Pioneer Home

When our dear Aunt Ernie died the home she lived in was left to the family. We were then given the opportunity to live in it. 

This house is an original pioneer home. It is over 100 years old and still has the original windows, hard wood floors and corner stones.

The home used to have a pitched roof and brick exterior. It was remodeled several decades back and now it has a flat roof and the brick has been stuccoed over. I personally do NOT like the remodel. I would have preferred the original exterior.

We love our home and were able to renovate the interior before moving in. There still is a lot to be done but uncovering those original hard wood floors and restoring them was like Christmas morning. Such a treasure!

I would love to make the house look as it did back when the pioneers first settled in the colonies. So I have future plans to re-pitch the roof and scrape off all the stucco (if that is possible) to expose the original brick. 

I love living in a home with character and a story to go with it. 

This home originally had only two bedrooms (now it has 4) and a family of 9 lived in it!!! Many Hatch's have raised their families in this home and now it is my privilege to do the same. 

Mi Casa es Su Casa.

 BEFORE the remodel...

After the remodel...

Please...

Beggars are not an unusual sight here in Mexico. We are not completely surrounded by poverty. There are ALL classes combined in our community. Usually someone will come to the door asking for money to help pay medical bills (more times than not they are a hoax), food to eat, clothing for their children or work. 

I have no problem asking them to wash a car or mow a lawn in exchange for pay but usually they want a quick fix. I no longer give out money but will willingly give food or clothing to those in need.

If you have a dog in the yard it usually keeps the beggars away, because most of the Mexican people are fearful of dogs. And it especially works well when you have a very LARGE dog, which we did.

However, our dog (Great Dane) was stolen and only days away from having Great Dane pups. So our security dog could no longer help us out with the beggars. 

Once you give to one beggar they spread the word that your house is a good one to hit and you will get more of them wanting the same things. 

This happened to me yesterday. I had a father and daughter come to the door asking for money. I told them I don't keep money in the house because it is too dangerous, so they asked for food. I have no problem sharing food, so I handed over two valentine cakes. Then the man asked for clothes. Since I don't have a constant bag of "out-grown" clothing by the door I told him to come back later if he wanted clothes, for I would need to sort through closets. I sent them on their way.

Two minutes later I had a nursing baby, and a toddler by my side, in bed, almost asleep for naps when there was another knock at the door. I had to slide out of bed, without awaking the babies, and see who was there. It was the daughter, this time without her father. She asked me for a water bottle so I gave her one and again, sent her on her way. 

I guess the word got out that I say YES so I was visited by 3 more beggars that day! I haven't had a beggar in almost a year and yesterday I got 4!! 

I feel totally taken advantage of! Some of these people make a living out of begging and that is frustrating when they are perfectly capable of working! 

It would be a different story if they were grateful for the things they are given but 9 times out of 10 there is NO Thank You!

I am now saying NO to all beggars unless I feel prompted to help. Hopefully the word will spread amongst them and I will be left alone...for awhile.

giving birth in Mexico

i started out having my first child in the United States. the next three were born in mexico. having experiernced both i will tell you...hands down...i prefer to deliver in mexico!

this may come as a shock so i will explain. 

everyone i know, who has given birth in Mexico, has delivered a baby within 2 hours upon arrival at the hospital. 

the doctor's are very attentive.

they have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. the doctors will give you their home number, office, and personal cell phone numbers.

i did have a Frankenstein-like experience with my second child, but that was because I was too new to the country and I didn't do my homework.

With my third and fourth babies I received royal treatment.  I walked into the E.R. and my doctor was paged, along with the anesthesiologist, and the pediatrician.  They all arrived within 25 minutes and they NEVER left my side...not ONCE...until I had a baby in my arms!

My husband has always been able to help with the cutting of the cord and the meds are fantastic! Not too strong...not too weak. Enough to feel the "urge" to push but without the pain. I was even able to shower, by myself, a few hours after giving birth.

You still get your hot meals served to you and nurses checking in on you and baby, but you only have to stay admitted for 24 hours! Then you can go home to relax in your own bed. 

That is, however, if you had a smooth delivery and are not high risk, which thankfully, I am NOT.

viva Mexico!

pavement?

This is the view from our high school football field.

