Summer 2020

Well, I think we can agree that 2020 has been pretty much a crapstorm, but we have managed to sneak a little bit of fun in this summer.

Well, first for the not so fun part - - Jack was just recovering from his quad tendon repair surgery when he said he felt his leg suddenly give out and he fell to the floor.  When we took him to the doctor they discovered a crack in his femur.  Luckily his tendon repair was fine, so he didn't need additional surgery, but he went into a full leg cast for six weeks.

While Jack was recovering the rest of us did a little cherry picking.

Jeremy, Dallin, and Thomas went camping with some friends.

We had a mini Hatch reunion and the kids had a ball kayaking, swimming, and playing together.

Drake and Tad had some fun doing a bunch of art journal projects on the back porch.

In July, Jack got his cast off and went back into the brace just in time to head to Utah. We were supposed to go to Kentucky to show my kids where I served my mission, and then on to meet my family in Nauvoo for a family reunion, but COVID obviously threw a wrench in those plans, so we headed up to Utah and stopped at the Needles section of Canyonlands National Park.  We really loved this section of Canyonlands.  None of us had been before.  We basically had the whole park to ourselves.  We only saw maybe two other families the whole time we were there.

It was interesting and very pretty.  Definitely worth the time to see it.

We then stopped at Arches.  Drake's Every Kid in a Park pass definitely came in handy.
This park was a little more crowded, but still not bad.  I'm not sure if that was because we went in the evening or if COVID kept people away, but it was nice.

We even did a couple of hikes.  I was concerned about Jack making this one because the sand was so deep, but he was determined.  We loved it and would like to come back another time when Jack is  a little more mobile.

We went up to Orem for a few days and then my whole family spent three days at a rental house and property near Preston Idaho.

It was a fun place right on the Cub River with outdoor games, swings, firepits, and a swimming pool.  My kids had the best time with their cousins.

Since we were so near Preston, a bunch of the cousins took a trip out to see the Napolean Dynamite house.  I wonder if the owners ever get tired of weirdos like us stopping to take pictures in front of it?

We took a fun hike one morning with Dallin, Thomas, Tad, my dad and some of the cousins.  Drake stayed and played in the pool with some of his cousins, and of course, Jack wasn't up for hiking.

The whole gang.  That is quite a group!

We headed home after the reunion and life has been a little quieter.  Dallin did play some 6v6 soccer.  It was fun to see him play again.  I didn't get any pictures of him playing, but here is a blurry video of one of his goals.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that school will start next week, but no official word yet.   We are ready for this never-ending summer break to be over.

Nine!

My little Tad had a birthday and turned nine back in June!  Nine!  It is always hard on me to have my boys turn another year older, but the baby is always the hardest.  Nine just seems so much older than eight and I was not quite ready for that.  At least I have one more year before he hits the double digits.  

We surprised him with this cute Happy Birthday in our yard when he woke up.  He loved it!

Since COVID-19 was raging in Arizona at the time we just had a simple birthday at home with our family.  He had his favorite breakfast, dinner, and cupcakes and, or course, a few fun presents.

We love Tad so much and we are so happy that he is part of our family!

Catching Up

Well, once again, it has been awhile.  This time it is because Covid-19 has kept us from our normal busy schedule that gives me things to share here, but also because with five kids all doing online school, I have not had many opportunities to touch any sort of computer.  Well, today, I am taking advantage of a quick break in the computer schedule to give a short update on some of the things that we have been doing since I last posted way back in January.

 Our stake did a Pinewood Derby for the Activity Day boys.  Drake decided he wanted to go for show this year, since he had taken first in speed the last two years and he did it!  He took first in show in our ward.  Tad took third in speed this year.  He took second last year, but there was some serious competition this year and Jeremy kind of ran out of time, so they were gluing wheels on the morning of the race.  Not bad boys!  Drake's car was a piano, and Tad's was a skateboard.

Since Drake took first in show in our ward he got to go to the Stake competition.  He took second there and was very excited!

Before school was closed, Jack was recognized for reading over 1 million words this year!  Good job Jack!!

I also got to go help Tad make a special treat in his class for Dr. Seuss day.  That is one of the things I love about not having to work outside my home - - I love being free to go and be part of these types of things for my kids. When Tad got home that day he said, "Mom, I wish you could come to my class every day.  That was so fun!"  I had fun too buddy!  #blessed

You can kind of see here that the kids got to wear their pajamas to school and bring a favorite stuffed animal.  Tad's teacher was so great this year.  It was a shame he only got to be in her classroom for three quarters.  Dang Coronavirus!

Dallin played his last season of city league basketball this year.  His team won the championship the night before the stay at home order.  He had fun being on such a good team this season.

Jeremy and I took a quick trip to Phoenix with the little boys a couple of weeks before the stay at home order.  We stopped at Culver's and the boys finally were able to cash in their scoopie tokens that they had been saving for some fun prizes!

My boys have kept busy at home with their school work and a few other fun things like this chalk art.

Jeremy had a birthday and his staff "forked out lawn to celebrate!

They also TP'ed us quarantine style.  Jeremy's staff is truly the best!!

For Easter, Tad was tired of worrying about the big brothers finding most of the eggs, so we came up with a plan that each boy would be assigned a color and they could only find eggs that were their color.  Tad made a chart, so there would be no confusion.

Worked like a charm!

My boys were good sports and posed for a picture after our at-home church on Easter.

A few days later, Jack ended up needing surgery because he tore his quadrilateral tendon on his right knee.  He has been a real trooper and we are hopeful that he can begin physical therapy after his next visit with the doctor.  Fingers crossed!!

