Getting ready for Christmas

Thought I would share this story that William sent me via email:

"This morning, owen says, 'dad, tomorrow I’ll take a nap and you can go to target and get something for me and jack. Then, you can come home and wrap it while jack and me are still sleeping…'

That boy. He’s smart."

Owen is also OBSESSED with the advent calender. I am under a lot of pressure to make sure 1) it has something in it before Owen gets up in the morning, and 2) it has some activity or puzzle in it. Just a piece of chocolate will not do. He likes to find a slip of paper that has directions to find a clue hidden somewhere in the house (a kind of scavenger hunt). Then the end result is something Christmas related - read a bible story about Christmas, make Christmas trees for the birds, sing your favorite Christmas Carol, etc.

Jack is happy just to find the chocolate. He is also a fan of eggnog, we've discovered. Come to think of, Jack will try just about any food once. Dried figs, prunes ("ooo, big raisins"), breads, whatever. Owen turns food down on sight alone.

Thanksgiving

It was a brisk morning at the Gobble Jog. Owen ran the entire 1K length. Jack hung out with Papa and Sharon Hall. Aunt Steph and Will ran the 5K.




















Then on to the race to get the food on the table! I found that it was fairly calm up until an hour before dinner, when everyone began arriving. Then it
was controlled chaos! I think everyone got enough to eat, but there were not a lot of leftovers! The fried turkey was a hit - I think we will try that again next year. And wonderful to see the various members of the Cranford-Hall-Reese-O'Donnell-Barrett-Cadle clan!
















It looks like a Sunday afternoon at the Smith House in Dahlonega...


















Pictures of some of the after dinner entertainment:










The group shot has about an equal amount of good mugs as it does bad. Oh well, I think it may be impossible to make everybody look good.

Fall leaves

Also- a funny story about Owen. He was home sick with Dad today and on their way to the Dr., they stopped at McD's for lunch. Owen asked Will if he had asked Mom if they were allowed to have this kind of lunch. And Will said that no he didn't ask me, he just decided to get it. Then Owen told him "you have to ask mom, because she's the boss." smart kid.

Halloween

Because of the weather, traditional trick or treating was kind of a bust. But I think the kids like showing off for the folks they know better than T or T anyway. They go a big kick out of visiting Gram, G&G Reese and the Cadles. We also went by the Couch's who live in the neighborhood. But they only wanted to go to one other house in the neighborhood. They also went TRUNK or Treat at the church last week - that is a lot of fun because you get to see ALL the kids. I went through about $45 worth of candy at Trunk or Treat in about 30 minutes - a very popular event!

5K

Will ran a 5K last weekend and the kids and I went to watch. The buffalo hat that was part of the swag bag was a huge hit with the kids, as you can see.


Dancing at the after-party

North Georgia Fair

Boys at Cane Creek Falls

career ambitions of the student of the month

Owen was choosen as student of the month for his kindergarden class and was presented with a certificate at the assembly. He was a little shell-shocked when he had to go up front. he looked just like Will when he has to speak in front of a crowd! He was thrilled with the whole thing - especially excited about the "gold" seal on his certificate. This is his picture that is hanging on the lunchroom wall.

I have to tell you a funny story about Owen … the other night at open house the kids had prepared this life size cutouts of themselves with “All About Me” things written on them. You know, “My favorite food is..”, “I have 4 people in my family…” etc.

So I am looking at these things and one of the questions is “When I grow up, I want to be _______”. There were responses like a mommy, a train conductor, a paleontologist, a doctor, etc. And then there was Owen’s…. “When I grow up, I want to be A WORKER AT MCDONALDS”!!!! Such high aspirations!

Actually, he changes career choices every time you ask him about it. For a while it was an architect (wonder where that came from) or a NASCAR driver (“They only work on Sundays, mom”).

Makes me tired just thinking about it!

Gosh! Can't believe its been almost 4 weeks since I've posted an update. I was going to blame it on us being so busy, but I think I've finally come the realization that we are ALWAYS busy and that the exception is when we don't have anything to do. Every weekend from mid-August to October is busy. And now that school started is even more jammed.

Our weekday schedule goes something like this:
530: Alarm goes off - Will and Andrea moving around.
620: wake the kids up. this is no small feat. some mornings there is a lot of whining about being tired (owen) or flat out yelling to "go away" (jack). they eventually make their way downstairs for bfast.
730: leave for school. dad takes owen, mom takes jack.
8-5: work for mom. owen gets out of school at 310 and then goes to afterschool program. he works on his homework there and i check it in the evenings.
5-6: commute, pick up the kids, arrive home. i'm lucky that the job is so close. i can't imagine if i had a "real atlanta commute."
6-8: make dinner, play with kids, get the ready for bed. no fancy dinner - it takes too long. i figure as long as its healthy, the real point is to spend time together. bath only every other night.
8 strict bedtime. otherwise everyone is a crabby mess the next day. they are both usually asleep within minutes of hitting the sack.
8-10 domestic duties and sometimes some downtime with Will on the front porch,

add on top of that that we usually have at least 2 nights during the week that we juggle other things. for example, this week it was a sunday school meeting on monday, school open house on tuesday, and a funeral visitation on wednesday.

and people wonder why we don't miss cable tv....

