentance in my heart! How often I have sat in judgment of my brothers and sisters in Christ and felt it welling up within my soul! For those of you who find yourself in my shoes, I want to share it with you:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">PRIDE<br /><br />O THOU TERRIBLE MEEK,<br />Let not pride swell in my heart.<br />My nature is the mire beneath my feet,<br /> the dust to which I shall return.<br /><br />In body I surpass not the meanest reptile;<br />Whatever difference of form and intellect is mine<br /> is a free grant of thy goodness;<br />Every faculty of mind and body is thy undeserved gift.<br /><br />Low as I am as a creature, I am lower as a sinner;<br />I have trampled thy law times without number;<br />Sin's deformity is stamped upon me,<br /> darkens my brow,<br /> touches me with corruption:<br />How can I flaunt myself proudly?<br />Lowest abasement is my due place,<br /> for I am less than nothing before thee.<br />Help me to see myself in thy sight,<br /> then pride must wither, decay, die, perish.<br /><br />Humble my heart before thee,<br /> and replenish it with thy choicest gifts.<br />As water rests not on barren hill summits,<br /> but flows down to fertilize the lowest vales,<br />So make me the lowest of the lowly,<br /> that my spiritual riches may exceedingly abound.<br /><br />When I leave my duties undone,<br /> may condemning thought strip me of pride,<br /> deepen in me devotion to thy service,<br /> and quicken me to more watchful care.<br />When I am tempted to think highly of myself,<br /> grant me to see the wily power of my spiritual enemy;<br />Help me to stand with wary eye on the watch-tower of faith,<br /> and to cling with determined grasp to my humble Lord;<br />If I fall let me hide myself in my Redeemer's righteousness,<br /> and when I escape, may I ascribe all deliverance to thy grace.<br />Keep me humble, meek, lowly.<br /></div><br />I think my favorite line is, "My nature is the mire beneath my feet..." In other words, I'm my own worst enemy! Many times I don't even recognize I'm being prideful until the moment, conversation, etc. has passed. Then I think, "Oh no! Not again! I had such a prideful spirit about that!" Then I'll have to apologize to whoever it was, or just confess it to the Lord and start over. For me I am often deceived because I'm simply thinking, "But I'm right about this!" and not recognizing that its the <span style="font-style: italic;">way</span> I'm being right about it! My deceptive nature...<br /><br />Also, I love the line about sin's deformity being stamped upon us. How true this is! When I begin to think of my sin nature as a <span style="font-style: italic;">literal</span> deformity in my soul, I begin to see just how ugly it must be to a pure and Holy God!<br /><br />In closing, I am happy to say (without pride I hope!) that pride is something the Lord <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> taming within my heart. In the meantime, I find that this prayer helps me to put in all in perspective!<br /><br />Humbly Yours,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-19604664120429822172009-10-22T21:16:00.007-04:002009-10-22T21:40:02.520-04:00It's Called The Happy Dance For A ReasonLadies and Gentlemen,<br /><br />It is indeed a sweet night. After many weeks of filling out applications and forms concerning various aspects of my life, writing a paper on why I want to be part of the Master's program at Liberty, taking tests (not to mention <span style="font-style: italic;">paying</span> for said tests), begging teachers for recommendation letters (okay, not really begging...but still), checking on my transcripts, and waking up with vocabulary flash cards stuck to my cheek...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It</span> is finished. The deed. The beast has been slain and I'm left holding the sword.<br /><br />That's right. I am <span style="font-style: italic;">done</span> applying to grad school!<br /><br />Forget that this was the easy part and I have at least two years of grueling writing, research, late nights, and other unspeakable evils in front of me. I'm done until January!<br /><br />I'm going to kick back, relax with Stuart, and pop <span style="font-style: italic;">Duck Soup</span> into the DVD player because...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I have nothing else to do.<br /><br /></span>At this rate, I don't even care if I get in<span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br /></span>Booyah<span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br /></span> Free<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span>For Now</span><span style="font-style: italic;">,<br /><br /></span><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-85277352803595871522009-10-09T15:58:00.010-04:002009-10-09T16:32:34.961-04:00A Hairy SituationThis hilarious procedure took place about a month ago. Watch, learn, and enjoy...<br /><br /><br />Step 1: Right before Stuart decided to shave off his beard I insisted on getting a picture to remember it by (because I loved, loved, loved the beard! So manly....)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TZSjlbeg_K6Fd4PLN_6jLL7DDj7giviUZ9slayCl3odXmpMin3Env1hMPT2q40TUkDJ0ql_SM8cP0MeNykouGgxCBzryF93jchvDAiBnteHNFfma0gwIRDrHsfG3vWjLozEIkAIUigRA/s1600-h/septemberandabitofoct09+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TZSjlbeg_K6Fd4PLN_6jLL7DDj7giviUZ9slayCl3odXmpMin3Env1hMPT2q40TUkDJ0ql_SM8cP0MeNykouGgxCBzryF93jchvDAiBnteHNFfma0gwIRDrHsfG3vWjLozEIkAIUigRA/s320/septemberandabitofoct09+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390695647890851682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Step 2: We call this the halfway point. Not too late to keep a remnant of your former beard, Stuart!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqktTEHskgX6TRMdx7MjdVfsUMiC5_-pjK3QXe1k1ap__6k6mPfM8FISxEbTuSTrxOyqQBxn5h5xcEJwrHeBPJcqKiYofLpWfW8tb7GtAVONi64s5db7kz6tI4JzABWp5N09y6EVR-0CI/s1600-h/septemberandabitofoct09+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqktTEHskgX6TRMdx7MjdVfsUMiC5_-pjK3QXe1k1ap__6k6mPfM8FISxEbTuSTrxOyqQBxn5h5xcEJwrHeBPJcqKiYofLpWfW8tb7GtAVONi64s5db7kz6tI4JzABWp5N09y6EVR-0CI/s320/septemberandabitofoct09+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390694707646577554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Step 3: We call this many things, including but not limited to:<br /><br />Life-altering<br />Hilarious<br />Like watching a bad 70's or 80's cop movie<br />Odd<br />Incriminating<br />Hair Don't<br /><br />And so at this stage it was definitely too late to keep a remnant. Sorry Stuart, now it <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> has to come off!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlpVZfcaSzppeV7-Os-nm0rWeaScBsxgneT7alA0LaZ4-ovlfnpUuT9Zd-51sKBzkqLt86Zp4YHGbAVA6rnK-JbdnchqR6T1n3HZVLOm-7x5xo4b99WqUhtg6SBAr7XlrEk59qc0tsofb/s1600-h/septemberandabitofoct09+013.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlpVZfcaSzppeV7-Os-nm0rWeaScBsxgneT7alA0LaZ4-ovlfnpUuT9Zd-51sKBzkqLt86Zp4YHGbAVA6rnK-JbdnchqR6T1n3HZVLOm-7x5xo4b99WqUhtg6SBAr7XlrEk59qc0tsofb/s320/septemberandabitofoct09+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390695330556158946" border="0" /></a><br />I just want to give you a moment to take it all in......<br /><br /><br /><br />.......<br /><br /><br /><br />.......<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, I don't actually have the final picture of Baker without a beard, but most of you know what that looks like anyway. I think I was still shrieking with laughter at the sight of him like this to take another picture.<br /><br />So there you have it! Future blackmail material...<br /><br /><br />Having Fun,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-80918152520939656362009-09-13T15:25:00.010-04:002009-09-13T23:48:39.894-04:00For Me?So....<br /><br />Thanks to everyone who helped make my 22nd birthday a great one! Not a day went by during my birthday week that I wasn't surprised by some pleasant phone call, facebook remark, or a fun package in the mail!