The Blob and Water Tramp

We had a blast in TN again! This time we brought a water Trampoline, it was a blast. Can't wait till next week!

Fun as Hale

We love spending our Memorial Day weekend down in Tennessee! This year there was a new addition to the Hale family...our boat! My vote for his name is, "Fun as Hale"...let me know if you have any better ideas for names?!?! Here is a few pictures from our weekend of fun.

The maiden voyage. Our friends dropped us in and drove the truck back to the cabin so we could take the boat out for the first time as a family!

Yes, I was finally able to get up on the wake board...I know it might be hard to believe since this picture doesn't show me up.

A weekend at the cabin wouldn't be complete without fire crackers*****

Ni Hao

I'm back from my wonderful trip to China. The only bad part of the whole ten days, was the plane ride. Me and my sister had the best time with my parents. My folks have been living in Beijing working for about 15 months now. They now feel comfortable a world of away from the USA, my dad can speak enough Mandarin to make basic communications with the locals, and they know the best places to eat, shop and use the bathroom (you'll understand that last one a few pictures down).

Good Eats-We went to this amazing dumpling restaurant, and I loved it so much, we had to go one more time before we left. My mom's maid, would cook an amazing chinese lunch a few times during the week, and did I mention she would also wash our clothes every day. It's fun to see my folks eat only with chopsticks, they have really mastered the art. Yes, that is me totally enjoying my lunch and sporting my new black pearl bracelet I picked up at the Silk Market.

Good Shopping-We literally shopped till we dropped. It was amazing all the pearls and purses I came home with. My parents knew all the good vendors and they knew my parents were locals, so they would give us the best deals.

Good relaxation-While in China, I had a 2 hour Korean facial, two foot massages that lasted an hour, one one hour body massage, and a gel manicure. I was in heaven. Just to put it in perspective, it only cost 9 dollars for an hour foot massage!

Good weather-Spring over there is awesome. All the cherry blossoms were out and the temperature was perfect.

Good produce-Everything is so fresh, my mom buys her produce several times a week. She usually buys just what she will eat that day because it doesn't have the preservatives our produce has in the States.

Bad Bathrooms-this is what the toilets look like in China. I took a picture so I will always be grateful for the Western accommodations we fail to enjoy! You can't put any toilet paper in these toilets, all your wipings have to go in the waste basket beside the facility. Thankfully, my parents did know where the Western toilets were and would encourage us to take advantage when we happened upon them.

Good touring-The first day we were there, my whole family took a walk on the Great Wall of China. It was so beautiful and amazing! My mom also took us to the Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Hutongs (the traditional housing of long ago...there is only a small pocket of these hutongs, they've all but been replaced with ski rise apartments).

It was a trip of a life time! Thanks to my folks, and Ben and his parents for taking such great care of my little ones while I was a world away!

The other side of the World

I'm so excited to see my folks and not only that, but to see them while they are in CHINA! Can't wait to post all the fun pictures and tell you about all my adventures when I return. Oh yeah...I'm going without kids and without hubby (I do wish Ben could come along, but we thought it best to not have us both so far away from the kids and for so long) (and don't feel bad for Ben, he's not having to care for the children on his own...his wonderful parents will be here with him and the boys....thank you thank you!)...just me and my sister!

I'm Back!

We spent the last week in Ben's home town state and had so much fun. It was jam packed with events that I will be sure to do a five paragraph essay on once I get the rest of my pictures down loaded. Luckily, a good friend just emailed me a few pictures, they are of me and the hubby at a wedding of a good family friend. So I'll start with that happy and wonderful event with more of our vaction adventures to follow.

Ben and I...obviously. Don't we looked so relaxed...we were so blessed to have grandma and grandpa Hale watch the boys-Thank you!

Me and one of the other bridesmaids, Jaime...such a sweet heart!

Me photo bombing Jaime and her mother's (Robin) awesome mother/daughter moment. Thanks for letting me be a part of the love ladies!

