{Currently // November 2022}

 Linking up with Jennifer for the "currently" series. This month we are sharing what we are currently borrowing, buying, planning, prepping, and reading. Here's a look at what I am currently up to. 

{Halloween Party at Midtowne // 2022}

Immediately following our Trick or Treat on the Square event, we went to Nathan's Grandmother's assisted living for a Halloween party!! It was so precious and fun. They had the place decorated so cute, candy for the residents to pass out to the kiddos, games, popcorn, treats, punch, etc. It was a beautiful time with the family!! 

{Bits of Gratitude // Week 1}

 Happy "Thankful Thursday", y'all! I am going to take Thursdays this month to list 5 things I am grateful for this week! 

  

{TRICK OR TREATING THE TOWN SQUARE// 2022}

Every year our town puts on a trick-or-treat event on the town square. Most of the businesses on the square, the city hall, local businesses not on the square, the police/sheriff dept,  etc. all set up tables around the square and pass out candy to the kiddos. It's such a fun time with the most beautiful setting. I may be biased, but I truly believe we have one of the cutest town squares and an amazing old courthouse! It truly is a beautiful thing to see all of these businesses come together for the kids. They pass out so much candy. Mason had a fairly large bag and it was filled to the brim!!   

{November 2022 // Goals}

I thought I'd try something different on the blog and list some goals for the month of November. Something to help keep me accountable and to see if I can accomplish what I set my mind to.  Of course, I will give myself some grace on the things I don't accomplish - because who needs that kind of stress? 

{Halloween Spooktacular Camping Weekend at Great Escapes // 2022}

Our Halloween Spooktacular camping weekend at Great Escapes was such a blast! It was the best of both worlds for me because I had my in-laws, my parents, and my sister & her family there! I love it when we can get both sides of the family together. We were able to get campsites right next to each other and it made my heart so happy! We've definitely got to do this more often. Here's a look at our spooktacular weekend...

 

{Halloween Spooktacular Camping By the Numbers // 2022}

 Anytime we go on a trip I like to document the trip by numbers. I'm not sure why, but these posts always intrigue me. Here's a look at our Halloween Spooktacular camping trip in numbers.  

{Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm with friends // 2022}

A couple of weeks ago we visited Shadow Creek pumpkin patch with some of our dearest friends. Most of these friends are friends of Nate (from work) and their families. It's pretty awesome because not only do the husbands all get along, but the wives have become great friends and the kids all get along and like each other as well. What a blessing that is! We were missing a couple families on this day, sadly! 

 

{Mason's 2022 Halloween Costume}

We finally found Mason's costume for this Halloween!! We had been looking online for a couple of weeks and everywhere was sold out of his size with no signs of it coming back in stock. We were starting to get worried. I mean, if you can't find something on Amazon it's basically non-existent, right?!?! We saw online that this particular costume was available in some Spirit Halloween stores, so we went out on the search! I'm so happy to report that after searching a couple of Spirit stores we found it, and in his size!!

Introducing Mason's 2022 Halloween costume...

{Boo Baskets // 2022}

 Making Boo Baskets/Bags each Halloween season brings me so much joy! I love creating little bags or baskets of all things Halloween to surprise our favorite people with.  I started putting together some Boo Baskets recently and I am loving how they are coming out. I can't wait to pass these out. 

{Halloween 2022 Bucketlist Update // Carve Pumpkins, Hocus Pocus Movie Night, & Haunted House}

 I know we're still a few weeks away from Halloween, but we've already put a good dent in our Halloween Bucketlist for 2022! It has been such a fun and sweet season so far! I'm soaking up these moments with my boy before he's too "big" for all these Halloween and fall traditions! I pray I still have a few more years of this! 

{FIVE ON FRIDAY // Bible Study, Mr. Beastburger, Halloween Pails, Willow's birthday, Soccer}

 Happy finally Friday!! These October days seem to be flying by at the speed of lightning! It makes me sad because October is one of my favorite months.  We got a cold front on Sunday, so the weather here has been glorious all week.  Here's a look at our week...or five random things from our week.

