Hall Things Considered

And More Catch Up

2010-12-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

August & September

In the Summer keeping cool is priority one.

This year, Caleb took matters into his own hands.

I'd found him on top of the bathroom counter a couple of times before this, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out how he'd gotten up there! This time, I caught him in the act. He stood on the little stool the older kids use when they're brushing their teeth. This got him up high enough that if he stood on his tip toes and stretched, he could just reach the end of the faucet. Then using his very big baby hands and ridiculously strong grip (have I mentioned before that this kid is crazy strong?) he muscled himself up to his waist, swung his leg over and pulled himself the rest of the way up. Easy peasy. Seriously.

We also finished the boys' room

Which led to a little jungle exploration.

We took our traditional, hottest day of the year photo.

(The digital thermometer in the van topped out at 126 that day.)

And on Labor Day, we made a daytrip into the mountains of California to have some fun outdoors

that didn't involve a swimming pool!

(That's an acorn in Alaina's hand. She collected about fifty of them.)

Bye, Summer!

Catch Up

2010-12-22T12:38:00.000-08:00

All right. Here we go!

July

We painted and switched the kids bedrooms.

We took a trip to visit family,

attend a Highschool reunion

and get out of the heat!

(Sadly, 105 in St. George felt GREAT to us!)

We saw a parade.

We celebrated with family and fireworks.

We drove a lot.

We spent some quality time with old friends.

Then we said good bye

and drove a lot more.

A whole lot.

We drove so much that poor Caleb came out with his first sentence

about 10 hours into the drive home:

"Ya, I want out!"

The feeling was mutual, but we finally made it.

Fall Things Considered

2010-10-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

OK. it's been quite a while, and I promise I will do some catching up soon on the last several weeks for our family and friends that care to hear about them, but something happened today that I just had to share first.

I need to preface this story by explaining that I love Autumn. I love the way the light softens and changes in September as the sun travels lower in the sky. I love to watch the colors creep down the mountains and into the valleys when the temperatures start to drop at night.

(Yes, it's a real place, and we lived there.)

I love to walk into the market and see fresh cider from local growers. I love breaking out sweaters and jackets. I love to help my kids plan their Halloween costumes and decorate the house. I love taking them to a pumpkin patch and watching them run around a hay bale maze and pick out exactly the right bright orange globe. I love drinking cocoa or spiced cider on a chilly evening. I love to drive through canyons that look like this:

I love it all!

I have very vivid memories of walking to school in Kindergarten and First grade ( I lived in a town and a time when you could do that...) and having bright yellow leaves so deep on the sidewalks they came most of the way up to my knees as I shooshed through them.

My family moved away, but my husband and I ended up living in that same town after we were married and in the same neighborhood, so I got to watch my oldest son playing in huge piles of those yellow leaves from those same old trees his first four Autumns. And I miss it.

Don't get me wrong, we love Fall here as well, but mostly because it means a reprieve from the wicked Summer temperatures and a return to outdoor activities other than swimming. My two youngest have never experienced any part of the things I described above, and that makes me sad sometimes.

We have a friend who still lives in the same town we left who knows how much I love and miss this time of year. He always watches for that first magical morning when the shift from Summer to Fall happens, when you can feel and smell the change in the air, and then he gives us a call to describe it and tell us he misses us. (Really good friends are golden, and we have been lucky enough to have several in our lives. Trust me, when you're blessed enough to find remarkable people like this, you will want to hold onto them!)

Well this year, he took it a step further. When my husband brought in the mail today, he handed me this package.

It was addressed to me and came from our friend. When I opened it this is what I found.

It is one of the loveliest, kindest things anyone has ever done for me. I love Fall. :)

2010-07-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am grateful for:

And a (finally)...

Good night, bub.

(Pfew!)

Busy

2010-06-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

Our Summer here is really short, (school goes well into June and starts back up early in August) so we have to pack a lot into a small amount of time. As a result, we have been one busy bunch! Here's the condensed version.

We finished school and commenced Summer festivities.

We turned 4 and got cool stuff from Grandma and Grandpa.

We had a fun, crazy party with fun, crazy friends.

We climbed...

and climbed ...and climbed...

...and climbed pretty much everything that was possible.

(And a few things that were impossible,

which explains a lot of the little bumps and bruises that seem to magically appear...)

And we celebrated
Father's Day
with one
pretty awesome Dad.

Not bad for a couple of weeks. How's your Summer so far?

Photo Finished

2010-05-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

We tried to take a Mother's Day photo with me and the kids Sunday.

It didn't quite go the way we had envisioned....

Almost.

Not...

even...

close!

So, maybe it's not picture perfect, but I love my life.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Carpe Libri

2010-03-19T22:17:00.000-07:00

We went to the library today. On our way, Alaina paid me one of my all-time favorite compliments: "Mom, you look just like a woman." Umm...thanks.

