Friday, December 16, 2011

Christmas Time

Every year for Christmas I make fudge for all our neighbors and friends. This year was no different.

The grade school had their annual Christmas program at the JSA. Tori sang and danced to Feliz Navidad and Alex sang The Little Drummer Boy. They both did great.

Benton and I got to help with the practices and costumes. We had a lot of fun dancing with the kids.

Alex and her good friend Silvana with their missing front teeth. I wish they would have sang a little duet of "All I Want for Christmas...".

With lights up...Christmas programs performed...goodies pouring in...family coming to town...and school OUT...we are ready to begin the celebration!
Merry Christmas!
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Sunday, December 11, 2011

All I want for Christmas is...


MY TWO FRONT TEETH!
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Stake Christmas Program

This year Garrett and I were asked to play in the orchestra for our stake Christmas Program. I got to dust off my flute and Garrett his Baritone in preparation for the program.

We had a great time playing with everyone. Once the orchestra was put with the choir, costumes and narration it was magical. It was great to be apart of this presentation.

Hundreds of nativities were set up and on display and over 300 people came to the Program. It was a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Tori helped me document one of our rehearsals. I wish I got pictures of the performance.


Merry Christmas!
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Sunday, December 4, 2011

One of life's curve balls

The other day I was on my way to Casas for a doctor's appointment.
I dropped off my kids at my good friend's house and decided to stay for a minute and visit.
As I was about to stand up and leave we heard a door slam and instant crying.
Seconds later Johnny, who was home sick from Kindergarten, came out the door holding up a bloody finger.
I didn't think much of it until Jen came back to the door to LOOK FOR THE FINGER!
He had the tip of his finger cut off in the door!
After a few seconds of searching she found it...finger nail and all.
Jen calmly put it in a baggie of ice and proceeded to call the local doctor to see if he was in town.
Meanwhile her injured son was holding a cloth around his severed finger and crying. 
I told her to take him to the hospital and I would stay with the kids.
She picked up Johnny and ran to the van to rush him to the hospital down town.
I stayed with the other kids and answered phone calls and informed family members of the mornings' events.
Jen called me from the hospital and told me that Johnny was in surgery and they were reattaching his finger.  She was also blessed enough to have her father-in-law and sister-in-law there with her to lend their support.
I took her kids to my house and then picked up all our kids from the grade school and fed them lunch....put all the babies down for naps...and cleaned up while Jen was resting with little John out of a successful surgery.
I know we were in the right place at the right time to help in a time of need.
The boys were so cute and all of them climbed onto my bed to watch Tom and Jerry and take naps.
Once they awoke I took them back home to stay with the maid and then headed to the grade school to do Art with the first graders. 
When school let out one of Jen's kids came out with a HUGE homemade get-well card with candy on it for Johnny. 
His siblings were very concerned about their little brother and wanted to head straight home to meet him.


Friday, December 2, 2011

3-of-a-kind

Do these three cousins look alike or what?! Tori, Malia and Kelsey.
Those HATCH genes run strong! 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving

This year we made the trek to Utah for Turkey Day.
We had a fantastic meal prepared by all of us.
It included: cheddar rolls, sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, creamy bacon potato casserole, turkey, ham, bacon wrapped l'il smokeys, and about 7 different pies.
After dinner we got our family pictures taken.



Once we got home we enjoyed picking over left-overs and playing games.



Here is my immediate family...in order of age.



The following day we headed up to the Homestead for a swim and a soak in the hot mineral baths.

Garrett only swims if the water is above 80 degrees so the kids got lucky enough to have Dad swim with them.



My childhood home was across the street from the Homestead. When they added on the golf course they needed to cut into our property a bit so in return they gave us all LIFETIME use of the tennis, golf and swimming facilities on the resort.



That evening we took the kids out for a night of fun and games with their cousins.



Adalyn was barely able to see over the dash board but she loved driving her little convertible.


We were rounding a corner in WalMart when I heard a voice addressing with a cheerful, "Merry Christmas!" It was Santa...and no one was around!! We got him all to ourselves. 
My kids were beyond thrilled...plus he had a REAL beard so he must be the real thing!


Our trip was cut short because the entire house came down with the flu so we all parted ways.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thats my boy!

It must be an instinctive nature for little boys to be able to pick-up a ball and know what to do with it.
I still have a hard time understanding the game!
Benton is lucky enough to have 2 best buddies...and they are twins to top.
They have a great yard with a "play place", basketball court, gardens, trampoline, and a great place for us Moms to relax and watch.
We gather most mornings so our sons can play some ball and we can catch up.
Beautiful mornings.