Cute kids and Israel's Art

My Sunday kids- somehow (even though we stayed up until 12:30 am watching A lot like Love) we were actually ready for church early this morning and the kids were matching and cute (thanks to Jane), so we took some pictures of the fam. in our front yard.



Here's some of Israel's book he made for his teacher for her birthday. She always tells me it's difficult to send his work home and I discovered that it was difficult to let his book go. I actually cried a little bit reading it one last time with Stan. He laughed and said, "lets take pictures." What a brilliant man I married:)

Hi Santa . . .

And she did better than Julia who shouted "No, No, No" once it got to our turn:)

Anybody else have children terrified of Santa?

Mommy, Can We Eat this Lemonade?

Mother's Day/ Warning: Explicit photo

Well we had a Happy Adventurous Mother's Day. I had my piano debut in sacrament meeting (I promise I can play it so much better when there aren't so many people listening) Eliza had a break down in Primary. Once we got home Julia refused to nap, so I went for a breather and read the May Ensign behind the temple while Stan made me a Mother's Day Feast of Pollo Relleno, brocolli, corn on the cob, and brussel sprouts. I've only had br. sprouts 1 time and didn't like them, but Stan wanted to try. I ate 1- I know you're proud. Stan told the kids that if they'd eat one he'd let them had a fruit snack. To our surprise Eliza gulped hers down with a smile. Now Israel was a different story. He tried really hard with one, but just couldn't do it and had to spit it out, but he wanted to try again. We gave him the smallest one left and Stan encouraged him to eat it and drink lots of milk. The last picture is what happened. Look at your own risk.
The pictures in the middle are so you don't have to look at the last one if you don't want to:) This morning at 9am the sprinklers were on outside, so Israel and Eliza has some early morning water fun. (with the pool closed for the summer this might become a habit)

Eliza with her earned fruit snack

Warning- yucky photo below

scroll down at your own risk

Girly Eliza

So, this week we were shopping for white shoes for Easter outfits. We're in Target and I tell the kids, now we just have to find the shoes. Without hesitating Eliza tells me, "Aunt Susan would know, we should ask her" What a cutie.

She's also the girl that when we're in the middle of nowhere on our way to go rock climbing (about 15 miles from dinky little Price, UT) we've been playing the spotting cars in the order of the rainbow game and Stan says let try looking for something else (the cars were getting scarce). Eliza excited "lets look for a store" We often joke how she's such a Hall girl since she didn't get her love of shopping from me:) I like to tell Stan she can do the shopping for us once she gets older, but I don't know if that would be such a good idea.

We got Easter Outfits at Gymboree for Eliza and Julia and Eliza refused to wear hers a cute belted green butterfly dress WITH SLEEVES (I was so happy to find) so we had to trade it for the same one I'd gotten Julia (that is a little more babyish). She didn't like the belt and buttons up the front. So much for my similar but not same Easter idea. She has a mind of her own, but then don't they all:)

"Rice Day"

Each week Eliza and Israel come home from preschool with little "craft" projects. This morning we learned about musical instruments and made that great tambourine - 2 plates stapled together with rice in the middle. These ones even had holes punched in them so we could "sew" them together with yarn.

The only problem was the rice just wouldn't stay in. So, I added more staples, when the rice was still flying, I added tape all along the outside (and it took a while too). Still it kept spilling. How was this possible? And then I discovered the hubris, the character flaw- all those punched holes. Rice couldn't help but escape. So, instead of cleaning the floor yet again, I let the kids have at it. Rice flew everywhere, they wanted it to come out faster, so I removed some tape. Israel got some scissors. Julia was in heaven. I took some pictures and let the kids wreak havoc- telling them we'd clean it up in a little while. He he he, some free Mom time.

They tore their tambourines, Eliza exclaiming it awe, "Mom, it's a plate. I made a plate out of paper!"

Surprising me Israel came to find me after about 10 minutes with a stacking cup filled with rice. "I'm cleaning up Mom, isn't this a good thing?" So we made piles, filled cups with rice and poured the rice into the biggest stacking cup. We played cleanup for quite a while. I-"we're doing a good thing for Jesus," "didn't I have a good idea?" and "aren't we being so good" were often spoken. He even thought of calling today "Rice Day"

I wonder if it was subconscious that we had rice with dinner?

