Back to School Baby

Alex is our fashionista. She is entering 2nd Grade this year. She will be busy with her Spanish, Gymnastics and Ballet.

Tori is going into the 4th Grade. She is aiming for Valedictorian. She is starting band this year and will play the flute, along with piano, gymnastics and ballet.

Benton is thrilled to be entering Pre-Kinder. He only attends half days but is so excited. He is going to be helping Daddy coach Varsity Football this year and work on his basketball skills.

Ada is Mommy's BIG helper this year. It's just the two of us and she keeps me on my toes. This year we hope to potty train and lose the binkie.

Off to school.

Birthday Weekend

The entire Hatch Batch came to Mexico for the weekend. That means there was 35 1/2 of us gathering under one roof. We always look forward to spending time with the family. Friday night I had all the nieces over for dinner and a sleepover. While they were at my house we had a skinned scalp, massive headache, and a broken toe nail. Once everyone was properly attended to we put on a movie and the adults headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's for "platica" and candy.

The next morning.I made crepes for the girls and then we loaded up to head to the lake. The kids swam and took turns riding on the tube behind the boat while the adults visited and ate watermelon and other snacks. Benton was riding with his other boy cousins and the tub flipped. Benton didn't let go of the tub and was about to be dragged. A few of us dove into the lake to rescue him but all was well. Then all the granddaughters got a lesson in water skiing and they were all able to get up. Anne and I decided to swim across the entire lake while the kids skied. We had a good day. Then we headed home to attend a football game that Garrett had to coach. I couldn't make it because all my kids fell asleep but they won! That night I made the adults sweet and sour chicken with rice and we visited again while Margo went around the room massaging everyone's feet.

The next day was Stake Conference and Garrett's birthday. We started the day with some cheesecake, Garrett's favorite, and presents. After conference we had a picnic and said good-bye to all the family. When we got home we took our traditional Sunday nap and when I awoke I found Garrett's birthday cheesecake all over the kitchen floor! Turns out Benton got hungry and tried to find something to eat...unsuccessfully. We salvaged what we could but the cake was ruined.

We had a fun and busy weekend and I didn't get a single picture.

I know I haven't blogged in awhile. Summers in a small town is very different than anywhere else in the world. Our entertainment comes with whomever is in town visiting. We love it when friends and family come to town for the summer.

 Our summer in town consisted of picnicking at the river...Thursday night softball games...Tuesday afternoon lunches with friends...Wednesday night temple sessions...running the temple hill on cool evenings with the kids...watching the crops grow... being very very creative....watching the Olympics...

helping out the missionaries...

 bike rides...swimming at the neighbors (all of them)...

 and keeping this little one distracted...she loves to sneak out and go to the neighbors house.

We are excited for school, piano, ballet and gymnastics to start up again. Benton will be entering Pre-K so I will be home alone with Adalyn this year.

Family Vacation

Tori's Spa Day for her birthday!

Sea World in San Antonio, TX

Benton and the alligators.

My high-adventurers.

Alex feeding the dolphins.

All the kids got to feed the dolphins.

Tori and the Shark Tank.

The family with Shamu.

Schlitterbahn was the next day. Alex didn't want to take off any of her wrist bands.

Adalyn's first vacation. She did pretty well....as long as she got her naps.

Garrett was on the phone taking care of business every spare second he had.

We had a fun day at the Schlitterbahn.  
The weather was perfect and the crowds weren't bad at all.

Bath time at the hotel.

Ada's first time at the beach.

We got rained on the first day but the water was nice.

Tori is a little fish. She got so sunburned. With sun screen on she still blistered.

We had to get used to having sand EVERYWHERE. There is no controlling that with kids.

Snuggle time with Daddy.

Garrett and I had to take turns sitting on the sand with the little ones and catching waves with the big ones. I don't think we were ever in the same place at the same time.

Alex wandered up the and down the shore finding sea shells. She was in heaven.

Tori, before her horrific sunburn.

Garrett's spa treatment.

Alex and Tori stayed in the water boogie-boarding the entire time.

Our last day on the beach.

Benton heading out to catch a wave or two.

Ada had fun eating the sand...and sea weed.

A nice couple caught her with a mouth full of sea weed and got her to spit it out before I could get to her. Then hey offered her a granola bar instead.

Poor Garrett got fried too. Tori and Garrett have the fairest skin ever. They burn through everything. We spent the next few days applying tons of Aloe...Lavender for the sting...Peppermint for the itching...and Vaseline for the peeling.
We had a great time with the Greg and Kami Hatch Family and the Mike and Kirsten Spitzer Family too.

the 4th

(notice: Benton in the background covering his ears during the fireworks.)

Yes, we celebrate the 4th of July in Mexico. 

Our dear friends hosted a fantastic party for all of us Americans. There was great food, people, a bike parade, an appearance by George Washington to remind us why we celebrate the 4th, and fireworks. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July.

I just love the beautiful sky in the background of some of these pictures.

We were poured on minutes before this BBQ was about to begin.

But, the weather was perfect for all the festivities and the sky was breathtaking. 

Happy 4th of July!

Tori's 9th

 Tori turned 9 this week. She woke up to a new bike...chocolate mousse cake for breakfast...and a day filled with bike riding and swimming.

 Tori you are such a great help to me. You love taking care of Ada and you are very good at it. You are such a responsible girl and I can always count on you.

 You were chosen to be the oldest of our family for a reason. We wouldn't have it any other way. We love you so so much.

 Your excitement for your new bike made all your siblings so excited to ride their bikes and that is what you've been doing all week long...from sun up to sun down.

 Letting you ride around town made me nervous at first but then I realized that you aren't my tiny baby anymore. You are a responsible girl...growing into a young lady.

 Your sisters and brother love you so much. Happy Birthday Tori!