Grace turned eight today… 8, ocho, otto, EIGHT!!! I love her so much and I'm incredibly grateful that Heavenly Father blessed me with a DAUGHTER! We laugh, argue (a little), plan, work, cook, play, snuggle, dream, and so much more TOGETHER. What a blessing, what a GIFT! Happy Birthday, Gracie-Girl.

Fairy Tea with my girl!

I do love having a girl to enjoy the more feminine & fanciful side of life with! This was our second year going to Provo Library's Fairy Tea party. This year we went with Grace's three closest friends: Amberly, Hannah & Avery, and their mom's, of course! Glitter and wings, chocolate covered strawberries, and curtsies for the Fairy King! I hope she wants to go again next year. And we even got to watch graceful ballerinas glide across the floor. It was such a fun afternoon! 

LUKE, my Wingman!!

LUKE is AWESOME!!! He is such a blast; full of energy, whit, pizazz, topped with cuddles & kisses. It's the best of both worlds! I've really been trying to soak up my time with him lately, since he'll go to preschool next year. All the other kids have stayed home with me 1 extra year, since their birthdays have been in the fall. But I feel like the time is slipping away too quickly with Luke. Nearly every morning, as soon as the kids head off for school, we sit on the big white leather couch and read books together. Even if it's just for 10 minutes, I LOVE that time, just me & him!!! 

For Christmas we got him a special gift: gymnastics classes, which he loves. Last Tuesday his teacher came up afterwards and said, "You know, your son is really good at this. I've taught a lot of kids, and he's definately got talent." I was not at all surprised! He's very body aware, and capable of going backwards on the balance beam (which was his own alteration), jumping off of anything high, running at lightening speeds, and every other boy thing you can think of. He learned to ride his bike at the end of last summer, when he was only 3 1/2... a Hall family record. Even Dad didn't learn to ride his bike til he was 7 or 8, and he's a stud athlete. What does Luke have in store?? Pure greatness!! 

He has been discovering new layers of language lately. He was at BYU with Billy a few weeks ago, explaining something about a picture he had seen earlier. He couldn't remember the man's name in the picture, but kept saying "the one with meat in his name." Turns out, it was AbraHAM Lincoln! He has said a few other things lately, along those lines... he pays attention to those little details and is super smart! 

Needless to say, we had a great week together. He's been wanting to dress up like a pirate, with Teddy on his shoulder as his parakeet-parrot. So, we did! We've had plans to make homemade playdough together, so after a few days of carrying the Cream of Tarter around with him to remind me, we did! We've been reading together, learning to recognize and practicing the sounds of each letter. He comes with me to volunteer in Grace's classroom, where we sit in the hall and work 1-on-1 with kids who need extra reading help. It's giving him a headstart, and he'll for sure be reading before Kindergarten. So we found a book at the library, quite fitting for the occasion... SuperHero ABC! Painting, playdough, growing out of the Batman jammies the Magic Pumpkin brought him last Halloween, dressing up, reading, and EATING A TON of food in the mornings (that's his refueling time!)... life with Luke is pretty darn great! 

1st things FIRST

Okay, this is my attempt at creating a functional tool to help me stay focused on the things in my life that REALLY matter. It's my 2014 helper. I want to be able to keep up with the bustle of my life, without sacrificing the gems that happen each and every day. That's part of my motivation to journal here--it helps me to slow down and acknowledge the little miracles in my world!

It's hard, because everything "matters" on some level. It matters if I buy groceries. It matters if I sweep up those crumbs. It matters if I take out that trash OR pay the bills OR work an extra nursing shift OR wipe that nose OR prepare my music time for Primary OR text a friend OR make breakfast OR tie that shoe OR feed the bird OR fold the socks OR check the oil OR answer the phone OR OR OR.

But it REALLY matters when I 
read that book with my child
listen intently
pray for my family
read the word of God
sing with all my heart
snuggle without trying to rush off to the next thing
feel the nudgings of the Spirit
look into those blue eyes (they've all got 'em)
help with a school project
welcome expirimentation, even when it comes with a mess
get excited about that idea with them
watch the sunrise
whisper "I love you"
feel that warm hand in mine
go on that run
draw a bath and then sit with them while they play
radiate happiness & peace
bite my tongue, even when I'm tired
answer a heartfelt question
CREATE MOMENTS THAT MATTER!

My PLAN:
Every Sunday, before I hit that pillow, I will check in with myself & these happy paisleys. These sheets of paper will hold ideas for connecting with EACH member of my family EACH week. Some ideas will most certainly flow over from one week to the next. I won't get to each of the ideas each week. But I WILL be re-centering on WHAT MATTERS MOST, which is my relationship with my Heavenly Father, my family & myself.

It's a whirlwind of a life we all live. I pray this helps. And I think it will; the Spirit nudged me with the idea. Can't go wrong following that!

School happenings...

Billy and Seth are really enjoying this school year at East Meadows Elementary!

Billy is in 5th grade and loves science & chemistry. Pictures coming soon of his Science Project. His confidence in math has really improved this year, and he brings home high scores on his tests everytime. At his last parent-teacher conference, Mrs. Anderson commented about how Billy is well-liked by everyone and how easily he gets along with his classmates. She said you would never guess we had just moved to the area at the start of the year, that it seemed like he grew up with these kids all along.

Lunch duty means 2 helpings as payment! 

The Crew.
Word is, the girl on the far left "likes" him. Oh, no... it's starting!

Seth is excelling in Mrs. Mecham's 3rd grade class. He has found some good buddies: Drew, Zach M. & Zach K., who rule the 4-square court every recess. He is following in his dad's footsteps, as a remarkable reader, as he's reading at a 7th grade level. We've had to talk about the fact that doing your best (not perfection every time) is what matters, because if he doesn't bring home a perfect score on a test or quiz, he feels dissappointed. At this point in his academic carreer, he thinks he wants to be a Chemical Engineer... whatever that means. :) I hadn't even heard of such a thing when I was his age!

I love it that Seth has a good friend!!

Seth & Zach K. jumpin' around.
Just a T-shirt in January... he runs hot

Pinewood Derby FUN!

Tonight was an action-packed event, with the Pinewood Derby. This ward does it up right, complete with racing flags, hi-tech track, driver's licenses for the boys before they could "drive," even popcorn & chocolate mini-donuts for desert. Seth had a good time, but wasn't quite as happy with the results of the Black Thunder, as compared to his racer from last year. I think it's all about the low profile, consolidated weight. Maybe even the purple paint.

This was last year's result: 2nd Place! 

And this year's: Most Innovative!!

See Luke chugging the punch in the background? He even had to hold the chair, to steady himself! Fun night! 

Valley Springs... feels like SPRiNG!

We've enjoyed a great visit with our family here in Valley Springs. Even though it's winter here, it feels like spring to me! I guess my blood is thick; I must be a true Utahn now. But I'll always be a Californian at heart!

Today, Tatum was baptized, which was a wonderful thing to witness! All the cousins sang "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" and Uncle Billy gave a great talk on the Holy Ghost. Tamales and Red Rider Daisy BB gun shooting at Andy & Shelly's afterwards. Baby tummy time awards: "Biggest Head" goes to Max, and "Biggest Hair" goes to Benjamin!