(Eliza made these in the younger preschool as well on Tues. and the first thing she said when I picked her up was "Mom, don't shake it." Right before I'd come some dried bean had escaped, so the Mom was busy adding stables)

So Sweet

Today at dinner Eliza wanted more vegetables even though she wasn't eating her own. Israel had more you see. So she was complaining and then layed her head down facing away from me. Meanwhile I was busy dealing with crying Julia. I was working on the dishes and Israel was still happily eating when I realized Eliza hadn't moved in a while. She was knocked out cold and didn't even stir when I carried her to bed. It was so sweet. I'm not sure why it touched me, but while I had this warm feeling for my dear middle child I wanted record it here. What a life she has being in the middle. Israel is bigger and stronger and knows more while Julia needs so much more attention. I wonder sometimes if she just needs of Stan and me. She has been struggling going to preschool and Sunbeams recently and having lots of sad crying time. A few weeks ago I was praying and reading my scriptures and worrying about Eliza and what I got was that she needs more of me. When I give her more one on one her moods are so much better. (now to figure out how I can give her more consistently)

Out of the Mouth of Babes . . .

These have been on the side bar, but they were taking up so much space I haven't been adding to them. So I'm posting them here again- in case you missed them-and I'm going to try a new page element for future funnies.


I- when leaving our Brazilian friends, "Ka-chow, ka-chow" (good-bye lightning McQueen style) 11-6-08
I- "You have to be cute to be naughty" 11-7-08
I- "Simon says be like Jesus" 10-5-08
E-"I want a hotdog" me-"you had one last night" E- "No I didn't, I didn't eat it" Eliza 8-2-08
"A really bad witch is flying, they take away her broom and she breaks her bones and can't sweep anymore" Israel about a dream 6-10-08
"I already peeped" from Eliza when I asked if she needed to go potty- she's wearing big girl underwear today (6-10-08)
"You can marry Daddy and I'll marry Eliza, but who's going to marry Julia" Israel the concerned big brother 6-3-08
"Oh, oh no, I forgot my marbles" from Israel when we were trying to call him to prayer 6-2-08
"Stop loving, stop loving" what Eliza says whenever she sees Stan and I kiss

Things we learned from cutting Eliza's hair

Well, I tried to cut Eliza's hair Sunday morning. I had cut it once before and it turned out okay, so I wanted to give it another go and when I mentioned it during her bath she wanted her hair cut right then (which turned out to be another 30 minutes later) anyhow, we had trouble in the staying still department and I was getting worried it would get too short, so I quit trying to even it out and put her hair in a ponytail for church. The evening we realized how crooked the cut was... so Monday morning I called the Hidden Clipper to get an appt. with my fav. stylist, one of the few I've actually known previous (she comes occationally to yoga). Kate is the one that thinned and textured my hair last fall and made it way more managable. Also- really cheap- 12 for a wash and cut (22 if you add the style). She gives lots of hair tips and has been cutting hair for about 7 years. Anyway, here's what she taught me as she cut Eliza's hair (and made her first appt. a positive experience) Part hair down the middle. Start at center back with chin tucked into chest. Cut straight across all the hair behind the ears. Next the tricky part- to make it match at the ears have her tilt head away from the side you're working on. Hold cut hair and hair to be cut together and then cut at a downward angle. She said if you try to cut straight you almost always cut up instead. Think A line. Keep head to opp. side as you cut that side. Do other side the same, and then bring hair forward. Make sure it matches but pulling down on both sides. To soften the front just cut the tips off the hair cutting upwards into the hair. Next for gentle layering. With little girls layer only the back (behind the ears) or else they're get lots and lots of extra wispys especially if like Eliza they have fine hair. Pick up a vertical section (again start in the middle) pull out from head then slightly turn it up- cut section in a C shape. Continue working on either side.
I know this stuff is really basic, but it is making me hopeful that I can cut her hair next time I try. Also, she said the hair needs to be really really wet to cut straight when hair is so fine. So, just in case you wanted these pointers, and so I wouldn't forget them, I'm sharing them with you. Next time you see Eliza check out her stylist do.

