Extended Family

I absolutely love living around many extended family members. There's really no need for any close friends (unlike when we lived in Arizona) because we always have family to do fun things with. We love it when we have visitors for the weekend. The Bundy's are frequent guests, and we always have a lot of fun when they come for a visit. It's an added bonus that they and the Hatch's enjoy each other so much, because then we get to see even more of Kylee and Brody! Emma is like the little sister all the kids always wished for, but never got. . .

Emma sure knows her way around our house, has stuffed animal "friends" she loves to play with, and always has at least one of the kids to play with.

We always have serious card games going late into the night. This night these four thought they would be really funny and put a huge amount of salt into my glass of ice water when I left the room for a minute. Haha. That got a good laugh from them all at my expense.

These next several photos are just random pictures of different family members taken over the past few years. I think we are so blessed to have so much family within a 2 hour drive. I have all 4 sisters and 1 brother, and Mom and David (for half the year), as well as 6 nieces and 8 nephews (most with families and children of their own). I also enjoy seeing my 6 aunts and uncles and many cousins (who also live within a 2 hour drive) on occasion. Mike has his parents, both sisters and brother and their families all within an 80 minute drive.

Sister Ann, sis-in-law Nancy, bro-in-law Dave, and brother Gary.

Niece Sara, Ky, sister Carol, and niece Lindsey.

Mike's sister Teresa, sis-in-law Jessica, and mother-in-law Freda.

My niece Jamie's husband Ryan, niece Sara and husband Cody. And several great-nephews and nieces.

Sisters Carol and Ann, my niece Stacey's husband Todd, two of Carols kids, one of Jamies, one of Sara's and Brody.

My niece Stacey, her two girls, the Bundy's (nice pose Lindsey) and my niece Jamie's boy Josh

The Handy Bunches as we like to call the Hatch's and Bundy's.

Mom, and three of my sisters. Where's Von?

Teresa's kids, and our kids.

Derek, Jaxon, Ky, Jake (and someone man-handling him- Tommy maybe?) Jess and Stacie.

Jessica, Tom, Derek, Teresa, and Cam and Jake.

Ann, Von, Lindsey, Ky, Sydney, Tina, and Janet.

That's not everyone, of course, but enough to show that I do have wonderful memories of these family members. I wish we could see more of Paul and DeNae, Magen and family, Haley, Stacey, Jordan and Claire and their families. And actually most of the Smith's even though they live within the 2 hour distance! This post is dedicated to all of mine and Mike's family. I love you all!