Honduras Video

When Laura and I went to Honduras, I took a ton of video, but because I didn't load the files to my computer properly, we could never watch or edit all the video we took. During the holidays, I had some time to look into a conversion and found one online. It was free, but added a watermark of the company's logo (I'm cheap and didn't want to pay them to take it off). So here it is. It's taken 10 months, but we finally have video of our trip! You can click on the video to watch on YouTube in HD.

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.

Happy Birthday Babe

Yes, that is a Cold Stone ice cream cake.

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!

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...

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.

Ugh

Saturday:

Monday:

 

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.