Where Has Time Gone?

 There’s so much to catch up on… it would be like the longest blog post in the history of blog posts. So I will gradually catch you up on the past eleven or so years, slowly over time.

I’m dusting off my blog, and I’m kind of excited about it. My blog before was about raising littles and being a wife. Now it will be what it’s like to be at the end of parenting. Not that I will ever stop being their mom, obviously. But what it’s like to raise kids into adulthood and launch them. None have launched yet, but two of my kids are adults now. So crazy.

And so… here is more of life in the Hall household. 11 years later!

The Past Year

Man, Im so surprised that my last post was a year ago'ish.  We moved out of our big beautiful home, lived in a two bedroom (700 sq ft) apartment for two months, said goodbye to some pretty special friends, packed up and moved down to KC.  We thought we would buy a house within a month or two of moving, but it turned into a five month ordeal.  One thing after another kept happening to prevent us from buying a house.  So we lived in a temporary place, that though we were thankful for it, we could NOT wait to have our own place.  We got a sweet little home, with an acre of land.  We are right in the city, but have a giant yard.  I ended up having to work part time to suppliment income.  We knew that the job Randy got would be a ministry job, not a money making job.  Hes learning a lot and Im willing to pitch in and help out since we need it. Working and homeschooling is no joke!  I felt like I was going to lose my mind at times.  I need to figure out a better schedule next year.  We made it through the year in one peice, but I dont feel like I was able to teach the kids as well as they needed to be taught.  My plan was to help the kids catch up on a few things this summer, but our summer has been packed so far!!  Since I needed to work, I landed the perfect job with a boy that goes to our church.  Charlie is a 12 year old with cerebral palsy.  His parents needed someone to get him off the bus and hang out till they got home from work.  This summer he has been coming to our house from 6:45 am till his dad gets home.  Hes in a wheelchair and needs help with eating and pretty much everything.  Hes a cool kid and hes teaching the whole family a lot.

In April the boy that Taylor went through treatment with passed away.  Randy and I drove up to Iowa for the viewing, funeral, and burial.  I cried till my head hurt.  It hit me pretty hard.  Now Happy is the last of the 4 that we knew from her clinic that had neuroblastoma.  That cancer is such a beast.  My cousins little boys cancer relapsed.  They are reliving the cancer nightmare for a second time.  Its been fun getting to know her kiddos.  The hospital they go to for his treatment is only about 20 min from where we live.

Well, this is mostly for me to read back on someday...

George grew taller than me!  Its so weird to look up when talking to my son.  Hes turned into such a big help with everything.  He will load and unload the dishes.  Switch the laundry.  Feed the chickens. Helps with all sorts of things with Charlie.  He doesnt like school and loves legos and the Wii.  He will tease the younger kids and drive everyone absolutely crazy some days.  If he would wear his rubber bands he might get his braces off before hes 20...

Blondie is turning into a lady right before my eyes.  Shes in the stage where she is stuck between being a little girl or a young woman.  She is an imense help with Sunny.  I love that she so willingly (not always but most of the time) helps him pick out church clothes or find his shoes.  She has a stubborn streak the size of the Grand Canyon.  She ADORES babies and small kids.  Shes one smart cookie, but since things come easy for her, she doesnt like to learn new things that are difficult.  I know one day she is going to be a beautiful strong woman that will take such good care of her family.  She has a nurturing instinct that is pretty amazing.  

Sweets is still our extremely shy and sweet girl.  She got a tick last summer that gave her lymes.  Shes struggled a bit with fatigue and all that goes with that.  Thankfully we have found a kinesiologist chiropractor that I believe will be able to clear it up for her.  Sweets loves pretty flowers, birds, plants, gardening, our stinky chickens, Lasso our dog, and basically anything that has to do with nature/animals.  I love how shes a lover of pretty and is so shy, yet she can run like the wind and is the first to dash outside to play like a wild woman.  She gets really frustrated by her fatigue and I cant wait till shes feeling all better.  Oh and she is one fast cleaner.  Sweets tears through the house cleaning like a tornado when I tell the kids to pick up their stuff.  She still really loves giraffes and wants to work with "Heraffs" someday.  She also loves crafting and drawing.

Happy is doing amazing.  I love so much to see her be a bubbly, vibrant, five year old.  She is a beautiful, loud, affectionate, little package of personality.  She has crazy hair that wont stay in a braid or pony tail.  She could care less if her clothes look nice, let alone fit.  She talks so loud that I wonder if Im eventually going to go deaf.  Shes bossy, and funny, giggly and loves to snuggle.  She talks so funny.  She cant say the "K" sound so says a "T" sound in place of it, so says "Tars, Tant, Tool, ect". 2 months ago we had a relapse scare.  They found liesons on her spleen.  So we go in every month for an ultrasound to keep an eye on it.  They arent sure what it is, but they said it doesnt have the characteristics of cancer... So I choose to not worry to much about it.     

