One Last Party

This night was a little piece of Heaven for our family. And what seemed at the time like just another fun party with the cousins, was truly a little miracle for us.

Monday August 9th, two days before school started... My two sisters in law, Crystal and Carolyn, and I decided we needed to get the kids together to celebrate Grandma's birthday (which she was out of town for on Sat.) and to have one last get together with the kids before school started. Monday night was perfect for a family night cousin party, and party they did. We had a great BBQ at Jeff & Crystal's house, enjoyed some great food and scruptious desserts. And then the kids had a complete ball being silly and getting drenched in an impromptu water party. You can just see the fun...

Cousin Logan at the sprinkler, Matthew and Todd under the red umbrella and Pierce and Madi under the purple

Us Mom's got a kick out of their little water game!

Kelton and Todd (in his very cool Darth Vader swim shorts), Pierce and Madi, and Thatcher and Matthew in there too



They had so much fun playing together getting drenched in the process, but the umbrellas sure made it a lot more fun! Since they were all soaked we had them stand at the door when it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Grandma.
This picture is pure joy. I wish I could rewind this moment and capture each moment of all their happy little faces. Our last party with Todd, our last time to play with him. I am so thankful we had this night together as cousins, aunts, uncles and Grandma and Grandpa. I wish I would have squeezed that little Toddy goodbye and told him I loved him. How could I ever have imagined it would be the last time we'd see him. I guess I wont be saving any hugs and loves for the next time with any of these little ones who are so dear to me.

And speaking of little ones who are dear to me, I had to add in this one I snapped of Brooky that night. Oh, I love this girl.

In Loving Memory

Todd Jeffrey Hall January 29th, 2002 - August 12th, 2010

There are no words to describe the heartbreak I have felt over the last week and a half watching my dear sister in law go through the loss of her little boy. I feel my own sadness and heartache for the loss of a darling nephew and favorite cousin to my kids. But my own sadness seems insignificant compared to what I have felt for Crystal. My heart seems to have broken a thousand times over the last week. I feel as though her pain must be the sadness I have felt over my Mom's death multiplied ten times. I cannot imagine having to bury my son at 8 years old. I want to write down my thoughts and feelings, but most are too much for my blog (don't want all my friends to be so entirely bummed you never want to see what's happening with us again:) So here is just a small glimpse of the week in pictures...

The morning after Todd's passing, Ryan and I spent the morning with Jeff, Crystal and the kids. Brooke had written this note out on the back patio.

I made this sign to hang in their yard and painted the kids hands so they could each put their hand prints on. Todd's cousins Bridger, Pierson, and Madi, Brother Matthew, cousin Thatcher, and twin sister Brooke. Yes Madi has her shirt off along with the boys. They were completely filthy and wet when we left, but this week it was- anything goes. At least the kids were having fun.

My wonderful sister in law, DeAnna, made this wreath from Todd's siblings. Brooke and Matthew loved picking out candy for Todd. It was the sweetest thing!

Darling displays of Todd for the funeral and viewing (also put up by wonderful DeAnna)





The funeral was beautiful, uplifting and completely heartbreaking all in one. What a tribute to a very special little boy.


Todd's Dad, Jeff, and Uncles Ryan, Mark, Steve and Gregg


After the dedication of the grave we released red (Todd's favorite color) balloons...


So perfect.


My Madi putting a flower on Toddy's casket

Sweet Brooke- my heart breaks even more for her to lose her twin brother




The Beautiful Hall Family - Jeff, Crystal, Brooke, Matthew, Harrison and Baby Dallin, beside their precious Todd (glad that Matthew thinks all is well)



Ryan and I wanted to do something special from the aunts and uncles and cousins, we thought a train was perfect for Todd. I was happy it turned out so great!

We went back to the cemetery in the evening after Todd was buried, here is Brooke and Matthew on the Todd train

Now that the funeral is over is seems so unreal. Like it was all a bad dream. I can't believe little Todd is really gone and that Crystal has lost one of her twins. I am so thankful for the blessing of temple marriage and eternal families. Jeff and Crystal have been so amazingly strong this week, they have been so uplifted and I know Heavenly Father has blessed them greatly. Because of the gospel of Jesus Christ they will get through this, we all will. Although the knowledge we will be with our families forever is a great comfort, we still have to get through the rest of our lives with out them. This is the hard part. We know he is with Jesus and he is happy, but even so, the weeks, months and years to come will be hard and full of tears for the loss of this precious little boy.

WE LOVE YOU TODDY!!!

Our sweet, energetic, silly, little nephew, Todd- was taken from this life, hours after a traumatic accident where he suffered a major head injury. Our hearts are broken and as devastated as we are, we can not begin to comprehend what his parents- Ryan's sister, Crystal, and her husband Jeff- are feeling after such a loss. How grateful we are for the blessings and knowledge of eternal families, but how sad we are now for the loss of our little Toddy! We love you Todd!

To my dear friends, Please include the Robison and Hall Families in your prayers. Much love to you all, and may we all hold our little ones a little closer, kiss them a little more and tell them we love them every chance we have!

My Gorgeous Girl

I just have to post a few of my favorites from Madi's 4 year pictures....





Don't know how I lucked out to get such a beauty!
My amazing friend, Staci, takes our pictures and as I've mentioned before, we love her! She does such a beautiful job! Thanks again Stace!
You can see her work at www.stacidphotography.blogspot.com