Hall Family of Four

I Graduated with my Masters!!!

2010-05-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I graduated with my Masters in Education!!! I started this journey years ago and stopped after I had Kai. Well, this year was my last year to complete it or I would have to start over again from the start. So, I decided to suck it up for a year and finish it! I have never been happier to finish something in my life. I could not have done it without the help of my wonderful husband and In-laws, who helped with all the kids while I was in class or working on my thesis. Now I can go back to just being a mom!! I love it!!!

My husband and his parents.

My Professor and I

My wonderful husband!

The kids didn't come to the graduation but I had to get a picture with them in my cap and gown.

My wonderful cohort...we were all girs!

Ready, Aim, SMILE !!!...

2009-07-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

Kai hates taking pictures! Anytime a camera comes out he will run away. Getting him to look at the camera to take a pictures is almost impossible. So, this means I am taking alot of pictures of Nyomi but none of kai(at least not of him looking at the camera). Yesterday, however, he was playing with baby and giving her hugs. I told him he was being such a sweet brother. He looks at me and says, "Get the camera Mommy!! Take a picture!" I was so excited and hopeful I ran and got the camera. This is the great picture I was able to get!!! yay!

Funny Kai

2009-07-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

Funny Kai moment (which there have been so many lately - thankfully - because some days his behavior just kills me). He has just recently been completely potty trained. He is so proud of himself and loves saying he is a big boy. Well, my husband loves to try to get Kai to say funny things...So, a few days go Matt was in the bathroom and Kai calls out, "Daddy, what are you doing?" So Matt replies "I'm dropping a duke!". I didn't think my 3 year old really understood. But sure enough three days later Kai was in the bathroom and I go in there to see how he was doing. He looks up at and me a gives me a big smile and says, "Mommy! I'm dropping a duke!!!" Funny Kai, Funny Daddy.

Hall Ladies in Shades....

2009-07-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

Nyomi recently discovered sunglasses. She loves to put them on when she is in the house but will have nothing to do with them when we are out in the sun :). I thought I would take some mother and daughter pictures of us in our SHADES....

Here we are wearing our shades.

She wanted to try on mommies sunglasses. So, I exchanged glasses with her.

Make a Book Out of Your Blog!!!

2009-07-09T11:03:00.001-07:00

Ok, I am super excited!!! I found a website that will make your blog into a book!!!!!! I have been wanting to do this since I started this because its like scrapbooking which hasn't happened alot lately. Check out this website: www.blog2print.com

My Reading Kids

2009-07-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Kai loves to read books. He will sit down and read a book to himself. Of course he is not actually "reading" but putting his own words to each page which I think is extremely cute. Lately, he has started reading to Nyomi. She in turn has started trying to read too.

Here is Nyomi reading.

Here they are reading together.

"Relax Mommy!"

2009-07-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

My son is a very vocal and emotional kid. He gets worked up and frustrated over the smallest things. So I have been working on teaching him how to calm himself down by counting to 10 and taking deep breathes. During the day I say, "Relax Kai" about a 100 times. Well, I got a dose of my own medicine the other day. We were all ready to go out to watch a free movie at Regal when I realized I didn't know where my car keys were. This happens to me alot. I looked all over the house for 10 minutes straight and was starting to get really frustrated. Then Nyomi started to cry cause she wanted me to carry her and Kai was starting to whine cause he was excited and ready to go watch the movie. At this point I started loosing my cool and start yelling at my kids to shushhh up! Kai, my 3 year old, looks at me and says, "Mommy don't say that. Relax." That made me stop and realize what kind of example I was setting for my kids at that moment. Seems I need a lesson or two on taking deep breathes and counting to 10.

Kai's buzz cut

2009-07-04T12:08:00.001-07:00

Daddy and Kai buzzed their hair together. Kai was super excited to buzz his hair to look like daddy.

Girl in pigtails....

2009-07-04T12:04:00.001-07:00

more family

2009-06-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

Family Pictures

2009-06-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

Nyomi's First Birthday

2009-05-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Nyomi's first birthday with her three friends - Harper, Lola, and Savannah - who all turn one days apart from each other. It was so fun! We also did a little dedication for them all. Here we all are as we say our hopes for our kids. Matt said that we hope that Nyomi will grow up to be confident in who she is as a person.

Here she is eating her first cake.

Taking a little break out of the sun.

Here are the four girls eating their birthday cake.

Here is a picture of her birthday cake before she ate it.

Our birthday girl!

