Moments of Joy | For my children

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Birthday Thanksgiving Blessing

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet Thanksgiving Blessing!

Happy Thanksgiving to my three little birds.

An awesome new birthday book from Saxton and Synclair

Beautiful fall colors to celebrate a day of thanks to these three of ours!

A cookie…

A cake…

Some fun with our favorite Jaydie Bug

A complete blessing to watch them celebrate one another!

Growing and glowing each and everyday.

Wishing on a dream that this girl of ours grows into a force of change for the future, an inspiration to all who meet her.

We are truly blessed to be a part of each and every moment each of these children experience!

Born at 12:49 p.m. November 27, 2008, Thanksgiving Day, 8lb. 1oz/ 21 1/2 in. long
When her daddy took me to the emergency room on Thanksgiving morning, he said I needed a doctor, I had swallowed a turkey! I cherish that memory!

November 30, 2014
Categories: Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Finally Florida!

Our first visit as a family to the gulf!

A new experience that has become my new favorite!

Psalm 95:5, “The Sea is His, and He made it.” ….

Sunshine, white sands, and blue green emerald waters

My two favorite boys……
These birds visited us poolside each morning.

The water was prettier than any sight my eyes had seen

Or was it the clouds hanging in the sky that my eyes enjoyed most?
“Who cover the the heaven with clouds…” Psalm 147:8

Celebrating time together

Blurry photo but a moment I wanted to keep. Nana and Papaw joined us.

We helped celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary!

Love to capture my daddy giving a smile!

“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Proverbs 3:15 ….
This evening was so entertaining. We were at Margaritaville’s Landshark.

We played silly, had great burgers, and soaked up the amazing view!

“Sunrise, sunrise, looks like morning in my eyes”

What a wonderful feeling, soaking up the September sun and love of my family!

Our favorite sandbox…

Red Fish, Blue Fish

“…and a time to laugh.” Ecclesiastes 3:4
My wonderful girls, happy and having fun!

Sweetness
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:4

Always keep this memory, this amazing blessing fresh in my mind!

Sleepy time equals tent time on the sand!

Nana and Jack Sawyer lounging by the pool

What a view while eating crabs!

I can’t get enough photos and of the evening sun, sky, and clouds.

Each memory trumps the one before…

The best place on earth.

“Love the one’s you’re with”

Traveling great distances to celebrate family

Abigail picked one book from the lobby library each morning to read. These were a few of her favorites!

For our part of a history study, we toured Fort Pickens, saw a lighthouse, hit a trail, and even completed their Junior Ranger Program.

I hope the “tree huggers” I am raising take part in halting the progression of this devastating fact in their future.

Signed booklets, patches, and badges, and officially sworn in by the park ranger! A Junior Ranger of The Gulf Coast!

Back on the sand my little man and me!

A little football

Happily running from brother…

Until she takes a fall and of course in dramatic fashion, just lays there!

Back at our favorite eating spot Red Fish, Blue Fish to celebrate

I could drive this road everyday if I were with the one’s I loved

“O Lord, how great are Thy works!” Psalms 92:5

A simple message spread throughout Pensacola’s landscape.
Leave the trace of your toes, collect the memories to take with you!

Although we had to depart earlier than planned, vacation 2014 will remain a reminder in my mind to the work of God’s hand. The view created on our earth where sky, sea, and sand meet for a family bonding more than the days before.

This day is a gift…
I’m grateful for the health of my family to be able to create these kinds of memories! Grateful for the eyes to see the beauty, and the heart to collect the blessings!

Sealed with a kiss to the man I love!!!
Thanks for our adventure!!!

October 26, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Question Me Please…9/2014

My silly birds that I love so much.
We completed our fun little interview that we do at the start of each new school year. Isabela didn’t answer some of them so I left them blank or answered a couple with my thoughts. Jackson and Abigail’s answers are evolving a bit more as they mature. I love adding this insight into the story I am trying to tell of their history.

“My name is…”

J- Jackson Sawyer
A- Abigail Julienne
I- Isabela Jolie Hall (Isa-belwa)

“I am…”
J- 7 years old
A- a girl that is 5
I- a baby

“My favorite color is…”
J- dark tree green
A- pink
I- purple

“The best thing about school is…”
J- Math
A- Reading
I- crayons

“My favorite book/s is/are…”
J- “Sports Illustrated Big Book of Who Football” and “Magic Tree House”
A- “The Little Duck”
I- “Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See”

“Something that frustrates me is…”
J- the girls walking over my cars when I am playing with them
A- Jackson being mean to me
I- (mommy says) not getting my way/being tired

“My favorite thing to do is…”
J- ride in the truck to church
A- play with puppy and ride my bike
I- play baby dolls

“The best place to go is…”
J- swimming at deep pools
A- the beach
I- Target

“My favorite foods are…”
J- pizza and carrots
A- peaches and bananas
I- green beans and frozen fruit

“I don’t enjoy eating…”
J- quinoa or mushrooms
A- mushrooms or Bojangle’s spicy chicken
I- meat

“My favorite TV show is…”
J- “Wild Krats”
A- “Peter Rabbit”
I- “Daniel Tiger”

“Something special for me to do is…”
J- kayak on the lake
A- play with my ducks
I- water flowers

“I am really good at…”
J- throwing a football and cooking
A- hoola-hooping and singing Bible songs
I- flipping and playing

“When I was little I used to…”
J- ride on my battery powered four wheeler
A- suck on my pink tiger binkey
I- ………..

