Summer-Hales Style!

YES school has been OUT since June 10th for us--but I will admit I know EXACTLY when school STARTS around here...August 23rd!!!!!!!! We cant believe that at that time ALL FOUR girls will ALL be gone. If you need myself or Jon we will be out to lunch, at the mall, at the movies--who knows! GLORIOUS.

Summer has been off to a great start for us--this is pretty much our schedule.

Each morning while Jon is getting ready for the day from 730am-1030am & I am at the gym and doing the food run from 830am-1000am the girls ALL have to do the following and be DONE by 1030am.

Pick up room, make bed, dirty clothes INTO basket, eat breakfast, take shower, brush teeth, get dressed, pick up their designated room downstairs & clean up kitchen.

Let me just say this has been a DREAM for me! They ACTUALLY do all of that and are ready to start the "Summer Day" by 1030am--so all of us are ready to go do something fun!

Summer -Hales Style
Mon: Craft Day at home with mom & dad
Tue: 2 dollar Movies then swim at friends house (with FUN slide pool!) 2-5pm
Wed: Pharoah's Water Park 11am-4pm
Thu: Newport Beach 15th street 11-5pm followed by hanging with family in OC
Fri: Friend Day (they can have a friend over or go to a friends house)

My family thrives on a schedule--when they know what's expected of them and what our plan for the day is--its like MAGIC.

I will say not having anyone in diapers, bottles, carseats etc makes a HUGE difference for us. Also our kids aren't in any camps, sports, dance or extra activities. Also makes a big difference. I don't know how other families manage to do it all--HUGE KUDDOS to them!

How about you? Does your family have a schedule? Is your summer relaxing or a bit crazy?

We have been officially TEEN'D....

Rachel turned 13 a couple of weeks ago.

We are not sure how it happened--one day she was a sweet young lovely child, the next day BOOM full blown teen with ALL it's glory!!!

For her bday she wanted AGAIN something easy & simple-YEAH for mom! She invited friends over, they went on a bigger or better scavenger hunt. I gave them a toothpick and they went to each neighbor asking if they had anything bigger or better-then they go house to house and see what they end up with. She LOVES to do this with her friends every year--this year they came back with a HUGE robot!

After the scavenger hunt they all hopped into the pool. This year we had a DJ playing all their favorite songs. SOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!!! They enjoyed pizza and all kinds of teenage grub. Later they came in and did some mattress surfing down our stairs--awesome.

We had our little family bday party for her too:

She REALLLLY wanted a pizza cookie instead of a cake--fabulous!

and YES ALL THING HOLLISTER.....


Rachel is too fun---our only concern is everyone THINKS she's 15/16!!!!!