Playing with Good Friends

Alan and Melanie came out from Phoenix to see us this past weekend and of course they brought their adorable baby Marianne, and 2 boys Peter and Andre.
This is one of those wonderful couples that both Stan and I get along with Alan and Melanie really well. That's not always easy to find for us with our unique interested, no desire to watch sports, and not being into reality tv shows. These guys we could live close to and be very happy-besides, they're really good cooks:)
No surprise here-we rock climbed, went swimming, made sushi like we did last time-thanks for the (sushi cups and roller and bringing the goodies), learned how to make this amazing bread in a dutch oven, played games, and just had an all around fun good time.

Eliza and Andre were inseperable. They're such close friends. Not only that, but they play together really well. No fighting or having to seperate them the whole weekend. I have to admit to day dreaming that they'll get married some day, but I'll remember not to tell Eliza that or it will certainly never happen:)
Eliza wrote him a note we need to put in the mail. So cute:

Julia and Peter played really well together as well, but there were a couple of times we had to break up an argument. Peter loved playing Wii games with Israel- the Indiana Jones and Starwars Lego games were his favorite. Julia kept calling Peter Petes. We thought it was so darn cute.

The big kids at the pool.
Jules and Petes

PS-I'm 17 weeks pregnant and starting to feel like a human again, so hopefully I'll be posting again.

Happy Valentine's Day

The girls and I made up these songs last week. We've been singing them and laughing and hope you enjoy them too!

Love's Day
(to the tune of Row, Row, Row your Boat)
I love Love's Day
I love Love's Day
I love Love's Day
The best day of the year.

Valentine's Colors
(to the tune Alluetta)
Pink, red, white, and purple
These are Valentine's colors,
But the color we love best
Is purple, purple, purple!


We hope your day is filled with hearts, hugs, and lots of candy

Eliza woke us up at 5:05 this morning, so excited to wish us Happy Love's Day and then wake up all her siblings. As a reward I think they're all going to get a nap today. Stan and I shouldn't have stayed up so late playing WiiFit Plus last night:)

EDITED TO ADD


I just saw that the Cybils book awards were announced today- as a book lover I feel that it's rather appropriate that they chose Valentine's Day. I've been looking over the list and getting all excited about more books for Israel and me to put on hold at the library. I think I'll take a moment here to tell you how much I appreciate libraries-without them, I don't know what I would do. I certainly can't afford to buy all the books I read (although after I read them if it's a super read sometimes I do spoil myself). I visit the library more often than the grocery store. Even as small as ours is here in 29 I'm so glad we have it.
Here's the link to the Cybils in case you're interested too.

Pegasus by Robin McKinley and finally a bit of an update

So, it's been forever since I posted.  We've been busy and enjoying our Christmas Break and getting to see my brother I hadn't seen in 3 years, and being horribly sick for two weeks, and then just getting back into the swing of school and work and piano lessons. Transitioning Israel off the Wii (after his new lego games from Christmas) hasn't been easy and for the 1st time ever homework has been a fight. 

Some of you know that I go in an volunteer in Israel's class on Wednesdays-yesterday, Max, one of the kids, asked me what my job was. When I told him that I stay home and take care of Israel and his little sisters. Max asked, incredulous, "You're a babysitter?" Even though I explained the difference he was still mystified.

Our computer is not acting right at the moment, so no pictures right now. Soon I'll probably post way too many and bore everyone except maybe my mother-in-law:)

Big things this past month-we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary buying a much needed new bed- AND we got it in KING size, much to our excitement.  It's a generic of the dream bed I layed on in Brookstone a few months back that we bought on amazon-high density foam beds are amazing.  This one came vacuum packed and I couldn't believe that what was inside the box was a bed and I was terrified we'd made a horrible mistake even after all the wonderful reviews. BUT after following the directions and struggling it out of the wrapping to sit and return to original shape it turned out absolutely wonderful.  We've only had it for 2 nights, but I LOVE this bed.

Now on to Robin McKinley my long time favorite author who won me at a young age with Beauty and then again with The Blue Sword and The Hero and the Crown.  I have read all her books and only been disappointed in Dragonhaven's 40+ page epilogue. Isn't this cover wonderful? I keep staring at it happily. I want to be there, in that meadow- the Pegasus is optional.

Pegasus did not disappoint and reminded me of my first readings of her Damar books (not that it was anything the same and a completely different world of people and creatures). I lay on my new bed today with the quilt my mom helped me make when I was sixteen that has been hiding for the past year. I pulled it out to put on our king size bed and I was taken back to my basement room on Huntcliff Trail. 
Sylvi our main character is a princess being bound to her pegasus. As usual I don't want to tell you any more-even that on the leaf flap, because it always tells too much. What I will say, if read this book-wonderful fantasy-clean, interesting, wonderful.  Five hours after finishing it I am still right at the climax where the book ended. Yup, ended. It has a sequel not even coming out until some undetermined date in 2012- isn't that awful? Never before has she done this to me. My chest is still bursting with the wait AND  it'll be forever. I liked the book so much that I'm actually buying it.  I read a lot of books, but buy not even 1%, so that should tell you something.

Happy reading, and look for more from us soon (when crazy computer is more happy:)

Christmas 2010

Retro Plaid Christmas 5x7 folded card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

50 Free Snapfish Cards

Checking the mail and getting Christmas cards from our family and friends is one of our favorite things that we get to do each Christmas Season. We love to see how everyone has grown and what is new and good in so many lives. We also appreciate the fellowship in Christ as so many celebrate his birth.

