Friday, December 31, 2010

Our Merry Christmas

On Thursday before Christmas, we drove down to SLC to visit Grandma and Grandpa Evans. It was wonderful to see them and the kids had a blast getting presents and seeing the lights at Temple Square. 



We drove back home on Christmas Eve. The kids opened their PJs from Grandma Hales, set out cookies, and were off to bed.



Christmas morning was a blast. I mostly took video, but here are a few of the pictures we got.




Da Jesus Book is Hawaiin Pigeon translation of the New Testament. Michael likes it because it's fairly close to Belizean Pigeon. His Sunday School likes it too. It's also online, but he loves having the book.
After presents we were able to get Michael's family on Skype so we could all listen in on Adam's last call home from his mission in Australia. We'll be flying to LA in a week to see him and are so excited. His other calls home have been bittersweet since we miss him so much, but this time, it was just like "Get home already!" He, of course, feels the opposite, but we don't care. Two years is a long time. And he's never even met Chandler since he was born a month after Adam left for Australia. Can't wait.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hales Family Christmas Card 2010

This year we decided to keep life a little simpler and do without our regular Christmas card.  Maybe we'll pick it backup next year... we'll see. 

Instead, here our "Christmas video" for the year, made by Michael, with music selections by Jessica.  

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Our Little Lady


Jessica has been begging for years to have her ears pierced. I took her shopping at the mall the other day to get birthday and Christmas presents for mommy. We passed Claire's just as a little three year-old was getting her ears pierced. Jessica was adamant about getting in the chair right then and there, but I told her no and that she could only get it done with mommy there. She was persistent so the next day we went back and now here are the pics.




And yes, she cried a little...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What we've been up to lately...

Snow Man and Snow Ball Fights





And warming up with hot chocolate after.


Dry Ice!



Preschool Presentation.


The Christmas tree!  Yes, I had it up a few days before Thanksgiving, and I was super happy about it!


"Poof-it."  Chandler wanted nothing to do with this.  Jessica is still undecided about the whole thing.


Apparently Thanksgiving pictures are still on the camera.  Another day.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Halloween

 We had a super great, super fun Halloween.  Friday night our church had a "trunk-or-treat" party.  Jessica was only 2 the last time she'd been trunk-or-treating, so she had no idea what she was supposed to do.  Chandler had never even been trick-or-treating before.  They both figured it out really fast.  Their candy haul just from that was impressive.  Saturday night was the big night though.  Since our city is about 30% LDS or so, it's not at all uncommon to do trick-or-treating Saturday night when Halloween falls on a Sunday.  I think anyone who doesn't have a problem with Sunday trick-or-treating is just happy to have two days worth.  Chandler could not believe what was happening.  He's usually a pretty reserved guy, but man, pretty quick he was the first one up to each door with his bucket held out, giggling.  I kept asking them if they were cold or ready to be done.  Nope.  We were out there over an hour.  I had to drag them back inside.  I actually confiscated a good chunk of their candy to use as stocking stuffers.  Oh yes I did.


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Family Pictures

Have I mentioned that I LOVE getting family pictures taken? LOVE LOVE LOVE it! My super talented friend Ruth (ruthmechamphotography.blogspot.com) did our pictures this year and I am so happy with the results!
 







Happy Halloween From Chandler

Careful... it's pretty spooky.  :)
 

Sunday, October 24, 2010

A True Fan

Dora? No. Miley? Nope. When this girl gets to pick out a poster for her room, she wanted the Cougars.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Pumpkin Patch!

Jessica's preschool class took a field trip this week to a pumpkin patch.  Chandler and I tagged along for the fun. 

We started with a fun stroll through the hay maze:


Chandler loved the little pumpkins...


and the rocks.


Yeah, mostly the rocks.


While Chan was busy throwing rocks, Jessica went off in search of the perfect pumpkin.


Perfect.


Next the kids piled on a mini train for a ride around the patch.  Chandler is only there for the photo op. I know him well enough to know he wouldn't last two seconds on there w/o me.


While the preschoolers were off on their ride, Chandler stayed busy jumping off of a mini-ledge.  This kid could be happy for hours just jumping off of street curb size ledges.


See, I was there too. It always amazes me how few pictures there are of me in existence. I guess that's what it is to be Mom.


This little photo shoot was too funny. We couldn't come close to having all the kids look at us, much less smile.  Goofs. Oh, and see the little boy in the red striped shirt?  That is Luke.  He's the boy who's has captured Jessica's heart. Her first crush at 4 years old. Oh dear.


Jessica and Chan (and there's Luke again) :)


Even though he didn't want to ride on the train, Chandler wanted a picture with it. This is the face he makes whenever we tell him to smile.  I love that boy.


Speaking of Chandler, this is him today, with Sprite and Saltines.  Poor guy was up all night throwing up. He's been content today just to lie on the couch and chill.


Friday, October 8, 2010

That's my boy

Yep, he's a cutie.

Family pictures next week, so be excited for that... I am.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting family pictures taken.  Pray for good weather next week.  Pictures were supposed to be today, but this darn wind and rain.  Ugh.  Anyway, I'll post some cute ones in the coming weeks once they're all taken and edited and all.  SOOO excited!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Daddy-Daughter Trip

Michael got a call at the last minute from another attorney who had two spare tickets to Saturday's BYU game.  Rather than try and find another ticket or get babysitters, we decided just to let Michael and Jessica make a day trip out of it.

Jessica is a total daddy's girl, so she was all for it, even if it meant a long drive. When they got to Provo they hiked the Y together.  Jessica did almost the entire hike by herself.  When they got to the top she asked, "Where's the Y?"  Michael explained that it was the big white stuff near them.  "You mean all the fake snow?"  I'm still not sure she believes they were actually at the Y.  They gave Chandler and I a call at the top.  Chan HATES when Jessica is away, so he was sure glad to hear her voice.



After the hike down they went across campus and got Jessica a new BYU soccer t[-shirt at the bookstore.  I am still in shock that Michael resisted the BYU fudge.  Seriously... shocked.

After that it was off to the football game.  Jessica loved all the fun and excitement, as well as the fact that she got popcorn and ice cream for dinner.  Michael told her BYU won - better than the trauma that would have resulted otherwise.

 (yeah, not exactly the most flattering picture.)  :)

On the car ride home, just before she was about to fall asleep Jessica told Michael that "this was the best day of my life."  I think it was a success.