<br /><br />As most of you know, my parents and brother came up for my birthday weekend! Stuart and I gave them the grand tour of Neverland, cooked them a scrumptious supper, and settled in for a fun evening of talking. The next day was the perfect day to turn a year older! The weather was beautiful as we all piled into the 4runner to head to Cracker Barrel for breakfast! Then we strolled downtown Lynchburg for a bit, looking in antique shops and browsing the farmer's market, hiked Sharp Top (that is pretty much a given now with whoever comes to visit us!), and went out to eat at Abuelo's in Roanoke. On Sunday my family went to church with us and then Dad wanted to take Stuart and I out to Olive Garden for one last meal together! The whole weekend was a lot of fun, especially because I hadn't seen my parents in awhile!<br /><br />Monday, Stuart had the day off of work for Labor Day, and we have been planning for weeks to make it our private celebration of my birthday. Stuart's pretty big on stuff like that, and of course I don't argue! I woke up to the great smell of pancakes, bacon, and soothing hot tea! That sweet man had sneaked out of bed to make me a birthday breakfast! And...he made me supper too! He set up a table out on the deck and grilled out steaks, baked potatoes, and made us salad as well! Then I opened the presents he had for me! It was so great! There were candles and everything. Such a great evening together!<br /><br />I know I've already sent everyone thank you notes, but I just wanted say:<br /><br />Dad and Mom - Thank you for the great weekend, the birthday meal, and the gorgeous antique trays! I couldn't have picked a better gift!<br /><br />Harry-Sun - Love the Christie title you gave me and I cannot wait to read it! You're the best brother in the entire world!<br /><br />Andy and Melissa - I have so enjoyed <span style="font-style: italic;">The Valley of</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Vision </span>thus far! Thanks! Oh, and also I loved the e-card too. Bwahaha!<br /><br />Liz Holbert! Your e-card just totally made my day! It was such a surprise to open up my inbox and see it there! Thank you my dear friend!<br /><br />Seth and Karen - I love the Sephora gift card! There are always so many things there I want to get, but always stop myself because I don't "need" it. Now I can pamper myself a little! Happy face!<br /><br />Jonathan and Denise - Love the makeup and writing pad! I remember our "sparkles" conversation we had last year sometime. I'm sure these sparkles will be perfect and not too gooky or sticky or just...weird like the other ones I've tried were.<br /><br />Dad and Mom Graydon - Getting your package in the mail was such a surprise! I loved both books you sent me! I cannot wait to read the Elizabeth Prentiss title, and am eager to use some of the tips in the decorating one! Thank you!<br /><br />Mary- Even though I know "technically" your gift was both to Stuart and me and was also a late wedding present, it hit right around my birthday, and so it kind of makes me think of it as one! We<span style="font-style: italic;"> love</span> that wonderful picture frame. I look at it all the time!<br /><br />and Stuart.......you know! : 0<br /><br />Here are a few pictures we took over the birthday weekend....<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgi_9bJZOBFFTm5xt3a6DAPnn0NcipampIt4gdoe7uoVsYpApn1MUKUV5WD-vuqbOcr5Z_wSw3sUTnIZJ9LiQk0dPX8W4TQmKyOMNIx7JC9C1HEVbGWQdx_wN9g0GhMv-f_-jQ6IUR1v3/s1600-h/Haley's+22nd+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgi_9bJZOBFFTm5xt3a6DAPnn0NcipampIt4gdoe7uoVsYpApn1MUKUV5WD-vuqbOcr5Z_wSw3sUTnIZJ9LiQk0dPX8W4TQmKyOMNIx7JC9C1HEVbGWQdx_wN9g0GhMv-f_-jQ6IUR1v3/s320/Haley's+22nd+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381042288705786226" border="0" /></a> My fab parents!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bO9uW_TzuqtUz6Z0i0KkkNs8-c2rB661dKn9hwWKCUhBUg6u1_uTxbPSwAq8xgWwyRIkTjb01n3gDr_7O8wtZksiLLn0SMrEl8cnDtMJCrJBeUa716m86lv4F8ksWlvQJu2IwGz3F1cf/s1600-h/Haley's+22nd+027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bO9uW_TzuqtUz6Z0i0KkkNs8-c2rB661dKn9hwWKCUhBUg6u1_uTxbPSwAq8xgWwyRIkTjb01n3gDr_7O8wtZksiLLn0SMrEl8cnDtMJCrJBeUa716m86lv4F8ksWlvQJu2IwGz3F1cf/s320/Haley's+22nd+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381043092525791026" border="0" /></a> Stuart catching my reaction to a gift from my parents.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7F88XtdVUMBzE9iEo-UIAdut1WlFdE51tVSSMgFNrWBNpsGwOI_XMyjHP5xQtkpNI-MZEDs7T-lslMfxqZpxOGTUg4sLfn47uLUZfDnKxCDcKo2jQqTQRvwZevaYxc3Jbo5BgBaurYwX/s1600-h/Haley's+22nd+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7F88XtdVUMBzE9iEo-UIAdut1WlFdE51tVSSMgFNrWBNpsGwOI_XMyjHP5xQtkpNI-MZEDs7T-lslMfxqZpxOGTUg4sLfn47uLUZfDnKxCDcKo2jQqTQRvwZevaYxc3Jbo5BgBaurYwX/s320/Haley's+22nd+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381044987475477298" border="0" /></a>Stuart and Harry enjoying some birthday dessert!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEOsiwhkM-QEAZtYVk3S6BHwDxaeiAHDYeys_HCukpEJssstpnuQJ8Xeb0sgS_qfjO1PmiqCIMT_1z9uPyQVNpukfQOoj5_BXCCDgD5B5K1_jJuxKck9rEQdUFcxkNSRgkLnFirKzf_6w/s1600-h/Haley's+22nd+005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEOsiwhkM-QEAZtYVk3S6BHwDxaeiAHDYeys_HCukpEJssstpnuQJ8Xeb0sgS_qfjO1PmiqCIMT_1z9uPyQVNpukfQOoj5_BXCCDgD5B5K1_jJuxKck9rEQdUFcxkNSRgkLnFirKzf_6w/s320/Haley's+22nd+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381044126659589890" border="0" /></a>On the Sharp Top trail! Pretty tired at this point as you can tell.....<br /></div><br /><br />Forgive me, but I don't have any pictures of Stuart's special dinner for me as of right now! Perhaps at a later time!<br /><br />Happy birthday to me....<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-20410085172264812112009-08-27T11:57:00.005-04:002009-08-27T12:18:38.641-04:00Quick! I Must Write This Before I Have Something Else To Do!So all of you won't think Stuart and I have fallen off of the face of the earth, here is a very short synopsis of our lives lately:<br /><br />* Guests, Guests, Guests!<br /> -We had Noah up for all of last week and had a ton of fun! We took him to Bojangles (of course), watched movies, and he and Stuart even had a fun "guy night" together.<br /> - On Saturday, Noah's last day here, Phil and some of the Freeman's came up to go hiking at Peaks of Otter and eat pizza with us.<br /> - We're meeting up with Dad Graydon tonight to eat dinner together and pick up Suzanne, who will be staying with us for a week. We have lots of fun things planned!<br /> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Next</span> weekend my family is coming up to stay the weekend, and help me celebrate the old birthday.<br /><br />* School<br /> - I'm currently sitting in on an English class at LU on Tuesdays and Thursdays (hurray for free education) at the request of some friends and a professor in the English Dept.<br /> - Preparing to take the GRE, which for those of you who don't know, is the test you have to take to get into grad school...kind of like the SAT, just another level up. So, a lot of studying right now. Haha! It doesn't help that I'm pretty much <span style="font-style: italic;">horrible</span> at taking these kinds of tests...I'm dead serious. I get all nervous under timed tests, and bored, and fidgety, and usually end up doing bad on them.<br /><br />* Job Hunting<br /> - I may have found a little something on this front. I'm in contact with a woman who runs a school and wants get someone to prep/tutor students for the SAT and critique essays and such...and that person would be me. So hopefully, that will work out. I'm not sure though.<br /><br />*Normal Life<br /> - I cook, I clean, I write letters, go to church, have quiet times, read books, take care of Stuart (not hard because he's so easy to please!), grocery shop...all of you ladies will know the drill!<br /><br />So as you can see I've been pretty busy as of late! I'm very thankful for it, but it does mean I have not blogged for almost two weeks! So sorry everyone!<br /><br />Have a great weekend! Do something fun!<br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-10158413146721315252009-08-11T10:00:00.002-04:002009-08-11T16:32:48.879-04:00On August, Autumn, Thunderstorms, and LifeAugust finds me in a bitter -sweet mood this year.