From my camera last week.....

Last Tuesday night, Matt and I had the opportunity (along with 3000 of our closest friends) to attend the Welcome Home event for President and Mrs. Bush. ( I borrowed this picture from a friend...mine did not turn out).

Thursday was the 3rd 6-weeks Cougar Jamboree and Matthew got the Character Counts award.

Izzie came up this weekend to visit Mimi and Pop (yes, of course she brought her Mommy). They took a side trip Saturday morning to watch Matthew's game.

After the game we all headed back to Mimi and Pop's to check on the booming goat business. Eight babies were born on Friday.



Life is good!

Matthew's 2nd Annual Birthday Sleepover

I'm still spinning from the big birthday bash Saturday night. Matthew had 9 (yes, 9) of his buddies over for the party. After meeting at the house and devouring every last crumb of pizza Matt bought, we braved a trip to the bowling alley (unfortunately I forgot my camera), where they bowled for two hours and had tons of popcorn and soda (yea, bad idea!). Then we went back home for more snacks, presents, and a movie, which I was certain would put them all to sleep...WRONG! I'm not sure what time they went to bed, but they were up at 6:00. The boys seemed to have a blast and Matt and I....well, all I can say is that we survived!

Prayers for my friend....

My dear friend and co-worker, Jill, was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. After receiving several different opinions from some of the best brain doctors around, she decided to have surgery to have the tumor removed. Her surgery is scheduled for Thursday.

Please remember Jill and her family in your prayers this week as she prepares for and undergoes the surgery and for her recovery in the weeks to come.

Happy Birthday, Matthew Duncan Hale

Matthew celebrated his 7th birthday yesterday.

Of course, we began the day with the Hale Birthday Breakfast.
Matt and I took lunch to him at school and a cookie cake to share with his friends.

Then, Mimi and Pop came over for his birthday dinner (hamburgers and tator tots were his pick this year) with birthday cake ice cream for dessert. (If you're counting, that's donuts, cookie cake, and ice cream all in one day...wow!)

It's hard to believe that he's already 7. We are so very proud of him. He's a great student, and his teacher tells me he's a friend to everyone and a leader in class. He's playing basketball again this year and doing well...especially on defense.

He's looking forward to next weekend when 9 of his friends join us for bowling and a sleepover. If I survive, I'll post pictures of those festivities.

Happy Birthday, Bubba! I love you bunches!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday surrounded by family, friends and everything that makes you happy. That pretty much sums up the last two weeks for us.

Santa was very good to the boys this year. Their big present was a Wii....I think Matt and I have played as much or more than Matthew has.

Pop & Matthew "boxing" Christmas morning...

Mimi and Pop gave the grandkids a new swing set (as if they need another reason to want to go to Mimi and Pop's.)

"How many Aggies does it take.....?"

Gotta have picture of Izzie with her big cousins...
Matt and I actually rang in the new year for the first time in years with a houseful of friends. We played Wii, Farkel and Spoons and had a great time....that is until Ryan woke me up at 5:15. I quickly remembered why I don't stay up late anymore. :)

New Year's Day we drove to Granbury to celebrate Christmas with Matt's family.

The best kind of CHAOS!!!

Cowboys jerseys from Grandma and Grandpa were a big hit! Colby has worn his every day since.

"They call me COLBY Romo!"

Matthew is going to work on some Marion Barber dreadlocks for next season.
And, of course, Ry spent the whole day clinging to Mommy. (remind me how much I'm going to miss this one day).

I enjoy everything about Christmas...the shopping, the baking, the hustle and bustle, but I must admit that I LOVE packing the decorations up and getting back to our normal life!

We wish you and yours a FABULOUS 2009!

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Whew! The last several weeks have been a blur of too much food going in, too much money going out, and too much "stuff" on the calendar! But now....the decorations are all up, all the presents have been bought and (almost) all wrapped, the cookies are made, and here I sit.....

WITH A SICK BABY! ahhhh! Ryan can't keep anything down. We're in regular contact with the nurse at our pedi's office updating them on his pooping and puking. If he can't keep anything down this evening, we go in tomorrow at 9:00 to decide if he should be admitted to the hospital. Poor little guy is so hungry, but everything we try to feed him comes back up immediately. We're pushing Pedialyte, which goes instantly out the other way. He's sleeping now, and Mommy's praying that we'll see big improvement when he gets up.

The big boys have gone to Mimi's for a few days mainly because Matthew's out of school and I'm supposed to be working, but it's also most helpful to have a few days to make sure we have all the details worked out with Santa for the big night. I forget how easy life is with only one baby...even when that one is sick!

Anyway...

I just wanted to hop online and wish anyone who may have found a spare minute to check our little blog, a very Merry Christmas and a "fabulous" 2009.

I promise I'll update soon with lots of Christmas pictures!

Isabella Grace

Yes, I'm more than a week late with the official announcement, but here it is:

Isabella Grace
November 13, 2008
6:17 p.m.
8 lbs 5 oz
20 inches

...and absolutely PERFECT!!

Pictures from my 1st meeting with Isabella....

Can you say....SPOILED ROTTEN!

Izzie and Mommy getting ready to go home

...after a few pictures, of course.

The Duncan girls....Look out mall...here we come!

Amy, Trey and Isabella are on their own now after a week of being cared for by the world's best Mom (aka Mimi). I was beginning to worry that she wasn't coming back and I think Trey and Amy tried to bribe her to stay longer, but apparently she still has to work (especially now that she has a granddaughter to spoil!).

They seem to be doing well. Amy was excited yesterday when I talked to her because she got three straight hours of sleep...I do not miss those days! Several have asked me if this makes me want a girl and just to clear up any questions, the answer is officially, definitely, without a doubt...NO! I am perfectly content being the only princess in my house!

Isabella's first big car ride will be this weekend, when they come to Mom and Dad's. There are three little boys I know that are very excited to meet their cousin, and I'm doing everything I can to make sure our snotty noises are clear by then. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!