Mrs. Richard Blake Hall

After a 4 month engagement, and 6 whole months knowing each other I became Mrs. Richard Blake Hall on June 9, 2005.
3 1/2 years later we had Brody Hall. But before that...
He put me through not one, but two degrees and is supporting me starting my third degree in the fall. He cleaned me crappy smelling Fish Lake fish because me no likey to touchy.

We went fun places for dinner.

Went on dates.

Celebrated Anniversaries with Getaways.

Cruised to the Bahamas.

Flew to Miami and saw Shamu-mu.

Hung out on the beaches in St. Maarten.

Snorkeled in St. Thomas.

Traveled to Mickey's house.

It's not all sunshine and lollipops, but I am grateful to be known as his wife. I have NEVER been ashamed or embarassed to call him my husband. He is a wonderful father, and very attentive to Brody. Brody idolizes him. He wants to "Worky Hammer" every day with Blake, it must be a man thing. I am so proud of him for starting his own company and taking a leap of faith. His clients love him, and will rave to me about how honest and trustworthy he is. He is an amazing leader, and loves serving in the Scouts. But most of all, I love him as my husband and eternal companion. Here's to SIXTY more years.

And a Happy Birthday To You

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MAN! We have gone through so much together. Good times and bad. Happiness, and not so much happiness. This journey of starting his own business has been one of the best things for our relationship. I am SO proud of him for pursuing his dream. He is shaping his company into a long term profitable business and I am beaming with pride. He is the hardest working guy I know. Selfless, giving and so willing to serve. I am blessed to be his wife. Brody worships him. He loves to "worky hammer" with daddy and gets upset if he cannot go outside and work with dad.

We continued the Birthday tradition by going to Sushi Ya with our good friends Jake and Alayna. Blake and Jake are childhood friends who not only share a birthday month but still live within a 1/2 mile of each other. Alayna and I are workout buddies and she has become one of my best friends in Plain City. She is an angel, I don't know how she accomplishes everything she does. She is amazing.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Easter Egg Hunt and Grammy's house.

Spoiled. So spoiled.

Sometimes you get so excited to collect eggs that you fall into the flower bed and need to be rescued.

The classic egg hidden in a bush. Also, an Easter Egg hunt isn't complete without help from the cat.

Glamour Shot. That is jubilation and excitement on my face, in case you were wondering. I LOVE riding bikes with Brodster. Last summer we rode almost EVERY day I didn't work. We would go to parks around Plain City, around the dyke at Willard bay, and of course, to Boone's to get Bug Juice. Now we can go as a family on bike rides!

The Easter Bunny brought Brody a 4-wheeler. No, this is not going to be a trend for the Easter Bunny. He had outgrown his little 4-wheeler he received for his 1st birthday and needed an upgrade. Crazy psycho worried mama also made sure the Easter Bunny brought him a helmet also.

The kid loves it. Every day, "Mama 4-wheeler?", "Mama 4-wheeler?" He makes me ride the big 4-wheeler around the yard behind him riding his 4-wheeler.

Some "Christmas Morning" shots.

Nirvana

We Swam. 4 hours. Non-stop.

Then we came back and swam 4.5 hours the next day. The little man was in heaven. At first didn't want to leave the steps. By the end was swimming all by himself in 3.5 ft of water with floaties. I was proud.

Then we went to Snow Canyon. AKA The Dunes.

Papi came with us because it was his afternoon off from classes. Of course, we had to bury each other.

My Ode to St. George, By Jessica Hall

Oh how I love thee. When it's 30 degrees and snowing at my house, you are 80+ degrees. I love your Outlet Stores, your Smashburger, and that your 30 minutes from $5.95 Prime Rib (Thanks Mesquite). I love your swimming pool, the clean hotel, oh and did I mention that it was 80 degrees. I shall be back again soon. Until then with all my love....

Jessica

Grateful

Grateful that when your just about to lose it you...think you might start smoking in the backyard while your little 4 year old neighbor girl is watching, when your ready to throw at your husband anything he leaves laying around the house, and your sick of cleaning urine off the bathroom floor and wall everytime your 2 year old goes potty, you get nauseated thinking about how your going to channel Rachael Ray yet again for the 789th night in row to make dinner, your wondering how little sleep someone can really function on and be coherent enough to take care of new moms and babies, ready to run away you do... to St. George! See you in 5 days suckers!

