Wild about you...

We finally did it. We can officially call ourselves Texans.

We got the boys pictures in the bluebonnets. 

The blue bonnet is the Texas state flower and they are only in bloom for about a month every Spring. They fill the sides of the freeway, ditches & meadows and are really beautiful.  Every year I have had the best of intentions but never got it done. They were past their prime but we made it just before the sun went down and I thought they turned out great.

Warren cracks me up. He REALLY wanted to hold some blue bonnets in his picture and he kept positioning them just so. I had also rolled up the sleeves of his shirt so he and Ben were dressy casual but as you can see, he fixed them like HE likes them. 

 Warren has been growing like a weed. Everyday for the last few weeks I swear I can see him getting bigger each day.

 As most of you know Ben is our smiler and our adventurer. When he goes anywhere outside home he is completely distracted by anything and everything around him - hence his huge smile dissipates in his exploration and concentration. We did get some cute expressions though. :)

 I could just eat this boy.

 The sole picture of Ben's famous smile! 

 Smile, people in Texas love you!  

Happy Birthday to me...

 This year I really got spoiled on my birthday. It was a great weekend from beginning to start. I was greeted bright and early being showered with homemade birthday presents from Warren and kisses from Ben. Phone calls from loved ones & surprises on my doorstep from sweet friends throughout the day.

Weston worked from home with the hopes that he could get away early in the afternoon. Warren insisted that we make chocolate dipped frozen bananas for my birthday treat. He remembered making them from kids camp (2 years ago - Warren has a crazy memory!) and they were very delicious! Weston finally wrapped things up at work around 2:30 and then I was escorted by three handsome men to a late lunch and some shopping downtown! He bought me the new jewelry armoire I have been wanting for some time and some other stuff for the house. :) I was already pooped so we headed home, put the boys to bed and ordered pizza.

 The next night, we got a sitter and headed out for a very fun evening to see Cirque Du Soleil! We saw a copycat Cirque show once on a cruise but never the real thing. It was INCREDIBLE! The athletes and acrobats in this show made Olympic athletes look average. The show was called OVO. It was about the world of bugs. It was VERY clever. We saw one amazing act after another of all kinds of bugs including: an AMAZING firefly, grasshoppers, ants, fleas, moths, the complete metamorphosis of two butterflies, some wicked spiders, crickets, a very animated lady bug, etc. The costumery was amazing.

 I wish I had thought to take pictures of the butterflies. They spun their cocoons, metamorphasized and flew on ropes through the tent with gorgeous wings that touched the floor. It was beautiful! This act pictured was of some seriously tuff ants who did the most amazing acrobatics I have ever seen.

 Two very wickedly tuff spiders and the web they can spin together...

 I think these were the fleas....all I remember is they did some seriously crazy contortion stuff. 

This guy was also a wicked looking spider. He did all sort of stuff on that wire. It was loose the entire time. He did THIS (pictured), did a one handed handstand and swung back and forth on it like that,  walked on his hands back and forth and....

 rode a unicycle ON HIS HEAD...back and forth. He was a freak of nature. It the coolest way, of course. :) If you click on the link below it will show you a brief preview of the show. :)
OVO Show Preview

This was the finale. You can see many of the different bugs. The live samba band was also amazing. In a nutshell, if you get a chance to see this show you should go. It was one of the coolest things you'll ever see. We left in AMAZEMENT and also feeling really weak. "I get winded just bending over to tie my shoes!" - Weston and then we waddled out together. :) 

Grateful for Weston taking me on such a fun date and for all the thoughtful friends and family who made my day really great! 

Mutton Bustin!

It's Rodeo time here in Houston, so last week we headed off for some good old fashioned fun! As usual, the boys had a blast! The Houston Rodeo is the biggest in the country. We always spend an entire day just in Kids Country. 

 Having fun with the farm machinery, of course. 

One of the boys favorites are the pig races. Afterward we got to see Stinky the swimming piglet. 

He was great! 

 The boys even got to see baby chicks hatching in the giant incubator...

 2011 Rodeo Highlight: Just as we were leaving the Rodeo we stopped by the Mutton Bustin event on our way out. It was our first time seeing it. Warren decided he wanted to do it so we waited another hour and a half so he could have his Cowboy moment. I was totally worried beause we saw a couple kids get trampled but he was insistent he would be alright. :) I was surprised he wanted to do it because he's usually such a cautious kid but he had a ball! I've never seen such a big grin afterward. 

