Last Hurrah with the Hatches

LAST HOORAH WITH THE HATCHES
I think this was our last little get together with the Hatches.  It's sad, but I feel like we got a lot of good time with them, so I really can't complain.  The kids all had so much fun together.  My kids were off tonight, fighting and whining, bee sting, Jack's weird little "go inside" meltdown, fighting and whining... but we managed to make it a productive visit.  I got to talk with Sarah at least :).  Kind of a bummer mood to end on is all.  I can't wait til our girls night on Tuesday though!  I gave my camera to Kelly and then Erika, so they captured some of the fun moments.  I'm glad there were some :). 8-2-15

there's a theme here

Things to Remember Week of 8-2-15

TEACHING COMBINED YW
I finally taught the combined lesson today.  I've gone about a year and half without having to.  Not that I didn't want to, it just worked out that way.  I was really nervous but very prepared.  I wish I'd had more time.  I was planning on having about 40 minutes because we've had that much time lately, but the 25 minutes I ended up with just didn't cut it.  I feel like we didn't even get to the meat of the lesson.  Kind of a bummer.  A lot of the girls were sweet about the lesson and really, most of the girls participated a TON, which is what I wanted.  It was a very loud meeting for that matter with so much participation so that was the good thing.  I think I just keep over-analyzing things like Sharalyn and Lisa talking to each other through most of it, and Sharalyn playing on her iPad, but overall, I think it was okay.  I hope I can stop thinking of things I wish I'd been able to say.  8-2-15

NO NAP SUNDAY
That says it all.  I didn't take my nap today.  Left me with very little patience, but I was glad I spent the time with my kids instead.  All in an effort to improve our Sabbath day observance.  8-2-15

RAINY DAY
We woke up to a very cloudy, wet day on Monday.  I was very happy about it :).  We spent most of the day inside.  At one point, Bradley was in his room and noticed that his window well was filling up pretty quickly, with water!  And that the water was starting to leak in through the window.  I instructed him on how to redirect the water that was draining off the roof into the window well and bail the water out.  It was a very exciting project for all the kids- they were all running around in emergency mode, trying to help out- it was cute.  The stress got to Brad a little bit when he saw the water coming in his room, he cried a little, but overall, we were all pretty fascinated with how much water there was to deal with.  As we got looking around the yard, we noticed the back right corner was about a foot deep and the creek!!  the creek was almost up to the bridge and rope swing!!  SO HIGH!!  I don't know if I've ever seen it that high!  It was awesome!  Like a full blown river.  Of course my camera was dead so I didn't get any pictures of it all :(... that always happens.  Once we got the boys' window well under control we were able to go out in the front and play in the giant puddles.  Lisa showed us a picture on her camera of the road completely covered in water!  You couldn't even see the road!  It was pretty amazing!  I think I'm more amazed by how quickly it can drain though!  It wasn't long.  The kids ran around getting wet and dodging traffic in the street to get the perfect puddles.  It was a lot of fun.  I go tto stand out and talk to Emily for a while- that was nice.  I love rain, love the gray clouds, it was a great day!  8-3-15

WORD OF WISDOM AND MODESTY
Charity taught our FHE lesson on the Word of Wisdom and Modesty last night.  It was cool to hear our kids talking about what they know is good and not good for their bodies and being able to teach them a few new things.  Charity did a great job.  I'm glad she is thinking about these things.  We went to Dairy Queen for Luke's treat (kind of fun to go get ice cream at 9:30 at night when we just got done talking about what's good for you and what's not... hmmmm.... but whatever- nobody else noticed so I didn't say anything).  Then it was time for bed!  8-4-15

GIRLS NIGHT OUT
Heidi, Sarah and I got to hang out on Tuesday night.  It was such a nice relaxing evening!  We went and got pedis and then had dinner at Costa Vida- kind of a redo of our first date :), I think we need to make it a tradition.  I loved it.  Such good company and so relaxing.  I had a little trouble getting home.  Nate's car had been smoking when I arrived at Sarah's parents' house so I knew it was going to take something to get me home, but I didn't realize how hard it would be.  I put more coolant in and was able to get a little ways before it started smoking again.  Luckily I had some help from Nate, and after about 10 more stops and another jug of coolant, I was home, Nate was on his way to his night shift, and it was time for bed.  It was a little stressful since I was supposed to leave for Superactivity in the morning, but I knew everything was going to be okay.  FORTUNATELY, Nate's friend on the mid came home with him, looked at/fixed his car and loaned him his truck in the meantime.  It was awesome.  What a blessing.  I was able to take the suburban and all was well.  8-5-15

Happy 36th Birthday, Nate!

