Christmas

We have had a wonderful Christmas season and I'm dragging it out as long as I can...not taking the Christmas tree down until the needles start falling off!  It has been nice to be out of school and home with the girls these past couple of weeks.  We didn't travel anywhere which was really nice...I realized that I have traveled every Christmas since I was a freshman in college!  It was very relaxing just to be home.

 

The girls each had school Christmas programs.  Gabi memorized a part for her program and did a wonderful job!  Maya couldn't help but dance dramatically and sing loudly during her program. :)

Gabi was an angel in her school Christmas program.

Maya was a shining star!

 

 

Here are some pictures of the girls in front of the Christmas tree:

 



 

 

We've been playing outside and playing games, dress-up, puzzles, and dolls inside.  Maya likes to dance with her American Girl doll (aka Maya Jr.).

 

 

My dad made the dolls beds and even shipped them here!  The girls were so excited to get them and have loved playing with them the last few days.  I made the dolls matching pajamas, so they change them into their pajamas at bedtime and tuck them in!

Maya helping Joe with his huge puzzle!

 On Christmas Eve, we went to Mass and then came home to open a few presents.  Maya caught a stomach bug right before church, so she stayed with Grammy Joyce.  She felt well enough to open presents and was as good as new by morning when Santa came.  So glad it was short lived!

While opening presents

 We  had breakfast at Don & Phyllis' house on Christmas morning and then ventured down to Dave and Joyce's house to open even more presents!

Cousins at Grammy Joyce's house on Christmas morning!

Gabi waiting patiently to open presents!

We hosted Christmas dinner that afternoon!

Kids' table

Big kids' table!

We got together the day after Christmas with all of Joe's cousins and their kids.

All of Don & Phyllis' great-grandkids!  At least 2 more will be added in 2013!!

And finally, a pretty picture to close.  Here is the full moon setting over the Big Horn Mountains one morning.

 

Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving Trip



We made the long voyage to Iowa to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  We all had a really nice time and are glad we made the trip.  My Grandma Dot joined us from Lincoln and my brother and his girlfriend, Angelene, came from San Francisco.  It was so nice to see everyone.  Most of the time was spent just hanging out and catching up.



 

Maya and Grandma Dot doing her sticker book

Snuggle time with Papa Gary

Thanksgiving dinner was a big feast as usual!!

Carving up the big turkey!

Gathered around and ready to eat!!

We also celebrated Christmas while we were there.  My Mom and Dad gave the girls American Girl Dolls which they LOVE.  They were made to look just like them!



Gabi's has glasses just like her.  Maya's has curly hair!



Mom & Dad waiting to open presents!

 

 

We were also treated to a performance of Beauty and the Beast.  The girls had a great time and Gabi listed about 6 favorite parts on the drive home that night.

Waiting for the show to start!

Grandma Dot, Grammy Mary, Gabi, and Papa Gary at intermission.  The gold streamers fell from the ceiling during the performance!

Angelene, Tom, and Maya

Thanks Mom & Dad for all of your hospitality and gifts!  We all had a blast!


This past weekend was a fun one in Buffalo.  It is the official start of the Christmas season for the city and all kinds of fun stuff was going on.  In addition to getting our Christmas tree in the mountains and decorating the house up, we took in the Christmas Parade on Saturday night, made Gingerbread houses with friends, did some local shopping, and got our pictures taken with Santa!

Joe found a good tree this year!

With their gingerbread house!

Hard at work!  I think more frosting and candy was eaten than actually went on the house!

Buddies!  Reminds me of when I was younger...a brunette surrounded by blondies!

We tried out hand at paper dolls yesterday morning.  They had fun with them!

My best friend from high school, Susie, was also in town and came over with her daughter, Bertie, and her husband.  It was soooooo good to see her!  It is amazing how a Brooklyn-dweller and a Wyoming small town girl can remain kindred spirits for so long.  So thankful to have her in my life!

Our girls!

And last but certainly not least....Gabi & Maya are going to be BIG SISTERS!!! We are due with our third child on May 26th (Maya's 4th birthday!) We couldn't be more excited!