<br /><br />For me, I've always felt that the end of summer marked the beginning of a new year, and not January 1st. I think this is because everything in my life shifted in August and September as a small child. I moved up a grade in school, I turned a year older, and Sunday school always promoted me to the next class at the beginning of September. Everything seemed to start over, to change. While January only threw me back into the murky abyss of what I had been doing <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> the jolly activities of the holiday season, September whispered of new beginnings, new people, and new chances. And some goodbyes.<br /><br />I've never been able to shake that feeling.<br /><br />However, I'm always excited for the upcoming autumn season. It is no secret that autumn is my favorite time of year! It has been since I was a small child...autumn just seemed so right to me. And so, so beautiful. All of the best things happened around autumn. My birthday as I alluded to earlier, the excitement of a new year at school with brand new school supplies, leaves changing colors, walks in the woods near our house to collect pretty foliage, pumpkin carvings, Dad chopping up wood for the upcoming cold season, warm beef stews and roasted peanuts, and the much anticipated county fair with all of its promises of ferris wheels, caramel apples, cotton candy, and craft exhibits. I remember Harrison and I giggling nervously together as we held hands at the top of a giant sliding board, then the rush of exhilaration as we whooshed down it's curves, delighted when we landed in heaps at the bottom, safe and sound. I've seen that sliding board in recent years when I passed it at the fair. It looked so much smaller...<br /><br />How can autumn be so joyous and so sad all at once? Everything is so beautiful, and yet in reality, everything is <span style="font-style: italic;">dying</span>. Everything is changing. Everything is moving on.<br /><br />*Sighs*<br /><br />My good friend Melissa and her husband Andy, are leaving Lynchburg next week and moving to Texas. Sadness. I will miss our college days, sitting together in church, and summer fun at local restaurants and bookstores. Thank you Lord, for such a good friend...and Melissa, I sincerely hope you two move back here after Andy's done with engineering school so we can raise kids together, and they can get married and we can finally be related! Ha! Have we got ambitious plans or what?<br /><br />I know another part of me is sad that the school year is starting again...<span style="font-style: italic;">without me</span>. This is the first autumn since I was 3 years old (I started school at 4, I don't think my mother could stand my begging one second longer, or my reading to everybody in the house from my hand-written, hand -bound, hand-illustrated books) that I haven't been preparing for school. And yes, I miss it terribly. Okay honestly, there is a possibility that I might be starting my Master's soon, but it won't be this autumn, and I don't know if it will happen at all. Also, it is a different kind of feeling than in years past. Whether I pursue another level in my education or not, I feel the sad ending of an entire chapter of my life. My Swan Song so to speak. And while I am ready to go on to the next thing, I will miss this wonderful part of life immensely. That feeling of knowing that every autumn will be like the one before, full of newness and learning. Now it is my turn to educate others- my students if I choose to teach, and my children as Stuart and I have little ones, and they in turn began all of the autumns of the rest of their lives.<br /><br />But on to the "sweet" part of the bitter-sweet mood I'm in...<br /><br />I love our new life here in Bedford, and I love being at Stuart's side for all the rest of our autumns. I love our sweet little house, dubbed <span style="font-style: italic;">Neverland </span>by us, because it is the place made up of the love-filled dreams we talked of before we were married. Oh, how we planned and talked about having that "perfect little place of our own!" The place where our love never grows old and we are forever young, just like in the children's book. Also, the first book we ever read together was Barrie's<span style="font-style: italic;"> Peter Pan</span>, and I always thought that the first house we lived in, the first place we really settled into would be our <span style="font-style: italic;">Neverland </span>house, where we could cook together, read together, love each other, begin our family, and never grow tired of it! Hence, our new blog title! All of our love to all of you, always!<br /><br />Next up, and this may be a bit odd...thunderstorms are on my list.<br /><br />I love to watch them swoop down upon our new home in little Bedford City from the majestic Blue Ridge mountains! I love to watch the beauty of the clouds darkening, love the contrast of our small, quiet home against the boisterous rumbles of the open sky, love the scented candles and cheery lamps against the hushed darkness, love dinner baking in the oven, promising something warm and comforting to Stuart and me while the summer rain slaps the roof above. Sometimes at night, we turn all of the lights off, and sit on the porch, watching the lightning light up the night like the giant lightning bugs I caught as a small girl. We listen to the rain pour down, talk about our day, hold hands together, and I know all the while that this will be one of my best memories of our time in Bedford....I took some pictures (on a sunshine filled day) of the outside of our house, because I know many of you have asked...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10MGSgHj2rXvApJQ2z4IuVXP9DsPtubaZBxsAKMKHlfl-aYc0MOEKC5pj5Dq23NL1q2I_Dkbqkqz0YlDDzThPPa7PZxXP7poh8EjrXT9UtwY1zI-zHQjG18FfWLRm3vJXdXUFkEacXwP4/s1600-h/Harry+Visits+Hike+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10MGSgHj2rXvApJQ2z4IuVXP9DsPtubaZBxsAKMKHlfl-aYc0MOEKC5pj5Dq23NL1q2I_Dkbqkqz0YlDDzThPPa7PZxXP7poh8EjrXT9UtwY1zI-zHQjG18FfWLRm3vJXdXUFkEacXwP4/s320/Harry+Visits+Hike+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368797805800996530" border="0" /></a>The master of the house and hearth (and my heart *smiles*), Stuart Frazer Graydon, III.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighqLC1eTJijHNgrRP_08JcriEI5me1N6GOZGkpWGh0OXXNCTQNzQaBf-kil-XoopVl0y2x9jviFVaFOwGJ2S2ZgGsVu23l-vRzdBcT2klVZn3Iv1EIG1Ygmk8Ecp5G9TaTBTs2jDQBndc/s1600-h/Harry+Visits+Hike+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighqLC1eTJijHNgrRP_08JcriEI5me1N6GOZGkpWGh0OXXNCTQNzQaBf-kil-XoopVl0y2x9jviFVaFOwGJ2S2ZgGsVu23l-vRzdBcT2klVZn3Iv1EIG1Ygmk8Ecp5G9TaTBTs2jDQBndc/s320/Harry+Visits+Hike+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368795980239089394" border="0" /></a>Front view of <span style="font-style: italic;">Neverland.</span> Next year in the spring we want to plant lots of flowers and maybe have a little garden in the back...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgYAyM0hyphenhyphenoJjymgdgt2daoLbbZBgQxb5LUSLkt4cQ4w7aQZrs7Tw75okhRqRTv6UEdRt5Knzxax-ZfxuF4s0hpxpFW9Cp41QIjT5ONRcI1sxErbpByufLaDn61zaFNbFgHhNvyvvkarVW/s1600-h/Harry+Visits+Hike+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgYAyM0hyphenhyphenoJjymgdgt2daoLbbZBgQxb5LUSLkt4cQ4w7aQZrs7Tw75okhRqRTv6UEdRt5Knzxax-ZfxuF4s0hpxpFW9Cp41QIjT5ONRcI1sxErbpByufLaDn61zaFNbFgHhNvyvvkarVW/s320/Harry+Visits+Hike+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368796727386241346" border="0" /></a>Our cute little front door with our wreath, and our cute little address plaque on the side....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy5G-mk4w9S-7fuWnXQnA5Qk3c6T3Z-kVEgSoMisOqQwui10Z5T7k5dAt4pggJFz_S1XHWKoJX-O2t5wc1MbfR64Nej4AjE88nqc3qA6Xj98Ypg9VuPvMyBHu_xBPaDROvDb9Zot38tJN/s1600-h/Harry+Visits+Hike+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuy5G-mk4w9S-7fuWnXQnA5Qk3c6T3Z-kVEgSoMisOqQwui10Z5T7k5dAt4pggJFz_S1XHWKoJX-O2t5wc1MbfR64Nej4AjE88nqc3qA6Xj98Ypg9VuPvMyBHu_xBPaDROvDb9Zot38tJN/s320/Harry+Visits+Hike+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368798853300091490" border="0" /></a>Stuart enjoying his lunch break on the front porch after eating, a daily occurrence. You may also notice the background construction site. We think it adds a bit of class to the joint.