The Girls

I just love these pictures of the girls. It was a lazy morning and the girls were hanging out on the bed in their matching purple shirts. Emma was being so kind to share her "video" (that is what she calls her portable DVD player) with Lucy and she was really concerned that Lucy be able to see. Emma is really compassionate and caring with her sister. She loves to get her toys and find her things to play with. They love to make each other laugh. I am so glad they like each other so much!

And just a cute one of Lucy:

I think that's it with the random catch up pics. Hope it was fun for a bit!

I-Phone Photo Cache Part 2

More pictures from the past few months:

This is a picture of some of Emma's cousins and first cousins once removed or second cousins depending on whatever each of those mean! We were at Grey and Oakley's baby boy Corver's blessing luncheon. Emma literally idolizes my cousins Olivia and Quinn (the two oldest girls in the pic). She followed Quinn around the entire time we were at the lunch. It really is cute!

This is from our California trip. Emma picked this hat up and loved it! We thought she looked pretty cute in it.

I was excited to find this picture of Emma with Goofy. Her favorite tv show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - so she was just as excited to see Goofy as she was to see Minnie.

This is one of the few pictures from Emma's 3rd Birthday celebration at our house. We had a Barbeque, even though the weather wasn't cooperating. Matt had some awesome flames going!

I'll post the random pics one more time, then we'll be all caught up!

I-Phone Photo Cache

I just loaded pictures from the last few months of off Matt's i-Phone. I thought it would be fun to share a few! This is a picture from Lucy's blessing. We had lost the camera that day and so Matt was using his phone. I had forgotten that we got some pretty good ones:

Matt took Emma sledding last winter and she loved it. She didn't want to come home. I am not one to go to all that work to get her dressed in all of her snow gear, take her out, put on her gloves repeatedly - it was just so much work! Plus, I am not a fan of being cold. So, if Emma wanted to play in the snow, it was her Daddy who made it happen. Wow, in reading that I sound so high-maintenance. I'll do it on occassion.... - we'll just simplify and say I am a fan of summer.

This is not the best picture in the world, but the story behind it is funny! We went to Chuck-E-Cheese for Caleb's birthday in March and Emma really had a ball! The only trying time was when she got stuck in the tunnels and I had to climb in and rescue her. It's funny looking back, but I was on the verge of motherly hysterics because she was on the verge of hysterics and I couldn't get to her. We kept sending in the cousins after her, but she just wouldn't respond to them and follow them to get out. Mom to the rescue!

This is some before and after action on the house Matt has been remodeling. This is the hideous bathroom that he literally had to tear down to the bones. See "after" (well, more like "mid"):

More to come!

Cupcakes, Princes and Drive-ins

I am so excited! Most of you know about my cupcake obsession - how, ever since I had a cupcake from 25 on Main in St. George I have had this driving desire to try and make a cupcake that is as good as theirs. Mostly since I crave them daily and can't make the drive...daily. Anyway, all of their cupcakes are fantastic, but on my maiden visit to the bakery I had their Coconut Cupcake and it was this cupcake that has been my in the back of my mind as I have baked and baked! So, tonight I finally attempted the Coconut Cupcake and I have to say it was a complete success! If you like my vanilla cupcakes and you like coconut in any way you are gonna have to try these! Now I have to deal with not gaining 10 pounds cause I can't stop eating them!

On a totally unrelated note, Emma said the cutest thing the other day. I was trying to distract her and asked her to help me pick out what to wear. In the process, I was explaining that I had to look really cute for a date with Daddy because he is my "handsome prince." She started to whimper and was visibly upset so I asked "Emma, what's the matter?" and with tears in her eyes she explained "But, Daddy is my handsome prince!" SO CUTE! Right now her handsome prince is putting her to bed. They have this new little bedtime routine and so she no longer likes me to put her to bed - it is daddy only. He tells her the best little bedtime stories. I totally understand why! I am so grateful that Emma has such a good dad and that they are building this unique relationship with each other!

Last night we went to the Drive-In. Matt and I started the tradition of going at least once a summer since the summer we got engaged and I have really grown to love it. Yes, I am exhausted from staying up until 2am to catch the co-hit and YES I have only had one drive-in excursion that didn't end with me watching the back of my eyelids, but it is still a favorite. I love taking a million pillows and blankets, opening up the back of the Jeep, and creating a cozy little temporary bed akin to a childhood fort and watching a movie against the backdrop of a star lit sky. The cool thing about last night was that not only did we get to watch Night at the Museum, but it was enhanced with the backdrop of an amazing lightning storm! We had a great night. If you decide to take a drive-in excursion - just a few tips from some frequent visitors: Take lots of pillows and blankets. Take as many treats as you want! Don't worry if you have to park in the back - you'll still get a pretty good view. Take an extra radio. Drink caffeine so you can take advantage of the two for one (or less) advantage. Take entertainment to pass the time while you wait for dusk. Hold on tight, have fun, and enjoy your ride! Oh - and invite us! We'd love to come!

Sarab

Dinner Time

Last night I was desperate for someone to tell me what to cook for dinner. Matt always tells me he doesn't care (when, I know for a fact, he does care - but whatever...) so I am often left on my own. I just get tired of thinking of it! So, in attempts to get some help, I googled "what should I make for dinner tonight?" It didn't exactly help in my endeavors because I ended up creating something of my own with remnants from the fridge and pantry - BUT I DID find a really great blog that I can see myself becoming slightly addicted to! And - it is a great idea generator. So, I thought I would share it with you because I know a lot of you who read my blog are my fellow mothers and may understand the plight of coming up with dinner night after night. Visit thisweekfordinner.com. The creator posts her weekly dinner menus and occasional recipes. She also encourages readers to post their weekly dinner menus - thus generating hundreds of dinner ideas for you to pull from! Anyway, I am adding it to my blogroll because I know I will frequent it....

