Grandpa and Grandma Hatch come for a visit!

We were so excited when my mom called to tell us they got plane tickets to come and visit. They got to stay just over a week and we enjoyed every minute of it...however I must have been enjoying it so much that I did not remember to take pictures - I hate that!! We kept very busy! Day 1 (rainy) of our fun was at Chuck-E-Cheese - a huge hit of course! Day 2 we spent at Mount Vernon, then a day in D.C. to hit Air and Space, the Capital, Washington Monument, WW2 Memorial, the White House (from afar of course), and the Archives. The next day was a pentagon tour (Thank you Tayna!!) Luke's birthday was the next day. Mom and I spent this day shopping and then came home with lots of goodies to celebrate. Sunday was church, a picinic, and then sweet nothing. The last day we spent in D.C. to finish off all the memorials and Arlington. Then a kiss goodbye and up, up, and away back to Colorado! A whirl-wind, but great. The boys loved having then around to play with and to be spoiled by! We love you grandma and grandpa - come back soon!!

Mount Vernon

D.C.

Above: Ford Theater and the house Lincoln died in

Below: Navy memorial

Time to catch up! Tune in over the next week for a peek into our crazy, but oh-so-fun last month!!

Let me take you back to almost a month ago...STRAWBERRY PICKING!! I knew May was going to really pick up and I would miss those wonderful, juicy strawberries (again!!) if I didn't squeeze in a day for picking - better bring the fam. Boy did we have a great time!!

We started with a quick lesson on WHAT to pick: BIG, RED, and NOT SQUISHY

First things first - a taste test!

better try another!

Maybe just one more!

Meanwhile, Ethan gets busy...

Daddy and Kate join in...How ya doin' Luke? Let's see the strawberry YOU picked!The picking continues...Luke sits down for a break... this picking (eating) is hard work!!

Ethan finally stops for a little snack.Proud boy with the fruits of his labor! Let's do it again!!
We came home with 20 lbs of berries! What did we do with them??? Ate, ate, ate some more. We made strawberry rhubarb pie, fruit salsa, waffles with strawberries and cream, pancakes with strawberries, this WONDERFUL strawberry frozen dessert, strawberry popsicles, and we ate some more! Jelly was really the thing I had in my mind as we picked, but our time ran out. Maybe next year!!

Slow Down Baby Kate!

In the last few weeks our baby Kate started MOVING! I guess at almost 8 months, we should be looking for these milestones. It is fun to watch, but also sad as I have enjoyed her as a BABY soooo much. When Ethan and Luke are running circles around me, I just hold and cuddle her and then she gives me a BIG gummy smile and a coo! I love that!!! Guess we'll just have to have another one!! JUST JOKING, don't go spreading rumors now!!! "How do you solve a problem like Maria?" or maybe princess Leia. However you see it, it sure is cute! She just finished gumming a banana to death in this picture and you would not believe the front of her dress - this is how it ended up. The boys thought it was pretty funny!
All 4's!!!??? What??

When did this happen? If she starts running circles with the boys, I don't know what

I'll do!

The sink is where she hangs out after her bath. I throw all 3 youngin's in the tub at the same time. Ethan helps me hold her while I give her a quick scrub. Then I wrap her in a towel and plop her in the sink to coo happily while I scrub the boys.

Not anymore! The little worm squirms out of the towel and wants OUT of that sink!

On a ride with Luke! Grandma thought this little basket on the back would be great for transporting little toys...or Kate!

We've been enjoying the nice weather. Here is Kate trying to figure out what this grass stuff is and why her legs are itching!

I am thankful for a healthy, growing baby, but I can't believe how FAST the months are flying by!! I guess I will have to hold her more tomorrow!

Biter Biscuits - A Love/Hate Relationship
I picked these up yesterday while I was at the store. I remembered they were messy, but I forgot HOW messy! It buys me some serious "happy baby" time, but then I have to ask myself: "Are those few minutes worth a full bath and a load of laundry??"

Kate was diggin' it!! Her vote is "YES!"

T4S

"Together for Sanity Conference"

April 15-17, 2008

Becky's house, PA

3 girlfriends, coming together for the sake of sanity!

