HAPPY DOUBLE BIRTHDAY!

WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE TWO DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS IN OUR FAMILY! THE FIRST IS MR. CHRISTOPHER ON THE 17TH AND NOT EVEN A WEEK LATER IS MISS CALI ON THE 21ST.

THIS YEAR CHRISTOPHER CELEBRATED HIS 32ND AND CALI HER 1ST . WE HAD A DOUBLE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE TWO OF THEM.

MY BEST FRIEND SUNI HELPED TO MAKE THE CUPCAKES, AND WE KEPT IT SIMPLE WITH JUST FAMILY. ALL IN ALL, I THINK THE TWO OF THE ENJOYED THEIR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. UNFORTUNATELY I SUCK AT TAKING PICTURES--ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE TURNED OUT BLURRY! ANYWAYS HERE'S WHAT I GOT. ENJOY!

BIRTHDAY MORNING BREAKFAST. SHE LOVES CHOCOLATE!

1/2 OF HER PARTY OUTFIT. I LOVE HAVING A GIRL!

THE CAKE

THE BIRTHDAY PEOPLE

OREGON-- OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

OKAY SO IT'D HAD BEEN AN ENTIRE YEAR SINCE I HAD BEEN BACK TO OREGON WITH THE KIDS, AND CHRISTOPHER AND I HAD NOT BEEN BACK THERE TOGETHER SINCE WE MOVED FROM THERE IN 2005! PATHETIC I KNOW. HERE IS A LITTLE INSIGHT ON SOME OF OUR ADVENTURES WE HAD WHILE VISITING OREGON THIS LAST NOVEMBER.

WHAT WOULD A TRIP TO OREGON BE WITHOUT VISITING MY OL' STOMPIN' GROUNDS OF P-TOWN. I TOOK THE BOYS ON A TOUR OF MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL, AND CHRISTOPHER AND I VISITED OUR OLD HOMES--THE HOUSE I GREW UP IN AND HIS MISSIONARY APARTMENT (WHICH WAS JUST A BLOCK AWAY--CRAZY I KNOW). IT WAS SO SAD TO GO BACK THERE. NOT THAT I LIVED IN A PALACE OR ANYTHING, BUT WE KEPT THAT HOUSE SO MUCH NICER THAN WHAT IT IS NOW.

CHRISTOPHER IN FRONT OF THE OL' MISSIONARY APARTMENT.

THIS IS WERE HE PROPOSED TO ME ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO!

ME IN FRONT OF MY CHILDHOOD HOME--HOPING NO ONE IS LOOKING OUT THERE WINDOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE HECK SOMEONE IS TAKING A PICTURE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE!

WE ALSO TOOK A TRIP TO NEWPORT. I LOVE THE OREGON COAST. WE VISITED THE AQUARIUM THERE. I THINK OUR FAVORITE PART OF THAT WAS WALKING THROUGH THE SHARK TUNNEL. WHEN WE WERE THROUGH WE HAD TO STOP AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE FAMOUS MO'S LOCATED RIGHT ON THE BAY FRONT. WE HAD YUMMY CLAM CHOWDER IN BREAD BOWLS--DEVINE! AFTER LUNCH THE BOYS HAD A LOT OF FUN SELECTING THEIR FAVORITE SALT WATER TAFFY FROM THE CANDY STORE ACROSS THE STREET.

SHARK TUNNEL AT OREGON COAST AQUARIUM

THE FAM IN NEWPORT--BURR!!

COBY PETTING SHARKS!

KEENAN IN THE MOUTH OF SOME DINOSAUR SHARK
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF!

OUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT WHEN WE LIVED THERE IS HENDRICKS PARK. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF TIMES WE SPENT TOGETHER THERE AS A FAMILY. JUST BEFORE YOU GET TO THE PARK IS "PRES' ROCK". THIS IS AN AMAZING SPOT TO VISIT. I ALWAYS FIND IT FASCINATING WHAT PEOPLE LEAVE THERE AS A TRIBUTE TO HIM. I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER BEEN TO EUGENE AND NOT MADE A STOP THERE.

HAPPY BOYS AT HENDRICKS PARK

ME AND THE BOYO'S AT PRES' ROCK

PLAQUE AT PRES ROCK

THE BOYS IN FRONT OF PRES' ROCK.

