PREGNANCY AND A SICK KIDDO!

SO, THIS TIME AROUND PREGNANCY HAS BEEN KICKING MY TRASH. BESIDES, CATCHING RANDOM COLDS AND FLUS HERE AND THERE, SINCE FINDING OUT I WAS PREGO, AT ABOUT 6 WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN NAUSEATED DAY AND NIGHT. SOMETIMES WORSE THEN OTHERS, BUT IT SEEMS CONSTANT. I HAD NOTHING LIKE THIS WITH HALLE AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE SAME...NOT SO MUCH! I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN MISERABLE BUT I JUST HAVEN'T FELT GOOD FOR MANY WEEKS NOW. MY 2ND TRI BEGINS THIS THURS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SUBSIDE...OTHER THAN THAT, PREGNANCY ROCKS...BUT, NAUSEA WILL ALWAYS STINK, RIGHT? THEN THIS PAST WEDNESDAY WAS UNPLEASANT TO SAY THE LEAST. HALLE AND I STARTED OFF THE DAY BY DOING OUR USUAL STUFF AROUND THE HOUSE AND THEN HEADED TO MY MOMS WORK TO TAKE HER SOME HOMEMADE COOKIES. WHILE WE WERE THERE, SHE PLAYED WITH ALL THE GIRLS AT HER WORK AND RAN AROUND CRAZY. AFTER THAT, WE WENT TO WALMART TO STOCK UP ON GROCERIES, AND SHE GOT A BIT ONRY NOT TO LONG INTO IT. I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST GETTING SICK OF THE CART SO I LET HER OUT TO RUN FOR A MINUTE BEFORE DRAGGING HER BACK IN IT. THEN SHE KEPT SAYING HER MOUTH HURT BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN IT. WE KEPT SHOPPING FAST TO GET DONE AND GET OUT OF THERE AND SHE GOT MORE ONRY AS TIME WENT ON. FINALLY IN THE CHECK OUT LINE ALMOST DONE CHECKING OUT AND SHE STARTS VOMITING OUT OF NOWHERE...AND IT WAS A TON OF VOMIT. WHILE TRYING TO CATCH IT IN MY HANDS, TAKING HER CLOTHES OFF, GETTING MY BAGS, AND PAYING....IT WAS A DISASTER. IT WAS EVERYWHERE AND IT WAS MORTIFYING AND SHE STARTED CRYING AND SAID SORRY MOM, I SORRY. SHE WAS SCARED TO DEATH. WE GOT HER OUT TO THE CAR AND UNPACKED THE SHOPPING CART AS FAST AS POSSIBLE JUST TO GET HOME. HALLE USUALLY VOMITS ONCE IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN DOESN'T SETTLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT NEVER MORE THAN ONCE. SO I WAS HOPING THAT WAS THE DEAL. WE GOT HOME AND SPENT THE NEXT 4.5 HOURS TRYING TO CATCH VOMIT, LAYING, ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR SO IF SHE MISSED IT WENT ON HARDWOOD, NOT CARPET. DRINKING PEDIALYTE, AND LAUNDRY FROM WHEN WE HAD TO CLEAN UP VOMIT....IT WAS HORRIBLE. I FELT SO BAD THAT SHE WAS SO SICK AND IT HIT OUT OF NOWHERE. SHE ACTUALLY THREW UP 9 TIMES IN THOSE 4.5 HOURS-HOWEVER, RIGHT BEFORE SHE THREW UP, SHE WOULD SAY HER MOUTH HURT SO I COULD GET HER SOMEWHERE TO DO IT INSTEAD OF ON A BED, OR THE CARPET, WHICH LEFT LITTLE MESSES, JUST LOTS OF LAUNDRY IN THE TOWEL DEPT....THEN AFTER THOSE MISERABLE 4.5 HOURS, SHE FINALLY STOPPED AND STOPPED FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. I PUT HER TO BED, SHE SLEPT AN HOUR, SAT UP IN BED AND DID IT AGAIN. HOPING WE WERE DONE WITH THIS, I PUT HER IN BED WITH ME AND JARED SLEPT DOWNSTAIRS. SHE THEN GOT THE FEVER...NOT FUN! HOWEVER, THE PUKING WAS DONE NOW. THE FEVER BROKE AFTER ABOUT 12 HOURS AND SHE WAS WELL ON HER WAY TO NORMAL AGAIN. IT WAS AWFUL AND IT IS SO HARD TO SEE KIDS SICK AND SO SAD AND LETHARGIC....I HATE IT! WE MADE IT THOUGH AND SHE WAS A TROOPER....THANK GOODNESS WE ARE DONE WITH THAT FOR NOW......