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlORSCp5Og514bxccxsLwpPihgDTBYuMNvxJWklPbzog176CgdCZn4Vj-FiRfKqQvhjzcpP-KTgkVwXAAoRlWJ7_wBAgqkWjWsXyruOOk4c2KgLrj0qTiJQpy8PHKNDW_eC339KPeVzWU/s1600-h/Harry+Visits+Hike+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlORSCp5Og514bxccxsLwpPihgDTBYuMNvxJWklPbzog176CgdCZn4Vj-FiRfKqQvhjzcpP-KTgkVwXAAoRlWJ7_wBAgqkWjWsXyruOOk4c2KgLrj0qTiJQpy8PHKNDW_eC339KPeVzWU/s320/Harry+Visits+Hike+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368799875114823698" border="0" /></a>Our cheery pink petunias make our porch seem more home like....<br /><br /><br />Other things that make me feel oh so "sweet" in this hot and sticky month of August?<br /><br />*An endless line of loved ones who are visiting almost every weekend make our hearts soar with joy. What can be better than catching up with people you love so much and being able to give them a bed to sleep in?<br /><br />*Being "home." Man, it is the greatest feeling to have one.<br /><br />*I have been spending time doing what I have always loved. Writing. And that is deeply fulfilling. With or without a publisher's contract.<br /><br />*Getting to know Bedford. I love driving through the city at night, windows down, everything quiet and serene....<br /><br />*Stuart and I deciding to bake a "fun" recipe every single week... and this is just a guess....most of them will probably be filled to the brim with chocolate and will most likely be desserts...those of you who know Stuart will know why...<br /><br />*Turning 22 in a manner of weeks! I don't why, birthdays usually aren't a big deal to me (as evidenced by the fact that Mom Graydon gave me a look several months ago and said, "Haley, I don't remember <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> having celebrated your birthday! When is it?" I had to laugh because Stuart always teases me about it too.) But this year I have been so grateful for my life, and the wonderful things in it, that I am deeply moved and grateful God allowed me to arrive here and see this wonderful number of 22. I feel like celebrating my life. So.... buy me presents all of you....Haha! I'm kidding about that part!<br /><br />So, you see the good things far outweigh the bad!<br /><br />Well, it is pouring outside, and I need to prepare our supper.<br /><br />Happy "Last Full Month of Summer" to all of you!<br /><br />Our Deepest Love and Best Hugs,<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-4350574212902731212009-07-29T15:19:00.003-04:002009-07-29T15:41:55.925-04:00Quick Update #5A short list of all that has been going on in our lives the last week or so:<br /><br />* My sister-in-law, Crystal, and her boyfriend, Joe came up to spend the weekend with us. Stuart and I made supper for them, and later we made snacks and watched the movie Defiance, which by the way, is really intense and keeps your attention. Stuart and I had already seen it and liked it, so....that's what we did. Crystal and Joe really liked it I think...<br /><br />* Saturday, we hiked Sharp Top at Peaks of Otter nearby. We packed a cooler and backpack full of goodies and had a great time.<br /><br />*I fell flat on my face while hiking... yes I did. And it was really funny even to me, but unfortunately, not to Stuart....<br /><br />* After hiking, we went home and got cleaned up and went to the mall in Roanoke where we ate in the food court, shopped, ordered Ben and Jerry's ice cream, and had a good time all around...<br /><br />*Came home, made more snacks and watched Jumanji...went to bed.<br /><br />*Went to church Sunday morning and then came home, had a quick lunch and saw Crystal and Joe off...*sniff*<br /><br />Other happenings?<br /><br />*I got facebook again for any of you who don't know it yet! I had it for a long time throughout college, but got rid of it for various reasons...but now Stuart and I both have one. Look us up!<br /><br />*I've been re-reading some favorite books for old time's sake, including (but not limited to), <span style="font-style: italic;">And Then There Were None </span>by Agatha Christie and Alcott's <span style="font-style: italic;">Little Women.</span> Each time I do this, I'm like "Man, I love this book!"<br /><br />*We've been having storms and constant rain here, especially during the night, which I kind of like because it makes our house seem more cozy. I just snuggle up to Stuart in bed and listen to the rain beat outside!<br /><br />*I'm still job hunting, but now Stuart and I are considering some other options. Will let you know as this develops more.....and no it does not involve children...<br /><br />*Harrison might be coming up again this weekend! Yay! Always happy to see my little bro!<br /><br />That's about it for now! Hope all of you are doing well!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-14473891741781106972009-07-23T23:12:00.016-04:002009-07-24T00:41:11.315-04:00New Bern and Beyond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpppPFQ0PX1FzxbdlYjNZvD6C-grn74dk69qGXQMNCzd44fzxisVMbwCd9jE8k6FGOL7ReoO_E07pDDJgxARXoY9DCusBvzWp8N6YNyG3HiasK00BM0a4mz4PAHpHU5b5SdzbRIxOjY6mW/s1600-h/IMG_1725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpppPFQ0PX1FzxbdlYjNZvD6C-grn74dk69qGXQMNCzd44fzxisVMbwCd9jE8k6FGOL7ReoO_E07pDDJgxARXoY9DCusBvzWp8N6YNyG3HiasK00BM0a4mz4PAHpHU5b5SdzbRIxOjY6mW/s320/IMG_1725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361863501368029746" border="0" /></a><br />As promised in my last post, I have pictures from our anniversary trip to New Bern, North Carolina last weekend. We had such good jaunts, fellow readers! The beach is about an hour away (for those readers who don't know the area), and we spent almost the entire day there on Sunday (our actual anniversary).<br /><br />We both got some sun...<br /><br />Correction:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> got some sun.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Stuart</span> apparently got the entire sun and tried to swallow it or something.<br />I've spent the last couple of nights slathering the poor soul with Aloe Vera gel and listening to him bemoan the itchiness of his state. But I digress...<br /><br />We drove down on Tuesday evening after Stuart got off of work and set up house. Stuart still had to work Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, so the party didn't really get started until the weekend. But those nights were still a lot of fun. I read a book to Stuart and we took the family's paddle boat out on the water at dusk to talk and such. We also grilled out steaks and of course, made our annual trek to Books a Million where I added to my library as I always do whenever we visit New Bern. However, I will admit that this wasn't quite as exciting as it used to be, simply because I live near Barnes and Noble now (10 times better) and didn't before. But still...I love any bookstore, anytime, anywhere. And who am I to fight the New Bern tradition?<br /><br />I ask you...who?<br /><br />FYI- I also love Next Chapter Bookstore in downtown New Bern. Yay for used books....okay I'm moving on.<br /><br />Anyways, like I said, the real fun started that weekend. I'll let you look at the pictures now and just narrate as I go. Shall we?<br /><br />This first picture is of me in downtown New Bern on Saturday. We slept late, ate lunch at Schlotsky's Deli, and browsed all the local shops. We also had a treat at the Cow Cafe, which Stuart makes me call the <span style="font-style: italic;">Moo</span> Cow Cafe, even though I argued, "That's not the name. Look at the sign." Stuart just says its family tradition and we must call it the Moo Cow Cafe in honor of the old cafe...or something like that.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYerAHBIe6x54Brs1NsqZGNlUJpcZ-gwUx2KqSJOqZB2Rq7NoRUmv7AxJi2DkrSJN0MS1GiMiMqh_BO6Kbn60CNkW1hPVJXPQaRWMwMNpAN0cgry2QksWCgrWHNUly1_XrcerHnqimiXAk/s1600-h/IMG_1724.