SICK AND NO FUN!

HALLE HAS HAD A BAD COLD FOR THE PAST 6 DAYS AND WE HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE HOUSE-HOWEVER, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO PLAY. SHE EVEN SLEPT WITH ME FOR 4 NIGHTS WHILE JARED SLEPT IN THE BED DOWNSTAIRS. THE WHOLE TIME SHE WAS SICK-SHE ACTED JUST FINE. EVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE. SHE WOKE UP THURSDAY A BIT HOARSE AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST FROM DRY AIR. WE WENT OUT AND GOT A HUMIDIFIER AND THEN IT HIT-RUNNY NOSE, COUGH, RUNNY EYES, YOU NAME IT-ALL EXCEPT A FEVER! SHE WAS A TROOPER. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH JUICE AND CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP I HOPE NOT TO SEE EITHER FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND SLOWLY SOUNDING BETTER, BUT WHAT A BUG! NOT FUN! WE HAVE WATCHED FROSTY THE SNOWMAND AND PLAYED WITH MY XMAS WINDOW STICKERS UNTIL I CAN'T WASH OFF ANOTHER FINGERPRINT OFF MY WINDOW. ALSO, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AMOUNT OF BATHS SHE HAD. SHE IS GETTING BETTER AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT! WHAT A LONG WEEK WE HAD THOUGH!

HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

THIS THANKSGIVING WAS ALOT OF FUN! ANYWAYS, WE SPENT THIS YEAR, AT MY PARENTS AND JARED'S PARENTS AND THEN JUST HANGING OUT. ON THANKSGIVING WE SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT JAREDS EATING THANKSGIVING DINNER OF TURKEY AND ALL THE FURNISHING-SO GOOD. THEN WE WENT TO MY PARENTS HOUSE AND ATE SOME THERE. WE PLAYED GAMES, THE WII, TALKED, ENJOYED EACH OTHERS COMPANY, SAW ALL OUR FAMILIES, PLAYED GAMES-YOU NAME IT. OVER ALL, WE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND FEEL SO BLESSED. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR FAMILY AND ALL OUR FRIENDS AND THE BLESSING WE RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS! AS ALWAYS, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND ATE TO MUCH. THE WEEKEND ENDED WITH ANNA, NIKI, AND I SHOPPING EARLY MORNIGN SALES THE DAY AFTER-WHICH WAS A RIOT! THEN WE TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THEIR DADDIES AND NIKI AND I WENT AND WATCHED, THE NEW MOON-CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT SHOW OR EDWARD! LATER THAT NIGHT WE WENT TO THE LIGHT PARADE HERE IN POCATELLO AND HAD A GOOD TIME. THE FOLLOWING DAY OF COURSE WE WENT TO SODA AND CUT DOWN OUR OWN XMAS TREES! WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR-SO FUN! WE FOUND SOME GOOD TREES AND HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT! BUSY WEEKEND~

KIM AND JOHN GETTING READY FOR THANKSGIVING LUNCH~

TREG AND HIS WIFE, TIFFANY~ JUST CHILLING

KEN GETTING READY TO CARVE THE BIRD....

JARED AND I GETTING READY TO EAT!

THE BIRD-WHAT A GREAT PIC, HUH? JARED MADE THE BIRD AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

TIFFANY, KIM, AND I IN OUR NEW APRONS FROM RENAE! WE EVEN GAVE OURSELVES NAMES, HOWEVER, I CAN'T THINK OF THEM NOW

TREVOR AND HALLE AT THE LIGHT PARADE....

NANNA, HALLE, AND I HANGING OUT!

JARED AND HALLE ON OUR HIKE UP THE MTN TO GET OUR TREE!

HALLE IS BORROWING THIS HORSE FROM GRMA NAISY AND ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT-SHE RIDES IT CONSTANTLY AND EVEN NOSE DIVES WHEN SHE GETS GOING FAST ENOUGH! (JUST LOVED THE PIC!)

MY BABY IS NOW 2 YEARS OLD!

