Our Aweful Beautiful Life

So, a few weeks ago, Colton's buddy Jackson came into school and handed Colton his very first "friend" birthday invite. It was an adorable black magnet invite to handily be hung on the refrigerator so that busy Mom's won't forget the party.  Unless your Colton's Mom. The party was a Halloween themed costume party, and after a few back and forth's, Colton finally decided he wanted to be a scarecrow for Halloween. Which is perfect, since Sis is going to be a Pumpkin. Pictures of them together will likely follow -- we've not decked sis out in her full costume yet. So, we worked to make the perfect Halloween Scarecrow, and all day Sunday, we talked about Jackson's party, and what fun it would be. Colton even took a great nap, so that he could be well rested to go play! We finished up his costume, and loaded up the van just in time to leave the house for Jackson's party at 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. When we go there, no one was outside playing (...

Remember the first day of preschool, when Colton just wasn't quite sure what was going on? I think these three amigos (and daycare buddies), have come a long way! :)

I love this time of year. I love it. (Did I mention I love this time of year?) Changing colors of the leaves. Brisk, sweatshirt weather, beautiful sunsets, campfires, and most of all, Harvest on the Hall Farm! :) Colton has been readily asking me, since that day last spring that we rode in the tractor with Grandpa Hall while he was planting, "Can we ride in the combine yet"............almost weekly. Finally, the time has come (and rather quickly it's felt like) to take weekends in the fields with Dad & Uncle Trent. I had a half day last Friday, so our fun Fall Weekend kicked off with a lunch date with Mom, then she was off to a doc appointment while I went home to catch up on some sleep! :) Works been nuts lately, so that little soiree was long overdue. She called just as I was waking up and we were off to pick up the kiddos to go to Kent's Pumpkin Patch for our annual Pumpkin visit! Mom loves to take the kids with her so she gets some great fall screen saver ...

When I was a kid, my favorite part of making cookies, was getting to lick the cookie dough straight off the beaters when Mom was finished. Honestly, what kid doesn't love that part the best? Here's proof that tradition lives on in my own children: Smiling, happy people! :) Happy Girl! Closeup! What, doesn't everyone lick the beaters right before bed in their jammies? :)

I remember growing up, Mom was always on Dad, because he'd complain and complain and complain about not being able to find something, and it NEVER failed....the minute she'd go in search of that missing object, she'd find it instantly. Ketchup in the fridge hidden by a gallon milk. Toilet paper that wasn't directly next to the toilet but was in the cabinet. That favorite sweatshirt for fall harvest that must be lost...behind the seat of his pickup truck. I always just laughed and said, "oh dad". Now...I totally get why Mom was always so frustrated! :) They say you will marry a man who has many of your father's traits, and all I have to say in reply to that is, ain't that the truth! Jason carries two cell phones -- a nextel phone for work and our his personal cell phone. One evening about a week ago, Jason was searching "high and low" for his missing work phone. He'd looked in all the obvious usual places, and couldn't find it. The ...

Are you ever the recipient of a random act of kindness that just completely makes you day? After all, it's not often we get something in the mail...actual SNAIL MAIL these days (besides bills, but of course, they don't count!) Recently, I received two notices in my mailbox of packages that I had waiting on me. (I could use this point in my story to insert a rant about how the stupid Brookston post office has stupid hours that can't even be qualified as bankers hours, because that'd be being generous....but I won't go into that stupidity here...) So, when the day finally came that Jason could get off work in time to RUSH to the post office before it closed at 4pm...he called me and told me that one was a tastefully simple package...that I'd been waiting on, and the other for the kids from Aunt Marsha! Aunt Marsha is a one of a kind aunt. She lives in Minnesota (yes, you must say it with an accent) and doesn't get home NEAR often enough. She's got a hear...

I'm stealing this concept from my cousin/friend Lacy, who also blogs. A few times now, she's simply noted the things she hears around her household, and I love it, because there are so many things the kids are saying/doing (not to mention their father) that I just want to capture. Since this is basically a working time capsule, I figure it's a great outlet to capture those moments. So...if you will...here are a few of the things I've heard lately. Colton:  (When asked about his bible verse for preschool last week...which was "Be Glad in the Lord"...he couldn't remember it, so I offered help by saying, "Be...") "I-N-G-O??" "Mom, you don't know how to do this, because you don't go to my school. I'll do it" (MR. INDEPENDENT) "Mom, hurry up and drive fast to Pammy's, I've got to poop!" (about 10 seconds later) "Never mind, I just farted" Emmalyn:  "Yeah" -- this might ...