The Ravens

Can anyone tell me what this image means? Yes, this means that my brother in-law, Dave Hale was drafted in the forth round of the NFL yesterday as a Right Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. He reports to Baltimore this Wednesday, and we are so ExCiTeD for our UnClE dAvE!

This picture was taken back in Nov. 07 at Dave last home game with Weber State Univ. Dave with wife, Shelby, Maxton and Weber State's Mascot.

Fun Blogging Fridays

It has been a busy month here at the Hale House. I got this new program for digital scrap booking that I LOVE (yes, I haven't forgotten about you Aunt Gigi...I'm mailing you the CD tomorrow). Since getting this new program, I've been working on a book non-stop for my Wood Family Reunion scheduled for May 3rd down in GA. It takes two weeks for the book to be printed, so I've been working under a deadline and it was all I could do to get the book ready and sent in on time. I'm going to have everyone at the Reunion put their name into a hat and at the end of the day, I'm going to draw a name and that member of the family will get to take the book home. Anyone else that wishes to have one will have to purchase their copy. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, my hope is to do a similar book for each branch of my family...I think it is a great way to work on genealogy...I'm a very visual person and I love how the family came alive for me as I looked at each picture. The book went all the way back to my great-great grandmother, Granny Wood, it covered a lot of folk...my hope is that the family will better understand what I was trying to do when they see the book and that I can update or make additional books to fill in with any pictures people think should be apart of the Wood history.

After finishing the book, it got me re excited about working on my personal scrapbooks that I've let go by the wayside. I've realized that I have many loves, and I don't have time for them all in the same day...so I've decided to set aside time for each one...Friday will be my official Blogging day...you/I will always count on a new post and some sort of update/funny story about what's going on around here. Obviously, if I just can't wait until Friday, I may surprise us with additional posts, but we can all count on Fun Blogging Fridays.

Here are a few highlights from April:



*Ben's brother, Dave and his wife, Shelby came to visit us a couple of weekends ago...it was so great to see them...we have the best time when we're together.



*Seth turned 8 months old on the 23rd...he can crawl, eat some table foods, and has such a wonderful personality.



*Maxton is talking all the time and putting together small sentences...he is such a sweet boy, he makes me laugh all the time.

*Ben has started to really get serious with his bike riding again...the weather is finally nice and time is drawing close for his 100 mile ride on June 7th in Milwaukee.

*As for me, I'm proud of my first digital scrapbook, I hope it's the first of many...I love it!

*Can I just say that I'm excited that my Thursday night shows are finally back on track this month...I really enjoyed watching them both last night with Ben and our bowl of Whirly Pop Popcorn!

"I DO IT!"

That is Maxton's new phrase and new phase..."I Do it!" He wants to be involved in everything and to be our big helper. I don't mind too much, I think it's great actually. He especially loves to help with Seth...he'll try washing him, feeding him, you name it.

Here is Maxton feeding Seth a banana

The best part is that I can ask him to get me stuff like the phone, the remote, diapers, toys, shoes, etc. He really loves to throw out the dirty diapers. I always put poo dipes in a plastic grocery bag and then toss them in the outside garbage. Maxton has seen me do this his whole life and decided this is one of those, "I do it!" tasks. He goes and gets the bag, while I'm changing Seth and then I get the dipe all tied up in the bag and he walks it to the back door and gives a nice swing and lets her fly...if he is not happy with the landing, he retrieves the bag and starts again (He doesn't realize that I throw them in the garbage can, he just knows I'm throwing them). Once he's happy with the landing, he yells out..."Bye Poo Poo, Bye Poo Poo" then slams the door and give me a high five. If you're ever over after a good poop, I'll let you watch...it's pretty funny and cute. (Isn't it funny how poop is talk about so much when you have small children...it has to be the most common topic to surface during conversation.)

