New Years Day

On New Years Eve we actually went to bed early and got up early to make a big breakfast and we went BB gun shooting with our neighbors.  Derek absolutely loved it and we really had so much together.  I should have taken more pictures, but oh well.  Hope everyone had a great New Year's

Videos of Christmas

Here are some fun video's I hope that they work

Christmas Day

We always spend Christmas morning at our own homes before we head over to my parents.  So this year was of course no exception.  We had lots of fun getting everything ready for Santa to come.  We helped our neighbors put some bikes together and then of course Corey got a fire call, so I was on my own for a little while but we got it all done.  The next morning I made Biscuits and Gravy at Derek's request and we just kind of enjoyed a little quiet time before heading to my parents. 

 



For Corey and I main present we bought a new TV and TV Stand.  We love it as it is not as big as our old TV and we have more space in our little family room. As you can Derek made out like a bandit from Santa; remote control truck, nerf gun, and a Cranky to go with his train set.





He loves the Beanie that Grandma Carol sent.





You don't think he was excited do you?

 At my parents house we received several presents but one of the best by far was a video that my Dad had made from all of our old family videos.  We watched it that day and wow our kids really are little "Mini Me's" We all now can say without a shadow of a doubt that our kids are the way they are because of us.  We loved watching the video and I can't tell my Dad thank you enough as this Christmas was definitely a Nostalgic Christmas where we remembered that the real reason we celebrate is to be together as a family and remember our Savior Jesus Christ. 
That afternoon, Nate grilled up by far his best Prime Rib and it was definitely a dinner to remember.  We just spent a lot of time together reminiscing and just being together which was just so much fun.  Next Christmas could be pretty crazy with 3 new kids added to the mix.


A BYU tie from Papa Hatch, he is still so excited about it and won't wear any other tie to church.




Papa Hatch got all the grand kids new LeapPads for Christmas and my husband spoiled me with a new Kindle Fire we were all mesmerized with our new electronic gadgets for Christmas, but hey we were all quiet.



Christmas Eve

So it seems that every Hatch family Christmas has to have a Christmas Eve adventure and this year was no exception.  Our family tradition is to go up to Salt Lake on Christmas Eve and see the lights and get something to eat all of us together.  This year we were definitely in for an adventure as it was snowing so much this day.  We rode the Frontrunner Train into Salt Lake which had just opened and we didn't really know how it worked and we actually ended up missing our stop and had to get off at the next one.  We walked over to Crown Burger which is one of our families favorite as well as one of the few that are open on Christmas Eve.  Cedar and Chris had actually missed the train that the rest of the family got on and had to wait for the next one there was just lots of adventures.  We all were safe and we had a lot of fun. 

This is what a sidewalk looks like after all the Hatch's have trampled all over it.

Dinner at Crown Burger

As you can see it was snowing a lot but the crowds were actually pretty small, which was nice.   The kids were troopers though and enjoyed the train ride and the snow.

The other tradition of PJ's on Christmas Eve, Derek showing his off.  Corey and I should of taken pictures of the ones that Mom and Dad gave us. 

December 23rd

Christmas has become quite the product at the Hatch house and we always have lots going on, but this year it seems like we toned it down just a little bit and we had such a wonderful nostalgic Christmas. 

So one of the traditions that my parents have started since us kids have gotten older is that we have a Gingerbread house contest.  And it is such an event every year. We have dividers so no one can cheat, and it is something that we start planning before weeks before Christmas.   Now please know that the Hatch family is extremely competitive and well this year we even had to bring in outside judges, more about that later.  So we decided to try to come up with something for the little kids to do, they made Christmas Trees but well I think that they just made a giant mess and ate a ton of frosting, as you can plainly see.  

Now when our outside judge came (my parents neighbor's) somebody else came too.  Santa made a special visit

 

This was our entry this year, I put Corey in charge of it and of course we ended up with a Fire station.

Nate and Jenn were the winners this year again, but I do have to give them credit it did turn our pretty good.

This was Dani and Tyson's entry can you tell that both of them had recently returned from Mexico?

Then PaPa Mark brought out the Nostalgic present of all presents.  Years ago when we were little my little sister Cedar had a talking Mickey Mouse where you put in the cassette tapes and Mickey reads you the story while you follow along in a book (It was the Disney version of the Teddy Ruxpin).  We have so many memories associated with the toy.  So many times when the power went out dad would light a fire in the fireplace and Mickey would sit on the hearth and we would listen to the stories.  So Dad decided that his grand kids needed to see what this was all about and so he bought one off EBay.  I can honestly say that all of us girls had tears in our eyes as the kids opened up this present.  They loved listening to the stories and I think they were just as mesmerized as we were when we were kids.  The siblings could also repeat most of the stories as they were played as well, there was definitely a lot of reminiscing this night.

Corey's 30th Birthday

For Corey's 30th Birthday I actually surprised him with a dinner with several of our friends at Texas Roadhouse.  We had so much fun and laughed our guts out but I was a bad wife and didn't take any pictures.  After dinner we all ended up going to over to the mall and working on our Christmas shopping.  It really was a lot more fun with more people.  We ended the evening at Coldstone Creamery.  I had a really good time and hopefully Corey was pleasantly surprised. 

The following evening we celebrated at my parents house and of course had to have Red Velvet Cake.  Derek and Annistyn still get so excited everytime anyone has a birthday and can't wait to help blow out a candle.

A sleigh Ride in Heber City

Cedar had some tickets that we got to use for sleigh ride up at the Homestead Resort.  It was so cold but we really did have fun and the sleigh ride ended at Santa's Workshop which the kids loved.  We really had so much fun and it was good to get out of town even if it was just for a bit.

 

Waiting in line to see Santa

Annistyn's turn

Derek's turn

and Maybel's Turn

These kids had so much and even got a cookie afterwards.  It really was a fun night.

Family Pictures 2012

While we were in Georgia one of Corey's dear friends took family pictures for us, as well as for Grandma and Grand-daddy.   This was their Christmas present but we didn't necessarily know when the next time would be that all of there children would be together.  These pictures turned out really great and we were so excited.  Thank you again and for all of you looking for a photographer down in Georgia here is her facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carla-Whitley-Photography/145759628772447.

Derek absolutely loves his Georgia jersey that Carla picked up for him.  He still wears it all the time.

I just couldn't get over how fast these two became friends.  If only adults could be like this.