MY TIME HAS FLOWN-WE HAD ALOT OF FUN OVER THIS PAST WEEKEND FOR HALLE'S BIRTHDAY. WE DID FAMILY STUFF ON SATURDAY AND A PARTY ON HER BIRTHDAY WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A SUNDAY. ON SATURDAY, JARED AND I TOOK HALLE TO A KNOCK-OFF BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP HERE IN OUR MALL. HALLE GOT TO MAKE HER OWN STUFFED ANIMAL AND STUFF IT AND ALL-SHE SEEMED TO LOVE IT. FROM THERE, WE WENT TO BAJIO FOR LUNCH WITH AUNT NIKI, UNCLE TROY, AND CUZZY TREVOR SINCE TROY HAD TO WORK ON SUNDAY. HALLE HAD ALOT OF FUN, THEN WENT HOME AND TOOK QUITE A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT AND VISITED GRANDMA AND GRUMPY SINCE GRANDMA HAS BEEN SICK HALLE HAS MISSED SEEING HER FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SUNDAY SHE WORE A NEW DRESS FROM GRMA NAISY AND WENT TO CHURCH, CAME HOME TOOK A 3 HOUR NAP, AND THEN FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAME FOR CAKE AND ICE CREAM ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER SNACKS. THE THEME OF HER PARTY WAS HAPPY FEET AND IT WAS FUN. THOSE WHO CAME WERE: NANA AND PAPA TORGESEN, GRUMPY AND GRMA NAISY BERNT, AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR, UNCLE JOHN AND AUNT BOO, AND CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS, THE DUDLEY'S. WE OPENED GIFTS, ATE, WATCHED A VIDEO OF HALLE OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND JUST HUNG-OUT. IT WAS PRETTY RELAXED AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THAT NIGHT I HAD A BREAKDOWN AND CRIED FOR A BIT SINCE MY BABY IS GROWING UP SO FAST AND LEARNING SO MANY NEW THINGS DAILY. THE NEXT EVENING PAPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL CAME IN TO DROP OFF A GIFT AND STAYED FOR DINNER WITH US AND AUNT NIKI AND TREVOR. IT WAS A FUN NIGHT TO BE TOGETHER. ALL IN ALL HALLE'S BIRTHDAY WAS ALOT OF FUN AND TURNED OUT GREAT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY HALLE-WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER! PS..THANKS FOR ALL THE GIFTS-SHE MADE OUT WELL! THEY'LL KEEP HER BUSY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK!

HALLE IN HER NEW DRESS-GETTING READY FOR CHURCH!

LATELY HALLE ENJOYS SITTING IN THE FREEZING COLD FRIDGE-ADORABLE!

HERE IS SOME OF THE DECOR~

THANKS NANA FOR THE AWESOME CAKE. I HELPED MY MOM (OKAY NOT MUCH) SHE DID THIS ADORABLE CAKE-WITHOUT A PAN OR ANYTHING! THANKS NANA IT WAS PERFECT AND SO YUMMY TOO!

TREVOR AND HALLE JUST HANGING OUT!

FAMILY PHOTO SHOT~

HALLE SITTING IN HER NEW DOLL BASSINET-IT WAS HILARIOUS! GO FISHER PRICE THAT THING DIDN'T EVEN BEND!

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AFTER EVERYONE LEFT AND HALLE COULD ACTUALLY CALM DOWN AND SEE EVERYTHING SHE GOT~IF IT WENT ON AS CLOTHING, IT WAS ON AND IF SHE COULD PLAY WITH IT~SHE WAS PLAYING! IT WAS SO CUTE AND SHE WAS SUCH A GOOD GIRL!

THIS IS THE NIGHT PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL CAME OVER-WE HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM!

TOUGH WEEK AHEAD!

SO, IT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH WEEK FOR ME. MY BABY IS TURNING 2 NEXT SUNDAY AND I AM ALREADY SAD ABOUT IT. HAPPY IN SOME WAYS BUT SAD IN A BUNCH OF WAYS ALSO. I AM SO PROUD OF HER AND EVERYTHING SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND IS ACCOMPLISHING DAILY. HOWEVER, SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY INDEPENDENT AND THE OLDER SHE GETS THE WORSE IT GETS AND IT MAKES ME SAD TO REALIZE SHE DOESN'T NEED MOMMY IN AS MANY WAYS AS SHE USE TOO.

