A boy's best friend

So I'm kind of embarrassed that I'm putting this picture up. But Yes, my back door is really this dirty. The reason I took this picture though is because Cooper and Chalupa love to go in the backyard together. Cooper goes on the side of our house where it's still dirt and digs all day long. Chalupa sits next to him and digs too. I was cleaning the kitchen one morning and I heard a knock at my door and this is what I saw. They were done playing and wanted to come in. So cute.

We LoVe To PaRtY!

I'm pretty sure Lindsay has had enough parties to last her till next year. She had a friend party this morning. It was a Breakfast Party. They all wore their jammies and we had a yummy breakfast and Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. We had 15 little girlies running around. It was loud but it was alot of fun. We are so thankful for all the many wonderful friends we have. We're lucky! Thanks again!

Birthday Celebrations

Lindsay was so excited for her giant cupcake. She couldn't stop smiling when we were singing to her.Thanks for all the phone calls. She had fun talking to everyone.

Jeff worked out of town the last 2 weeks and he didn't know if he'd be home for Lindsay's birthday so we took her out a couple of weeks ago. She got to pick where we went. She wanted chicken wings, her new found love. This girl likes to eat and she can put it away and out eat me most of the time. Here she is enjoying her wings at The Vine.Doesn't she make them look good?

Jeff actually walked in the door at 3:30 on her birthday so that was a fun surprise! We just stayed home and had a low key afternoon. She got Go Fish and Old Maid for her presents so we played games all afternoon.

She got her favorite movie, The Corpse Bride. Not sure why she likes it so much but she does.
I went to her school for lunch and let her pick what she wanted me to bring. She wanted chicken wings again but I told her I couldn't bring those. So she picked In'N Out Burger. I'm telling you this girl know what's good.

Grandma Shellee, Toree, & Jamee came out to give Lindsay her present and stayed for a game of Go Fish and Old Maid.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy LiNdSaY!

6 years ago at 11:17am this little chunky cheeked girl made her way into the world. She has brought us so much joy. She is the silliest, sweetest, most sensitive girl around and we are so glad she got to come to our family. We love you Lindsay! aka: Lulu, Lindsaylu, Lindsay Lulu Hall, chunka lunka! Have a happy birthday!

Lindsay's Big Day

We (Jeff) have been telling Lindsay since Christmas that her training wheels were coming off on her birthday. We (Jeff) tried a few months ago and she just cried until he put them back on. Well Jeff was home for the weekend(working out of town) and he told Lindsay he might not make it home for her birthday so he was going to take her training wheels off today (Saturday). She said OK! So we took her over to the park and Jeff held on to her bike for 5 seconds and she was riding a two wheeler!

Then Jeff said it would be so cool if she learned to ride a bike and a motorcycle in one day. So he put her on and was holding on to the back and he let go and she rode by herself for like 5 seconds. Then he convinced her to do it again so I could get a video of it. Of course she dumped it on her and yelled at Jeff for making her do it again and we have it on video. Priceless.

Look at the wind in her hair. She was moving.

Even Cooper got in on the action.

It was a momentous day for Daisy as well. I didn't get a picture but we have it all on video! She rode her motorcycle all by herself!!!!!!!!!!! You know the one she got last year for her birthday and wouldn't even touch! I told her to get back on so I could take a picture but she was mad at Lindsay for wrecking it because she could have scratched the motorcycle. Oh the joys of having girls:)! Jeff had a great day though. He was able to convince his girls to ride the motorcycle. He was beaming. Even if it only lasted for 10 minutes.

Ringing in the new year!

We are usually very boring on New Years. We're in bed by 10 or so. This year we decided to actually go and do something. So we took the kids to the drive in. We had never been and had sooooooo much fun! i can't wait to go back. We saw Bedtime Stories (we loved it) and Bolt (not so much.) The kids did really well and it wasn't too cold in the back of the van. Jeff and I sat on lawn chairs and wrapped quilts around us. We walked in the door at 11:58pm so we ran outside and screamed and yelled. Nobody heard us though because our neighbors were having a huge party and they were LOUD! What a fun way to ring in the new year.

