We left for Idaho with cousin McKay on Thursday so we could spend some time with my parents before their mission to Spain. We lucked out and had experienced some unseasonably warm temperatures there. Outside is where we wanted to be and that was where we spent most of our time!
On our first morning there, Grandpa Hatch patiently took the kids out to ride horses. Their progress was obvious and their love of riding is certainly developing.
Tetherball with Grandma Hatch
Grandma Hatch has to be involved in all the fun! The grandkids LOVE to play tetherball. We went outside and played against each other. Here are some pictures of our games:
(the victor over McKay and Grandma)
Justin and his family arrived Friday night with 4-wheelers and lots of kids! The little girls played together for hours. Here they are, all tuckered out and in for a little bit of a movie.
Hatch Family Tetherball Tournament
On Saturday morning, we started with a family tetherball tournament. The youngest kids played against each other and we worked our way up to the older kids. Everybody cheered for both players so supportively. It made for more laughs than fierce competition!
(Here is Nicole, beating McKay!) Go Nicole!
Justin beat me in the finals.
Austin went into a small depression.....
And now time for some 4-Wheeling!
Justin was sweet to let us ride his 4-wheelers all day in the field next to mom and dad's house.
SUNDAY: Mom and Dad's Farewell
On Sunday, we were able to hear both mom and dad speak in church. They had a wonderful turn out of friends and family. The highlight for our family was after sacrament meeting. We were asked to go to an empty room where we were able to watch them be set apart as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a special experience for our family, especially the grandkids. I hope they felt the spirit of missionary work and remember how they felt that day.
After church, we gathered at home for a scrumptious dinner, games, talking and a small program from the grandkids. We all wrote notes to them on a 6 page "farewell" booklet which made Grandma cry. Madison and Taylor performed their own missionary song set to the currently-popular song, "Do You Want To Build A Snowman?" which they titled, "Do you want to serve a mission?" It was adorable and I have it all filmed.
WIG CITY
We had to have pictures of grandma's wig that she isn't convinced she can pull off....
I sent these to Dave to see if he really loves me:
It was a wonderful weekend filled with laughter, tears and memories to last a year.
Vaya con Dios, mis padres! You will be so very missed, but we are proud of your example of missionary service and love of Christ.