Later, as we left, one book's sensor hadn't been properly deactivated and the alarm at the exit went off. Ben looked extremely uncomfortable for a bit and then finally said, "Are the police coming now, or what?"

I am happy to report that we made a clean getaway.

Rough Day

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Larry came home from work pretty tired the other day. He is awfully busy keeping up on so many projects at once, and he was just beat. It must have been a rough day in general for the Hall men because Caleb had been absolutely ornery. ALL DAY. (How can a person that small be so loud, anyway?)

I was outside at the grill and Larry came out to the backyard to play with Caleb for a minute while dinner finished cooking. He flew him like an airplane for a bit and then it got quiet. I didn't think much about it until I turned to go inside and saw this:

Afterwards, they both felt much better.

Twenty Little Things I Always want to Remember:

2010-02-27T20:32:00.000-08:00

1) The way Alaina use to say "strah-bid-aze" for strawberries.

2) The way Caleb gently bonks his forehead on yours to say, "I love you"

3) The way Ben gets embarassed and tries to keep from smiling when you talk about mushy stuff.

4) Larry (goodnaturedly) teasing and asking if he should beat up Ben, and Alaina's enthusiastic, "YESSSSS!" (And poor Ben's scream and laugh as they "attack".)

5) Caleb repeating his favorite word over and over (Dadadadadadadadadadad...)

6) Alaina checking her dress-up outfit in the mirror and saying, "Beautiful. Just beautiful."

7) Ben's elaborate drawings and plans for gadgets and inventions.

8) Asking Caleb a question and having him very matter-of-factly answer, "Ya." (His second of two words now.)

9) Asking Alaina to do something and having her ask, "Why?" Reminding her that the correct reply is, "Yes, Mom" and getting back, "Yes, Mom. But why?"

10) The look on Ben's face when he held each of his siblings for the first time.

11) The look on Larry's face when he saw each of them for the first time.

12) Their expressions of wonder when you show them the little green shoots coming from the seeds they helped to plant.

13) Caleb picking and dutifully trying to eat tiny green tomatoes from the garden.

14) Alaina chasing Ben around to try to hug and kiss him and Ben running as if his life depended on it.

15) Caleb's grin of glee as he chases you and growling hug when he catches you.

16) My kids shivering and asking for hot cocoa when it gets down to 70 degrees. (We've definitely acclimated to the desert.)

17) Ben's astonished and delighted smile the first time he made a goal in soccer and a shot in basketball.

18) The way Caleb has always crinkled up his nose and muttered to himself when he's eating or drinking something he loves.

19) How it felt to hear them say, "Mom" for the first time (especially helpful to recall when you're hearing it in a demanding tone for the 100th time in half an hour...)

20) Everyone piling on the sofa together, sitting next to my sweetheart and the feeling that comes when our arms are full and our hearts are full...and then some.

Scent of a (Particular) Woman

2010-02-18T19:12:00.000-08:00

I passed by the fragrance counter in the store today and decided to stop and try something. Chanel no. 5 caught my eye. I thought, "That's the most famous women's fragrance in the world. It's been around for almost ninety years. I heard once that a bottle is sold somewhere an average of every thirty seconds (my mind is full of all kinds of ~~useless~~ helpful trivia like that...) and I don't even know what it smells like!"

So I stopped and sniffed and sprayed a bit on my wrists. I started to walk on and thought, "I know that scent. I think I use to know someone who wore this. Who was it?"

A minute or two later it hit me. It was my great-grandmother! She wore it. Quite a lot of it actually. It's amazing to me the clarity of recall that is attached to our sense of smell. She passed away when I was about three and yet I still have such a clear memory of her; what she looked like, how soft the skin on her hands was, the fur colar on her thick wool coat and how she loved big sparkly costume jewelry...and perfume.

So now I know. No. 5 may not be the fragrance for me, but it was nice to visit Grandma for a few minutes.

Pink Things

2010-02-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

When you are three and love the color pink and all things girlie, it's like Valentine's Day was made for you!

She was already beside herself when we were "heart-attacked" and someone left pink, heart-shaped cookies, but when we cut into her morning grapefruit and it was pink too, it just about put her over the edge!

My Valentine's wish for you, sweet girl, is that you will always keep the ability to find joy in simple things, everyday. XOXO

Fraternal Love

2010-02-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes,

you just really need a big brother.

Whatever Works

2010-02-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

Cleaning the kids rooms is usually a chore for me as well as them because they tend to drag it out forever. This morning as the dispirited "Awwwww"s died away after I announced it was time again, we decided to try something different.

