day 140 - good bye Bobby

I have to admit it...I got a little teared up when the Braves lost tonight and Bobby waved goodbye to the fans.

And then I cried when he got choked up and misty-eyed in the press conference following the game.

day 139 - the Tomahawk Chop

Chad is in Atlanta today doing the War Chant and Tomahawk Chop with his oldest friend Matt and thousands of other Braves fans as they cheer on "America's Team" (Chad's term, not mine) in the playoffs.

day 138 - Oktoberfest

We threw such a fun party today...the first annual Hester's Oktoberfest...and of course, I didn't get a single picture!

note: My idea was to call it Wurstfest a.k.a. Sausagefest. Chad vetoed.

day 137 - bluebewie smoovies

I don't have a picture, but I always want to remember that G and I made smoothies for his pre-K class today.

This is his recipe for smoothies (smoovies):

frozen (fwozen) blueberries (bluebewies)
milk
fruit (fwoot) on the bottom yogurt
banana

"Put it all on the blender and push the button. That's it."

day 136 - she always will be

...my princess.

day 135 - sabbatical

You might have noticed that I've been on a bit of a hiatus from blogging.

The reason is actually very simple: I've been on a sabbatical.

I know, I know...some of you are rolling your eyes - but really, according to Wikipedia:

"sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e. Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a hiatus, often lasting from two months to a year...In recent times, "sabbatical" has come to mean any extended absence in the career of an individual to achieve somthing."

So here's how my "situation" fits the definition above:

1. As my last post was on November 19, 2010, I literally ceased posting for exactly 2 months and 5 days. (I'm actually about 110 days behind...but who's counting?)

2. I voluntarily took an extended leave of absence from my new "career" as blog-ess.

3. I achieved...well, I didn't really achieve much - but I have been keeping track of posts and I'm pretty sure I can make up for every missed day.

day 134 - last day of the dinosaurs

According to G, this is what happened when the "giant meat-eater" hit the Earth.

Get it...meteor..."meat-eater."

day 133 - they're here!

2010-2011 School Pictures

day 132 - for daddy

G couldn't decide which color straw Daddy would like in his Coke.

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So he gave him all 4.

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note: This is actually a very big deal around here. M always likes red straws and G always likes green straws. They know this about one another and are very careful to give each other the "right" color straw.

day 131 - guilty

OK...so October was a really crazy month around here.

I did a really bad job of "hurrying up and slowing down."

I am totally guilty of not taking the time to appreciate the small moments.

As a result, the next few (actually 29) posts will be a little more difficult for me to come up with.

Bear with me though...I will catch up!

day 130 - i've got nothin'

At least nothing current.

Here's a few favorite "old" pictures.

Sweet first moments between big sister and baby brother.

day 129 - girls' night

M and I went to Miller Outdoor Theater tonight to watch the Shanghai Ballet.

Very cool.

She was very excited...check out the sign she made and was holding up at the beginning of the performance.

She cracks me up.

day 128 - i like this

day 127 - the best part

...of the field trip was running up and down (and up and down and up and down) the big grassy hill at the ampitheater before the show.

day 126 - big boy

first field trip

day 125 - fall is here!

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When we woke up this morning it was "cold" (by Texas standards).

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The kids (and I) were giddy!

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note: because I am actually posting this over one month later, I can tell you that fall was not here for long...temps in the high 80's were back a little over a week later. boo.

day 124 - watercolors

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We (heart) watercolors.

Lately G has been into "making" colors.

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You know...

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yellow + blue = green

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red + blue = purple

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purple + red + yellow + blue + purple + orange + green = brownish-black

day 123 - retreat!

I retreated this weekend with 100+ women from our church.

What a great, refreshing, exhausting time!

Exhausting only because we stayed up late talking and talking and talking...think "slumber party."

I can't capture all that was said here, but suffice it to say that the weekend and its message was incredibly poignant and humbling and uplifting all at the same time.

My biggest takeaway..."The only attribute of God that we a commanded to abide in is His love." (See John 15:9)

day 122 - true comfort

These words offer true comfort and peace as I move through this journey called life often feeling blind, lost and clumsy. God is so good and faithful!

I will lead the blind by ways they have not know,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.

Isaiah 42:16

day 121 - timeless fun

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I wonder how many times these very toys have been arranged in a similar fashion by little Hesters boys?

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(note: these were Chad's Star Wars toys)