Last Sunset on the California Coast for 2007

Happy New Year to all!

Christmas

Grandma and Grandpa's Tree!
Our new Train

Who is this?
And this?

Christmas Pictures

The boys in new Christmas sweaters and Lindsay just being Beautiful!

The Redwood Trees

My parents had three of there redwood tree's chopped down recently because of concerns that they were getting to big.  Whenever there would be a big wind storm the trees would begin swaying ferociously.  So they chopped some and left some.  They also chopped the one in the front yard. (This post is for my family members who don't live close).

Oakland Temple Lights

It has always been a Family tradition to visit the temple at Christmas time to see the lights.  They do a beautiful job decorating the temple grounds with lights and also organizing live nativities and Choir ensembles.  This year my mom was involved in the Livermore Stake woman's choir and performed at the Temple.  

Thanksgiving continued...

Child's Play

Garron had to make a few 'paper-mouths' for part of his math homework recently.  Helping him fold them up totally transported me back to when I used to make these as a kid.  They of course helped me solve many difficult problems, like:  who to marry, where to live, what career to pursue, who to kiss first......oh yeah...and what the answer to 7 times 8 was....

Garron's favorite trick with this particular mouth is to somehow finagle you (especially if you're a boy) into picking 3 x 3 - which lets you know that you got 9 red roses on Valentines' Day:)  OOOooooooohhhhh

Wanna play?

Run, run, run

I like running - I'm not very good at it - but it is one of the things I enjoy doing most. In October I "ran" in a half marathon sponsored by Nike+. They hosted an online version of the San Francisco Leukemia and Lymphoma run. So, basically you just had to run wherever you were that day and log your run (with your ipod and nike+ account)...and your were included in the list of finishers for the race. You even got the T-shirt and Tiffany gift that the city racers received...nice.

It's a key-chain...the box may be more exciting than what's inside. Especially for those who love jewelry:)

So - to help spread the run of loving, I've assisted in bringing a running program to Garron's school. Basically, the kids run around their school yard to earn these little feet. Each foot represents a mile that they've run in either their PE class - or during the morning runs that I help oversee...

Garron has already run 19 miles (the big feet = 10 little feet) - in just two weeks. He's one of the more excited participants of the program.

But even Mathias has joined in - and has tallied up 7 miles these past two weeks. He likes walking around the school...just to talk to all the kids he knows. He runs right before he gets to the starting-point of each lap...which is amusing...

Updated picture

A friend of mine put her talent to great use in trying to correct the picture I used of Jamin in his birthday post.  The new picture is now in place...

Thanks again Megan!

Bridges and boulders

When Joel, Tuesdi (and family) and Mitchel were out for Thanksgiving - we took them to San Francisco for a picnic at Chrissy Field, which is by the Golden Gate Bridge.  Randy was able to get a few shots of some wildlife - and some new photos of the bridge from Fort Point...which is a Civil War fort right under the southern span of the bridge (this is the same side of the bridge where scenes from Vertigo were filmed - for all you film/Alfred Hitchcock buffs).

There was also a pretty famous artist there stacking rocks.  I should totally know this guys name, being from California and all - but it escapes me for now.  Anyways, he uses tiny little rocks to stack and balance the bigger ones...which amazes me.  He is brave to expend so much patience in a place where children and seagull run amuck...

This was my favorite picture from that day.  Mitchel was the greatest uncle during our visit together.  He probably gave 100 shoulder rides to any child who asked - taught a few self defense moves - played chase, tag, light-sabers, transformers, and practically any other game mentioned by one of his nephews or nieces...without complaint or shewing away...ever.  Needless to say, they all began to follow him where ever he went - like little ducks following their mom (or marine in this case):)  It was heartwarming:)

Turkey with stuffing and cranberries...

We've been having internet troubles lately - so are a bit behind on blogging.  These are a few shots from Thanksgiving...

'The spread' - generously provided by Randy's mom!  She is a fabulous cook.  My only contributions were pies and an oven to cook a turkey in that had already been prepared, 'Cherie-style':)  It was great...

Shinara Lucy - Joel's 4 year old.  If you need a little extra personality, she might share some of hers with you:)

The whole gang - 2007.  We borrowed the church for the day so that the kids would have plenty of room to run around in...and they did.  I think we still had to drag them away after 4 hours of playing and eating.  They loved it.

Brayden - the Turkey King.  I love a boy who can handle a good drumstick:)!  He was all smiles about this one.

His sister Brielle.  She is the cutest - every time I took a picture of her she started laughing, so this was about 3 or 4 pictures into our little mock photo shoot...

Jenn (Brielle and Brayden's mom - and Ronny's wife).  She was amazingly happy for having traveled all the way from Idaho to eat with us (7 months pregnant and with 3 kids).  That deserves an award in my book.

We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  We found that as we took the time to reflect on what we were thankful for - that we were overwhelmed with the number of blessings in our lives.  We pray the same is true for you.

Hatch Building Company Inc.

There is a new update to the company website. Click here to see it. 

Hooray for Pumpkin-heads

Happy Birthday Jamin!  I couldn't get a hold of you today...so I thought I'd dedicate a post to you instead:)  First of all - I can't wait to see if you produce a baby as cute as this!  Hopefully not as chubby (for Kimra's sake) - but as 'Jamin-esque' would be fantastic, right?  Of course, cuteness is inescapable with the gene pool she is working from!

On to the point.  For those of you who don't know the kind of brother Jamin is - I hope this gives you a hint.  Jamin never fought with anyone...it was inhuman at times.  I felt with confidence that if anyone could ever get him upset about anything it would be me.  It never happened.  Even with intent and purpose on my part.  

Jamin used to come and chat with me on my 'dish' day growing up.  I never told him how nice I thought that was - so thank you - belatedly:)  He would come downstairs and sit on the counter while I did the dishes on Sunday...and yes, sometimes he would even help.  I remember laughing a lot...

People gravitate toward Jamin.  When we would have reunions or get togethers - Jamin would start out all alone in a room or corner...and before too long the whole party would be centered around him.  I figured out at some point why this is.  He loves listening to people.  Not just the polite, 'hey...what 'ya up to' kind of listening to people.  He is genuinely interested in what everyone he meets has to say.  It's a very classy trait.

You can fun with Jamin doing the dumbest things.  Trust me - we tried them all out.  Well, most of them:)

For me, being with Jamin is like being home.  Like - home, home.  When I think back to some of the things we endured as kids - I know that our success in overcoming them is due in part to who Jamin is.  He was and is an amazing example of patience and kindness.  I'm honored to know him - let alone have him as a brother...

So, Happy Birthday again.  I hope 31 is a fantastic adventure for you!

Happy Birthday Grandma

Grandma's birthday cake...Peanut Butter Brownie.  Garron picked the dessert (it's the only cake he actually eats a whole slice of).

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!!!!

The rabbits and dresser she found @ Mel's Furniture in downtown Livermore.  The owner is selling his store after several decades in business.  No tears though - he made over a million on the sale.

Halloween

For Garron's party at school, Lindsay made these apple slices that the kids could stick sliced almonds into to look like monster mouths.  She also iced cupcakes to look like 'brains'....fun!  Garron actually doesn't need any help with 'toothy grins'.  He is working on loose tooth #8 as we speak:)

- The boys in all their Halloween glory - 

Clone Trooper, Mathias & Jango Fett, Garron