Who wants to join me?

Its that time of year again. No, its not what you are thinking. I know its autumn... But it is my annual "Clothing Challenge" (for lack of a better title).

What am I talking about you ask?
Here is the deal: I love clothes. My dad call it a sickness. I call it good clean fun. I don't know about you, but I am always wanting new clothes. And I find myself wearing the same 8-10 items all the time. I counted how many tops were hanging in my closet today. 51. Not joking. There is NO way I have even wore them all this summer. And that is not including what was on my body and in the wash.
That, my friends, is a problem. So here is the challenge, (I am doing it...you can too)

1. Take a look at your closet. Count the shirts. You can do it. Then go back and donate/sell (whatever you prefer) anything that you have not worn this summer.

2. Then, organize the rest of them in any order you prefer.
3. Now, here is the tough part. Wear them. All of them. You are allowed to switch the order if the weather doesn't correspond with the shirt.

*Here is the clincher: If you try on a shirt and for whatever reason ("I look fat", "I don't feel like wearing this color", "I wish it was looser in a certain area"...whatever...) You MUST get rid of the shirt.

Anyone willing to try it with me? The challenge starts Sunday and goes through Oct. 31. I will update every Friday. Feel free to leave a comment about how it is going for you. Good luck!

OBX

This Cape Hatteras Light House. The tallest one in the U.S. Its too bad we got there when it was pretty much dark. And we were terrified of the mosquitoes. So we stayed in the car and took a picture. We rock.

You think he is cute...

But we thought otherwise. This is his reaction the first time we took him to the beach. So lame. He cried because he didn't like the way the sand felt.

Brooke on the other hand could care less. She just sucked on her toes.

And slept. On the beach.

Q: Whats wrong with this picture?

A: Jamie's sunglasses = too big

Bryan's sunglasses = too small!

We took a trip to an aquarium in Virginia Beach on our way to North Carolina.

The Gieco Gecko. I thought he would be cooler.

Brooke at the Otter exhibit. Real or fake? I will never tell.

Sharks + boys = trouble.

Virginia Beach definitely made our Top 20 list of places we could live. Its was so pretty. The beach here is great! And there is a pine forest. Awesome.

6 Months Already?

Where did the time go???

Thanks for the great pictures McCall!

You know you are safe when...

You receive a citation on your front door from the Police saying you have violated code. One might ask..."What in the world have the Hays' done to get the attention of the Munhall Police department???"
The answer is obvious. If you had the time to look over the fence into the back yard.

But seriously?! The Police have that much time on their hands in my little bourough??? Really?"Oh come on officer! Our grass isn't out of control! Not at all!"

Okay. Maybe it was. Just a little. This is the yard half mowed. Eek.

Choices

I have been thinking lately. (I know, weird.) I was thinking about how all the little things in life add up. Even though they seem so insignificant, they end up shaping the person that you are, and the kind of life you end up with. I know I have heard this my entire life. "Make Good Choices!"- my parents always said. But it is so true. It just sort of hit me that what I am doing today will affect many many tomorrows to come. For example, (sorry, gotta use the dental knowledge!) flossing daily. Such a small thing. And it takes what? 45 seconds? And for 45 seconds a day, I can keep my teeth for the next 60+ years. And putting on sunscreen. Takes 30 seconds. Prevents cancer. Result- longer life. What about the choice to go to college? And Where you go? That makes a huge difference on the kind of friends you make. And the activities you participate in. Which determines your career. For the rest of you life. And you get to make this decision when you are 18 years old. And want to just play and hang out with friends. Holy cow. Second thought: I am glad that my dad didn't let me skip Sunday School. I tried to ditch. Really. But he would find me and drag me back. Time and time again. I am so glad he had the perseverance. I am glad my parents dragged us kids out of bed every morning before school to read scriptures. Small things. 15 minutes a day. I think it paid off. I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. I know he lives.
I hope I can remember to do the small things that make such a big difference down the road. I am forever grateful to my parents for guiding me and helping me reach my goals. Now I feel like the hard part as just begun. I have to do a zillion small things and hope that I do the right small things so my children are affected for good. For the rest of their life. Wow. Does anyone else feel like this is a huge challenge? And that our parents are truly amazing people.

Chipmonk

Peter's latest: Saving food for later. In his cheeks. Nasty.

(But actually impressive that he can hold as much food as he does in that little mouth!)