Brian Head

We just returned home from a fun weekend at the Hatch family reunion (Matt's mom's fam.). It was up at Brian Head Utah, near Cedar City. We were up around 10,000 ft. so the weather was beautiful, and the views spectacular. We got in a lot of hiking, biking, socializing, and of course, LOTS of good food. Here are a few pictures from some of the lookouts we visited.



I am so sad that this is blurry, but the view was incredible.

What a great picture of my two handsome men.

I kind of feel like a horse when I carry Kaden in the backpack. I feel like I have a saddle on, and it even creaks like the leather of a saddle sometimes. I feel even more equine when Kaden grabs my hair like reins and steers me around. I am at his whim, and it seems as if HE'S the boss.


I love it when he gets so overcome by his love for me..hah..that he just throws his arms around my face and squeezes really tight. He is the best little hugger....he's my love bug.

Cool little dude.

The Good ol' Bar D Chuckwagon

Last weekend my "Nonie", uncle, aunt and cousin came for a visit. It was so fun having company. We went to the Bar D chuckwagon. It's a night of great food and entertainment. There is a group of "cowboys" who sing, play the guitar, do funny acts, etc. and it's pure enjoyment. We got there early and visited the little shops and enjoyed the beautiful, sunny, evening. That of course led to picture-taking. I might have an unhealthy obsession...



The whole gang


Ahhh, how pretty. The flowers I mean...


Kaden love, LOVES, choochoos.

Isn't it sad that he didn't even have to adjust the straps to fit his teeny, tiny, skinny body? He's 6'2" and wears the pack about as small as it goes.... It was nice to take a break from carrying the giant baby (a term of endearment, of course), so I'm not complaining.


I really think he is possibly the happiest child on earth.


I love how Kaden's head just looks like it's floating.


Michaela say's that the villain isn't too convincing with a baby on his back. I am not sure Kaden wasn't in on the whole deal in the first place...But, I am pretty convinced, if this were a real scenario, the dinky train would hit me, derail, and fall on it's side.


Matt's advertising for his dad....dentist/orthodontist. What a huge smile. That must be where Kaden gets it from. It went missing for a while there when he was relearning everything. I love it and am glad that its back.
When the wranglers started to sing, Kaden wanted to dance, run around, and do everything humanly possible to stay awake. So, we left our table and stood to the side where he could get a little more wiggling in. He was overtired, and trying so hard to compensate, I could have sworn someone gave him a pure caffeine IV drip. He was so crazy, and of course I was laughing at him, so this encouraged his behavior. Needless to say, my arms were in serious distress and chronic cramping by the time the show was over.
The night was wonderful and it was so fun to all be together. We are a little family, but a close one.

4 years....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!


I know it's cliche' to say, "wow, it's already been __yrs.." Well, I really can't believe how fast time flies. At the same time, I hardly remember life before knowing Matt. It really does seem that he has been a part of my life forever. I love the bond we share and am happy that we have eternity to love each other, and to learn to love each other better. I love Matt more than my inadequate expression, but I always want to love him better, and be better for him. I know I make mistakes every day, but I am thankful for his sweet, forgiving nature. He lives each day in humility and grace, and accepts me as I am. I know that as the years go by, our love will grow and mature, and we will learn how to love each other better.


Some friends of ours blew this picture up into about a 24"X36" giant posterboard to hang in Matt's hospital room. He wasn't speaking yet, but gave a big smile and thumbs up. He stared at it all of the time. This picture always brings up a lot of those memories. It is a special one, and another one of those positive affirmations.



Apparently he's excited....I didn't know he could jump that high.

Happy anniversary to you Matt. I love you and hope to spend many, many more years of peace and happiness with you..... here's to ETERNITY!

On Top of the World

There are a MILLION pictures...but I couldn't resist. We had the BEST time, and the views were to die for.

Today, (the only day we could all do this together due to hectic schedules) my dad, brother, sis, and I took a four-wheeling trip up Middle Mountain, right near our house. It was a beautiful day and I am so glad the weather cooperated, since it's been raining all week. We went all the way to the top, and rode about 40 miles. We had the best day together, and I am glad we squeezed it in before Michaela headed back to her "home" in Utah, and the rest of us got back to our jobs (too bad the weekends have to go by so fast!).



20 miles up...at the lookout. It is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking.




We've conquered the mountain!



We didn't even get too dirty this time. Usually our faces are totally brown from all the dust. The rain this week helped us stay mostly clean. We still looked like we went a little crazy with the bronzer though...

Even though we clearly posed for this picture, I love it. To me, it almost shows the bond we share.

I kinda like this guy too....

It's weird that we were all doing the same thing at the same time and someone happened to take a picture.

After the lookout we drove a bit to an old mining cave. It was a steep hike down, and a bit precarious at times. Luckily, no one rolled down the mountain. I was just picturing the domino effect...it would not have been pretty.

