Growing up I had ALWAYS wanted to marry someone JUST like Robert Hales. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get to marry one of his gorgeous sons! My mom use to tell me, "always take a look at the Father of the person you are considering to marry-most likely he will be JUST LIKE HIM." This couldnt be more true!
Robert is amazing.
He & Sandra have seven children, all active in the church, all temple marriages (Mark HURRY UP! HA JK), 5 Eagle Scouts, 5 Return Missionaries, I believe all 5 were AP's, all college graduates, all happy & healthy children expanding their broods. What a blessed man huh!
Robert has a great sense of humor. There is always an understanding between he & I that where ever we are driving,
we are ALWAYS in a race. ALWAYS. The rule is that you have to get OUT of your car and RUN to the front door and THAT determines the winner. Thankfully he is MUCH older then me and I use that to my full advantage!! During race mode we sometimes take different routes thinking one way is going to beat the other person. There have been times when an ENTIRE OPEN bag of cheetos have flown ACROSS the inside of my truck as I was determined to BEAT HIM-which I did! I LOVE that when we are all traveling up to Chad's house by car, that we RACE THE ENTIRE WAY. We get our BEST speed time in once Sandra & Jon have fallen asleep. Sandra & Jon do not approve of our racing ways however. Which makes it THAT more fun for the two of us!
Robert is COMPETATIVE! (Do you see how the racing fits RIGHT in there.) Have you SEEN this man play Pollyana?? Look out. You can NOT be whimpy when playing with him.
It doesnt even matter if you are a grandchild!
I can totally hear this conversation with Katie, "Geez Dad." With Robert's usual reply "WHAT?!"
He has killed players in Pollyana-simply because it just feels so good. Love it. He has played Pollyana for DECADES that when any number comes up-he knows EXACLTY where his player is suppose to be.
It's pretty amazing actually.
HOWEVER, Robert taught me how to play Chess when I was first dating Jon.
It was our first game. I wasnt aware of this competative nature of his at this point. But I am JUST as COMPETATIVE as he is. (again, we make the best racing team!) We are about 3/4of our way thru the Chess game. I am looking at the game, my pieces, my placements, the moves I could make when suddenly I realize "hmm, if I move this ONE piece to this ONE spot-game over." I wasn't totally sure yet because I had just been taught. So I bravely asked Robert "if I move this here, does that mean I win?" SILENCE. That was all I needed-movement was made, victory was won, his pride---SHOT DOWN!!!!!!!!!! We have yet to ever play a Chess game again, nor will I EVER give him THAT opportunity.
Robert is a kind kind KIND man. I've never seen him yell at anyone, raise his voice or get upset (well except for the Frey's Electronics fiasco! which was well deserved). He is always willing to help anyone out. He is one of the most generous men I know. Without his help-we would be living in a tent, I am sure of it! I have to laugh at this one story. Jon & I had just moved into our brand new home. The backyard wasnt even in yet. We decided to dig trenches to lay pipes for a spinkler system. We called Robert the day before to ask him to come help us. "Of course!" he said. The next day comes, we are ready to start digging. Robert pulls up and says "I am here to help!" Only coming out of the car are three men he picked up from OFF THE CORNER!!!! Jon & I look at eachother and start laughing, to which Robert does his usual "WHAT?! I said I'd help!" Comedy.
Robert LOVES either Carls Jr or El Pollo Loco. During the week you can ALWAYS find him at either of these places on Chapman Avenue. They know him by name. They know his order when they see his black shiny jag pull into the parking lot.
A number 14-NO CHEESE & Medium Diet Coke.
He comes to our house every Friday and we hit Carls Jr. He LOVES
their chocolate cakes.
The poor man gets severly congested when he eats anything that has cheese, butter or chocolate in it. I mean SERIOUSLY talk about trials!!!!!!!!!! He has the LARGEST amount and array of over the counter sinus congestion mediciation of ANYONE I KNOW. Whenever we get together for dinner, we promptly tell him what he can or can't have. He just eats what he wants anyway and follows it up with drugs. It's comical.
Robert is a TRAVELING MAN! He has this ONE HAT
that literally has been AROUND THE WORLD.
He & Uncle Mike goofing off-I hear there is a photo of him as he FELL OFF this contraption.
He LOVES to vacation with all of his family. One time Jon & I went with them to Hawaii in 2000. I will never forget chowing down on our chocolate macadamia nut ice cream on a waffle cone-dreamy. Both Mark, Jon & myself turn around to see Robert wearing "the hat" with a hawaiian themed shirt, camera around his neck, black jean shorts -which up to this point doesnt sound too bad right? No, IT GETS WORSE. Let's move on down to his choice of footwear. Let me also quickly point out that he has no ability to tan his legs-ever. We gaze our eyes past his Holy Ghost legs to see black sandles with black CHURCH SOCKS! This is an image I will truly never forget.
Robert has a tradition at Christmas time to give each of us $50 to spend how we want. HOWEVER each year he likes to HIDE it in something. He has put the money in chocolate angles, See's Candy Boxes, Cans of soup, the freezer-for the 14 years Ive been in the family, 14 different ways. We LOVE IT and look forward to it each year.
Robert also has this obsession with LARGE HOOD ORNAMENTS. He drives a black Jaguar.
He doesnt want to get a BMW or a MERECEDEZ because the hood ornaments are "dinky & not manly enough". Cracks me UP!
Lastly, Robert is one spiritual GIANT. The man knows the Gospel inside & out. He once taught Gospel Essentials class & had MORE people in his class then the regular Sunday School class! I love that when he teaches anything about the Gospel, he challenges our thinking and makes US think of the answers ourselves versus him just telling us the answer to Gospel questions. He has an unwavering testimony. He is deeply connected to Heavenly Father & Christ.
My family is blessed by this wonderful man-and will continue to be blessed...well until he FINALLY FINDS his acres of land he's always wanted (he's always looking for lots of acres that we can have a Hales Compound on) and asks us to join him in bedouin tents
if THAT happens it will change EVERYTHING!
Happy Birthday Robert---we all love and adore you!
