July's Free Entertainment

We enjoyed the Fourth of July in Lewiston as always.

 but the Parade bubble gum this year was especially memorable:

Really delving into customer appreciation day we thought 

we'd try out Chic-fil-a's dress like a cow day for free lunch. 

We talked Grandma Jo into joining us.

Then we tried out our free bowling coupons!

It was a first for many of them

We also went to Lagoon for Jotham's company party. 

We divided and conquered, Jotham took Gavin and I went with the big kids. 

Would you believe I had my first real dose of old lady? 

I just couldn't do the spinny rides anymore, my stomach never recovered. 

  Jotham gave up on them years ago and had a great time with just Gavin.

 

Spoiled him a little, I might add:

When we met up again, I was floored by what I noticed:

  

We also enjoyed a visit from Julien and Logan.  My cousin, Jon is working overseas and sent his boys to the states for the summer. So while Julien was at EFY with Hyrum having a blast, Mark enjoyed showing Logan around Cache County: 

Sisters And Wedding Dresses

When Aunt ChristyAnn came into town to pickup her grandsons, I was able to host my Mom and her sisters for a sister's luncheon.  

It also happened to be Tawnya's Birthday, a win, win!

 Hanging on the wall in my Grandparents guest room was a picture of my mother and her sister in the same beautiful dress. I've wanted and waited my whole life to see that wedding dress and once Aunt Lillian knew of my heart's desire, she promised to bring it down with her the next time she came and she was good on that promise. And you know what?  That dress didn't disappoint. It was beautiful! The veil is gorgeous and Hannah was a beautiful model! Thanks for sharing Aunt Lillian!

 

Although it felt a little silly at my age, I'm still glad I took the opportunity and tried on that dress.  The dress my mother wore the day her "happily ever after" began. Can you believe it even fit me?

Extended Hatch Family Happenings

The first highlight from July was Jim and Heidi being sealed

 to their new adoptive daughters, Melina and Malika, in the Logan Temple. 

The next week we headed to Twin Falls for our annual Hatch Reunion.

And those little orphans girls were loved on like nothing else.

We spent the next couple of days enjoying the river and family!

Loalee had seen this great experiment where you can explode a watermelon in half by wrapping it in rubberbands.  After three trips to the store for more rubber bands it still hadn't exploded, but it sure kept the kids busy.  

For some reason the watermelon came home with us and after still another package of rubber bands it still hadn't done anything but become misshapen and cry watermelon juice. And then randomly one day when I was tired of seeing it on my counter and had contemplated just throwing it out, it just snapped! Nobody had touched it for days and the top suddenly flew off, willy-nilly and it was done!