Happening @ the Halls: December 2017

Christmas 2017

2017 was another year full of dance. Cally (almost 16 ) and Lexi (13) continue to compete with solos and the dance team at Cedar Park Dance Company as well as dance on their school dance teams. As a sophomore, Cally is on the Celebrities drill team. As an 8th grader, Lexi is the captain of her school drill team, the Crimson Cadets.

Lexi performed her solo in the National dance competition in Panama City Beach Florida over the summer. We stayed a few extra days to enjoy the beach, and stopped to see family in Pensacola and New Orleans during our drive from TX. It was great to see everyone! **Scroll below to the end see videos from this past season.

Both girls were relieved to get their braces taken off and show off their beautiful new smiles. Throughout the last 5 years, at least one of them had braces at all times.

Cally got her driving learners permit on her 15th birthday, but we are still trying to teach her to drive. We bought a small used car to help with learning, but it's been a SLOW process. Between dancing, school, friends & pets, it's been tough finding time. Plus we need a lot more practice (insert mini heart attacks on Dianne's part here).

Dianne continues to substitute teach. She still volunteers with Girl Scouts and whatever else comes up. She also has been crafting a lot. She took up quilting, sewing costumes, and painting to name a few. Randy has been at his computer job for 8 years now. He travels about 25% of the time. He enjoys working out and recently astronomy.

We still have the 3 cats we adopted 9 years ago. The big pet news this year centers around our canine family. Our beloved Patty was remarkably healthy her whole life. In old age her hearing and sight was diminished. but she remained active through all her 18 1/4 years. It was very difficult to say goodbye.

In September, after Hurricane Harvey impacted our Houston neighbors just a couple hours south of us, we decided to foster a small displaced pit bull who was pregnant. We knew almost nothing about her other than that she was found in Houston.

The shelter named her Philadelphia; we called her Delphie. We had her for about three weeks before she gave birth to nine (yes, 9!) puppies. It was quite an experience watching this momma dog raise her puppies. We had lots of help and lots of visitors. All the puppies were adopted by 10 weeks.

Of course we were bound to keep one. The girls couldn't decide which one to keep, and somehow we ended up with two. Bear and Blossom have joined the family. Momma Delphie is still with us for now while we determine where her forever home should be.

Dianne and Lexi visited her mom Lynda at the end of July. Lynda has decided that she is going to make the move to Texas in 2018. It will be a lot of work, but hopefully the right decision.

Randy's Dad Larry still lives nearby. He had to have treatment for skin cancer in the Fall, and is recovering slowly. He is starting to finally feel better. He and Randy have a weekly standing appointment at a local hang out for a beer.