The Adventures of Gabi, Maya & Jacob: September 2013

Trip to Lincoln...Go Pokes!

We made the long trek to Lincoln on Labor Day weekend to see my Grandma Dorothy, my parents, my brother and his girlfriend, attend the Wyoming vs. Nebraska game, and go to the Omaha Zoo! These pictures are a little out of order, but they show how much fun the kids had on this trip! The Zoo was a hit! I remember going to this zoo as a kid, so it was fun to see some my kids enjoying it as well.

Maya catching a ride with Papa Gary

Gabi cooling off in a mister...it was a hot weekend!

Maya loves monkeys and was so pumped that this one was so close!

We stayed with Grandma Dorothy and definitely had a divided house for the Wyoming/Nebraska game! Joe and I took the girls to the tailgate while my mom watched Jacob. Joe went to the game along with Tom, Angelene, and my Dad. Greer and Amanda were there as well. It was a great game! Wyoming almost won!!

Tom & Angelene

My Grandma, my Aunt & Uncle, and my cousin, Allie, and her husband, Brad

My Grandma roots for both teams! :)

With the Grandkids!

It was a fun trip! Everyone, even little Jacob, was a very good traveler!

First Days of School

Gabi started Kindergarten on August 27, 2013! She was sooooo excited...especially for gym class (because she gets to wear her new shoes that she learned how to tie!!) and recess (so she can see Gio!) I was so excited for her because I know she will do great. I did get a little teary eyed dropping her off on the first day. She is so confident in her self and has no problems leaving me in the dust for her buddies on the bus each morning! :)

We decided to put Maya in Pre-K this year, so she will only be one year behind Gabi in school. She was also very excited and yelled/sang, "I Loooovvve school!" the whole way there on the first day. She also settled in and got right to work when she arrived in her classroom. So glad I have two confident, independent girls and eager learners!!

Here's to a great school year!

Summer Fun!

We had lots of fun this summer! We took many trips to the swimming pool, both for private lessons with a high school girl that Gabi & Maya adore and to just play. It is nice that the girls are old enough and comfortable enough in the water to go in by themselves so I can stay with Jacob.

Both Gabi & Maya each had a "special day with Mom" this summer. Gabi & I went to Sheridan, went school shopping for supplies and a new outfit, had lunch, went swimming, played at the park, and had ice cream. I decided to show Gabi that I could jump off the diving board and I think that was the part she thought was the coolest! Ha! She is becoming really good at the monkey bars and is just getting so big!

Maya and I had a similar trip to Sheridan the following week. She was most excited to see me jump of the diving board! We went down the slide at the swimming pool about a zillion times. She gets so excited about the funniest things!

The girls have done really well with Jacob this summer. It is so nice that they are old enough to play with him and help me out.

Lazy Saturday morning in bed!

All dressed up with nowhere to go...good thing he had 3 dates that day!

Flying High!

With a card that Gabi made him

A few similarities...

All dressed in stripes...trying to make a jailbreak or something!

Gabi discovered that her American Girl Doll has a similar outfit!

3 MONTHS OLD!

He is such a calm and cuddly baby. He has really found his voice the last couple of weeks and love to play with and chew on his hands. The smiles come frequently now and his giggle is just the best sound ever. :) He started really sleeping through the night well when I started back to school. He usually sleeps from 8pm-7:30am, waking just to eat around 5am. He still eats a lot and is getting SO big! We don't go back to the doctor until 4 months, but I bet he weighs about 15 lbs. He's a sweetie pie!

Lots of love, Tara

Hall Family Reunion

During the 2nd weekend in August, we attended the Hall Family Reunion. We get together about every 3 years and it is always a fun time.

This year, a group of people hiked up Windy Ridge near our home. Gabi had already hiked it earlier in the year and this time Maya decided to go. They cheated a little and drove closer to the top (Gabi hiked from the top of the mesa by our house when she did it!), but they had fun and were tuckered out! Here are some pictures from the top!!

Cadence & Maya

The finishers! Grammy Joyce was the oldest and Maya was the youngest.

Gio, Gabi, & Riddick

We had breakfast at the cabin on Saturday morning and then went swimming/boating/picnicking at Tie Hack later in the day.

On Saturday, we had dinner in Don & Phyllis' yard. Here are some group photos we took before dinner in the Tie Dye shirts we had died at Diane's the night before!

The whole clan!

The youngest generation with Don & Phyllis

There are 4 generations of Halls living on the Hall Ranch now

Madison & Jacob :)

JCF&R 2013

The girls had a lot of fun at the Johnson County Fair & Rodeo the first week of August . They entered a bunch of stuff and won quite a few ribbons including Grand Champion (Gabi) & Reserve Champion (Maya) flower arrangements! They each entered cookies that they made with Grammy Joyce as well. Gabi made a set of note cards and also entered pot holders that she weaved/wove?? :), green beans and a giant zucchini! Maya entered peas (of course) and a giant giraffe art project.

We had fun attending different events throughout the week. Maya and Gabi even got to clean out a pig stall and thought it was pretty fun! Gabi especially has been asking to get a pig or a sheep...maybe in a couple years...

Rodeo time with the cousins!

Jacob catching some zzzzzzz's at the rodeo. He did really good!

Maya and Marco getting ready to run the footrace

The girls also participated in the sheep lead with other Hall descendants. They were both in the younger group and since Gabi was the oldest, she got to actually do the sheep leading. She did a great job! The sheep was kinda wild, but she wrangled her up!