Easter 09

2009-04-14T21:53:00.001-07:00

Kai eating his loot on our front stairs. He was so excited to open his eggs.

Nyomi @ 11 months on Easter Morning 09

Nyomi @ 10 months!!!

2009-03-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! Time goes way to fast!!! Nyomi is just about walking. She still needs something to help her stand up but then she just takes off. Taking 10 to 15 steps before falling. Crazy girl! She loves table food . In fact I have to sneak in spoonfuls of baby food to get her to eat it at all. Her favorites are cheese, egg, pancakes, and any fruit. But she will pretty much eat anything. She still has no teeth but you can see them in her gums. Just hope they don't all come at once!!!! She took her first swing ride today and giggled the whole time. Funny story.... we were at church with her and Doug Fields was speaking. Every time the audience would laugh at something he said she would bust out laughing too!! It was sooooo cute and funny!

Seaworld!!!

2009-03-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

My school took a school wide field trip to Seaworld....$6 for half day...you can't beat that....so, I went with my kids and it was so fun!!! Melody came with me to help. We watched an educational program with the Seal and Sea Otter with the whole school than went and saw all the animals... Kai loved the giant turtles, the stinky penguins (that is what he called them), the Beluga whales, the Walrus and the star fish. The Polar bears were sleeping when we went there but we went in their "model" den. Funny thing...when we were in the bear den they had bears growling in the speakers and it scared Kai...he was a little hysterical....saying "that's scary mommy!!"

Stinky Penguins!

Nyomi took a great nap in the stroller.

Kai and Melody looking at Penguins.

Daddy and His Little Girl

2009-02-27T19:11:00.001-08:00

Our Emailing Son

2009-02-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

We keep our computer in the kids room on a built-in table that Matt's dad built for us. It's nice cause I can check email and stuff while the kids are playing in the room with me. It's not nice, however, cause when they are napping I can't get on the computer. Therefore, I am very guilty of being online during the day instead of spending time with them. Anyway, yesterday I was cooking and had not heard Kai for a few minutes. When I called out and asked what he was doing he yells back to me " I'm checking my email mommy!" I went in there and found him typing on our computer. Funny boy....guilty mommy!!! In fact this is Kai typing:

f/.fglflll v ,,,,lOIUu huyyhuujuhjuua

nmn niu oooia0---aaaaaabbbbbcccccddddtteeeuakbkcdefkkkkkkkkkkkaAkkkkmkjkjkjksjsxwhhddhcsdi88m99i8987nmypw

p.s. Matt is going to set him up an email address

Scrapbooking - What's That?!!

2009-02-22T14:15:00.000-08:00

I love scrapbooking....I love putting pages together and writing down all the fun memories. I have not scrapbooked in 8 months because I have no time, creativity, or place to put my stuff. This makes me really sad because Kai has this huge scrapbook of his first year and Nyomi has two pages:( . So, I have decided to make my blog sort like my scrapbook. It's perfect cause I started it when she was born. This being said I am going to start blogging stats and stories - sorry if it is boring but it's the only way to keep the memories. I just wish I could somehow print my blog out and make it into a book---can you do that? I wish!

Nyomi is 9 months!

2009-02-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone!!!! I can't believe she is already 9 months!!!! She is such a happy and easy baby! She weights 17.8 lbs and is 26 3/4 inches short. She just started clapping her hands and doing little waves. She is very close to walking - she walks around the furniture and has taken a few steps on her own. I am really not ready for her walk but she really wants to keep up with her brother. :) She loves cheerios and pancakes. She is a tough little cookie - she thinks its great when her brother is dragging her and tackling her.....doesn't like it so much when he kicks her ;). She says "mama" and "dada" but not sure she knows what they mean. Love my little girl!!

Our Little Boy!

2009-02-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Kai is three months away from being 3 years old which makes me very sad. But it has been such a fun stage these last few months with him talking in sentences and being able to hold conversations. Everyday it seems he is saying something new and funny. His funny personality has come out in full force. He loves to sing and make up songs on his guitar. He loves dancing around (we call it happy feet). He loves painting and coloring pictures.(he finally knows his colors!) He loves wearing mommy or daddy's shoes. He loves playing with cars and has them talk to each other. He loves talking a bath with a ton of bubbles. He loves play dough - he makes them into little balls. (not my favorite thing) He also loves playing with his sister - he loves to tackle her and drag her places :( We love our little boy!

Thomas The Train!