First Day of School!

The long anticipated day has arrived. Owen seemed a little nervous (He was a little quiet on the walk in), but once the teacher gave him a coloring activity, he was all business. Sat down, got out his pencil and started going at it, barely waving goodbye to me. I was probably more worked up than him (I did not sleep well last night). Hard to believe he is so big – I mean, he goes to school with fifth graders!!!!

William reports that Jack did his usual bury his face in the shoulder routine, but once he saw his friend Connor, he jumped down and began playing Legos.

I’ll write more tonight….

Aunt Steph's Birthday

We went to Bham Satuday to celebrate Stephanie’s birthday. A great time was had by all! A neighbor’s friendly kitten was hanging on her front porch and the kids, especially Jack, were thrilled. Ibt he was out there half the afternoon talking to it, petting it, giving it water, “feeding” the cat sticks. Her’s a picture with his friend Tiger….

So long, Ol' Shep

Well we had to put Maggie to sleep this week. I knew it was coming, but I still hated to do it. She was really kinda out of it. The vet said he thought she had dog dementia - she paced a lot and had stop really responding to us, even when petting her. She did crazy things like stare at corners in the room and would try to walk up the stairs even though she could barely walk. Will said he knew she must have really been out of it because she is scared of the vet but when he took her, she didn't even act like she knew where she was. Which was a blessing for her, I guess.

We had been talking to the kids about it over the last week or so, trying to prep them for what was coming. One time we talked about it while riding in the car – I told them I thought Maggie was getting old and she was probably dying and we would miss her, yada yada. Owen had a couple of comments about heaven, but Jackson was just kind of quiet. Owen had also told Gram a couple of weeks ago that he wasn’t sure he wanted to go to heaven “because I don’t know what I’ll do there”. Gram told him nobody knows, but she was sure that Jesus would let us know. I still don’t think he was convinced. Anyway, when we got home we were feeding the dogs and Jack got all excited and said “Look Mom! Maggie’s not dying, she’s right here!!!” Oh boy…

After I told them that Maggie had died, Owen had all sorts of questions: “Is Maggie in heaven with Granny? Is heaven fun?” Of course, both of them said they were sad and missed Maggie. I told them me too, but let’s think about all the fun things she did, like getting excited about Will coming home and how much she used to like for Owen to throw her that tennis ball. Then I said “She’s probably in heaven right now chasing some squirrels”. Owen was incredulous – “There are squirrels in heaven?!” Well, I don’t know!!! I told him that God wanted us to be happy in heaven, so I guess if squirrels make Maggie happy, I guess they will be there (that’s in the New Testament, right?!)

Jack kept saying “Now we only have one dog, not two.” They wanted to know if we could get a “friend for Lewis.” I told them I don’t think Lewis likes any other dogs expect Maggie.

Now every time we come home, they both say “I miss Maggie”. And they are very attentive to Lewis. The funny thing is both Will and I think Lewis is happier without Maggie there – I think in the past couple of months she had been driving him as crazy as she had been driving us… pacing at all hours and doing other crazy things.

Happy Birthday Grandma Reese!

Went to the pool today to celebrate Grandma Reese's big day. Jack and Owen also made a little video for her... I'll post soon.

When we get to bed , Jack says his prays. Tonight he said "thank you for Grandma's Birthday." I though that was sweet. Also, he always argues with me about whether it is pronounced "A-MEN" or "AH-MEN". Naturally, he thinks it pronounced the opposite or whatever I say.

Our summer excitement

I am just getting around to posting some pictures from the Fourth of July and Jackson's bithday party. See below...

Thanks for all the great gifts - including my new race car jammies!

Wow! Aunt Steph should make cakes professionally!

Waiting for fireworks to start!

Having fun at the parade and other activities on the Square....

Swim team material?

OK, Owen went from sticking his face in the water for the first time (just 48 hours ago) to holding his breath without holding his nose and trying to swim underwater today. He kept saying, "I can swim now" and asking if he could swim in the deep end. I DON'T THINK SO!!!

Beach Vacation

We had a great time at the beach this week. And Will and I agreed that it was one of the more relaxing family vacations we've had in a couple of years. Maybe it was the company, but I also think that the kids are both to an age where they are a little less work that they used to be (although I'm sure some of family members without small children would disagree that we looked relaxed... just remember its all relative...)