Sunny... Oh Sunny... He is the sterotypical boy that makes a mother age.  Some days hes such a smiley sweet boy and others... Whew.  He always has a grin on his face.  He used to speak in "Whine" but now only speaks in "Whine" half time.  Its not because I even give him what he wants when he talks like that... He just does!  It drives me crazy!!!  Hes got a really funny sense of humor and if we can get past toddler years I think hes going to be  a neat kid.  He doesnt have that cause and effect part of his brain.  So he will often fall off the swing because he decided to let go, or fall off the side of the slide, because he thought it would be cool??... Or get his hand shut in the door because he keeps slamming the door.  He does everything in extreme.  Thankfully he decided to potty train himself last summer in the middle of our three moves.  So thats good, because I was so done with potty training... He would probably still be in diapers if he didnt take it upon himself to do it.  Hes a little love bug and has the most amazing smile... We just need to make it to age five :)

The four younger kids think they all need to sit on my lap for church, when we watch movies, or basically anytime Im sitting.  Im sure George would want to as well if he wasnt taller than me.  I sometimes just want to sit, and not be touched, but I know someday I will miss this crazy, everyone wants to smother mommy, stage.  

I have been going to a massage monthly to get my arms worked on.  I had surgery on both of them because of contraction like pain that would radiate up my arms and make me have a severe headache.  The surgery worked about 50%.  I went to a massage when we first moved here because I needed to go to a chiropractor for something, but we didnt have insurance yet.  So Randy said I should see if a massage would help.  Anyway, we found this place that was open on Saturdays so I made an appointment.  The girl that did my massage started working on my arms and it felt so good, and helpful, that I was literally praising God for letting me find her.  She loves to "torture my arms" and she does a really good job of it.  I just feel a little bit like a brat saying "Im going to my monthly massage" HAHAHA.  

Since we have been so busy since moving here, Randy and I have been very intentional about making time for our marriage and focusing on loving each other.  We fall into bed at night from exhaustion.  Its crazy.  Poor Randy is doing three peoples jobs at work right now (because of lack of employees).  We go on dates every other week or so.  We also went to a marriage conference in February and stayed at a hotel for the weekend.  Even though a lot that we learned, we already knew, it was nice to be told it again and remind ourselves of the truths.  We also went to a conference that Kirk Cameron puts on.  That was cool.  For our anniversary I was going to surprise Randy with a zip linning date.  The weather was horrid though, the tornado sirens went off 15 times in a row.  So it got canceled.  We were able to go last weekend.  It was so fun!  I love doing stuff like that, and I love that Randy does too.  Oh on my birthday, my friend who is a photographer did a couples session for us.  "A couples session of love" is what we called it.  I am nervously awaiting them.  Im afraid we are going to look like a couple of sad middle aged people in them.  It was fun none the less.  

This summer a follower of Happy, that has become a friend, is coming to meet us!  That will be super exciting!   We are also hoping to drive out to Colorado to meet up with my childood friend.  We havent seen each other for 15 years.  I cant wait to meet her sweet family.  We have plans to arrange a couple of marriages between our kids :)  

Well, I have an early morning so better close.  I really hope that I will write more in this, but dont think I will, haha!  Time is a sacred thing right now. 

Academy Concert

Tuesday, the kids had their closing concert.  Let me tell ya, the girls' "haircuts" were not easy to hide!!  I didn't want either of them to get teased because of their weird hair.  I was able to hide most of the hack job with thick headbands and LOTS of barrettes.  I was pretty pleased with the final outcome.  I also curled their hair for the concert.  The kids did so good singing!  I absolutely love the concerts the academy puts on!  George started the academy school year out with some struggles.  He has a hard time getting words from his head to his mouth.  If he doesn't know how to act he sometimes acts really awkward.  Since this was something new and he didn't know anyone, he had a rough start with some of the boys.  All things were worked out and I have to tip my hat to the pastor who runs the academy.  He handled everything so well.  Its been a growing year for George and Im super duper proud of him.  Since he has a hard time with words, speech class was incredibly difficult for him.  I think his first speech was a flop.  Then something lit inside of him and he just kept improving!  His papers he brought home with the grades kept getting more and more glowing remarks.  My heart would burst whenever I saw them.  Last night there was awards handed out to kids who worked extra hard or showed really good Christian character.  I appreciated that they didn't hand out awards for the best at things, the pastor said that most of the time being the best at something is just a talent that you don't have to work extra hard at.  But when you show that you are trying hard and improving at things, that is something to be noticed.  Anyway, when he got to the "Most Improved in Speech" award he even said some special words, and you could tell he was proud of the recipient... and then called Georges name.  Even now thinking of it a sob welled up in my throat.  I cant even explain how much George has to work at things.  Yet he doesn't complain.  He doesn't seem to really notice that he has to work ten times harder than the kid next to him.  I love his non sorry self attitude.  It was an award well earned.