Never cry . . .My bed is broken

Most every night Eliza tells us my bed is brokon as we send her to bed. Her blankets have to be just right and she sleeps with 4 of them and 2 pillows (her choice). She also sleeps at the bottom of her bed horizontally (we've been joking that we'll just at Julia to the top of the bed and we could take down the crib). Okay back to Eliza- when she told us last night at 9:30 pm when we finally sent the kids to bed- since we'd had the Wesley's down from West Jordan- I almost just told her to deal with it. Thankfully I went to check it out and all the kids had actually broken her bed. We had to fix the boards and the box springs. So let this be a lesson- never cry . . . my bed is broken:)

Leaf Time- Nov. 12th

Yesterday Wymount took all of our damp leaves that had totally covered the ground and made wonderful piles. The only thing was they didn't come back quick enough to pick up the piles before thrilled children got to them:) Trina and I didn't want to tell our children not to play in leaves. That's what kids do right? So here are some pictures of our kids and their leaf time. Trina's boys are Travis (in the green) and Jeremy (in the blue coate and hat).

Happy Hall Birthday!

I don't want to commit to really posting consistantly again, but wanted to at least give a Happy Birthday Cheer to my 3 kiddos, now 5, 3, and 1. Here's some pictures from the fun. We had a party at Nelson Grove Park in Orem- gorgeous park if you've never seen it. The only down side we could discover- you can't fill up water there. We sent a friend to fill up our Gott cooler somewhere else- we were quite thirsty on our hot Sat. afternoon. (The pavilians aren't covered)

For some reason I can't seem to move my pictures around- sorry about the weird order, I'm too tired and lazy to try to figure it out any better.
Israel opened this ball first and ran off to play with it with Nathan and Travis. We didn't open all their presents because they didn't even want too. Playing was too fun.
There were a lot of balloons at the party- I'd learned how to make ballon animals and we'd gotten helium filled balloons -that got horribly tangled- and Aunt Dana brought balloons too. What a party


Julia happy with her link toys

This lady bug cake took an entire jar of no taste red coloring to be this red. Julia was happy until it was gone.

Israel and Eliza shared the sheet cake- it took some help to get the candles blown out- thanks Uncle Jason
Eliza got 2 sets of wings from both her Hall aunts- she loves them.

Happy Independence Weekend!

First we went to Dana and Jason's block party and had lots of fun. Israel and Eliza especially enjoyed the rides behind the tractor. Then it was up to Bear Lake with all my side of the family that's living in Utah (27 people)- with only 2 bathrooms between us getting all ready for 8:30 am church was an adventure and I don't know how we did it, but we were all on time. Jane and Bruce brought up 2 4-wheelers with those and Mom and Dad's Polaris Ranger we got pretty dirty having fun driving up Mill Canyon and up to Temple Flat.


Aunt Jan let Israel and Eliza ride their miniture horse/pony Squirt. They took the baby bunnies for a "walk" and did farm chores brushing down Squirt and taking water to the goats.

We also of course spent plenty of time at the lake. Stan practiced open water swimming and my brother Mike gave him some pointers on howto swim straight (a problem in the Provo Tri) I rode the wave boards with my sisters and we all made sand castles and tried to keep Julia from eating them. It was great to be in Laketown- it's a place I can easily allow my body to really relax and enjoy.

We also went to Minnetonka Cave in St. Charles, ID. It was a really fun, cool tour. We spent 90 minutes underground. Israel was Grandma's buddy the whole time and was so creative. The last picture is of a Stalagtite( or is it mite) called the groom. Israel saw it and said right off that it was a space ship taking off. I think his interpretation is much better:)

Week in Review

Where you can commonly find Israel. I'm having to limit his playing time and have no MarioKart days. He is getting good is anybody wants to give it a go. Israel and Eliza's cousin's came down to Provo and we went to the Earth Science Museum to see the dinosaurs, the Bean Museum (for dead animals), the Creamery (for ice cream of course), the library (for their uncle Derrick and the moving bookshelves), the Museum of Art, and then home again. Talk about taking good naps!

Stan's Provo Triathlon- Wow! I'm married to a triathlete. I want a healthy heart for Stan so I'm really glad he's gotten into this sport- even if I have been giving him a hard time.

We tried to skip Eliza's nap and thought we'd just put her down at 7pm. Well, I came out of the bathroom and what did I find . . . out cold on our cement like floor.

AND believe it or not- Stan and I actually went on a real date late last night after all our babies were sleeping (although Israel did get up and brush his teeth while we were out). We saw Get Smart (the first movie we've paid full price for- 8.25 is pretty steep- in 2 years. We enjoy the dollar theatre and netflix) Anyway, it was really fun even if the movie didn't start until 10:15 and we didn't get home until after midnight. We felt young and spontaneous and in love. It was a really good night. We need to get more of them (even if our kids still woke up at 7 am this morning). Thanks Katie and Jason for babysitting.