Summer Fun!

Gabi and Joe set out to climb Windy Ridge...the "mountain" that we look at out our window everyday.  The night before, Joe told her that they would have to get up early the next morning in order to beat the heat of the day.  Gabi was so excited that she showed up in our bedroom dressed and ready to go around 5:45 (she usually wakes up around 7-7:30).  It took them around 4 hours and Joe said Gabi talked his ear off the entire way.  She was very proud of herself for making it all the way to the top!

Made it to the top!  She waved to us (but we couldn't see her from the house).

 

 

Here she is back at home with a well-deserved popsicle and her accomplishment in the background!! :)

 

 

The girls and I got to ride in the swather with Papa Don when he was doing the hay field closest to our house.  We had a great time learning how it works and just enjoying the ride.  Grandma Phyllis had a fun time watching baby Jacob and teaching him how to kick his blankets off. :)

 

Here are a few random pictures from around the house. :)

Gabi's "throne" that she built for me while I was holding Jacob.  Joe had to try it out as well.

 

Gabs really wanted me to take a picture of her hairstyle one morning.

 

 

This is a picture of a card Maya made Joe for his birthday.  Joe, the vampire pig. :)  hee hee.

 

 

 

I've been trying out my new camera lens, but it seems like my hands are always full (I wonder why!?) so it has been hard to take a lot of pictures.  I'm amazed by the clearness of the pictures.  Here is a sleepy Maya after she woke up one morning. :)

Setting crescent moon



 At last, but not least, here are some pictures of Jacob.  He is a chill, smiley little bug and we just love him so much.  He is getting so big, especially length-wise.

How you doin'?

Love, Tara

Summer Fun!

The girls have kept us busy this summer!  So far Jacob has been pretty good about just letting us pack him around wherever our day takes us.

He likes the carrier, so we have gone for lots of walks, including lots to visit Grammy Joyce and Grandma Phyllis

 The cousins have already enjoyed many sprinkler and slip-n-slide gatherings already

 

We spent a Sunday afternoon in the mountains fishing and enjoying the wildflowers.

 

My girl

Joe caught a couple of fish, so that was fun!  Gabi & Maya both are getting better at casting and hopefully will catch one soon!

 I took this picture earlier this Spring, but don't think I posted it on here ever.  Our grass is a lot greener now! :)

 

 

 

Maya wearing Papa Gary's derby hat. :)

 

Enjoying ice cream with cousins and friends after a 5K Fun Run!

 

 

 

Gabi played t-ball this summer and LOVED it!  She really improved over the course of the season, due to lots of practice with dad in the backyard and fun coaches.  They were Team Thunder and finished the season in 4th place...out of 4 teams. :)

Little slugger

This is what she did most of the time.  :)  Just like her mom...has a hard time staying focused!

 

 

We spent most of the 4th of July hanging out around the house and doing a few yard projects.  We then went to a couple of BBQs and ended the evening in a downpour.  Even though there were no fireworks...the kids seemed perfectly content with glow necklaces, a few sparklers, and plenty of rain to play in.  The rain was a very welcome event!!

 

Gabi with cousins Kate & Ella

Lots of Love!!  Tara

5 Weeks

Here are lots of pictures of Jacob from the past month or so!  Unfortunately my nice camera lens broke right before Jacob was born so these are all from our phones.  However, I am very excited about my new lens (Happy early Birthday to me!!) and so hopefully I'll be able to take some better pictures from now on!!

Jacob is growing so fast!  He weighed 10lbs. 4oz. at his 1 month appointment. He grew/stretched out another inch as well.  We were blessed to see some awesome smiles this past week.  He especially loves to smile at Gabi. :)  It melts my heart every time.  He still has all of his hair and it is lightening up a little bit. He isn't quite as dark as Maya was, but he seems to have my skin tone and a lot of my features.  Maya looked a lot like Joe, so it is fun to have my own mini-me. :)

He is sleeping well and is now sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night, waking up to eat and then going right back to sleep.  He gets a little grumpy in the evening, but is pretty chill and good-natured during the day.  I love that he is more alert and interactive now.  The girls like it too.  They are really good at entertaining him and still love to hold him.  It is nice that they are old enough to be so helpful...I still haven't taught them how to change a diaper...that may be coming soon!

