Dear Grandma,

Thank you so much for the ping pong balls. They are my new favorite bath toy! I always have to have one in my mouth and one in each hand. If it's possible, I'm even more excited for bath time now! :)

Love,

Noah

STARTING 11 AND FULL 23 MAN ROSTER

Dear Bob,

Now that the World Cup is less that 100 days away, and in light of the last couple of games, a few changes need to be made to the starting 11. I'll also update you periodically on who should be included in the 23 man roster. Except for the host of injured players, every other player basically had a half to a full game to stake their claim. It's amazing how much you can get out of such a short audition.

Forwards:

Jozy Altidore: Definitely improving, needs a more experienced striker with him up front.

Clint Dempsey: Only goal scorer in last WC. Probably the only USA player who is truly not intimidated by the upper echelons of Europe. Will score goals.

(Sorry Charlie, when you get back on the pitch you'll be right back at the top)

Midfielders:

Landon Donovan (left): Where was he against the Dutch?

Michael Bradley (central): Definitely maturing in Germany. Good game in the Netherlands.

Maurice Edu (central): Lacks the creativity of Torres, offers intimidation factor and athleticism.

Stuart Holden (right): Latest to go out with injury: broken fibula, out 6 weeks. If Charlie isn't back and Dempsey is up front, a match fit Holden will be critical to USA's chances.

Defense:

Carlos Bocanegra (left): Bornstein is out, Demerit is tougher in the central defense, Carlos is too valuable of a team leader to not be on the field. Bocanegra has a lot of left back experience.

Jay Demerit (central): Strong and fearless. No big mistakes yet. Needs to keep healthy.

Oguchi Onyewu (central): Needs to start training with Milan. He is apparently recovering well.

Jonathan Spector (right): The weakest link in this line-up. Does have experience against the English players. Got beat a couple of times against the Dutch.

Goalie:

Tim Howard: New USA goalkeeper uniform is sweet.

Rest of the 23:

Forwards: Davies, Ching

(Ching blows but he really is all we've got right now)

Midfield: Feilhaber, Torres, Beasley, Clark, Bedoya

(Maybe Adu instead of Bedoya, though Bedoya seemed to have some good play against Holland)

Defense: Pearce, Cherundolo, Goodson

(I've learned my mistake in favoring Bornstien because of his good looks, have you Bob?)

Goalies: Guzan, Hahnemann

Bob, I'll keep you updated as players come off of injury and I evaluate their form over the next few months.

Love, Mike

P.S. - If your reading this and you know any of these names, comment with your starting 11.

Dear Abbie and Landon,

Thanks for being such great helpers today! You two really know how to wash windows, and it was fun to see you work together to accomplish your task. You're both great kids! Lot's of love.

Mom

Dear Coach Bradley,

I have been giving a lot of thought to the upcoming World Cup. Now that we are 113 days away from the kickoff of this blessed event, I want you to know who your starting roster should be. As time progress and updates are needed, I want you to know that I am there for you Bob. Here's who should start against England as of today:

Forwards:
Charlie Davies - Though written off ever since his horrific accident in the fall, he is leaving today to return to France to continue rehabilitation with his club team. His return to play in April now looks likely with Sochaux. Davies at 50% is better than any other option to partner with Altidore.

Jozy Altidore - Scored with Hull City over the weekend. Has the starting role for now. The only scoring threat from striker we have that can match up physically with England.

Midfield:
Landon Donovan - No brainer, extra experience with Everton will give more for England to deal with.

Jose Fransisco Torres - Been waiting a long time to see the pairing of Torres/Bradley in the midfield. Creative attack that has been missing from central midfield, Torres can hold the ball and defend well when needed. Though he seems to have been on your hit list, Bob; with Jermaine Jones becoming a more unlikely option, you need to give Torres are real chance.

Michael Bradley - Finding better form in Germany, needs to keep a cooler head against England.

Clint Dempsey - The only member of the USA team that has a long-term, established role with a big European club. Left knee and match fitness a big question mark.

Defense:
Jonathan Bornstein - This is a tough one. Spector has experience against the England wingers and is much less mistake proned. Bornstein is faster and can add spark to our attack. Go with Bornstein and you might get 1 or 2 chances at England that you didn't get with Spector. You might also give up an easy goal.

Carlos Bocanegra - Hasn't been as solid as of late, but when you look at who is behind him "competing" for this spot his selection is a no-brainer. Hope for better form as we get closer.

Oguchi Onyewu - If he isn't back then we may as well spot England one goal from a well placed header. Please get better Gooch.

