our 1st official ride...

James & I got a rode bike about a month ago, it is so FUN!!! I have him take me just about every night on a little ride around the valley. But today we went on our 1st official ride all leathered up w/ all our gear on. We road up Ogden Canyon and then came home on the North Ogden pass, it was so pretty.

Thanks babe I sure do luv ya!!

FoOd...FrIeNdS and FuN!!

This last weekend we were going to go camping, but do to work we just stayed home and hung out w/ our friends. Yesterday we went over to the Merritt's and the kids played in the pool and then later we had a BBQ and went to the fireworks. Kobe was so wore out he feel asleep before the fireworks even started:)

I didn't take to many pics, but here's a few of the kids playing in the pool.

the pool.....again

Last Thursday the kids and I went to the pool, with the Evan's and the Belew's. We took Kati's girls w/ us so Maddi would have some girls to play with.

The Boys

The Moms

The Girls

LeT's RoDeO!!

For the last 3 years my parents have helped put together the Golden Spike Stampede Rodeo. So we have kind of made it family event, but this year James & I both had to work so we just went and watched. We aren't much of a rodeo/country family, so we don't get to to many rodeos. But I absolutely love watching Connor, he has really improved over the years. Every time I watch him I have to hold back my tears, I guess I just get so full of excitement!!

The kids love being able to be together and play with their "cousin friends" and they make the BEST lil cheering section!

Kami & Maddi

Addi May is just the cutest little lady! We would say, say cheese and this is what she'd do, it was so funny:)
Uncle Newly and my 2 tiny girls!

Maggie & Syd

Here's the most handsome lil man EVER!! My little Kobers, he loves to go to watch Uncle Beezer. And loves to dress up in his "cowboys" (a.k.a. Wranglers) after the rodeo he got to go "spend" @ Aunt B's he loves being w/ Uncle Rod and the boys and living the country life!

Wacey gettin ready behind the shoots, I absolutely love this kid! He's a friend of Connor's and lived w/ my parents and helped mow a few years ago and I feel like he's just part of the family. All the kids love cheering him on as well:)

Connor and Bubba behind the shoots

Josh & Sharon made a surprise visit to come watch Connor. I thought this was a pretty cute picture of the 2 of them. Sharon got some pretty awesome pictures of Connor riding so when she e-mails them to me I'll have to post them!

So other than the rodeo we haven't been up to much this week, but a whole lotta work! My work is absolutely CRAZY!! It's all or nothing there, but I get to go back to grave yard tonight:) Grave yard is a hard shift, but I feel like it's worth the sacrifice so I can be here w/ the kids, so I'm very grateful for that!

camping.......again:)

While we were getting dinner ready the kids built this fire all by themselves. They were pretty proud!!

Jody & IJames & Bryce

Bryce is not a picture taken kind of guy

so he'll never look @ me when I've got my camera:)

Sad......Sad day! On Friday night as we were sitting around the fire I got up to move away from the smoke. And I had a small problem my flip flop broke! I was so sad, I have had these flip flops for years and we've been through a lot together. I didn't throw them away til we were gettin ready to come home on Sunday. James was thinkin I was a lil weird, but I told him I had to get a picture cause it was a "blog worthy moment" lol:) I was pretty upset, but as you can tell they have been well worn they were even a lil melted do to a few camp fires. But what even made it worse was I didn't bring any other shoes on this lil campin trip, so I had to wear a pair of Maddi's. They were a lil small but did the job!

Well that's all thats been goin on here @ our house. Now it's back to work!

Bear Lake (day 2)

On Saturday morning after breakfast we headed back to the lake and met up w/ Richie, Brent and their families and Mark & Becky. Mark brought over the Sea Doo's and it was a BLAST!!

My oh so HOT hubby!!

(sorry his eyes are closed)
Maddi & I

Last year when we went to the lake w/ the Benson's, Maddi had the time of her life!! Well Jody had to work so it was up to James & I to take her out on the boats, well lets just say James was no pro! We had to do a lot of talking to even get Maddi on, Mark helped James & her get on their way and before long they tipped it over! Maddi was so mad, she didn't get on again!

Mark helping them get on their way & then
Maddi after she fell off, what a sad lil face:(

The little kids had fun playing in the sand. They buried Kobe & Dax. Kobers thought it was awesome!!

Thanks Mark, for a great day @ the lake!!

Bear Lake

Thursday when James got off work we headed back up the Canyon to the CC camp for the weekend. The Merritt's were having their family reunion over by Bear Lake so Jerian and I thought it would be fun to met up @ the lake on friday. The kids had tons of fun playing in the water and me & Miss (a.k.a Jerian) had tons of fun soaking up the sun and reading our magazines:) We haven't got to camp w/ the Merritt's yet this year so it was fun to spend the day together.

