hard workers

I wish I’d gotten a picture of Porter mowing, but here’s Clayton edging the yard. I’m so grateful for our boys who keep our yard mowed and trimmed & also serve our elderly neighbors, by doing their lawns, too. They’ve been pretty busy with school, soccer, track, church, scouts, but I’m thankful they take time to serve. Love you boys!

slowing down…almost

There’s only a week and half left of school and I’m so excited for summer. We are so busy lately and I’m ready for time to slow down and not set an alarm for a little bit. Although, time won’t slow down for very long, because baby girl is due July 11th and there’s some trips this summer (not for me, but Laun and the boys- scouts, work, EFY…).

Today when the kids got home from school it almost felt like summer. I dropped Clayton and a friend off at a nearby fishing spot for hours, while Porter played games with a friend.

The littles had popsicles and played outside and I worked on some of my Relief Society lesson for this Sunday.

my boys

Everyone loves Carter snuggles. Carter really loves T (that’s what we call Clayton a lot).

At the Junior High they have these contests where the kids try to solve math questions and who ever answers them correctly, gets entered to win a gift card. Porter was so excited he won and picked a Cold Stone Creamery card. He got his favorite- cotton candy with gummy bears.

Porter’s last game of his first official club soccer season was this evening. They lost, which was a bummer, but they also had a huge win on their game before. Their team really starting coming together near the end of the season, but now with all the age changes, I’m curious to see what team Porter is on for the next soccer year. He is an awesome player and so fun to watch. He’s very aggressive, has incredible ball handling, seems to always know when/where to pass the ball and has the best reactions ever when he scores goals. I’m so proud of my soccer player!

no more dessert for me

I had another appointment for my pregnancy this morning. I’m 32 weeks along now, which seems like nothing when I think about a baby being here in 2 months, but seems like a long time to still be pregnant. I barely passed my glucose test. I guess if you get a 140 or higher you have to take the 3 hour fasting test and I got a 139-wowzers! So the doctor told me to stop eating sugar, because he doesn’t want me having a 9 pound baby! That just made the last 2 months of pregnancy seem even longer! I like to bake and eat, but I guess it will be good for me to be forced to drop the sweets and certain carbs for awhile. My iron level is great, so I guess I’ve just been light headed and nauseous because of being pregnant. I only gained 2 pounds over the last month, which doesn’t surprise me since I gained a little more in the beginning of my pregnancy than I normally do. I’ve gained a little over 20 pounds, but maybe with the sugar restriction I will gain less than 30 pounds like I’ve done with my past pregnancies.

Sunday drive

I walked to and home from church today. I’m loving that the weather is warming up and that we live close enough to a church building to walk. I also love watching my boys pass the sacrament. And the Relief Society lesson was about studying-pondering the scriptures and it has motivated me to be better at my personal scripture study. When I got home I noticed that the purple iris flowers in our yard are in full bloom. These flowers remind me of my mom because we had several plants in our yard growing up.

Then we went on a drive up Payson Canyon and Maple Lake was beautiful.

How many kids can you fit on a log?

Carter giving Nana hugs.

Carter is such a nut sometimes.

Clayton and Laun

When I told Carter I wanted to take a picture of him he came up with this pose all on his own.

Clayton caught this fish with his bare hands.

We took a walk around the lake- this place seems a little magical to me, especially with how green it is this time of year.

We made the mistake of not bringing Carter’s fishing pole. Clayton is trying to get his line ready and is not very happy with Carter trying to steal his pole.

He just wants to be big like everybody else.

Clayton takes fishing very seriously.

Heading back to the truck. We read scriptures on the drive home, man I love how we have the scriptures on our phone and can take them wherever we go.

This week flew by and before we know it another Hall kid will be born!

new read

I joined a book club to force me to read more and just to be social. There are a group of ladies in our ward who take turns hosting each month. Who ever hosts provides a snack and then we all talk about that month’s book we read and then choose one for the next month. We just finished reading the Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and although the beginning was slow, it was totally worth it for the ending and I was glad to be part of a book club so that I had ladies to discuss it with. Maybe reading is wearing off on me, because I picked up a book to read on my own: the life-changing magic of tidying up…and from the look of my nightstand I think it will be an essential read for me.

on track

District Finals for track were today and it was a good season. Carter and Marlee are such troopers going to their big brother’s events.

I’m so proud of my boys, they ran hard and both got a PR.

Porter ran the mile and not only got his PR of 6:27, but I think he was even more happy that he beat Clayton’s PR last year of 6:28. Although, Clayton did get his mile just under 6 minutes this year, but he didn’t run the mile for district.

Clayton got a PR for the 800 of 2:32. I couldn’t even imagine running around the track 2 times that fast! And right after track we hurried Clayton over to soccer training with the A team, like we do every Friday. I’m so glad this is the last track meet and last soccer training of the season. It’s been busy lately!

Laun and I went on a date to the Provo Temple with Trent and Lindsie. Can I just tell you how awesome it is to have older kids who babysit! It’s like I’ve arrived in motherhood. We go on way more dates now and I love how convenient it is. Also, I’ve got barely over 2 months left till baby girl comes and my belly is getting big!! We went to BYU Creamery afterwards for some ice cream.

pizza

For Mother’s Day Marlee brought home this cute bag from school with a book inside that she made.

My mom is special because she cooks.

I love it when my mom cooks pisse (pizza), she cooks it with ches (cheese).

I wish I could buy my mom a cat.

A picture of Marlee and I.

I love Marlee’s drawings and I guess it really means a lot to her when I cook pizza, so that’s exactly what I did. I made her homemade pizza and breadsticks and she was happy. But we did not get a cat, maybe someday when we buy a house.

growing up

Marlee ran into the library to make returns and came out with books/movies for her and Carter. I love that she’s getting big enough to do more on her own. It’s fun watching your kids grow and learn.

Clayton had his last band concert of the year and ever tonight. He played the French horn for 3 years and has decided this was his last. He enjoyed it for the first couple years, but this year has dragged on for him and he’s glad to be finished. I’m so proud of him for sticking this year out and for all the progress he’s made.

We went to Sonic for ice cream to celebrate. Way to go T!!

my little monkeys

Carter and Nana

Carter calls bananas “nanas” and his big sister “Nana”.

He can also say Ipad and I’m pretty sure we need to wean him of this electronic addiction. His current favorite movie to watch on Netflix is Hotel Transylvania 2.

Carter loves his siblings

Carter loves his siblings and I love watching my children each time I have a new baby. They are wonderful helps to me. They read to him and play games with him. They help clean up after him, babysit and the boys can even change his diapers. He’s a light in our home and they are all lights to me.