rain destruction/1st day of school

A few years ago for Christmas, the Raymonds gave us an awning to use in our backyard. We thought it would be fun, but decided it would be in the way of mowing and watering the grass, so we put it in the garage and didn't really think of it until this summer when Mike remembered it and suggested we set it up and see if it would fit over our patio furniture and give us some shade. Sure enough, it fit perfectly, so we moved our swing under it too (since I had ruined the shade covering for that a few weeks earlier) and we were set! (awww- look at cute little Sal :)
I loved the look, it provided great shade, and we really enjoyed it for about two months. Our fear was that with the first strong windstorm, it would blow away, but it withstood several of those with no problem. Then came the rain. . . This past Sunday and Monday morning, it rained here like I haven't seen or heard since I don't know when. At 4:00 in the morning Monday as I lay in bed listening to it pour, I just knew our fun little covering would be no more. Sure enough, when we got up, here is what we saw. . .

Several of the bars were bent, and there was just no salvaging it. It was so sad to just junk it.


So now we're on the lookout for something similar, since we can't go back to a bare patio. Please be on the lookout with me.

The kids started back at school this week, as well as me back at work for my 4th year at Mount Logan Middle School as an ESL aide from 12-3 every day. It was tough for all of us to give up the fun, carefree days of summer- but it must be done.

Here is Jess starting her Sophomore year at USU
This is Jake's Sophomore year at LHS.
And Cam is a big 8th grader at MLMS. Make it a great year kids!

They're gone

I've known this day was coming for five months. I've tried to prepare myself. I'm not going to dwell on my sadness at Kylee and Brody moving. That would be selfish. . . I'm just going to think of the positives. I'll get back to you on those when I figure out what they are. Kidding. I'm excited for them to have this experience of moving off on their own. Mike and I did it- and it was great. We just have loved having them around so much, and have been spoiled these past 2 1/2 years since they got married and lived 5 minutes away, and especially spoiled these past few weeks having them living at home. It has been so great, and we've done some fun things. The following is a sampling:



This past weekend, the Bundys and Densleys came for a fun going away party. First we ate,
played beach volleyball, then went to Lundstrom Park for some night-time ultimate frisbee.

Then back home for a competitive game of scum.
Sunday after church, we played more beach volleyball. I don't know what I love more on a summer day than a rousing game of beach volleyball. It's so much fun. That evening, the Searles, Ericksons, and Griffins came for munchies, a game of Apples to Apples, and to say goodbye.

This morning, me and the boys joined Ky, Brody and Salomon on a bike ride up Green Canyon. It was hard/beautiful/fun all at the same time. We then helped them pack up the moving truck with their belongings that had been stored in Brody's sister's garage these past 2 weeks.
They left the truck at Brittanys house and came back here to load up what they'd been using the past 2 weeks and to get Sal. Luckily they didn't have to go all the way to Glendale like this!
And then they were gone. I can't really say more than that at this time. I just got done reapplying my makeup- and I don't need to be ruining it again. I am so glad we were able to have such a fun time this whole summer as a family.


And now to answer the burning question I'm sure many of you have. How did it go with Sal the dog? I don't know if I've been more surprised by anything in my life than by how I feel about this dog. I might just have to say I love the little guy. I know, I know- I've had many a negative thing to say about dogs in the past. They drool, they dig, they lick, they bark, whine, jump, poo, shed, stink. I was prepared to tolerate all these things just to have Ky and Brody here. But, to my amazement, Sal doesn't bark, dig, drool, whine, jump, shed or stink. Well, not much. He is a good boy. He's smart and rather entertaining and quite fun. For the first few days, this is where Sal was most of the time:
I couldn't take it! Look at that face! I could practically hear him saying "whatcha doing in there? looks like you're having fun! I wanna come in and have fun too!" So, slowly by slowly, he made his way into the house and into my heart. I know! It's shocking!

I lost any fear I had of being drooled on, jumped on, or licked. OK- maybe that's exaggerating. But I did improve.

Here are some more pictures of us having fun with him:
Now, lest you think the world has gone completely mad, we're not going to run out and get a dog of our own now that Sal is gone. But I won't be dreading having Sal come back for Christmas- even if it means he'll probably stay inside the house THE WHOLE TIME.

I've been making a list the past few weeks of things I'll miss about having the Hatchs live here:
*every other sunday dinners
*wednesday dinners and LOST afterwards
*drop in visits
*shopping and lunchs with ky
*brody's awesome discounts on outdoor equipment from nordas
*rook and other card games
*going to the temple together
*get-togethers with the bundys
*working out together
*hikes and bike rides
*seeing the green jetta or red dodge in front of our house
*driving by their house on the way to the weyerts or cliffside
*backyard beach VB, croquet, badminton or bocce ball
*celebrating every birthday and holiday together
*passing each other driving around town, or seeing Ky walking Sal on the island as i'm driving by
*brody's laugh

We have a lot of wonderful memories that will see us through until we make more. Good luck Kylee, Brody and Sal in your new home and town. I love you guys (great--- there goes the make-up. . . )

Summer Fun

We have been having such a fun summer I haven't taken the time to blog about everything. So this post will cover events that have occured over the last 6 weeks.

