Desktop Background

Getting to Know Ava Grace

Each day, Ava is growing more and more.  In so many different ways she is changing.  I never want to forget her as she is right now--an energetic, strong-willed, determined, funny, independent, loving, caring, little girl.  

Her likes:

• Mommy, Daddy, and Edy
• Grandparents, aunts, and uncles
• Disney Princesses
• Strawberry Shortcake
• PBS kids
• Wal-Mart
• back rubs
• hot baths
• MILK
• popcorn
• cute clothes
• playing outside
• doll house
• fruit snacks
• suckers
• singing songs
• dancing
• books
• playing with friends
• being tickled
• headbands AKA crowns

Her dislikes:

• bed time
• being told "No"
• lots of foods (too many to list)
• Dinosaur Train (show on PBS kids)
• leaving her friends' houses
• Bounce Arounds (Inflatable toys)
• most dogs and cats
• bugs

I look forward to watching this little girl grow and develop.  She's awesome!

Edy is Big Time!

Little Edy is really changing and learning new things!  She can mimic sounds and is starting to crawl. 

Talking from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.


Crawling from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.
Did you notice her battle wound on her forehead?  Yep, we are going to need to do some childproofing now.

Sunday Pic

I don't think I will ever get tired of dressing my girls up!  It is just one of the wonderful things about being a mother of girls!

Night Time Rituals

It has been nice to have Graham home because we get to do our night time rituals again.  Each night he reads the girls a story and a Bible story, then he reviews the Catechisms that we have been teaching AG, and finally we all sing a couple of songs.  AG loves to play her drum as Graham plays the guitar.

That We Might Live from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.

Ava Grace loves "Every Move I Make."  It's an oldie, but goodie!

Every Move I Make from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.

Gettin' Ready for Game Day!

This is a thrilling moment for Graham--not only does he love the Texas Longhorns, but now he is on his way to becoming a Texas state resident.  Dreams really do come true!

Who says you can't look cute in burnt orange?  Hook 'em Horns!

Edy Grows - 7 months

My sweet, little baby is seven months old.  She is just the cutest thing and I love every minute I have with her.

Such a charmer!

She still loves her jumperoo and her "C"!

She is starting to enjoy "big kid" toys!  

Here's what's happenin' with our Ro Ro:

• sitting up strong
• moves EVERYTHING she touches straight to her mouth
• says "da-da-da"
• blows raspberries
• clicks her tongue
• can creep--just about ready to crawl.  It won't be long.
• can almost push herself to the sitting position from her stomach
• sleeps from 8 to 8
• eats 5 times a day (breast milk)
• eats cereal, veggie, and fruit once a day
• beginning to be dependent on her "C" (pacifier)
• bears weight on legs.This is awesome considering she's such a chunk!
• passes an object from one hand to the other
• starting to grow some hair! 
• loves her big sis

Edy, You are such an energetic little bundle of joy.  You have a personality all your own and your sense of humor is really starting to develop.  Even though you can't speak yet, you still have the ability to make me laugh. I love your soft little cheeks.  I know those kisses get old, but I just can't resist.  You are just so lovable!  You have the ability to light up a room--it is so refreshing when you smile. I am so glad that I get to be your mommy.  I am praying for you each and every day. Love, Mommy

Trust in the Lord!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Life has been a bit tough for us lately (i.e. living in different states, traveling, trying to sell the house, lack of stability for the girls, etc.). We have been going like crazy and I have been trying to keep my mind off of things, but that can be a hard thing to do. I have been praying and searching the scriptures for comfort--which helps a lot! I've been reading about Job. Boy, do I have it easy! Whenever times get tough, just think about Ole' Job. That'll put things into perspective quick!

Today, I traveled from Magnolia back to Fort Smith. Graham made the trip from Jacksonville to Fort Smith and now we are all here as a family. It's so nice. We will have to part ways again soon, but for now it is nice.

I have been on the road a lot lately. The girls travel pretty well, but today was hard. About an hour out of Fort Smith, Edy started crying hard. I mean REALLY hard! It is unusual for her to get so upset, but I couldn't do anything. My hands were tied, figuratively speaking--technically on the steering wheel.  So I asked AG if she would talk to her sister and try to make her shut up calm down. This much I know is true--Edy LOVES watching Ava Grace. Next thing I know, I hear Ava say, "It's okay, Edy. It be okay. I wub (love) you. I promise." It was just so sweet! I was all wrapped up in the moment until I heard her say, "Okay, okay, STOP CRYING. YOU HEAR ME, I'M THE BOSS!" Oh well, I'll take what I can get!