That is all for now.

Birthdays

We had a couple of birthdays at our house in January.

First, Jack turned 12!  I can't believe how much he has grown up this past year!  There is not a trace of little boy left and we are headed full-speed ahead toward the teenage years.

It was an exciting birthday for him.  He was very glad to finally be able to advance from Primary to deacon's quorum.  His grandparents were here for his birthday.  They came down from Utah because he, Thomas, and Dallin were all being ordained to different offices in the Aaronic Priesthood, and they wanted to be here for that.  It was a bonus that they got to be here for some of the birthday celebration!

Just over a week later, Thomas turned 14!  He is taller than me now, by a couple of inches, and is sailing through Junior High like it is no trouble at all, which makes my life as a mom with a kid at the junior high much happier!

Lately I have been looking at my boys and I can't believe that they are so tall, and grown-up.  I don't know quite how that happened so fast.  I was thinking the other day about how so many moms complain about certain phases of life with their kids, but I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed every phase that my boys have gone through.  I never wished any part of their growing up years away.  I am so grateful for that!  I only have about 10 years left before all of my boys are out of the house and it makes me just want to appreciate these years so much more.  I know how fast 10 years goes!!

I am so grateful that I have been blessed to be the mom of such great boys! Happy Birthday Jack and Thomas!!

Update

 Popping in to share a little update on some of our doings over the past couple of months.

Jack went out in the forest with his dad and found these two sheds.  Pretty cool!

I reupholstered my old brown chairs.  I am much happier with them now.  This is kind of a look at the before and after.

Thomas was selected to be part of the regional junior high honor choir.  It was a fun day for him and it was fun for me to go see them perform that night.

Dallin was awarded All-Region Honorable Mention in soccer.  That was pretty exciting for him as a freshman.  He was also voted the most improved offensive player on his team by his teammates.  That is probably true.  He went from playing city league against 11-year olds, to hanging with the varsity high school players.  It was a good season for him.  We had so much fun watching him play.

Jack participated in the 6th grade science fair.  His project was selected to represent the school at the regional science fair this spring.  Good job Jack!!

We had fun decorating the house for Christmas.  I'll share just a few pictures...

We also had fun with some of our usual traditions including decorating sugar cone Christmas trees. Unfortunately this is the only activity where I got the camera out.  Oh well.

I'm glad my older boys will still participate in these old traditions.  Dallin was there too, but I didn't get a good picture of him.

We spent a Monday evening filling food bags for 3E snacks.  They are a community program that provides food for needy kids over the weekends and holidays.  It was a good experience for our whole family to help fill these bags to be sent home with kids for the Christmas break.

All of my boys had Christmas concerts. I only got this picture of Tad's at the elementary school, but they all did such a good job.  Dallin was part of the high school Christmas concert.  Thomas sang at the Junior High concert.  Jack sang at the Intermediate school concert, as well as with the sixth grade at the Intermediate school Christmas spectacular.  Drake sang with the fourth grade at the Christmas spectacular and even had a solo!  He did a great job!!  I love going to all of my boys performances and games.  To me, it is one of the greatest parts of being a mother.

I couldn't take a picture of my boys, but they all participated in our ward's Christmas program too.  Drake was asked to sing a solo with the ward choir.  He, Tad, and Jack all sang with the primary.  Dallin and Thomas sang a song with the youth and Thomas played a piano duet with his friend, Sam.  They all did so well.  It was such a nice program and such a good day.

It has been a good couple of months.

Catching Up

Just a few things that have kept us busy over the past few months. . .

Dallin turned 15!  

He also played varsity soccer. He was the only freshman who played varsity. When he was trying out I was worried that he wouldn't make the JV team and my dad kept insisting that he would make varsity.  I just couldn't believe that, but dad was right. Dallin is number 14.  It was a good season and so fun to watch him and his team play.

And I just have to share the Holbrook stadium.  What a cool location.  I did not take a picture of our stadium in Snowflake because it is not nearly as picturesque.

Some of my other boys played city league soccer.  This is Thomas.  Soccer season ended two weeks ago for city and last week for the high school.  We are about soccer-ed out, but Thomas was invited to play on a select team at a tournament in a couple of weeks, so soccer will continue for him for a few weeks yet.

This is Drake.  He came a long way this season, but he says he is not sure if he will play next year.

This is a picture of Tad taking the ball up the field.  

Since you couldn't see his face in the action shot, I am sharing this one of him getting ready for kick-off.  He had lots of fun this season.

Drake turned 10 at the end of October.  I can't believe my fourth child is in the double-digits already!!

This is a horrible picture, but it was the best I could do in the ten seconds they would give me on Halloween morning.  They were in a hurry to get to school. 

As you can tell Thomas was thrilled to be dressing up, but that is what you get when you are Student Body President and you are in charge of the Halloween dance.  (He was the Karate Kid, if you couldn't tell)

Jack was Draco Malfoy, Drake was Harry Potter, and Tad was Captain America.

Last weekend we took a trip up the mountain to cut and haul our winter wood supply.  This is hard work and definitely a time when it pays to have five strong boys!!  Dallin was super cooperative about letting me get a picture of him while he worked.  Oh well, it was better than Jack - I couldn't get even one of him.

Thomas was just as cooperative with my picture taking.  We'll just say he was focused on the work.

At least my little boys tried to muster up a semi-pleasant expression.

Thanks boys for all your hard work.  I love having a nice fire in the fireplace every morning and evening in the winter.  And it is nice that it helps keep the heating bill quite a bit lower too.

It has been a good couple of months for the Hatch family!