  

{Annual Trip to the Pumpkin Patch // 2022}

 Mason and I decided to get up super early on Wednesday (like when Nate did at 4:30am), but for good reason.  It was pumpkin patch day!! We hung out at home for a bit, he ate breakfast, and I did some chores. Then went to get coffee and head over to the pumpkin patch! Mason and I have been visiting this sweet little pumpkin patch (put on by a church in a nearby town) for 5 or so years now! It's such a special time with just he and I.  We learned from the last couple of years that going around lunchtime was 1.) really hot, 2.) the sun is too bright for pictures, and 3.) it's way too crowded, so we opted to go super early this year! Best decision ever! 

{Annual Hocus Pocus Night // 2022}

This little Hocus Pocus tradition that Mason and I have has easily become one of my favorite nights in October! I always look forward to it and he tells me that he does too! We got a bonus Hocus Pocus night this year and we're not mad about it! We love it so much!! Of course, ours was much more low-key! 

{Autumn Bucketlist 2022 / carve pumpkins, college football, pumpkin coffee, decorate the porch, pumpkin for chickens}

The weather has been so glorious lately (in the mornings and evenings) and I am soaking up every minute of it. We are chipping away at our autumn bucket list and have already done so many fun fall things! Here's a look at the things we've done so far!

{WEEKEND WRAP-UP // FRIENDS, PUMPKIN PATCH, CHURCH}

 We had such a beautiful weekend and I am sad to see it go. Weekends in the fall just hit a little different!! It was full of family, friends, fall things, football, & Jesus. Here's a look at our weekend.

{Spooky Shirley Temple // Halloween 2022}

Shirley Temples...but make them spooky! 

{Five on Friday // Bible, Buddies, Pumpkin Patchin', Blogging, and a bunch of other randomness}

Happy, happy Friday!! We did it! We made it to Friday...and that's worth celebrating! I always forget how hard the changing of the season can be. Especially when Texas can't make up its mind when it comes to the weather. My sleep schedule is crazy off right now, I'm freezing in the morning and sweating in the afternoon, and the allergies have started! Whew! Here's a look at the randomness from our week!

{Ghost Malone}

 I was scrolling either Facebook or Instagram when I ran across this shirt. I immediately went to Etsy to see if  there was an SVG for it and there was!!! It was an instant purchase/download. I like to make my own so that I can pick out the type of sweatshirt I put it on! So what was it???

 

{AUTUMN PORCH // 2022}

Decorating my porch for the seasons will forever be one of my favorite things to do! I love creating a festive, warm, and welcoming space right at the entrance of our home. And there is just so much magic in the autumn season! I love the cozy vibes that fall brings. Mason helped me decorate the porch this year and that was so special to me. I'm sure this space will change a bit throughout the season, but here is what we started with.

{SCREAMS HAUNTED HOUSES // 2022}

  I won a 4 pack of tickets to Screams -  a big Haunted House park out here in Waxahachie. It's the same grounds they use for the Scarborough Faire! There are 5 haunted houses, food, pubs & taverns, side activities, a show, etc. Ellis County Living Magazine did a contest and I was one of the winners! Mason didn't want to go so we invited our friends Keri & Michael to come with our other two tickets!! We had so much fun!

{Weekend Wrap-up // Cattle Drive, Screams, Cleaning, & Football}

 Happy Monday!! We had a pretty chill and low-key weekend and I am okay with that. From here on out, our weekends will be filled to the brim with all things fall, Halloween, and then Christmas festivities start! I am here for it, though! This is hands down my favorite time of year!! Here's a look at our weekend. 

{Five on Friday // Truth, Instagram, Sunrises}

 Happy Friday, y'all! Did this week seem super long to anyone else? I felt like it was dragging. Anyhow, I am so glad that it's Friday and so ready for the weekend.  We have a couple of things planned and I am excited. But first, it's time for Five on Friday.

 

{HALL FAMILY FALL TRADITIONS}

 There are very few things that get me as excited as the fall season! It's been a while since I have shared our Hall Family Fall traditions!  And, they've changed a bit since I last shared them. That's the beauty of traditions - some go away, some stick for a lifetime and then you make some new ones along the way! Traditions truly are my jam. I love the nostalgia of revisiting something each year but also making new memories with that tradition. There's so much beauty in it! 