TOP TEN THINGS I LOVE THE MOST:

1. SHE CAN TALK PRETTY GOOD. (AT LEAST, I UNDERSTAND HER.)

2. SHE CAN USE THE POTTY IF WE DON'T WAIT TO LONG.

3. SHE IS VERY PLAYFUL AND FUN-LOVING.

4. SHE LIKES TO DO WHAT MOMMY AND DADDY DO.

5. SHE LOVES WATCHING POOH WITH DADDY.

6. SHE HAS FRIENDS AND LOVES TO PLAY WITH THEM.

7. SHE LIKES TO PLAY WITH MOMMY.

8. SHE LIKES TO SING WITH MOMMY.

9. SHE LIKES TO BE IN HER "PRINCESS" PANTIES.

10. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND!

TOP TEN THINGS I DON'T LOVE.

1. SHE IS TURNING TWO AND TRIES TO PUSH LIMITS ONCE IN AWHILE.

2. SHE LIKES TO THROW THINGS.

3. SHE DOESN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND CONSEQUENCES YET, SO PUNISHING ISN'T WORKING TO WELL YET.

4. SHE LIKES TODO THINGS HERSELF.
5. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, SHE LIKES TO PUT HER "PANTIES" ON BY HERSELF.

6. SHE DOESN'T LOVE TO CUDDLE OR ROCK ANYMORE.

7. SHE THROWS TANTRUMS.

8. HER NAPS ARE GROWING SHORTER AND SHORTER.

9. SHE LIKES TO FLUSH WASHCLOTHS DOWN THE TOILET.

10. SHE LOVES NURSERY AND BEING WITHOUT MOMMY.

SO, ALL IN ALL-HALLE IS A DELIGHTFUL FUN LITTLE GIRL. SHE IS OUR PRIDE AND JOY. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE MOST PART, I GET TO STAY HOME WITH HER AND PLAY WITH HER AND TEACH HER THINGS. HOWEVER, IT IS FUN TO SEE HER EXPLORE THE WORLD AND THE THINGS AROUND HER. ALSO, IT IS SAD THAT SHE IS PERFECTLY HAPPY WITHOUT MOM EVEN AROUND, WHERE WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER SHE HAD TO SEE OR HEAR MOM AT ALL TIMES. IT IS FUN TO SEE THE LIFE SHE IS STARTING TO LIVE AND SEE THE CHOICES SHE IS STARTING TO MAKE. SHE DOES HAVE SOME TERRIBLE TWO SIDE EFFECTS BUT SHE IS GETTING BETTER. SAD TO SAY, SHE KNOWS WHAT TIME OUT MEANS. SHE IS FUN, OUTGOING, AND FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE. SHE LIKES TO LAUGH, SING, DANCE, READ, HOP, KICK LEAVES AND SOCCER BALLS, GO ON WALKS, SLIDE AT THE PARK, PICNICS, RUNNING ERRANDS AND JUST PLAYING. I AM SAD TO KNOW 2 YEARS ARE OVER BUT EXCITED FOR THE MANY MORE TO COME.

I LOVE YOU HALLE KAY!

YOUR MOM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

SO I HAVE WANTED TO POST A COUPLE THINGS LATELY AND JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES FOR ME, WHICH HE DID AND I JUST NEVER GOT AROUND TO BLOGGING SO THERE ARE GONNA BE A COUPLE POSTS ALL IN ONE. ENJOY AND HOPE YOU DON'T GET TO BORED! A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, OUR FRIENDS THE COOKS, HAD A HALLOWEEN PARTY. MY MOTHER GRACIOUSLY TOOK HALLE FOR THE NIGHT AND AWAY WE WENT. WE HAD A FUN TIME DRESSING UP, EATING FOOD, PLAYING GAMES, AND GETTING TO KNOW SOME OTHER COOL COUPLES. WE HAD A TON OF FUN HAVING A NIGHT AWAY TOGETHER AND THANKS TO THE COOKS FOR SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME! WE LOVE YOU GUYS!

HERE WE ARE DRESSED UP: JARED IS A BASEBALL PLAYER, I AM A SOCCER PLAYER! (THANKS KIM FOR LETTING ME USE YOUR CLOTHES!)

A COUPLE NIGHTS LATER WE GOT TOGETHER WITH MY FAMILY TO PAINT PUMPKINS..WE THOUGHT PAINTING WOULD BE EASIER AND CLEANER THAN CARVING WITH THE KIDDOS, AND THEY LOVED IT. WE HAD TONS OF FUN!

