September: Picking Pumpkins at Nana's

Most families run to Albertson's to get their annual carving pumpkins, or make a special trip to a farm hosting a harvest festival and pick one out of the pumpkin patch.


Not us, we just go to Nana's house and get to pick from a couple dozen pumpkins.


The kids love this annual tradition and so does Nana.



Lizzy wanted a big one. Her dad told her whatever size she wanted she had to carry to the car, hence the medium size pumpkin.


Ethan found 3 he wanted, and carried to the car.


Sophie was picky and looked for just the "right" one.


Which apparently was a little green.


Andrew wanted a white pumpkin which Nana had planted this year. So he found one that was just perfect. What a wonderful experience.

September: 9 Week Baby Hall

It's official, apparently when you give up trying to have a baby after 18 months of agony off your arthritic drugs, and resume your medication schedule (toxic to babies), and also go on birth control, THAT'S when you get pregnant!


The kids are so excited, especially my little helper Sophie! I am so going to let her do all the cares she wishes with this baby!

September: Saying Goodbye to the Cattle

Every fall the cattle leave us for the slaughter house. The kids think they are just going to greener pastures, and we like to keep it that way in their mind:)


Roger has them so tame by the fall that he just pulls some buckets of feed and apples into the corral and all the cows just come trotting up for their snack.


Well, today we said goodbye to the 40 black angus and also the Bill and Bud, our Holsteins.


The new chicken coop is complete. Brian and Roger outfitted the old bunk house into a coop and it has been the perfect deluxe suite for these chickens, complete with a trap door for the birds to exit and roam in their little outdoor arena. We are so lucky to have the ranch as part of our lives.

September: Fall Piano Recital

The kids had a fall piano recital held at the beautiful Veranda Park building. As usual, Georgia, their teacher, had a complete band to accompany them on some of their songs and especially on vocal solos. Lizzy played her piece beautifully, but needed her music.


Then my friend Sharon's daughter Paige went next and did a fabulous job, considering she just barely started piano.


Paige's brother Gavin went next and played star wars. Georgia knows how to find music that pleases the children and encourages them to practice.


One of my favorite performers was Mckay who is my friend Melissa's son. He sang a country western favorite and had the crowd completely involved.


But the highlight performance of the night was Lizzy singing follow the prophet in a jewish manner complete with a band and Andrew leading the audience on the chorus. It was a hit!


Andrew was not too shabby on the leading.


Here is the live performance!

September: "City Deer

We were going to our friends the Rajagopal's for dinner one Sunday evening and pulled up to their house to a few large bucks. Brian said these were worthy of a picture!


We have dear all over our neighborhood. At dawn and dusk you really have to watch for them or you become another insurance number for car damage related to a deer accident.


I will never forget several years ago Christina and I were painting late into the night. She took a load of trash out after we finished around one a.m. and was startled when she opened our door and there on our front grass was about a dozen deer. She screamed...they scattered!


It is definitely one thing I love living in Medford. Rural living! Brian just wished he had his bow with him.

September: Cub Scout Pack Meeting Bear Advancement

Andrew received his Bear award this month in cub scouts. This is largely in thanks to his Grammie Martin who not only made sure he was a bear but also he received one gold and 3 silver arrow points. That, in addition to 7 belt clips and 3 pins. He has been working hard and was rewarded at this pack meeting.


Mom received her honorary Bear pin...which she should give to grammy as she has been too nauseous and sick to help him lately.


Afterward they played a balloon game which they all loved.


And even a few parents participated, including a favorite couple of mine!

September:Brian's Biggest Fish

While Michelle and Andrew were in town Brian had a short day at work so he and Andrew went for some afternoon salmon fishing on the Rogue.


Brian caught what appeared to be a pretty good sized fish. When it finally was pulled in the boat, the boys were completely surprised, as was their guide, because it was the biggest fish any of them had seen on the Rogue river!


Needless to say, Brian was a little giddy:) It was almost as long and as heavy as he is!


Andrew was not too shabby either! He had caught a fish on the Rogue last year and with the other brother-in-laws wanting to make sure that they outdid his fishing this month, he had something to prove.


So he caught one big fish...


And then another!


Take that Darren and Brett!

September: Andrew and Michelle Visit

In September we continued to see many visitors. My sister Michelle, her husband Andrew, and their son Andrew came at the end of the month. They were so cute! I asked them what they would like to do while they were in town and Michelle replied, we just want to relax, watch a bunch of movies, and pillage from your soda pop fridge. Done, Done, and Done!


We did get out and about though...like our breakfast at my favorite little place in Ashland called Morning Glory!

September: Legos and Andrew

Andrew got a star wars lego kit to build a spaceship. After building the spaceship he figured he could make some improvements on the kit and made a second with his other legos. My friend Laurie had her toddler over and he destroyed the two legos within seconds. Laurie was completely stressed to think that this could happen. I reassured her Andrew could rebuild them quite quickly. And sure enough, Andrew rebuilt both legos within 5 minutes! Such a smart kid!

September: Ethan's 1st Day of Preschool

Ethan had his first day of preschool the same day the kids had their first day of school. The preschool had 1/2 of the kids come one day, the other 1/2 come the other so that they could become acquainted with the schedule and not feel overwelmed by the chaos.


This is Ethan with his teacher Mrs. Schmor. He really clicked with her and we have known her for about 5 years since all the Hall kids have gone to this preschool.


Ethan's buddy Ricky is also at his school with him. We do a lot of carpooling with Ricky and playdates.


This is him when I picked him up and he was like, "Another picture?" Yes Brian...er...Ethan.


I also volunteered during that first month in preschool. Because Ethan's mom was the volunteer he got to help with the calendar and the weather.



He felt pretty special! My youngest is in preschool!

September: 1st Day at Hoover Elementary

It's my kids first day of school. Here they are in their new school clothes, compliments of their Nana Hall. They were so excited...despite the fact that it was 7:15 am.



This was Sophie's first year with all day school. I worried about her being tired after that long day but she was a champ!





I can't believe that I am now down to just having Ethan home during the day. What a break! Aren't they so cute! P.S. I love the fact that the bus picks them up right in front of our house!

September: Oregon Beach Trip

After our trip to the Redwoods we went to the beach. Now, if they were expecting hot weather and relaxing, that just is not Oregon. It was a typical cool, windy day...which didn't stop my kids from getting in their swimsuits and being ready to play!