While we are on the subject - something else I was frustrated with last night that I figure a lot of you can relate to is - what is up with child mayhem during dinner prep?! I have angel children up until 4:30pm when I have to start thinking about dinner and then someone throws a switch somewhere and - WHAM! Emma is whining at my feet, wanting me to entertain her yet thwarting all of my attempts and Lucy is crying in her high chair which resorts to me trying to feed her cereal while pan frying the pork. This scene has been happening nearly every night this week and come 6:00pm I am warn out. My mom used to say that she was done being a mom at 9:00pm....

I can only last until 6.

He Did It!

Oh yes...it is what I mean! Matt has completed his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Marketing. For real! And as soon as we get that coveted piece of paper in the mail we will be celebrating without hesitation!

It was a slightly rainy, but beautiful early morning event when Matt and I got to attend the Main Commencement so that Matt and his brother Jared could "graduate together." (Sorry for the blurry picture) The two oldest and first of the five Hale brothers to finish their degrees, it was a proud moment for a Hale wife and I am sure for two Hale African Missionary Parents! We know that they were sad to miss the event, but we could also tell from their phone call that they were bursting with pride even thousands of miles away!

After sharing that moment with his brother, Matt was able to actually walk and receive his folder at the John B. Goddard School of Business and Economics Graduation Ceremony.

It was very proud moment for me as I am acutely aware of the sacrifice and hard work that Matt has put into getting this degree.

The road wasn't easy, but I am very grateful to him for the example of the importance of education that he has set for me and for our girls.

Sarah

California Adventures

Wonder where I've been for the last two weeks? Well, for half of the time the answer would be: Cali! That's right - just returned from a 7 day sojourn in the sunshine state. Trying to get over the crushing depression from having to come home....the only downside!

Thanks to the generosity of my parents, we were able to stay at the beautiful Newport Coast Villas by Marriott with a view of the ocean from our balcony. We arrived last Thursday to cloudy but warm weather and immediately headed to my dad's favorite haunt - In N' Out Burger. Little known fact about my father: he could literally eat there for two meals a day every day. I had to fight tooth and nail to get him to take us somewhere else to eat! Don't get me wrong, I love the burger - but I can't eat a burger and fries every meal!

After a good night's rest we headed for San Diego on Friday to go to see Shamu and friends at Sea World. The day was good - with a rainy morning the weather miraculously cleared and we even had enough heat to remove our jackets for most of the day! Emma's experience was only thwarted by her frustration with having the sun in her eyes! She enjoyed watching Shamu, but her favorite part of the park was the Sesame Street themed kiddie area and the fun she had with her Dad on the ropes course. I would have liked it better had someone warned me about that bar! By the end of the day we were ravenously hungry and pretty tired - so we got some pizza, ate it with a gorgeous view of the San Diego Temple, and drove back to Newport.

Saturday was spent on the beach at the Crystal Cove State Park. The weather was a little chilly, so only Abbi dared wearing a swimming suit. Emma was immediately frustrated by the fact that her pants got wet and she was a little bit afraid of the waves. It took a lot of work on her Dad's part to get her to enjoy running from them, but I think she had fun by the end of our time in the sand. We ate lunch at Ruby's Shake Shack, which was exceptional and then went back to the hotel in hopes of really being able to swim. However sunny it was, the chill was just to prevalent and so we only braved the hot tub.

Easter Sunday was fun. We had a little visit from the Easter Bunny - he even finds you on vacation! and tried to participate in the hotel's Easter Egg hunt, with little success. We went to church with the Corona del Mar ward and spent the afternoon relaxing at the hotel. Emma loved their little playground and the toddler room in their activities center. Matt spend a lot of this day in bed with a sinus infection - not fun - but he was just trying to prepare himself for:

DISNEY!

We spent the next three days in the parks. Monday was spent entirely at Disneyland, Tuesday we went to California Adventure for most of the day with the exception of Breakfast in the Park with Minnie and Friends, and Wednesday we hit the highlights at both parks. Some favorite moments include Emma meeting Minnie at the Breakfast - she couldn't stay away from her! - the Breakfast in the park in general (Matt eating 7 plates of food trying to make it worth the money and then realizing it was worth the money when he saw Emma with Minnie), Tigger being very cute with little Lucy, Emma riding the rollercoaster in Toon Town and proclaiming "I like rollercoasters!", Emma riding Small World for the first time and marveling at the wonder that is Disney, eating the best Corn Dog I have ever eaten, just all of the magic of Disney. I have decided that when you are a kid Disney amazes with the magic of it all, and when you are an adult Disney amazes with the grandeur of it all. I still feel it is truly awesome - even after all these years!

We had a great time. Lucy was incredibly good for a teething six month old - we were very grateful for that...and Emma, though slightly trepidatious on any ride involving being in the dark (which is, like, every ride in the park) was really enjoying herself by day three (once she figured it all out!). Matt was the picture of "being a trooper" perfection and I think enjoyed himself overall. As for me, well, I am pretty easy to please when it comes to Disney and loved every minute of it!!! We had fun and now we are home....back to real life!

Sarah