Light rail

Since Cooper is obsessed with trains we thought we would take him to the grand opening of the Light rail. Yea us and everybody else. It was crowded. We spent most of the time on the busses. Which Cooper thought was just as fun. Actually better because we got to sit not stand on the bus. We got on the train and rode it for one stop and got off because it was so crowded. But he had a blast so that's all that counts. And don't feel sorry that our girls aren't with us. They had their annual Christmas sleepover at Grandma Day's. They got a new movie from her so they watch that and have lots of fun. I heard it was midnight when they went to bed.

Cooper's a big boy

We had the chance to give our crib to someone who needed one. We wanted to do a service this Christmas and this came along. It wasn't anything too big but we were glad to see that the girls were excited to give it to a baby. Well I don't know if Cooper was too happy about it. When we took it down he kept saying my bed! But then we brought in his new "big boy bed" and he was ok. But he cried when we dropped the crib off. So we had to remind him that his bed was at home. He loved his new car blanket. I have a headboard/footboard that I am painting black to match his dresser.Bye Bye crib. Next step: potty training. (yeah right.)

Christmas Day

As usual, Santa didn't disappoint. Daisy got the guitar she wanted. She was so excited. Now we just need to learn how to play it.

Lindsay got the My Little Pony playset she wanted.

All Cooper wanted was a train. He opened up the first one and was done. So the girls pretty much opened his presents for him.

Christmas Day is actually kind of chaotic. I really wish we could just stay home all day. But the kids like to go and see their cousins too. After we had our Christmas we headed to the Halls for more presents. All the grandkids draw names so that is fun for them. Then at lunch time we headed to the Days for more presents and food. They got Guitar Hero World Tour so that was pretty much the excitement for the day. We then went back over to the Halls to show Becky our new puppy. By the time we got home it was dark and we had a messy house. But it was a good day.

Funny story: The dog whined all night Christmas Eve so Daisy was determined to sleep downstairs with him on Christmas night and take care of him. We told her that dogs whine the first couple of nights and that he would be ok. But she insisted so we let her. At 1am she came to my room and said she hadn't even slept yet cause she was taking care of the dog and she needed to sleep. She said when he would whine she would get him out to hold him, thinking he would go to sleep but he just wanted to play so she got frustrated. She decided taking care of a dog is hard work and it would be ok if he whined.

Christmas Parties

We spend Christmas Eve with my family and the 23rd with the Hall's. Lots of good food and company. Daisy played Away in a Manger for us and did a great job. Lindsay sang Picture A Christmas and Jeff played for her.The annual Day nativity. If you're not married you have to be in it. Nice incentive to get married Randy, haha.

Good thing Devin & Kristin's baby will be baby Jesus next year. Avery wasn't too happy.

Of course Christmas Eve was fun for us all. We all got a present!

We love getting to see Great Grandpa Ben at the Hall parties.

Daisy & Lindsay were angels for the Hall nativity.

Daisy practiced hard to play this song. She played both hands and did a great job. I think Grandma Jan (her piano teacher) was impressed.
We enjoy the holidays and are happy we get to spend it with family. We have alot to be grateful for as we reflect on this past year. I am so thankful for my family, friends, gospel, and our health just to name a few. We are a lucky family.

Meet the newest member of the family

Yep we caved. I'm still wondering why. You know all the responsibility is on me no matter how much the girls and Jeff say they will do it. But he sure is a cutie. He is a 6 wk old Chorkie and he fits in the palm of our hands. His name is Chalupa. Just look at that face. He's won us all over.

Merry Christmas!

I absolutely love every picture that Liz took. It was so hard for me to decide which ones to print for my house. So here are just a few of my favorites. Have a Merry Christmas!