Catching up with the Halls

Whew! Between soccer season and the holidays, I got a little behind!

Back in October, Mike and I took a trip out to Palm Springs to attend Kerrie and Ed's wedding - and got to see some old friends! We miss the Reiners and Carpenters! Looking forward to March guys!!!




Every once in awhile, Megan and Alexa say or do something regarding my dad that just blows me away.....last November Megan and Alexa were ouside drawing with chalk and they called me out to tell me about their pictures.....


Alexa's picture: "This is you and your dad back when you were four and he was still alive..."


Megan's picture: "This is you and your dad with his name (Richard) written big so he for sure will see it from Heaven..Mom are you crying AGAIN?"


After taking endless pictures for our holiday card I wasn't happy with, I settled on this picture. I like it because they look like such angels - not the girls who were trying desperately to make it back on Santa's good list in time!




In November, my dear friend Jody was diagnosed with breast cancer and in January I was able to spend some time with her as she recovered from her surgery. I brought my girls one weekend and the kids got together again for their annual photo :) Alexa is so cute with Mikey - she just loves being a "big sister" of sorts to SOMEONE! Megan spends most of the time with Jacob staring wide eyed at his whirlwind activity and laughing - encouraging him on!


We started the New Year off with a bang - Alexa got this pull up bar to practice her bar exercises....the following day after this picture was taken (and the first day back to school), Megan fell off it and broke her collar bone! Alexa's favorite pasttime of late is to re-enact exactly how Megan did it.....she's not deterred in the least! Megan's recovering nicely, but knowing her and her memory, it'll scar her for life about doing physical things and we'll never hear the end of it....



With that, consider yourself caught up! :)

First Day of Soccer Season!

Today was s full day of soccer for the Hall's!

First on the docket was Alexa's team - the Blue Butterflies playing against....yep, you guessed it, the Pink Butterflies! Here are some shots of the fierce "BB's"...




Megan also had her game - in the broiling heat at 3:00. Whew! Although they were definately cuter, the "Purple Diamond Girls" lost to the "Bumblebees" 0-1.



Although fun was had by all, Mike and I believe our daughters are actually doing soccer for the end-of-game snack. The season is young - but so far, neither daughter is in contention for "most aggressive player" (or even slightly aggressive player), and whereas Alexa is always running with the pack (but never going after the ball) Megan seems to be experimenting with the strategy of moving as little as possible. While not terribly successful so far on the field, it was wildly successful in driving Dad crazy on the sidelines. Mom tries to keep her mouth shut (as best she can) ....what's that saying about falling apples and trees? ;)

First Day of School - Alexa

Today Alexa started her last year of preschool - she's in pre-K now(gasp!) I had arranged for her to have at least one of the Berry twins in this year's class with her, and to meet them before school so we could walk in together - all in the hope that Alexa wouldn't scream on her first day. Despite the happy picture below, when it came time to go to class, Alexa was...well, Alexa. She is quite well known at this preschool - Alexa (aka "the screamer") Hall. The Director of the preschool was present in her class this morning, which I do not find coincidental. She, as well as Alexa's former teacher in the adjoining classroom, all tried to assist her two new teachers as Alexa was blowing out everyone's eardrums. "Alexa's here! All hands on deck!" Sigh....so begins another school year.

First Day of School

Here are some pictures from Megan's first day of 1st grade. For weeks I've been anxious about my "baby" headed off to the "big leagues"....despite my reservations about her class placement, she had a great first day and loves her new teacher!

The new outfit and backpack show off...

What a ham!

Off to first grade!

First Haircut!

Yes, at age FOUR Alexa finally agreed to have her hair cut. If you know her I'm sure you are thinking "sounds about right" :) This historic event took place at "Gumball Alley" - a children's haircut place. What did it? The hairstyle (of course!) Megan chose it last time, got all kinds of compliments, everyone made a big fuss....Alexa wanted in on that action! Here the hairstyle is again - on both of them.

Last Summer Hurrah!

August

McGrath State Beach

As Megan starts school in the middle of August, we made one last summer trip - camping at the beach (again!) This time, McGrath State Beach in Ventura. Nan and Pop rented an RV to accompany us, and thank goodness it was on the last trip of the summer as I doubt we would get the girls back in a tent again! The beach was incredible, our campsite was awesome, the spider bites sucked. Mike and I both slept in the tent, but apparently I'm the tastier spider snack, judging by my bite count.

It was much easier to keep an eye on Megan this way. ;)

sweet swell, girl!





















Nan and the girls

















ah....the reason Alexa brings home half the beach inside her swimsuit!

What a summer it has been....!! Some highlights...

July (con't)

Seattle

"The Brown/Wilroy (Bloss/Barry/Hall/Hawes) Reunion"

A fantastic trip to the Pacific Northwest....terrific weather, great friends. It was a hoot to get (almost all) of the next generation together. (Michelle/Ed's contribution arrives in August!) At the last minute my mom wasn't able to make it, and that sucked, but it gives us all a great reason to do it all over again. Redo!

In memory of Rich Wilroy

It doesn't get much cuter than this......!