Christmas 2008

What a month…
I must say that December has been the good month so far in North Carolina. It started with a care package from a friend back home Heather, then came the 12 days of Christmas from Grandma Colleen, then packages, from Grandma Buddy, Kara & Cheri & Sloane. The girls love to get packages so this was very exciting. Alex had her dance concert and it has been a few years since Alex has been on the stage dancing and she did really good. She is a very good dance and looked so beautiful. Kiara also had had chores concert and she was a hit as well. She knew all the words and actions and looked beautiful. If any of you have seen Kiara in a program you know what a big deal it is for her and she came through with flying colors ☺ Rhett and I were very proud. Then came the much-dreaded Christmas day itself with no family around. However, despite the fact I had a horrible head cold and all our family was back in Utah, we survived and actually had a very good day. The girls got a Wii and I am not sure who was more excited….my girls or MY HUSBAND. We have been playing Guitar Hero, Mario Cart and Wii games none stop. The girls favorite game is Sing it (thanks Dwany) followed by Mario Cart. Rhett loves them all but Guitar Hero takes the cake. I am getting better I don’t even get booed off the stage and I don’t take last in Mario cart so what do you know. Rhett and I had to wake the girls up at about 7:15 and by 9:00 we were all done cleaned up and eating breakfast. The rest of the day was filled with Wii followed by a get together at the Bolo’s that night. All in all we had a very good day.
However the winner of all gifts were that Rhett is going back to Utah for an interview and we decided to take the girls with us. Well, let me just tell you that I am pretty sure you could hear them clear down the road screaming. It was closely followed by many phone calls to all of there friends back home. It was a big hit. ☺
We hope all of our friends and family had a very Merry Christmas and we are wishing them all a Happy New Years!!!!!!

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”

Our Charley Brown Christmas tree ☺
So…when we left Utah we didn’t bring much with us. As a matter of fact I have been kicking myself almost everyday that I forgot something that I really need. However, that being said…I really can get by without it, it would just make things easier ☺

Including things I left behind would include all Holiday decorations. This put a little damper for our plans to get a Christmas tree and to decorate that tree. We did buy some bulbs, lights and a star to go on top of our tree, but that is about it. The tree is cute in a way and the girls had a fun time just the same. This is the first year in six years that we had a real tree and the smell is fantastic. The day we bought the tree it was 70 degrees and warm. We all commented on the fact that it just did not feel like Christmas despite the fact that Rhett woke up and turned on Christmas music because he knows I LOVE IT ☺ However, the following day the temperature dropped 25 degrees and today it is raining like crazy and we even got to use our fire place which is Rhett’s favorite so….in the end “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”

Turkey bowl is a tradition that was featured on the NFL network a few years back and a tradition that Bolo & his friends started 23 years ago. Why you ask am I saying this….well Rhett played in this famous game on Thanksgiving Day this year. It started with a draft party…oh yes they are very serious about this game and continued to a two hour full field, three referees type of a game the following day. Now just to brag a bit…Rhett was the first one chosen for the draft and would have been the NVP, but the one rule is that the NVP needs to return the next year with the trophy thus it went to someone else. His team won 32 to 12 ☺ It was a lot of fun and I am sure Rhett will not be able to walk in a few days!!!! (age…gets ya every time)

For actual dinner we were invited to some friends we have met through Bolo and Kelly, the Mehok’s. They are a lot of fun and we had an excellent time.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Tomorrow I get to listen to Christmas music ☺

***Disclaimer…Kiara was in-charge of the Turkey bowl pics :o

UPDATE!!!!
OK…so we had a pretty good week!!! It was nice because neither Kiara nor Alex had soccer for the first time in (well because I am counting 17 weeks). So we had some great family time at night without running all over town!!! Next it was the much anticipated Twilight movie on Friday night! The movie was very good…Alex cried, Kiara loved it and has already begged us to go again. It was a bit much for Rhett, but he was a good sport and went. I liked it, I really did, it just can’t compare to the book. There were a few things that they could have done (i.e.: kiss before leaving to Phoenix, wear a blue shirt while dress shopping being saved in Port Angeles, wearing a green sweater day after, she never said she was going to Jacksonville as an excuse it was Seattle and…why did Jasper have to look like a retard???) just to name a few, but all in all I really like it and would see it again I just wanted the movie I guess to be 4 hours so they could show the world what an awesome book Twilight it. Ok I know I am hooked and I love it, but what can I say…..it’s the best book ever!

