THREE BOYS!!!

The New and Expanding Hall Family!

Baby Hall--coming late July/early August, 2011
(I'm 20.5 wks along)

Cute Little Profile!

Baby Feet!!

No Shame = No Room for Doubt!

My THREE Boys!!!!

Snowman

General Mills is a wonderful company to work for. They offer a lot of perks, including employee clubs and activities of all sorts. One funny activity that Brian forwarded me an email about (probably just because he thought it was silly) was a snowman building contest for employees during the work day. I thought it would make a fun family activity though, so team Hall met up a week or so ago on the day of the activity, geared up and ready to compete.

Scoping out the competition

Snow Tots

The snow was actually really powdery, and almost impossible to pack. We added lots of water, and scaled down our plans a bit.

Out little headstand snowman, coming together!

I wanted to do something a bit more creative, but still simple enough that Felix and Ezra could help--and not get frostbite while we worked.

Well, our efforts paid off, because after the votes were tallied up (from employees who could see the snowmen from the cafeteria window), out little Upside Down Snowman took first place!

Hooray!

So Sweet to Me

I love it when Brian is home to put the kids to bed with me. The routine is much more enjoyable, and I'm able to admire not only my cute kids (why are kids twice as cute in jammies?), but also my husband in his father role. Love him!

After changing into pjs, brushing teeth, reading scriptures, and saying family and kids' prayers, we will each take a kid and tuck them in. But for Ezra this means tossing him (with blankie and mouse) into his crib and bidding him adieu--maybe pausing for a toddler smooch before turning off the light.

For Felix, on the other hand, "tucking him in" has come to mean: hearing all about an adventure he had that day with puppy (fav. stuffed animal), the intricate workings of some body part (like the kidneys), and/or his plans for the next morning's breakfast; reading 2 bedtime stories (with 6 questions per page, and corrections if I leave out a word); more pressing life questions as he climbs into bed and requests that his blanket be flattened and pristinely tucked in; and a complex call-and-response style exchange of good-nights/I love yous/sweet dreams/and see you tomorrows.

Incredibly endearing and precious. But a bit time consuming!

So you can guess which kid Brian and I usually vie for.

Well, tonight after prayers, Felix warmed my heart with little conversation:

L: "Felix, who do you want to tuck you in? Mommy or DADDY!!!!"
F: "Mommy!"
L: "Oh, but Daddy is so fun, and he does awesome sound effects when he reads books."
F: "Oh, I want you, Mommy, because you're so sweet to me!"

Smitten!