Whenever I tell people that I live in Mexico they say, "oh, you mean NEW Mexico." I have to correct them and say, nope...the one ACROSS the border.

The next assumption is that we live in an adobe hut on a dirt road with chickens running everywhere. 

Let me just tell you that is FALSE! We have a nice home (original Pioneer home, a story for a later date), indoor plumbing and even electricity! Nowadays with VONGE phone and DISH Network it is like we never left the States.

I had to reassure my mother that we lived on a paved road...a big step in the right direction. I must admit that my 4 inch heels do get dirt in them from going from my home to church but I blame that on the wind...mostly.

We live at the same altitude as Utah...we have green grass...and trees...I rarely see cacti...sidewalks are still a foreign concept....but we DO have pavement!

 

sisters' retreat

 Every year my husband lets me take a little vacation home...ALONE...while he watches the kids and takes over for me. I look forward to it every year!

I usually have a nursing baby with me, but it works out great because my siblings get a chance to meet my newest addition.

Uncle Rob instantly bonded with Adalyn. So sweet.

 The main purpose of the trip was to celebrate Rachel's first baby with a Sister Shower! Christine and Rachel are both due around the same time...MY birthday! So exciting!

 We ate at a darling little restaurant in the Riverwoods. I loved it because they had a lemon orchard throughout the restaurant. Made me feel like I was at home on the farm. Here we all are...except for Christine...she wandered off to a Toy Store.

 This was my traveling companion this year...Baby Ada. She did fantastic on the plane and didn't cry once!

 I just had to get a picture of my gorgeous...single...sister Janelle because this is the process she goes through to get her beautiful locks to cooperate. Too funny!

 I got the chance to meet up with my closest girlfriends from high school. We had a blast laughing and eating. Two of my best gal-pals had babies the same time I did. Here are our little girls!

My mom, Louisa and I went to the Homestead to have a soak in the mineral baths and Adalyn absolutely LOVED it. It relaxed her to the fullest and even calmed her through the "fussing hours" of the evening. We have been going to the Homestead for decades and it is one of my favorite places!

It was so nice to have a little R&R while G was home passing out Valentine's for our three kids, cooking, cleanings, wiping tears, holding FHE, doing laundry and driving to school. That is the BEST present ever.

While in Utah I got to be with all my siblings...eat out...shop...get a massage...visit...take pictures...laugh...relax...pedicures...hair appointments...visit old friends...see snow

The 

List

could 

go

on and on.

Living away from home makes these times all the more special!

{from scratch}

I am a city girl...turned country. When I married G we lived in a cute little town house and anytime we craved something we would just jump in the car and get it! I can't count how many late-night runs we made to Jamba Juice.

Today is a different story. I can no longer rely on a McDonald's to cure a quick-fix for dinner and those midnight pregnancy cravings...FORGET about it!

Don't get me wrong, we do have great little taco stands and hamburger trailers that sell the best baked potatoes you will ever taste but the hours are selective and you can't always count on them being there from one day to the next. 

In our small community I have to drive 22 miles to get to the nearest "drive-through". We do not have a WalMart in our neck of the woods so get your "fix'n's" before the tiny local store closes by 8:00pm.

Therefore, we rely on our cooking and baking skills. One night we were all craving Krispy Kreme donuts so I got online and found a copy-cat recipe and we made our own. Or the time we wanted some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream...we had to recreate our own version. 

And so it goes...living in a small farming community. I don't feel as bad letting my kids indulge because nothing made from scratch has preservatives in it....so I justify!

Plus...my cooking skills have become pretty sharp! I can improvise like a pro!!

butter baby

Living in Mexico has many advantages and disadvantages...one being BUTTER. Yes, I said b.u.t.t.e.r. 

In my kitchen I make EVERYTHING from scratch (I have to...I'll elaborate later). I find that if I don't stock my freezer with pound upon pound of butter my life will somehow END! I know it sounds shallow but it is true. 

What would we toast our bread with...what would my kids have for their baked treats that serve as After-School-Snacks, recess treats, or dessert?! 

Not "monteqilla" a Mexican version of butter. I want the REAL thing. So, it goes onto my MILE long grocery list for our monthly run out to EL Paso (the good ole U.S. of A). 

I know it sounds trivial or something you could take for granted easily but today I am so grateful for my supply of BUTTER!