A fun visit

Last weekend we enjoyed a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Raymond and Maureah. They came to spend some time with us and to hear Cooper sing in our Primary program (which didn't happen... see previous post). We really enjoyed their visit and hope they come back soon!


We had fun making and frosting pumpkin and ghost sugar cookies



Pictures of the kids and grandparents before church

Simply Tragic

I have struggled to put my feelings into words the past few days. Saturday evening as I was preparing for our Primary Program the next day, I received a phone call from our Relief Society president informing me of an accident. Our Primary President's (and friend of mine) little girl had been kicked by a horse while the family was out helping wean cattle on the desert. Little Danielle had been lifeflighted to Boise and was litteraly clinging to life. I instantly broke into tears and began praying for a miracle. I couldn't see what possible good could come from this family losing their little girl. The father is not a member of the church, and Sarah, our primary president, has only been active for a few years. Sarah is only a year or two older than I am, and her 4 girls range in age from 12 down to Danny who is 16 months old. A few hours later we were notified that Danny had passed away. I sobbed uncontrollably for nearly an hour. I couldn't sleep that night, nor have I slept well any night since then.

Danielle Lorraine Hall

Sunday was extremely difficult. We postponed our primary program and I took over for Primary time- both singing time and sharing time. We talked about our theme for the year and sang songs from our program. I struggled to contain my emotions as the songs brought on a deeper meaning than ever before, particularly our new song for the year, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me."

Sarah and I have become pretty good friends the past few years. We work in primary together, we did Little League baseball together this past spring, and she was my visiting teacher for a little while. My Lainee is only a few months older than Danny, and the girls often play together while we are working on different projects. Just a week ago both Sarah and I were at the Ward Harvest Party with our children and without our husbands. So we sat by each other and talked. Danny kept trying to poke Cooper while he was eating, and I laughed because Danny has the same teasing personality as Lainee. Randall made it to the church later on and was helping us clean up. Sarah was vacuuming the hallway so Randall was packing Danny around and playing with her. Everytime I look at Lainee I see Danny's face, and my heart just breaks.

Life is so fleeting, and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Arron and Sarah are always out helping her mom and dad with the cattle, and their girls are always along for the ride. Danny just happened to dash behind the trailer where a horse was tied up. In that split second their whole world was torn apart. I think back on all the times when something similar could have just as easily happened to one of my children, and it scares me to death. I never want know the pain of losing my child. So the past few days I have held my kids extra close, checked on the a few extra times at night, given them a few extra kisses, and tried to be more patient with them. After Danny's two funerals and everything that goes along with that, I am exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally, but I am ever so grateful that tonight I get to kiss my sleeping babies goodnight. And my heart aches for my friends who cannot do the same.

I am ever so grateful for the knowledge that through the atonement of Christ and by the sealing ordinances available in our temple that my family can be together forever. My only hope for the Hall family is that they draw closer together and in time can realize this same blessing.

Diggin' Taters

Carson riding in the truck with Aunt Kiana

Lainee hanging out on the tractor step

Carson... trying to walk just like Grandpa Wilcox

Cooper and Shalani riding with Tyrel

Lainee found a potato!

Carson riding with Wyakin

Tyrel with his broken-down tractor... the tire came right off the wheel while he was digging!

I was able to take the kids home for harvest time again this year. We weren't able to stay very long, but we sure had fun! The kids were able to glean some potatoes out of the field and ride in the tractors with my brothers. They love farming!

We were also able to have a surprise birthday party for my mom. She turned the big 50 this year! (but she certainly doesn't look that old :) It was fun to celebrate with her and spend time with all of my siblings and Grandpa Schneiter. My mom doesn't usually get much of a birthday since its always during potato harvest. We love you mom... aka Grandma!

Pumpkin Patch

We took the kids to a local pumpkin patch to pick out their own pumpkins. (Unfortunately it was starting to get dark by the time we arrived, so the pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.) The kids all had a blast running through the straw maze, playing in the corn boat "sand box" and "driving" the old broken lawn mowers.

I just love Carson's face in this picture. He was really getting into making the motor sounds while driving!

My 1st climber

So, this afternoon when Lainee was supposed to be taking a nap in her crib, I heard a thump and immediate crying. I ran to her room and found her standing at the door. Uh-oh. I knew this would happen eventually. None of my kids have ever tried to climb out of the crib... until now. And somehow I knew that Lainee would be the first. The girl has no fear! She will climb up anything, stand on anything, and do anything without so much as a moment's hesitation.

Now, what to do with my little climber...


On another note, Happy Birthday Mom! We love you!

Toy Story 3

Last night Randall and I took the kids to see Toy Story 3. They LOVED it! We've been telling Cooper and Carson for months that we would take them to the the theater to see the show, but until last night it never seemed to work out. Toy Story 3 has finally made its way to the cheap theater, so we decided to take advantage of the opportunity. The timing still was not ideal; Randall had to rush home to make it on time and then get up at 4:30 this morning for work, but he was a willing sport.

