Going GREEN

It's not due to envy...

It's because it's SPRING... in many parts of the land. Not so much here, yet. Well, I guess it is Idaho springtime: 60mph winds, freak snowstorms, cold in the morning and warm afternoons and frigid evenings.... Yeah, I guess it's springtime here, too!

I thought it could be fun to change the color of the blog with the seasons - blue for summer, the sepia color for autmn, and another color for winter. If you hate this idea and want to go back to the old blog layout, lemme know!

Spring Break Project

We bought the orange paint for Meg's room (her favorite color) a few weeks after Mom and Dad left for their mission. So, I guess it is fitting that we finally got her room painted a few weeks after they got back from their mission. It was a fun project to do. Of course, Meg being a 9 year old girl is a PACK RAT! I "volunteered" to clean her room for her so I could throw out three big black garbage backs of STUFF without the fight of sentimenality on Meg's part. Three big black bags to the trash and one big black bag to DI. Whew! It was a fun project... it was nice to have something to do to keep me busy and my mind occupied as we've gone through withdrawl after all of ya'll left! We sure had a great time with all of you. It was so great - we can't wait to see you Okies on your home turf next year (if things continue to go as planned)!


The view as you walk in the door, look to the left and around the room....





This used to be Janie's room, bakc when there were butterflies and flowers on the walls.... she said she wants her room back now. Meg's reply? Yeah, right!

This is what we came home to...

We got a new camera so now we can show you what we came home to. It's been cold today though. It was 85 yesterday and only about 55 today. And you thought Idaho weather was crazy.

My dwarf peach tree is blossoming. I didn't even know if it was alive. It was just a twig when we left.

The pansies and day lilies are getting even bigger. Soon the pansies will die :(

This was the excitement in our neighborhood this morning. (Taken from the car on my way to work.) There were 5 fire trucks that lined the street with another one coming in as I left the neighborhood. There was a house that was on fire. It looks like it was mostly in the garage. Jordan said that when he went by this afternoon, a lady came out of the house and she was smoking... not the brightest person.. LOL (his words).

Thanks for a great week!

Our family had been looking forward to our trip to Idaho from the minute that Mom and Dad left for Germany. I'm so glad that every one of you could be there to visit while we were there....especially Kathy and Brian. It was so great to finally meet you. This is a crazy bunch, but they seem to grow on you.;-)

I'm so thankful to be a part of such a large, loving family. Although Chris and I are just "4 tanks away", we think about all of you often, and like you, sometimes wish that we were closer to enjoy more of these "family moments". I believe that we are where the Lord wants us and needs us at this point in our lives. With the technologies that we enjoy, you all are closer than you have ever been.

It was so great to see the "youngest amongust"....Nate and Cindy's family. You are probably all sick of me telling the story, but it just didn't seem possible so I had to keep repeating it...Cindy was just 8 years old (Janie's age) the year that Chris and I were married. It seems like yesterday. Uncle Nater is the perfect match for our little sister. Together they have made 2 beautiful children...way to go guys!
Thankfully Nate has so much energy, and is able to entertain the boys for hours. He is their real-live hero.

It's late and I need to hit the hay. I just wanted all of you to know how much we love you. Thanks again for the many memories that my family has taken away from a wonderful week with all of you.

Uncle Dale
"Go Sooners"

Kathy's first snowmobile ride.

Turn up the volume and listen to Kathy laughing and screaming!!!


Sheewwt, that thar's one of the funniest things I ever done saw!

I am a little nervous

I cant beleive it! I just thought I would try again to post something on this here fridge and the blog recognized our computer. It is not that we have never wanted to post... it is just we could not figure out how to gain access. We could read, but not participate.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend! Travel safe.
Love the Hatches

4 More Days...

Of course it will be 5 days before we see everyone. We're getting very excited!!

March.... Time to Dig a Tunnel to the Driveway

This is a picture taken after our BIG February 7th snowstorm. For three weeks, we used steps cut into the side of the drift (to the right of our little dog, Kitty). Henry owed me some money, so on March 1st I made him work for it!

This was taken a week after he had dug the tunnel, after a week of 40+ tempratures, so we've lost a lot of snow! We won't be flying kites for some time in Idaho!

Quote of the day

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

- Ronald Reagan

Too much energy

Nates Mom and Dad came up this weekend to visit with his Aunt Anne in Salt Lake who has colon cancer and isn't expected to live much longer.
After visiting with Anne for a while they came up here and spent the night. We played a few games, Cindy made a wonderful dinner, and Kaitlyn and Cade were quite entertaining. Right before we took this vidoe he was spinning Kaitlyn and when he stood her up she fell straight over. He picked her up and she did it again. It was pretty funny and she loved it.

March... Time to fly kites!!

Getting ready for take off...

The wind is just right.

Kites are quickly high in the sky.

I guess the winds were a little too strong...

Owen's kite ended up as a new sail for this sailboat. (Look above the bush.)