1st day of 1st grade

1st grade

1st day Kg so you can see how much he has grown.

Israel had a great first day in school. The only complaints were that he didn't get enough turns at hot potato and a run in at recess with The Giant. Seriously he looks like he should be in 4th grade. He made Israel give him the basketball at recess without even saying please. I asked Israel why he gave The Giant the ball and he said he didn't want to get punched. Smart kid.

He talked all about his 3 recesses and Mrs. C reading Amelia Bedelia's 1st Day of School and all the new classroom rules. It's looking like it will be a great school year.

Let's just hope that Israel can keep clear of The Giant. At least they're not in the same class

Playing Ketchup

I've been a posting slacker. Stan's birthday was on April 24th.

My Stan turned 32 years-old. He's really getting up there:) We had to be in Palm Springs for Youth Conference Training (we're going to be Ma and Pa's for the Trek) so we decided to make a day of it.
After training all morning we went to a nice park and played soccer, enjoyed the playground, had a fun picnic, and then Stan opened his presents with a lot of help from the kiddos.
Afterwards we went to How to Train Your Dragon in IMAX 3-D. Very cool experience, but in the future I won't take the girls-they wouldn't keep their glasses on.
Next a quick trip to the Mall to get Stan's watch fixed.
Then to a Brazillian Resturant (like Tucanos in Orem). We were very happy, well fed campers.
What a fun day to spend with my family!



Recent Funny Kid Statements:

Julia asking me to get her a specific food. Me- "That's not possible"
Julia- "I'm impossible!"

On Mother's Day Stan gave me lots of chocolate and caramel. I shared one with the kids and they wanted more.
Me- "You can only eat more if your name is Mommy"
Julia, after a little pause of thought, "My name's Mommy."

Israel loudly at church on Sunday after the Primary President told the Jr. Primary that she wasn't perferct, "You're not?"


Soon to come post: My Front Sight Experience and Israel's T-ball career. Can you believe he caught a fly ball on 1st base?

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:)

Growing Up

When we moved to CA our teaching Israel to bike took a serious pause. We're on a semi-busy 40 mph road with high burms on either side and no sidewalks anywhere. Stan started working with Israel again anyway and Israel can now ride ALL by himself.
Other firsts, he started his first fire (with minimal help from Dad) with flint and steel last night during Family Home Evening when we learned how to work Stan's Kelly Kettle.




ps Today is one of the favorite Hall family holidays- Groundhog's Day. We were awakened at 6am by Granddaddy Hall and tonight we're having a little celebration. Look back for pictures soon!

"How did you know my dad stinks?" and Giant Challah Bread

A neighbor surprised us the night before we left for Christmas in VA (and a huge blizzard- more on that here) by bringing us all lots of gifts. She used to be an Avon lady, and we were showered with lots of Avon goodies. For Stan she gave him cologne and 3 deoderants- to which Israel asked "How did you know my dad stinks?"

On another note I finally made Challah bread (I've fantazised about eating it since my study abroad in Jerusalem in '99.) I used a recipe from one of my Jewish professor's wives. It was 5 hours of rising time. Well in the directions it says 4 small round loaves or braid it. I wanted to braid it just like the kind we always bought early in the morning on Friday mornings in the Orthodox Jewish Quarter. Well, I foolishly made 1 loaf of challah bread instead of 2 or maybe 4 and not surpirsingly needed extra baking time.
It tasted just like I remembered and we devoured half of it last night. The trick was finding a container big enough for the rest of it:) I posted the recipe here Every Day Dinners.

"Mom, does Jesus drink alcohol?"

This from my 5-yr-old, yes my 5-yr-old, last night after scriptures. I didn't know how to respond. I didn't even think Israel knew what alcohol was. He insisted that there was a picture of Jesus drinking alcohol. Did you see it at Church I ask? he's not sure. So, I ask if he knows what alcohol is, but not getting a straight answer I give him a not straight answer back about wine and how in Biblical times wine was possibly grape juice.

I know, pitiful, but I SO wasn't prepared for the question and I don't know myself anyhow. I'm afraid of what Israel is going to ask next.

Help!

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

I Get to Go to School?

Today I told Israel we were going to register him for kindergarten. He thought that he would get to start school today and was really excited. I felt bad explaining he still had to wait until next Fall. We rounded up all necessary documents (including a run by the Dr's office for his immunizations) and we were ready. The falling snow did little to deter our excited bunch. They recognized the playground we've often been to and liked all the bulletin boards in the hallway. Once in the library the kids were super easy while I filled out all the "fun" paperwork, explained to the nurse that Israel's left eye is more dilated than his right, met Mrs. Bigalow who was highly recommended to me for Israel- we'll see if we get her or not- and tromped back to the car.