Steve Cherundolo - Has experience, speed and still gets beat too often. Does do well in the attack.

Goalkeeper:
Tim Howard - Outspoken commander on the field. Needs better form. Maybe watch out from a sneak attack from Brad Freidel (who is in great form) from retirement.

I know a lot more thinking needs to be done here, Bob. Just know I am working on it.

Love,

Mike

Dear Noah,

You're naughty! Why is it that you can climb like a monkey, but you won't walk? Here's hoping you get to your 2nd birthday without a broken bone or stitches.

Love,

Mom

Dear Nana,

It finally came out! Don't I look so cool with a hole in my mouth? I can even squirt water out of it into my cereal bowl (mom doesn't like that so much). I wish we could be together writing in your notepad, and looking at the moon. I love you!

Love,
Abs

Dear Landon,

Just a friendly reminder to TAKE OFF the dirty underwear before putting on the clean ones.


Love,
Mom

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy New Year! I feel like I can still say that because it's January (and because we still have our Christmas lights up). We are so grateful for this new year that brings us closer to being done with residency! 2009 was a great year and we're hoping 2010 is just as much fun. Here are some of the highlights from this past year for the Hale family:

Mike: Work, work and more work. He was able to get time off to go to Lake Powell this Summer, Utah in the Fall and for Christmas. We're always glad for any time that we get to see him.

Erin: I am still the ward Primary president. I have been learning how to sew very simple things for Abbie and have started watching a little boy 3 days a week for a little extra cash. (we can always use that!)

Abbie: Started 1st grade in September. Abbie loves being in school all day and is VERY bored on the weekends when she has to be home with us. She has been reading for a few y ears, but has really gotten good this past year. She also has developed a love for math. We are constantly playing math games at our house. (truth be told, it's good for me too!) Abbie has not lost any teeth yet, but we have one hanging on by a thread. It should be any day now!

Landon: Funniest boy around. Landon constantly keeps us laughing. He and I have been doing some preschool stuff at home and he is learning a lot. He is a typical boy and loves Trans Formers, Spiderman, and dinosaurs. We also discovered this past Summer that he loves to swim and is not afraid of the water. Lake Powell was a dream come true for him!

Noah: Busy! Noah turned 1 in November and is still not walking!! He climbs on anything and everything. (Supposedly that's how his dad was also). Noah is very chill and even tempered. He is happy most of the time and LOVES playing with Abbie and Landon.

We love all of you and wish that we could all spend more time together. Minnesota is treating us well (except for the 9 months of winter) but we are getting excited to move back and be closer to family and friends. We hope everyone has a great 2010!

Love,
Mike, Erin and kids

Dear Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Brothers and Sisters,

Thanks. We had a great time!!!

Love,
Mike, Erin, Abbie, Landon and Noah

Dear Minnesota Winter,

I loath you.

Sincerely,
Erin

Dear Abbie,

Today, after I put you on the bus, I walked across the street and turned around expecting to see your face in the window. It wasn't there. I could see you laughing and talking with your friends. I waited patiently for you to realize that we had not done our ritual of waving, blowing kisses and giving the "I love you" sign, something that has been a great comfort to you as you have been frightened to ride the bus with older kids. But you didn't turn. I stood on the grass and watched the bus pull away and realized that maybe you don't need that anymore. Maybe you're comfortable enough, strong enough and brave enough to do this without me...and that's ok, but can you do me a favor? Can we do it anyway? I'm not that brave yet.

Love,

Mom

For Mike, Jen, Mom, and Sandra....Why I'll be happy on Saturdays from now on.

Dear Cub Foods,

I am officialy terminating our 2 1/2 year relationship. There is a new shopping complex in town, and I will be working with them from now on. You have served me well. You have always had great produce, and every item I have ever needed, but I cannot continue diving into your chaos every week. So, farewell my old friend. I wish you, your crowded parking lot, and your bus loads of the elderly the best of luck in the future. Maybe I'll come visit sometime if I just need one or two things.

Sincerely,
Erin Hale

Dear Landon,

Son, I love you so much, but if you push the light buttons in the car again and make it so that I don't know if the automatic lights are going to go off and I have to stand in the COLD garage for 5 minutes, holding your brother who is VERY heavy and wait to see if they go off, I might have to hurt you.

Love,
Mom

Winter to Summer to Fall in 10 days

My sweet Grandad passed away on October 13, so Abbie, Noah and I had the chance to fly to Dallas for 3 days to be with my family. When we left, Minnesota looked like this:(please note the exceptional WT quality of this picture. ie....Landon's tissue in his nose, and Abbie's entire ensemble. I'm quite proud of this one!)