We have a bag of Valentine "conversation hearts" right now. I told the kids that we were going to set the timer for 30 minutes. They were going to work together, one room at a time, to get their bedrooms picked up and the sheets changed. However many minutes that remained when the job was completed to my satisfaction was how many pieces of candy they would each receive. With my help (and prodding), this process normally takes 45 minutes to an hour. This morning with me stepping in only on the tricky parts of the sheets, they each walked away with sixteen candy hearts! Not bad.

I heard a presentation on parenting years ago, I think from John Lund. He was talking about a very similar situation and I remember him saying, "Now, some of you may ask, "But isn't that bribery?" And the answer is...no. Bribery is illegal."

So, let's just call this a highly effective, sugar-based incentive. And judging by the results of my now happily playing children and clean home, I would say it's one that we will probably use again...

Serendipity

2010-01-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday I was reading my scriptures and when I went to look up a cross reference, I accidentally turned to the wrong chapter...and came across exactly what I needed to hear.

I love Paul. He was brave. He was pragmatic. He was blunt. His words made me laugh because it's what I would want to tell a friend who was in my position, but might be too polite to actually say. And then I teared up because I'm so grateful that with everything that goes on in this busy world, God still takes the time and knows me well enough to encourage me through a rough spot and to remind me that it's what He thinks that really matters. Thanks. I needed that.

Cool

2010-01-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

Tonight as I was putting some ketchup on Alaina's plate for her, she asked why I was doing that. I told her because I knew she wanted some and because I am the coolest mom ever.

"You're not cool," she said.

"I think I do lots of cool things," I replied.

"Like when you teach me ballet? That's cool."

"Yes, like that."

"But mom, you're not cool. I'm cool."

"Well, you are cool because you get it from me and your cool dad!"

"No," she said thoughtfully. "You're not cool because I took all your cool."

Hmmm. Maybe so... but I think the end product was worth it.

Had ourselves a merry little Christmas...

2010-01-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

"'Twas the night before Christmas..."

There was anticiaption....

...and a little excitement!

My favorite quotes from the kids this Christmas:

"Christmas is the BEST holiday of the year! And this is the best Christmas EVER!!" -Ben (8)

"I just knew Santa was bringing me a play kitchen but I didn't

tell myself because I wanted it to be a surprise!" -Alaina (3)

"Uhyuhyuhagldadada!" -Caleb (364 days)

And my personal favorite: "You'd better stop it or Santa will put you on the naughty list." -Alaina to Ben

"Santa is not even watching right now. He's still delivering presents. He won't be watching us again until January." -Ben to Alaina

Hope your days were merry, and bright!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Zzzzs

2010-01-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Introducing the latest and most cutting edge in bedtime parenting techniques -It's called:
Putting the baby to sleep...

...by example.

Investigation

2009-12-23T06:29:00.000-08:00

"Who me? What is what?..."

"What, this? In my mouth?...."

"It's a really, really, really BIG jingle bell, of course! It's Christmastime. What else would it be?! (Grownups ask the silliest questions...)

Ben's Baptism

2009-12-22T23:50:00.000-08:00

This was some amazing weekend. Thanks B & V for making the looooooong, not-so-scenic trip. We sure loved sharing Ben's special day with you. Thanks for all the fun, cousin time - let's do it again soon!

9 kids + 2 days + 1 small house = not much sleep and a whole lotta fun!!

Hanna Barbera, the Bard and the Babe

2009-12-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

Remember this episode of Tom and Jerry? The sitter is talking on the phone and the baby makes a b-line for the great outdoors and crawls all over creation with Tom risking life and limb to save him? I say "him" because I happen to know that baby was a boy...and his name was Caleb!

Every time a door opens - front, back, garage, whatever - that kid's face lights up and he tears over to try to make it out before anyone can snag him. I have a very clear mental picture from that cartoon of the baby's little backside waggling back and forth as he crawled down the sidewalk and I have seen it repeated several times now in real life, but at about twice the speed.

"O wonder!

How many goodly creatures
are there here!

How beautious mankind is!

O brave new world,

That has such people in't!"

(Yeah, he's partial to Shakespeare, this one..."Na na na na na, you can't catch me...")

Even just coralled in the back yard the other day, he managed to crawl through the knees of his first pair of pants - definitely an important milestone in any boy's life.

There's a whole lotta world out there to see, buddy, but for now, please just wait a minute. I'll get my shoes and then we'll go take a look at it all together.

Great to be Eight!

2009-12-13T23:35:00.000-08:00

Ben is getting baptized this week! Holy cow, he's growing so fast. And man, I love that kid.

Here are some shots from the "photo session" (read: mom following you around with the digital camera for half an hour while you do what you do) for his announcements.

He started off with his patented
"because I'm humoring my mom"
look.

Starting to loosen up...

A smile! A smile! (almost...)

I think he actually stood on every rock there at one point or another.

That's Ben...

...aaaaand that's a keeper!