2009-02-17T22:35:00.000-08:00

Kai LOVES Thomas the Train. He watches it everyday and loves going to church class because they have trains. So, Matt took him to see Thomas and Friends live on stage at the Orange County Performing Arts. He loved it!!! The show was two hours and Matt said Kai could have sat there all day watching.

My Little Rap Girl!

2009-02-10T22:49:00.000-08:00

Disneyland How We Love Thee - part 2

2009-02-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, my dream has come true. Mickey Mouse finally gave our family annual passes this Christmas. (Well, he didn't really give them to us but we do have them!!) After almost a year we brought Kai back to Disneyland!!! He loved it!!! He even rode on the Matterhorn. I think it might have scarred him for life...he is now scared of everything. :) Nyomi enjoyed her first trip to Disneyland too. She rode on the Monsters Inc. ride with all of us and was fascinated by all the lights and colors. We have been there three times in the last three weeks...so fun!!!

Fun at Big Bear!

2009-01-17T13:57:00.001-08:00

For Marco's 7Th birthday we all went to Big Bear to go sledding. It was so fun!! It was Kai's first time to see snow. He loved making a snowman with Tony and Marco and going down the hills!! He would laugh the whole way down.

Nyomi was to small to sled with us, so we all took turns hanging out with her on the picnic take near the slopes.

Kai will not look at the camera to take pictures :(.

Family Over The Holidays

2009-01-17T13:21:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I have blogged. So, I thought I would summarize the holidays with a few pictures of the highlights.

Christmas afternoon we had a Gingerbread house contest amongst the cousins. Marco won! We are planning on making this a tradition. Next year, adults get to participate ;).

Here are the cousins. Tony (9), Marco (7), Kai (2 1/2), and Nyomi (7mo.)

Grandma and Nyomi

Christmas morning... Nyomi loved riping the wrapping paper. These are actually Kai's socks. She held on to that package all morning.

Kai got a guitar for Christmas. He loves it. He goes around singing songs and strumming it. Matt and Kai have even made up a few of their own songs.

Love my kids!! Christmas was so fun this year because Kai really got it. We had a little coffee cake with a candle on Christmas morning and sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. He especially loved opening gifts!

Hall Family Christmas Pictures

2008-12-23T22:46:00.001-08:00

Our Little Santas

2008-12-10T23:11:00.001-08:00

Kai would not take his finger out of his nose...he thought it was funny! Like father like son :)

Kai fell backwards while taking this picture and decided to take Nyomi with him. Don't worry she was laughing the whole time.

Kai wanted to wear Nyomi's Santa hat...so we put his on her head.

Kai Wants to Ski

2008-12-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

Kai saw daddies ski goggles and beanie today. He asked us, "What's this?" We told him what they were and that they were used to go skiing in snow. "I want to go skiing mommy!" he replied. I told him we couldn't go right now. So, he asked if he could watch "Frosty" in the goggles and beanie.....funny boy!

Adorable....

2008-12-06T00:12:00.001-08:00

Kai loves leaves. Whenever we go out of the house he will pick up two leaves from the ground and bring them into our car. He will play with them for hours ... OK, a bit of an exaggeration... Still, I was thinking I should just wrap some leaves up for Christmas and not spend money on a toy he will not play with :).

Nyomi Standing...

2008-12-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I walked into my kids room to find Nyomi standing in her crib. Now she is not content to sit or crawl, she is constantly trying to pull herself up to stand on all the furniture in the house. Crazy girl!! I really do not want her to start walking anytime soon! I already miss being able to leave her on a blanket on the floor and know that she will not go anywhere.

Daddy and Kai decorating the tree

2008-12-02T23:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tree Hunting...

2008-12-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

We have always started our Christmas season by going to the tree farm to cut down our Christmas Tree. This year was really fun because Kai got really into it....hiding and running all around the trees. He even helped pick out our tree. So fun!!!! Nyomi enjoyed watching her brother while being snug as a bug in my sling.

Six Months and crawling...

2008-12-02T22:38:00.000-08:00

Kai loves playing with sister because she follows him around the room.

Our Little Pumpkins

2008-11-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

We decided that all our kids would wear this cute pumpkin outfit for their first Halloween. Here is Nyomi in it @ 5 months.

Here is Kai @ 5 months. Gosh, Matt and I look so much younger...Matt actually has hair. jk

Trick or Treat

2008-11-01T22:39:00.001-07:00

Our Family of Four

"Bob the Builder" who would not look at the camera....we did not get one picture of him looking at the camera!

Kai walking the pank to get some candy.

Kai got the hang of trick or treating really fast.

