A bit about Burgess

Hi, this is Zane again. I now have access to post to this blog without permission, so maybe I can help shed a little light on Burgess for those of you who are tired of the Zane & Izzy show.

Burgess hates to have her picture taken. This drives me absolutely nuts for two reasons. 1) she is gorgeous and 2) I fancy myself as a photographer and she won't pose so the world gets a lot of Izzy pictures - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. the world just needs more Burgess pictures.

Burgess has a sixth sense that makes it possible for every one of her attempts at a "nipple twister" to hit me square on the nipple. Every time! Right on the nipple!

Burgess acts uninterested in every band I have ever recommended to her. Then I find out months later that she actually really likes them.

Burgess is always super nice and friendly to everyone, and makes friends really easy. She makes up for my ackward shyness to the point that people like me just because I am associated with her.

Burgess and I have similiar dislikes that we share vehemently. We both hate Tyra Banks and Phoenix-area newscasters.

Burgess is a really good photographer. It makes me sick how she is really good at everything she does. If you said, "Burgess, build me a rowboat so I can go fishing." she would build a rockin' boat with a crazy paint job, buy you some fishing supplies and pack you a lunch. And not ask for a thing in return.

Burgess is incredibly supportive - even if you have stupid dreams that mean your family will likely be poor for a very long time. As long as you are trying to do something cool and constructive with your life she will support you to the very end and do anything she can to help. Like serve sandwiches to cranky snowbirds.

Burgess will drop everything to play with Izzy. She is always talking and singing to him. he is going to be exactly like her, and I am very excited to see that.

Burgess is the best.

The Zoo - Part 2: Electric Boogaloo

Hi folks, this is Zane. I have commandeered the Ewton blog to share some more photos from Burgess and Izzy's trip to the zoo. Blogs need more photos.

By the way, it frustrates me that Burgess can pick up anything and be great at it immediately. She can have fun with Izzy, run around, tra-la-la - and, oh yeah, take great photos after not picking up the camera for a month. Did I mention she always wins at any game. Doesn't matter the game - she wins. I'm not bitter. I'm just glad she's on my team.

The Zoo...

The weather was PERFECT on Tuesday morning so we decided to take a trip to the zoo. I took Izzy on his birthday in February but he was so in awe of everything, he hardly moved. This time he was so much more excited, he loved all the animals and especially the kid's play area and petting zoo. His favourite was brushing the goats! He wanted to brush all of them before we moved on to something else.
I didn't get alot of pics of the animals, except this one with him looking at the bear over by the waterfall. He was super close and we were the only ones at this viewing area. I love the zoo!

I love my hubby

This is the conversation I overheard last night while getting ready for work:

Izzy saw the vaccuum sitting out and pointed to it and said, "Mommy's."
Zane says, "Hey, I use it, too."
Izzy, "Mommy's."
Zane, "I think we can all use it."
Izzy, "Mommy's."
Zane, "It's not just a woman's job, you know. Men do it, too."

SO happy to live in a time when the duties are shared by all. And I'm SO happy that my husband helps me with EVERYTHING.
Thanks, Lover!

Grandpa Hatch

This is my Grandpa Hatch. He died last week and we went up to the funeral in Woodruff last Monday. I hadn't seen him in 10 years, due to the fact that he was senile and living in the veteran's home. I was his favourite. I feel horribly guilty for not really living up to that and seeing him more when I could have and when he still knew who I was. This sounds bad, but he didn't have the best relationships with his kids and my granny, so I kind of only ever heard the bad side of him. I was glad to go to his funeral and hear the good stuff. I watched a series on PBS about WWII just recently and ever since then I have more respect and love for those men than ever. One of those men was my grandpa and I am extremely pround to say that I am his granddaughter just for that reason. The difference between that war and the wars since then is huge. They didn't have tours of duty, they stayed until they were injured, dead, or until the war was over. He was in the Battle of the Bulge and was involved in hand to hand combat, killing one German soldier with his knife. He saw many of his friends killed right in front of him. I can't imagine what he went through, and then to come home and make a normal life and have a normal job, these men were incredible. I will always regret not being able to get to know him better.

I'm just now at this point in my life starting to get how special the people are that I came from. I'm proud to come from the people who fought for what they believed in. I'm proud to be a Hatch.

I need some help...

It's haircut time. It's been haircut time for about 2 months, I just can't decide what to do.

Should we go with normal (just trimmed)?

The real 'hawk?

the fohawk (just trimmed mostly on the sides and a little on the top)?

or the bald eagle?

I've never actually taken him to a real place to get a haircut, it's always just me and my clippers, but I think it might be time to get the real thing done. However, I know a real place will freak him out, so I looked online for a kid's cutting place -- totally fun and colorful with toys and what not-- and they want $17. Which, I'm sure, is worth it for the screaming and naughtiness they have to endure, but since I've always just cut it, it seems like a lot to me. And, yes, I'm cheap. If he was a girl it would be different, but he's a little boy, aren't they supposed to have crazy hair?

Anyway, I'm rambling....Help! If you read this blog, leave a comment and tell me which one you like best!

The Grand Canyon State

As many of you know, Zane and I weren't too thrilled about staying in Arizona after we got married -- we wanted to explore other territories and see something new, but that just wasn't in the cards for us. Now here it is 4 years later and I can honestly say that the place has grown on me. These are the things that I love about Arizona....The fantastic sunsets.


I love that this is 2 hours away. You're in the desert one minute, and the forest the next.




I LOVE the thunderstorms. The first time I moved to AZ when I was 13, I would sit outside for hours and watch the thunderstorms, completely mesmorized. I don't think I could ever get sick of them.

The history of AZ is so fun! I love that this was the "wild west" and I love hearing stories about the exciting times of the old west. One of our next trips is definitely to Tombstone.

That's another thing that I've come to realize -- there are so many things to do and see here all over the state and I probably won't ever get to them all, but would love to try. Places I haven't been but would love to go (besides Tombstone):

Grand Canyon in the winter

Bedrock City

Out of Africa in Camp Verde

and Lake Havasu to see the London Bridge

But the bestest thing ever about living here:

I get to see these cute boys often.

As I've said in earlier posts, family is hard work but totally worth it and I'm glad we're so close to all of our family living here.

Everyday....

As many of you know, sometimes a mommy's life gets a little mundane and monotonous. Because kids need somewhat of a routine (which I hate), it can sometimes lead to doing the same thing day in and day out and the days start to run together. But, there are a few little things that happen every day that I love and hope they happen everyday forever...

My kiss goodbye from Zane in the morning on his way to work.

When I walk in to get Izzy out of his crib and he's just happy to be alive. It's a great way to start off your day.

Hearing Izzy say, "hold you" and wanting to cuddle first thing in the morning while he's watching sesame street.

Zane hurrying home to see us.

Knowing that Zane would rather be here with us than anywhere else.

Izzy kissing and hugging me whenever I ask him to.

The cuddle and conversation I have with Zane when we go to bed at night.

I sometimes dwell on the things that I don't like about our lives right now but there are a whole lot of things that I do like and that make me happier than I ever could have imagined.