We hang our cards on ribbons on the walls of our entryway each year. So we really like getting those cards early:)

If you're like me and looking around for the best deal for Christmas cards this year- check out Shutterfly. I really like their "easy to navigate" site. It's sinly to add, organize, and order from them. Would you like to get 50 free Christmas Cards from Shutterfly? I sure would, so I'm telling you all about them. I have used Shutterfly and found many great deals and high quality photos.

Here is the Christmas card we're thinking about:  Pretty Poinsettia

It is elegent and classy- AND it's a 5 by 7 folding card. I like how the card actualy says Merry Christmas and it's perfect for the family shot we like to put on our cards. Plus- you can write your Christmas letter inside the card and it will be printed and ready for you. No extra work!

Here's the link to the Christmas Cards:
 And they don't just have cards but also photo books, calendars, mugs, and more!
I recently went to a Shutterfly Photo Book party and I was really impressed. The books are just gorgeous and much easier to put together than I had imagined. Look out Julia, you might just get your baby book!

follow this link to find out how you can get 50 free Christmas Cards HERE.

Merry Christmas!

Israel's Pirate Party- Happy 7th Big Guy!

We had a big friend birthday party full of dangerous pirates, treasure hunts, and tired parents:)

in line to destroy that pirate pinata- we had bought 2 super big bags from Walmart, but could have used 2 more.
Israel threatening Shel Silverstien, I mean the pinata (anybody read Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Last Straw?)

Rescuing the drowning soldier from the water (something he'd wanted to do since seeing his cake the night before)
my friend Wendy helped me make the cake with a pirate lego set Israel got for his birthday (she supplied the bricks for the border- we're new to legos in the Hall house)

Princess Party- Happy Birthday Girls!

We had our first friend birthday party for Eliza (turning 5) and Julia (turning 3) yesterday. Five little princesses were able to come over and join the fun. We all had a great time and Julia and Eliza couldn't have been happier.

All the princesses received a manicure, crown, necklace, bracelet, and ring so we could be fancy. Then we played Elefun (Julia's birthday present), ate lots of pink food, danced to princess music, and then played outside.

Showing off their princess hairstyles before the party.

Look at those wide open eyes and happy smile. I think she's enjoying her party:)

Playing Elefun

Pin the tiara on the princess. See Julia peeking out beneath the blindfold?

Eliza- even as a princess showing off her climbing skills. I always think she'd make a good "paper bag princess" (if you haven't read the book by Robert Munsch give it a try. It's one of my favorites)

taking on the pinata

Eliza looking dangerous.
Blowing out the candles together.

Eliza with her special Cinderella doll.

Me by the cake. The windows kept falling off- I think the wafers didn't like being in the fridge. This picture is before we fixed them. We didn't get an after one. Silly us.

We're so glad we have our girls:) Now we just have to finish cleaning up the mess!

ps look what came in the mail:
Israel modeling his Halloween costume- Thanks Aunt Sue! He LOVES it:)

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

Dr. Stanley Hall !!! (Ph.D.)

We did our 2nd road trip to Utah last weekend to celebrate Stan's graduation. We're all so thrilled to be done with school. His parents came out to celebrate with us and we all stayed at Dana and Jason's house. Just after he was officially hooded. Did you even know Stan's smile could get so big? That is one happy guy right there.

Everyone at the convocation- Amanda, Dad, Mom, Me, Stan, Mom Hall, Dad Hall, Dana in the back.

showing his hood

Israel, the future graduate:)

My good friend Liz graduated with Stan. She earned her master's degree and just moved this weekend to Claremont for her PhD- we're practically neighbors:) only 2 hours apart!

Dana was so sweet. While watching the kids for the general commencement she not only took care of 5 children, she also made these cute posters, decorated the room with balloons and streamers, and made Cafe Rio Chicken- yummo!
Eliza modeling her and Julia's new pop guns and awesome hiking boots. Don't you love the wool socks Stan got them?

Israel hanging out with Grandpa

Look at these kids sleeping. This is how we found them one morning. Julia's legs inbetween Israe's and Eliza's legs around Julia's neck.

July Utah Trip

I discovered most all of my pictures are of the kids with their cousins, but then that's what we went to Utah for in the first place. It had absolutely nothing to do with escaping the heat of 29 Palms in the summer. Well almost nothing to do with that, or that fact that Stan was gone to Boy Scout Camp:)

Visiting with Dana and her twins Arlo & Josiah (13 mo. in July)

Julia holding our newest member of the family. Jane's son Logan Cash (2 mo. in July)

Israel with Hannah and Hailey. They have such a good time together (esp. playing Wii)

Playing at Bear Lake with the Robbin's cousins (Kienan is getting buried)

Julia again holding a baby- this is Mariam, one of Michele's twins. Julia is such a little Mama:)

This is Elizabeth and Mariam on the quilt I made for their nursery. Mom did a great job on the machine quilting for me.

With the Robbin's cousins again. Israel and Sarah were good buddies.

Eliza riding in the back of the Dad's truck next to Bryce. I just love this picture, I'm not quite sure why.

Julia at Laketown's park.

Mom and Dad modeling the bocce ball game I brought up and we all had a blast playing.

Israel with good buddy Aidan who now lives in Florida. We were so happy to be visiting so we could hang out together. Aidan's mom Katie is one of my super good friends and we're writing pals as well. I sure miss being in the same building with the Purdies. Who'd have thought we'd end up on opposite sides of the US?

Mom and Dad with my kiddos on their front steps

See the arch above them? they had just finished rocking it that morning. The house is coming together really well. I only did a tiny bit of grouting, but I'm glad to have been able to help out a bit.