So Long 2012

As we say goodbye to 2012, I thought I would recap some of our family highlights for the year.  It was a wild year with many changes, celebrations, and blessings.  Thank you God for everything this past year and we look forward to all your work in 2013!

2012 Hall Highlights: Charles started new job as Principal of Ehrhardt Elementary, Stacy "cruised" with her BFF Elizabeth, Rodeo fun, Cade transitioned to a BIG boy bed, Baylor turned 8yrs, Stacy had Lasik, Parks Family Vacation in Port Aransas, Caelin turned 1 year old, McCharen Family Reunion, 1st family vacation (Sea World), Caelin started walking, Parks Cousin Reunion on Lake Travis, Cade turned 3yrs and started Preschool, Cousin Andrew was born, Charles/Stacy’s fishing trip to Port O'Connor, Halloween as Transformer/Lady bug, another great year of Baylor Football, and a thankful season for all our blessings, family, and friends!

Happy BD Nina!

Just wanted to give a special Happy BD to my sister Mendy, who turned 35 this year!  I am blessed to have such a thoughtful sister who is special in so many ways.  She always looks out for our family and is constantly thinking of and helping others around her.  Although we are not able to be together on her actual BD, I get to spoil her the next day!  Love you sis!!

2012 Holiday Bowl

Baylor Football pounds No.17 UCLA, 49-26, to win 2012 Holiday Bowl   Posted by The Baylor Proud Team

Under Art Briles, the success of RG3 and Nick Florence has helped Baylor football become known for its passing. But Thursday, it was the Bears' rushing game and defense that stood out most as Baylor dominated Pac-12 runner-up UCLA, 49-26, in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. Sure, Florence passed for almost 200 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover as the Bears won back-to-back bowls for the first time since 1985-86. But it was the rushing attack, led by Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin, that carried the offense, putting up 306 yards and five touchdowns on the ground as the Bears coasted past the 17th-ranked Bruins to end the season on a four-game winning streak. As it did against No. 1 Kansas State earlier this season, Baylor's defense again stepped up, holding UCLA's all-time leading rusher to just 34 yards on 14 carries and taking down the Bruins' quarterback six times after tallying just 13 sacks through the Bears' first 12 games. It's worth remembering that this Baylor team could easily have folded in mid November, when the Bears were just 4-5, had lost four of their last five games, and faced three ranked opponents to finish the year. Instead, Briles' squad toughened up, won all three games to get bowl-eligible, then blew out UCLA in front of a Bruin-friendly southern-California crowd and a national ESPN audience. A few notes from the day: Briles joined Grant Teaff (1985-86 and 1979-80) and Frank Bridges (1921-22) as the only coaches ever to have led Baylor to back-to-back seasons of 8+ wins... Florence set a new school record for passing yards in a season, finishing the year with 4,309 yards passing to break RG3's total from his Heisman campaign... After totaling just 181 yards rushing through the end of October, Seastrunk came on late to finish his sophomore season with 1,030 yards and became the Bears' third-straight 1,000-yard rusher (just the ninth in BU history). A great big sic 'em to Baylor's coaching staff, players and support staff, plus all of Baylor Nation that turned out this season! Sic 'em, Bears!!

CHRISTmas 2012

This year was a special year for us with the kids being 1.5/3.5 years old, it was a joy to see the magic of Christmas come back alive.  As adults, we often forget the magic of this time of year and the way we used to believe in something.

The morning of Christmas eve was spent hanging out in pajamas and opening presents from Nana/Papa!  The kids were so funny as they tore into their gifts (yes, even Caelin has the hang of it now!) and yelled with excitement!  Cade got a large Transformer Thundercracker, Transformer Autobot Ark, Transformer Bulkhead, Candy, books, toy animals, hot wheels, and tons of other toys!  Caelin enjoyed her baby doll with stroller (we have named her baby Sophia because we think she looks like Mommy's friend Carolyn's baby!), monogrammed chair, piggy bank, books, quick dry nail polish, and so much more!  Even Baylor got a tug-o-war rope toy.  Mommy and Daddy were excited to get Pajamas, Starbucks/Lowes gift cards, and some seasonal spending money from Santa...so what should we buy??  After naptime, we all went to Gamee/Grampee's for more fun.  Uncle Corey was in town, so the whole family was there together for a short time.  We ate Jodell's Bean Soup recipe (yum yum), made a Gingerbread Train, prepared a snack to leave for Santa and his reindeer (yes, the word on the street is that Santa plans to come to our house AND Gamee/Grampee's!!), and read "T'was the Night Before Christmas".  T'was the Night Before Christmas is a tradition in the Hall Family that started many years ago when Gamee was young.  The tradition was kept alive and this year it was read by both Gamee and Grampee to Cade/Caelin.  Once the book was over, we loaded up in our pajamas and headed home so we could leave snacks for Santa, Jingle and the reindeer.  Then it was off to bed!