Many of you reading this post might think it's weird that I registered Israel. You realize, just like I do that we might not even be in Utah in the fall, much less in Rock Canyon's School district. Crazy Mom me wanted to register him anyway, just in case, to get first preferences if we are still here in the Fall. When life is as up in the air as ours is I have to do things that keep me sane. Worrying about Israel's school has been a concern as mine for basically forever- will in be an all day program? maybe I should home school? charter? private? will bullies pick on him? we he be labeled the "problem" child? will he transition between tasks or sulk? How can I make sure he's getting the best of everything? The whole big bad world is out there, am I ready for my oldest to experience it? I have a suspicion that I worry about Israel's schooling in part because it distracts me from worrying about where/when we'll get a job. If Stan will be able to get his dissertation done in time, etc.

We do have some good news, as of Mar. 31st Stan became a Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist. That means a nice raise for Stan for doing the same thing he's been doing for 5 years now. As Stan will tell you the licensing process is painful, frustrating, and intentionally difficult to achieve. More good news: BYU just changed graduate guidelines and Stan now has until Jul 10th to finish his dissertation (instead of May 17) to be able to graduate in August. Yippie!

Life is good, all and all- even if I I had 4 more cavities at the dentist yesterday. Babies have totally destroyed my teeth. Only 1 cavity ever before Israel was born. Now I take even better care of my teeth, use prescription strength toothpaste, floss diligently; and still the cavities keep coming. The sacrifices we make for our children:)

"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)

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

Israel's First Lost Tooth

Israel with all his teeth AND Grandma Ashcraft (picture take last Sunday at the Ashcraft Christmas Party)

We were surprised to discover that Israel was loosing his first tooth (as mentioned below in Israel Funnies), but excited at the same time. I had so much fun telling Israel all about the tooth fairy and reminding him to wiggle his tooth as much as he could. I am forever grateful for some nice climbing guys at The Quarry who played with the kids and blew bubbles with the kids and then encouraged Israel to pull his tooth out all by himself after he had showed his new friends how loose it was. They were encouraging him to just yank it out- just reach right in there and pull it out- and he did! Stan and I hadn't wanted to do it ourselves. Israel wrote the tooth fairy a note explaining how brave he had been in pulling out his tooth himself and the tooth fairy was so impressed she gave Israel extra quarters.

Aunt Dana told Israel what a good tooth puller Grandma Hall was, so we know you're very proud of him Grandma:)

PS notice the tooth already growing in.

Israel Funnies

Okay, so I know I've been doing a lot of posting and we don't really have anybody reading or commenting on our blog, but I'm thinking of it as our way of recording our memories, so I have a few I just have to share today.

So on Sat. we went to Matthew and Jared, my twin nephew's baptism. While sitting in the chapel I got a view into Israel's mouth and realized that my barely 5 year old is getting a new tooth- his first grown up tooth, and not only that, but it's already growing in behind his baby teeth- Uh Oh. So I checked the one if front and it's a little wiggly. We called the dentist and he said to bring him in. So today we went (conveniently Stan has his cleaning check-up scheduled this morning) and Dr. Sachs told us that if we can't wiggle it out in 1 to 2 weeks max he'll have to pull it. He said that often the tongue will push the tooth into place, but if it doesn't we get to see an orthodontist- already I'm thinking? We thought maybe Israel, with his impressive teeth spacing maybe wouldn't need braces and we're already talking about the possibility. A bit overwhelming. Israel is taking it all in stride and we're practicing wiggling- he says it hurts, but he's trying.

So the funny- today at Preschool he was coloring AND eating his snack. Then he tells me he needs a new purple crayon and I realize the tip has been bitten off. I'd been watching Julia, so I knew she hadn't done it and I asked Israel what happened and he had accidentally bitten it off thinking he was holding one of those pretzel sticks- poor kid.

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).

Israel's Songs

Israel like to make up songs- kindof like my dad always did about whatever is happening. Well today he discovered that his tinker toys work like those music blocks we get sometimes at library story time, so with his music maker and Eliza beating along he sang:

Eliza likes Grandma Hall's house
But Eliza doesn't like her dog
But she likes the adorable doggie on her shirt

Reading it I realize it doesn't sound as funny as it was, but trust me, it was great, especially since her doggie shirt is a dressed up poofy looking dog that scares me a bit. Also, he used the word adorable and even realized what was on her shirt- did he think of it before he started singing? I was just impressed, so I had to share.

Promised Pictures

Julia acting all "grown up" with Eliza' shopping cart and Dora purse

My first fondany cake

Check out my fancy new boots

I love Israel's huge grin- how he wrinkles his nose-pure Israel Joy








Did I mention I've become a balloon twister? I made this heart with a teady bear for my love.

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:)