Upon arriving in Dallas, it was very apparent that we had gone back in time three months, as we were sweating to death. (The locals thought it was "cold"). This is Abbie riding with my uncle Chris on his Vespa. This was her favorite part of the trip.

Uncle Dan got Noah to sleep right as we were sitting down for breakfast one of the mornings. (I have to admit for as much as I love my nephews, it was really nice to have my brothers there w/o kids......extra help for me!)
After driving for 22 hours straight from Dallas to SLC with my dad and my brothers, and after a much needed nap for me, we met up with Amy and the boys. Are these the cutest kids ever? And they totally love hanging out......see.....
They pretty much did this for like 3 straight hours.

Halfway through our trip, we went up to Park City to stay at a condo for a few nights. While we were there we celebrated a belated birthday for Jord, and an early birthday for Noah.

Oh, he got right into it! Sandra and I did rock, paper, scissors for who had to clean him up afterwards and she lost. I ended up cleaning the kichen instead. (I'll go ahead and let her think she got the better end of the deal!)
We also went to the BYU/TCU game while we were there. I don't really have much to say about it.....oh wait, yes I do.....we tailgated before hand and that was a lot of fun! Cute picture of Mike and Annie.
Jord with his less than attractive beanie.

If you didn't watch the game, this picture will tell you how it went.

Laura and I still managed to have fun though!! Love you Laura!!

I know, I know, I don't have pictures of my Grandads funeral, Abbie with her girl cousins, swimming at the condo, my cutest niece Lucy, and I'm sure there's something else I'm missing. I pretty much suck at remembering to take pictures! Since marrying into the Hale family, however, I have gotten much better. (Jen and Sandra put up lots of other pictures on their Blogs). We can't wait to go back at Christmas!

Words of Encouragment

So, being the Primary president means that I have to serve in some fashion with the Scouts. (i'm still learning which fashion)The Scouting director is our ward came to me and was telling some of my responsibilities and then asked me if I had any special talents or hobbies that I could potentialy teach the scouts. Silence. "Um not really. I think at one point in my life I did." He thought that was pretty funny, but the truth is, I was serious.

I've been thinking over the past week since our conversation that I really don't have anything that I'm really good at that I could teach someone else. I was beginning to feel really bad for myself and wondering what happened to my life when my sweet son gave me a compliment to lift my spirits. He had just fininshed his "business" in the bathroom and called for me to come help him. During the process he says "Mom, you're a really good wiper." Sigh. "Thanks buddy."

(I don't think the scouts need to learn that skill)

What The......

Top 5 weirdest things I've said lately..

5. Yes, when you get older, you will have hair there.

4. You need to have 2 bites of pizza and then you can have more broccoli. (not lying)

3. Yes, every dinosaur does poop.

2. Get your skateboard out of your cereal.

1. Hon, will you please get that grenade out of Noah's mouth.



See why I'm always craving adult conversation? I'm getting dumber by the year. (oh, and just for the record, the grenade is a toy.)

He's Fouw! (4)

Abbie's card. (yes, I helped her with the spelling)

Chuck E Cheese and his twin. LOL!

Thank You Cub Foods!

The whole gang.

Words cannot express how it feels to watch you little ones grow up. Those of you with kids know. It's exciting and sad all at once. Independance comes and innocence goes. For now, I've got another one to follow in his footsteps, but someday, I'll be watching my youngest turn 4 and know that there are no more to watch. I love you Landon! You make me laugh everyday, and let's hope that is something you don't outgrow.

What would the world be like if we all thought like them?

Abbie: Mom, I have a really best friend on the bus

Me: Really, who is it?

Abbie: Well, I don't know, but she lets me call her Hello Kitty.

(truth be told, I'd be friends with her too!)




Landon: (Holding up his picture that he colored in church) Hey Mom, Mom what does this say?

Me: I don't know bud, I can't see it.

Landon: Maybe it says Kung-Fu Jesus.

(uh.............ok)

True Humanitarians

The funny thing is, the people that they were asking to donate, were the ones in need of the donation. (We have a not so desirable apartment complex nearby). In the end, I'm guessing all four of them will end up splitting the 75 cents that my neighbor and I put in there. Bless their sweet little giving hearts!

So, you know that feeling of happiness you get after cleaning your house all day?

Well, today I discovered something even better.

I left my house in shambles, and took my boys to the park. There is Nothing that beats this kind of happiness. (not even a clean kitchen)