Silly Silly Landon

My son is so funny! He is constantly making Abbie, Mike and I laugh. All day long, he follows Abbie around and does everything she does. It is so funny to watch him try to do jumping jacks, dance, do cartwheels and whatever else Abs is attempting at the moment. Today it was dressing up. Abbie had a friend over and they were playing up in her room (of course Landon was up there too). After awhile they came down and Landon had stripped off all of his clothes (down to the onesie) and had on the cowboy hat and commenced to do a dance in the living room. It was hysterical. Abbie and I were laughing so hard. I am so grateful for this little guy. He really brightens my day. Love you buddy!

The New Van

Oh, yes...The Hales stepped it up a notch. We have a DVD player in the car. The kids sure think that we have to watch a movie everytime we go somewhere. I'm gonna have to put a stop to that. Half the time the movie doesn't even have time to start before we get to our destination.

This isn't the greatest picture because it is so hard to keep the car clean with all the snow, ice and salt. It looks exactly the same as the other van, just a different color. Thanks for all of your prayers and support through this stressful time in our lives. We are so happy to have found a van that suits us and to eliminate a little bit of the headache that I have everyday in dealing with insurace people, doctors appointments and the overall pain from my injuries. We really are very blessed.

Foiled Again

So Here's the story...for some reason, Mike and I really wanted to go to Benihana on Valentines Day the first year that we were married. Well, I called several days before to try and get a reservation and the lady almost laughed at me over the phone. She said there were no tables left and that I would have to call weeks in advance next time. Well, the next year we wanted to try again, but couldn't go for some reason and it just kind of became an obsessin. The next year we had just had Abbie and I couldn't leave her for that long and the following years we were in Ohio and I don't even know if they had a Benihana there. Anyways, we move here to Minnesota and there is a Benihana literally two miles from our house. Well, as a good wife should, I got on the phone about two weeks into January and made reservations for us to go on Valentines Day. I got a babysitter from the ward the we've had sit for the kids a few times. We were defiitely going this time...7 years later mind you. And then come Wednesday night, I got a phone call from the baysitter telling me that she had been sick all week and that she could not babysit the following day. I was very understanding, but we had no other options. I was not going to ask any of our friends last minute and besides that, they were all probably doing something either by themselves or with their kids. Mike suggested that we take the kids and go out to eat, but I just couldn't picture Valentines Day fighting with my children over dinner...I mean we do that every other day of the year. We opted to stay in and cook dinner and save Benihana for another time....maybe next year! I guess we'll get there eventually. Hope everyone had a great V-Day!

Tagged by Breezy-D!

Full name: Michael Aaron Hale

How long have you been married: 71/2 years

How long did we date: We dated for 6 months and were engaged for 3months

Who said I love you first: Mike

Who is taller: Mike

Who sings better: That's a toss up.

Who's smarter: Mike. But I have more common sense!

Who does the laundry: Me. Every d--- day

Who pays the bills: I do now and I HATE it.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed: Mike. and my side of the bed is really close to the wall

and I have to shimmie along the wall everynight to get into bed. It's really annoying!

Who mows the lawn: Me

Who cooks dinner: Me

Who drives: Me. It is a source of contention otherwise.

Who's more stubborn: I would say it's about equal.

Who kissed who first:Mike kissed me first after several failed attempts.

Who asked who out first: Mike. We had actually never met fomally, but had seen each other and he just called and asked me out.

Who proposed: Mike

Who has more siblings: There are 5 kids in each of our families

Who wears the pants on the family: Definitely me and Mike will be the first one to admit it.

I tag: Mom, Dana, Amy, Camie, Gaby and Laura!

Catching Up

Ok, so this is waht's been going on with us....my sister came to visit two weeks ago and we had a blast. We played with the kids everyday and went out and did things almost everyday. (to see pictures please visit Jenny's Blog as I did not take one picture while she was here. www.jam2722.blogspot.com) Anyways, on the day before she had to go home, we were driving home from being at the Children's Mueseum for like three hours and we were in a car crash. I was turning left at a green light (I had two witnesses that stopped and confirmed that my light was green) and some lady ran a red light and just plowed right into us. She hit us on the front drivers side. We were all ok. I hit my head on the window really hard and got some pretty serious whiplash. Jenny got caught by the seatbelt and is pretty bruised. The kids are both fine. Abbie was scared at first and was crying, but we talked about seatbelts and this is why we wear them. I ended up going to the emergency room in the ambulance and Jen took the kids home with the help of my friend Rachel. It has been a week now and we are just getting word that the van is totalled...so we are back to van shopping. We've only had the van for two years. I'm really sad. Abbie cried when I told her we were not getting it back. Hopefully we'll get something that is equivalent and not have to settle for something less. I'll post pics when we find something. We are actually in pretty good spirits. We know that we were so blessed by the Lord to not be seriously injured or killed in that accident. What we're going through now is small potatoes compared to what could have been. I told Jen that she wasn't invited up here aymore. Last time she was here, the bridge collapsed! She's cursed I tell ya!