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYerAHBIe6x54Brs1NsqZGNlUJpcZ-gwUx2KqSJOqZB2Rq7NoRUmv7AxJi2DkrSJN0MS1GiMiMqh_BO6Kbn60CNkW1hPVJXPQaRWMwMNpAN0cgry2QksWCgrWHNUly1_XrcerHnqimiXAk/s320/IMG_1724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361863144383923186" border="0" /></a><br />The treat at Moo Cow Cafe I mentioned above was in fact a banana split. Oh sorry, I mean a <span style="font-style: italic;">Moo</span>nana Split. And believe it or not, it was a first time experience for both of us! Can you believe it? I've heard my whole life about banana splits, but never really wanted to try one. Stuart said he had never had one either and we decided to seize the opportunity to share something together for the first time. It was surprisingly good. I don't know, I just never thought of bananas and ice cream as a very appealing thought, but I'd definitely do it again. Stuart agrees with me. The picture of our first banana split...awwww...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R-DLl7f7yoqX9e54vrb5vzyEVXB0iiPw9Y19topfhMNuDobBc5Xv7tyo_4tldQcpzDYiZJV5pSLVSzlw5XLe98a510cy6QQ0E4x2qt28JxatJoFnwQ_7LxwDYogIGp6KvfAfNR6J5XOr/s1600-h/IMG_1728.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2R-DLl7f7yoqX9e54vrb5vzyEVXB0iiPw9Y19topfhMNuDobBc5Xv7tyo_4tldQcpzDYiZJV5pSLVSzlw5XLe98a510cy6QQ0E4x2qt28JxatJoFnwQ_7LxwDYogIGp6KvfAfNR6J5XOr/s320/IMG_1728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361862861385459634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now here was a funny event. Not only are both of us pretty horrible at miniature golf, but a storm had come through the night before and totally soaked the course. We couldn't even play one hole because it was under water completely. And yes, Stuart beat the pants off of me. But I looked better golfing! Ha!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p4MmtL5Woe3GZOVZ1agyaDvUsFNVGx71t7JvagZFTGKkY_Rs5j3615Wa4ULYZVl4r54Fa8yymqmIVjgU0BVn3FuwYBj7Tbt5jxpNVqyTidIxstUVVLrpMXQerNMFcYoZcPcyIZRJEnk-/s1600-h/IMG_1729.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p4MmtL5Woe3GZOVZ1agyaDvUsFNVGx71t7JvagZFTGKkY_Rs5j3615Wa4ULYZVl4r54Fa8yymqmIVjgU0BVn3FuwYBj7Tbt5jxpNVqyTidIxstUVVLrpMXQerNMFcYoZcPcyIZRJEnk-/s320/IMG_1729.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361862473249326978" border="0" /></a>July 19th! Our anniversary day on the beach! It was so nice out, not too hot, borderline chilly actually. We got up early, went to IHOP for breakfast, and drove to the beach with snacks, books, cards, and sunblock (but apparently not enough). Stuart buried my feet in the sand, and I collected lots of shells for a shadow box I'm making. We also played in the ocean together, Stuart bodysurfed, I watched and laughed, threw sand at him, ran from him when he tried to rub sand all over my back, and attempted to push him into huge breaking waves ( I know, my sense of humor is sick). Stuart later said that he let me push him...hmmmm....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS7zS45BSvvhaMahUD6piRyO_zbFjgiT1NZ0T_dIx_YVwdRkVcFDcYUzWZapuW5ZHpdhyphenhypheniDBBJZBzQhyphenhyphenq6zlWUgUs0K0VNRt1FhKaBId7qwRR-G-kBUc6f6EfMbOUJW7Z4fNmXdsH2V9R/s1600-h/IMG_1739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS7zS45BSvvhaMahUD6piRyO_zbFjgiT1NZ0T_dIx_YVwdRkVcFDcYUzWZapuW5ZHpdhyphenhypheniDBBJZBzQhyphenhyphenq6zlWUgUs0K0VNRt1FhKaBId7qwRR-G-kBUc6f6EfMbOUJW7Z4fNmXdsH2V9R/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361861980601714418" border="0" /></a>Stuart. Pre-sunburn. A happy and carefree man....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDbFsiEzik5e1NnVjeKslNUVRQcAhbkx7dV27IBW19YgL_YPLzE8ap_2bsqLspaE_Y1LmftxPEnu9cWjp4pxlxgA8M_EZwNATki9Kk5kypaNcxM7HnCnFnJ7HRuD3xo_Hstcy7-nTIoOa/s1600-h/IMG_1737.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDbFsiEzik5e1NnVjeKslNUVRQcAhbkx7dV27IBW19YgL_YPLzE8ap_2bsqLspaE_Y1LmftxPEnu9cWjp4pxlxgA8M_EZwNATki9Kk5kypaNcxM7HnCnFnJ7HRuD3xo_Hstcy7-nTIoOa/s320/IMG_1737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361861664557146786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Were you expecting a post sunburn picture? I don't have one. Sorry. But I do have a picture of us back from the beach, all cleaned up and ready to go out to eat at The Harvey Mansion. We ate filet mignons and they were <span style="font-style: italic;">delicious</span>. The waitress wished us a Happy 1st Anniversary! It was fun. Note: You can't see Stuart's sunburn because of his shirt. But his smile looks like a slight grimace of pain to me, don't you think? And just so you guys don't think I'm heartless and didn't look after the Baker, let me just say I asked...nay...pleaded with him to put on sunblock. Several times. But he would have none of it. I hate to say I told you so....no I don't....I <span style="font-style: italic;">told</span> you so!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6IFZ9hKPYBSc1TBTkAKxjSbPQfIurl05rSsUdzUM9bXU9uZM7k6btreADxjmKMSazxorpoVugP67T9oFAD_rHN2TOeeUyydKuiEURfKnUZkenxuoK4bHSGXadFR8szYV3G9Js5f_eOrd/s1600-h/IMG_1751.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6IFZ9hKPYBSc1TBTkAKxjSbPQfIurl05rSsUdzUM9bXU9uZM7k6btreADxjmKMSazxorpoVugP67T9oFAD_rHN2TOeeUyydKuiEURfKnUZkenxuoK4bHSGXadFR8szYV3G9Js5f_eOrd/s320/IMG_1751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361861302438558674" border="0" /></a>Me having a moment. Stuart says I look better this way and I quite agree. I think it adds a certain something to my countenance. I look more intimidating. Or perhaps....psychotic? Anyway, would you approach someone with this face? I didn't think so.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4ayTz3_yDfntcZV1z4rdeMyohTO8LMVATaxvBvLVDCsbdNTbvhh01V3Df4ExSsXiNUKiXMzpnE1AQZ4pjLiYcK6gUUvtJ1zWtT4uYswqgju8B2WQkyH5-WEx9pq3tb8GY2lhcZBivS3c/s1600-h/IMG_1752.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4ayTz3_yDfntcZV1z4rdeMyohTO8LMVATaxvBvLVDCsbdNTbvhh01V3Df4ExSsXiNUKiXMzpnE1AQZ4pjLiYcK6gUUvtJ1zWtT4uYswqgju8B2WQkyH5-WEx9pq3tb8GY2lhcZBivS3c/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361860813892097410" border="0" /></a>The stately Harvey Mansion and restaurant. Located near the water for your viewing pleasure.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSCNO9UXurab5CIRAFiY7wbFQJ9W7qIzR5liyhBWaHJ9aevaFu_gdVcyVx0LTThAtI7RLMLshqqUper8_ZL5WUs4KYgSFQneUeUyx3NATJ_K2Cu926FEsYNP8BFY2zGcUqv8e6vbj7G9x/s1600-h/IMG_1756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSCNO9UXurab5CIRAFiY7wbFQJ9W7qIzR5liyhBWaHJ9aevaFu_gdVcyVx0LTThAtI7RLMLshqqUper8_ZL5WUs4KYgSFQneUeUyx3NATJ_K2Cu926FEsYNP8BFY2zGcUqv8e6vbj7G9x/s320/IMG_1756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361860374650720978" border="0" /></a>And last but not least, Studebaker cranking up the grill for some steak eatin'. One night we also bought wings and other appetizers from Hurricane's just up the street. We popped popcorn, drank Coke, and cuddled through Spiderman 3.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsNszjXs7B6GH0nlU_7qplm7upYlvcuQVBSBNaZCAKuzXUm096qrFLuK2TU1trRTSqun5pWSGvIfjBMUhC-2b4EzX7l3PgKelBhJknW416cKBeDuAERG6XE2TXThf7ee7-tfqH_s2guZi/s1600-h/IMG_1708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsNszjXs7B6GH0nlU_7qplm7upYlvcuQVBSBNaZCAKuzXUm096qrFLuK2TU1trRTSqun5pWSGvIfjBMUhC-2b4EzX7l3PgKelBhJknW416cKBeDuAERG6XE2TXThf7ee7-tfqH_s2guZi/s320/IMG_1708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361860013668894194" border="0" /></a><br />So now you know several things, one being that I am not responsible for Stuart's sunburned state, and another being that I love to spend money on large quantities of books. But the most important thing you know is that Stuart and I had our first wonderful anniversary together and are now, even as I type this, beginning to live the second. And that is the best anniversary present of all.<br /><br />Embarking on Number Two,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-62212230266718035552009-07-19T17:30:00.000-04:002009-07-19T23:54:06.870-04:00Congratulations to Us!Stuart and I have officially made it to the one year mark as of today!<br /><br />We're currently in New Bern, North Carolina living it up and celebrating our 1st completed year of married bliss. I'll probably blog more on the details of our excursion later, but I couldn't resist posting <span style="font-style: italic;">something</span> on our actual anniversary date. I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday...really.<br /><br />Stuart was sooooo handsome in his tux...