Xmas Happenings...

Xmas eve..


i wrapped during the day so we were set xmas eve night, i got the stockings stuff & gifts under the tree...only to have to unplug TWO toilets with one OVERFLOWING!!! YUCK!!!!!!!!! as im shoving the plunger into it and trying to stop the chaos from spreading further on my tile floor..i couldnt help but think to myself "this is NOT how i imagined spending xmas eve!??!!" happy to report, got both toilets working and a mess cleaned & CLOROXED up..so wrong.

xmas morning the older girls woke at 130AM to upwrap their stockings!?!?! what in the world!??! i thought i heard something..so sent them back to bed..only the older 3 were up..lovely.

here they are xmas morning at a more decent hour..

i bought them all xmas jammies earlier in the month (not sure where becca's was??)

after all the gift opening (we go one at a time by age)--i had 4 gift bags..i gave one to each girl and had them open them at the same time..they were all doggy toys..yes..i have been broken down..ME the "not a pet fan" decided to get a dog after waiting these many years..INTRODUCING ROXY!


(we picked her up from the humane society--she is 1.5 years old and is a shetland/terrier mix) im happy to report its already 2008 and its still living! after all of our pet horror stories..this is good news right!?!?!

my parents gave us money for xmas so i got jon a recliner

(which is now the entire family favorite chair)note to self CLEAN THE CAMERA LENSE-geesh! and yes roxy is inside most of the time..that will change when school starts back up next week--she's a good dog indoors and doesnt come up and bug me (ie sniff my yahoo-if you get my drift-i HATE when dogs do that!!)
and jon bought me a GPS system for my denali


its small and handheld-its FABULOUS!!! you can type in an address, fuel, food etc..or type in a name..dont ya love how i typed in BEN AFFLECKS HOUSE!!!! i have it as one of my "favorites" and bring it up when jons in the car..he just rolls his eyes & laughs...good times!

i prefer the british man telling me when/where to turn...

photo of basically what is going on as we head back & forth to OC almost daily..

the boys playing xbox, or us all watching a movie, girls shopping, lots of fast food, chocolate etc..good times!

thanks for the plaque kristi-i SO love it!

i hung it above the photos of the girls i took..

and lastly is our xmas photo display..

its like our "wall of friends"..ours are STILL ON THE WAY--so keep an eye out for it!!!

Brittany Tackles 9

Happy 9th Birthday Brittany
Has it really been 9 years. Such a lovely young lady Brittany is turning into. Quite a peacemaker and so fun to be around! Very white and yellow! Okay here are NINE favorite things we love about "Our Britta."
1. Smiling all the time!
2. Giggling all the time!
3. Her tenacity on the soccer field. Watch out!
4. The way she includes every child no matter the age.
5. Her infatuation with Harry Potter and all things pertaining.
6. Her incredible organization.
7. Her sweet hugs and kisses that she gives at just the right times.
8. Her love of her family.
9. Her genuine desire to do what is good and right.
Brittany we love you with all our hearts.

Flawless Family Fun

Scott, Kellie, Esther Hales, Becca and Madeline (Kellie's sister and niece) came all the way up to the winter wonderland to visit. We had a fabulous time being with eachother and "hanging out." Even when it was time for them to go, I found myself wishing they had just a little more time to stay. Mark, Jennifer, Scott and Kellie all went snow boarding on Wed.-next year I am soooo... there! I think it would be fun to rent a cabin maybe in Big Bear and go boarding for a couple of days.- We'll all have to plan for it. Overall it was so nice to have family here and delightful to get to know Esther so well. (She really is a lovely, bright child!) Miss you guys already! Have a Merry Christmas in warm sunny so cal-

Christina- rambling through my pics of the year and saw this one-thought you and Jon would like it.

Here are a few photos of my CHEERLEADERS!!

They really do enjoy doing this-especially Rachel (which is why i did it, she doesnt care for sports (afraid she'll get hit by the ball FRUSTRATING FOR ME!!)
We are all heading to Disneyland-the girls will be marching in the parade at 3pm saturday-all of the family with passes are coming-SO FUN! thanks for supporting everyone!!!







We also on Sunday will be having Grandma Perry's xmas party at 6pm in Ladera Ranch at the clubhouse near Tim's house--i'll take photo's and post them --looking forward to my fiddle faddle!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Brittany (9, this month)

Garrett (3)
Kaylee (10)

Matthew (5)

What a wonderful storm! We got so much snow. The streets are a mess but our kiddies are in heaven! We spent the morning sledding and building a ramp so the kids could go REALLY fast! I think that the adults were having just as much fun as the children.

Sunday the Hales Crowd met at Robert/Sandra's for some grub (enchiladas, mexican rice, chicken divan, HUGE green salad & and OF COURSE some bread (some sort of hales tradition or maybe neccessity???!! they ALWAYS have bread at every dinner meal-cracks me up!) we then celebrated kellie and grahams bday with chocolate brownies w/ peppermint ice cream on top-SO GRUB!


this is BOO from monsters inc i SWEAR!

and then off to the creche..

(kids got to dress up-celene said graham HAD to be a pirate! sall good-it WAS his bday afterall right!)

i was PATROLLING the kids to make SURE their "hands were behind their backs" as we looked at the creche displays (we loved how every other sign said "please do not touch!") too funny..they were all really good about not touching any of them..or maybe that was because aunt nazi was behind them cracking the whip!??!
It was a fun night for all of us-we love getting together once a month on starving sunday..oh i mean FAST sunday...

Tonite for FHE our family dragged out our xmas decor--rachel was not happy about our "fake" xmas tree..but got into the spirit of things..here are some fun photos..

snowbabies that somebody made me (there are 5 girls..hmmm???-NO THIS IS NOT ANY SORT OF ANNOUNCEMENT!! but it does haunt me-should this worry me???!!)




i LOVE driving by houses and SEEING the xmas tree thru a window..so this year we put our "fake" tree in the dining room for all to see..or maybe just for me to see as i pull into the driveway..the girls loved having it there..and so will i--