PINK EYE + CROUP IN 2-YEAR-OLD=AWFUL!

THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST. IT ALL STARTED LAST SUNDAY WHEN I FOUND A LUMP IN HALLE'S NECK (KNOWING SHE HAD 2 COLDS LAST MONTH...)I FREAKED OUT. I TOOK HER IN ON MONDAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS JUST A SWOLLEN LYMPH NODE BUT IT WAS A BIT SCARY, THIS IS WHEN THEY PUT A SHOT IN IT WITH SOME ANTIBIOTIC TO KILL SOME OF THE INFECTION IN IT AND ALSO TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE SWELLING-SCARY AND HALLE WAS IN A BIT OF PAIN, SHE WAS A TROOPER. THAT NIGHT, WE WATCHED A LITTLE BOY FROM THE WARD-OVERNIGHT. HE WAS A GREAT KID AND ALTHOUGH HE IS ONLY 3-THEIR IS SO MUCH HE COULD DO WHICH WAS NICE. THEN OUR WEEK WENT ON. WEDNESDAY AFTER HALLE'S NAP, SHE WOKE UP TO A RED EYE WITH GREEN OOZING OUT OF THE CORNER, I JUST KNEW IT HAD TO PINK EYE. ONCE AGAIN, I CALLED THE DR. THEY SAID THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDED LIKE AND THEY WOULD CALL IN SOME EYE DROPS FOR HER. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY THOUGHT I WOULD GET THOSE INTO THE EYE OF A 2-YEAR OLD 4 TIMES A DAY-MISERABLE! BUT WE DID IT. THEN SHE ALSO HAD A BIT OF A RUNNY NOSE AND A LITTLE COUGH. THURSDAY, IS WHEN IT HIT. WE PUT HER TO BED AND ALL WAS FINE AND THEN SHE WOKE UP AT 4AM. SHE WAS WHEEZING AND RASPY SO BAD SHE SOUNDED LIKE DARTH VADER...IT SCARED ME TO DEATH! JARED WOKE UP AND HELPED ME PUT HER IN THE TUB. ALTHOUGH SHE SOUNDED AWFUL-SHE WAS STILL HERSELF. WANTED TO PLAY, WATCH CARTOONS, YOU NAME IT. SO WE LET HER DO THIS FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AND THEN DECIDED TO LAY HER DOWN AGAIN, THINKING SHE JUST HAD A BAD CHEST COLD. I STARTED THE HUMIDIFIER, GAVE HER SOME MOTRIN AND WE ALL SACKED OUT FOR ABOUT 2 MORE HOURS. THAT MORNING NO RELIEF! I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DR AND WAS TO GET HER READY AND TAKE HER IN. WE DID JUST THAT. WHEN WE GOT THERE, WE FOUND OUT HALLE HAD CROUP. IT IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD AND THE BARKING SEAL COUGH-LET ME TELL YOU IS JUST THAT. THERE IS NO MISTAKEN IT. THEY GAVE HER A STEROID ORALLY FOR THE VOICEBOX AND WINDPIPE SWELLING TO HELP TAKE IT DOWN FASTER THAN NORMAL. ALSO, THEY GAVE HER A BREATHING TREATMENT-IT BLEW STEAM IN HER FACE FOR ABOUT 30-45 MIN. SHE THREW A FIT THE ENTIRE TIME. WE HAVE TAUGHT HER STEAM IS HOT AND SHE WON'T GO NEAR IT AND NOW I WAS EXPECTED TO HOLD IT IN HER FACE, NOT! NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE GOT THROUGH IT AND SHE CRIED SO HARD AND LONG SHE PUT HERSELF TO SLEEP. THE LAST COUPLE DAYS AND NIGHTS COULD BE HARD SO GET PREPARED THE DR SAID. HALLE HAS BEEN A TROOPER AND DONE VERY WELL. ALSO, THE EYE THING-NOT PINK EYE, JUST PART OF THE VIRUS SHE HAS. SO THANK GOODNESS NO MORE TRAUMATIZING EYE DROPS FOR HER. SHE IS GETTING BETTER SLOWLY AND STILL SOUNDS BAD BUT DAY BY DAY WE SEE IMPROVEMENT. SHE HAS BEEN COUPED UP IN THE HOUSE SINCE FRIDAY WITH HER MAMA AND IS BORED OUT OF HER MIND SO WE HOPE IT GOES AWAY SOON AND WE CAN GET SOME NORMALCY AROUND OUR PLACE. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE HOME WITH HER, I WATCHED THE CHARITY EVENT FOR HAITI ON TV. THAT IS DEVASTATING! I LOOK AT SOME OF THE KIDS DYING OF BROKEN LEGS OR SIMPLE THINGS BECAUSE THEIR IS NOONE THERE TO HELP FIX THEM. WHAT A SHAME! IT MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSING WITH OUR DAUGHTER. LET ALONE, IN HAITI, THEY CAN'T FIND FOOD OR WATER, BUT THE MEDICAL CARE IS OUTRAGEOUSLY SAD. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR DR'S, ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, AND THE FACT WE ARE A BLOCK AWAY FROM OURS AND THEY COULD GET HALLE IN AND TREAT HER SO FAST. REALLY PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND MAKES ME COUNT MY BLESSINGS: NOT JUST FOR FOOD, WATER, SHELTER, HEALTH, EVERYDAY THINGS I TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT AMAZING DR'S WHO DO ALL THEY CAN TO HELP US WHEN IN NEED. WE LOVE THEM!

MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS!

I HAVE TOTALLY TRIED TO HOLD OFF ON THIS POST UNTIL JARED WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR BUSINESS AND HALLE LAID DOWN FOR A LONG NAP DUE TO THE LENGTH IT WILL BE. I AM SORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT WILL BE IN ADVANCE, WE HAVE DONE ALOT OF FUN THINGS LATELY AND I AM JUST NOW GETTING TIME TO CATCH UP ON ALL OF THEM. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS FOR IT SEEMS ABOUT A MONTH THIS YEAR, BETWEEN WORK PARTIES, FRIEND PARTIES, CHURCH ACTIVITIES, AND FAMILY THINGS, IT TOOK UP PRETTY MUCH ALL OF DECEMBER, BUT IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME. ALWAYS GOOD FUN TO SEE FAMILY AND SHARE GREAT MEMORIES AND HAPPY TIMES TOGETHER. THE MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE SLED TEAM (JAREDS BUDDIES AND FAMILIES) OVER FOR A PARTY AT OUR HOUSE. IT WAS A BLAST!! WE HAD BREAKFAST FOR DINNER MADE BY THE MEN-YUMMY AND WORE PAJAMAS. THE WE TALKED FOREVER CATCHING UP ON THINGS, SINCE MOST OF THEM COME TO POKY ONLY ABOUT 1 OR 2 TIMES A YEAR, AND THEN FINISHED WITH A WHITE ELEPHANT EXCHANGE. HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF OUR FESTIVITIES (SOME CONTAIN ADULT CONTENT-BEWARE!)

MOST OF THE SLED TEAM, MISSING MIKEY, HAGLER AND BECKSTEAD. THE BOYS WHO STARTED IT ALL.

SOME OF THE SLED TEAM WIVES GETTING CAUGHT UP AND EVERYTHING.


OH MAN! THIS WAS JARED'S WHITE ELEPHANT HE GOT FROM THE MARSHALL'S AND BOY, ISN'T THIS AWFUL. IT WAS HYSTERICAL. WHAT A CUTE ELF! HAHA! (AND THE FACE, SAYS IT ALL!)

TREVOR AND CARTER!
ALL THE KIDS IN ATTENDANCE.

L TO R: HALLE, ADDIE, CARTER, AND AMIYAH

THAT WEDNESDAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MY DAD AND KAREN'S HOUSE IN LAVA. THEY MADE US A WONDERFUL DINNER OF HAM AND FIX-INS AND WE GOT TO SIT AND TALK FOR A BIT WITH MY GRANDPA AND GRANDMA MENDENHALL, THEY ARE ALWAYS GONE TO ARIZONA FOR THE WINTER BUT DUE TO THE POOR HEALTH OF ONE OF BETH'S SONS, THEY STAYED HOME THIS WINTER. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND THEM FOR CHRISTMAS. WE GOT TO TALK ALOT ABOUT CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND GOT TO REMINISCE-SO FUN. THEN WE FINISHED WITH A GIFT EXCHANGE AND KILLER PEPPERMINT PIE, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN AND IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

GOOD FAMILY PHOTO, HOWEVER, HALLE IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF GRPA MENDENHALL.


