Update on the Hales

Crack out the Mint MnM's, artificial trees, and Christmas Music!

It was so much fun putting our first tree up! Jeff has to work Christmas Eve and Christmas night at the hospital so it's been fun celebrating together before then. We've already gone through 3 out of the 5 Christmas movies we own, danced to Christmas music, bought our Egg Nog, and celebrated Christmas with the Bronsons in Tennessee :)

Here's the finished product ;) For those that do not know, we moved from our fun little apartment in Holladay to Mary and Ron's spacious basement to be closer to school. It has definitely been nice for us to live only 5 minutes away from School!

We had the opportunity to go to Tennessee a week and a half ago to spend time with my Family. We celebrated Dad's birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas! It was so nice to have the whole family together again (besides Elder Parker Bronson). We haven't had everyone together since the wedding back in February. Here are some pix from the trip:

Cute Sister in law, Karlee

Cute Jeff :)

KelKel-Who looks older than me I might add..

Some football action shots:

Playin Football at the park and an awkward hockey game to top off our Friday night (Dad somehow arranged for us to announce the mascots onto the ice before the game started. None of us knew this until we showed the lady our tickets. They hurried us to the microphone and none of us could understand the thick southern accent of "Welcome to the ice, the best Mascots in the South!".. The announcer handed the mic to Hailey who handed the mic to Karlee who handed it to me.. who heard: "Welcomb da ice da be mascots in da Soweth" .. who handed it back to the announcer. Haha so embarrassing... we did win a pizza though :)

It was a great trip and we are sad to be home in Salt Lake City ;) Kidding. Life has just been busy for the both of us! I'm majoring in Piano Performance at the University of Utah with 18 credit hours and five piano students while Jeff is working full time at the hospital, taking Anatomy at the U of U and getting ready to apply to nursing school in 2 weeks. Crazy busy times but we are having a blast! Hope all is well with everyone!

A tribute to the Broha.

There was once a time when I was taller than this booger. It's hard to believe now, but we used to be besties. Playing games, making funny faces, bugging mom, blaming the cracked vase on Jeff, pooping in the backyard (sorry no censor), giving ourselves black eyes from jumping on couches, sniffing beads up our nose and taking a hospital trip...   Now I'm married, and he's getting ready for his mission next week. Where did the time go?

This is classic me. I never wanted to let go of baby Parker. We've got videos to prove it. It was always "My turn" to hold him. 

Then there were the ones that came after me that I had to share him with ;) 

There is never a dull moment when Parker's home. Everyone in my family can attest to this. He keeps things fun and entertains us all. Whenever Parker leaves, everyone notices the house as "way too quiet".  For example,  when a California vacation to the BEACH isn't fun enough....  

He'll make it fun.

One of the funniest things Parker would do was hug mom and give her a kiss when she was very upset with him. . . then she would try to chase him around the Kitchen counter and could never catch up to him. This forced her to start laughing even when she tried her very best to stay upset.  

We're all going to miss this kid for the next two years. The people of Tempe Arizona won't know what there in for... Or how lucky they are to have Park. Love you Bro.  Missin' you already (as you can see). 

An overdue Christmas post

 This is an overdue post! But still worth posting.. We have a family of 9, plus 2 in-laws, and one soon-to-be in-law in these pictures. There is always something to do when all 12 of us are together.

 We had the opportunity to go to the Memphis TN temple with the whole family. It was such an amazing experience.

 Then, we went to this duck thing.... Not really sure what this was.

 We didn't really ride in this carriage, but thought if we took a picture by it, it would look as if we did.

 My cutie cute parentals..

 Jeff did a backflip on the street after we went to BBKings to show up the street acrobats.

 BBKINGS.

 Kelkel made a new friend.

 Oh, the sisters. Love them all.

 Games of 'catchphrase' are never good with our competitive family..

 My sweet, sweet husband. . . but fiance' in this pic.

 After all the cool kids left (Jeff, Kar, Court, and Calv), Mom had us take the kids to the aquarium for their mutual activity. It was SO cold outside.

 Such yuck fish:

 Cutie honey.

 Jeff & Hailey

 Jeff, Marcus, and man with the crack.

 Okay, Bronsons don't look good in the morning. Our last breakfast at the Waffle House before Jeff hit the plane back to good ol' Utah.