Saturday Night Brownies!!!

Mmmmmmm. Brownies! Thanks for the cute shirts Aunt Elaine!!

A Closer Look at a Minnesota Winter.

These icecicles are right above our back sliding door. They hang down far enough that I almost have to duck when coming out. Crazy!
rediculous amounts of snow!
Okay, so for as much as we've complained and for as cold as it really is here...it is also beautiful! We have found the most incredible icecicles on our house. This one goes all the way to the ground. I've actually at times been a little afraid because some of the icecicles are really big and thick and would really hurt, or seriously injure me or my children, should they fall. The kids think they are SO cool! Abbie always asks me to "pick" one for her.

The Next Michelle Kwan

Abbie got some new ice skates for her Birthday, and it's all she and Mike have been doing lately. As soon as Mike walkes in the door everyday (except for lately, because it's been way too cold...see above post) he and Abbie get their gear on, find their skates and hit the ice. There is an ice skating rink at almost all of the area parks. She really enjoys spending time with her dad and she is actually getting pretty good. Mike on the other hand...... not so much. Maybe Abbie could show him a thing or two!
Just kidding!! Mike is doing fine...in fact, the other day it was too cold to take Abbie, but Mike still wanted to go. He went skating all alone. Can you say Scott Hamilton?

Happy Birthday Abbie!!!

The day came and went without harm or accident........the big bowling party! Abbie has wanted a bowling Birthday party for several months now, and it's all we've been talking about around here. It was bigger and more exciting that Christmas, but not quite as exciting as pajama day at school. We had a great time! Abbie with some of her Minnesota friends...Kaitlyn, Maggie, Ella and Emma.
The whole gang enjoying yummy bowling alley food! Abbie on her actual Birthday. I am glad there are photos of this because as many of you know I was VERY sick and did not join my family for the festivities. I could hear them though....from my bed. A special thanks to my husband for being the shining star of the week. He took over the house duties for five days while I was out of commission and even had to call in sick to work. I love you Mike! You're the best. He also put on a great party for Abbie so her Birthday wasn't completely ruined. Hope everyone had a great New Year's. I didn't enjoy it, but it always reminds me of how thankful I am for my special little girl. I love you Abbie!

I can't believe there is snow in Minnestota

It doesn't get much more fun than good old fashioned fun in the snow with those you love.

Christmas Day!!

We have waited, we've been counting down since Halloween, and finally the day arrived......at 5:00 a.m. Landon has been sick for the past few days and so needless to say, he did not sleep well on Christmas Eve. He woke up at 4:25 and Mike and I put him in bed with us. He fell back asleep at 5:00 just as we heard little feet coming downstairs, pausing at the living room and then bursting into our room to tell us that Santa had come. (Yea, like we didn't already know that!) Here are the kids sporting their new Christmas jammies. This was Christmas for Landon. He got a Buzz Lightyear and it was over. He wanted nothing to do with opening his other 500 presents. Mike keeps reminding me that we could have done Christmas for him for $5.
Yeah! I've been waiting for this book. Thanks Mom!!!
Abbie loves sticker books....especially this one from her cousin Joseph!
Mike got this really nice Patagonia shirt from his parents. It was a great day! We desperately wish that we could have been with our families and friends. We miss you all, and hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Decorating

So some friends of our gave us a Gingerbred Christmas tree kit, and of course the kids were really excited to decorate it, so we spent a long, painful 45 minutes putting this tree together the other night.

As you can see, Landon was a big help. He was helping to make sure there was no more candy left to decorate with.

I guess he got a little tired of eating, and decided to put his feet up for a rest.
The finished product. It looks exactly like the picture that was on the box!.....except way worse.

Wishing For Spring

Ok, so I know that it's only December 8th, but I'm done with Winter. The temperature gauge on my car this morning read -1 degree Farenheit and that was at 10:30, not like 6a.m. As I was bringing groceries in the house from the car all of my nose hairs froze and the kids desperately wanted to go sledding today, but we had to tell them no because it's just too cold. We literally can't be outside for more that 5-10 minutes before it's unbearable. The "locals" say this is unusual weather for this time of year. (I guess this stuff usually happens in February). I don't care if it's unusual or not...I'M DONE! Oh wait.....we have 3 more winters here in the North Pole. Someone help me.