On Saturday Rhett and I racked all the leaves in our yard. Now in Utah we have a lot of leaves and it is a job!!! However, in North Carolina they are never ending!!!!! It took us both working together 6 hours and we didn’t even bag them. I can’t even explain, but trust me…….leaves galore and then some more.

On Sunday Alex has a DATE!!! Oh yea I was freaking out all weekend. They meet at the movies and had lunch. When we went to pick her up he did come over to introduce himself to us which was very nice and he seems like a good/nice kid. However, Alex said she is not sure about him (maybe to clingy) It is so hard to watch your kids grow up…I want her to be happy and protect her from being hurt. Which, you can’t do, but I soooooooo want to.

This week is Thanksgiving and I must say I am having a really hard time not being close to my family. I talk to Heidi, Kara and Cheri almost every day, but it is not the same. It is just one year but I really miss family and friends back home!

Fall in NC

We took advantage of our neighborhood :) All of these were taken at or around our house. It is very beautiful here. The bridge is right by our house...the funny thing is until Kiara meet the neighbor boys they would not even go down by it because of the spiders and bugs However, now Kiara plays there all the time!!!

“Twilight monster”

So…we have discovered a new monster! The Twilight monster wakes up early, stays up late and every waking moment she is not at school or soccer she is listening to: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, or Breaking Dawn. The monster is Kiara ☺ Kiara has already finished the books once and now she is on her second round. (today….she is just about to the end of Eclipse) On Saturday morning Rhett and I were still asleep when I heard a sound in the kitchen. I looked at the clock and it read 6:00 am. I walked in and found Kiara, headphones on ipod blasting and eating brownies. For all of you that know Kiara well, she does not do morning and to get her out of bed is not an easy task. However, thanks to “Twilight” she has had no problems. The only time we have a problem is if and when we tell her she has to turn it off!

Halloween in NC :)
Alex had been invited to a party with her soccer team and at the last minute decided not to go. In her words "I am not sure what kind of girls they are so I better not put myself in a bad situation". She is such a good girl and we are very blessed. Kiara was very tired and so we only trick-or-treated at three houses. We took sugar cookies to Albert & Jori as well as to Kelly & Bolo and that was our very exciting night...we were all home in bed by 10:30!

Pumpkins :)

What a week!!! We started off with a bang and ended with a bang. Alex is in full swing with Drivers-ed. She is right in the middle of state cup soccer and she is defiantly a full-fledged teenager ☺ Three days a week she leaves the house at 7:20 am and get home at 9:30 pm. (very long days) Kiara received another award this week from school. She was chosen to attend a special breakfast on Friday 10.31.08 for being an outstanding student. She was pretty excited. As you all know I am in love with the “Twighlight series”. I have read them all twice and now listened to them twice as well. Alex…well we can’t even count how many times she has read them. ☺ However, Rhett and Kiara started a few weeks back and it kind of took over all our free time. Sunday night at 8:30 they finally finished listening to the series on CD ☺ Oh yea…baby! They were both so into it! Kiara wanted to listen to while she got ready she ran up the hill after school to push play and we could not go anywhere in the car without turning it on. She enjoyed it so much she is already to chapter 7 in Twighlight for the second time. ☺ She is just as addicted as Alex and I. Rhett drives thirty minutes to and from work and because cell phones don’t work out here very well and the selection on the radio is horrible he managed to keep up with Kiara’s rigorous pace pretty well. (yes we did “get” to listen during dinner a few times as well)! NOW HE CAN FINALLY TALK TO ME ABOUT THEM AND HE REALLY ENJOYED THEM AS WELL…I DON’T THINK HE HAS READ A BOOK THAT WAS NOT ORTHOPEDICS RELEATED IN…I DON’T KNOW 10 YEARS! ☺ This past week we traveled to Statesville, North Carolina. Alex stated State cup and her team is doing really well so far. The first game they tied 0 to 0. She played very good and had three shoots on goal. The second game we left early to make it to Kiara’s game and they won 6 to 1 and she said she had several shoots on goal in that game as well. She is playing fantastic soccer and gaining a lot of confidence in herself. Kiara had a game in Apex and before the game I had to get after her to be more aggressive…she had been being very timid. So she came out with a bang. ☺ Within the first minute of the game she had already scored. However, in the third minute she was in the box and about to score again when she was fowled and received her first concussion ☹ Her team won 5 to 3 and she still has a headache and her neck hurts. I am sure she will milk this one for several days…she is Kiara after all! So…all in all a very crazy week! The VERY POSSITIVE NOTE IS THAT NOW MY WHOLE FAMILY LOVES TWIGHT ☺

Toys for Tots

Our neighbor bought the house next to him and has turned it into a woodshop. Every year he does a "Toys for Tots" project and the girls were very excited to participate this year. He made these darling wood horses and invited the neighborhood over to help paint/design them. It was a lot of fun and they were able to use their creativity to design some awesome toys for kids on Christmas. Kiara designed everything from a fun heart design horse to a very interesting Picasso looking horse. Alex was a little more meticulous and designs some very traditional fun stick ponies any girl would love to have ☺. It was a fun morning and they were very excited to help out some less fortunate kids.