HALLE IN HER NEW LIFE VEST FROM PAPA AND GRMA MENDENHALL

GRPA BOB WITH HIS DIET COKE AND GREEN (YELLOW)BANANAS. GOOD JOKE WITH HIM, HE NEVER THINKS HE'LL LIVE TO EAT GREEN BANANAS. SO WE GOT HIM SOME MORE RIPE ONES....
HALLE RIDING THIS TEENY TINY HORSE THAT IS GRMA KAREN'S DECOR. IT WAS HILARIOUS AND HALLE LOVED IT!

THE FOLLOWING EVENING WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND WE SPENT IT WITH MY MOM AND STEP DAD. IT WAS A BLAST. WE HAD A MARVELOUS PRIME RIB DINNER AND GREAT COMPANY AS USUAL. THE KIDS WENT OUT AND RODE THE NEW KITTY KAT SNOWMACHINE FROM PAPA CHRIS-THEY LOVED IT AND HAD A TON OF FUN, HOWEVER, THE PARENTS HAD JUST AS MUCH FUN WATCHING. WE PLAYED AND DID GIFTS AND AFTER THAT, WE ALL WENT HOME TO GET READY FOR THE BIG DAY. WHICH ENDED WITH JARED, HALLE, AND I GOING TO LOOK AT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON SANTA CLAUSE LANE AND GETTING SET FOR SANTA TO COME. WE HAD ALOT OF FUN.

PAPA CHRIS HELPING TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE "KITTY KAT"

KIDDOS ON THE KAT AND LOVING IT!

HALLE ON HER NEW SIT AND SPIN FROM UNCLE TROY, AUNT NIKI, AND TREVOR!~

WHEN WE WOKE UP ON CHRISTMAS, SANTA HAD CAME. WE HAD A WONDERFUL MORNING, NANA AND PAPA, GRUMPY AND NAISY, AND EVEN AUNTIE BOO AND UNCLE JOHN CAME AND SHARED THE MORNING WITH US. IT WAS FULL OF FUN TOYS, CHRISTMAS CASSEROLE, AND LOUNGING AROUND. THE REST OF THE DAY WE SPENT HANGING OUT, TAKING DOWN CHRISTMAS DECOR, AND TAKING A NAP. THAT EVENING WE WENT TO AUNTIE BOOS AND UNCLE JOHNS FOR AN AMAZING PRIME RIB DINNER. THE WHOLE AURA OF THE EVENING WAS RELAXED AND BEAUTIFUL. WAY TO GO RASMUSSEN'S-QUITE THE HOSTESS AND HOST. THANKS FOR SO MUCH FUN! (SORRY NO PICS, OUR BATTERIES WERE DEAD!)

SO, YES OUR CHRISTMAS WAS BUSY BUT WE HAD A BLAST. WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR WONDERFUL BLESSINGS, ESPECIALLY EACH OTHER AND THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR ONE AND OTHER. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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!

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!

JUST COULDN'T RESIST!

GRANDMA BERNT BOUGHT THE GIRLS ALL TUTU'S TO PLAY IN. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASSION THIS IS HOW HALLE HAS GONE DOWN FOR HER NAP. SHE LOVES THAT THING!

MENDENHALL REUNION!

THIS PAST WEEKEND WE GOT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MENDENHALL REUNION IN PALISADES AT CALAMITY CAMPGROUND. I WAS A BIT NERVOUS SINCE IT WAS HALLE'S FIRST CAMPING EXCURSION BUT SHE DID GREAT, (BESIDES THE ONE TIME SHE RAN ON THE TRAIL AKA ROAD AND ALMOST GOT PLOWED-OK NOT REALLY BUT SHE DID RUN IN THE ROAD AND SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH!) MY DAD AND KARED, NIKI AND HER CLAN, ME AND MY CLAN, MY COUSIN WOODY, TODD AND KIM, DEON, AND GRPA AND GRMA M WERE THERE. IT WAS A 3 DAY EXCURSION OF FUN. WE ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST CONVERSATIONS, AMAZING FOOD, AND JUST TONS OF FUN ON THE BOAT. THIS YEAR, IT WAS SO COLD, RAINED ALOT, HAILED ALOT, AND WAS FLAT OUT COLD. HOWEVER, THAT DIDN'T DAMPEN US, WE STILL HAD TONS OF FUN. WATERSKIING WASN'T THE BEST THIS YEAR SINCE THE WATER WAS A BIT ROUGH, BUT IT MADE FOR GREAT TUBE RIDING. WE MADE SNOW CONES, WENT ON WALKS, SLEPT IN, TOOK NAPS,WATCHED A MOVIE, FISHED, ATE, TALKED, WENT ON THE BOAT...YOU NAME IT. THANKS EVERYONE FOR PLANNING SUCH A GREAT WEEKEND. WE LOVED IT! WE ARE SAD THAT WAS THE LAST ONE, SINCE IT IS GETTING HARDER ON GRPA AND GRMA BUT WE HAVE HAD THE GREATEST PAST SUMMERS WITH EVERYONE AND ARE SO GREATFUL FOR THE TIMES WE HAD TO CHERISH! WE LOVE YOU ALL!

