Behind the blog: The husbands point of view!

I finally got Gerrad to blog for me. Not too bad for his first time. My comments are in pink :) Enjoy! Thanks again G.

Welp, here we go. My first guest blog. Molly has been begging me to do this for some time now, and I guess since I did just get a new laptop I might as well put this thing to use.  In exchange for the daily motorcycle parts search and funny video watching. I think I have found mollys newest biggest pet peeve. I am a sucker for hilarious, viral videos. The thing about the videos I watch…they are not anything molly would. I find these hilarious videos and forward them to molly only to get the response “quit sending me this crap” (Y'all most of these videos are SO raunchy, you'd die).  Its funny, what’s good for one isn’t good for the other.  I’m supposed to be just uber thrilled to watch “crap” molly sends me. Prime example seen below.... (This video is hilarious, clearly Gerrad has no sense of humor)

Molly and her friend Ashley have contributed to at least 261,XXX views of this video. No one else could watch this and think its funny.  

Here lately in the Hall household we have been on this chill on the couch and watch movies mood. We haven’t been out doing too much.  Its actually quite nice to be able to just take a break and hang out with the girls. This sounds like I’m part of some woman's group but being in a family of all females its always a woman's group around here.  I have just learned to deal with all the estrogen flowing abundantly here. I have lately gotten our youngest to take some interest in some fun guy stuff (She's still MY baby and always will be). We watch football together whenever we have the opportunity. We recently attended our first Demolition Derby (Where you'll find our towns finest). To see this little girl so amazed that people just crash cars for no reason is so hilarious. 

We had an awesome time and she loved that her little friend chloe and her brother jacob got to attend too!

When molly first asked me to guest blog for her, i was totally shocked. I really wasn't into the whole blogging thing...but have recently been asking molly why she hasn't been more consistent on blogging. I never thought blog reading would be something i could take part in...but i have found a few lately that i read on a daily basis. Of course they're not crafty, pinterest ideas. But i seem to enjoy them....find them here.  (He is in denial that y'all care about his football blogs ;))

I've been instructed to cut it short cause i'm not talking about girly things....maybe i should just start my own blog and be able to talk about testosterone and sports etc. Until next time....thanks for reading!

Feel Your Boobs

This post will probably be a little too TMI for the men who read this (my dad, Gerrad, G's dad)... So if you can't handle 'boob talk' stop reading now.

First I have to say thanks to all of you who said a prayer for me when I simply just asked "Please pray for me today." Y'all rock the house.

For a while now, I've had sore breasts (which I chalked up to a side effect of having the Mirena IUD). Monday the right one was really painful, like almost in tears painful. I did a self breast exam and found a lump. Scared.me.to.death. I told Gerrad about it, and had him feel it when he got home from work. He said he felt it, but that it was probably some type of bruise (a bruise, really babe?! MEN!), and I should wait it out for a few days just to see if it got better. I agreed, and went about my day. Tuesday rolls around, and I have this little voice in the back of my head saying "Just call your Dr and see what the nurse says." So I did, she acted somewhat alarmed, and scheduled me for an appointment the next morning.

I remained calm, and simply called my mom to come over and cover for me with the kiddos, she agreed, but not until I told her what was wrong. I knew she would cry, and in turn make me cry... so I hesitated. Of course I told her, and we both cried for a split second, then we told each other to STOP, and calm down. I calmed down, and immediate started praying. Whatever was going to happen, was going to be OK. I didn't panic, and knew it would all work out. Usually I am a total over reactor, but that's mainly with my kids. I did really well, and was proud of myself, only cried once.

I had my appointment yesterday. My Dr agreed she felt something abnormal, that she didn't believe it was a cyst, but more of some type of irregular breast tissue, and wanted me to have a breast ultrasound (this is when I cried). She said if anything abnormal was found on the ultrasound, we would move forward with a mammogram, which also freaked me out. Went to hospital to have the ultrasound, and all is well. The tech said I have very dense breast tissue in that area, which I guess is common in younger, child-bearing age women. My Dr's office called late afternoon, told me they got the results from the ultrasound, and that all was OK. They said that I should take some type of calcium supplement, and decrease my caffeine (GAH).

I really tried not to let my mind wander, but decided if anything serious came about, we would deal with it, and it would be OK. It's hard when you hear of so many young women getting breast cancer, scares me to death. Some of our best friends just lost a friend in her mid 30's who had breast cancer go into remission, and come back several times. She left behind a young school age daughter. Makes me tear up just thinking about it. I'm so thankful that I'm aware enough of my body to know something was up. My Dr stressed repeatedly how important it is to do self exams monthly, and always call if you notice even the smallest thing you didn't notice the month before. I will be sure to do a MUCH better job from now on.

Thank you to those who emailed, text, tweeted and called me. I didn't want to tell too many people, and alarm everyone until I knew more details. Simply asking for prayers was more than enough, so thank you!

MIMO Monday

So Chelsea and Holly do this super fun post called 'Make it My Own' Monday. You find an outfit for inspiration (mostly on Pinterest) and then try to make it your own.

Here is my inspiration outfit...

Love the tunic with belted cardi, leggings and boots. So cute!

