Satan's Weather - Written by Corey

We saw a sign outside of a business that had the words
"Satan wants his weather back".

We thought that same thing when these were all the images that we saw in every direction for a few weeks. Not being wild land certified, I can go to an initial response, but when all of the federal big boys get there I get sent back home, so my responsibility during this time was to be available as much as possible for structure and rescue responses while all of our departments were running on a skeleton crews since we all sent guys to all these fires. Believe me we were busy enough by our selves.   Nathan Nikki's brother actually had to be evacuated from his home for a couple of days because the wild fire was to close to there home.

A picture Nathan sent us, a little to close for our comfort. 

You are suppose to be able to see some very large mountains that are behind  our house, but because of fires that are about 100 miles away behind the mountains we couldn't see anything. 

Look at how gross our air was.

This is a radar picture that was taken, you can see all the gray is smoke that is in the air. 

These pictures are from a fire right by where we we used to live in American Fork. 

After a couple of weeks of crazy weather with no rain, the church leaders actually encouraged us to pray for rain.  They actually had a lesson in the children's Primary class about Fasting.  We talked about fasting and fasting for rain, and guess what it rained, and it rained quite a bit.  It was so neat to see Derek's face the day that it rained.  He turned to Nikki and said "Mom it is raining just like we asked Heavenly Father, That is so cool."  Got to love those teachable moments.  

4th of July

This year we had to change things up a little bit for the 4th of July.  Due to the Extreme fire danger and the large amount of fires that were already burning most of the state were under restrictions where we weren't allowed to do out own.  So we went to the next best place a baseball game.  We had a lot of fun here as a family.  We ate hotdogs, peanuts and sang take me out to the ballgame.  We felt very Americana. 

This ballpark if beautiful it was just a shame that our team didn't win. 

 

Derek had so much fun, this was his first real baseball game.

This is Corey's favorite part of a baseball game, eating lots and lots of peanuts!

At the end of the game, while they were setting up for the fireworks, there was a very special moment.  On the scoreboard, they showed a soldier and it appeared that he was sending his daughter a special message from where ever he was stationed at, and then it changed.  He surprised his 8 year old daughter that he had actually just arrived home several hours earlier from Afghanistan.  It was such a sweet moment, and once the crowd figured out what had happened we all rose to our feet to give him a standing ovation.  The crowd applauded for easily 5 minutes, and the thoughts of what the 4th of July really meant came flooding back to my mind.  Derek asked us what was going on and it gave us the perfect opportunity to teach him for a moment.  

The Fireworks were beautiful and Derek really loved them.

You would have thought that on the way home Derek would have been exhausted as it was really late, but alas he was not, he decided that he would plank on the Trax train that we took up to the game.  

Spanish Fork Rodeo

My Dad took the whole Hatch Family to the Spanish Fork Rodeo this year and we had so much fun.  They recently put in a brand new Rodeo Arena so we were all so excited to see it.  It was so nice, the old one you were so cramped and feeling like you were sitting on the seat next to you and this is not the case now, you have room!  The Arena was gorgeous and we all really had a lot of fun especially the kids.   There is just something about a rodeo that reminds you we live in such a great country!

Corey took this picture realizing how beautiful the flag looked  during the sunset.

Derek seemed to really like the Bucking Broncos

Derek having fun with his Cousin Hayzl and Aunt Cedar.  Doesn't he look so cute in his cowboy clothes and hat.  

Our family with Neice Hattie

Derek sitting with his grandparents, so Cute!

Lagoon

Corey's company always has a summer family day at Lagoon and this was our first year going.  Luckily Corey had a friend who couldn't go and gave us extra tickets so we could take Annistyn which let Derek have somebody to ride the kid rides with.  We really had so much fun and the kids had a blast and were completely wore out by the end of the night.

Flying the Helicopter

Corey and I were able to do a bounce-back special and went back a week later for $10 bucks a piece, we couldn't pass this up, and especially where we didn't have to pay for the first tickets it was even better.  Cedar watched Derek one night and we had so much going to ride all the big rides that the kids were to small to ride.  It was definitely one of the most exciting dates we had been in a long time.

Fathers and Son's Campout - written by Corey

I did not know what the significance of fathers and sons in may was till this year. I just thought that was a convenient time before school got out and schedules got all messed up. Not true. It is because that's when the priesthood was restored. This year after realizing it was almost NOT going to happen, I pestered the right people enough to get some action. And boy am I glad I did. We had a great time doing "guy stuff" and just enjoying the friends and scenery around us.

"We" set up camp and while helping others do the same, had steak, hot dogs, Doritos, and all the soda we could drink. Mom wasn't there right?!

We then went fishing till it was too dark to see. Derek had two on the line. But in an attempt to be a proud dad and get the camera I couldn't hold on to him at the same time and he lost them both. But not his spirit. He wanted more.

We had a wonderful fireside talk by a former Marine and present police officer about the armor of God. It was SO good and I think Derek even likes it.

I guess all the excitement was too much for some people.

He and his buddies then played flashlight tag, in the woods on the side of a mountain.

When it was bedtime we had what I like to call Melchizedek priesthood time. All of us dads sat up till bout 230 just enjoying the quiet an each others company.

The next morning we got up and walked down the hill to find plate sized pancakes, sausage, bacon, orange juice, and coco.

THEN it was all about the fishing again.

I was such a proud dad. My son didn't want me or anyone else to help him cast anymore and I was willing to teach. My son can now casts overhand , underhand, AND sidearm. I can go fishing too now. I still have to bait it for him but he slings his hook all by his self.

Again I'll say it... I love fishing because it is the only sport where you can be actively engaged and fall asleep at the same time.

He was bummed when it was time to go home, but guess who took a great nap that day.

Can't wait for next year!!!

Camping 2012

We went Camping this year back in May and we had so much fun.  Our sweet friends family has some property that we were able to go down and do just about anything you could think of. We spent pretty much all weekend just playing and having a blast. 

Fishing on the Pier.

This was Derek's First time shooting the BB gun and he loved it.  He has now laid claim on it calling it his gun.

All the kids with the canoes and kayaks.

Samantha and Lindsey

Christopher and Camilla

So Derek and Corey went on a Canoe ride, and blaze just couldn't handle being left out, she swam their entire ride.  She is a little paranoid when she isn't around Corey.