I loved this picture of Maddi & Kobe, they are such good kids! I sure do love em:)

~ the pool ~

Yesterday I thought I better get in @ least one pool day while I was off. So we invited all the cousins and a few friends and headed to the pool. The kids had a blast!! I love just lying in the sun and chatting w/ the girls. There's nothing like the warm sunshine, it just makes my day!

Amy and Amanda came too, but I didn't get any pictures of them or their kiddos. (sorry girls)

the bunnies

I had posted earlier about the kids getting bunnies, but I have been such a procrastinator in getting pictures. Kobe got his out tonight & I couldn't believe how big it had gotten. Any how..... we got the bunnies toward the end of May. My dad says once each of the grand kids are old enough to do 4H he'll buy them their first pig to show @ the fair. WELL.... Madddi thought that was a great idea and so did I, cause this is what I grew up showing. And as we all know the Kent's love being involved w/ the fair:) lol After we had talked the pig thing over and over and where we would keep it and all that needed to be done in taking care of them Maddi opted out. I was kinda sad cause I think a fair animal is a good way to earn a lil cash and learn responsibility, but I also felt like it would be a hassle to drive to Aunt Kati's every night as the fair got closer. So some friends of ours had gotten a bunny for Easter and my kids thought it was GrEaT!! (thanks Rich & Amy) so Maddi got this wild idea to show a bunny @ the fair. James was not to hip on the idea, but I thought it was great cause we could keep it in our back yard. Well needless to say I won the battle (j/k there was really no battle) we got the bunnies from a lady in our ward and then we got a pen from another family in our ward. So everything came together quite well and the kids are happy as ever. Now I just need to get them signed up for 4H before it's to late!


I love this picture of Maddi & Kami, other than it looks a lil blurry, these 2 girls are the best of friends and love being together:)

Haddi & Kobe
The pictures of the bunnies aren't the best, but you get the idea........ cousins are more important:)

HeY BaTtEr BaTtEr.........SwInG

Both the kids started ball a few weeks ago. But I've been a little slow @ getting pictures taken, but I finally took my camera tonight! They both have been loving it and are doing pretty good! Kobe gets a little upset when he strikes out or doesn't get the ball, but Maddi seems to be a pretty good sport all the way around. I'm so proud of both of them, I love watching them learn new things.

Tony's Grove & Camping

This last weekend we went camping with the Benson's. We went up on Friday night and head to Tony's Grove to do a lil fishin. It was a little chili, but it was so pretty and peaceful. We didn't have much success in the fishing department. After we headed back to camp and made the best blueberry cobbler EVER!! It was so YUMMY!!! Then we just hung out and enjoy a fun filled weekend relaxing!

WeLL......

I just have a few things on my mind, and sense this is like a lil journal for me here it goes.....

1st of all last night after the kids got on some jammers, my sweet little Kobe comes down stairs and says MOM!!! do you wanna see what I made @ gram's today?? I said sure! So he opens up the fridge and pulls out this little pan of treats all wrapped up in wax paper. He was so excited, I loved the look on his little face:) and of course Maddi had her own lil pan too. WOW!! What a wonderful grandma they have! I know there are alot of people who don't get along w/ their in-laws and I know that I've said this a million times. BUT we couldn't make it a day w/ out gp. Kennard and gm. Lorise, they are truly a blessing in my life. Being a working mom is not the ideal life, but it's what needs to be done. And I'm so grateful to have such wonderful grandparents who are willing to help w/ the kids. This makes going to work every day MUCH MUCH easier. Gm. really goes out of her way in helping my kids learn and grow from cooking, cleaning, baking, and just having fun!! As the kids pulled out their treats I had to hold back my tears. WOW!! I was just overwhelmed w/ gratitude. I'm so grateful for such a loving and caring grandma, to fill in while I'm working. Not only that but she teaches them things I would never dream of. So a very special THANK YOU to the BEST grandparents out there!

The kids posing w/ their homemade treats, which are white chocolate pretzels and chocolate and orange no bake cookies YUMMY!!

2nd It seems like summer is cruising right along and us here @ the Hales house are a LOT behind!! I've been working a ton and between just every day life and ball games and running here and there. There just isn't enough time in one day!! Summer is half over and I haven't even got in ONE pool day! (this is a big deal if you know how much I love the HOT SUMMER SUN!!)

3rd My work makes me absolutely CrAzY!! I love most of the people I work w/ and I get paid good for what I do. BUT I hate how they are always changing our schedules, do they think the world revolves around them?? WELL I don't like to think mine does, but in away it does cause of this thing we all need called Ca$h! (and if you know me you can never have enough Ca$h) So needless to say I'm off work for the next 11 days, BUT when I go back I have to go to swing shift. YUP you guessed it, it SUCKS! But you do what ya gotta do:)

then 4th sometimes I just wonder WHY?? But then I just remind myself everything happens for a reason and one day I'll be able to look back and see all the WHYS?? as learning experiences:) at least I hope!!

any how enough of my rambling, I feel better now!! THANKS:) :)