Our Own Annie Leibovitz

After Family Home Evening last week I had the camera out "capturing the moment". Brody took it upon himself to photo journal the family. This one is entitled "Dirty Couch with Cup Holder Train Table"

"Detail of Smear Stained Train Table"

"Caloused Sandpaper Hands with Puzzle"

"Frumpagrump Mother with Shocked Father"

"Crouching Mother Hidden Fat Roll"

Oh What Do You Do On A Saturday?

A couple Saturday's ago Blake volunteered, believe it or not, to take Brody outside and give me a chance to clean the house. I was stunned, shocked and marveled that he was offering. I gladly sent him outward, and was pleased to get some Mommy time until I saw this...

Not only is he going up the dirt hill with my precious, innocent, porcelin like son but note the small 4 wheeler behind. Yes, he was teaching Brody how to do it on his little battery powered 4 wheeler. Although not witnessed, supposedly he fell over backwards TWICE attempting to go up the hill and then Dad intervened and thought maybe he didn't quite get the concept yet.

Obviously my Angel Nugget was not harmed and was enjoying the time with his dad.

Take This Blog and Shove It

Oh my friends, how long it is has been since my poorly manicured fingernails have pounded this keyboard. I say this as my fingers are getting sticky from the who knows what Brody slobbered on my laptop. I'm guessing red sucker from Boone's. Much has happened in our world. Let me update you, if you care.

• Mother of the Year, Jessica Hall, yet again takes home the prize. This time for ripping her son's elbow out of the socket at the store. He didn't want to leave, I was holding his hand, we took a few steps, he dropped to the ground. Yank and pop! After a hour and a half wait at the MDs, he popped it back into place. All is well. The DCFS flag was taken off the chart.
• The hubbster (who I am affectionately calling right now "water buffalo"), sided the house. Instead of being "the crappy paint chipping white house on the corner", we are the "color of coffee with two creamers house." My neighbor told me we are no longer the dumpy house of the neighborhood. Frownsmile.
• I continue to slave away two days a week at the hospital. I joke because I really really love my job. No seriously. I really do. I think I work on the best unit. Who wants to deal with fat old men with heart conditions hacking up lungs and coughing all over the place when you can be apart of a miracle every day you work?!? Seriously. Love it.
• Brodster continues to potty train. We have good days and bad. We have mastered sitting on the potty peeing. We are cautiously learning to stand up and pee. We are about 50% of going poop on the toilet. It is a struggle. Not going to lie. I learned in nursing school that how you potty train your child can affect them for the rest of their life, especially how they few sex. So, I'm not pushing anything. I haven't yelled. We are using a sticker chart and it seems to motivate him. It does get really old washing out poopy shorties, THANK HEAVEN FOR ZOUT! I have a new appreciation for my Grandmothers for using cloth diapers.
• Blake continues to pound the pavement, trolling for jobs. Little projects here and there but nothing large, yet. He just started using ServiceMagicPros.com and has gotten quite few leads, we will see where it takes him. Otherwise he is being a good sport watching the Brodster while I work.
• My guilty pleasure: The Bachelor. Okay. I know it's smutty and there is NOTHING redeeming about watching it, but that is why I can't not look! For one thing, the guy is gorgeous. I really don't need to say more. I have loved the raunchy kissing, the "oh my its raining, I need to take off my clothes and wear your shirt". Loved the mall shopping spree in Vegas. Let's be honest...there is not one girl out there that wouldn't LOVE that. I think that Chauntel, the rich spoiled daddy's girl is going to take home the man prize. Emily, or Miss America as I like to call her is going to be the runner-up. Cue sad face. I hope she is the next Bachelorette.
• Brody is really retaining what I am teaching him in fun school. It is so warming when he will point out letters and tell me what they are and what sounds they make. He knows how to spell B-R-O-D-Y. He tells you his name is Brody Hall. He knows A, B, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, L, O, P, Q, R, S, T, W (which he says "dubba-view), Y. He can almost write out his name, with just a little help. Grandma Cook would be so proud of me.
• We continue to dream about our next vacation, our next anniversary, our next birthday. Blake and I will fall asleep at night naming things that we would buy if we won the Powerball. Top of his list is building himself that danged shed he wants in the backyard. To me it's just one more piece of crap yard ornament that would be out there. I will sometimes close my eyes and picture laying on the warm beaches of Hawaii or Grand Cayman. Oh, to dream.

To not waiting two months in between blog posts!