“My best friend is…”
J- my sisters and Elijah
A- Isabela
I- daddy

“What makes me the happiest is…”
J- playing Stack the States and Countries on IPAD
A- playing with Mommy
I- holding my blankie

“What makes me the saddest is…”
J- losing privileges
A- not having my ducks anymore
I- not getting my binkie

“My favorite song is…”
J- “Am I Wrong”
A- “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
I- “Fancy”

“Something that scares me is…”
J- tornados
A- bears and other wild animals
I- thunder

“My favorite animals are…”
J- ducks and horses
A- ducks, puppies, and kitties
I- all kinds

“Jesus…”
J- helps me when I’m bad or sad
A- loves me!
I- was a baby

“Three words that tell about me are…”
J- wild, silly, smart
A- funny, happy, and loving
I- (mommy says) sweet, spunky, fearless

“Someplace I hope to visit one day is…”
J- Alaska
A- The Bahamas
I- the beach

“When I grow up I want to be a…”
J- logger and a football player
A- vet doctor and a photographer
I- a mommy that is a mam

“This year I hope to learn about…”
J- multiplication
A- playing the piano
I- (mommy says) being patient and writing an “s”

I can’t believe how fast they are growing!

Football time in Tennessee!
I love to watch them play, giggle, and talk.

True happiness and excitement leading into a new year for learning!

September 14, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Work, Isabela's Work, Jackson's Work, Moments of Joy, School Related . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Isabela Jolie

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet Baby Girl!!!

Watching you grow and love your life is just a blessing.

Due to the circumstances, “birthday week” turned to “birthday month”. We celebrated her days shopping with Aunt Teresa, playing with balloons, opening gifts, and of course…blowing out candles about three times…She’s worth it!

We had one cake in the mountains by the creek to celebrate the first day of summer and your big day, June 21st.

A peaceful day in the mountains for playing happy birthday.

Nana also treated her to a big birthday cookie!

Final cake a ladybug of three for my three!

Happy are we…

Amy and Stephanie joined our fun.

Bronco binkies from brother.

A smile from sweet sisters

The days have been fun for us all.

I hope all of her wishes come true…

Daily I want to capture her in a bottle and freeze her preciousness to keep forever!

July 31, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Duck Play

Love the expression

This was one of the last photos which displays the yellow feathers we love.

Miss Abigail loves her ducks.
She made this drawing and writing for Mamaw Judy.

These ducks are constantly being picked up.

We looked up one day and the ducks were being carted around the yard in the wagon.

They are so innocent in their play. It is always really cute watching them, however the ducks always have the look of uncertainty of what to expect from these two.

Nana even joined the fun, they talked her into holding one. She calls it the Aflac Duck! I know the duck in the wagon is happy there wasn’t an extra pair of hands to hold her.

This photo was taken a few months ago. All three truly enjoy caring and playing with their ducks. Sad to report that one of the brown ducks must have been bitten by a turtle on the pond. An injured leg but it survived! One of the yellow ducks Abigail claims “flew to heaven to be with God”

June 24, 2014
Categories: Abigail's Art, Abigail's Work, Moments of Joy . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

More Vineyard Time

Happy we are having a good time working in the vineyard.

He has been a huge contributing factor in our work this season!

“I want to fly like an eagle”

“Ratoon” and Isabela are showing off some of the completed rows.

“Puppy” on top of a completed vine.

Smiley Sisters

The fields are usually littered with our toys.

Digging in the dirt is much more fun than actually working…

Worms, nature’s plows

My crown wearing princess loves finding the worms beneath the earth.

Jackson carrying out a load of cuttings alongside his sisters tagging along. Not a great photo but the memory of knowing they all seem to end up in the same row is super sweet.

The sunny days have been so fun to work under.

We have drug these three along the entire season of pruning. They have gladly joined us without any complaining.

We have to take breaks for napping in the back of the vehicle or resting on the grass.

I watched these two pretending and talking for a long time. Their conversation was sweet and their play was so innocent.
Freeze these memories!

She pesters her brother regularly! He is usually a good sport.

Photo by Jackson

The blooming tree in the background gives us joy in the early spring.

Later in the pruning process, as the vines are cut, the canes produce droplets of water at the ends. This is referred to as bleeding.

