MeRrY ChRiStMaS!!

I can't believe Christmas in 3 days!! I don't know what my deal is but I'm not really in the Christmas spirit this year. I have been a HUGE slacker, in getting things ready and bought! Here's our Christmas card I got made but NOT mailed, it's only 3 days away so I figure why bother...right?

Well I've got LOTS to get done in the next few days, I just wanted to post this so it didn't go to a total waste... We hope you all have a MeRrY ChRiSTMaS and a HaPpY NeW YeAR!!

A little run down...

of what's been shakin @ the Hales house:) We celebrated Thanksgiving this year w/ my family and I must say the food was fabulous!! Then the 1st weekend in December my mom and sisters and I thought we'd attempt to make caramels and chocolates. Jacki, Becki and I were the planners and our original plan was to have Gm. Kent come and give us a few pointers. But in mid November she fell and broke her ankle and can't put any weight on it for 3 to 6 months. So we just had to talk things over w/ her before hand and called her a million times during:) lol It was pretty interesting and it's not something you can do in 2 days. But we had fun & learned a few things....like our moms stove SUCKS!! And it's probably a project to do when you don't have a house full of 20 people:) But we enjoyed our selves and I think we did a pretty good job for our 1st time. I'll post a few pictures of the finished product next week, we have to get together one more day to wrap things up and make a few more items. We let all the kids help and over all had a great time and made some good memories:)

Then this year we got our VERY 1st REAL Christmas tree. It has been fun and smells so nice... But we have also had a few funny moments, 1st of all it's not really OCD friendly, for a gal like me:) pine needles are EVERY where and it kinda tilts to the one side but my kids think it's great! and so does their dad:) James and I went and got the tree while the kids were in school and they were both excited when they got home. James sat the tree up while I was @ work and then it sat there for 4 days before we got around to decorating it. James happened to be @ work and @ the bottom of the tree were a few random branches that I thought needed to be trimmed so being the handy man I'm NOT I thought I'd get a saw & saw them off before we got goin on the lights and decorations. I went out to the shed and got a saw I had saw James using to trim the trunk and thought I bet I can handle this. My kids were like oh NO!! I walk in the house w/ the saw and Kobe says mom I'm not sure about this??? And I was like what? He says while looking and pointing @ Maddi, I don't think this is a good idea (me using the saw) and I said why? He says cause we aren't gonna be able to drive you to the hospital! LOL I was like I think I can handle it, while thinking to myself WTH I have NO idea how to even turn this baby on, but little to my surprise and theirs I figured it out and gotter done! Needless to say it tipped over a few times and I had to spend an hour vacuuming my floor... But all fixed up it looks fabulous!

Then...

I have been enjoying my new job, it's been one of the BEST things that has happened!! Of course it's a job so I'm not full of anxiety waiting to go, but I don't dread it either. It's so different and I am getting lots of practice on using tools :) Something that doesn't come easy for me, but my trainer has been wonderful and has lots of patience w/ all my "blonde moments" :) My hubby thinks I'm a lot nicer, it's amazing how stress can have such an impact on how you feel and treat others. I'm so grateful that I finally found a new job! :)

James is full of SMILES cause he loves this time of year! He went on his 1st ride for the season 2 weeks ago:)

Maddi is busy hangin w/ her peeps and is loving dancing... she also is full of attitude and thinks she is too COOL for us! :)

And my lil Kobe man is still in love w/ his Star Wars toys and is really into Lego's....

That's all folks.... thanks for stopping by :)

After 14yrs. of service....

James & I retired our VERY 1st purchase we made together... our stereo:( I have been wanting to get rid of it for a while but James never would let me, I guess I finally got him a board my ship:) We bought this stereo the month before we got married @ Stokes Brothers in Logan 14yrs. ago. It's played some pretty pumping tunes while cleaning house and Maddi has loved shakin her groove to her tunes. It was kinda bitter, sweet and definitely a blogging moment for me...

As I was taking it down I thought I better grab a picture before we said good bye!

HaPpY BiRtHDaY BabY!!

On November 22nd James had a birthday!! I guess he's one year older and he's always been the wiser one:) I made him a giant cupcake (as seen on TV) lol chocolate w/ cherry filling and whipping cream for the frosting... I must say this was my favorite part of his day! hee hee hee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!!

We don't really go all out for birthdays here @ the Hales house. But I just want James to know how blessed the kids and I are to have him as our daddy!! He is truly amazing!!

The Boys Trip

On the 19th of November my dad took all the boys in our family on a Steel head fishing trip to Riggins Idaho. James and Kobe had an awesome time and were able to catch some pretty big fish.

Here are a few photos I stole off Ben's facebook:)

P, Dilla, Scooby and Bubba

James and Kobe enjoying the scenery on their way up the Salmon River

Thanks Dad, Gp. Rick and Rick....they had a good time:)