Owen and Jack had a grand time. Owen got brave and but his entire body in the pool and both of them actually got in the ocean. Here are a few pics...

Jack also turned 3 while we were there. We sang and had sparklers to celebrate.



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Here is a video of Owen getting brave and swimming with his face underwater. I know most 5 year olds may have done this before, but this is a BIG deal for Mr. Cautious. Note the swim technique of swimming with your feet UNDER your body.

Busy Summer

We are getting ready for the move this week. I'm just ready to do it! I hate this half living out of boxes.

The kids had their first day at "Camp Gram" today. They had a fabulous time naturally. I wonder how many more days Gram will be able to take!

Pomp & Circumstance

Owen’s pre-K graduation was yesterday – a big thrill for all. Parents were very excited – it looked a lot like a high school graduation with the parents jockeying for position with their cameras. The only thing missing was the air horn.

I think Owen was most excited about wearing a tie (he was also insistent that William must wear one too). The kids sang and then received their diplomas. We caught him talking to his friends during the middle of the ceremony – “is this almost the end?”. Here he is playing around during the ceremony... Here's a picture of O with his friends Dallas and Jacob...

Hard to believe he’s off to kindergarten in 2.5 months. He always surprises us with the way he acts like he’s in elementary school already. I already get a lot of “Awww, mom” when I ask him to do something, but last night I got an “Aww mom, you’re killing me!”. Whaa??? After graduation we took the boys for a haircut. It was really windy when we got out, and Jackson got all worked up because he was afraid “the wind will blow my haircut off!”

Flashbacks to other Mother's Days...

A couple of more from previous years....



2004... who are those exhausted looking people???

2006... Jack is on the way

2007....

Happy Mother's Day

We took our annual Mother's Day picture today. I like to do this every year (although I admit I think I forgot last year). These two pictures best represent the Hall Family, I believe....

Easter "bonnets"

We had lots of company on Easter, and thankfully the weather cooperated. Check out Jack and Owen giving each other some brotherly "love" while riding the Big Wheel out back. Jack has on quite the GQ ensemble - cow boots, a bicycle helmet and pants that hang low. What a beaut!

Owen's checkup

Our 5 year old now weighs 45.2 lbs (75-90th percentile) and is 3' 9.5" inches tall (90th percentile). He had one shot and was glad to hear that he doesn't have any more vaccinations until he is 12. Not too much crying with the shot.

Today Owen told me only 4 more months til he goes to his "new school" (kindergarten). I said, oh it is longer than that! Then I counted... he's right!!!! Agh... we have GOT to plan a vacation!

Dad & Jack reading bedtime stories

Just the latest everyday stuff

The boys spent some time with PaPa and Sharon this weekend. On Saturday, they went to the zoo and then got to have dinner at the Waffle House (their favorite restaurant). They they spent the night. From the looks of it. everyone had a grand time. I hope Jack did not use too much of his "No!!!" while he was there.

They love to spend the night out. Lately they have also wanted to sleep in the same bed at night. That never really works because Jack keeps whispering to Owen or they kick each other (They sleep with the heads at opposite ends). But every weekend, they want to try it anyway.

Last week, I went to an egg hunt party at their school. Of course, Owen's class was done with the entire thing in about 30 seconds flat. But Jack's class was really funny - they would find one egg, then stop and try to open it to see what was inside. Gram had come over the night before and helped them stuff their eggs - and when Jack went to bed, he told her not to take his eggs home - he wanted to make sure they were still there when he got up! Jack also loves "cracking" the eggs. When he wants to open a plastic egg, he bangs it on the table just like he's cracking a real egg.

There was a NASCAR race on again yesterday, so naturally Owen wanted to watch part of it (we are raising a "red" boy, apparently whether I like it or not...). He got out his NASCAR magazine that Crandaddy gave him a few weeks back and points out which track they are racing at. It also has stats on who won last year, so he called Crandaddy on the phone and read him all the relevant stats and told him who won and on which track. It was like he was studying the magazine! He told me that he wants to take it to show and tell this week - I'm sure the other kids will be impressed. HA!

Some of us are more tired than others...

Owen received this 500+ piece Lego set from Aunt Steph yesterday. He worked on it a couple of hours yesterday and then got up at 6:30 this morning to start again. Less than 24 hours later, voila!

Birthday Blowout

We had quite a Saturday - a birthday party for Owen & his friends in the morning and a party for extended family that night. It rained at the kids party at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, but everyone had fun anyway. And he had a great time Saturday night.

The pictures here are from the party. Look at the one where the kids are sitting in a circle when the nature guide brought in the snake. The girls were very dramatic.

We are very tired today...