May 2025

Sheldon's Masters graduation (Speech Pathology) from Utah State University

Alex and Max celebrating dad's graduation

Melanie loving on Luka, her little buddy

All the family gathered to celebrate Sheldon

We bumped into the Harrison girls after the graduation. They were there for Sariah's graduation!

Taking a special surprise trip to Utah for the weekend. Stopped for baptisms at the beautiful Pocatello temple.

Then a fun visit to In 'n Out burgers (Hayden's favorite!)

Let the surprises begin! This is Verity's wondering phrase as we showed up to the theater in Salt Lake City to watch...

!

Our seats were way up top, but still a great view of the stage

And the incredible smoke-breathing dragon above the stage!

View down to the stage from our seats way up top. The show was incredible! Even Hayden got to realize that Broadway performances are WAY better than any he's ever seen. Verity was thrilled we got to see the entire production! (the movie only shows the first half)

Hayden showing grandpa Dude Perfect videos after we finished with Wicked.

Surprise #2: Hayden didn't know it (Verity did), but we took him to the Forest Frank concert that weekend in West Valley City. He didn't know we were going until we finally made it inside the Maverik arena. 

Both decided they needed a concert T-shirt.

The concert really was spectacular. Forest Frank put on a really good show.

Mom and Dad really enjoyed the concert too (didn't buy T-shirts though)

"Drop" was one of Hayden's favorites!

Loved loved loved the concert. Hayden loved the suprise!

Some birthday gifts and treats from Hayden's friends (Burke and Pearl Peterson)

Spring cleaning up the garage. Found this super fun football toss game made by the boys (probably for a Hatch reunion carnival)

Verity's MASSIVE sidewalk chalk sunflower creation!

Mother's Day pictures after church. We love you Mom!

Hayden's actual birthday morning, of course to the tune, "You're 16, you're beautiful, and you're mine!"

Gift #1: A favorite!

Homemade Kneaders french toast created by mom. So so good!

Birthday boy ready to head off to school

Dad crashed Hayden's zero-hour seminary class to lead an amazing "Happy birthday" song together

Hayden's good friends leading him into dad's seminary office building 

Then Melanie gave them confetti blasters to celebrate Hayden

Of course, mom brought Little Caesar's for Hayden.

Then a little Leo's place gaming after school

Verity was so thoughtful and bought Hayden a couple of "Nate the Great" books from her school book fair. Hayden loved them!

Friends came over for a visit that night. Payton Boyd came and brought a very thoughtful treat and flower for Hayden.

Brant and Jorgan came over and blasted Hayden with confetti and sang him a birthday song

James and Evan came over too and they enjoyed hanging out in the yard (and eating ice cream bars from mom)

Mom's excellent decoration idea for Hayden's Sweet 16!

The following week, Hayden had a friends part at our house. It was epic! Dad of course led an amazing rendition of Mafia. Jorgan and Evan got so spooked from Alex's screaming, they had to...uh, huddle up to protect each other :)

Mom getting ready for trek in about a month

Here's Verity leading her first ever piano recital. She has one student: Charlie Hawkes, but she invited dad, and Charlie's two sisters to be a part of the recital too. Verity did an amazing job putting this on, and Charlie played her songs excellently!

Grandma and Grandpa Hatch stopped overnight on a trip to Montana (for grandchild graduations). 

They got to catch one of Hayden's bball tournament games.

Visiting a couple of dear friends in the Annis Butte cemetery near Menan. We love you, Jan and Ray!

This was their young child who passed away on day 2 after birth.

We got to go have dinner with the Harrison's to celebrate Ellen's high school graduation.

Two sweet friends hugging on the last day of school (last day of elementary for Verity!)

6th grade carnival day! Cotton Candy - Verity's favorite!!

Verity even volunteered for the dunk tank! She got soaked!

As voted by her 6th grade peers. I think they got it right!

Verity's final 6th grade performance. She was appointed as "Maria" for their song they performed from "The Sound of Music." Verity absolutely crushed it, including the extremely high note at the end of the song!

Verity and her friend, Grace Zirker.

Great great job, Sis! It was an incredible solo for her!!

Love this sweet girl so much. Can't believe she's done with elementary!!

Verity with Ms Mary (Owen Hansen's aide)

Kensley Adams

Ava Cushman

Quincy Richins and Shelby Cook

Evie Malcom, Josie Bedke, Tessa Tufts, Qunicy Richins

Heather Maddux (music teacher)

Ms Bolkley (math teacher)

Ms. Tuttle (Verity's main 6th grade teacher)

Ms. Cline and a student teacher

Grace Zirker

New friend, Adalyn

Final tradition! Running through the halls of the school!!

Ms. Rothwell

Ms. Wood

Good bye forever, Woodland Hills elementary. You've been good to our family!!

We took a fun little weekend trip to Preston Idaho for Hayden's basketball game. Just outside our Air B&B was this fun little library. Verity enjoyed 2 or 3 books from it during our 3 days in Preston!

Hayden hoopin it up!

On the day off of from games, we went to Napoleon Dynamite's house. Classic photo!

We made it to the Logan temple to do baptisms.

Gosner's cheese factory - loved the many different flavors of milk! (Root beer was a favorite)

Hanging out at CAL Ranch

And of course, a visit to Sheldon and Abbey in Smithfield. Hayden loves holding babies, especially cousin baby Beau

Verity got her turn, too!

And loving our time with Max shootin hoops (over and over and over again)

Took a fun little trip into Logan Canyon (to relive when we went there as a family in 2014 for our first family EFY trip)

A new family favorite! Casper's ice cream in Richmond, Utah (near Smithfield). They produce all Fat Boy sandwiches from this factory, and sell ice cream cheap. Thrilled that all four of us got a shake/ice cream and it only cost $12!!

Hayden loved this shirt!

Beautiful walk in Preston on our way to the gym

Awesome murals on the side of a building. Nice posing, Verity!

We had to watch Napoleon Dynamite one of our nights there, so this mural was perfect timing!

Glad to have Sheldon and Abbey join us for Hayden's final games.

He nailed the free throw, of course!

Final stop out of Preston = Big Js burger joint (made famous by Napoleon Dynamite)

MISSION PICTURES!

Incredible. Averly and her companion, Sister Steele, got permission to go visit Jeremy and Connie before Jeremy's next major surgery. As chance would have it, Jayson and Sheldon were there to watch baseball games, and they all just happened to meet up at the same time!