{Halloween Charcuterie Board}

 For the Hocus Pocus night, I made a Halloween themed charcuterie board. I think it came out so great. Nate and I just went through the seasonal sections and picked out everything we thought people would like! I found these little witch hats at the dollar tree. I just broke off the picks and put them throughout the board. 

{The most epic Hocus Pocus watching party // birthday}

 I mentioned on my weekend wrap-up post that we attended the most epic Hocus Pocus watching party for our dear friends daughter's 15th birthday. It was the most perfect night and will definitely be one that we remember always! I can't get over how awesome everything was!

{Weekend Wrap-up // Epic Hocus Pocus night, Football, shopping}

 What a weekend we had! It was chock full of family, friends, fall goodness, and football. All the things that are such a sweet source of joy for my soul! Here's our weekend wrap-up... 

{Five on Friday // Fall edition}

 Way back when I used to do a "Five on Friday" where I would share about five random things.  It was a great way to share those things that don't necessarily warrant their own blog post. I'm trying to get back to being an "in the present" blogger - so here we go! 

{Halloween Bucketlist // 2022}

 

{Autumn Bucketlist // 2022}

It's no secret that autumn is my favorite season! I love when the leaves start to fall and when the weather gets crisp and cool! While the calendar may state an official "first day of fall", for me it's on the day of the first college football game! I mean, what screams fall more than college football? And it's then that I want to pull out all of my fall decor, sweaters & boots, light all the autumn-scented candles, and get busy on our fall bucketlist. We have so many fun fall traditions and I love it. Here's a look at our 2022 Autumn Bucketlist.

 

{Camping at Stillwater RV Resort // CampAroundTexas}

 We headed to Tyler, TX for a weekend of camping at Stillwater Resort. We went back in back in May but due to unfortunate circumstances, we didn't get to enjoy the pool/water amenities. This was our redemption run! 

{Grandparents Day // 2022}

 Nate's Grandmother's assisted living facility had a Grandparent's day event and we were blessed to get to go! They served mimosas and desserts and it was a great time of fellowship! Nathan's Grandmother, who we so lovingly call NeNaw, is so special to all of us and we love her so. She was so happy to have the majority of her family there! 

{Anniversary Cruise // August 2022}

 Nate and I decided very last minute to go on a cruise for our anniversary! Nate found a fairly inexpensive cruise that just so happened to be the dates we needed! All the stars aligned somehow and we were booked in a matter of an hour or so. 

{Wicked Trendz Friends and Family Day}

Our dear friends over at Wicked Trendz Jeep Club invited us out for a friends and family day at one of the member's houses.  We were so excited to get to see and visit with these precious friends of ours. The drive out (it was in the country) was so beautiful and soothing to the soul! Then as we were driving to the back of the property to park, I literally saw my dream - a farm!! 

{Jeep Dragon // Pancho}

 Pancho was in need of some crickets so we loaded him up and went to the pet store! We love getting to take him to places around town. We haven't done a big trip with him yet, but he does well on the smaller ones. He loved the Jeep and wanted to explore. 

{4WP 1 YEAR EVENT WITH JEEP GIRL MAFIA}

 We spent Saturday morning celebrating the 1 year anniversary for 4 Wheel Parts - Lakeworth with Jeep Girl Mafia! 4WP - Lakeworth has been amazing to our Jeep club and we love to celebrate them any chance that we get. 

{A DAY DATE // OMAS}

 When Nate and I first moved to Hachie one of our favorite things to do was check out all the local spots around town. Oma's quickly became one of our favorite breakfast/lunch spots and we have been going ever since! Nate and I were able to go for a little lunch date today. 

{MEET PANCHO // THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE HALL FAMILY}

 Meet Pancho...our bearded dragon...

{DAY 5 ON THE CARNIVAL BREEZE!! // DAY AT SEA}

 Day five on this cruise was a day at sea. Nate had to take Mason for a covid test. While he did that, I went to a debarkation show. It was pretty informative since the debarkation was a lot different than the Disney cruise! Then we went out to the lido deck where Nate and Mason did the ropes course! 