Morning Nap

Happy Boy...trying to capture a smile!

Big sister snuggles

Building a fort for Jacob...the first of many to come I'm sure!

Gotta love those "sleep smiles"!

Loves tummy time!

 Gabi & Maya love to "fix" Jacob's hair!  Sorry these won't turn...

fauxhawk!



Naptime with Daddy



Bath time is lots of fun!  The girls think it is hilarious that he almost always manages to pee in the bathtub. ;)

 On the weekend of June 29th, we all went to Alliance, NE to attend my Uncle Don's Memorial service.  He passed away earlier this year.  Although it was a sad event to say the least, I was thankful for the chance to see all of my cousins and aunts and uncles.  We are all spread across the country and abroad, so these occasions do not happen very often.  In fact, the last time I saw many of them was at my Grandma Genie's funeral 3 years ago.  After the service, we went to the family cabin near Crawford.  Don's ashes were spread and we enjoyed a sunny and wonderful afternoon.  Jacob got to meet everyone and received lots of cuddles.

My cousin Cheri's daughter, Jenna, with Jacob

Quality time with Grammy Mary :)

Jacob got to meet Uncle Tom!!

 We stopped in Spearfish on the way back home, so Jacob could meet Grandma Fern!

This is a very special picture...4 Generations of Halls!  We are so thankful that Jacob will grow-up surrounded by very hard-working, genuine, tough, and caring men.

 

 

 

 

This is what happens when a tired mama of three tries to make herself a cup of coffee in the morning.  Oops.  Joe thought it was so funny he decided to take a picture of it and then of course showed all of his coworkers. :)  This too shall pass...we are cherishing every second of our three special kiddos.

 

 

I will try to be better about posting pictures more often!  Lots of love!  Tara

Birthday Party x3

We had Maya & Marco's 4th Birthday and Milan's 2nd Birthday celebrations at the park on June 6th.  There were lots of cousins and friends there to help celebrate.  Everyone had a great time!  Special thanks to Amanda for making the fun cakes for the kids!

The Party Crew

All the fun cakes!

Maya's cake!  She loves monkeys...and nothing beats a PINK monkey!

First Week

Little Jacob had lots of people who were anxious to meet him during his first few days of life!  He also had two big sisters who were excited to finally be able to hold him.  We were very lucky that my Mom and Dad were able to be here for the first week and help us out so much.  They kept the girls very busy while Jacob and I rested and got used to each other!

Gabi loves to hold Jacob.  She is so good with him...singing and gently moving his arms to music like he is dancing!

Grandma Phyllis and Jacob

Papa Don and Jacob

About Jacob's name...Jacob David Hall.  I've always loved the name Jacob.  Since we decided to keep the tradition of (most of the) men on the Hall side having the initials JDH, Jacob was an easy decision for a 'J' name for a boy.  Joe, his Grandpa, and his Great-Grandpa all have the initials JDH.  The Hall ranch brand is also JH.  His middle name, David, is after Joe's dad.  It also turns out that Jacob is the name of Phyllis's grandfather!

Papa Gary & Jacob

The dressing up is starting already...Maya put these barrettes in Jacob's hair!  I'm surprised Joe let her do that!

Jacob went on his first hike at 6 days old.  My Mom and the girls walked a couple miles with Gabi & Maya along Clear Creek in town.  He seems to really like the ErgoBaby carrier so far, so that is good!

He is doing so well and is a grand-champion eater!  It makes me a little sad to know that he will get big so fast!  I've been trying to slow myself down and just spend time holding him and enjoying him.  This will be our last, so we're trying to enjoy every single second.