CHRISTOPHER TELLING THE BOYS ALL ABOUT STEVE PREFONTAINE

SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHTS REGRETFULLY NOT PICTURED WERE DREAM PIZZA AT THE HALES AND WOODSTOCK'S PIZZA WITH THE OTHER HALES. YUM! SERIOUSLY YOU HAVEN'T TASTED PIZZA TILL YOU'VE HAD PIZZA FROM OREGON'S BEST!

OH YEAH AND THE CIVIL WAR WHERE ARE DUCKS POUNDED THE BEAVERS!

YEAH, GO DUCKS!
UNTIL NEXT TIME. GOOD TIMES :)

THANKSGIVING TRIP TO OREGON

THIS YEAR WE FINALLY DID IT! WE SPENT A HOLIDAY WITH MY FAMILY IN OREGON. FOR WHATEVER REASON WE'VE ONLY SPENT A TOTAL OF TWO THANKSGIVINGS & ZERO CHRISTMAS'S WITH MY SIDE OF THE FAMILY!

IT WAS GREAT SEEING EVERYONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIKE FOREVER WE PRETTY MUCH HAD EVERYONE WAS THERE. MY BABY BROTHER JUSTIN JUST GOT BACK FROM IRAQ, AND I EVEN GOT TO MEET HIS FIANCE . IT'S CRAZY BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M WITH THEM, WHEN IT'S OVER I DON'T ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN ANY OF THEM. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FAMILY PHOTO (WHICH KEENAN SOME HOW DODGED--SNEAKING UPSTAIRS DURING ALL OF THE ARRANGING) THERE ARE A LOT OF US. I THINK THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 40 PEOPLE AT OUR THANKSGIVING FEAST. WHEN WE GET TOGETHER IT'S CRAZY! EVEN THOUGH I HATE THAT IT'S ALL A BLUR WHEN IT'S OVER, I LOVE THAT MY FAMILY MAKES ME LAUGH. THEY'RE THE BEST.

THE WHOLE FAMILY

(MINUS KEENAN WHO SNUCK UPSTAIRS--STINKER :) & ADAM'S WIFE MS. JAMIE)

HALE COUSINS

(THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I GOT WITH EVERYONE LOOKING!)

MY SISTERS

CRAZY BROTHERS

THE HALE 11

HAPPY HALLOWEEN & A TRIP TO THE ER

WELL IT WAS AN EVENTFUL HALLOWEEN TO SAY THE LEAST. WE SPENT THE EVENING AT OUR WARD HALLOWEEN PARTY TRUNK OR TREATING, AND THEN DECIDED TO TRICK OR TREAT THE HOUSES ON OUR STREET. COBY WAS A CLONE TROOPER, KEENAN WAS INDIANA JONES OF COURSE, AND CALI WAS THE MOST ADORABLE LADYBUG (COMPLIMENTS OF NANA). SO FAR SOUNDS NORMAL RIGHT???

WELL HERE'S THE SCOOP FROM BEHIND THE SCENES. CHRISTOPHER HAD COME HOME FROM WORK WITH A MAJOR FEVER ON THURSDAY...WHEN I SAY MAJOR, I MEAN MAJOR! HE HAD CALLED ME EARLIER THAT DAY TO TELL ME HE WAS REALLY ACHY AND NOT FEELING WELL. I ASKED IF HE WAS GOING TO COME HOME, AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T THINK SO, HE WOULD JUST GO TO THE GYM, SIT IN THE SAUNA AND "SWEAT" IT OUT...HE DIDN'T TELL ME HE ALREADY HAD A FEVER. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE SAUNA SPIKED THE FEVER, AND HE CAME HOME. HE WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE FROM THE FEVER AND A HORRIBLE HEADACHE WE PUMPED HIM FULL OF TYLENOL AND MOTRIN AND PUT HIM TO BED.

