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.

Preschool

How on Earth do I have a preschooler?  When did this happen?!

Jessica started preschool this morning.  I told her earlier that today was the big day.  She got a nervous look on her face and said, "But Mommy, there's just one problem - I don't know how to read."  Cutie.  I also told her that on the first day her teacher, Miss Kris, wanted parents to come too.  She tried to be nice, but told me that she would rather go alone.  She is such an oldest child.  She loved every second and I'm excited for her to have some time to just have fun and learn a few things too.  :)

Life has been rather typical beyond that.  But even typical is lots of fun and silliness with the goofs we have in this house.  The other night we had some soup with beans dinner.  Jessica is now fully aware that she has to eat all of her dinner if she wants any hope of a snack later on in the evening.  She was trying to stomach the beans and Chandler was quick to copy her example.

They just make me smile.  And here are a few others, just because they're fun.

It's Game Time

It's that time again. After the crazy off-season we had, it's finally time to start college football. To kick it off, I was able to go down to Provo last night for the first Wednesday night coach's show with Greg Wrubell. It's a new show on KSL and every week Wrubell will interview Bronco, a former player, and a current player in the President's Loge there at the stadium. Tom Holmoe was the former player last night and was the perfect guest after the busy day of declaring independence in football. I made it down with a couple guys from work.

To get into the broadcast, you apply on the KSL site by writing a little statement on what BYU football means to you. I wrote about an experience I had while on my mission in Belize and was informed a couple days later that I was in for the first broadcast. Well before the broadcast began, Wrubell was up on the stand prepping when he stands up and asks if Michael Hales is in the audience yet. I said I was there and stood up while he walked over to me and told me that he loved my mission story. We talked for a few minutes about it and then he let me know that he forwarded the story to Bronco who in turn let Wrubell know how much he appreciated it. I sat down thinking that was it, but then I was surprised when, with 10 minutes left in the show, Wrubell read my entire story on-air. It's condensed quite a bit, but I'll let you hear it from Wrubell.

After the show, Mark Lyons and Tom Holmoe came and spoke to me a little about my story. We spoke for a while about Belize, independence, and future schedule. It really was just an awesome night. We got to go up to the media box at the top of the stadium box as well as see the new turf. Tom (yeah, we're on a first name basis now) talked about what a headache getting new grass in the stadium has been and that it would blow my mind if I knew how expensive it was.

We thought about waiting a bit to talk to Bronco, but he had a big crowd around him, and he had just been on air talking about how he likes to get back to his family right after work, so we decided not to bother him. Besides, we had a long drive home to worry about. Very fun trip and I was glad someone else liked my story about Brother Pollard.

Now, let's play some football.