*sighs*<br /><br />Here's a picture we took a couple of weeks ago when July finally rolled around. We decided to take a picture showing our big 12 month mark. We were so excited that our special month had finally arrived! July will forever hold an important place in our hearts!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmXpNaAqTekDiDlfzBxw6QfqHo1Pw29-VH90gpSut23IaPX7iV7DQtg2EKZzN6b25GS8RqEuE3K72XmQ1M9oUgtrBC2FjQB6WXR_PEKO518s2C42RTf_nzlaLrfNj-_dONCsb8nk-KnZ4/s1600-h/New+House+09+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmXpNaAqTekDiDlfzBxw6QfqHo1Pw29-VH90gpSut23IaPX7iV7DQtg2EKZzN6b25GS8RqEuE3K72XmQ1M9oUgtrBC2FjQB6WXR_PEKO518s2C42RTf_nzlaLrfNj-_dONCsb8nk-KnZ4/s320/New+House+09+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358820380420981714" border="0" /></a><br />And just to remember good times, here's a picture of us on our honeymoon on Prince Edward Island a year ago, which was too perfect for words... sea canoeing anyone?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RR7aBkTxjkDmCRyZvdywybq6cYjN6R2zYTKwt7bFR1IiP2mXZKRSp3Ak-6DrxAirL2SrPm9_XrKKTU5dLSkaB16p6FoMiBn4OWKy_0gm0EGxHeW0LslQ191SjNMt0fmukrlAUcZgJuqr/s1600-h/IMG_0334.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RR7aBkTxjkDmCRyZvdywybq6cYjN6R2zYTKwt7bFR1IiP2mXZKRSp3Ak-6DrxAirL2SrPm9_XrKKTU5dLSkaB16p6FoMiBn4OWKy_0gm0EGxHeW0LslQ191SjNMt0fmukrlAUcZgJuqr/s320/IMG_0334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360382701094233090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's to year two and many more memories!<br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-30328992836855320022009-07-06T21:23:00.013-04:002009-07-06T21:54:12.917-04:00The 4th in PicturesHi Everyone!<br /><br />We hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July. Stuart and I spent the majority of the day at the Graydon's. Here are a few pictures of the event. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br />Here's Mom Graydon enjoying some delicious roasted corn outside in the courtyard...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuoyJTelrKDWWlwN95JOQx40BvS7f0Tc9CFd5p6vst9FKMP26YPURn6lnI77YtewxgTEVP9JZkWOXqSLn4jA02rkB60k2TM4QxLGMYoQngMh8JYR2i_yNsV9Z37Wlvt6itZqqDRNOQlsm/s1600-h/4th+of+july+09+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuoyJTelrKDWWlwN95JOQx40BvS7f0Tc9CFd5p6vst9FKMP26YPURn6lnI77YtewxgTEVP9JZkWOXqSLn4jA02rkB60k2TM4QxLGMYoQngMh8JYR2i_yNsV9Z37Wlvt6itZqqDRNOQlsm/s320/4th+of+july+09+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355528102054270754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Joe and Crystal (one of my 5 sis-in-laws) enjoying 4th of July festivities.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T6DSC746kz8z5ZmcCmo3ixq2j42pvmvcuEXLr3hZOvxsDa1EUiy1JSg7YLMh6FxgS2YVyAnF328yeo0IjcxDxJPXxsee5cLqSlY-MiJVbbMWXfASPFrYiiCYekGRMXKEX651wrU3kgJc/s1600-h/4th+july+09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9T6DSC746kz8z5ZmcCmo3ixq2j42pvmvcuEXLr3hZOvxsDa1EUiy1JSg7YLMh6FxgS2YVyAnF328yeo0IjcxDxJPXxsee5cLqSlY-MiJVbbMWXfASPFrYiiCYekGRMXKEX651wrU3kgJc/s320/4th+july+09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355524583277738050" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, these are the same people shown above...just with funnier faces!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgGIyUfYt8BVv6kyLVAraEm_LEuGEuAPJRjWMVql0LZDHwQSqobbcHlmjR4wMV-QzS9V61GHh19gwxu5e3lSg7Xt6MZRgdoIVMZCHtPRFfOGpC02YkRErB9zECtlGdt-zIcAhf16p7rYa/s1600-h/crystaljoe4thjuly09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgGIyUfYt8BVv6kyLVAraEm_LEuGEuAPJRjWMVql0LZDHwQSqobbcHlmjR4wMV-QzS9V61GHh19gwxu5e3lSg7Xt6MZRgdoIVMZCHtPRFfOGpC02YkRErB9zECtlGdt-zIcAhf16p7rYa/s320/crystaljoe4thjuly09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355525159408509042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Mary (another sister-in-law) enjoying some "auntie time" with new family addition, Michael Stuart Robinson. Our first nephew (but not for long, Dana's expecting a boy in November, yay!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYWaZyavXHVxJSzvf5VmmymnLzqXehHxeP_aYxoL3O5mZCu_QIxEmXdqcCtZSAJhvbilssry9AxlkKEtTwxiPqLeAyWlceRxMxFBjI9Hbs23EKHb3jqZPNNUhGlaOeqJnMP6eLn7O8UYU/s1600-h/marywithmichael.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYWaZyavXHVxJSzvf5VmmymnLzqXehHxeP_aYxoL3O5mZCu_QIxEmXdqcCtZSAJhvbilssry9AxlkKEtTwxiPqLeAyWlceRxMxFBjI9Hbs23EKHb3jqZPNNUhGlaOeqJnMP6eLn7O8UYU/s320/marywithmichael.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355525667590549730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mary and Crystal with Michael. They just <span style="font-style: italic;">look</span> sweet....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjoru13gjUoYCxfSqhD_w0qxdYgOcTu4AHMA6UcT9Dlp7QDYQyjyhBiTW2652lOopzCYtwxz8nUgk6dQeIJJDcbOa63UELPWCTYFHEiIGaO0-CeIbLrli4BZGWGzsSaijEse1EWZ79q85/s1600-h/sistersjuly4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjoru13gjUoYCxfSqhD_w0qxdYgOcTu4AHMA6UcT9Dlp7QDYQyjyhBiTW2652lOopzCYtwxz8nUgk6dQeIJJDcbOa63UELPWCTYFHEiIGaO0-CeIbLrli4BZGWGzsSaijEse1EWZ79q85/s320/sistersjuly4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355526380127179954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The proud new parents! Seth and Karen Robinson (yet another sister-in-law)!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wOl8KHtxX0n2S49TzWwfQT4cu0u3reQ85o-3Ir3XeqbJ6Bz_hOSLWya3ghhXZRysMjT5beCExLcIjwjcdDnsgmejyKmqbf5iiW5Ui6QM9B32iAY1TT_JpwSEEdEBKebEz1jJx5QWF0ze/s1600-h/sethkaren09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wOl8KHtxX0n2S49TzWwfQT4cu0u3reQ85o-3Ir3XeqbJ6Bz_hOSLWya3ghhXZRysMjT5beCExLcIjwjcdDnsgmejyKmqbf5iiW5Ui6QM9B32iAY1TT_JpwSEEdEBKebEz1jJx5QWF0ze/s320/sethkaren09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355527169432113282" border="0" /></a><br />So in all honesty, I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do at these kind of things. By the time we made it to my parent's house later on in the day, I was too tired to take any pictures at all! So I'm glad we at least have these. One sad thing: I didn't get to see any fireworks this year! We had planned to make it back here in time to catch fireworks at our new house, but the visit with my family took a little longer than anticipated. O'well! There's always next year!<br /><br />Here's to long summer days!<br /><br /><br />Love,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-39776967620255695342009-06-29T10:16:00.003-04:002009-06-29T10:31:18.781-04:00Quick Update #4Happy Monday!<br /><br />Well, Harrison is finishing up a week long visit with us and is going home today (<span style="font-weight: bold;">big</span> tears of sadness). We've had fun watching movies, hiking, etc. I really don't want him to go, but I know a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.<br /><br />I did suggest he live with us however....<br /><br />Over the weekend we had another fiasco with the house. Our toilet beside the kitchen <span style="font-style: italic;">overflowed </span>one night after Harrison took a shower. Obviously we have a blockage somewhere. There was ummmm....errr.....excrement.... everywhere! All over the bathroom obviously, but it seeped into the kitchen, under the refrigerator, and into the pantry. It was putrid to say the very least. I had to go outside a couple of times while we were cleaning it up because I was so nauseous.<br /><br />This was at 2am (we had stayed up late talking and watching a movie). Stuart called the emergency plumbing number to no avail. The toilet kept rising at the slightest hint of water. So once again, no toilets, no washing hands, definitely no showers, dishwasher, or clothes washer either. We waited and waited.....finally at 4am we gave up and went to bed, but not after scrubbing down the kitchen multiple times as well as ourselves (in the tub without draining the water, it was not fun). Nobody came until yesterday afternoon sometime....apparently its fixed now, but.....I'm not putting anything in the pantry for awhile just in case!<br /><br />The other big news around here is that there's a bear in our midst! A real live one right here in our neighborhood! Stuart got an email this morning warning everyone to keep their children inside. Its torn up some bird feeders and made a couple appearances on people's lawns.