A LOL Christmas! Part 1

On the first day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
...a few days with messed up e-lec-tric-i-ty!
On the second day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
...an ER trip complete with EKG!
On the third day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
...remembering when he got down on his knee!
On the fourth day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
...Christmas Eve and lights are finally on our tree!
On the fifth day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
...Christmas day filled with lots of family!
On the sixth day of Christmas break my true love gave to me...
....a day at home to finish laun-da-ry!

...to be continued... ;)

"Merry Miss Mas!"

Just a few early holiday pics. Fun time downtown on the circle and School Christmas Program!

Pumpkins and Pirates and cowboys oh my!

Quick trip by the patch after a dr. visit...just like last year! :)
Running....
Still Running...
Stop for air... Where is Hunter's head? hahaha
Had to clothesline him to get this one, he was not happy about it!
On the way to the cousins for some trick-or-treating. Two lollipops to start the night! (See if you can count how many in the rest of the pics...LOL!)
Caught ya! Sneaking treats at Nana's!

A balloon artist came over! (Check out Mic's wig in the back...hahahaha)
Arrrrr..Captian Halle Girl! Hi ho Silver!

"Aunt Jen Jen is my hero!"
Roastin' some dogs.

This and that

If you know Mic, you know he can never wait till Christmas for a big surprise! Well Hunt, Merry Christmas! Here is your very own big boy "By-buh-cool"


Oh yeah, and a hot date night out @ the Florida Hospital Gayla to see Mark Lowrey.

July/August: Goodbye Summer...Hello new school year

One last weekend enjoying the Big Blue Beauty! Who needs Cypress Gardens anyway?!
NO FEAR!!!

Get together @ Lightsey ranch to say good bye (for now) to Lauren

>

Taking BK's truck out to the horse barn

Happy Birthday DADDY!!!!!!

So I have been a HUGE slacker here lately, this should tell the story why.
We spent our annual trilogy of birthdays @ Texas Cattle CO. with the fam, I would say Mic felt he had the best B Day between he, Matt (our bro in law)and myself! Turned out I had a surprise up my sleeve for the evening! hehehe Enjoy the play by play. :)
(Mic thinking) "Hmmm, Gator tickets? YESSSS!!!!!"

Mic thinking..."hmmm iPhone, she made a big purchase without me?!" Mic thinking....."OH SNAP!!!!"
Mic thinking...."AAAHHHH YEAH"
Nana thinking...."Are ya gonna tell us already?!!!!"
SURPRISE!!!!!!! Happy Birthday DADDY!!!!!!!
I had come home from school that Friday we would be meeting for dinner. I had a hunch due to the, um, well, quite upset stomach I had had for several evenings prior, and remembering my misery the entire pregnancy with Hunter I could not mistake the signs. So I thought on the way home from school..."I'm gonna take one and if it is + I'll wrap it up as a surprise for Mic (and the whole fam) at dinner". And thus begins our journey! HALLORAN'S THREE PLUS ONE!!! :)

Special Secret Delivery!

Wake up from nap and check the mail.
Find a box on the door step with Hunter's name on it!
Think twice back to recent "anthrax" envelope delivered to our house.
Looked it over and decided I had a hunch where it came from.
Allowed Hunter to be surprised by his special secret delivery.
He was only concerned with the box and not the magnetic calender inside.
I shed a tear as I realize what I believe to be story behind the delivery.....





I believe the box came from Miss Ethel. I have introduced Miss Ethel before but if you are not familiar Ethel lived a few doors down and was 92 years young. We would take Hunter to visit on evening walks and Mic took care of her yard and little projects around the house. Anyway...Miss Ethel passed away a few months ago when we were out of town. We were very sad to learn of this. Her daughter comes to her house once in a while to go through things in the house. Well...I believe the box was in Miss Ethel's home waiting for Hunter and our next visit because it was in her handwriting and not the daughter's! I believe her daughter found it and dropped it off for hunter! So sweet and so sad at the same time! We miss you Miss Ethel but thank you in heaven for thinking of little Hunter who you loved so much and his special surprise!

hUH-LaRiOuS

SEVERAL different people we know have sent this to us and said they think this will be hunter in another year or so!LOL! WOW! Maybe he will live out my dream of being a back up dancer in music videos! But I still have time right guys???!!!! hahah Anyway, this kid DOES have moves. Enjoy! (FloRider!!!! NOT CENSORED!)