HALLE IS PLAYING WITH "UNCLE TOY'S" FISHING GEAR, SHE LOVED IT!

HERE IS HALLE AND I PLAYING WHILE TREVY IS FISHING. ACTUALLY I AM JUST TRYING TO KEEP HALLE OUT OF THE WATER BY DISTRACTION. SHE LOVES THE WATER SO MUCH!

NIKI AND I TUBING WITH HALLE AND TREVOR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. THANKS DAD FOR THE NICE RIDE! WE HAD TONS OF FUN! (SO DID THE KIDDOS!) AFTER THIS, JARED TOOK HALLE AND THEY HAD A BLAST TOO!

JARED AND HALLE TUBING-THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN!

JARED AND HALLE CHILLING ON THE BOAT WHILE I WAS IN THE WATER!

NIKI, KAREN, AND THE KIDDOS CHILLING ON THE BOAT!

PAPA TAB LET HALLE "HELP" DRIVE US TO THE SHORE! SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS SO BIG AND DID SUCH A GOOD JOB!

IN THIS PICTURE, HALLE LOOKS HOMELESS-SAD! ACTUALLY SHE LOVED THAT LIFE JACKET AND THE ZIPPER ON IT-SHE WOULDN'T MOVE!

BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF PALISADES IN THE MORNING WITH STEAM!

THE MORNING AFTER ALL THE FUN IN THE WATER, THE BOYS AND NIKI, GOT UP FOR AN EARLY FISHING TRIP. HALLE AND I SLEPT IN UNTIL ABOUT 9. I THOUGHT IT WAS TO COLD FOR HER, AND SHE WAS EXHAUSTED. BUT THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

SORRY IN ADVANCE THAT I HAVE NOT BLOGGED FOR AWHILE. IT HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY AROUND OUR HOUSE AND I HAVEN'T HAD TIME. (BESIDES, JARED HAD TO DOWNLOAD THE PICTURES-SO I GUESS IT WASN'T ALL MY FAULT!) ALSO, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE A LONG CATCH UP POST, JUST BE WARNED. WE HAVE BEEN DOING NON-STOP WORK IN OUR BACK YARD TO GET IT FINISHED AND IT HAS TAKEN ALOT OF TIME. JARED GOT THE RETAINING WALL WITH THE RAILROAD TIES IN AND ALSO THE GARDEN AND I GOT TO HELP HIM LOAD BEHIND IT WITH ROCK FOR REINFORCEMENT. (OK-MAYBE NOT "GOT TO", HAD TO BECAUSE I FELT BAD FOR HIM.) IT WAS HARD AND TOOK ALOT OF TIME BESIDES THE FACT, IT WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES THAT DAY AND SMOLTERING. BUT, WE DID IT AND IT LOOKS NICE. THEN JARED GOT THE OTHER RETAINING WALL OF BRICK DONE, I RE-DID THE WALKING PATH ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND OVER THE 24 OF JULY-OUR FAMILIES CAME AND HELPED LAY THE SOD-ALMOST HAD ENOUGH BUT NOT QUITE! THANKS EVERYONE-YOU DID A GREAT JOB! NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE PROJECT TO UNDERTAKE BUT IT IS ALMOST DONE. WE ARE SO HAPPY WITH HOW IT IS LOOKING THUS FAR!

HERE IS THE GRAVEL TO PUT BEHIND THE RETAINING WALL YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT! DOESN'T LOOK BAD BUT IT IS LONG AND DEEP!

ON ANOTHER NOTE, I HAVE BEEN SLOWLY STARTING TO POTTY TRAIN HALLE. I KNOW SHE IS STILL YOUNG BUT I WANT HER TO GET IT! SO, NO DIAPERS! I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RUN HER TO THE "DORA POTTY" DURING THE DAY WHEN I HEAR HER GRUNTING OR JUST RANDOMLY TO SEE IF SHE'LL USE IT. IT HAS WORKED PRETTY GOOD BUT NOTHING TO CONSISTANT ON HER OR MY PART. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TUB, I HEARD GRUNTING, AND GRABBED HER TO PUT HER ON THE SEAT, AND..........TOO LATE! (THE FOLLOWING IS GRAPHIC!)