<br /><br />Well, that's about it for right now besides I've been searching for a job like crazy. Pray that I find one!<br /><br />Until Next Time,<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-68016387054189119372009-06-14T09:30:00.000-04:002009-06-14T15:44:54.024-04:005 More Minutes, Mom!By now I should know that Robert Louis Stevenson has a sixth sense when it comes to children. I saw this poem by Stevenson a little while ago, and I must say it took me back to being a small child in an instant! He always does. Rarely do you run across a person who remembers <span style="font-style: italic;">so perfectly</span> the feelings and questions of childhood. <span style="font-style: italic;">Every</span> summer as a little girl, after an evening filled with relay races with my siblings and lightning bug chasing, I was called in to go to sleep...too early.<br /><br />Always, always,<span style="font-style: italic;"> always </span>too early!<br /><br />Perhaps some of you can relate....<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Bed in Summer</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" >In winter I get up at night</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > And dress by yellow candle-light.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > In summer quite the other way,</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > I have to go to bed by day.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > I have to go to bed and see</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > The birds still hopping on the tree,</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > Or hear the grown-up people's feet</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > Still going past me in the street.</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > </span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > And does it not seem hard to you,</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > When all the sky is clear and blue,</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > And I should like so much to play,</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" > To have to go to bed by day?</span><br /></div><br /><br />Happy Sunday, everyone! Hope this made you smile a little!<br /><br /><br />Big Kids Now,<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-86361112775827644572009-06-12T16:30:00.003-04:002009-06-12T22:45:34.116-04:00Incompetence: A True StorySome of you weren't praying hard enough.....<br /><br />Haha! No I'm just kidding.<br /><br />But! We did have a hiccup on our house closing today. We were almost there........<br /><br />*Sighs*<br /><br />We were supposed to close this Monday the 15th, but apparently<span style="font-style: italic;"> somebody </span>at the mortgage company dropped the ball.<br /><br />Basically, the appraisal company performed the appraisal last week but "forgot" to send it to the mortgage company (Incompetent person #1) until later this week....so late in fact, that it is now too late to close on Monday.<br /><br />And how did this come to our attention, you ask?<br /><br />Our Realtor called Stuart and said the closing company needed our homeowner's insurance documentation.<br /><br />Stuart responded (shocked and dismayed voice), "Ummm, I handled that weeks ago! They should have had it long before now."<br /><br />So, Stuart called Geico to get the scoop. The Gecko himself told Stuart that they needed a mortgagee clause from the lender, which they had not received though they had attempted to get it numerous times.<br /><br />Guy at mortage company = Incompetent person #2<br /><br />The gist?<br /><br />We're not closing until Friday the 19th....<br /><br />All things considered, it could have been worse. We still get to move in on Saturday like we planned, but just" forgetting" to do your job... really?<br /><br />Really?<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Really?</span><br /><br /><br />I just needed to vent. Stuart vented to me and now I pass on the joy to all of you. And we both think this entitles us to "forget" to pay the mortgage company at least once. Teehee!<br /><br />Honestly though, we've been really blessed through this whole closing process. This is really the first thing we've come up against so we don't really feel like we should rip anyone's head off...yet.<br /><br />For those of you who have trouble getting my humor, that last comment was a joke.<br /><br /><br />Have a great night!<br /><br /><br />Feeling better already,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791243171523540864.post-89224761881704846402009-05-13T15:09:00.018-04:002009-05-14T12:56:38.270-04:00Milestones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WkKBlEc6vymXEWgRDEiYksymOFHEQVXVhkXwRZFHc1Ip3oey6PwfInMYySR1xv8RG7OyoaQwN-m9va0S16tY4Tclsc_VnvNutiQ3FPdT6tLVDupVWhFNrlOTcvRC5w5lXs64IrktR2zd/s1600-h/IMG_1604.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WkKBlEc6vymXEWgRDEiYksymOFHEQVXVhkXwRZFHc1Ip3oey6PwfInMYySR1xv8RG7OyoaQwN-m9va0S16tY4Tclsc_VnvNutiQ3FPdT6tLVDupVWhFNrlOTcvRC5w5lXs64IrktR2zd/s320/IMG_1604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335406190297545346" border="0" /></a><br />Happy May!<br /><br />Wow, so this is my <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> May post! Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. Everything has been pretty busy around here. But! Today I bring you stories and many pictures of our recent adventures!<br /><br />So! The question you are all dying to know.<br /><br />What<span style="font-style: italic;"> have</span> Stuart and Haley been up to lately? Hmmmm?<br /><br />Everything you can imagine my friends.<br /><br />Mother's Day, birthdays, graduations, house hunting, car repairs, bridesmaid dress fittings, frustrating (might I add fruitless as well?) job hunts, etc.<br /><br />But! We'll hit the highlights!<br /><br />Saturday, May 9th, I officially graduated from Liberty University with my BA in the field of English. Granted, I've been graduated since December '08, and have even received my official diploma of awesomeness in the mail. But this was the real deal! The atrocious cap, the gown, the heinous meshing of over 20,000 people onto one football field...<br /><br />You get the big, crowded picture.<br /><br />But one thing I didn't expect! I was on TV! Yes, Channel 13 actually interviewed <span style="font-style: italic;">moi </span>out of 6,300 graduates! I mean, I knew I'd be famous after I graduated, but I didn't realize it would all start literally minutes after the ceremony! Ha!<br /><br />No, in all seriousness I looked ridiculous! I was hot, sweaty, and really flustered by the camera being pushed in my face. I got out some really profound words...<br /><br />"It was wonderful. I really enjoyed it."<br /><br />Wow, Haley. Your 15 minutes of fame and you kind of blew it...hmmm.....<br /><br />Still! If you want to watch it, here's the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0509/621280.html">http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0509/621280.html</a><br /><br />Just hit the "Click here to watch" button and I think it will show a few commercials first, but then you<span style="font-style: italic;"> should</span> be in business! If it doesn't work, sorry! I don't know how long they keep those news stories posted!<br /><br />And I really just want to take half a second and give Stuart a blog hug. He was my <span style="font-style: italic;">biggest</span> fan on my big day. He drove me to LU (we had to get up at 5am for the drive), got sunburned from sitting in the heat for so long, took pictures, and just kept telling me the whole day how proud he was of me. He also has a special "graduation day present" plan that he has been keeping top secret. When I find out what it is, you all will certainly read about it!<br /><br />Not that I'm not going to snoop about a bit (wow, say <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> 5 times fast) to see what this is all about.<br /><br />Because I am.<br /><br />Stuart, consider yourself warned.<br /><br />Here are pictures!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Eg5YFtihiZFyyhCL9HCP97OheYPfj6ZduQYcxn5cKutdW6ba80mZISwJ_1NpqK484SaPXzUgeilsoYxVfhMUbuBM1iNwS6GCk12Kbo27tiuHVMNcGPGD0_2B_XXzUCT2AM9WxfLKiabF/s1600-h/IMG_1548.