Lots of love to you all!  Tara

Fall Fun

It seems like this fall has been flying by.  The weather has been playing nice (except for today...snowing, blowing, and a high of 20.)  Gabi & Maya had a blast around Halloween with their school parties, pumpkin festival, and finally trick-or-treating with their cousins.

 

9 out of 10 Hall great-grandkids.  This is the 3rd annual trick-or-treating outing around Natalie & Rex's neighborhood.

Gabi was a "sparkle witch."  We saw the Wizard of Oz performed by the Community Theater last summer, so she has wanted to be a witch ever since.

Maya was a "beautiful princess."  There really wasn't any other option for her costume. ;)  She loves dressing up as a princess and twirling around the house.

Both Gabi & Maya have been doing gymnastics this fall.  Below is a picture of Gabi swinging through the rings all by herself for the first time!  They are both little monkeys.  I need to get a picture of Maya...she looks so cute in her little leotard.  She loves that thing and would wear it 24/7 if she could.

 

 

We drew a really long hopscotch last weekend.  The girls had a fun time!

Rocky has been tagging along with us on our walks.  Guess he feels like we need a buddy with us since Jackson is gone.



Up on the mesa collecting pinecones.

Buddies.

We ventured down to Laramie a few weekends ago.  Joe ran the Silent Trails race in a blizzard, we warmed up by swimming at the Rec Center pool, and then hit the Wyoming vs. Air Force game.  We were able to see Coach Sanchez, a few parents of our friends that passed away in the accident 11 years ago, and some former teammates.  Joe & Chris ran the race together and had a fun time.

These two have run countless miles together!

Go Pokes!  The girls always have a blast at the games!

The girls and I went and rode on a firetruck this fall as well.  The firefighters had done a presentation in each of their classrooms and they were so excited to get to do this.  The were able to talk on the CB, pull the LOUD horn, and go fast with the sirens on!  There really are a lot of fun things to do in this little community!

Maya and I on the firetruck

The girls have both REALLY enjoyed school and are doing just great!  Gabi's teacher told me she should have probably went to kindergarten this year.  Hopefully we'll be glad we held her back once she gets into high school.  I always liked being the oldest in my class.  Maya LOVES her teacher and is obsessed with writing her letters lately.  She's been able to write her name for a long time, but now can write all of her letters and puts lots of words together if we spell them for her.  I print out these sheets by the dozen and she'll spend hours tracing them!

We are really looking forward to our trip to Iowa for Thanksgiving.  Hopefully the weather cooperates with us!

Lots of love to you all!  Tara

5

Gabi turned the Big 5 last week!  She was very excited and it seemed like it was a week-long celebration.  She had a party with lots of her friends and cousins last Saturday.  Amanda made her a rainbow cake...both inside and out!  It was super cute!

 



Gabi wanted her party to be rainbow themed, so the guests watercolored Rainbow Fish, blew rainbow bubbles, and took home licorice rainbows.  They mostly just ran around the yard and played!

My Mom & Dad were in town the weekend before Gabi's birthday, so we celebrated then as well.  It was so nice to have them here.  On Saturday morning, we set out from our house on a hike and made it about 1/3 of the way up Windy Ridge.  We ended up packing back a ton of rocks for Gabi's collection.

Rest stop!

Maya the "tough girl mountain climber!"

Morning snuggles with Grammy Mary

 

We went out to dinner at the Tunnel Inn in Story (yum!)  They surprised Gabi with a slice of birthday cake!

Opening presents from Grammy Mary and Papa Gary!

We had yet another celebration on Gabi's actual birthday with the "ranch family".  They came over after dinner for cupcakes, ice cream, and presents.  Gabi's teacher at school made her the Birthday Crown.

 

 

 

Here are some more pictures from the last couple weeks:

 

Maya playing at the park

Crazy hair morning for Maya

Maya's "work"...she would trace letters, words, and numbers all day if she could!  She is starting to write them all on her own as well.

Out on our adventure today...rock surfing.

Lots of love to you all!  Tara