NIKI AND HALLE PAINTING AWAY WHILE PAPA CHRIS LOOKS ON!

JARED STEALING A HUG FROM MOM-IN-LAW! THEY JUST LOVE EACH OTHER TO DEATH!

TROY, NIKI, AND TREVY PAINTING...

HALLE LOVED THIS...SHE LOVES PUMPKINS AND TO PAINT THEM WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR HER!

OF COURSE, JARED DID NOTRE DAME. IT ACTUALLY WAS AWESOME, PROBABLY THE BEST ONE DONE THAT NIGHT!

THIS IS MINE...CANDY CORN...THOUGHT IT WAS A CUTE IDEA!

HALLE DID A MULTI-COLORED ONE. HERS WAS BEAUTIFUL! WAY TO GO CUB!

THE NEXT WEEKEND, NIKI AND I TOOK THE KIDDOS TO THE ZOO BOO HERE AT ROSS PARK ZOO. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE KIDDOS DRESSED IN THEIR COSTUMES. IT WAS A COLD DAY. BUT THE KIDS ENJOYED GETTING OUTSIDE AND PLAYING. WE HAD HOT DOGS, CIDER, GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE ANIMALS, AND THERE WAS GAMES AND MUCH MORE. THERE WERE LEAVES FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY IN AND FIND PRIZES IN. TREVOR LOVED IT, HALLE WAS HESITANT BUT THEN ENJOYED IT. WHAT A FUN DAY!

NIKI AND THE KIDDOS HEADING TO THE ZOO BOO!

THIS WAS THE ENTRANCE~THEY WEREN'T BIG FANS OF IT!

HERE IS HALLE JUMPING IN THE BIG THING OF LEAVES!~


JARED AND I DRESSED UP, HE IS ONCE AGAIN A BASEBALL PLAYER. THIS TIME I WAS A RODEO QUEEN-OR SOMETHING! I HAD TO GET THIS OUTFIT AT THE DI-IT WAS $6 AND A MUST AND I HAD TO WEAR THE UGLY THING. SO I AM WHATEVER YOU THINK I AM!

THE KIDDOS:
TREVOR: UPS MAN-HALLE: PIG-
JANEY AND JENNA: BALLERINA'S

HALLE AND I TRUNK-OR-TREATING AT NANNA'S CHURCH~

THE KIDDO'S WITH NANNA. THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF TAKING THE KIDDOS AROUND MY MOM'S HOUSE WE DID THE TRUNK OR TREAT AT HER CHURCH. WE LOVED IT! THEY GOT TONS OF CANDY, THEY GOT TO GO OUT WHEN IT WAS STILL LIGHT AND NOT TO COLD YET-OK NOT FREEZING YET! AND THEN THEY WERE READY TO GO TO NANNA'S FOR GAMES AND FOOD...GREAT IDEA AND WE WERE IN PARTYING BY 6:30! LOVED IT!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW MY MOTHER IT MAKES THIS PIC EVEN BETTER. SHE WOULD DIE IF SHE SAW IT ON HERE=WHICH SHE WILL BUT OH WELL! SHE HOSTS A ROCKING HALLOWEEN PARTY EVERY YEAR. WITH PIZZA, FOOD, TREATS, YOU NAME IT. THIS YEAR WE PLAYED A DOUGHNUT GAME AND CHUBBY BUNNY WITH MARSHMALLOWS. WE HAD TONS OF FUN AND WE ARE GREATFUL FOR HER AND PAPA HAVING SUCH FUN TIMES AND ALWAYS BEING A GREAT HOST AND HOSTESS! THANKS YOU GUYS WE HAD A WONDERFUL HALLOWEEN WITH YOU! LOVE YA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA BOB!

