Another Christmas in the Past

The pictures posted at the bottom...

guess I have to put pictures in first...and then do the blogging!

Each year I look forward to Chirstmas. I love getting out the decorations, pulling out the ornaments that I have had since I was a little girl...and thinking about what to get each special person in my life. This has not been the case this year. I just could not get into the Christmas spirit. I have had lots of things weighing my mind the past few months. My lovely husband put the tree up and all the ornaments...what a saint. I did manage to put a few things around our very humble living arrangement. As a child growing up, Damon and his family had done the 12 Days of Christmas to a man in their ward...and he wanted to bring this tradition to our family. I felt a little stressed about this because money is tight just with the two of us...how in the world were we going to come up with 12 different gifts for the family we would pick. I could go on and on listing the stresses that I was feeling about all of this...but in the end, it was the best thing that we could of done this holiday season. We felt truely blessed when we were left messages about how thankful this family was in our kindness...my heart has been truely warmed. Christmas Eve found us at my mom's house where we had a wonderful meal with our dear loved one. We opened stockings...Santa came early...and then opened gifts. We wandered home late in the eveing just waiting to lay our heads on our pillows. Christmas morning we went back to my mom's where we shared a lovely Christmas brunch with our family plus the Campbell Family...what a lovely time was had by all. Damon is cooking dinner on the new indoor grill that we received as a gift...pictures of the holidays will follow soon!

Sad Week

Damon lost his grandfather on his biologicl side of the family this week. He went into the bathroom, had a heart attack...he fell and crack his head. They found him in the morning. Last night at 12:54 PM our time, we received a phone call stating that Damon grandma Carole had passed away. She had been sick with cancer and the family had been told that she had less than 24 hours early in the evening last night. Needless to say...we were up for quite a bit of time. Grandpa Patey and Grandma were married quite a long time ago...but have not been married to each other for an even longer time.

Grandma Carole was there for Damon when he was a little guy when it seemed no one else wanted him...she will be missed. Damon had the chance to go to Vancouver twice in the late summer to visit her and has fond memories...here is a picture of them. We love you grandma and can't even imagine the renioun that is taking place right now...you will be missed!

Scentsy Holiday Launch...

Here are the warmers and plugins that will be available November 1st. These will not last long! Pre-order with me and you will have a good chance of getting the warmer of your choice. AND GET A FREE GIFT FROM ME! To contact me: hatch.kirsten@gmail.com You can also visit my Scentsy site: www.scentsy.com/Hatch

How about an open house where I can share my love of Scentsy with you and your friends? Get in touch today to set a date! As being the hostess...you can earn FREE product!

These warmers are $30.00.

These are plugins...they are missing the plug! $15.00

School Begins...

This past week was my last week with my Thursday friends. How silly of me to not remember to bring my camera on this last day! I so enjoyed my Thursdays and hope that sometime during the school year I can see these little friends again.

This next week I go back to work. I am looking forward to this because I get to help children excel in school...those kindergarten friends are just to cool for words. I have been into school to get my little room set up that I share with another Title I aide. I hope this proves to be a positive experience...we shall see. I love the teacher that I work with...it is nice to work with someone that you are friends with also.

Damon has been helping all summer with a semi-pro football team called Indiana Titans. Tonight is their last home game and he has somehow twisted my arm to have me come along with him. Won't this be fun...HA HA HA!

I have spent much time the summer thinking about my life...the good and the bad. This Fall is a new starting point for me...these things are much to personal to talk about here...just wish me luck as I make some changes in my life!

Damon is flying out to Portland the middle of September to spend some time with his grandma Carole. She is not well...and he wants to see her while she is still alive. The sad thing is...we never get a true answer as to how she really is. I just wish someone would keep us updated on her well being.

I spent a week at girls camp this summer with the young women from church in the Craft Barn. I got home on a Saturday morning and then I had Damon take me to the ER that night. I was having horrible pains in my lower back. I ended up with a kidney infection which lead me to not feeling well for a whole week...I was worthless that week!

We have a new baby in the family...my cousin and her husband had another little boy this summer. His name is Colton! From the pictures he looks precious! I am sure that when my grandma gets home from Arizona this next weekend...she will have lots of pictures to share.

This about wraps up our summer...Damon started yet another new job at the beginning of summer or so and really enjoys it. He has always wanted to be a phlebotomist. I love that he comes home from work NOT complaining from his job! How could he complain...he wears scrubs everyday!

We have not spent much time at the lake. It has either been to cold...or to hot! This is the time of year where you can actually get in the water because it has warmed up to at least 70!

Happy back to school! :)

August Scentsy Clearance Sale...

Contact me today to schedule an open house for you and your friends!

hatch.kirsten@gmail.com

To order online:
www.scentsy.com/Hatch

Can't wait to hear from you!
Kirsten

Not right now...

I will not be having a post of girls camp for a few days. I was at the ER last night with a horrible kidney infection...strong meds do wonders...and it is back to bed I go!