(So is he.)

Love you, Bub!

Surrender

2009-12-09T21:41:00.000-08:00

So, despite all my well-laid birthday plans, yesterday did not go as anticipated. We were sick. Very sick. Even the birthday boy. I won't go into detail, but we were in pretty pathetic shape, trust me.

Today as her daddy and I slowly recuperated, Alaina woke up shiny and bright and ready to jump into the day like nothing had happened. I tried in vain to get her to rest or take a nap or even hold still long enough to read a book, but she'd have none of it.

After her brother came home from school and they both went to play outside, I heard her little three-year-old voice getting higher, and louder and more frustrated by the minute. Finally, she came rushing up in a storm of tears declaring that he had hurt her. "I said I was sorry!" came the distant interjection from the backyard. Somehow unmoved by this heartfelt apology, she climbed up on the couch by me. Her little limbs and face were chilled through and I wrapped a blanket around both of us and held her close as I smoothed her hair back from her tear-streaked face. She was out in less than a minute.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, if we stop running around and fussing and are still for just a minute, maybe what we really, really need will catch up with us.

30+

2009-12-08T00:29:00.000-08:00

Today is my husband's birthday. Not so long ago on his 30th birthday, we came home from the hospital with our first son (top that for a great gift!) and our lives changed forever. We'd been married for more than eight years when Ben finally came along, and we found it interesting that people basically consider you to be newly weds until you take that big step into the brave new world of parenthood.

It was just us and Ben for four years, and then in the course of the last three years, our family has grown to five. There's a dramatic change, for you!

I was sitting in the living room earlier this evening watching Larry and the kids bustle around, and for just a moment, I had a crystaline realization that my whole world was in that little room. I tried to take a mental picture because if I've learned anything about kids, it's that everything passes by so quickly and they change in a heartbeat.

So now, for just a minute, Ben is a tall, thin gradeschooler - all knees and elbows - beginning to figure out who he is and how the world works. Alaina is a precocious, dancing three year old who will talk to anybody anywhere about any subject that comes to her active little mind. And Caleb is coming up on a year (already!) with the fastest knees in town and a ferocious curiosity that is balanced with a tender appreciation for his siblings, his Mom and his Daddy.

Oh, his Daddy! All he has to do is walk into the room and that kid grins from ear to ear, does a funny little wiggle of delight and then lunges at him for some attention. Larry is a rock star as far as that boy is concerned. And I have to say, seeing him with our children, watching him be the kind of dad he never had himself, I love him more and more.

Happy birthday, Larry. I love you!

Anniversary of a Goodbye

2009-11-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

The fateful night was dark and cold. A storm was on the way.

Our friends stood by, we laughed and cried and hurried on our

Chores to get all packed and scrubbed and boxed with bubble wrap.

A decade lived in one small house; you get a lot of

Memories, with dear, kind friends who’ve seen you through whatever.

Although just several hundred days, feels like it’s been

Four years ago, we hugged you all and bid a fond farewell.

We loaded up into the truck and headed off to

Arizona, land of sun, where palm trees dance and sway.

We love it here this time of year, but miss you every

Now and then, like on dark nights and days that end in “y”.

Farewell to Logan, once again. We’ll see you by and by.

Juicy Things

2009-10-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

The rest of you may be surprised to hear this, but God created oranges especially for our Caleb. It's true! He's nice enough to share with the rest of us, but no on has ever loved them more than this kid! He's nine months old now and still has no teeth (although he seems to be working violently on a debut pair today), but he gums the wedges to death and can polish off a whole orange himself in about ten minutes. Now that's something to smile about!

Dance Hall

2009-09-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Last night we celebrated the first day of Fall. I wanted to commemorate surviving another Summer in the desert. No small thing when temperatures top out around 118 and only drop into the 90's at night. So even though we will still be in triple digits during the day for a while longer, I decided to take advantage of the cooler evening and Larry and I sat on the patio late last night and shared some sparkling cider in grown-up glasses. The stars were very bright last night and it was a delicious moment.

This morning, Alaina anounced that it was time for her to dress up like a princess and dance. So she designed a fabulous outfit (she has quite a nack for accessorizing) and whirled around the living room to Elvis' "Hound Dog". I don't know how princess-like it was, but I love her zest for life.

Small Things Reconsidered

2009-09-22T15:34:00.001-07:00

Life is speeding up. And despite my best efforts to simplify and spend more time doing the things I love with the people I love, it is also getting busier and more complicated.

These are all reasons that, in the past, have kept me out of the blogsphere. The last thing I was looking for was one more thing to add to my to-do list. But recently, I've been craving a way to focus on the things that matter the most to me.

Anais Nin once said, “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.” So I'm hoping that by writing about it, I'll be able to savor and share the small things in my life that are actually the things that matter the very most.