The kids brought home "All About Me" books that they worked on through the school year.  R and I had a good laugh over some of the things the kids wrote.  For example George wrote in the spot "What special job do you have at home" that his special job was "Making my parents bed" complete with a drawn picture of him making our bed.  LOL.  I have him make it sometimes, but didn't realize I did that much, hahaha!  All three kids had funny stuff written down.  We were getting a kick out of those books. 

Being a parent and watching your kids preform and be noticed for hard work is pretty neat.  Im super thankful for the year the kids had at Academy.  George has grown in social skills, and confidence.  It was a safe place for him to spread his wings. 

Today, I got encouraging texts from two cousins and two friends.  We are in an awkward somewhat discouraging place right now.  It meant a lot to me to have people pop in and say they are praying for us.  We are blessed with some thoughtful family and friends.

Weekend

When my parents lived out west, the church they attended had two little houses on the property.  My parents lived in one and another family lived in the other.  This other family had a daughter, who at the time was 7.  My parents and her family lived in those houses for several years.  Thus a lifetime friendship was sealed.  The little girl, had no siblings, so my sister and I became her "big sisters".  That little girl is now all grown up and getting married.  She moved out here close to my sister and I, and truly is more than just a friend, she is our youngest sister.  Two of my girls and two of my sisters boys will be the flower girls/ring bearers, and my sister and I are bridesmaids, in her wedding.  Shes going to be moving way up north right after the wedding.  When I think about M moving away it leaves a big ol lump in my throat.  Our kids love her (and so do we!!).  We are going to miss her so much. We had a tiny little personal shower for her on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun :)  During my time here on earth God sure has blessed me with some very deep friendships.

On Sunday we drove in the completely wrong direction to church.  We were chatting away and all the sudden I was like "Umm, where are you driving to?".  We were waaaaay off course.  We live between R's job and our church.  Both are 30 min away, but in opposite directions.  R was headed to work, hahaha, he was pretty close to arriving there.

Sunday evening we ended up going to my aunt and uncles church.  We went out for ice cream with them afterwards.  I just love them so much.  They have always been available anytime we need help.  They were amazing during Happys treatment.  They helped us to many times to count.  Sigh... They are the sweetest.

Last night on the way home I said to Randy "Hey, do you want to play old school Mario with me when we get the kids in bed?!"  He said "Sure!"  And that folks is how we spent our Sunday night.  Three hours of it. 

Today when we were eating lunch Happy got super offended about something Sweets did.  She said "Sweets!  You aren't my friend anymore!" In an angry voice, and in the same breath she said "Sweets, do you want to be my friend?"  in a non angry voice.  I started laughing really hard, shes so funny. 

My parents came out for the kids' Academy program.  They had our dog Lasso while we tried to sell our house.  Lasso is super protective of us, and every time someone came to the door she would blow a gasket.  She doesn't bite, but would stand there and bark incessantly.  It was really awkward.  So they offered to take her until it sold.  Since our house sold and they were coming out here for a visit they brought her along.  The kids were eating breakfast and lamenting about how much they missed Lasso.  I poked my head into the dining room and said "Lasso is coming back today!"  They all started cheering, super loud, and saying "LASSO!!!!"  and had the happiest faces ever!  If I had known it would have been such a cute reaction I would have video taped it.  I think the time away from us helped simmer Lasso down a little.  She doesn't seem as high strung and needy as she used to be.  I sure missed her every time I swept the kitchen after meals!  I was pretty spoiled with that.  She lost a bunch of weight and I think its all the food she was missing from the floor!