Family, Fun and Sun

Spent a week down in Englewood with the whole fam. Stayed at a new condo that we LOVED!!! Barefoot Beach. (Usually stay at the Boardwalk). Daddy made it down by Wednesday night and we were excited for him to leave work and come hang out with us. Spent lots of time eating yummy snacks, drinking Matt's Costa Rica coffee that he brought back from his mission trip. Read more of my Twilight books, Jen played lots of Ping Pong (World Champ!!!!) and Matt played lots of Flick Fishing (on the iTouch!)! Nana and Popi got lots of lovin in on the grand babies and Hunter, Avery and Halle had LOTS of cousin time. Hunt loves playing with them...just didn't like sharing so much! Had GREAT weather all week! Lots of beach time and pool time as well. Though Hunter hated being down at the beach during the day, he loved the pool and playing in the shade of the building. Def gets that from Daddy! I just wanted to sit in the sun all day! We got a boat one day and cruised the coast and around Boca and Little Gaspirrilla, such a fun time! Girls had their shopping day for back to school and got some great deals. Boys had their fishing day and brought home quite a catch. We took some of it to a local restaurant and they cooked it up for us and we got to dine their and eat our own catch! (Lock and Key Restaurant). That was a special treat! Another great beach vavay with the fam!

Viva Las Vegas

Spontaneous and less likely to do ever again...those were the criteria for our anniversary get away...FIVE YEARS of wedded "bliss" :). So Vegas it is. Quick notes from the trip and lots of pics.

-GREAT, very inexpensive trip all packaged via Southwest (nonstop flights, hotel, shows and tours)
-on the flight over sat behind a make a wish family leaving Disney (Give Kids the world) where I had done an internship...shed a tear, so precious
-landed in Vegas and saw a plane where there was a processional for a fallen soldier being brought home, shed a tear, again
-Vegas was freaking hot
-stayed at New York New York which was apparently the "happening" place for young folk, did ride the roller coaster that wound in and out of our hotel...it was NOT a pleasant experience but kinda cool!
-we quickly determined we are old farts
-in bed by midnight and on the strip by 9 am hahaha(i think that is against Vegas law)
-ate buffets for breakfast and dinner and snacked on treats in the afternoons
-walked more the first few hours than in my whole life and spent way too much in taxis to get back, feet had heat blisters, you know me, flip flop queen (are there other shoes really?)
-figured out public transportation next day, good thing cause I wanted to come home :)
-Saw "O"... O-MAZING!!!!!!, and "LOVE", never done drugs..imagine it was something like watching that show!
-we secretly liked riding the double decker city bus and did it several times for fun up and down the strip
-Did I mention it was freaking HOT, even for a Florida girl, OMG, spent all my winnings in bottled water
-my biggest win was $8 bucks on the penny slot. I acted and made a scene as though I won the jack pot, and WAS really that excited, I have no clue how to gamble but can somewhat manage the slots
-Loved spending a whole afternoon in "the venetian" riding the gondola and sitting in the "Plaza" watching entertainers and eating ice cream...cause it was HOT outside
-our last night met up with our old neighbor and his new bride Kris and Kristen(live in Vegas) on Freemont street, boys played black jack at the Golden Nugget, girls went and ate deep fried Oreos, yummy, well the first bite anyway :)
-ate breakfast one morning in Paris and went up the Eiffel Tower, both very neat
-other than nudie cards on the ground in old parts of the strip, Vegas was very clean and non trashy, they really are trying to clean it up, just stinkin' hot (what do I expect in mid July in the middle of a desert?)
-did love the dry dessert air and the fact that when I straightened my hair and walked outside...IT STAYED STRAIGHT! I know you Florida girls feel me on that one!!!!!
-never saw a celeb and was disappointed (i was at least, mic could care less!)
-LOVED watching the water fountain @ Billagio at night...such a beautiful spectacle

GLOW IN THE DARK

Work Camp 2009: Matthew 5:14-16 13
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

So glad to get to participate in another summer of three great work camps. I love being "camp photographer" and getting to see the kids in every setting. So proud of the campers and leaders (from many differnt churches) hard work and didication serving thier community and sharing God's love.

WORK

Loaded a semi w/ clothes for overseas

New siding on a home
Fresh paint on a home (several homes actually)
Completly demolished and got rid of this entire old crack house for the city if LW. All that was left by the end of the camps was an empty grassy lot! :) Praise the LORD!!!! Amen!

Brand new roofs on several homes
PLAY

After dinner each evening teams followed clues on their "GEO Hunt" DVD to find their destination and task.

Paddle(w/ your hands) out to the middle of Lake Wailes to get your team flag and rest of team on shore pulls you back in by rope

Lake Time on Crooked
As a team, roll your bowling ball up spook hill then launch it back down again(kids dont try this at home) Plant your flag where your ball stops at the bottom
Nothin like a little ultimate frisby in the middle of orange groves
More R&R on lake easy

Launch water balloons to target on top of Care Center down town
GROW

Morning and evening devo/worship sessions

FBC LW Band


First Christian Church Band

A City On A Hill!!!!!