Pregnant!

We are expecting a little one in October 2013!!! I have started a new blog about my pregnancy journey. I will not be keeping up with this blog for now. If you would like the link to my new blog, shoot me an email! 

maryehale@gmail.com

We are SO excited!

Summer to-do-list all checked off!

I love lists....I know I am a dork! In about April I made a Summer to-do-list. We checked the last item off yesterday which was swimming in the Salado Creek. We've done a lot this Summer but saved the one that was within walking distance from the house last! Here is a review of the fun Summer we've had in 2012:

Rope Swing at the Creek in Salado

Rope Swing At the Salado Creek

spent a day (not long enough) in Houston to see our SHSU friends

ate a BOOMSTICK at the Ballpark in Arlington

Canyon Lake, TX

Riverwalk in San Antonio

Faust Hotel in New Braunfels, TX

waited 2 hours in line for the Master Blaster at Schlitterbahn- totally worth it!

Parasailing in Key West, FL

We wanted to take a beach vacation...so we realized we had enough points on our credit card to do a cruise from Miami to Nassau, CocoCay, and Key West. GREAT vacation! 

Everything we've done this Summer has been amazing. One thing I've realized is that you don't have to travel too far or spend much money to have a fabulous time! Many of the things we did were free, paid for through something else besides us, or we had groupons to help cut cost. I can't wait to complete next Summer's to-do list :) 

Wildlife in Salado

We've lived in Salado almost a year! Many friends have asked what wildlife we've seen...well we have been keeping a list going and putting it on our fridge. Here is what either Sean or I have seen so far-- enjoy!

Turkey
Pig
Longhorns
Cows
Llama
Sheep
Goat
Deer
Donkeys
Turtles
Ducks
Emu
Fox
Skunk
Rabbit
Possum
Scorpion
Snake
Frog
Hummingbird
Zebra...
Coyote
Armadillo
Raccoon
Ram
Road Runner
Vulture
Chicken



Here are some pictures!

Turkeys!

Mama and Baby Deer

one of the most random Zebras....besides the Zebra in Huntsville, TX!

Rams

Bucket List

One of my friends, her two sons, and the child she was expecting passed away this week in a tragic accident.   She was a tri-athlete, a marathon runner, a wonderful mother, and a friend. She encouraged me to keep running. Playing guitar was on her bucket list, so I helped her learn to play a few songs. She lived life to the fullest! What a beautiful life she and her babies led.

She was only 25 years old, so it really got me thinking what is on my bucket list? So here are a few things on my bucket list...

• Have a baby....we are not able to get maternity insurance, but hopefully soon!

                         

• Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France

• All inclusive resort, beach bungalow house, or something else fun like that...

• Other places I would love to travel: Brazil, French Polynesia, Greece, Almost anywhere in Europe or South America, Cabo San Lucas, and SO many more!!!

• Stomp on Grapes at a vineyard (Might be able to do this in Salado, but would love to to it in Northern Cali, Oregon, or Washington 

                                

• Be a part of a live TV audience

• Other things that would be awesome- learn another language, play golf, zip line....

...Time to start crossing more things off the list!

Pinterest changed my life!

Almost everyone has heard of Pinterest by now. For those of you who haven't or for those of you who don't 'get it', this is my advertisement. It is a virtual pin-board one uses to save ideas for a later time. It is kind of like book-marking websites, but it makes it easier to find your idea because it has one simple picture. It also makes it easier to share your idea, because once you pin something, your followers can view it too. Below are examples of some boards. Within each board are multiple pins with links to websites for ideas!!

What have I used it for?

money-saving tips

health and fitness tips

holiday ideas

cleaning and organizing tips

planning trips

music lessons and music therapy ideas!

Those are examples of boards you can use. Here are some examples of specific pins I have saved:

When you click on the pin, it goes to the website it came from. Pinterest is genius and inspirational!

Follow me: http://pinterest.com/pampacow/ 

from Arizona to Texas- Update!

The last two years in Arizona were.....an adventure! There were really good times and really bad times. I think we went through some of the hardest life-stuff you could go through all packed in about two years. We lost loved ones-both friends and family, went through car accidents, hospital visits, and somehow managed to live off of $1800/month in the 6th largest city in the nation!

The second year we were in AZ, we got closer with some amazing friends and made sure to travel around the beautiful states of Arizona and California. Good times for sure! Without these good times, I have no idea how we would have made it through! We were able to see the Grand Canyon, Sedona, The Apache Trail, Flagstaff, and lots of cool stuff in San Diego. We made it a point to do Friday Happy Hours with our ASU friends. It became a highly successful way to get grad students together on a weekly basis :) Gosh we had some great times with the ASU friends!

Summer 2011 was pretty great! We were stressed trying to find jobs, but we were able to spend lots of quality time with good friends and family in Arlington/Houston :)

Now we are living in Salado, TX.....a very small village (that is what they like to call it...) just North of Austin. It has been a fun place so far. We have made friends quickly! The last couple of months have really been amazing....financial stability, a reliable car, no sickness, just pure happiness :) We are beyond thankful. Salado is so beautiful- lots of deer, a golf course, blue lake.....just so nice. I am working a few part time jobs. I teach voice, piano, and guitar lessons. I am a music therapist with 2 clients who are great! I also work part-time at a Bed and Breakfast here in Salado- it is a pretty place that stays pretty busy! Sean is a music minister for the Methodist church here in town. So far, he is building up the choir rapidly! I don't think there have been many Wednesday nights where we haven't gained a new choir member! One of our choir members is Holly Dunn, a country singer that has been nominated for Grammy's and is in the country music hall of fame!

Salado is a fun place to be :) God has blessed us for sure.

We're moving to Salado, TX!

The Hale's are moving to Salado, TX! Salado is about 50 miles North of Austin, 50 miles South of Waco. It is a small town off of I-35 full of Bed and Breakfasts, antique shops, and wild life. 

Sean will be the music minister at the Methodist church (pictured above). He'll be their first full-time music minister. The chapel of the church has been around since the 1850's!

Mary is currently looking to start a private practice with music therapy clients and also teach some music lessons. Her website is: http://musictherapymary.wordpress.com/

Here is a pic of the rental house:

Mary and Sean are excited for their next leap of faith in this charming, small town :)