I Hate Snow!

The kids sure love it though!

Tagged by Laura

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Nannying for a family in Ogden
2. Attending Weber State University.
3. Driving the Blueberry Pop-Tart
4. Hanging out with my family a lot.
5. Getting snow cones at the Rainbow Snow.

5 Things on my to-do list today:
1. Dishes
2. Christmas shopping
3. Wrapping presents
4. Help Abbie make her bed
5. Clean the basement

5 Snacks I enjoy:
1. Graham Crackers
2. String Cheese
3. Baked Lays
4. Popcorn
5. any fruit

5 Things I would do if I were a Billionaire:
1. Buy a vacation home somewhere
2. New car.
3. Pay off school loans
4. Give to charities
5. Travel

3 of my bad habits:
1. Clench my teeth at night.
2. I have eczema on my arms and I like to pick at it. ( I know...gross)
3. I snore

5 places I have lived:
1. Mcallen, Texas
2. Lakeland, Florida
3. Provo, Utah
4. Centerville, Utah
5. Columbus ,Ohio

5 Jobs I’ve had:
1. Leaps and Bounds (Indoor playland)
2. Telemarketing
3. Training Table
4. Nanny
5. Day Care

5 Things people probably don’t know about me:
1. I make my bed everynight right before I get into it. (i hate messy covers)
2. I cannot even talk about broken bones....I start to get dizzy and light headed.
3. I am afraid of heights.
4. I can play the violin
5. I blackout/passout if I stand up too fast.

I now Tag: Breeze, Melissa, Mindy,Harmony, Nicole. Love you guys!

Why is it that whenever Mike and I get an idea in our heads of doing something that we think our kids will enjoy, we don't remember all the other times that the thought and the outcome don't really match up? We did it yet again. We had the great idea of putting up the Christmas tree which, ok we were gonna do anyway, but thought that this year our kids would really like helping and think it was a really fun activity. Well, the only thing that Landon thought was fun was throwing Abbie's underwear and all of his dinosaurs on the tree while Mike and I were putting up the lights and Abbie thought it was more fun to watch shows, than to help, therefore we have the posed picture of her. She was threated with death to hang ornaments on the tree so that we could get some "cute pictures.' All of the ornaments ended up within the same two feet of each other and there are still decorations the boxes (that are still out mind you) that need to be put up. Will this all be worth it by December 26th? Merry freakin Christmas!

We hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving! This is what our weekend looked like. We had a great time on Thanksgiving day with some friends from the ward. I just wasn't the same as being with family though. Anyway, we ended up coming home without any leftovers. I personally was ok with that, but as you can imagine...Mike was NOT! He went straight to the grocery store on Friday and bought the fixins for an entire Thanksgiving meal and cooked all day. We sat down to nice dinner that night at about 8:30. We have been eating it all weekend. As you can see, we also spent the weekend putting lights up on our house. I am so glad to have a house to put lights on this year! It was actually Mike's idea, and he was the one who wanted to get the extra stuff for the windows. I know, I know...shocker right? They turned out really pretty, and the kids were so excited.

Check out my Slide Show!

The Joys of Having Dad Back

Is there anything better than Saturday morning doughnuts and chocolate milk? Yes, having Mike on a rotation where we actually get to see him. As you can see. I'm not the only one who is glad!
We do love those doughnuts at our house though!
Landon just eats the chocolate off the top and then gets another one out of the box.

Permanant Headache!

Ok, so here is the progression of Landon taking his coat off after coming inside. He is Mr. Independant these days, and that is putting it lightly. We usually don't start off too bad. He begins to take the coat off, thinking that it won't be too difficult...
He is now starting to realize, "hey, this is harder than I thought it was going to be, but I'm REALLY stubborn so no, I will not give my mother the satisfaction of helping me, even though she is asking every 5 seconds "can mama help?"
This is where the crying begins. He is now at a crossroads. He has taken the coat off by himself before, so he knows that it can be done, but this time it is definitely not working! He still will not let me help!
Frustration takes over and the fits of hysterics begin. Still will NOT let mom help!
There is no calming him down now. All I can do is offer hugs and support from the sideline. This can go on for minutes, but the child will not let me or anyone else help. If we did just step in and help or do it for him, he literally would not settle down for like 30 minutes. Oh, well at least I still have on sane child...oh wait....

This is what Abbie picked out to wear to school today. It's a lost cause at my house!!