Off to school in the snow

Quite a different experience walking to school in Utah vs California! 

We love living so close to the school just as we did in California. But I had to smile as the kids left for school this morning and I stood watching them cut through the backyard (and through the trampoline). It's such a different visual for me. A visual I never imagined would be in my realm, but this move has been good to us. I'm grateful for seeing blessings in our life. And I'm grateful that so far my kiddos don't complain at all of the snow (quite the contrary). Course it's only snowed about five times here so far this "winter"....but life is good. Cold, but good!

Rob turns 30

Strange to have my little brother turn the big 3-0 today. Not that I think that's old anymore...it's just kinda strange that all my siblings and I are now in our 30s!



The family had chicken n dumplings (one of Robs fav) and then my 12 year old nephew McKay made a chocolate ganache cake in honor of the 30-year old. It was seriously one of the best cakes we've ever tasted! Oh and did I mention it was from scratch? Ya, he's awesome like that.

Happy Birthday Uncle Rob! Boy do we love you. And love living close to you and Aunt "B".

A sprain

So Leda, who knows by now what is safe and what is not (ie: she only has and lives with crazy brothers)...decided she'd not listen to the family rule of not walking along the backside of the L-shaped family room couch, did so and then FELL OFF while doing so. She cried such a different cry, it sounded as though she had the wind knocked out of her. Before she reached us at the top of the stairs, we knew she was really hurt.

Fast forward the next morning (Presidents Day!) at the clinic, three hours total (busy holiday) and three X-rays taken, it was just a sprain! Yahoo! 

And she was sporting a brace to prove it.

Though truth be told, after all that time, I almost wanted something more to show for it! Almost.

Ta-da!

Lesson learned. We hope. Fingers crossed. Well, just the left hand fingers....

Saturday Fun Day

We spent the morning deep cleaning & organizing closets & bedrooms (not particularly fun) but then we MORE than made up for any lacking fun by doing the following...which was a surprise to the kiddos.

Our first trip to the theater at Thanksgiving Point (great show, even better theater with seats that vibrated with the flick! Loved it)



Then our first trip here...(oh boy, are we in trouble for discovering this!)





Good times!

Oh hello there blog..

Nice to see you!

I can't believe how long it's been. I'd like to blame the fact that I didn't have a laptop, but I've actually had a laptop (thanks techy husband) for a few months now, and I'm still dragging my feet getting back to the old blog. But I'm back. With a new goal to continue blogging. I just love looking back on old posts, and love that it's my family journal. Since it might be impossible to catch up, I think I'll just start with the most recent of happenings and possibly work back in my spare time. We'll see how it goes. I have good intentions. Fingers crossed. And I realize I'm basically talking to myself...people are busy and have moved on from blogs (heaven knows I have)...but here's to beginning again. Documenting this life that I am blessed to have and love.

Grandma Joy Hall

My Grandma Joy passed away peacefully in her sleep on early Wednesday morning, February 15, 2012. I joked (and later wrote it in her obituary)
That the family believes she had a long-overdue Valentine's date with her dearly departed husband and that they are now reunited forever!

My Grandma missed my Grandpa so much. My memories of my Grandma & Grandpa Hall in my youth is them ALWAYS together. It wasn't often you'd see them a part. They fought and bickered, but you knew they just loved each other so much, there's no putting words to their love. So I know these last five years have been hard and lonely on my Grandma. They'd been married 64 years at the time of his passing.

Bob & Joy Hall
January 15, 1940




In August 2011, right when we moved here to Utah, my Grandma was moved from her home to an assisted-living home. She hated it. As much as she had a hard time these last six months, I'm so grateful for the opportunity, for once in my life, to live in close proximity to my Grandma Joy. Never did I think this would be a possibility! I saw her weekly, sometimes three times a week, sometimes fewer. Most of our visits were spent in conversation of the past. She talked a lot of my Grandpa and their life together when they were first married and then he left for the service for four years. What a life they led together.

So when my Grandma was having non painful "mini strokes" about five days before she passed, we all welcomed this and were hoping that at 91 years old she'd find peace and comfort in passing. And hoped that it would happen quickly. And it did. What a blessing! No pain and she's now where she's wanted to be. How hard to be one of the last women standing in a line of people she loved. Her husband, her parents, her two sisters, three brothers and many sister & brother in laws whom she loved so much had ALL passed on. And now she is with them. I'm so grateful!

A few things I'll remember most of my Grandma Joy is our lunch dates & drives through the canyon. And no outing was complete without an accompanying Diet Coke :)

One of our last lunch dates to El Azteca. She loved the taquitos


And our final outing, I took her to have her nails done and then out to lunch where she insisted she eat anything but chicken. She had been annoyed at how much chicken they'd been serving back where she lived.



My Grandma Joy with her children on her 91st birthday, December 16, 2011


I can't believe my last Grandparent has passed. Such a strange place to be in. I loved my Grandparents so much. I'm grateful for the unconditional love I received as a grandaughter from these good people.

Valentine's Day 2012

Behold. My first Pinterest project pinned AND executed before the Holiday! Hold the applause.


And speaking of Pinterest, the kids were SO excited to make their "LOVE BUG" Valentine boxes for 3rd grade (Spencer) and 1st grade (Leda)


Kids gifts


A close up of their homemade Valentines. A list (as long as how old they are) of reasons we love them.

Spencer



Leda


Chase



I'm room Mom in Leda's first grade class (Mrs. White, Valley View Elementary) and so I spent the morning executing the party. Grandma and Grandpa came to help, could'nt have done it without them!



Happy girl!


A few days before Valentine's day, Leda had a few of her friends over to make necklaces I'd seen online. They turned out so cute!



Sadie



Leda & Bronwyn


And how sad is it that I let the Holiday go by without taking ONE picture of Chase?

At least it wasn't Christmas or anything. I assure you though, he had a terrific day. As did I.

I had done the 14 days of Valentines for Aaron, one gift for each day (which he appreciated--especially since he was traveling twice during that period so I got sneaky with planting the gifts in luggage!) so he planned our date that night. I was really anticipating the night, it'd been so long since I'd had a surprise date! We ended up seeing a dinner theater in Orem at the Spaghetti Factory. SO funny. And a great night out with my Man. We have no pics to document...but I don't really need them. What a great night of good food and laughs. I felt loved for sure.