"We're not in Kansas Anymore Toto"

Me and the boys made it back home safely...."There's no place like home!" We really had a great time. Valerie is one of those friends that you just pick up where you left off. We spent most of our time in the kitchen....between my boys eating her out of house and home, trying our hardest to keep the kitchen clean with five little ones, and learning new recipes...the whole while talking and laughing about old times, our kids, struggles, and ideas...it was fun! Valerie is one of those friends that makes me want to be a better person...you can't have too many friends like that...thank you! Here are a few pictures of our week:

One of the first places they took us was a this little farm called, Deanna Rose. The boys loved it, they had playgrounds, farm animals, and little tractors the boys good ride.

It was so cute watching how well my little ones responded to some older friends. Max adored Jackson and he was so great to let Max be his shadow.


Another afternoon we took the kids to this rec. center that had open gym time. It was basically a gymnastics gym and they just let the kids have at it. What a great place to get some energy out!

I guess our gymnastics we've been taking this year has paid off...Max hopped right on the beam and handled it like a pro.

I loved Valerie's backyard...it's fenced in...need I say more. They kids had a blast playing in her yard. They even got to watch as Jackson and his Dad shot off a bottle rocket...pretty cool!

I was so excited to learn a few new recipes...like freezer jam! I've already been making several batches since I've been home the last two days to give to friends and neighbors...it's some good stuff!

Last, but certainly not least was getting a pedicure. Valerie's husband was so great to watch all or our children while we stepped out for a bit to be pampered and carry on a conversation without interruptions...thank Jeff...and thanks for sharing your family with me!

Home from "Adult" Vacation

Ben and I are home from our kid less vacation. We thought since I'm not pregnant or nursing, we should take advantage of our 5th anniversary and go away. Thanks to my mom, we were able to leave the boys with her and my sister...you'll have to click here and see how their time was with the boys! We left last Wednesday and headed down to St. John to stay until Sunday. It was so beautiful. We rented a jeep one of the days and drove all over the island and stopped along at the different bays, went snorkeling and scuba diving, had a spa day, and layed out by the beach a pool and read books. I can say that I'm a Stephanie Meyer fan, I've started book number two. We got to enjoy eating without interruptions, sleep in with ease, lay out with out worrying if someone was going to drown, and watch everyone else wrestle children while in the airport and on the plane. It was a great trip, but I was happy to get back to my life and my kids. I think what really made the adventure was not worrying a bit about the boys...I knew they were in good hands. Here's a few pictures of our anniversary vacation!

Fourth of July!

We celebrated the 4th like we have in the last couple of years, down in Tennessee at Lake Norris. We love it so much, it a great get away. The water is so beautiful and it relaxing to sit on the dock in between wake boarding and tubing! Maxton did so much better with the life jacket this year...he usually cries the whole time he has to wear it, but not this time. As for Seth, he did pretty good for his first trip to the lake. The night of the 4th, we held our own fire works show off the dock...it's funny how a few fire crackers can bring out the boy in some grown men, and eat into their wallets...they had a blast!





Ben helping Maxton with his first sparkler

Here's Seth helping me clean out the fridge once we got home from TN...he is such a big help?!?

