Hall-oween, ya dig?

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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. :) 

Hall's Kitchen...drumroll please...

The painting is DONE and I got the new hardware installed!!

If this doesn't make you wanna moon-walk...I don't know what will! ;)

Before: My country kitch. Eeek!

After. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

I am officially in love with my kitchen. I can't even tell you the calm that comes over me when I enter it now. I feel so grounded & peaceful. :D I'm pretty sure my food tastes better & it even looks better when its messy. 

Before, before. :) 

(The white cabinet was installed just before I painted) 

After...

Here is a close up of the hardware. I bought a couple different ones from a few different stores. I ended up liking these the best. Thank you Ikea. :) 

Just Before I sanded, primed & painted...

After. :D

The Isle before. Notice the exposed hinges. 

The Isle after. :D

This is what the new hinges look like installed. They are inset on the inside of the door so now you can see better why I had to drill the holes on a drill press. 

Beautifully concealed hinges, how I love thee. 

A little closer....his picture shows the true color a little better. Its the perfect mix of chocolate & charcoal. I think I mentioned it in my first post but its called seal skin.

I can't say how happy I am to have this huge piece of the project done!! I am looking for new kitchen lights and going to buy a stainless steel panel to put on my dishwasher so it matches my microwave & fridge. I am also looking for window coverings for the bay window & kitchen nook. Then, we still have to mud & tape part of a wall by my sink. Eventually, I want to install glass tile (probably a crystal blue color) as a backsplash but probably not for a little while. Our master bathroom is having some issues that need attention so that is the next project. :D

Enjoy the pictures and I'd love to fix ya'll somethin to eat in it sometime, so come on over! :D

Soccer Mom

Last week Warren started soccer. It is the first time he has played any kind of sport. He has been so excited counting down the days. 

Meeting the team and picking a name. The decided on "The Sharks".  Luckily, two friends (Crystal & Trent) from our ward are on his team along with his neighbor friend (Marshall) that lives two doors down. It's so nice to have friends to play with. 

He LOVED every minute & did pretty good at being goalie. 

Practicing dribbling. Weston is the assistant coach...even though he admitted on the way to our first practice that he couldn't remember all the rules to soccer. lol He looked cute out there too. :)  

All suited up for his first game. Go Sharks! I was surprised how well the kids played. It was entertaining at times but overall they played pretty well. 

Getting in on the action. He hustled pretty good & kept up with the kids. Most of the others had played before. He is one of the few first timers. I don't remember the score but they did win by about 4 or 5 goals. It was better than the super bowl! :D 

It's moments like these when I pause and I wonder where does the time slip away? It seems like all of a sudden he is so big now. So proud of my little soccer stud. Love him to pieces. 

We've been adopted!

(Disclaimer: I am not becoming a crazy cat lady. Promise.) 

Last Saturday we had a kitty pay us a little visit. He hung around the yard all day & Warren happily entertained him. He is SO laid back. Warren packed him around the yard, made leashes for him, took him for walks and even put Woody's cowboy hat on him. After hanging out around our place for about 10 hours he seemed to be at peace and started to make his case. 

Who can resist this? "I'm handsome, cuddly, I bath myself regularly & I'm totally submissive. Go ahead and scratch my tummy! You know you want to." ;) 

Warren named him Charlie & of course begged to keep him. I was a little nervous since he was stray but he really was a great cat. He was very loving & laid back. We put out some food and I felt so bad because he was so hungry. I assumed he'd wander off during the night. He is a male and they tend to roam anyway. 

The next morning guess who was waiting ever so patiently at my back door? When I opened the door to greet him he looked at me saying "See, what a loyal kitty I am? I waited all night for you. May I pleeease come in now?" He slowly stepped in the house and paused. I responded "I think you ought to stay outside, Sir" and then he very politely turned around and sat right back outside the door! So smart & such a gentleman! 

He won my heart & so we let him in. I know I'm a sucker. Kitty toy? Scratch pad? Playmates? It was meant to be. 

He seems to have adjusted well...

And blends right in with the family...

Warren welcomed him with a handmade kitty condo. 

Although he seems to prefer his bed. 

Welcome to the family Charles...we are honored you picked us! lol  ;)