she's gonna hate me...

tonight, i was singing nora a song for bed. she passed gas, and said, totally straight faced, no joking, serious, "mommy, my pull-up is singing, too". i laughed. and laughed. and am laughing again just thinking about it! she's gonna hate me someday.

i have two sewing projects going... i can't wait to show them off!! one of them is shorts. i tried shorts earlier this summer, and they were a MISERABLE. ATTEMPT... i was so depressed about them. (although they way they turned out also gave me a great laugh!!) so, tonight, i mastered shorts. it could be the $0.33 pattern i found at this quaint little sewing shop on the island and the 80 year old man who sold it to me, with pieces missing and all! but, i was ecstatic! i asked david if he understood (now, mind you, he is always praising my sewing and excited about whatever project i am working on). he said no. i tried another tactic... "say you have been playing a video game and there is this level that keeps demolishing you. you just can't beat it, no matter how you try. then, you finally beat it. that's how i feel!" the light went on and he got really excited!! (this conversation while the latest episode of "the big bang theory" was on pause on the dvr... )

fun times in the haile household!

fabric and fairies...

my organized fabric!!!

the laundry fairy came to visit... she was even washing previously clean clothes and stuff that was folded or socks in pairs... she loves to wash clean clothes for fun!! just kidding... but, it feels good to have all the laundry sorted and folded. now, if only that fairy would put it away!!

my attempt...

don't worry, that's not nora!!

but, james enjoys tackling the life-sized doll!

so sad... saying goodbye. saying goodbye is big in my family. they stand and wave. and wave. and wave. and if you forget to wave back, woe to you! i love it. and hate leaving...

a shirt i made for my favorite chi-o....

sleepy boy in the car!

my attempt at the best brussel sprouts i have ever had. three versions to accommodate all the dietary concerns...

saying "cheese"... at the swansons' house. he looked so big and was so proud of himself in the high stool!

today was jamey's first swimming lesson! we had so much fun. we had fun mostly just being together and doing something, just us. he did a great job, until they gave him a rubber ducky to play with, then took it away after a few minutes to move onto the next activity. then, he was sad and only wanted the ducky. in fact, if you ask about swimming lessons, he will say "ducky". but, fun!!

nora went back to school, and couldn't have been happier. and, auntie sarah and "jammie" are here for a visit! so much fun...

a late start...

unbeknownst to either of them, they wore almost the same thing! and looked good doing it! (it was the only dressy outfit either had brought home..)

celebrating new year's eve!

loving my brother...

then, we drove to westport and got to visit with great grandpa and the swansons!!

nora had a tea party using great grandma's china..

cheese!

nora told me it was the "best tea party ever". thanks auntie rebecky for letting us stay!

did i show you the newest addition to my sewing room? a sweet letter from some friends!

a new year... 2011. wow! i am working on some resolutions.

1. no more soda... at least not on a regular basis

2. blog more (i started last year with every day.. that's my goal again!)

3. daily time with God... i was better last year than previous, so here's to making this year better, too!

4. lose 10 pounds

5. make sewing profitable... or at least break even! i am working on starting my own little business with the stuff i make. check out www.pinkhydrangea.blogspot.com. it's my start!

that's where i'll start... i am sure i will add more!

whirly ball...

the ref looked at me and said "you're going to bring a $900 camera in here?" he was incredulous. but, the camera survived!!!

fun times!! a true action shot!

whirly ball... thanks dad, for a wonderful christmas eve game! it was SO MUCH FUN!! so many memories there... surprise 16th birthday to start!!

decorating the gingerbread man...

if you can't beat em, join em! david was sick and just wanted to watch the browns game... so the boys joined him!!!

multi-colored carrots... who knew??

family photo...

all the girls in scarfs that aunt cindy made!!

trying to take a family pic... and the camera moved... at least the boys got to be in it!

family pic... my awkward position due to trying to run and get in the pic in time, and not sure where to sit, or if it was going to work... oh well!!!

this is it for 2010... a year of huge change for me. a year of beginnings and endings... and "see ya laters". i have so much to write about for 2011... i can't wait to get started. but, let's review this year....

i started out the year running a half marathon. in less time than i thought i could. i trained for and ran 13.1 miles. i am 50 pounds lighter than i started the year at. i am back to college weight. that is HUGE for me! i have tried so hard and so many ways to accomplish that. i won't lie... it feels good.

i moved my entire life away from my home of seven years, back to the home of my birth (or at least jr high/high school) and spent three months living with my parents again. then, moved again to rhode island. and started over. nora started school. i made new friends (and am trying to keep the old!).

my baby had a second surgery. sad, but we should be good!! both of my babies are so grown up. i saw God working in so many ways and doing so many things. there were trials- my own, and ones that i prayed friends through. laughter, tears. visits, vacations, memories.

we went around the table last night and did highs and lows for the year. i couldn't decide on one thing. it was so fun to be with my fam for three months this summer. but so sad to be away from the love of my life. it has been so fun to watch nora in school, but so sad to have jamey's surgery. deep creek was SO MUCH fun. marco was SO MUCH fun. (i lied... my highest high was my 30th surprise party... for my 29th birthday...)

what a year. something i read recently and love is that "God doesn't give explanations, He gives promises". and, He promises that He will "prosper you and not harm you". how awesome is that? like someone so dear always said, we see in such a finite window, but God sees all of eternity. who am i to say that something is "so bad", when God knows the outcome, and works all things together for His glory....? may He be glorified in me, and my i continue to find His glory in all of my circumstances...

jamey...

what a stinking big boy!!! he wanted to sit up in the big chair for breakfast, so i let him. he was so proud of himself... and his new haircut makes him look SO OLD!!

every time i go to get his hair cut (okay, the two times), i think, "i'll leave it long... just get a trim". then, i get in there and let them cut it all off (my fault, not theirs). and i love it, but mourn his hair cut. he just looks so much older!

what a whirlwind week.... we've had so much fun, and the flu has seemed to stop in this house (maybe because we passed it on... SORRY cousins!). so much fun had, so much family time. more pics coming soon, i promise!!

happy birthday to a dear, dear sister. thanks for loving my kids so amazingly much. i love you!!! so glad you were born. and to another friend in surgery... i am praying!

Happy birthday...