Side note: Sanity was the goal, not reached due to the 3 girlfriends neglecting to take into consideration that when combined, there would be 7 (yes, 7) children age 3 and under running amuck.

To sum up our 3 days of fun:

overstimulated, tired children, fevers, snot, LOTS of poopy diapers, the pitter-patter of Luke feet at 6 AM (to be followed by the 3 more pairs of running feet just minutes later), peanut butter sandwiches, 1/2 finished conversations, DUMPING of all the toy bins just for the sake of dumping (while the mommies sipped coffee while hiding for a few minutes -well worth it!), a Karis, a Krista, a Kayla, a Kara, a Kate, a Carissa, SCREAMING, laughing, chasing, nursing, nursing, nursing, napping (LOVE those naps!!!!), "time outs", crying, interrupted thoughts, playing, fighting, a noodle (one single noodle), meltdowns, sunshine, great memories. Would we do it again...

after careful thought and consideration...YES!

But we're thinking next year we leave the kiddies with the daddies and we go to, let's say, Jamaica! (Of course, we would have to be back within 24 hours!)

If you would like registration information, please call our crisis hot line:

1-800-T4S-what -were-we-thinkin'

Just a dirt hill? No, this is heaven to boys (Even Kayla enjoyed getting dirty!)

Kate and Krista drooling together

The "Wild Men"... and sweet Sam!

"Winding down" for bed time

Kate and Kara enjoying the park!

Static?!

Driving at 2 and 3!!!

Sweet time with our children and good friends! I love you Becky and Karis!

Thanks for the adventure!

From one OPRAH fan to another...

if you enjoy an occasional Oprah show, then please take the time to check this out and let me know what you think!

Yes, I admit it. If I turn on the TV during the day, it is at 4pm (which, by the way is a horrible hour to enjoy a show - dinner prep, a hungry child clinging to each leg, etc). I have always enjoyed The Oprah Show: "Dr. Oz" on what a fatty liver looks like, "Nate" and his decor secrets, and of course "How to avoid buying "mom jeans" and "are you wearing the right bra size?" shows. She has USUALLY avoided the usual "talk show" topics (if you know what I mean). I don't really get into the celebrity interviews and occasionally she will have something really strange about "finding"peace or joy or something. On those days, I will just turn off the TV. She talks about God often, but I never really know what she means or where she is going with it. Sadly, I have never paid that much attention to that, I just want to know what size bra to buy! WELL,

Our Wednesday night bulletin listed the following web site along with our "pray for the nation". Ben called me right away when he got the bulletin early Wednesday and checked out this web site. He has always laughed at my "Oprah following". Anyway, this site has a few videos and a promo for a book "Don't Drink the Kool-Aid". Ben, as a pastor had a coupon code to access the book online, so I read all 80 pgs that day. My stomach dropped as I watched the videos and read the book. If you have a few minutes, please check it out and tell me what you think of this whole thing. Thanks!!

www.csteeleonline.com/

I wanna do it! Luke loves to wear shoes...anytime all the time! Especially Ethan's -

they slip on better!
"Can mommy help you?" "noooo!"

You know you have boys when...

I was sitting on the couch nursing Kate yesterday when the boys disappeared for a few minutes and things got quiet (never a good thing). Pretty soon, I heard the two of them marching down the hallway chanting "kill the beast". A side note: This occurs on a regular basis at our house ever since we watched "Beauty and the Beast". My boys love this "princess" movie only for Gaston leading the townspeople in a quest to find and kill the beast. Anyway, here they came in their regular fashion marching in time and pumping their fists in the air chanting in a deep, funny voice, "KILL THE BEAST!" When they rounded the corner, I noticed they had weapons - tampons! Luke's still had the little string hanging off the end of his. I watched as these tampons morphed from spears for combating the beast, then into swords for a quick sword fight, and finally into guns. I was sitting in a war zone as the boys ran up and down the hallway "shooting" each other. Just imagine the sounds of combat:

pweeew, pweeew, pweeew!

I can't wait for the day I can go shopping with Kate!