And now for potty training talk.  That crazy boy of mine.  He isn't completely trained, but hes so close.  Today he took himself potty twice, AND, wait for it.... He went POOP by himself!!!  He loves the chocolate chips I have in the cupboard, and will point at them, so today I said "When you go poop on the potty you can have some" so what did he do a half hour later?  Yep, that's my boy :)  The one I have been dreading potty training.  Piece of cake I tell ya.  He has been fiercely independent since exiting the womb, and its serving me well in this area.  Other areas of life, it makes me want to pull my hair out, but I will take this.   And lest you think hes an angel, I want to tell you about how irrational that kid can be.  We ate at Fazolis the other day, and the workers gave each kid a free cookie.  Sunnys broke.  When it happened I was like "Ooooh no." Yep, he could not get over the fact that his cookie was broken.  He kept whining and holding it up to me.  And whining and holding it together. And whining some more.  Then he put it on the table and crossed his arms and whined some more.  Ugh.  This is an isolated incident of daily incidents.  That boy.  Life is never, ever, boring.

The "Incident"

This morning I woke up and had the normal hustle and bustle.  Partway into the morning I really paid attention to my messy haired girls.  I just thought their hair was snarled but then when I looked, I noticed Blondie had butchered bangs and upon further inspection I saw that not only were her bangs butchered she had cut along the top and side of her hair.  Right about the time I started questioning Blondie, Sweets came running by.  I saw hers was cut down to her scalp in the back, and she had bangs cut up to her scalp and hers too was cut along the side of her head!!!!  When I asked who did it I found out Blondie was the beautician.  I was SO MAD at Blondie!  I sent her to her room so that I could calm down and think coherently.  She stayed in there for a good half hour untill I could go talk to her without blowing a gasket.  Their hair is going to take SO LONG to grow back out!  Im so sad!  Ive always been very vain about how pretty their hair is.  I took pride in the blonde. I loved Sweets thick mane so much.  It was long, and heavy, and so beautiful.  Its still long in the back.... I have to remind myself its just hair.  *cries*
Blondie went and retrieved the pile of her hair and the pile of Sweets hair.  I saved it and once I find a sharpie I am going to write "The Hair Incident" on it.  Maybe I will laugh about it someday... Maybe...
Shes 8!  That's what I cant get over.  She knows better!!!! Ughhhhh!!!

The Scary Butterfly

This morning R made me breakfast in bed!  What a way to wake up!!  It was amazing eating my eggs, bacon, and sipping my coffee from the comfort of our bed.  After R went to work the kids and I went to Goodwill to drop off more stuff.  Thankfully it was a nice lady today that took our stuff at the door and not Mr Grumpus from yesterday.  We also picked up Sweets' glasses :)  R is so sweet, I texted him a picture and he texted back "Wow, what a pretty princess", he knows how much she likes being pretty :)  I love him.  Oh, Sweets dressed in ALL pink for her special pink glasses.  She had a pink headband, pink purse, pink shirt, sweater, skirt, leggings, and socks. 
When we got home the kids played outside and George came in talking about a butterfly that was flying around their heads.  Sweets comes running inside freaked out and about to cry, I told her to come over and she started sobbing and saying the butterfly landed on her eyelid.  I said "Good thing you had your glasses on so that it didn't land right on your eye"  She started sobbing more and goes "I didn't have my glasses on!!"  Sob, cry, sob.  Im sorry, but that makes me laugh.  Shes so sensitive, lol.  A BUTTERFLY landed on her eyelid and shes crying because it was scary. I think she will be traumatized for awhile.  Funny girl :)

Purging!!

Since we are moving... In a month (YIKES!)... I am currently sorting stuff in the basement.  You would not BELIEVE how much junk you can accumulate in 5 years. 
Yesterday I took a big load of stuff to Goodwill.  The worker actually seemed a little peeved that I dropped off SO MUCH STUFF.  I also filled half our huge outdoor garbage bin.  Today I have another load for Goodwill (I hope there is a different worker there tomorrow!), and I filled the other half of our garbage bin.  I still have about half the basement to go and then the upstairs!  It feels so good to purge!!!  We want to be able to move with just one Uhaul truck.
George got his new glasses today.  He was funny when he put them on "Wow, these are different than my old ones"  He said.  Sweets gets hers tomorrow.  I cant wait!
The kids have their final program with academy on Tues.  Their Christmas program was SO good!  Im really excited to see this one.  Blondies voice was hoarse from singing so much today.  They are practicing hard!
Sunny ran to the bathroom today and went potty on his own!  I started potty training him two weeks ago.  He did really well, but then one day had three accidents, we got busy, I lost steam, and well, potty training went out the window.  Hes begging to be potty trained.  So we start again... ugh.  Come on Julie, this is your LAST kid to potty train!!!  I can do it right?
Ive been playing the Wii with George at night after he finishes school.  Hes been cramming to try to get the last few books done.  Its been a lot.  He loves it when I play the Wii with him, so its incentive to get it done.  Its kind of fun too.  I make him play old school Mario Bros with me, lol.
Im so happy that Im blogging again :)  Woohoo facebook fast!