Hi Ho...Hi Ho...It's off to camp I go...

Tomorrow starts the adventure of girls camp for church! The car is packed to the gills...my stuff is not yet in. Thank goodness I am not taking anyone with me...my things will be on the front seat. I will post again next weekend...with pictures! Have a great week!

4th of July!

I do not know how to move my pictures around...I find myself saying that often!
We spent the evening of the 4th with friends at their parents house in Lakeville, Indiana. So glad that Damon (hubby) and Micah are buddies...sharing a blanket watching the fireworks.

The Richhart family had just gotten a new house a few days before...she was the entertainment for the night...

I guess Damon needed to feel like a country boy that night...took Macey the horse for a walk around the property. The weather was yucky all day and into the evening. At this point it was still drizzling while they were with the horse.

4-H Fair 2009

Damon and I had not been to the local 4-H fair ever together. We have been married over 4 years. Last summer while in Portland, Oregon, Damon and his buddy went to the fair there while I stayed home and read. We live many 3 miles from the fairgrounds and thought we should give it a try!The picture below reminds of the 4-H fair growing up in Huntington, Indiana. As a church we had an elephant ear booth where we would sell yummy elephat ears for hours. I have great memories working along side my friends of the past. It was opening night of the fair and their was a rodeo! It was a good time...I remember the first rodeo that I went to...it was in Jackson Hole, WY with my dear friends from college. It was quite the experience! Cowboys sure look good in those wranglers!

I thought this pig looked like Wilbur...we saw the pigs, cows, goats and sheep. We did not go into the chicken barn...I don't do things with feathers, even if they are in cages!

Thursday Kids...Part TWO

Thursday Kids...

Happy Birthday to ME!

Here are some pictures from my birthday! Dave & Kirsten Campbell
Kirsten & Kirsten

Mom and Kirsten walking back from the beach. It was cold, rainy, and windy!

Kirsten C. & Katie

Becky R. & Mom...we played games in the cottage before braving the cold on the beach!

Thursday Kids...

I have the opportunity to spend a few wonderful hours with 3 special children. Last week {I know I am behind} the theme in the home was Red, White, and Blue. I cut out stars on my Cricut and the children added glitter to them...we made star necklaces..wonder what happed to sweet E's?...and we also made a star garland. These pictures were not taken by me...they were taken by the mom of the sweet children that I get to hang out with! The first two times we hung out...it rained. Last Thursday it was sooo hot we could not even be out to play in the water very long. Hopefully this week...we can go to the park. I have been on the hunt as to what to do with my little friends this week. Please enjoy this website: http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog/ you will not be disappointed!

Sunday Afternoons...

I have yet to figure out how to put the pictures I want in the order I want. When we have church at 9:00 am on Sundays, this gives us a great chance to go to the beach in the afternoon for a few hours. We are very lucky to have such a place to go. It is a private beach, it is quiet, and you feel like you are HOURS away from home.


This is part of the path leading down to the beach...each year it changes just a bit depending on the winter we had. This is my mom and I as we were packing up our chairs to head back to the cottage, and then do my grandma's house for dinner. My cheeks and nose are quite PINK in case you can't notice!

Just a look up the dunes. That space where there is no dune grass is where the "OLD" beach path was...until the dune got to steep for some of the older people to walk over. The new path is so much more walking friendly!

Mom...lugging things back to the cottage and car. The guys went ahead to the cottage to get a look at how golf was going for the day...

Oh...how I LOVE Sunday afternoons at the beach...

Summer Outings...

This is my summer reading right now. I am sorry that it is turned sideways...but I imported to the blog before I had a chance to turn it around. I love how developed each of these characters are and how I have the ability to get to know each one of them.

Each week...my mom, grandma, and a dear family friend, Judy, are getting together to do something one day a week. This past Tuesday we went started out in Niles...we heard of a great knitting store. It was closed on the day that we were there. We then headed to New Buffalo. We had lunch at this great little place. On the T-shirts and hats on the back...the tag line is : Sit! Stay! Very Cute!

This is a favorite ice cream place up by the lake. I should of took my camera inside since there are hundreds of PIGS inside. I am sure we will take another trip there this summer...I must take the camera.

This is a view of the street that heads to the lake which you can see in the distance.

Come back next week to see what our adventure might entail!

How I Spend my Thursdays this Summer...

I have the opportunity to spend a few hours each Thursday with some great children.

Here are some pictures from last Thursday!

They have a VERY talented mother...here is her website for your viewing pleasure: http://katherinemariephotography.com/blog/

{This is my friend M (which I will call him in my posts!) He is such a big help...and let me tell you he is one smart little cookie! }

{This is B...he just melts my heart! }

{Sweet E...I keep telling E & M that I have to learn how to speak 2 year old talk...I keep thinking she is talking about the Amish...I have not yet figured out what she is saying!}

YM/YW Service Project

This was the first mutual that I attended for my new calling. Here are just a few of the girls and a couple of littles that tag along with us!