Ya gotta love the crappy, amateur job Dairy Queen did on the writing!  I could have done THAT!!  So weird.

NATE'S 36th BIRTHDAY!
Nate's birthday snuck up on me a little this year.  Mostly because my brain isn't functioning.  But I think we managed to make it a fun day for him.  Our kids just know how to birthday :).  We all slept in a little- late night.  Realized there wasn't any milk, eggs, bread, or well... basically ANYTHING in our house for breakfast, so we hurried and let Nate open his "gift".  It was actually Noah's rollerblade wrapped up, to represent that we wanted to take Nate shopping for roller blades. We went to IHOP for breakfast.  This was fun, everyone was so well-behaved.  I haven't been all that impressed with their service the last few times I've been there, this time included, but it was great.  They even sang to Nate and gave him some ice cream- as per Kelly's request.  They love that stuff :).  Then it was off to Dick's Sporting Goods.  The kids have been wanting to get him roller blades ever since they broke his.  It's been about 2 years.  I just couldn't ever get around the logistics of it. I didn't want to buy the wrong size/color/style, but I didn't want to get specific enough to get a gift card to a certain place.  So this worked.  We told him what he was getting and then we wall went shopping for it together :).  It was actually kind of fun.  Even spent time in the mall which we NEVER do :).  Then we came home and relaxed for a little while.  Then got ready to go to Uncle Dan's for a Maynes Family BBQ.  We had a nice time there.  Good food, good company.  Then headed home for Nate's birthday party.  My Dad is the one that insisted we have a party :).  He really likes to spoil Nate and needs an event to make that happen I guess.  I was glad he wanted to come.  It's fun to have other people to celebrate with too.  We ended up taking a detour from our original cake and ice cream (well actually ice cream cake) plans and ended up getting snow cones instead.  Grandpa had a craving.  Steve showed up at the snow cone place and graced us with his presence for a little while- that was fun.  My Dad and Dawn were too sugared up for cake though and left shortly after we got home and watched Nate open some presents.  We ended up doing a few more things with just our family which turned out to be really fun even though we were pretty exhausted from our long day!  We did our sparklers.  We made sure the kids showered before eating ice cream cake- another late night for us!  I think it was 11:00 when we finished singing Happy Birhday to Nate and passed out the goods.  But we had a great time together.  I really loved the quiet moments before family prayer when we were all saying what we think is special about Nate.  This is a little bit of a new tradition.  I LOVED hearing what the kids thought to say.  They really love their dad and know that he is an original.  He's just not like other dads.  He's never too busy to play with them.  He lets them help him fix things and work on projects.  He teaches them new things, sharing his hobbies and talents with them and letting them enjoy them with him.  He's one of the only Dads I know whose hobbies always include his kids/family.  He doesn't go off and do things on his own like most dads.  It's pretty cool.  These kids are lucky.  And I"m lucky too!  I don't know too many husbands who can do what Nate can with our seven kids, even with fewer kids.  He is amazing.  I never have to worry about how things are going when I'm not here.  Even for days at a time for Girls Camp and such, I know the kids are in good, FUN hands and that the house will be taken care of and that things will run smoothly.  It's such a relief and such a great blessing to have him for a husband and father of my kids.  He really is original.  The kids had LOTS to say about him, went on for turn after turn and "one more" after "one more".  It was really sweet.  I was glad.  Nate deserves that.  They love him.  Nate and I watched a movie together after getting the kids in bed and watching Nate do his little work out :).  So we did get in some us time.  It was a nice day.  I hope he felt good and spoiled.  7-25-15

Here's a big belly shot for all you naggers out there... 

Sparklers for Daddy's Birthday

We got out the sparklers we've had sitting around for the past few years (our neighbors' fireworks shows made us too cool for sparklers I guess).  That was a lot of fun. I had my camera out and everyone just did shot after shot for the camera.  It is a lot of fun to capture the streaks with the shutter open for a while.  I was really surprised with how much fun it was for everyone and how safe everyone was being. Even Jack got into it and wasn't scared at all.  We did have one little burn at the end, Erika flicked some burnt sparkler up onto her bicep.  Cute Jack went running in after her saying, "My sister!"  Then when he got inside said, "What. happened. my. sister?"  He was very concerned- it was so cute!!  Then he kept asking Erika what happened and would moan and groan at seeing the burn site (which just for the record didn't really exist- it did NOT leave a mark).  Funny little boy.  He loves her so much, it's adorable.