Here is my adaptation of the outfit (although I opted for skinny jeans instead)... P.S. Pardon the blurry photo, that's what happens when you rely on your children to take the photo with your phone :)

Tank: Old Navy (tan and cream)

Cardigan: Old Navy (coral)

Jeans: Target

Boots: Target

I'm about the furthest things from being a Fashionista (only because I spend my days wearing my mom gear- sweats), but I love to dress up on the weekends when I actually have places to go. 

Go find yourself an outfit for inspiration on Pinterest and link up with these 2 fabulous ladies!! 

Who Doesn't Love a Good Laugh?!

Everyone loves a good laugh, so why not share some of the things I find hilarious that I see on Pinterest. I'm sure Gerrad and a few of my girlfriends get tired of me sending these goofy pics to them, but as long as it makes them laugh, I don't care ;)

Here is the photo I shared this morning. I could not stop laughing. It's the little things in life!

Truer words have never been spoken :)

Amen to this statement. WalMart brings out the worst in me!

The greatest costume from Napoleon Dynamite EVER!

I know a few people who would be disappointed by this.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to some of my favorite ladies. This morning as I'm sitting here with my family, I'm counting my blessings, big and small. I feel like there is so much to be thankful for this year. We haven't had any significant life changing events over this past year, but I feel more grateful than ever before. Just to have our health, a God who allows us second chances, family that loves us, friends we can count on any time, jobs that provide for our family, and so much more. I've seen people in the social media world listing things they are thankful for every day, and I love that idea. Sometimes we need to just take a minute to be thankful for at least something.

So today, with a full heart, I'm thankful for:

A husband who makes me laugh every day.

A first born daughter who is so much like me, we butt heads daily.

A second born daughter who has no filter, who was born to entertain.

A set of parents who I consider my very best friends (aside from Gerrad).

A Heavenly Father who forgives me for my short comings daily.

Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, they really do make the chilly fall days a little brighter.

Social media/blogging, and the lifelong friendships I've made with women who I would have never known otherwise.

The smell of sweet little newborn babes.

A job that allows me to stay home with my children, and love on others children at the same time.

Our sweet lab Riley.

Laughter. It really is the best medicine.

Netflix. (Keeping it real here people) Gerrad and I have spent countless hours watching the silliest shows, but it's a way we spend time together.

My niece, who is SO much like Macie, it's crazy.

My girlfriends. They all have such kind hearts, and would be here in an instant if I needed them.

Photographs. Being able to document my children's every milestone is one of my greatest joys in life.

Music. My productivity would be null and void if it wasn't for internet radio.

My inlaws. We always have such a fun time when we're all together. I love holiday family gatherings.

My children's heart for Jesus.

I hope everyone has family to be with today, and takes time out to be thankful for just one thing, no matter how small. Just being with these two little blondes is more than enough to fill my heart!

The Blessed Life

At church our pastor is doing a series called 'The Blessed Life.' He is talking about giving to the church and seeing God's blessings flow out onto your life. It got me thinking about all the things that we are blessed with. It actually kept me up a few nights, just praying thanking God for his faithfulness for our family.

Sometimes around this time of year, I feel like people can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, with Christmas approaching, people are SO focused on money, and buying gifts, that we forget what we're even celebrating. People can get so caught up with money... not having enough, having too much, spending too much, making ends meet, etc... As I've said before, Gerrad and I are not rich by any means. We live a normal, middle class life, but I don't consider having gobs of money, a blessing. What I consider to be a blessing, is that I have a loving and faithful husband who works his hands to the bone to  make sure his family is provided for. I have a roof over my head with heat to keep me warm, clothes on my back, food in my mouth, 2 beautiful daughters who make every single day worth living. A God who loves me, and forgives me for my short comings. Supportive parents, who even though their marriage didn't work, they still manage to tolerate each other to be there for me and my children. A family I gained from my husband, who love and care for us through it all.

I've been dealing with some serious resentment issues where my sister is concerned, for quite a few years. I wrote a while back about finding contentment where my sister is concerned, and I've finally found it. We are trying to move forward and heal our broken relationship, and there is a part of me that is scared.to.death. She is going to meet my children over Thanksgiving for the first time (she was around Macie a few times up until she was about 2), and I just have to pray that it goes ok. Giving it up to the One who knows her heart, is the only thing that I can do.

Feeling like you're blessed can come from so many different things. Sometimes I feel like we just need to take a step back and look at all the things we have, instead of all the things we want, or think we need. I'm obviously on a random tangent today, and needed to break my non-blogging streak. And maybe one day soon, I'll actually blog all of our pumpkin patch and Halloween photos :)

The One Where I Punked My Child

Have any of you seen this Jimmy Kimmel video where he asks parents to tell their kids they ate all of their Halloween candy, and video tape their reaction? It's SO funny. Especially being the mom of a toddler who I knew would totally flip out. Aly first shared it on facebook, and then her and I started tweeting about doing this to Addaline.

P.S. The last set of kids on this video are a HOOT! I swear the kid in the red jammies, is way too grown up for his age. Goodness he made me laugh so hard.



After watching the video I thought (yes I'm evil) "I wonder how Addaline would react if we did this to her?" Gerrad wanted no part, and thought she would flip her lid, so I did it to her this morning. I think it took her a minute to realize what I was saying, but she definitely reacted just like all these poor kiddos.



After this video, I showed her that we in fact, did not eat her candy, and all is calm on the home front. Enjoy your Friday morning laugh!

*No children were harmed in the taping of this video. She happily has her candy back in her possession.