ABOUT 2 AM IN THE MORNING I HEARD HIM GET UP AND GO INTO THE BATHROOM-I HEARD HIM GROANING, AND THOUGHT "POOR GUY, HE'S PUKING NOW", THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD (MAKE THAT A NUMBER OF LOUD THUDS), I RAN TO THE BATHROOM AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR, I COULDN'T GET IT OPEN MORE THAN AN INCH. INSIDE I SAW MY HUSBAND COMPLETELY PASSED OUT THE LENGTH OF OUR TOILET ROOM, I WAS YELLING HIS NAME AND GETTING NO RESPONSE...HIS EYES WERE IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD! FRANTICALLY I WAS ABLE TO GET MY ARM UNDERNEATH HIS LEG TO LIFT IT SO I COULD GET IN THE BATHROOM WHEN FINALLY HE CAME TO. HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? AND THEN HE REALIZED WHERE HE WAS. HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF EVEN FEELING LIKE HE WAS GOING TO PASS OUT. I WANTED TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AT THAT POINT, BUT HE INSISTED ON STAYING AND GOING BACK TO BED. HE SUGGESTED THAT WE COULD SEE THE DR IN THE MORNING SO I AGREED. A FEW HOURS LATER I HEARD HIM GET UP AGAIN. THIS TIME I ROLLED OVER TO CHECK IT OUT. I SAW HIM GET ON HIS KNEES IN FRONT OF THE TOILET, SO I THOUGHT FOR SURE HE WAS GOING TO SPEW THIS TIME, I MUST HAVE NODDED OFF BECAUSE THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS WAKING UP TO ANOTHER LOUD THUD...HE WAS PASSED OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME I COULDN'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. WE CALLED THE PARENTALS TO COME WATCH THE KIDS AND AFTER SOME CONVINCING FROM HIS MOTHER, HEADED TO THE ER. AFTER PASSING OUT FOR A 3RD TIME IN THE ER, AND 7 HOURS LATER A DIAGNOSIS--DEHYDRATION (THANKS TO "SWEATING IT OUT" IN THE SAUNA, AND PNEUMONIA. MY POOR HUSBAND. SERIOUSLY,THE MAN CAN NEVER GET JUST A COLD, WHEN HE GETS SOMETHING IT'S ALWAYS SOME CRAZY SORT OF INFECTION. LUCKILY HE'S HOME, ON ANTIBIOTICS, AND ABLE TO GET SOME REST.

I WAS SO SAD FOR HIM TO HAVE GOTTEN SICK ON HALLOWEEN. IT'S HIS FAVORITE HOLIDAY, AND HE IS SO MUCH MORE FESTIVE THAN I! GOOD TO SEE FRIENDS, BUT I FELT LIKE SUCH A TOOL AT OUR WARD HALLOWEEN TRUNK OR TREAT. I WAS TOTALLY OUT OF IT FROM THE EVENTS OF THE EARLY MORNING, AND WAS WORRIED ABOUT CHRISTOPHER. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO STAY HOME, BUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHING. OUR KIDS WOULD HAVE FLIPPED IF THEY COULDN'T GO TRICK OR TREATING. SADLY MY EXHAUSTION SHOWS IN THAT THESE ARE ALL THE PICTURES THAT I GOT. ALL IN ALL FUNKY DAY--NEXT YEAR WILL BE BETTER.

Amazing Boy Wonder At It Again--Yo Gabba Gabba Style!

I could never get enough of watching this kid dance. As you know he shakes it to most anything...his latest "Yo Gabba, Gabba". My favorite is his facial expressions--so funny to me! You'll also notice that as he shakes it, one of his crackers goes flying out of the package...no worries though, little miss cali takes care of it for him :))

I'm A Witch

All of my Hale peeps will have an appreciation for this rendition of "I'm A Witch", sung by the famous boy wonder, Keenan Coates. He loves this song. He actually has had me sing it as a bed time song through out this year, so I'm grateful that we now can sing it in season. Coby did a rendition himself, but I promised I wouldn't put it on the blog...I'll be sending it out via email :)) Enjoy!

HOLY UPDATE!

I WISH I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WAS GOOD AT UPDATING THE BLOG ON A REGULAR BASIS. YOU KNOW THE ONES THAT HAVE A PICTURE FOR EVERY ADORABLE MOMENT IN THEIR KIDS LIVES...WELL I'M NOT. IT SEEMS THAT I TAKE PICTURES ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS , BUT BY THE TIME I DOWNLOAD I'VE GOT 300 PICTURES TO SORT THROUGH, AND THEN I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE HECK I CAN PUT IT ALL INTO ONE LITTLE POST. WE'VE HAD A VERY FULL MONTH. ALL THREE OF MY KIDS SEEM TO BE GROWING UP WAY TOO FAST.

OUR COBY TURNED 8 THE END OF SEPTEMBER. ONE OF COBY'S FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IS PLAY GOLF, SO HE AND A FEW FRIENDS WENT TO GOLFLAND TO CELBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY. HE IS PLAYING SOCCER, AND LOVING IT. IT'S PRETTY COOL, BECAUSE CHRISTOPHER IS ASSISTANT COACHING THIS SEASON, AND I KNOW THEY BOTH HAVE REALLY ENJOYED THE TIME THEY GET TO SPEND WITH EACH OTHER.