 He did pretty well for his first time. He was number 24 and his sheep was one of the fastest out of the chute. He stayed on for a little less than half the arena scoring an 88.  Ben was standing on the fence routing him on the whole time yelling "Go Warren! Ride Sheep fast!" giving him the thumbs up. It was so fun to watch!

Warren's 6th Despicable Birthday

This year Warren's birthday came on Wednesday. It was tuff waiting until Saturday for his party but we still celebrated at home. We decorated the house.

 He was honored at school with an "official" birthday hat. We sang to him and opened presents from mom, dad & Ben. 

He wanted a Despicable Me party (themed after the movie) this year so I took his Kindergarten class these Gru cupcakes. Later he chose to go out to Cici's Pizza for dinner and he got to play lots of games this time. :) 

The next day Aunt Julie came over to wish him a Happy Birthday. He had to show her his new club house, therefore the present opening had to take place there too. 

 Friday, I started making the fixins for his Despicable Me cake which included these minions. It was my first time making marshmallow fondant but it was suprisingly easy to sculpt with.  Later that night we caught Benjamin feasting on the minions in the kitchen. 

I thought I had put them out of sight and then the next morning he greeted us in bed like this....we found the entire tub of minions in his bedroom and two more missing. 

 Here it is...my first fancy birthday cake. ;) I won't say how long it took me to make it but at least I had fun doing it. I thought it turned out pretty cool. Warren loved it!  The moon, stars & Gru's silhouette was made out of the same fondant as the minions. The rest is just regular icing. We served the cake with girl scout cookies. If you haven't seen the movie...the orphans sell girl scout cookies and that is how Gru gets the idea of using them for his scheme. :)

 We played "freeze ray" tag. If you were frozen a friend could unfreeze you by crawling 

between your legs. 

 We had a "squid launching" competition which the kids thoroughly enjoyed...

Party bags were girl scout cookie themed and filled with despicably appropriate door prizes: squirt guns, pop fireworks, star bubbles, crazy straws, etc. 

Singing to the birthday boy! 

I made the boys Gru scarfs and the girls tutu's & crowns 

(the orphans do a ballet performance in the movie).  

Last but not least.... PRESENTS! He had a great day! When I asked him what his favorite part was (besides presents) he gave me the biggest hug and said, "all of it!" 

Happy Birthday Warren! We love you! 

Here's the live video singing Happy Birthday.  

Arizona sunshine...

 This year for Girls Weekend we visited Katie in Phoenix! As always we had such a great time. Despite the two pregnant ladies (Me & Ronna) fighting off morning sickness, lack of sleep and swelling of the feet! Katie's parents live just around the corner from her and were so kind to let us crash at their place. :)

We had such a wonderful day going to the Mesa Temple together! Katie had been bragging up the food so afterwards we ate in the temple cafeteria, which was a first for the rest of us. It was really good! I loved being in the temple with these ladies and am so grateful for them all. :)   

Later, after some serious shopping, Katie took us to this awesome wig shop! I had never tried on a wig before in my LIFE... but we had so much fun experimenting with different styles. :) The lighting wasn't the best but I think you get the idea. :) 

Cheri found her fav pretty quickly.

We had a fantastic time snacking & gallery hopping in old town Scottsdale. Later, we stopped in for a late night treat at the famous Sugar Bowl ice cream shop. The Sugar Bowl is where Family Circus (the comic strip) originated and was written.

Katie was a great host. Among the temple, wigs, art & ice cream: we saw an awesome yodeler perform, ate at lots of yummy restaurants, went purse shopping, saw the Adjustment Bureau, spent many late nights talk talk talking and received a first class painting lesson from Katie. :)

Matthew Rojas, Esquire...dad and husband extraordinaire! It's always great to see how our kids have grown and catch up with the guys. All of Katie's family lives nearby so we got to spend some time with everyone. This picture is dedicated to all of our great hardworking husbands who take over our motherly duties each year and support us while we become women of the wind for a few days! We are grateful for  them! Until next year....Houston 2012. :) 

Introducing...

We are pleased to introduce the latest little Hall BOY (see below) that will be joining our family soon! We are excited to be having another boy and can't wait to meet this little man in a few months! The doc 

said he looks perfectly healthy so we are very grateful for that. :)

  This is the clearest 3D photo we got. You can see most of his face and it appears he is smiling already! I can do that! 

"Looks like a little tool set to me." - Weston

 Just chillin. You can even count his toes! 

Footprint 

 Face shots. 

 Waving "Hi Mom!" :)