Happy Halloween

Well this has to be one of my favorite holidays! I had so much fun today. I love being home on halloween. It started with me cooking our favorite chili this afternoon. I love the smell of chili in the house on a cold day. And really it was not to cold, this morning was cold but this afternoon and evening was wonderful. We couldn't of asked for more beautiful, perfect halloween weather! So we all get dressed and ready early evening....got our bowls of candy all ready for the trick or treaters! Then daddy came home and we ate dinner together...and the door bell started to ring. The kids had so much fun running to the door and handing out candy. Mary Alice really did not need our help at all...she greeted everyone with a "happy halloween" and then followed it up by putting the bowl of candy in front of her and saying "what would you like?"..."take only one piece please"....(i had told her that when she was handing out candy to put just one piece in each bag....in years past she had put a handful in each bag)...and then she would say "have a great halloween....happy trick or treating tonight"..by the end of the night steve and i would just sit on the couch and let her handle the door by herself!

Needless to say Halloween was a hit! I took Minnie and Mickey up and down our street and Steve took them on the street behind our house. Then they came home and handed out some more candy.

Here are mickey and minnie (sorry you cannot see their ears).... they had so much fun. This was the first year that both the kids really enjoyed halloween and had so much fun together. And let me tell you..people love minnie and mickey. Everywhere we went people just couldn't wait to talk to and meet minnie and mickey! The kids loved it!



minnie making her dad proud and getting her "guns up"



minnie loving on mickey


minnie giving a pose




mickey is really working hard to open his candy


too cute!


all giggles here


mommy having so much fun with her minnie and mickey



minnie and her next door neighbor captain hook

The camera is here!

the camera arrived! i have been charging it all night long and can't wait to take some pics! hopefully i will put them on late tonight! oooooo i can't wait!

Bloggin Blues

I am sure you all have been wondering where in the bloggin world am I? Well I have the blogging blues. My camera broke about 2 weeks ago at our big Texas party ( i will blog and post pictures next). I have been so sad about not having a excuse to take cute pictures of the kids. And I cannot believe that I really have been missing just writing!

So where will I go from here? Well of course my husband wants to "get a deal" on a camera and thinks that after Christmas would be the best time (with all the returns ). However, I cannot wait that long. I cannot miss Halloween, thanksgiving with my family, MA's b-day, kids Christmas program, and the list goes on.....

my dad is sending me his old camera which really takes good pics and so I hope for now that will work until my husband can find me a deal! So hopefully I will be able to snap my way out of my blues and return to the world of blogging. The camera is supposed to arrive Tuesday! Which is kinda of bummer because Monday night we are going to "Legends and Lanterns" tour in Old Salem. It is a spooky tour by lighted lanterns through Old Salem. Apparently the town has some scary story's! I will have to keep you posted! If it doesn't arrive by Wednesday we will be finding a "deal" on Halloween because I will not miss out on that really cute picture op!

Good ol' Texas Barbque

Well about two weeks ago we hosted for "dinner club". There are four other couples we get together with once a month. Each month someone hosts at their house and prepares the main dish while the other couples provide side dishes and desserts. Well the first month was at Karen's and she had three different types of homemade enchiladas. Man they were yummy...We had a "mexican" theme and had a great time. I really was not excited about following behind Karen since she is such a great cook and hostess.

So I told everyone I would make Brisket (beef that is for all you non-texans :) ) and beans. And then steve and I turned it into a Texas BBQ Party. Like all Texans...we love anytime we celebrate the Lone Star State! And since 5 out of 10 of us are from the lone star state with thought what the heck! Steve made a CD with some good Texas Artists...Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, Guy Clark, Terry Allen, Mac Davis (man i miss texas music)......I decorated with white lights, bandannas, cacti, paper plates, paper towels, yellow roses, and cowboys boots...man i miss home sometimes...

We did we have a great time! Here are some pics....




Here are some good ol'boys...from Harlingen and Herford!




And here is a good ol' Davie County boy with his homemade big ol' belt buckle! (Fyi...in NC nobody says the city they are from...everyone says the county they live in if you ask them where they are from)




The bud is still on these yellow roses!




There are no Urban Cowboys in this bunch!





Just thought i would show you my wonderful table decorations....of course i never think to take the pictures before the party and instead I am taking pics at the end of the night...oh well...

We are so blessed to have our friends.....and when I get the Texas Blues it makes it so much easier to know we have such a good group of friends to spend our time with! Can't wait for next month!

Oh and yes..we played the Hirst name game...always good for laughs and inside jokes!

Karate Kid

Daddy writing here..Mary Alice would have made Mr. Miyagi proud. She had her test for yellow belt Thursday and she passed! So she is now a yellow belt. She didn't even have to "sweep the leg". MA did break a board with her fist (it was two boards that connected in the middle on a groove). She was also the first to count to 5 in Japanese. The funniest part of the whole thing was her attempt to have a VERY dramatic and serious face while she was punching, kicking and blocking. It was so unnatural to see her with a menacing face.

She was very pleased with her performance and looked over at me briefly to smile and give me a thumbs up.

She is carrying on the Hirst tradition of being your average, everyday, run of the mill champion!

Living the Simple Life

No..I am not talking about Paris Hilton and Nichole Richie...I am talking about the 1800s!
While my mom was here, we visited Old Salem and had a great time! I was really surprised at how much fun I and the kids had. While we were their I started to realize how "simple" their life was and how crazy mine seems to be. While I do enjoy technology ( blogging, running water, electricity) I do think i would really enjoy some of the practices of the past. Where is the balance? Well I will not belabor my point...but I am determined to bring a little of the "simple" back to our lives! Here are some pics from our day!

here is charlie talking to one of the ladies


Here is Mary Alice dressed in authentic Moravian clothing



Charlie had the most fun playing in the barn.



Here are Mary Alice, Charlie and Mom on the streets.



Here is a picture of the kids taking a rest from all the walking..




And lastly here are some pics of the kids and G-Ma. We miss you G-Ma. We had such a great time...and cannot wait to see you in November!

If it aint't broke...

Well you know the saying....."if it ain't broke, don't fix it." So, that is exactly what we have done for Charlie's birthday parties. We partied at Tanglewood last year and we partied again this year.

I just had to include some pictures from this year and last...what a difference a year makes! Here is what charlie had to say about his party.



Eating cupcakes was a little easier and not so messy....



Blowing out candles was wayyyyy easier.....



Now that Mrs. Barbara does not have to carry us around she has more time for "other" activities :)



and, I still have the best friends a boy could ask for.....



I had a great day! I played with my friends, rode a train (that sweet Mrs. Karen charged it up and brought it to the party..thank you Mrs. Karen), and took swings at a chile pepper pinata, but the best part of all had to be.....




having my "Ma"