What I Love Most Today is the Hales...Part 2!!!

Okay, here we go.  Arrival at Sam and Adrienne Hales' home was Thursday evening, on the 14th of November.  This house is 4200 square feet, so it houses all twenty of us beautifully with room to spare if you can believe it.  We wasted no time upon arrival.  We visited for about forty minutes and it was off to the club for some tennis.
 

I met the Hale's family eight years ago.  It only took knowing them for a short time when I knew I wanted my family to be like theirs.  In so many ways.  They are a tennis family and we got into tennis because of them.  It's a great sport, great exercise and they can all play together.
 

Adrienne set it up so that my two oldest sons could join in on their private lesson.  Playing tennis that evening were, Emma Hales, Sammy Hales, Eliza Hales, Kalen Klippel and Reece Klippel.
 

Eliza is thirteen and she's a machine.
 

Kalen has been playing tennis now for about six years.
 

The Hales' have been playing for what seems like forever.  Ever since I've known them.  This is Emma the oldest.  She's awesome and just won first in team for her club team.
 

Sammy Jr. and Reece Klippel
 

Their private coach.
 

After through playing tennis, the kids came home to a crock pot meal.  The masses were fed.  This is what it looks like.  :)
 

 

 

Adrienne's oldest five play piano and my oldest three play.  There was lots of playing as you can imagine.  And Leah loved the Will baby.
 Maybe she was drawn to him because they look like brother and sister? 

Sammy and Kalen playing a duet.
 

Her kids also play the Organ.  This is Reece playing a duet with Eliza and he's trying out the Organ.
 

 

There were so many activities.  Boys and girls are getting comfy for movie night.
 

 

Rousing games of Pickle were played...of course.

Inside Nerf Basketball was played for hours.

And of course with these big families there are babies everywhere.  So, it's easy to get your baby fixings.  Kalen and Georgia are the baby lovers in my family.  Kalen is holding Julia Hales, their newest arrival and number nine.

The hike...we left early Saturday morning to hike down the Bear River.  Where, "you will for sure see a river and you might see a bear."  :) Ha, ha!!

Here is the adventure...

It's like herding cats with those little ones.  

This flat land you see below is about to be poured with sand for their very own sand Volleyball court.  They're also big into Volleyball.

It sure is dirty in these parts...

This is so cute, if you'll notice the kids are holding their arms in such a way to welcome everyone to "their" river.  

Summer and Lydia

These are some changes from last time we visited.  They've terraced the front of their property.  Each terrace will have a citrus orchard.  With the last terrace being a sustainable garden.  Come Spring they will start planting.  

A beautiful stone staircase leading up the back of their property.

The play...The girls filmed this play all weekend long.  The cut and edited version will go up the Hales' blog shortly, I'm sure.  :)  (below they are in costume.)

Of course they dressed up their four month old sister, Julia, to go along with the play.  Why not?  

Painting nails...

 Playing "I doubt it."

And a surprise birthday cheesecake for Kirk's birthday...November 18th.  So nice!!!  Sammy and his dog played "Happy Birthday" on the piano for Kirk.  :)

 And last but not least church pictures...of course.

On the left is Shane Klippel and Spencer Hales.  On the right is Seth Hales and Shane Klippel.

Summer and Lydia

Kalen and  Sammy with Reece and Shane.  The girls are Sophia, Leah and Eliza Hales with Gwyneth and Georgia Klippel.  

 We love you Hales Family.  Thank you for loving us and accommodating us.  We are blessed to know you and we can't wait to see you again!!!!  Until next time...What I Love Today are the Hales'...Part 2!