SINCE HE'S TURNED 8 HE IS SUCH A LITTLE MAN NOW. IT SOUNDS SO CLICHE, BUT IT REALLY DOES SEEM LIKE YESTERDAY THAT HE WAS MY LITTLE GUY CONSTANTLY ASKING, "WHAT DOIN' THERE?" AND MY FAVORITE, "DO YOU KNOW ME?" WHICH WAS HIS WAY OF ASKING IF YOU LOVED HIM. I KEEP THINKING, HOW DID IT GO BY SO QUICKLY? HE CAME HOME THE OTHER DAY FROM SCHOOL PRETTY UPSET BECAUSE A LITTLE GIRL HAD HURT HIS FEELINGS. AS HE TRIED TO TELL ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED HIS BIG BROWN EYES WELLED UP WITH TEARS. I INSTANTLY GRABBED HIS NOT SO TINY BODY ANYMORE, AND PUT HIM ON MY LAP. HE SAT IN MY ARMS AND CRIED, AND INSTEAD OF MY USUAL LETS FIGURE THIS OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DID KIND OF ATTITUDE, I JUST LET HIM CRY. IN FACT I CRIED TOO. IN THAT MOMENT I LEARNED, SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO JUST SHUT-UP AND LET IT OUT. I LOVE MY COBY SOOOO MUCH. I JUST WANT HIM TO STAY LITTLE FOREVER.

IN SCOUTS WITH ME NOW! I AM LOVING IT!
LOOKIN' SNAZZY IN THEIR WHITES!

BIRTHDAY MINI GOLF

YUMMY!

SOCCER WITH DAD.

KEENAN IS FUNNIER THAN EVER. THE CHILD WEARS THE SAME OUTFIT EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHEN I SAY EVERY I MEAN EVERY! HE IS IN LOVE WITH INDIANA JONES. HE'S GOING TO BE HIM FOR HALLOWEEN. HE HAS THE HAT WHICH HE WEARS ALL OF THE TIME. THE OTHER PART OF HIS ENSEMBLE ARE HIS JEANS AND THIS FABULOUS ORANGE PUFFY VEST. IT'S A WINTER VEST, SO THE KID SWEATS LIKE A DOG BECAUSE IT'S 100 DEGREES DOWN HERE IN AZ, BUT HE DOESN'T CARE. CRAP, THE KID WORE JEANS EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE 110 DEGREE HEAT THIS SUMMER, BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LOOK "AWESOME" IN SHORTS. HE LOVES TO SING. DOES IT MATTER IF WE'RE OUT AT DINNER IN A RESTAURANT NO, HE SINGS EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING. OUR NEW NICK NAME FOR HIM IS OPERA BOY. IF HE WANTS A DRINK, HE SINGS..."MOM, CAN I HAVE A DRINK, BFAUSE I'M FURUSTY?" HE'S JUST ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT SHOULD HAVE A LIVE FEED ON YOUTUBE...HE'S HILARIOUS TO WATCH.

THIS IS ONE OF MY SPORTS BRAS. HE THINKS "HE'S ARE AWESOME IN THIS".

FAVORITE OUTFIT

POSE AFTER SWEET DANCE MOVE!

CALI, IS 10 MONTHS OLD NOW. SHE HAS HER TWO BOTTOM TEETH, AND SHE NOW HAS THE PLEASURE OF GETTING 4 OF HER TOP TEETH ALL AT THE SAME TIME! SHE'S CRAWLING, CRUISING AND INTO EVERYTHING. HER NEW FAVORITE PLACE IS INSIDE THE CUPBOARDS. SHE LOVES TO CRAWL INSIDE THEM AND JUST HANG OUT. SHE IS IN LOVE WITH HER DAD. SHE HAS GOT HIM COMPLETELY WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER. I LOVE WATCHING CHRISTOPHER WITH HER. HE LOVES OUR BOYS, BUT I CAN TELL IT'S DIFFERENT WITH CALI. THE POOR CHILD RECENTLY GOT A FLU SHOT, AND WAS PUKING FOR A WEEK AND A HALF! NEVER AGAIN WILL I DO THAT STUPID SHOT! YOU'LL NOTICE SHE LOOKS A LITTLE GREEN IN SOME OF HER PICTURES. SHE IS SUCH A CHILL BABY. OUR FAVORITE NEW TRICK IS ASKING HER TO DO HER "CHEESY FACE". SHE SCRUNCHES UP HER LITTLE NOSE AND SQUINTS HER EYES. SHE IS SO CUTE.