I would like to thank the Academy

Well, I've been preparing a speech for this very moment, so bear with me as I try to get through it. First, I want to thank Amanda for awarding me and my Blog. I would be without the "E" if it wasn't for her. I also want to thank all my readers, those that comment and those that lurk...I love you just the same. I especially want to mention all my family that has joined me by starting a blog, that was the whole reason I started myself...to keep closer contact with them (you can visit them all by clicking on their names to the right). Since moving away, this is the closest I've felt to each of them...and I love it. I know I could post a little more often, or so I've been told, but I like to keep my readers in suspense. There's nothing like a good surprise. Don't worry, now that I've made it big by receiving this noble award, I won't forget the little people...I want to thank Amanda and the Blogging Academy again...I wouldn't be here without you.

Last and Final Post

This is my last and final post. I've decided to stop blogging and close it down. It was a good run and I had a fun time with it, but like all good things it must come to an end. I'm going to work on some new projects now, but I'm sure I'll keep up on a few blogs here and there...so long blogging world. This is Tara...signing out.

APRIL FOOLS...THAT WAS MY SAD ATTEMPT AT A JOKE...I CAN'T QUIT BLOGGING...I LOVE IT!

"Each Life That Touches Ours for Good"

Laura Kirkland

March 16, 1983-March 24, 2008

"Each Life that touches ours for good Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above Thru words and deeds of those who love.
What greater gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know
Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways Strengthen our faith, enrich our days....."

This was the closing hymn at my cousin's funeral last Thursday. I've always like this hymn, but it really touched me as I sang the words that day. It was nice to be back home and visit with so many family and friends that came together for Laura and her family. As I hugged each one and talked with them, so many memories rushed back to my remembrance. Each one has touch my life for good and has brought me such joy and love. I'm so happy we were able to be together and help support Laura's family. I wish I could have stayed longer and spent more time with them.
It was such an uplifting funeral...my Aunt Gigi spoke tenderly about her and her life on behalf of the family, and Patriarch Boone (he gave me my patriarchal blessing) was the last speaker. He is such a great man and always gives a wonderful message. What impressed me the most during his remarks was that he reminded us of the choice we made in the pre-existence...we chose to come to Earth and we knew we would return...like a round-trip ticket. When we go on a trip, we are excited to go, but even more excited to know that we will return home and back to our loved ones. I think we forget that detail when all we remember is this life. We are experiencing the trip right now...we think we're happy, just wait till we get home. I will always remember Laura, and I can't wait to see her again.

"When such a friend from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.
For worthy friends whose lives proclaim Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love, We praise thy goodness, Lord, above."

Easter in the Snow

This is what we woke up to on the Saturday of Easter Weekend. We had to hurry and get the drive and walkways shovelled so that our friends could come over and hunt eggs in our house.

Growing up in Georgia, you think everyone has a great spring break and a beautiful Easter weekend...NOT SO! I feel sorry for all the sweet children here in Ohio that have to travel south for some nice weather. When I got out for Easter/Spring break I laid out at the beach thinking everyone was enjoying the same type of time off from school that me and my friends were. I was clueless. I long for those warmer days and and lighter clothing. Weather here wouldn't be so bad if winter came and went and didn't linger. Our worst months are from January to the beginning of April, when it's already been cold since October. Oh well, we try to make the most of it. So, to all my Georgia peeps...don't feel bad or guilty when you are playing in the sun...we're just shoveling out our drive ways, hunting Easter eggs indoors, running around the house in sweat pants since it's too cold to play outside and covering up our cute Easter outfits for church with jackets. Yes, I'm missing my home town right now and wish my little boys could be outside playing in short sleeves, so to all my folks down south...soak up a few more rays for your Ohio family.

Here's Maxton with his Elmo basket collecting a few eggs.

Here's the friends that joined us on our way fun indoor egg hunt. (Hope you caught the sarcasm)

Me and my Boys

Me, Dad (my dad), and the boys after church

P.S. Here's Baby Seth...He was seven months on Easter Sunday...He's such a great baby!