Playing KetchUp

Well.....I seem to have lost some steam. I love this dear little blog, and the chance it gives me to chronicle our lives. My bad memory needs these little talks to help me remember what I'm experiencing on a daily basis now. :) Also, the kids have really loved the times they've been able to go back into the archives to read what they did "way back then". So, here's an attempt at being more regular at updating Our Hallberg 8. Since we moved to Idaho, I really haven't posted much...which was 7 months ago!!! Time to get movin'! So, here's a lot of catching up, clif-note style: (*note bad memory = must get the hilights down for history)

January 2013: We loaded up and moved home to Idaho, saying goodbye to dear friends and a home that we loved (most of the time). We celebrated Amelia's 2nd birthday with a big fun family party. Man we've missed those. :) Angie was called as Activity Days leader, Joel as the 4th Sunday teacher for High Priests. Joel is thoroughly enjoying his once a month calling. ;) The kids dove head first into year-round schooling and are loving their new friends and school.

February: We celebrated another family-style birthday for Paige. This time with a cousins night where Aunts and Uncles got to go out for V-day while we partayed. Fun was had.  The kids made some epic home-made Valentines.  I'd SO catch a grenade for you! Claire grew too much.

March: The kids had their first track break.  3 weeks home - they were in heaven, mom learned to adjust. :) We survived and maybe had a little bit of fun too.  Angie is 33 now. Meh.  Haddon joined the world of Little League, and went on his first 3-day camping trip with scouts.  Mom may have been really glad to see him in one piece the 3rd day. Joel found ancient wood to re-purpose.  He started on a dining room table. We celebrated Easter family style. :)

April: Joel flew up to Spokane for a 2 day work trip.  Angie may have enjoyed the whole bed to sprawl, but not the single parenting.  We finally got together with extended Hallberg clan. Fun was had. Food was devoured. Then we repeated that with my brother Erik + fam. :)

May: Angie got to do some wedding flowers. FUN. Angie also got over her fears and decided to finally try to make friends in this huge ward/stake...attended Stake meeting and will not soon forget my experience. Thueson's started first-Sunday get togethers. :) Paige and Angie joined a co-op preschool.  Paige met 3 new adorable friends.  Haddon started Little League games...and the family froze to death in support. Joel discovered work had a few perks, golf being one of them. The Hallberg fam did something that should be written on the books - We sang together for the care center. Even Joel. It was epic. Haddon went on another overnight campout. Mom did not freak out this time.

June: The kids went on summer break. Haddon graduated elementary. *sob* We made a summer bucket list. Joel golfed. lots. We partayed for Joel's b-day. Ellie had surgery.  She recovered and has not had one ear problem since. HALLELUJAH! Joel and Haddon went to father's and son's campout, and made memories and friends. Joel and Angie went on a date. (yep, we need to do that more often). Claire got shots and Amelia tried to choke on a hard candy. Mom didn't let her. ER non-visit record broken. It was up to 2 years! Boo. Angie subbed in primary, a lot. :) We swam lots at the community pool and two little blonde girls taught themselves how to ride bikes. Apparently their parents couldn't be trusted.

July: The first full week was spent with Hallberg siblings and parentals and cousins bonding and camping. We will never forget Chad's bare chest. ;) We 4thd it up in Kuna.  Illegal fireworks abounded. Ellie passed her hearing tests.  She can hear mom afterall.  We went swimming lots more. :) Sydney survived a bizarre allergic reaction and full body hives for 2 weeks.  Claire decided she was done drinking anything...at all. Grandpa Hartley decided to stay at the hospital for a bit.  Mom barely survived any of it. We went to candy shops and Smurf Turf to cope. The girls found out who their teachers were this year. School shopping was finished. We finished 2/3 of the bucket list...maybe next summer we'll complete it? ;)
August: Swimming dwindles - Mom is sick of applying suntan lotion.  Ellie turned 9 and had a spa party.  7 girlies got pampered. Annie gifted the world a baby boy named Lane the same day. :)  Sydney turned 7, baked her own cake, cupcakes, and dinner, and met her teacher, and entertained a few family members all in the same day.  Phew. Paige started kindergarten along with her older sisters going back to school.  Mom only cried a little bit. :) Joel finally culled enough of the right tools to sand and glue up the dining room tabletop.  Maybe we'll see the finished table summer of '14 since finding time to play in his garage is rare?

And that brings me current! Wahoo, now I won't lose sleep at night worrying about all the new posts that can't be written because of the back-log! I joke. If you're still reading, you should win some kind of reward. :) Don't ask me tho. I'm busy dreaming up new posts...a few August picture hi-lights to come. :)