San Antone

The first week of November we drove to San Antonio for a much needed little weekend get away. Weston's sister Misty & husband Larry came for a little tour of Texas. He graduates in May from his pediatric dentistry residency and they are officially looking to set up his practice here! We are very excited to have them closer. Ever since we moved from Ann Arbor we haven't seen them very much because they have been living in Cleveland, OH. We had a short but nice visit while they were in town for the day. 

 At the Alamo in front of this awesome cactus. :) 

Warren Maxwell Hall - stud muffin extraordinaire. ;) 

The boys love staying in hotels and as you can see we don't make our beds.  

We walked the Riverwalk with Larry & Misty. It's always such a great atmosphere. The trees are amazing all along the way. 

Larry & Misty minus four. Enjoying there couples get-away week.  

Thank goodness for Uncle Larry to help us with his highness, The Benjamin's royal chassis. :) 

We found an awesome Mcdonald's that had the best play structure and unlimited air hockey & basketball. It was pretty awesome and I think we spent more time there than at the Riverwalk! LOL 

Misty & Weston are always up for a good challenge. 

It was good to see Larry & Misty! Hopefully we will be seeing a lot more of you in the near future! 

Last but not least. This made me laugh so hard. Weston notice this clip on the underside of our console and decided it would make the perfect road trip chip holder and is completely convinced that is what it was meant for! Boys. lol

Soccer Season Finale

I am a little backed up on my posts but late is always better than never. These are Warren's soccer pictures. I just love this one of him. He looks so handsome. :) 

 "The Sharks"
Coaches: Weston Hall, Tim Burningham, Coach Shay

Top: Warren Hall, Slava, ?, Spencer, Trent Burningham, Crystel Rasmussen, Dillon
Bottom: Kenzie, Marshall Burke, Andrew, Tommy, ?

This video is from Warren's last soccer game. He always did well in practice drills and kept up with the pack during games but he was always very anti- ball contact during games. His last game he built up enough confidence that he actually kicked the ball a few times and even dove for a great block kick....even though it did go out of bounds, I was still proud of him. This video was so cute of him giving me the thumbs up after his daring soccer moves. :) 

Warren proudly displaying his soccer medal awarded to the kids at the end of season party. We had lots of fun doing soccer this fall and will most likely continue in the spring. :)

Nativity Angels

Each year our stake hosts a community even called the Nativity. It is a huge event which takes days & CREWS of people to set up.  The entire cultural hall is transformed into a skyline in Bethlehem and members all throughout the stake donate furniture & hundreds of nativity sets from around the world to be displayed. It is open to the public Friday & Saturday.There are musical performances each afternoon & evening ranging from soloist to Jr high & high school orchestra's.

This year was the first that we added a VIP night in which we invited various community heads that we work with throughout the year. To welcome them with proper spirit the Primary Children in the stake ages 8-11 were invited to sing 11 christmas songs for then! We only had 5 weeks to practice as wards, and held only 1 practice as a stake prior to the performance. I was a little worried but it turned out beautiful!  I love being the Primary Chorister. It was wonderful to be part of this. The spirit was so strong! They sounded just like angels! I really hope we get to do it again next year!

I regret I did not get any pictures. I was backstage maintaining the boys side of the choir but my friend Jamie got some great pictures and videos. So, if you care to check it out, click on the link below!

Nativity Footage

What are you thankful for?

This is an oldie but a goodie. It always makes me smile and reflect on the the importance and gift of adversity in our life. It really is how we become close to our Heavenly Father and gain character that hopefully resembles His. :)

‎"We should thank God for our adversities and pray for guidance in meeting them. It is all part of the plan."

"Lord who made the Lion and the Lamb, you decreed I should be what I am, would it spoil some vast eternal plan, if I were a wealthy man?"

"Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality."

"When we understand that God offers us opportunities for blessings and blesses us through our own adversities and the adversities of others we can understand why he has commanded us again & again to thank the Lord thy God in all things."

(If you are receiving this via email you will need to click on the Halls Rock link to watch the video)

Flash Dance

A few months ago Benjamin decided life was about freedom. It's nearly impossible to keep clothes and a diaper on the kid. As soon as I discover his nakedness he instantly takes off running.......