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Eg5YFtihiZFyyhCL9HCP97OheYPfj6ZduQYcxn5cKutdW6ba80mZISwJ_1NpqK484SaPXzUgeilsoYxVfhMUbuBM1iNwS6GCk12Kbo27tiuHVMNcGPGD0_2B_XXzUCT2AM9WxfLKiabF/s320/IMG_1548.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335397814208826034" border="0" /></a>Here's me and my main man/fan/hero/friend/lover/soul mate/insane activities partner/ and co-founder of the newest Graydon family branch. It was 7:30 am on Liberty Mountain!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ccpHqPnfR52Ys3hUGrsU_mywPInDm6K6vrW65pN2ZoZo7T7KCBqz4FYFQI8nnwLdEVSWF_U8YzM7MIPTTh5yQn9miMK0AUNXqCYlQEhTK2u9F5KXK6wp9-fEsvrtiW4Ps4nQOZ4bLlAS/s1600-h/IMG_1547.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ccpHqPnfR52Ys3hUGrsU_mywPInDm6K6vrW65pN2ZoZo7T7KCBqz4FYFQI8nnwLdEVSWF_U8YzM7MIPTTh5yQn9miMK0AUNXqCYlQEhTK2u9F5KXK6wp9-fEsvrtiW4Ps4nQOZ4bLlAS/s320/IMG_1547.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335397089708658626" border="0" /></a> Me pre-graduation hat hair.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb-b3AbZImCjhvSJ61FTbRyGLTji1i598qLhDWC65YXfFwFodZzrvZo4SPPuGJRV4-kYuysjHxFZW98N2WAkqKDorjnvwn8k_AyAfxO9qJQO12Kmn5FdEPl6lh5jHPLj8Zsw7fN9GV3p7/s1600-h/IMG_1585.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb-b3AbZImCjhvSJ61FTbRyGLTji1i598qLhDWC65YXfFwFodZzrvZo4SPPuGJRV4-kYuysjHxFZW98N2WAkqKDorjnvwn8k_AyAfxO9qJQO12Kmn5FdEPl6lh5jHPLj8Zsw7fN9GV3p7/s320/IMG_1585.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335399737357389618" border="0" /></a>Our commencement speaker, Ben Stein. The Ferris Bueller/Visine Commercial/Expelled Documentary /Win Ben Stein's Money Show - Guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPhrP9UPYMvWbQWQaYLRe-hOv7JZOk9ESONI9tvhHGC_nvWIt_IUgIy0hwD01y37ll_qQZ8nV1ZrIoUCN1rPX-xIc_9CDw2OFKM5F5bfvfpKoRKsIVnlRBodB3YRuUkXEae0H-hqojAIV/s1600-h/IMG_1597.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPhrP9UPYMvWbQWQaYLRe-hOv7JZOk9ESONI9tvhHGC_nvWIt_IUgIy0hwD01y37ll_qQZ8nV1ZrIoUCN1rPX-xIc_9CDw2OFKM5F5bfvfpKoRKsIVnlRBodB3YRuUkXEae0H-hqojAIV/s320/IMG_1597.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335401089616277122" border="0" /></a>Me-lissa and Haley! She's getting married May 30th! Waaaaahhhhh! And I'm a bridesmaid! Double waaaaahhhhhhh!<br /><br />That night we all celebrated with dinner at Miyako's, a local Japanese restuarant. We were not <span style="font-style: italic;">about</span> to try and eat in Lynchburg...I mean I'm a big fan of 3 hour waits and everything, it's just that my family<span style="font-style: italic;"> isn't</span>...I know.Weird.<br /><br />The other big event around here was Mother's Day, which was the very next day after my graduation! I gave my mom roses and a card, and she went to a Mother's Day parade Hargrave Military Academy was throwing for all the cool moms (my younger brother goes to school there, therefore she is a cool mom).<br /><br />But! The <span style="font-style: italic;">big</span> Mother's Day event this year was at the Graydon's. They decided to do it up big this year, and throw Mom Graydon an outdoor tea party. And since yours truly is a daughter-in-law (the first one in the Graydon family, might I add) my help was recruited.<br /><br />My task? Flowers and kitchen helper.<br /><br />I actually prefer the titles "Floral Design Specialist" and "Culinary Advisory Assistant." I'm thinking about putting these on my resume as I'm job hunting.....Hey, I would hire me.<br /><br />But I digress.<br /><br />The event was lovely and the weather was cool, but nice.<br /><br />There was a diverse menu (including but not limited to):<br /><br />Petits Fours (heart-shaped)<br />Chicken Salad Croissants<br />Raspberry Tarts<br />Pumpkin scones<br />Pasta Salad<br />Fruit Salad<br />Strawberry Shortcakes<br />Spinach & Cheese Tarts<br /><br />Various Types of Teas<br /><br />And a background music selection of Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin.<br /><br />Mom Graydon was of course, delighted by it all. The children took turns sharing "mom" memories that were special to them, and presented her with a scrapbook. She said it was the best Mother's Day to date!<br /><br />Some pictures of the memorable evening...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzg3nrRzdxkqr158evB01nDfspTNX8NqqWjoSx4nBh8yCFLXtD6MpJW2KuHmuHbQEz3EV2cjfIZjt9zDOqRVjAnAPDbEGVivg8y1ivLkh6rtBRFAXQPYs9HbVgbzffa4zc6K3STlZaUKu/s1600-h/IMG_1601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzg3nrRzdxkqr158evB01nDfspTNX8NqqWjoSx4nBh8yCFLXtD6MpJW2KuHmuHbQEz3EV2cjfIZjt9zDOqRVjAnAPDbEGVivg8y1ivLkh6rtBRFAXQPYs9HbVgbzffa4zc6K3STlZaUKu/s320/IMG_1601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335404213519099282" border="0" /></a>The l-o-n-g table. My flower arrangement is in the middle (the photo at the top is the closeup shot of the arrangement). I scattered flower petals up and down to fill in the "white space" and I *think* Karen set up the candles and mirrors. But...I could be wrong about that.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ1zJZSulI01hQRv8kSGWZDwUa3WFpr2no-IUJZftm7lRF2hv3gEj-WM4QxY5hqWeblKu2rtQknVOWvEzdIECT0BNAAY0bne9DsByJxX-H33P7o8d-pdWaRwjJp4gUEP801J0R4vTLPPo/s1600-h/IMG_1600.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJ1zJZSulI01hQRv8kSGWZDwUa3WFpr2no-IUJZftm7lRF2hv3gEj-WM4QxY5hqWeblKu2rtQknVOWvEzdIECT0BNAAY0bne9DsByJxX-H33P7o8d-pdWaRwjJp4gUEP801J0R4vTLPPo/s320/IMG_1600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335402182863823474" border="0" /></a>The special Mother's Day bouquet I made for Mom Graydon. I wanted her to have something marking her place as the guest of honor. The bouquet consists of tulips and one enormous peony (compliments of my own mama's garden. She grows <span style="font-style: italic;">beautiful</span> flowers!).<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-3FRAXaUfepJM8Py58EiYGYhKyWQ6itGC0LGSEGQugie4jr3TjIJ5xK3Mi82HPMiT1VBSqYXhPMpaQaw3VELamNPbOdXhLGrOaWdYyM5rf0VvAdcVYzJ2MtMH5T_gPDi2g8-ZBgNty6/s1600-h/IMG_1608.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4B-3FRAXaUfepJM8Py58EiYGYhKyWQ6itGC0LGSEGQugie4jr3TjIJ5xK3Mi82HPMiT1VBSqYXhPMpaQaw3VELamNPbOdXhLGrOaWdYyM5rf0VvAdcVYzJ2MtMH5T_gPDi2g8-ZBgNty6/s320/IMG_1608.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335406730123936882" border="0" /></a>The food...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5sh3OUYRCFj6tmrJ9BrxOKgmfz0S8eo47cJzNQ6XlTZI_kvBDHN9x5Q0X5lcFp01eSWSzBOvnpQjFk0kjMsqQN0GvbhQ2ShLZHBc1oC9x2S7tUofH4-TyDh7kF9Rqg9okyMcn4nGd7vI/s1600-h/IMG_1609.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5sh3OUYRCFj6tmrJ9BrxOKgmfz0S8eo47cJzNQ6XlTZI_kvBDHN9x5Q0X5lcFp01eSWSzBOvnpQjFk0kjMsqQN0GvbhQ2ShLZHBc1oC9x2S7tUofH4-TyDh7kF9Rqg9okyMcn4nGd7vI/s320/IMG_1609.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335407619473510450" border="0" /></a>More food...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dMK3KB8iWXzCG-QpI3vme5V_jxZ_Ik2NGkMXtJGqrrPRvHw-mii9Cqiz4SerZg8c-LPlzam3Vw45YvIlaRLx6rocleVM6Qa5DK6zjANl-Kd9cJMtOHkFdAWD8CSwuNNUGzmA4WeEUrXf/s1600-h/IMG_1607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dMK3KB8iWXzCG-QpI3vme5V_jxZ_Ik2NGkMXtJGqrrPRvHw-mii9Cqiz4SerZg8c-LPlzam3Vw45YvIlaRLx6rocleVM6Qa5DK6zjANl-Kd9cJMtOHkFdAWD8CSwuNNUGzmA4WeEUrXf/s320/IMG_1607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335408545609144674" border="0" /></a>Another highlight of the evening was Stuart and me finally getting to meet Elyana! She slept most of the evening, but she was precious even sleeping!<br /><br />So, there's our weekend! I hope you enjoyed the pictures and please leave a comment!<br /><br />Coming soon to a blog near you:<br /><br />Harrison's Hargrave Commencement<br />Haley Finds Out What her Graduation Present Is<span style="font-style: italic;"> or</span> Stuart Gives Haley her Graduation Present (whichever comes first!)<br /><br />Hoping Life is Good,<br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img style="border: 0pt none ; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54487/56/2CAA15240F22DE8DD071CCCC9230A991.png" /></a><br /><br /><br /></p>Haleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14478385530320906672noreply@blogger.com2