Nyomi sitting up and trying to crawl

2008-11-01T22:26:00.001-07:00

Nyomi at Five Months

2008-10-18T14:33:00.001-07:00

OK, so I gave in and put a giant ribbon on her head but I compensated for her "girlieness" (yes, I know this is not a word) by putting tennis shoes on her too.

The Hall and Taffala Kids

2008-10-18T14:31:00.001-07:00

Daddy and Kai Shaving

2008-10-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

Matt already preparing Kai for his inevitable hairiness by showing him how to put on shaving cream. :)

"Daddy you missed a spot on your nose. You don't want to look like Grandpa!" hehe

Swimming with Daddy!

2008-10-09T00:00:00.001-07:00

Daddy blowing bubbles with Kai.
Daddy and Kai sharing Mr. Noodle.
Kai taking a dip in the Jacuzzi.
Nyomi and Mommy watching from the side.

Tanaka Farms

2008-10-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

On Monday we went on a Fieldtrip with our Mommy and Me class. Candice and her kids came with us. It was so fun....and so hot!!!! Here are Kai and Ella on the wagon ride.

Kai loved petting the animals. His favorite was the baby goat.

Kai thought he would challenge this very big goat...the goat backed down..haha

This is Kai with some of his other classmates. He would not smile for me ...In fact I think he was doing it on purpose...'mommy wants to get cute pictures of me, I am not going to look at her and smile' was what he was probably thinking ...boo!

Kai and Ella walked hand in hand through the corn maze.

Oh Disneyland How We Miss Thee...

2008-10-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

Kai and I were reminiscing the days when we used to go to Disneyland together. So, he went around the house wearing this hat and saying "Oh Toodles!". He is hoping that someday Toodles will have a pair of Disneyland Season passes for us in his Mouse -K-Tools. (and so is mommy)

Big Brother Loves His Little Sister

2008-10-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Kai Reading the Morning Newspaper Together

2008-10-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

My Cute Kids

2008-09-25T16:59:00.001-07:00

I wanted to compare my kids to see how much they really do look alike. I forget how chunky kai was (I love chunky babies!)...other than that they really do look alike except Nyomi is alot fairer. I'm bias but they are sure adorable kids to me! Nyomi @ 41/2 in her bouncer.

Kai @ 41/2 months in his bouncer. He was a little chunky monkey!

Nyomi @ 4 months

Kai @ 4 months

Kai's First Dodger Game

2008-09-25T16:47:00.001-07:00

For Matt's birthday he took Kai to his first Dodgers game with Grampie. He loved it!!

Kai loves to put his finger up and say "Go Dodgers!"

Of course he had to have a Dodger dog and some nachos at the game.

Nyomi at Four Months

2008-09-08T15:25:00.001-07:00

Little Miracles

2008-09-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

They say you loose brain cells after each child...I completely support this theory and use it as an excuse every time I do something completely brainless. Example at hand, last week the day after coming home from our camping trip, I was exhausted! I stayed home all day with the kids trying to recover. Kids unfortunately do not need a day to recover from a trip - my son wanted out of the house - bad! So, right before dinner I loaded up both kids and took them to the park. We only stayed 30 minutes because the baby started crying and I was super tired anyway. I had to strap my 2 year old in our double stroller just to get him to leave. I get to the car and get both kids in as fast as I can and drive away. The next day.....yes, the next day..my husband and I go out with the kids for a family grocery trip. When we open the trunk of our car we find no stroller!! I freaked out!!! Someone took our stroller out of the car!! Then I though very carefully...OMGosh! I never put it back in the car from the park!!!! My nice and expensive double stroller, that was a gift to us, was left in the park parking lot yesterday! Idiot! Of course it was gone when we went back...I was very upset!! So, we posted signs and put a lost and found notice on Craigslist. Nothing turned up. A few days later, we thought of calling the city to see if one of the park people might have turned it in...unlikely. They took our number and said they would call back if a stroller turned up. This is where God decided to show me his understanding toward the loss of brain cells theory. Two days later...a week from when I first left it, they called back to let me know they had my stroller!!!!! A total miracle...God knew we couldn't replace the stroller and even though it is just a material thing of little importance in the grand scheme of things, He knew what a difference it would make in my life. Thank you God for the little miracles.

June Lake Camping Trip

2008-08-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Kai with the help of daddy caught six fish. Kai reeled them in...he loved it!

Nyomi at Three Months

2008-08-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

Summer Camp

2008-08-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

We spent a week with daddy at the Jr. High Summer Camp. Kai loved it! Kaley with Nyomi. She is my bible study co-leader.
I love this picture!
Harper Rutenbar was there too...they hang out alot :).