YES, GROSS! ABSOLUTELY FLOATING TURD BALLS IN THE TUBBY!

THEN, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED THE NEXT TIME, WE ARE GETTING IT!

YOU CAN'T SEE IT ALL-BUT YOU GET THE GIST! YEAH

WE THEN TOOK THE KIDS TO ROSS PARK TO SPLASH AROUND ONE DAY, OF COURSE JARED HAD TO WORK SO THAT STUNK BUT UNCLE TROY, AUNT "ICKY" AND "KAY-KAY" AKA TREVOR GOT TO COME WITH US! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND THE KIDS LOVED THE KID POOL AND TOYS! SO FUN, THANKS FOR COMING~

TREVOR AND HALLE ON THE TIRE SWING IN THE KIDS POOL-THEY LOVED IT. WHAT A NICE DAY! WE WENT ON THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY SO WE GOT IN CHEAPER. THE KIDS BOTH WON A FREE HOT DOG AND WE GOT SOME FUN TOYS-WHAT A GOOD DAY TO GO!

HALLE KAY PLAYING WITH UNCLE TROY! SHE HAS A CRUSH ON HIM AND LIGHTS UP WHEN YOU SAY OR MENTION HIS NAME, LET ALONE WHEN SHE SAYS IT!

THIS IS A RANDOM PICTURE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS SO CUTE. HALLE WAS ALL READY FOR BED AND GETTING SLEEPY AND I NOTICED THIS....SHE HAD MY OVEN MITTS ON HER FEET WALKING AROUND. IT WAS SO CUTE! WHAT A GIRL AND A FETISH WITH "SHOES!

GRANDMA AND GRUMPY GOT OUT THE BIG WATER TOY THIS PAST WEEKEND SINCE EVERYONE CAME TO PLAY. HALLE HATED IT LAST YEAR AND WOULDN'T KEEP OUT THIS YEAR, SHE LOVED IT AND IT WAS SO FUN!

HERE IS HALLE LOVING THE WATER!

THEN CAME THE SOD AND A GREAT BIG THANK-YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HELPING. THEY GOT IT DONE IN NO TIME AND IT LOOKS GREAT-COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EVERYONE! THANKS, KEN, CHRIS, TREG, JOHN, AND TROY (WELL, HE CAME LATE DUE TO HIS AC BREAKING BUT HAD FULL INTENTIONS OF COMING TO HELP!)

NANNA AND HALLE PLAYING AND EATING RAMEN WHILE I TOOK PIX AND THE MEN WORKED! THANKS NANNA FOR PLAYING!

HERE IS JARED, JOHN, CHRIS, AND TREG AT WORK! GO BOYS!

HERE IS GRUMPY, PAPA, AND JARED WORKING HARD IN THE HEAT!

THEN CAME THE 24TH OF JULY PARADE! THIS IS ACTUALLY BEEN THE FIRST PARADE THAT HALLE GOT INTO. GRUMPY WAS IN THE PARADE AND SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY NEAT! SHE LOVED IT, BUT WAS WAY HOT WHEN IT WAS ALL DONE SO BACK TO GRUMPY AND GRANDMA'S TO THE BIG WATER TOY!

HALLE AND I ENJOYING THE PARADE!

SINCE THE PARADE'S ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE L AND K, JARED GETS TO COME OUT FOR THEM, THAT IS FUN! WHAT IS GRANDMA DOING?

AUNT NIKI, TREVY, AND NANNA AT THE PARADE!

GRUMPY'S FLOAT IN THE PARADE!

AND I MUST ADD, THE FLOAT IS THE MULE! THIS LITTLE THING IS A MUST. WE HAVE HAD IT AT OUR HOUSE WHILE REMODELING THE BACK YARD AND HALLE WENT ON A RIDE NIGHTLY WITH JARED ON IT. THEN IT WENT TO GRUMPY'S AND HE WOULD COME GET HER NIGHTLY TO GO ON IT. NOW IT IS BACK AT THE CABIN AND HALLE IS DEVASTATED! SHE LOVES THAT MULE MORE THAN ANYTHING!(OR IS IT THE PEOPLE SHE GOES WITH? EITHER WAY, SHE LOVES IT!)

ALL IN ALL SUPER BUSY AND HAVING A TON OF FUN!