We've never taken the kids to the theater before, mostly because I've been reluctant to spend the money if all I get to do is hang out in the hall with babies/toddlers who can't be quiet. I knew Cooper and Carson would love the show and do fine, but I was a little worried about Lainee. I needn't have worried. Not only were all 3 of them well-behaved, but I didn't hear a peep out of them! Except of course when they were laughing or saying, "Hey, there's Woody!" Cooper, Carson and Lainee were absolutely enthralled with the movie.

We chose the theater based on some recommendation from friends. We were told it had a very family-friendly atmosphere, they had 'booster seats' for the kids to sit on so they could see better, and for $2 extra we were able to choose 4 food items to snack on. So for $12 dollars, all 5 of us were granted admission and we chose 2 lemonades and 2 small packages of gummy bears. What a steal! Plus, the manager had coloring pages of Buzz Lightyear available, and if the kids colored them they could turn them in for a pack of Toy Story trading cards. Very cool! We all loved the movie, even Randall and I. I'm excited for it to come out on DVD next month so we can watch it again.

So, I think our first family outing to the movie was undeniably a success. In fact, I think we may try to do it more often!

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I had good intentions of snapping some pics of my kids' 1st experience at the theater; I even remembered to pack the camera. Unfortunately, the camera never made it out of my bag. Oh well.

Bruneau Rodeo

A few weeks ago, (Saturday, September 18) as has become an annual tradition, we headed over to Bruneau for the Bruneau Round-up. This year I managed to get Cooper and Carson there early enough that they could sign up for the sheep-riding. (You have to be there an hour and a half early to sign up- ridiculous. Last year I was too slow. This year, had I showed up at the time I showed up last year, I would have been fine, because they started late. Go figure!) They were both excited and dressed up in their button-up shirts, cowboy hat, boots, and chaps. Carson, being my 'nervous' child, kept reminding us that he was riding the sheep with 'daddy's help.' I don't think he would have agreed to ride a sheep otherwise.

Randall showed up a few minutes before the rodeo started, helped the boys ride their sheep, and then had to head back to work. He had meeting with some businessmen from China. I asked why they had to pick the day of the Bruneau Round-up for their visit. It seems there's always something going on that Randall has to be to!

Anyway, a few tears were shed by both boys after their ride. Cooper, because he landed in a pile of rocks and was disappointed he didn't ride further, and Carson, well, just because it scared him. Carson never hit the ground. Randall managed to grab him by the back of his pants just as he was about to tumble. The announcer said he got a good look of his little-boy underwear, ha ha!

Cooper and Carson with Randall- getting ready to get on their sheep

Cooper taking a tumble

Cooper, in recovery mode, being assisted by his dad

Carson, being saved from the dirt by his Dad

Carson, standing on his own two feet again

Both Cooper and Carson were all smiles 30 seconds later, when they were awarded with a cool new camo backpack and their very own dollar! So cool!




All the sheep riders, posing for a picture
Lainee, waiting for the rodeo to start

Cooper and Carson playing in the sand pile with their buddy Riley Hegerhorst

Relaxing General Conference Sunday

This past weekend was General Conference for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is held twice a year- the first weekend of both April and October. I always look forward to the oppportunity to hear counsel and words of wisdom from our beloved prophet, as well as the other apostles and general authorities of our church.

Members of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Deiter F. Uchtdorf

While we were getting the kids ready for bed last night, Randall and I couldn't help but be grateful for the very relaxing day we had. We stayed home all day and just enjoyed being together as a family- ALL DAY! Its been a LONG time since we've been able to do that. We had a nice breakfast together as a family, snuggled up on the couch and watched the morning session of conference, we had lunch, took naps, watched the afternoon session, made yummy cinnamon rolls (I don't think I've made cinnamon rolls in 2 years!) read stories, etc. It heavenly!

Can we have General Conference every month?!

It's (gonna be) a girl!

We had the "official" ultrasound at the Dr's office this week. I say "official", because Randall actually did an ultrasound with his machine a couple of weeks ago, and made his prediction that our new little baby would be a girl. Of course, Cooper and Carson have been saying we were having another girl all along. Anyway, the ultrasound tech concurred. In fact, when the tech asked the the boys if they wanted to know if the baby was a boy or a girl they replied with, "We already know what it is, its a girl!" Too funny!

We are all excited to have another girl. Lainee definitely needs a little sister, and I'm so excited with how things have worked out for our little family. Cooper and Carson are a little less than 2 years apart and are the best of buds most of the time. Lainee will be just about 2 years older than her little sister. Neither Randall nor I had that growing up. Randall is 7 years older than his brother, and I am 9 years older than my sister. We're close now, but I always longed for a sister closer in age as I was growing up.

Now to come up with a name... good thing we have a few more months to figure that one out! I'm due February 9th, so I'm just a little over 21 weeks now and on the downhill side of things. Yahoo!