Back to the point of my post--I am going to continue to trust in the Lord through this valley.  In Him alone will I find strength.

Together as a Family

Graham is officially on staff at Fellowship Bible Church in Jacksonville, Texas. We are so excited about this new chapter in our lives, but we are still kinda living in limbo. We are currently trying to sell our home in Fort Smith. The current market is tough and selling has been a challenge. We went to Jacksonville about two months ago to look for a place to rent. We didn't have any luck with that, but we did find a cute little house that we liked and we decided to make an offer. We were shocked when the owners accepted our offer without any counter offers. Of course, the offer we made is contingent on the sell of our current home in Fort Smith. This has been a trying time for us, but we know that the Lord is working out all of the details--in His time.

Since it has been a while since the girls and I have seen Graham (14 days), we headed down to Jacksonville to visit him for a couple of days. He has been blessed with a little cabin to live in while we try to sell our home.

Ava Grace went fishing. She even got a couple of bites, but didn't catch anything.
For her birthday, my mom and dad bought her this cute dress up toy. It's kinda like paper dolls, but it's made of wood. Ava calls it a puzzle.
She loves making matching outfits. When I put outfits on the dolls that don't look quite right, she says, "That don't match." It's cute.

Edy loved being with her daddy.

Please continue to pray for our family as we try to sell our home in Fort Smith and make the transition to Texas.

AG's Actual Birthday

My little girl turned three on Friday. We spent part of the day in Magnolia at my parent's house.

Did you happen to notice what is on AG's shoulder?

Yep, it's a bee. I freaked out and jerked her out of the flower bed because I thought it was a wasp. I am terrified of wasps.

Before we left Magnolia, I had to stop in at the Bake Shop. We got a dozen dots (my favorite) and two decorated gingerbread cookies. So good!

Then, we headed to Jacksonville to hang out with Graham. It's a long story, but we haven't seen him in over 2 weeks. It was so good to see him. We brought him some treats from Magnolia Bake Shop.

Graham and his girls.

Leightyn's Story

Click here to read Leightyn's story. Please continue to lift Leightyn's family up in prayer. The coming days, weeks, and months are going to be very difficult for them.

FRIENDS

Mylea has been over playing with AG the last couple of days and they have had so much fun. See for yourself.

The funeral for Leightyn will be tomorrow morning. Continue to keep the Holmes family in your prayers.

Almost There

So close to crawling...

Almost There from Leslie Hale on Vimeo.

HOT pictures!

Once we were dressed this morning, I got the bright idea to take some pictures outside. Can we say CRAZY! It is SO hot. The girls were NOT in the mood.

Not the time for hugs, AG. Your sister is hot and not in the mood to be touched!

AG loves hugging her sister.

The sun was right in their eyes. Ava was not happy.

Okay, okay...I get the point. We're going inside now.

Sweet Leightyn

Our dear friend, Leightyn, has gone home to be with the Lord. She was such a loving, energetic, unique child and she will be missed and our hearts are broken.

Please pray specifically for Landen, Missy, and Mylea as they mourn the loss of their precious Leightyn.

Pray Without Ceasing

Many of you have read my posts about all of our sweet neighbors. I have a specific prayer request for one of them right now...

Leightyn, Landen and Missy's little 5 year old, is at Children's Hospital in critical condition. She has a tumor on her brain and has suffered from a brain hemorrhage. She is having a MRI right now.

Please pray for precious Leightyn and her family.

Auntie Bon's

Today we went to my dear friend Yvonne's house to play with her kids and swim in her pool.

Edy, Von, and Jack

A couple of weeks ago, AG colored on all over the carpet in her room. She was officially banned from coloring and after a lot of scrubbing, I finally got it all out. Slowly but surely, we have let her explore coloring again. She has been coloring only on coloring books and notepads and has been doing well...until today. While Yvonne and I were talking we noticed that it was too quiet upstairs. You know that kind of quiet, right? The silence that screams...I'm up to no good! When I peeked in on AG I noticed that she had colored all over her hands and face. As soon as I entered the room, she looked up at me and said, "I had a bad day." I then discovered that she had also continued her artwork on Ben's comforter, a notebook, and a towel. Needless to say, I was mortified. Mark my words, we won't be coloring for a LONG, LONG, time!

Sometimes you just gotta laugh!

Teepee for Me!

Look what AG woke up to in her Na's living room!

What kid wouldn't love this?