 Luckily, it seems to be largely due to the fact that he wants to be a big boy....so usually he tries to go potty and actually has a few times. However......

 The other day I caught him out on the driveway naked from the waist down. As soon as he saw me he started running. He ran down the driveway, across our circle and into our neighbors backyard, climbed the swing set ladder and slid down the slide! It seriously looked like it hurt thats all I have to say!

 phone call? 

Here is the kicker. See this hat? I bought it for him for halloween. Warren was a dragon and he was supposed to be chinese man to coordinate with Warren. Well, from the first day I brought it home, he hated it. As soon as I'd put it on, he'd start crying and throw it off. It was like an evil spirit to him or something. Maybe the ponytail freaked him out, I don't know. Then, a few days ago I walked in the room and what do I find? Yea, he was naked alright. What the?

Hall-oween Festive

This year Halloween celebrations were a plenty. We decided not to trick or treat on Sunday so we had fun the Friday & Saturday before. 

We started Friday morning with Warren's costume Parade at school. He was a dragon. 

Here he is with his good friend George. He was a shark. I told them to each give me their costume face. I thought their character interpretations were such a hoot!

I have no idea who these kids are but I thought this scene was hilarious. Ariel fresh out of the water has finally discovered her whole new world. "hhuuuuuhhhhuuuuu hhhuuuuuuuuuuhuuu". 

Warren got out of school at 11:15 so we headed out to "Zoo Boo" at the Houston Zoo. They decorate it really cool and the kids can dress up. Before we left I dressed Ben up in his cowboy costume. He was supposed to be a chinese man to coordinate with Warrens dragon but he wouldn't have that costume what-so-ever. So, I dressed him up as a cowboy cause he loves Woody. He thought it was cool for about 1 minute and then threw his hat off and started ripping his chaps off next. Oh well, at least I got 1 cute picture of him in his costume. lol

 The boys enjoyed the pumpkins carved everywhere, the giant candy corn, playing in the fountain & feeding the fish. 

Downtown Houston is filled with Live Oak trees. They are so gorgeous. They often grow spanish moss which looks beautiful hanging from them. I thought all the pumpkins hanging down looked cool. 

Next stop was the children's museum. It was decked out with spooky decor. They had a scavenger hunt for the kids. At each treasure spot there was trick or treating.This was Warren's first time going and he loved it. 

Decorating Halloween cookies. 

 Ben LOVES playing in the ambulance. Warren approved too.

I think the grocery store can be officially deamed my boys "hot spot". Warren loved it too. 

Ben ran straight to the best part in every grocery store...

"Spoo-ky!" After the children's museum we joined our ward for a trunk or treat of which I took no pictures. I know, can you believe it? ha ha

The past several months have been crazy busy. We usually always get pumpkins and for the past two years we have have created my pumpkin snake (you see above). Weston is the ward mission leader now and the stake is currently doing a big "rescue" initiative and so he has been gone nearly every night the past several weeks doing his visits. Needless to say we waited too long to get our pumpkins. Saturday night before Halloween this is all I could find in Kingwood that even came close to resembling a pumpkin. I managed to convince Warren that the huge green gourd would be an awesome dragon head! 

Sunday night we passed out candy and socialized with our neighbors for a little while. It's a yearly tradition that everyone in our circle comes and sits out together and passes out candy. It's always fun to hang out with everyone. 

We excused ourselves early when the missionaries aka "God's angels" arrived at our house. They arrived in stages by bike, by car & then by truck. Seeing their glowing white shirts in the dark,  our neighbors were like...."who are they...the ghost busters?!" It was funny. 

The boys LOVE to see the missionaries as much as we do. We are so grateful for Weston's calling because we get to see them so often now with all their meetings, etc. They are a wonderful blessing in our lives! 

 My missionary in training. :D 

I hope you all had a great halloween too! 

Hall-oween, ya dig?

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

A cultured crowd...

About a month ago we finally ventured out to the Houston Children's Museum. Yes, its true we have lived here 4.5 years and this was our first visit. Shameful, I know. We have planned several trips but they all fell through for various reasons. It's too bad because this place was absolutely fantastic! We spent the entire day there and didn't even come close to doing everything. Needless to say we bought the family pass before the day was done. Thanks Andrea for planning it! 