{DAY 4 ON THE CARNIVAL BREEZE!! // PROGRESSO}

 On day four, we had another day at port. This time it was in Progresso/Yucatan, Mexico. We were excited since this was a place in Mexico that we had never been to before. We weren't sure what to expect, but we were thrilled to explore! We got off the ship as soon as we were able to and found our meeting spot for our excursion. For this one, we chose an all-inclusive luxury resort called the Reef. 

{DAY 3 ON THE CARNIVAL BREEZE!! // COZUMEL}

 Day three on our cruise was a day at port in Cozumel, Mexico! We had an excursion booked for this day, so we went straight to check-in for that excursion! This was our first time getting off at port on a Carnival cruise, so we weren't 100% sure what to do. Our tickets had a number on it, so we just looked for that sign with that number. It wasn't too bad! 

{Day 2 on the Carnival Breeze!! // A DAY AT SEA}

 On day 2 of our cruise, we literally stayed in the hot tub most of the day! We happened to find them by accident! We were on the lido deck looking over and saw some hot tubs on the 5th floor! So we went and changed and messaged the rest of the family to meet us there! We met so many awesome people in the hot tub! 

{Come Sail Away // Day 1 on the Carnival Breeze!!}

 Back in December, we had a huge family cruise planned for the whole Hall family. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, we were not all able to go. We wanted a do-over with at least some more of the Hall clan...so we planned a Carnival Cruise together! We had never cruised with Carnival before, so we went with an open mind. Especially just coming off a Disney cruise 7 short months prior! However, we were pleasantly surprised by Carnival. More on that later. Here's a look at our first day on the Carnival Breeze!

{4th of July at the Lake}

 On July 3rd, we were invited out to my aunt's lakehouse to hang out. We had the best time hanging out with the family, playing games, swimming, and watching the sunset & fireworks! Even though it wasn't actually the 4th, there were still a ton of fireworks. I didn't get many photos of the day/night, but the memories will be held in my heart for a long time.

{Willow Jade}

 I just wanted to give an update about our precious Willow Jade! She is the sweetest little thing and we all adore her so. She's curious, vocal, and so spunky!! We all have heard her on many occasions meowing "mom". It's mostly when we are in our room going to sleep or in the mornings. She comes to our door and yells "mom" over and over! It's the wildest thing - but all three of us have heard it, many times!! I need to try to capture it on video sometime. 

{ROLLING IN THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE WITH ELLIS COUNTY JEEPS}

 We joined our local Jeep club, Ellis County Jeeps, in the 4th of July parade in Midlothian. We met at our staging area and started decorating the Jeeps. It was so hot and humid, but we made the best of it. We got to see a lot of our Jeep friends as well as other friends that were in the parade also. It was such a fun time!

{FRIDAY FAMILY FUN // STRANGER THINGS POP-UP}

 Nathan and I took off on Friday to have a family day with Mason! We took him to the Lego store, had lunch, and went to the Stranger Things pop-up at the Grapevine Mills Mall. When looking at the pop-up online, it appeared that you had to have tickets ahead of time. So, we got our tickets for a time-slot in the afternoon. 

{Birdie & Babies}

 Our sweet Birdie hatched five baby chicks!! She is the sweetest mama and these chicks are just precious. We spend time with them every day, holding them and loving on them. I want them to be friendly as they grow! They are just too cute for words. 

{Sweet mornings with Mason}

 The stars started to align and Mason finally got on a good schedule. He was waking up when I did, which is out of the norm for Mason. So, we started making the most of our mornings together before I had to start working. One of our favorite things we did was go to the church down the road to shoot some hoops! 

{Love and Sunflowers}

 Sunday morning, Nate had to work so Mason and I got donuts and took a topless Jeep ride out to the sunflowers. We took all of the backroads from town to town until we reached the area where I knew there were sunflower fields. All in all, it was about a 45-minute drive. Just Mason, me, the Jeep, and the back country roads. Mile by mile, it was filling my love tank to the brim! I will forever cherish this precious morning with him.