Kirk is back.

So, Kirk's last blog was written back in February. Why the delay or procrastination in writing, you may ask. I think I had blogalitis (its a rare disease that hits and you don't want to post anything because of various reasons that don't need to be discussed today.) Some of you may have had this rare disease. Hopefully you can overcome it and post more than I have. I just hope that a second wave doesn't hit. Good think Kelli was there for me during the infection of blogalitis. Anyways to the good stuff. Are you prepared for a 2 month catch up?

The weekend after my Grandpa Blake passed away, Kelli and I took a trip to Loa, UT. We visited Grandpa and Grandma Hatch. They prepared one AMAZING meal! They are such amazing people. After our dinner and visit to Capitol Reef National Park, Grandpa Hatch played his Accordion (which I believe he learned after turning 65) and the violin (which he just barely started learning this past year!). My grandpa will turn 89 in October. He has now inspired me to learn an instrument (because I failed miserably at the piano earlier in life.) It is never to late to start. I am taking up the guitar. I even went and bought my first guitar lessons book. Here is a video of Grandpa playing his accordion. He even had a band in past years and now goes to Koosharem to play with others like himself!




Don't you just love his smile at the end. He just beams! He was just like that after he played the violin for us. Very inspiring!

I can't remember the songs he played on the violin, but he attempted a few for us. He and Grandma are so proud of their "new" violin that they bought and had fixed up. Quite a story.
This is in Capitol Reef. Grandpa Hatch took us for tour and told us some stories. He helped bring in the first power line here (he was a linesman for Garkane). I believe it is an apricot orchard behind us. We even got to ride in their "new" car with all the whistles and bells. It was fun to hear them explain that they were "going 100 mph with everybody passing them". come to find out the car was set to KPH.

Now onto more Easter fun. This is at Arches National Park on Easter Sunday. We headed up after we went to church in Moab. It is tradition in the Blake and Hatch family to ROLL the egg not eat it. Being in the park we had to improvise (rolling the egg without making a mess). So we found this little hear at the picnic area.

(above) Kirk, Devin, and Logan at the first "roll"

Hill #2. We even caught Devin mid-air. Kelli's roll. Thanks to Kim for finding this better hill. However upon finding this hill we were bombarded with little children from the other picnic areas that were taking our eggs and wanting to join in on the fun.

Kelli's artwork.

The sand dune near Sanddune Arch. Yes, they are buried in the sand. What a mess!

Above: Kirk and Kelli near the end of the Flat Iron Mesa Jeep Trail. Kane Creek is at the bottom of that Canyon.

For the next few pictures you may want to know that we survived and are alive. Mom don't worry too much. We had fun and were safe!

Kirk is not driving, but Wyatt is. This is one of the bigger hills. I opted to go around. It was my first year driving and figured I needed a little more experience.

I look good in Red, but don't mess with me because I am wearing my "grumpy" hat.

Above: yes, this is Kirk and Kelli in the jeep. If you zoom in you may see a face of fear or determination. Only you can decide that.
Kim video taped me right after this picture was taken because it was another one of those "cool" hills to climb. the video did not turn out well. You only see the back end of the jeep. Nice attempt though Kim.

All in all, the Jeep ride was SWEET! Thanks to my navigator Kelli and her patience and support. She never got out once!

Back to March. I am going to share a video from the graveside service of my Grandpa Blake. It was one of the most touching experiences EVER! Grandpa Blake loved airplanes and loved to take us on rides. He also gave a lot of service to the community by being a part of the Civil Air Patrol. At the viewing one of the members of the civil air patrol told Grandma Blake that they would be doing a fly by in Grandpa Blake's Honor. It isn't done very often we hear. There were 4 planes in total, each one doing something different like tipping their wing or doing a roll in his Honor. It was an amazing tribute to an amazing person like Grandpa Blake. Here is a video: Thanks Kelli for getting this for us.