ALL DRESSED UP!

CHEEZIN' IT UP!

I LOVE THIS PICUTRE!

OL' BLUE EYES!

WITH ALL THE CRAZINESS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY FAMILY. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PURPOSE MY CHILDREN GIVE ME EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE.

A NOD TO THE CUTE LITTLE BOYS IN MY LIFE

I JUST HAD TO TAKE A MINUTE AND POST A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT MY SWEET LITTLE BOYS. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

COBY IS A DOLL. HE IS SUCH A GOOD HELPER, AND THE BEST BIG BROTHER EVER. HE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL TO ENTERTAIN KEENAN AND CALI. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HIS EXTRA SET OF HANDS. HE ABSOLUTELY ADORES HIS SISTER, AND THE MINUTE HE COMES HOME KISSES, HUGS AND PLAYS WITH HER. SHE ADORES HIM RIGHT BACK. WHAT LITTLE GIRL WOULDN'T LOVE A BROTHER, THAT SNEAKS HER OUT OF BED WHEN HER MOTHER IS TRYING TO LET HER CRY IT OUT :)

KEENAN IS MY COMIC RELIEF!

HE'S SUCH A CHARACTER, AND LOVES TO DRESS UP. THE PICTURES SAY IT ALL.

CRYING IT OUT

OKAY SO MISS CALI IS A FABULOUS CHILD, BUT A HORRIBLE SLEEPER! I'M USUALLY A TOTAL WIMP WHEN IT COMES TO CRYING IT OUT, BUT YESTERDAY I HAD TO FOLLOW THROUGH. THE CHILD HAD BEEN UP TILL 2 AM THE NIGHT BEFORE, SOME HOW WOKE UP AT THE BUTT CRACK OF DAWN, AND I WAS DONE.
SHE CRIED FOR PROBABLY A GOOD 45 MIN TO AN HOUR. FINALLY SILENCE. I WENT IN TO CHECK ON HER AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND.

SHE WAS TOTALLY ASLEEP SITTING LIKE THIS. IT WAS SO SAD. SHE ENDED UP TAKING A NAP FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS (MUCH BETTER THAN HER TYPICAL 30 MIN. POWER NAPS). VICTORY!!

GETTING AWAY

WE RECENTLY RENTED A CABIN UP NORTH IN STRAWBERRY. STRABERRY IS A TINY TOWN JUST PAST PAYSON, AND IF YOU BLINK YOU'LL MISS IT. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT A 1HR 45MIN DRIVE FROM WHERE WE LIVE.

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I LOVE THE GREEN, AND IT WAS SO WONDERFUL TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS A BIT OF GREEN THAT EXISITS DOWN HERE IN THE DESERT.

THE BOYS DRANK GALLONS OF SODA, WATCHED MOVIES AT NIGHT, HAD ORANGE FLOATS, ROASTED MARSHMELLO'S, GOT TO SEE THE STARS, PLAYED LOTS OF GAMES LIKE, POOL, LOG BALL (SOCCER IN THE WOODS), BASKETBALL, PLAYED IN THE TREE HOUSE, COLLECTED STICKS, WENT EXPLORING AND SWUNG TO THEIR LITTLE HEARTS CONTENT.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO GET AWAY FOR A WEEKEND, NOT TO MENTION ESCAPE THE HEAT!

Update!

We'll it's been a while since I last updated this fabulous blog, and a lot of time has passed. We spent our summer trying to beat the heat swimming at the club, finally took a vacation, and the kids are now in their 4th week of school.

San Diego was a blast. Originally we were suppose to go with Christopher's family, but ended up getting sick...total bummer. For whatever reason we have really struggled with our health this year...that's another story for another day:) We didn't think we were going to get to get out of this heat, but Christopher's parents were kind enough to treat us to a long weekend at the beach. It was just our little family. We had so much fun seeing Adam & Jamie, eating at our favorite burger place in La Jolla, going to the zoo, digging in the sand, and playing in the ocean. We even got to see a ton of leopard sharks in the water. FYI a little freaky to be only 5 feet away from any ocean animal with the word shark in its name, but relieved to find out they only eat algae and their teeth are like sand paper! I don't know if it was the twinkle in Christopher's eye, but we even got lucky enough to score a beach front room for the same price! SCORE. I love the ocean!