Sorry Amber

I have this amazingly talented sister-in-law who I know won't want me bragging about her, but I just had to share her incredible family Halloween costumes for the past few years.

 I knew you'd be impressed.  Makes me tired just to look at!

Just a bit behind the times

I finally looked through our September pictures and thought I'd post a few of our little Labor Day getaway to Yuba.

The weather was beautiful and the lake water wasn't too bad, considering it was September.  The kids don't seem to mind even if it is FREEZING, but even mom and dad jumped in a time or two.

 

Cydnee tried surfing with dad and even tried to waterski for the first time with Dad's help. He neglected to tell her to let go of the rope once she fell down. Needless to say, she didn't want to try a second time.

 A little tubing, a little wake boarding.

 A little getting stuck in ooey, gooey mud.  Yuck!

I love a good little family vacation where the kids are completely at our mercy and have nowhere to go!  Boats are great for that sort of thing.

Making Momma proud

Spencer turned 11 a few weeks ago and as has become Halls family tradition, we let him open his presents early birthday morning, surrounded by crepe paper and balloons.  The girls had been working secretly in my craft room-they wouldn't even let me in- and were so happy to give Spencer their very own homemade creations.

I couldn't be more proud.   Really, what choice do they have with a mother like me who is just slightly stamp-obsessed? We like to start 'em out young over here. Spencer had a great birthday.  The only thing on his wish list was an itouch like his brothers.  After much hemming and hawing on our part, we finally gave in.  He even had to pitch in some of his own money- those dang little things are expensive!!

 This looks like a really lame birthday cake, but caramel brownies were his request.  I promise, it tasted better than it looks.