This was a huge robot that was made out of all kinds of old telephones and telephone parts. 

Benjamin making phone calls...

You stick the balls in the bottom of the tube and it sucks them up. He was thoroughly fascinated. 

They had an old mustang for the kids to play in. It had opened sides with glass paneling in places of it so you could see what was under the body and under the hood.

Ethan & Benjamin in the dot house. I think Ethan was ready to challenge Ben to a game of psychedelic twister. Ben mostly just stood there like "wowww...trippy". 

Aurora was full of smiles and waves hello. She is Kristin's little girl.

 Isn't she absolutely adorable? Her chubbs make me smile. I always wished I had chubby babies. 

There is a city street in the museum which included a hands on restaurant, hospital, bank, grocery store, bike shop, police station, city hall etc. Here Ashira, Ben, Ethan & Miss Andrea have fun playing in the ambulance.

I think we spent over an hour in the grocery store alone. The kiddos loved it. This subsequently has communicated the wrong idea with the home pantry & real grocery store trips.

 Two happy babes. Kristin & Aurora. 

This picture is a little fuzzy. I was trying out different lenses & film on my iphone and this style just turned out this way. Ben & Ethan were pretty studly....so much so, this little lady just hopped right in the back of their convertible to go for a little ride & some nice conversation. 

This was the coolest light bright. Even I had to play with it. We had such a fun day and definitely looking forward to more trips to the museum this year! 

Soccer Studs...

Warren got his Soccer pics last Saturday and this was one I snapped over the guys shoulder. Isn't he so handsome! He's growing so fast. 

Just thought I'd post a couple of fun videos I caught of the boys at soccer practice last week. Ben is in L.O.V.E with soccer. He practices the entire hour on the sidelines while Warren plays. He's actually pretty darn good for his age. He is Warren's biggest fan. Well almost. :) 

Here they are racing eachother and they were short one kid so Weston got in on the fun. :) Oh, and you get to hear me yell at Warren to get out of the soccer net, which he had gotten tangled in 3 times already that night. LOL I promise I am a good mom. ;)  

(If you are getting this via email you will have to click on the blue Halls Rock link below to take you to the blog and watch the videos there.) 

Trouble with Ya Ya...

A few weeks ago Weston's mom & Mark came for a short visit. Mark had some work meetings in Houston so it was part business, part pleasure. Of course, that usually means there will be many enormous hot dogs of various flavors, IBC Root beer, Blue Bell, Ben & Jerry's, donuts, razzleberry pie, chips, onion dip, BBQ'd blackened pork loin and daily trips to the gas station for a nice cold frosty beverage. You get the idea. I think they were trying to send Weston into full cardiac arrest! Weston declared responsibility upon Mark.... "He's a binge eater!" lol

He didn't get to watch Nacho Libre this time but it's football season and Mark was lucky enough to experience a FULL game day at our house. Something he does not get at home. ;) We sure are lovin our Wolverines & Utes this season!!! Woot!

I picked Jan up at the airport just before Warren got out of school. We went inside and surprised him in the hallway. He was very excited that she came to see his school and we also ate lunch with him another day. 

 This is where the fun stops. 

See that gi-normous bruise & goose egg between Ben's eyes? Yea..... Ya Ya did that. We almost had to call CPS on her.... ;)

These pictures do not do it justice (they were taken a few days after the incident). It was HUGE! Jan was lying down on our bedroom floor talking to Weston. Not realizing that Ben likes to play rough with dad in the same space, (usually giving him body slams and such) he hurled himself toward her and she was looking the other way and therefore did not catch him. He smacked his head hard on the edge of the window ledge. It swelled up so fast! His forehead to the tip of his nose were bridged by the swelling. Poor guy.

 So... we live in Kingwood and as you enter the city you see the city motto...

We laughed and laughed as we were driving down Kingwood drive and Jan asked

"so....what's the whole livable forest thing about?"

Kingwood Drive. ;) 

Never gonna live that one down Jan. Thanks for letting us tease you and being a good sport about it. :D 

Thanks for coming to spend time with us Mark & Jan. 

We enjoyed having you. :)