OBX

So, I'm finally getting around to blogging about our FaMiLy SuMmEr VaCaTiOn...finally...I know...what has taken so long! We had so much fun...a ton of driving, but well worth it. We started by driving down to GA for a family reunion. We took two days to make it down south...we stayed the night in Charlotte on Thursday, and then made it to my grandma's on Friday. Had a fun time reuniting with the family on Saturday, and right after lunch, we left and started our journey to the OBX...we made that a two day trip of course, stopping in Florence, SC and pulling into Nags Head, NC Sunday afternoon. We had a great condo right on the beach, with a pool and hot tub...we were set.
Ben and I broke down and bought a Wii for some fun good times at night...even my grandparents got into the fun...that was pretty cool to see my children's great grandparents swinging around the Wii controllers...they were great! (Side note: I hate video games and have promised myself a long time ago that I would not allow them into my house, but the Wii is totally different...you have to stand up and you can totally break a sweat if you're way into it...like the boxing...I was definitely burning some calories...unless something comes out that is better than the Wii, as far as keeping you from being a couch potato like traditional video games...this is as far as I will stretch....sorry kids!)
It was so great, my grandparents didn't like to be out in the sun during the day, so they were happy to watch Seth, while we played on the beach with Maxton. Not only would they watch the baby for me, but Grandma would lay down with Max during nap time and let him sleep with her at night...Max is no fun to wrestle down to bed...it was a nice break...I dread getting Max to sleep these days.
We did leave the condo for some site seeing, we took the boys to the Aquarium...which was awesome. They had an aquarium as big as a baseball infield with sharks and the whole bit. We got to touch star fish and sting rays, and see some amazing fish and turtles...Maxton was in heaven.
We also headed up to Kitty Hawk to thank our brothers...the Wright Brothers that is...for figuring out how to fly...thanks boys...I'm thankful for air travel...it helps us see your great family in UT.
The worst part of the trip was running my Daddy to the ER on Wednesday. We were all out body surfing in the waves and one took my dad straight down into the shore...lets just say his nose hit first...he broke it and had to have a few stitches on top...the good news is that it was a clean break, so it's healing nicely...you can't even tell. It sure was scary at the time...there was blood everywhere.
We left on Friday, and we took two days to get home...hence the good excuse to stop at our friends house in Richmond, VA. For more details on that click here. We rolled into our neighborhood at lunch time on Saturday. We had a great time and are lovers of the OBX...we recommend this vacation spot to all of our friends & family...a must see for all!

Good Food & Great Friends

On the way home from our family vacation (more on that to come), we stopped in Richmond, VA to see some old friends. They use to live near us, and moved almost two years ago, I think of them often and miss our time together. After seeing them last Friday, I'm so happy for them and their family. Their kids have grown so much and are so cute...Max and Seth fit right in and they all played so well together. They have such a wonderful home and great back yard...I loved it! We all talked and laughed as if nothing had changed...a true sign of good friends. They cooked us a FaBuLoUs dinner that we enjoyed outside on their deck. Thanks so much...can't wait to see you again!

Home Sweet Home

Just got home from Georgia. Me and the boys went down to visit family and get away for awhile. We picked up my mom on the way down and had some good times. Here are a few highlights:
*Surprized all our Grandparents...they had no idea we were coming!
*Stayed at the King and Prince Hotel...ocean front.
*Maxton and Seth got to visit and get to know their Great-Grandparents a little better (all four are alive...what a blessing).
*Wore flip-flops all week.
*Maxton and Seth never wore a jacket.
*Ate some good sea food.
All those highlights should outway the fact that me, my mom and Maxton got the stomach virus right?!? There was someone sick on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday out of the three of us! I'll spare the details. It's something I'd rather forget. I'm glad we went, and I'm glad were home...Home Sweet Home!

My favorite picture from our trip. My Grandma Wood with Me and Seth right in front of the ocean on St. Simons Island, Georgia.

GO WILDCATS!

Well, we survived our trip to Utah with two small children. I think the only thing that saved us, was buying Maxton his own plane ticket and strapping him down in his car seat...that way if he was going to have a fit, it wouldn't be in our laps. Honestly they did very well, we were pleased.
So, we went to Utah because it was David's last Weber State Home Game (Ben's little brother). It was a big deal for the whole family. All four of the brothers have played football for Weber State over the last 17 years and have also been season ticket holders. All seven of the brothers and sisters have worked hard and received they're bachelors from Weber...what more can I say...they all bleed purple! The local newspaper there in Ogden wrote up a nice article about the family and their love and commitment to Weber State and the Football team. It was nice to be at the game and to celebrate with family and friends. We enjoyed a nice dinner after the winning game and talked and reminisced over the passed years.
While in Utah, Ben and I were also able to see and visit with most of his brothers and sisters, along with their beautiful children. It's always nice to attend the temple while in town...there are plenty who are happy to watch the boys and it's so easy to get in and out at one of the many temples there in Utah.
One of my favorite things about coming home from Utah is that the kids sleep in so late...it will take them a while to get back on eastern time...and that is just fine with me.
I'm sure the Hale family will still keep up with the Weber State Wildcats, but one thing is certain, they will never forget the fun and memories that were made these last 17 years. "Weber State, Weber State, Weber State, Great, Great, Great!"