First Snow

It's the first snow of the season. Last evening, tiny, pioneering flakes moseyed down through an inky sky, growing in size until they demanded everyone's attention. This morning, they laced the trees and cloaked the frost-hardened sod. And so, snowy elegance augments the beauty of fall in our front yard today. Praise God for such a wonderful sight! "He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes" (Psalm 147:16).

Lest the tradition go unheeded (it is no empty tradition, after-all), we ventured outside....

(Click HD to relocate to the better quality video.)

(For the curious, we enacted Mom's spontaneously-concocted scheme posthaste.)

Come warm your toes and cuddle, Touille!

Judah's Winnie-the-Pooh Baby Shower

On Sunday, October 27th, we hosted a baby shower for little Judah Paul, who is the precious baby in the picture below. As the first grandchild/nephew, Judah has been a favorite since he first entered the world on September 19th. We love his dark, beautiful eyes, his increasingly smiley expressions, and his articulate eyebrows. Yes, we gush and gush, and then gush some more. =) Welcome to the family, little Judah! We're so thankful to God for you!

Judah Paul

Stefan and Sarah relax (with nursing Judah) before the guests arrive.

The shower theme was Winnie-the-Pooh (of the Ernest Shepard variety).

Judah's bedroom is also themed Winnie-the-Pooh; Sarah provided these adorable stuffed animals for our table decor.

The spread (Winnie-the-Pooh food ideas inspired by Pinterest).

     

"Roo's Relish" & "Rabbit's Garden Grub"

"Christopher Robin's Eggs"

"Kanga's Pita Pouches"

"Tigger Tails"

     

"Gopher's Grounds Cappuccino Punch" & "Hunny Pot Favors" (nuts)

"Pooh's Honeycomb Tarts"

Judah meets Stefan's cousin Lindsay and second cousin Lily.

Games included drawing sketches of babies on paper plates...on our heads.
Sarah chose the prize-winning masterpiece.

There's just nothing quite like holding a sleeping baby. (Dama cuddles her newest great-grandson.)

Rebecca Plays Burgmuller

For your listening pleasure, Rebecca plays "Arabesque" by Friedrich Burgmuller! She's been working on it for just one week and was so proud to show it to me in her lesson today.

Rebecca Plays Burgmuller (10.9.13) from Christina Hall on Vimeo.

Ana & Becca Start School

I took the two little girls for a walk on their first day of school (the day after Labor Day). Of course, Becca did not actually walk on the walk, but took her bike - and the lead - all the way to the post office and Caribou Coffee (for their first-day-of-school treat) and back.

 Morning glories in full bloom at the neighbor's!

"...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Luke 12:27).

~ ~ ~

So, this year, Ana is in 5th grade and Rebecca is in 2nd. This evening, Papa brought them home a small stack of tried-and-true children's books he found at a garage sale. They're in great condition and even us big kids are elated over the four "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" chapter books. We tend to emphasis literature in our schooling at home (Progeny Press puts out some great study guides, by the way), and 25-cents-per-book is hard to beat! Thanks, Papa!

Rebecca displaying the new additions to our library.

Loving that my sisters like to read,

C

A Splash of Summer

Guess what?! We have a new, BIG swimming pool in the backyard now!
It's wonderful. I think we've used it every day since setting it up. Thanks, Papa!


Papa set up a "jumping board" (it's two shallow to dive).

The two little girls spend the most time in the pool - hours each day.

Cuties. I love them.

 

Touille! (I still get a kick out of the fact that we etched "Touille Hall" on

her tag. The resemblance does not readily present itself, apparently.)

Daniel's botanical beauties: Hibiscus and Bellflower

Winsome patio decorations from Nikkia's birthday celebration.

Time for a rest on the hammock.

 
I love this girl.

Six Month Update

My goodness! It has been six months since I last posted here on the family blog. To those who have not been following the periodic post of a family picture on Facebook, be reassured: we do still exist.

UWM poster featuring Nikkia

School is out with two Hall graduates this year. Nikkia graduated with her master's degree in Violin Pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (her senior recital was beautiful), and Amanda graduated from high school as the fifth graduate of Heritage Halls Academy. We nearly had three graduates in one spring, as I have only an Elementary Greek class to take before I earn my associate's degree at Bethlehem College.

What have we been up to aside from all the study? Well, there has been a ski trip to Lutsen with friends from church...

Lutsen Ski Trip (January, 2013)

...and a trip to Lily Bay by the three older girls and their beaus for a lovely visit with Papa and Dama.

Jessimine & Mike, Nikkia & Jordan, me & Daniel at Lily Bay

There have been ballets...

After Amanda's performance with Ballet Royale: Cinderella 1944 - A Love Story

...and, of course, there has been the start of summer, with all its accompanying ventures.

A few other happenings to note are these...Mom is presently in California, visiting her sister and having way too much fun; and, Stefan and Sarah just moved into their first house and are expecting their first baby...a boy! =) God is good and life is sweet. Hope you're all doing well and enjoying summer!