The Hodricks came in town for a conference and Duke sporting weekend ☺ Rhett and Kiara went to the blue and white scrimmage for the Duke basketball team and then we all meet up for the Duke vs Miami football game. It was a fun “Duke” day and now we can say we are true supporters of the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils ☺

Tar-Utes

We have been to a few UNC football games and they have been so much fun. The group we tailgate with are amazing the Bolo’s, Bagley’s, & Mehawks. They welcome you in like you are family. They are so cute with the girls and we have really had an amazing time. Scott gave us a new name…we are the official “Tar-Utes” ☺

Plus you should see my girls throw a football ☺ They are so dang cute and good!

Alex and Kiara

Kiara, Shauna & Alex (we had a 2o min delay...the lights went out)

tailgate group

Alex & Shauna

Work life

I must say that things have been very crazy for us. I thought moving across the country I would not be as busy. We didn’t know as many people, I wasn’t coaching two teams, I was going to be working at home, and the list goes on! However, I have learned that I was so very wrong to assume such an idea. Anyone who thinks working at home would be a good thing, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. I have never had to work so hard! I don't know if it is because I only have one phone line, or that everything is done via applications portal, but I truly work 10 to12 hours a day. Now I do have to run kids to soccer and school during that, but I pretty much have my phone glued to my ear with "spine" patients. Oh my I hope I never have any back problems because these people as not very nice and.........they are crybabies and all want drugs!!!!! :) Plus being out here I have to miss lunch with the girls and that in its self is a bad thing ☺ However, I love my job and I happy to still be working with awesome co-workers and Doctors. They have been so amazing. One co-worker named Heather sends us care packages and I can't even tell you how happy the girls get. Kiara has to wait for 30 min until Alex gets home to open it and you would think I am torturing her with this act. I have been blessed with amazing people in my life :) (thanks guys I love you all) My doctors included, they call me almost everyday to make sure everything is ok and we are all on the same page......they are extremely amazing!!!!





Kiara & Alex-care package...thanks Heather :)

Bunko...only in a Small town can you have this much fun!

I have been laughing all day :) My old Bunko club sent me a CD (thanks Heidi) of last club. It was a Bunko to remember, one for the books. As I looked at the pictures I was laughing right out loud. They were having so much fun and they took several pictures to document and send to me. Heather T. even dedicated her favorite song to me....thanks Heather. You guys are AWESOME! I wish I could have been there with you!

So we have been in North Carolina for 47 days and so far no one has killed over :) However, the girls and I thought we would for sure.... so far so good. Don't get me wrong we are still counting the days down to be close to our family and friends again. That being said, I think we are going to make it! Alex is starting to like school a little more :) (She thinks it is easy compared to Judge) She is a little frustrated with her soccer team because she is in a new position where she is the new girl and she doesn't feel like she is an equal yet. Kiara thinks this place is awesome. Of course she is popular and everyone tells her she is the cute athletic girl in the class. (I had to go pick her up the other day because she had a bloody nose they could get to stop and everyone off the bus was yelling out her name) She has not had a hard time adjusting at all. The only problem we have is the same one we had in Utah.... getting her out of bed. If you have ever seen it you know what I am talking about. She is not a morning person. It has been extremely hard for me to be away from coaching soccer and from going to work. Everyone thinks working from home would be so nice, but I would MUCH rather go to work and have it separate from my home life :) Rhett likes his job and like NC, he just works long hours and he the OR's are very slow here. :) However…. slow OR’s and long days aside…he has every weekend off!!!!! All in all life in the Hallows family has got back to normal...we go to school/work and then run all over town at night for soccer! We have a spare bedroom and would love to see you all out in NC :) Shauna

Slide Show

First day of school :)

Alex and Kiara ready for the first day of school at North Carolina. Kiara goes to North Chatham and Alex will attend Northwood High!