And the days march on....

After dropping Liam off, it seems like time is flying by.......Tuesday evening was the last day of the semester for school which meant my last presentation for the semester and then the last paper turned in on Wednesday morning ( 2 days early so yay!) and then

Wednesday afternoon after a meeting in Salt Lake, I headed down to Provo to visit Ben (we had a nice visit this time) and then had dinner and visited with some friends.  It was exactly the little break I needed.  I just needed more time as there were others I definitely still need to visit with.

On the way, I got a "out the passenger side of the car" photo of the Prove City Center LDS Temple.  It was dusk and the lights were on around the temple and it was so beautiful.  Much better than this little picture.

Thursday evening I finally had a moment to clean up the toys from Liam's visit.  Often I leave the toys out but we were having our "Hall Adult Almost Annual Christmas Party" on Friday night so I had to get things cleaned up to get ready for that.

We had our party and it was fun although many of our dear friends had conflicts and we missed having them.  I guess we are going to have another party in a month or two so that we can "party" with them at a less busy season.

Part of the cleaning the house and getting ready for the party meant that we had a deadline for getting at least some Christmas decorations put out.

Our advent calendar that Jena faithfully changes the date is swiftly moving toward Christmas.  It is a bit bittersweet this year with Ben in the hospital. He has always been home on Christmas and although I have adjusted (generally) to the idea that Jessica, Scott and Tosha are not ever going to walk into the family room and get their stockings off the mantle again, it will be hard to not have Ben with Jena in that yearly tradition.  We are trying to figure out the best way to celebrate with Ben so that he will feel the love and support we have for him.

This picture was taken yesterday on Dec. 10.

Saturday allowed me the first free time (not counting the days I was sick last week) to FINALLY work on Zander's quilt.  Although I have had the fabric for a number of months, time has gone in other directions.  With school done, I hope to finish Zander's quilt and start on baby James' quilt as well.

bottom almost half of the quilt (ignore the Christmas tablecloth around the edges)

Then Saturday night, Jena and I ushered at the Centerpoint Theatre and then stayed and watched the show "It's a Wonderful Life" which made me cry even though I have seen the movie many many times.  It is a great message.  We all matter to those around us, especially when we have reached out and done something kind.  Great message for this time of year and all year long.

And number #4 has arrived safe and sound....

Welcome to the Earth--

Zander Christopher Hall

who arrived on December 4, 2016.

6 lbs 13 oz.  19.25 inches long

He was born on a Sunday just like Jessica was although she was a spring baby and he is a winter boy. Jessica and Zander both did great.

I picked up Liam Sunday morning (a friend of theirs who lived nearby came during the night when they decided to head to the hospital).  Thanks, Paige.

Sunday evening Liam, Jena and I headed up to the hospital so that Liam could meet his new little brother.  He wasn't sure about the whole event that visit, but the next day when we went up, he was happier about it all and would point at the baby when he was asked if he had a new baby brother.

First family picture

I had had a cold the week before and was still coughing at night so I actually haven't held Zander yet. But I did have Elessia take a picture of me in my mask at the hospital so that Zander would know that we were so excited he arrived safe and sound and is the newest little member of our family.

Liam did so great at our house.  We played and played.  He had to go into work with me on two different times--once to call and reschedule my appointments (because I was sick and missed Thursday the week before, I hadn't gotten completely ready and brought home phone numbers for my clients of the week.) and once for a supervision meeting which he slept in my arms the entire meeting. He endear himself to my co-workers who think he is darling just like us.

After dropping him off and driving off to school, I couldn't believe how much I missed Liam.  I almost started talking to him in the car, but caught myself as I noticed his car seat wasn't there any more.  These little people we call grandchildren are pretty fun. 

One last picture (for this post) of sweet little Zander!!!

The score now stands at 1 granddaughter and 3 grandsons!

And another grandson on his way in February!

And then it was December

I glanced out my kitchen window and noticed this stunning sunset to the west......

And then when I went outside to take a picture, I was also able to catch the reflection of the sunset in our back windows which face south.....

And toward the east you could barely see the snow on the mountains and the pink and purple reflections of the sunset on the tops of the mountains .....

The air was crisp from the recent snowfall and I stood outside for a while until the sun set completed and the skies turned to dusk.  My only regret was that I didn't get a picture to the north from my front porch.  Nature is truly breathtaking at moments like this!  360 degrees of wonder.  Enjoy a sunset tonight (or tomorrow if it is already night when you read this.  :)   )

For the record--The Children's Center in 1981

This is a definite throwback picture- This was taken at a staff training at The Children's Center around 1981 or so.

I am in the back row second from the end on the right side.  The current director of TCC, Doug Goldsmith,  was a graduate student at this time and he is down two from me. Two further down from Doug is Jody (Webb) who was my roommate as a freshman and sophomore at BYU.  She was living in Provo and carpooled with me up to work each day.  She eventually graduated with a masters in marriage and family counseling and now lives in Hurricane, Utah.

The woman with the white hair was the famous Agi Plenk who started The Children's Center in the mid-60's to help the kids "being expelled from preschools."  It has grown to be a nationally recognized center for children from birth to age 6 and their families who are facing trauma or mental health issues.