The boy said...

One of my favorite...mmm...traditions? that I do with my boys usually happens when they are lying down for the night.  They beg for stories, and their favorite ones are about themselves.  Most of the following are car comments.

May 2014
In cub scouts Isaac made me a potted plant and delivered it to me early because I was going to be gone.  He handed it to me, gave me a big bear hug and said, "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!"  Benj saw the scene ad delighted in the greeting and good feelings happening and wanted to be part of the action.  He hugged Isaac around the waist, "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY ISAAC!"   "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY DAD!"

May 2014
Seth just finished saying family prayer before I left for Italy.  We said amen and Benj said, "We have a forcefield.  Mommy, we have protection."  "We do?" "Yeah, we have protection cause we have a forcefield."
Oh little buddy, how right you are.  A forcefield that is better and more powerful than any Jedi forcefield, because we are Heavenly Father's greatest work and glory.

May 2014
(Past History) Last march he had lotsa visitors for Isaac's baptism.  In May, Eric and Benj were dropping me off at the airport for my girls trip to Italy.  Benj said in a sing song voice, "We are at the airrrrporrrt." (pause) "...where my grandma liiiives."

July 2014
I was going to dinner with a couple of girlfriends.  No big deal.  I had already made my good-bye rounds and was headed to the door.  Benj and Seth ran to me through their arms around my legs, and said, " I LOVE YOU!  I am going to miss you SO much."  Golly gee wiz.  Make a girl feel loved.  I almost skipped out on dinner.

Oct 2014
We were at a German pit stop to use the WC.  The ladies' restroom line was as looooong as the girls' restrooms at a BYU football game so they gents had to wait awhile.  When I returned to the car Seth was singing "When Joseph went to Bethlehem" but it wasn't quire the same.   So I asked, "What are you singing?" Eric is the one who responded with a smile, "Oh, they have been making up new words to 'When Joseph went to Bethlehem.'  Isaac said something about Joseph asking Mary how she was doing."  I got a warm fuzzy feeling thinking we might be doing right by our boys.  THEN Benj was singing to the same tune when I heard ".... someone stealing the baby Jesus."   Aaaaand the feeling like we were doing okay went right out the window.

Incidentally, it was on that same trip when my boys wanted to climb a lookout hill (rest stops have them periodically).  We shoulda had them do their business first, instead three little American boys peed as far as they could off the hill.  Ugh.

Dec 2014
We had just had the best Christmas adventure of our lives.  Couldn't possibly want for anything more.  So I got a little tight (upsetish) when Isaac made a request.
Isaac:  Next year for Christmas, can you get me a sister?"
Mom:  YES!

April 2015
Seth:  I hope the Easter Bunny gives me a 3DS.
Isaac: (Slightly indignant) 3DSs dont fit in eggs.

April 2015
Mason (Isaac'a friend): I have never seen a trampoline this big before INside.
Isaac:  Welcome to the Hatch family.

MeRrY ChRiStMaS 2014!

On As we got in the car to return home from Austria, Isaac asked if he could play his tablet.   I replied, "No. Look out your window.  I want you to look at something beautiful."  "I've been looking at something beautiful all week."  I concure.

Santa Notes

Benjamin may have written my favorite note ever to Santa Claus.  Technically he dictated while Eric was scribe.  (Mom had to prompt the scribe to stop prompting Benjamin and just write exactly what he said.)

Dear Santa Claus,

We can give your reindeers some carrots.  We don't have any cookies for you (this was actually repeated twice).  We can give you hot cocoa and a cheese stick (evidently not two).

I have been a good boy.  Some of the kids are on the naughty list. I will be sad with them.

Merry Christmas!  And Merry Christmas to the bad kids...and the good kids.

B

Brussels, Ghent (I Wish I Had Beaming Powers Kelly),& Achen

After Italy, we decided to keep it closer to home.  

We went into Brussels, 

 ate Neuhaus...of course

 Reed became one with the locals, seriously, EVERYONE is this kid's friend,

 Tiers bought some hoity-toity macaroons,

 we ate at our favoirte frit place,

and passed by le Petit Julien.

The next day we went to beautiful Ghent.  Love this city. 

 Who is this dude?

 And who is THAT dude right in the middle of things?

 A little boy and a little door (that sounds like a book title, eh?)

 Love the stepped-gable roofs in Belgium.  They are very old-school charming. 

 Achen was next on the list.  Though this is not your typical Achen picure, I do think Tierney looks like she belongs in Time magazine in this picture, and hence this became the Achen picture.  

 We went on October 3, which is a holiday in Germany for the reunification of Western and Eastern Germany.  So mostly everything (but the cool stuff) was closed. 

 Benjamin loved this air vent. 

 Mmm maybe this is the church where Charlemagne...mmm ruled? for a time...and maybe he was burried here.   Um, you can google it. 

 Benjamin loves dogs, and I love his dimple.

 This is one of the coolest fountains I have ever seen.  It has movable parts and is intended to be touched and manipulated. 

 I am a sucker for street performers. 

Tierney introduced us to Spaghetti Ice. Mmmm

 It may look savory but really it is sweet; vanilla icecream, strawberry sauce, and grated white chocolate flakes.  Mmm-mmm-good. 

 We took a few pictures...and one day (probably in the very far distance) Andrew will thank me.

 And we gorged ourselves at the Neuhaus outlet store.  I dont think A and Tiers believed me when I said you have a bit and then throw the rest away. 

 And they all lived happily ever after.  THE END

Tuscany trip 2014: Cinque terre

This place is so beautiful, it almost doesn't seem real. 

 My favorite part of this pic, is not the view, but rather, how Eric is holding Benjamin.  Okay, okay, enough talk already.  There was to much yadda yadda yadda-ing on the last post.

Seth was out swimming in the Mediterranean when he screached so loudly everyone on the beach craned their necks to see who was being attacked by a shark.  It wasn't a shark, BUT he now shares something with Dori from Nemo, he got stung by a jellyfish.  Later you could see the imprint of the entire jellyfish, including the tentacles, on his leg. Ouch!

That night, we left the cinque terre and the troops were famished.  We pulled into a parking lot and asked the parking dude if he could recommend a good place to eat.  Boy howdy, am I glad we asked him.  I think La pia was the best pizza we had on the trip.