IT HAS BEEN KIND OF A TRADITION THE PAST COUPLE YEARS TO THROW MY GRANDPA A BIRTHDAY PARTY BEFORE HE HEADS OUT TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER. THIS YEAR, MY SISTER HOSTED IT AT HER HOUSE. AS MANY OF YOU READERS KNOW, I LOVE MY DAD'S FATHER, BOB. HE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST GRANDPA'S AROUND AND I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY LIFE WITH HIM-DUE TO THE FACT HE IS A YOUNG GRANDPA AND THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVED CLOSE WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. WELL, HE TURNED 76 THIS PAST WEEK. MY SISTER'S FAMILY AND MY FAMILY INVITED MY DAD AND KAREN, AND GRMA AND GRPA OVER LAST NIGHT FOR A LITTLE SHINDIG. JARED AND TROY MADE DUTCH OVEN CHICKEN, POTATOES, AND COBBLER. IT WAS AMAZING AND GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE. MY GRANDPA LOVES HIS BIRTHDAY AND IS KICKING RIGHT ALONG. HE IS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM AGE BUT HE IS STILL DOING PRETTY GOOD. I AM GLAD WE COULD ALL GET TOGETHER BEFORE THEY LEAVE ONE LAST TIME. HE LOVED IT AND SO DID WE. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA WE LOVE YOU~

(SORRY FORGOT THE CAMERA BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

EXCITING STUFF! (LONG POST!)

THIS PAST MONDAY WE GOT BACK FROM MAINE AND LET ME JUST SAY, WE LOVED IT! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND SO WARM COMPARED TO THE SNOW IDAHO RECEIVED. HOWEVER, I AM GLAD TO BE HOME ALSO. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, AFTER THE APPLE PICKING WE PROCEEDED TO GO SHOPPING THE FOLLOWING DAY IN KITTERING-GREAT PLACE AND WONDERFUL OUTLETS-US GIRLS WENT CRAZY WHILE THE MEN STAYED BEHIND TO WATCH SOME NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL. THAT NIGHT, GRUMPY AND GRANDMA TOOK THE KIDS AND WE ADULTS, WENT ON A DATE TO A GREAT PASTA PLACE. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT INTO BOSTON AND IT WAS A GREAT DAY. STEPHANIE, JARED, AND I WENT TO A BOSTON RED SOX GAME, AND WE WON! IT WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE AND SO FUN. THE KIDS PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT WITH GRUMPY AND GRMA AT THE HOTEL. LATER THAT NIGHT, JARED, HALLE, AND I WENT OUT TO THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY AND IT WAS FABULOUS AND THEN WE WENT BACK TO OUR HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT AND CHILLED. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WE WENT ON A DUCK TOUR-WHICH IS A TOUR ON LAND AND IN THE WATER-GREAT FUN AND WE GOT TO SEE A TON OF BOSTON. THEN WE WENT TO THE AIRPORT AND TO OUR SURPRISE WE ALL GOT ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT-HALLELUJAH! WE HAD A NON STOP FLIGHT FOR 5.5 HOURS THAT WAS A BIT SCARY FOR ME WONDERING IF HALLE WOULD BE AS GOOD AS ON THE WAY DOWN AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE SLEPT 4 HRS AND WAS GREAT THE REST OF THE TIME. WE HAD A GREAT TRIP AND HOPE TO GO VISIT MAINE AGAIN SOON!

THESE 2 GIRLS LOVED EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TRIP. THEY WERE AND ARE BFF'S!

JARED, HALLE, AND I THE NIGHT WE GOT TO MAINE. LOOKING GOOD-NOT MUCH SLEEP!

SOME OF THE BOATS OUTSIDE OUR RESTAURANT..

THE PLACE WE WENT TO GO APPLE PICKING.

ME, HALLE, EVA, AND STEPHANIE GOIN TO PICK APPLES!

HALLE ENJOYIN SOME OF HER FINDS!

THESE TWO CUTIES HELD HANDS THE WHOLE TIME...

HALLE'S FIRST TIME TO THE ATLANTIC, SHE EVEN GOT TO TOUCH IT!

WE ATE AT A RESTAURANT ON THE OCEAN FRONT AND HALLE LOVED THIS LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE!

REAL LIVE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE!

AT FENWAY PARK TO WATCH BOSTON RED SOX VS. CLEVELAND INDIANS....BOSTON WON!

SOME BOSTON SOX PLAYERS! WE WERE 7TH ROW RIGHT BEHIND BOSTON DUGOUT-SWEET!

JARED, STEPH, AND I AT THE GAME.

HANGING OUT FOR OUR DUCK RIDE (NO PIX OF THE RIDE, MY BATTERY DIED-OH NUTS!)

I LOVED BOSTON! BEAUTIFUL!

BOSTON COMMONS!