Christmas morning we awoke and ran to see if Santa had come!  Of course he came and brought lots of goodies for everyone.  Baylor was happy to be left alone with his bones and goodies while we watched Cade/Caelin open their gifts.  Caelin got a Dora toothbrush set, hot potato game, dolls, bubble bath and accessories, underwear, cotton candy, and lots of other snacks.  Cade was elated to see his Lego's, Lego men, transformers, toothbrush set and snacks also.  It was fun, and we were overjoyed that Santa came to visit us.  We then were able to spend a few minutes relaxing while Mommy/Daddy could have their coffee and the kids played.

After Santa, we packed up and went over to Gamee/Grampee's to see Uncle Christopher/Aunt Heather, Baby Andrew, and Uncle Corey.  This year was special as it was baby Andrew's 1st Christmas!  What an addition he is with his smile and facial expressions.  At first we thought our party would have to be moved as the storm (early morning rain and high winds) had caused Gamee/Grampee's electricity to go off.  We stuck it out though and made it through the day with the electricity going on/off.
We were all so excited to see that Santa had ALSO VISITED Gamee/Grampee's House.  What a surprise!  After getting more Santa gifts, we ate breakfast and then opened our gifts to each other.  I think the gift giving went on for hours, we are all so truly blessed.  Cade got more transformers, games, books, Radio Flyer "Big Flyer", construction worker dress up outfit, trucks, transformer underwear (can you tell we like Transformers?), Transformer movie, Baylor Bear shirt, Fly Guy books, Chalk and Goggles 3D set, hunting outfit (Cade immediately said, "so Daddy and I can hunt bears and deer"...yikes), wallet, and so much more!  Caelin was also blessed with a Disney Princess tent, doll/stroller, princess dress up outfit, Baylor Bear shirt, pink camo outfit, puzzles, Olivia book, purse, and more.  She definitely has the opening gifts down now and her face is priceless when she sees gifts inside.  I think our truck was full coming home...did I mention my kids are spoiled??!!  Charles and I also got many things that made us realized we are blessed also.  It seems like no matter how old we get, "Santa" finds us as well.  The list of gifts could go on forever, but I will leave it at saying that we are truly loved and cherish all our surprises.
Once it started getting dark outside, we attempted the last of the gift opening by candle light, but then Grampee saved the day with the generator and God said "let there be light!"

So, here it is after midnight and I think to myself what a wonderful day it has been.  Jesus' birth has changed so many lives and I love the fact that Cade knows we are opening gifts in honor of Jesus' BD.  He said a few times in the last few days, "Jesus is so special that we all get gifts on his BD to celebrate him...GO JESUS!"  To see life through the eyes of a 3 year old is life changing.  Tomorrow will be yet another fun day as we relax, clean house, and play with our toys all day.  From our house to yours, here's a prayer that your Christmas was as special as ours!  "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night..."

Merry Christmas!

I think our Pastor said it best when he stated, "There was only ONE Christmas.  The rest are amazing anniversaries."  Our prayer is that all our friends and family recognize how special this holiday is and that it is so much more than gifts, Santa (and those pesky elves), and food.  May this time bring you all peace and joy as you draw nearer to him.

Jingle's final week!

Jingle has been having fun during her final week!  Jingle will fly home Christmas night, so we have just 3 more days to enjoy her and her surprises.  We will be sad to see her go as she has helped us with behavior reports and so much more!  Cade has loved seeing her and what she does.  He loves to remind Caelin that we "cant touch her Caelin or she will lose her magic".  I am surprised that Caelin is already into  Jingle, but EVERY morning she is looking around and will point/squeal as soon as she finds her.  It is funny cause she usually spots Jingle first!  Smart little angels I have!

And of course on Jingle's final night, Christmas Eve, she left our Bible open to the story of Jesus in chapter Luke.  We will have fun reading that after we squeal over our Santa gifts in the morning!

Galveston Lights

We were honored by Gamee and Grampee yesterday with a trip to Galveston!  We drove down during nap time and then got to play on the beach.  The weather was beautiful and the kids had a great time.  Cade loves the beach.  Caelin is not totally sold on it yet, but I know she will love it once she gets used to it.  After playing on the beach, we ate dinner at "Shrimp-n-Stuff" which is a family favorite on Ave O.  This was Gamee's Dad's favorite place to eat (AKA: "Grumps").  After we were stuffed, we headed to Moody Gardens to see the aquarium and the trail of lights.  The Aquarium was a big hit for both Cade and Caelin.  Each liked their own parts, but both loved seeing all the animals.  The Sharks were the highlight with Caelin making her shark face!  When we ask, "what does a shark say?", her face was just priceless.  You can see pics below of Caelin/Daddy doing the shark face!  The trail of lights was nice as we walked along the path by the water looking at all their light displays.  We even got to enjoy s'mores at the end.  I think that was Cade's favorite part of the night!  We had so much fun, we didn't start heading home until close to 10:30pm!  Both kids were so exhausted and slept till about 9:30am this morning!  Yeah for Mommy/Daddy and sleeping in!  Thank you Gamee and Grampee for an amazing afternoon/evening, we loved all the memories!