the cottage

This summer the little guys and I are going to Eagle River, Wisconsin with my family. My mom's family has had this little cottage forever. Nate makes fun of us because we call it "the cottage" instead of a cabin but really, it's just a little, rickety, old cottage. It's on the lake surrounded by trees. When I was growing up we went almost every summer. It's one of those places where you don't have any bad memories. (Hopefully, that won't change after bringing my three children there!) I haven't been in 7 years. The boys are so excited to go canoeing with Papa, fishing, swimming in the lake and on hikes. It's a dream come true for my little guys. Well, a true dream come true if their daddy got to go. Since Nate can't take vacation at that time my brother is going to drive with us. We hope he's still speaking to us when we get there. Max keeps asking if we get to go tomorrow. A month is eternity for a 4 year old.

Highlights of Eagle River:
1. Eating breakfast on the screened in porch.
2. Birch trees everywhere.
3. Fish fry every Friday night.
4. Loons.
5. Running down to the pier before the screen door slams shut (a game Bekah and I used to play that I'm sure we wouldn't be able to do now without seriously injuring ourselves or others)
6. Canoe rides.
7. Turtles and fudge from this great local candy shop.
8. Finding toads.
9. Seeing deer in the fields when you go on walks.
10. The local go-cart track (My granpa got kicked out once for crazy driving).
11. Drinking hot drinks on the porch when it rains.
12. Cool nights.
13. Coffee cake from the local grocery store.
14. Shopping in the little shops downtown.
15. Family time with my crazy uncles.
16. Fishing.
17. Swimming in the lake.

I can't wait for my boys to create some of these memories for themselves. Only 25 more days until we leave or, one short eternity......

G-rant

Who would ever think this little guy could cause so much trouble?

Dirty Words

Yesterday at Mother's Day Out Max called one of his classmates a f***er. I know, that was my reaction, too. His teacher asked him if he said it. He said, "Yes." She said that when she told him it was a cuss word his eyes were the size of saucers. On the way home, I was telling him what a naughty word that was... that in the bible God tells us not to use bad words like that.... etc. Then, I told him when his daddy got home from work he wanted to talk to him about where he heard that word. Max said, "The LORD wants to talk to me?!" I wish I could adequately describe the look of fear on his face.

This is his second cussing episode we know of. The first was at dinner one night.... a really long time ago when we used to live in a house. Bailey had done something on the back porch (I can't exactly remember what it was). Max looked outside and loudly said, "Dammit!" I asked, "What did you just say?" Max said, "Dammit. Look what she just did." It's not only that he's cussed but that he's used the words in the appropriate context. If this is what Max is like, can you imagine Grant in a couple years! God, give me strength.

Life at the Hampton- Weeks 2 & 3

I think the craziness of life with 3 little guys has just been magnified living in a hotel. Life at home was crazy but now it is just a little more wild. People ask how life with 3 is... I don't know if it's having 3 or living here or both!

Last weekend there wasn't any hot water on our "wing". Stinks for us... sucks for the hotel! It was U of A graduation weekend and the SEC track tournament. Auburn was staying here. The hotel was full. We survived. At the Holiday Inn there is a shower by the pool because you're supposed to shower off before swimming (does anyone ever do that?) so we used that a time or two. Nate tried to shower at the Kelleys because they were out of town but for some reason he couldn't get the shower to work. On Sunday, we packed up and went to Nate's parent's house and used their facilities. By Monday afternoon, the hot water heater was functioning again.

It is finally warm enough to swim outside. That has been the highlight of our weeks. The boys love it. Throw them in a floatie and they're entertained for hours. Usually we have the pool to ourselves since not many people hang out at their hotel in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays. This weekend there were other people swimming. Max told another hotel guest that his "daddy can walk on water." Cool. He also likes to pretend he is God. He moved a chair for me and I said, "Max, you are so strong." He said, "Yeah. I'm strong like God."

Max pulled the fire alarm.

This morning the wonderful housekeeper who speaks no English asked, "You want service?" I said, "Yes, but don't worry about the floor. It's such a mess." She smiled, "No comprende." I said, "I'm sorry..." We left here in a frenzy to get to Mother's Day Out. The boys had pitted the place with cards, cut up paper and stickers. I really wanted to clean up before we left but it just didn't happen. The poor, wonderful housekeeper cleaned it all up. I love her. I may take her home with us when we leave. I'm sure she would run fleeing. I bet she lives for the days when I say we don't need service. I try to do that at least once a week to give the poor lady a break!

Grant loves to eat in the lobby. He gets up in the morning asking to go to the lobby. "I eat lobby." Tonight I asked him what he wanted for dinner. "I eat lobby." I tried to explain that there is only food in the lobby for breakfast. He didn't get it. He was insistant on going to the lobby to eat dinner. So we went and I showed him there wasn't any food. The poor, little guy was so disappointed. We love that continental breakfast. I am officially addicted to the fresh, cut fruit. They've run out a couple days and I really miss it.

Still no word on the status of our house. The guy has never called me. I've called once a week. Last I was told on Thursday night they were awaiting the status of the 2nd mold test. Pray it comes back clean! Grant, especially, is ready to go home.

For now, we're still in our "hometel".

As good as it gets

This is a glimpse of our mini photo shoot while doing laundry at the Kelleys. Yep, this is truly as good as it gets. It does offer a good summary of what it is like having 3 boys four years and younger!

Family time at Leah's Graduation

We all went to Tulsa for Leah's graduation party after the very exciting graduation ceremony at JBU. This is the whole Hall clan: my paternal grandparents, mom & dad, my siblings: Rebekah and her husband, Dave; Leah and her boyfriend, Ben; and our little Adam. Quite the crew.

Life at the Hampton- Week 1

We've survived the first week in our "pretend house" (as Max calls it). The newness has finally worn off and the boys aren't quite as excited and running and jumping all over the place... at least not any more than usual. The first night was like Christmas Eve. Max was so excited to have an adult bed (it has two pillows), his own bathroom, his own coffee pot, his own tv and he wanted me to set the alarm clock next to his bed.

We've been swimming lots at the Holiday Inn (with the indoor pool) and Max and Nate braved the outdoor pool here at the Hampton once. Max has wanted to go back and swim outside more but so far we've swayed him to the other pool or other activities.

We all love the continental breakfast and Sharon, the lady who is in charge of the breakfast. She has taken Max to the bathroom, played cars on the floor with the boys and held Jack so I could enjoy my breakfast. She even made the boys french toast sticks one morning.

Housekeeping is amazing. All the ladies here are my heroes.

When we got back from Community Group Tuesday there was a big gift basket from the Hampton filled with fun pool toys, bubbles, cokes and snack food. You would have thought it was Christmas. The boys were so excited. They had even hung a Yoda poster in the boys room. So cool. The manager of this place is amazing :)

So, all in all, it's not so bad. We've made it through the first week... only 3 (we think) to go!