The energy of the plant taking in the new moisture and transporting it throughout the vines cause the plant to “bleed” the water. We know at this point the buds will soon follow this stage.

A few weeks later…the buds are growing…and the grass too!

A little more waiting, resting, and relaxing…

Looking for signs of love, another treasure found in the vines, a heart in the bottom of an abandoned bird nest in the vineyard.

Removing the cuttings from the field

Smiling and sweet

My playful hardworking girls

More vineyard time, more family memories!

April 5, 2014
Categories: Excursions, Moments of Joy, Photos, Vineyard . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Snow Day Number 3, February 12th and 13th

Jackson Sawyer Hall, February 2014

Once again we are able to enjoy a freshly fallen snow

Although a snow that made everything feel wet, it packed well for snowballs.

A not so happy face after taking a face plant in the side of a hill.

My little man and I attempted sculpting a snow fort wall, he even let me wear his new hat honoring the Olympics.

I should have had the camera in video mode…that snowball in his hand slammed my face! I didn’t see it coming!

We saw Jaydie and Elijah at the playground.

They joined us for some snow fun.

Always enjoy playing with these two.

She enjoyed that the snow piled up in front of her sled as she moved down the hill. She had to put little effort into making snowballs.

Isabela loves her daddy and loves being pulled on the sled.

We are really enjoying the day.

Up early from his nap and the girls still sleeping, Jackson and I went out on the porch to sculpt three snow creatures.

A snowman for Jackson, a snow baby for Isabela, and a snow puppy for Abigail.

Up from her nap and sitting on the other side of the door watching us.

She loved what we were making.

This is a shot of her from the inside watching us.

Pampas grass is just as wonderful in the winter.

Enthusiasm for life, I love when it shows in her smile.

Winter offers us a great opportunity for creating special memories!

We are patiently waiting for the fourth big snow………..

February 13, 2014
Categories: Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Happy Birthday Abigail

Happy Fifth Birthday to my sweet, sweet baby girl

We woke up to a blanket of snow to celebrate this day.

Her daddy made her a snowball before he left for work.

Brother too thought a snowball made a great gift.

You are growing into such a joy for us.

We were not able to go to Build A Bear to celebrate, we played outside in the freezing fun.

She wanted a real puppy but celebrated with a stuffed one and a matching cake.

She has learned how to spell “PUP”

All fingers have to go in the icing!

Nana and Papaw’s treasures.

She picked out this gift when were visiting Amy and Stephanie last month. Thanks for the surprise

The necessity of a new coat from Nana

A puppy bath set

A watch for learning to tell time

A new pony

My three birds

Make a wish!

Abigail with Great Aunt Fran Fran

Abigail with Uncle Mikey sporting his manly “No Shave November”

With Cousin Elijah, they were born in 2008, eight days apart.

Stephanie and Amy gave everyone a lesson on the meaning of Advent

They were excited to learn the meaning but thrilled that each day they get to indulge in a piece of chocolate.

Celebrating you all year long

My number 5 princess that has the sweetest spirit and genuine love for her family

My Thanksgiving born blessing. You are amazing, loyal, loving, and the most unique girl I know! Happy Birthday to you.

December 1, 2013
Categories: Memories, Moments of Joy, Photos . . Author: Julie M Hall . Comments: Leave a comment

Enchanted Storybook Forest

We visited an amazing place called Storybook Forest

Storybook characters and their palaces, homes, and cottages had been constructed for play under a canopy of tall pines in the middle of a forest.
Isabela and Abigail were pretending to be Cinderella and her Prince

The swing on the side of the castle was a thrill for the girls.

Abigail is behind the bars of the house made of cookies and sugar where Hansel and Gretel were held.

The inside and outside of this home was crooked and covered with chalkboard for creativity.

Isabela is bringing us a treat that she made in the home of The Seven Dwarfs. Inside was a table and seven tree stump stools for Snow White and the Dwarfs. The children could make mud pies with the dwarfs’ bowls, spoons, and dirt.

This place was so fun…
It was a place that both adult and child would enjoy. All of the classic stories we have all enjoyed as children were brought to life. This place gave a whole new meaning for pretend play! We were able to step inside of the story and become the characters we have read about.

Inside of the Dr. Seuss Club there were literary messages from the stories for inspiration.

Isabela was having so much fun bouncing from area to area, she did not want to pause for a quick photo!

At least these two humor me and smile at their mommy.

Rapunzel!

A fitting photo for Abigail and her long hair!

Her Prince to rescue her…Jackson was excited about the play castle. He sweetly calls Abigail Rapunzel when her long hair gets in his way.

One of the fun play areas was a Spanish ship. The life size parts of the ship were a lot of fun. Playing pirates was a great opportunity!
By the way Papaw…They want one of these on their playground someday!

The ship required the most energy from their bodies. It required them to go up and down rope ladders and had cool slides and hiding rooms throughout the ship.

“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” Ronald Dahl