Since the Logan temple was closed practically the whole month of July, Kylee, Brody, Mike and I drove to Ogden one evening to attend the temple there. It was fun to experience a session in a temple we're not used to. We only got lost a couple times. . . afterwards, we went out to eat at yummy Texas Roadhouse. How happy are we that there will be one 2 miles from our house in a few short months?

My sister Mary Ann turned 60 the first part of July (hard to believe, I know-- we look like twins except for I'm taller, right?) She threw herself a fabulous party at their "Neverland acreage compound" that we enjoyed attending along with about 40 other family members- including every one of her immediate family. It was so much fun, and will be hard to top for her 70th. . .
We loved hosting the Lakes for two days and nights per our yearly tradition. The kids all had so much fun playing together. We enjoyed lots of exercising, visiting, eating, and a fun party along with the Petes, Bundy's and Hatchs. We had a cookout, went to Lundstrom park for a competitive game of kickball, then back to our house for beach volleyball in the dark. It was a riot. Everyone had a great time I think (except perhaps Mike who did all the dishes while we played volleyball so he could watch coverage of the Tour de France for the day-- what a man! And especially Jessica who got to hold baby Lydia the entire evening.)



I got the thrill of a lifetime while attending the Utah Festival Opera production of CAMELOT and helping serve refreshments during intermission and after the musical with the Skeens, and my friend Janae. President Monson and his wife were coincidentally in attendance that afternoon, so because my brother Gary is the managing director of the UFOC, he arranged for us all to meet him and shake his hand! It was so awesome, and something I'll always remember. I only wish my whole family could have had that opportunity.

Kylee turned 22 on the 27th, and we had a fun party with the Weyerts, Nelsons, and Linny and girls. Mixing, I know- but it wasn't intentional. It wasn't as awful as I'd feared! In fact, I think everyone had fun!
Janae and I took our boys and some friends to the Logan Pool one afternoon. Everyone had fun doing tricks off the diving boards, eating pizza, and playing in the pool. This is only our third time to the pool this summer. I remember the days when we used to go about twice a week!

The day we left for Bear Lake, all my sisters and mom got together for breakfast at IHOP, and for visiting and family business at Mom's afterwards. I love so much spending time with family. It's the best.

Since Kylee and Brody moved out of their house on July 29th, and they're not leaving for AZ until Aug 17, they needed a place to stay for a few weeks. I volunteered our house, even though it meant Salomon the dog would be coming as well. If you know me at all, you know I'm not a fan of dogs (to put it mildly). We weren't sure how it would work out. Needless to say, we've LOVED having Kylee and Brody here- it's just going to make their moving alway even harder after being used to them being around more than ever. As for Sal, well, stay tuned for my next post to hear how that's gone. But first make your guesses on how you think I've liked having a dog on my property. . .

Bear Lake

We just had the funnest 3 days and nights at Bear Lake with most of Mike's family. My cousin Janis and her family have a beautiful cabin on the mountainside of Harbor Village that she's letting extended family use while she and her family are in Australia for three years (her husband is a mission president). It's so very generous of them, and we feel so priviledged to have been able to use it. This is the beautiful view from the deck.

On the first morning there, most everyone participated in some part of biking 50 miles around the lake. Those that did the whole 50 were: Cam, Kylee, Brody, Rick, Mike, and me. It was a real sense of accomplishment, esp for those on a mountain bike (Cam) one speed road bike (Rick, Ky and Brody) and those nearing 50 (--if age is a factor on the Tour de France, that works for me :) Teresa and Jake came close but quit when the headwind on the south side made it too hard. It was fun to do at least part of it with everyone. Freda did a great job of providing relief for those wanting to be done, and for those needing some cold water or a treat.

The bike ride was made easier by seeing views like this along the way.

Every night we had fun playing games- such as: bunko, scum, hearts, 5,000, speed and family trivia. And it goes without saying that we ate way too many goodies. Each of our meals were excellent as well.

The second day was spent at the lake playing in the water and on jet skis we rented. Everyone had a great time. The weather was good, and it wasn't too crowded considering it was a Saturday during raspberry days.

The last day everyone but Tom, Freda and Sidnie went through Minnetonka Cave. It was cool- in temperature, and awesomeness.
I'm so glad we could spend these few days with everyone. Everything we did was very fun. We missed having Tommy, Jessica and Avery there- you guys really missed out!