Hooker Family Reunion

2008-07-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Last month we took an airplane to Boise, Idaha where we rented an RV and drove 5 hours to Wallowa, Oregon for the annual "Hooker Family Reunion". Yes, my husbands grandma's maiden name is "Hooker". (They can date back their family to the early 1800s) She comes from a family of 14 siblings. her mother was pregnant for a total year span of 25 years!! There are only 5 remaining siblings. All of which are in their 80's or 90's.....but you would never tell they are all so spunky :). Here is Kai with Great Aunt Julia. She is 87 years old.

The seat next to me happen to be free so Nyomi slept the whole flight ..hehe...I buckled her in.

Kai wanted to drive the first leg of the trip...haha....we said no. :)

Our Patriotic Daughter!

2008-07-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

The National Anthem is playing in the background! haha

Best Friends

2008-07-07T21:39:00.000-07:00

My best friend and I have kids the same age. They love to play together.
Our kids are only three weeks apart!

No Fear

2008-07-07T21:27:00.000-07:00

My son has no fear...any body of water is something he thinks he can swim in and drink :) We went to the beach and he tried to jump into the waves!!! Thankfully daddy was there to save him from being taken away by the wave. Crazy boy!

Nyomi and I sat under our umbrella and watched.

The Truth About Two Kids

2008-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

ok, I'm not a writter but here is something I must say.....even if noone is reading...

About 57% of Americans have two or three kids. Others have more. Only 7% of families stick to one child. Why then do they not have classes on how to prepare for two kids????? No one tells you that you’re not just doubling the number of kids but it will feel more like your quadrupling. Nothing prepares your for the emotional side of it too. So, what is the truth about having two kids? Here my top 10 things that I have learned in the two months that I have fit into this category:

1. When you leave the hospital you have a false feeling of “this is so much easier the second time around – I know how to do everything already!” – think again! You may know how to nurse, or calm a crying baby but how about doing that when your other child is whining, complaining and crying because you are nursing or calming your crying baby.
2. There is really no down time during the day. You are juggling two different schedules, so that midday two to three hour break might turn into a 15 – 30 minute (if your lucky 60 minutes) moment of silence that you need to use to clean and straighten up your house.
3. Will you ever feel like you are giving each child enough quality time? With your first your attention was undivided. Second one comes along and that is gone – for either child. In one hand, you feel really bad for your first born. You miss them, you feel sad when you see how they miss your attention and you miss the times when it was just you and your little buddy. On the other hand, you feel sad because you can’t spend all day looking and marveling over your new bundle of joy. You can’t hold your baby all the time and cater to its every need right when they need it. Sometimes these two feelings happen every other day, sometimes they happen several times in one day. It like riding an emotional roller coaster.
4. Two crying kids' (at the same time!) sounds 100 times louder than one.
5. Grocery shopping….hmmmmmm… lets eat out….hmmm….take that back….lets order in.
6. All of a sudden your toddler is eating anything you can get down their throat which might happen to be McDonalds on most days. J
7. Trying to get out of the house to go somewhere can take most of your morning.
8. You develop ADD, ADHA and all the other attention disorders J.
9. Your once well groomed toddler is now looking like he just woke up, dressed himself and ate at the same time. Oh, and lets not talk about how mommy is looking!
10. Its hard…on most days.

Yet, at the end of the day when they are both sleeping you never knew you could love two little kids so much and can’t imagine life without them both. And I know….it gets easier!

Skater Boy!

2008-06-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Kai has always loved watching kids ourside our Condo skate. He will even mimic them by standing on various objects. However, ever since the Refinery opened and Kai has been watching the Jr. Highers skate, he has become crazy about skating. So, his Auntie Beth got him a small skateboard. To my dismay - but through tough love he has finally learned to love wearing a helmet. He will even point it out when another person is crazy enough not to wear a helmet.;)

Sibling Love

2008-06-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

Kai loves to hold baby sister.
When Nyomi does tummy time Kai loves to get down there with her.
He likes to kiss her when she is done.

Staff Retreat Babies

2008-06-25T14:37:00.000-07:00

Harper Rutenbar , Lola Sarti, and Nyomi Hall

During our annual student ministries staff retreat in Palm Springs we took a picture of all the baby girls. They are all 5 days apart.

Nyomi Rose Hall Arrives - 5/5/08

2008-06-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Big Brother kissing baby sister

Our new family of four.