The mining cave was huge and went pretty far back. We had fun exploring and trying to take pictures in the pitch black. They didn't turn out too bad.

I just had to get a picture of the 'do. He would wait for us to get far ahead so he could speed to catch up. Boys will be boys...

It was 4 hours of pure fun and adventure. We went a little crazy with the camera which was half the fun (there are MANY much more embarrassing pictures that will never make the cut for the blog). We absolutely had the greatest time together.

Dancing King

Last weekend we went to a friend's wedding reception. Kaden slept the whole way there (about 1 1/2 hrs) and was a ball of energy when we arrived. He had his snack and was off to the dancing floor. He is such a show off. He thinks everyone is watching him at all all times, and thinking he is the greatest thing to ever exist. (Apprently, this is exactly how I was...until I was about 15...hah.)

Jack, the boy in the blue shirt, was absolutely OBSESSED with Kaden's cheeks. I can see why, they are huge, and bounce and jiggle with every movement. Jack would go up to Kaden and wrap his arms around him, like he was hugging him, and pinch and pull Kaden's cheeks SO HARD. He chased him around all night. Kaden was a sport; I think he liked the attention. His cheeks were BRIGHT red.

He danced around waving hims arms like crazy....LOVE IT.

He's actually loved music and getting his groove on since he was tiny. He used to wiggle in his carseat or bouncer chair when music was playing. One of his favorite things is my ipod and speaker system. He's even learned how to turn it on (and up as loud as it goes). My friend Amber has the most angelic voice and he was all about putting moves to her melody. I loved watching him have so much fun.

Sometimes the very best thing, is a best friend...

Jill, Amber, Me

I once took a mind and body health class, and the teacher said, "Ask a man who his best friend is, and he will always say his wife. Ask a woman, and she will always say the name of another woman..."

Every girl has got to have a good friend. It is a necessity. In my case, I prefer to have several GREAT friends. We all love our husbands, but every woman knows, a husband just can't do it all, and can't be it all (and nor should he have to). I have just had a wonderful few days with these girls, Jill and Amber. I felt a bit of guilt leaving Matt at home by himself all day, knowing he'd be alone all week while I work, but he was so sweet about me going. He wished me well and assured me he wanted me to go and have a fun time. Time with girls is like a refuge, a much needed refresh. It's a time to laugh, cry, shop, eat, talk, and have fun. Plus, it can save a lot of money on professional counseling!

Jill came to Farmington for her sisters reception. Amber lives there, and it's about 70 miles from our house. It was worth the extra driving to get together and catch up. We were roommates in college and our lives have all taken different turns, but we still have an incredible, undying bond. A good friend is a rock, someone you can count on. I know that I can count on these girls to be right by my side if and when I need them. A good friendship doesn't require tons of hard work, but flows naturally and easily. We can pick up right where we left off, no matter how long it's been since we've talked. We get along, can have fun, and can talk about the hard stuff that falls upon us sometimes. We are happy for each others accomplishments, and sad for each other's heartaches.

I've always been social and love having friends all around me. I've learned as time goes by, that it's nice to like everyone, and to be liked, but it's more important to have real, close, and LASTING relationships. Friendships that are healthy and true. I am so grateful that I have good friends, best friends, that will be true blue no matter what.

My sister and I....

I LOVE my sister. We are kindred spirits. Yet we have also always been very, very different. She was always artistic and liked her alone time growing up, while I was very outdoorsy, athletic and the social butterfly of the family. She had quite the red-headed temper (and THANKFULLY, completely outgrew that), and I knew how to quietly push her buttons and send her into a rage (usually cuasing HER to be the one getting into trouble. My parents eventually learned that I was the one to blame...). As we grew up, we became closer and became the best of friends. The blessing and curse of living 20 miles from school served to be something that catalyzed our friendship. We had to leave the house by 6 AM to be to seminary every morning. That 30 minute drive to school is one of my fondest memories. We would grab our breakfasts and dash out the door. While eating in the car, we would listen to the newest songs on the radio, singing at the top of our lungs, and talk as sisters, as friends. Even though we were completely different, our bond became indestructable, and has only grown exponetially as we've entered into our adult lives.


I am thankful that we are close. We have been through a lot together, and alone, but no matter what either of us is experiencing at any time, we are always really in it together.

We can laugh and be goofy. She can make me laugh more than anyone could ever dream to, and often I find myself in tears at her silly antics. I LOVE it when she calls me, or when I can by some miracle actually ge a hold of her. We talk and laugh for hours, and no matter what, she always brightens my day. She truly is a ball of sunshine, to say the least.

I LOVE my sister.

It's interesting to me how people either think we are practically identical, and very obviously sisters, or they can't see a resemblance and would never guess we are sisters. (Then they get to know us and realize that we ACT the same...haha.)

So now, I am very curious to know, what do you think? Whether you know me, Michaela, or not, please let me know.

1. Do we look alike?

2. Who looks older?