the tale of two cousins

The Cresaps are leaving (sniff). That's right, leaving (sniff sniff). We are sad. Sad, sad, sad. I stood in their empty house crying yesterday - trying to explain to Luke where their trampoline was, their toys, their furniture, etc. It finally hit me. They really are moving.

The plus is that while Clint & Sarah are intensely packing and beautifying their house - we get to have Trace all week. This kid is so cool and Luke has been in heaven having a perma-buddy. Since this was our last week with Trace, I had to make it count. We packed in as much as we could. It's melt-your-face-off hot in Memphis though - so most of our activities included water.

Collierville sprinkler park


Memphis Zoo - Teton Trek's Old Faithful


Barenaked Backyardigans (cleaning them off so they could come inside)


Childrens Museum of Memphis



So, even though these kids have a blast together, they are kind of opposites. Snapshot of a day:

Breakfast: Luke (who is half in his seat, half out) is showing off for Trace (who actually requested to be buckled into his seat) and throws Cheerios all over the kitchen. Trace watches and shakes his head in disapproval.

Getting ready to go: Trace brings me his shoes and sits in my lap. He likes to be fully dressed at all times, shoes included. (right after a nap the first thing he asks is "where's my shoes?") I ask Luke to come so I can put on his shoes - he runs the other way squealing in delight at his funny joke.

Visit the Zoo: Luke will NOT ride in the stroller but wants to run. Not along side us though, it has to be in the opposite direction. (He may or may not have climbed in with the ELEPHANTS! Seriously, that kid plays by his own rules. And sometimes I don't think my heart stopping is so good for me.) Trace, on the other hand, insists on riding in the stroller and reluctantly gets out when persuaded. He loves to be buckled in and have the tray in locked position to feel nice and secure.

Naps: Trace falls asleep on the way home. Luke yells all the way home "TRACE IS SLEEPING!" Luke sleeps for 3 hours when we get home.

Alphabet puzzle: Trace puts the letter piece in the matching shape. Luke takes that letter piece off and throws it across the room.

But I gotta say, they both love to say "MINE!" and love to get dirty. They fight over who gets to do what. One time I said, "okay, now it's Luke's turn." Luke - "MY Luke's turn!" Trace - "no MY Luke's turn!"

We loved having Trace. He's a charmer.


boogie woogie bffs

tracenluke dance from katiehale on Vimeo.

We will miss the Cresaps dearly. You Utah folk don't know how lucky you are.

The Mighty Mite Triathlon

Forrest City, Arkansas
July 17th 8:00 am.
1/3 mile swim, 13 mile bike and a 3 mile run

We took this cheesy posed picture after the race




But then the race peeps were so nice and took pictures of us in action. As proof that we did it, they even put "proof" on all the pictures for us. How thoughtful.









This was Clint's first triathlon and he totally smoked us. Good job Clint.

DIV   SEX                          SWIM  SWIM   TRAN  BIKE  BIKE    BIKE  TRAN RUN   RUN    RUN   FINISH
PLACE PLC        NAME          AGE RANK  TIME    #1   RANK  TIME     MPH   #2  RANK  TIME   PACE   TIME   CITY     STATE
===== === ===================  === ==== ======= ===== ==== =======  ====  ==== ==== ======= ===== ======= ==============
12 125  Clint Cresap          40   24   12:51  2:10   15   44:14  17.6  1:25   13   24:16  8:06 1:24:55 Arlington TN       
18 145  Joseph Hale           32   19   13:22  2:10   18   44:01  17.7  1:32   16   26:29  8:50 1:27:32 Arlington TN
13  63  Katie Hale            32   15   14:23  2:39   18   53:29  14.6  0:44    9   28:10  9:24 1:39:23 Arlington TN

Lucy is 6 months

Lucy: 4 to 6 months -

Lucy: 4-6 Months from katiehale on Vimeo.

(added 7/28) Just had Lucy's 6 month doc appointment. She's 26 inches long (65%)and weighs 15 lbs (30%). Head circumference is 43 (75%). So she has only gained 3 ounces in the last two months!!! It's time to step it up and make sure she's getting enough to eat. (doctor's orders)

Garth & Kat

Here are some great summer tunes. I'm totally going to go to their concert at the arena for the ampitheatre of summer fun and playground time in the park.

feliz 4 de julio

Meet the Burtons -



Some of my first memories include Spencer. We played together when we were 4 years old and he has been a common best friend of Joey and mine since Jr. High. This 4th of July weekend we decided to relive old times and visit our friend - who is now living in Dallas, TX. We always feel really lucky to know and be friends with Spencer. He's just one of those cream of the crop kids and we feel like we're both better people cause of him.

Here is a recap of our trip -

4th of July 5K



Spencer is an administrator of a nursing home and after the 5K we stopped by and visited with some of the residents there. Lucy and her smiley ways were a hit and one sweet lady said "thank you Jesus" over and over as she held and squeezed Lucy. Everyone there made our visit there so rewarding and it was cool to see where Spencer works.

Back at the Burtons Brenley made amazing Cafe Rio style sweet pork salad. I mean, it was good to see Spencer and everything but that salad made it totally worth the drive. :-) We ended up singing some Indigo Girls and John Denver - just like the good old days. (we missed you Trisha!)


Our kids had lots of fun - Luke is between Eden & Summit in age and he just loved them both.




And Lucy & Everett are 3 months apart



Everett was blessed while we were there. Spencer was called to be in the branch presidency of a Spanish Branch - so the meeting and blessing were in Spanish. Spencer & Brenley are both fluent and Joey too. I tried to recall all that Mrs. O'Hara taught me as a 12 year old but somehow missed a lot. :-)

We went to some fireworks and were so excited for Luke to see them. But as soon as the show started, he jumped off my lap and started running. I don't know where he was going - just away. I got him to come back for a little while and we were both covering his ears. He kept saying "last one, ok?" and "too loud!". Finally we decided to stop torturing our 2 year old and we left. When we told him we could go, he ran, and ran, and ran and I could barely keep up with him. He was yelling "run away! no fireworks!" for blocks. I think everyone we ran by thought it was pretty funny. So, now we know I guess.

However Luke DID like this:



CATCHING HIS FIRST FISH!!









Look at this tiny lizard Joey found. Luke said "a little alligator!"


Our bathing beauty


A Burton tradition - Summit making waffles with his dad on the weekend


Spencer thinking long and hard about his birthday wish.


This is one awesome family.

oh here is a bonus video - don't get mad joey.