They're off....and a cloud of smoke

Jacob getting ready to leave for his first day of high school (10th grade). It was harder than I thought it would be to send him off. As I watched him walk down to the bus stop I really could just see my little 5 year old Jacob walking down the street---with the bowl haircut and all. How do they grow up so fast? It's hard sending them out to the real world and I know that just a few more of those strings holding him to home were cut today, as they should, but it makes me worried. Did I prepare him well enough? Will he make the right choices? Will he find happiness? I can't imagine what it will be like in just a few years when we send him off on a mission....

Miranda was feeling and looking confident this morning. Going into 8th grade is nothing too new. She had at least one good friend in every class.


Tyler the cool 5th grader...ready to take on the world.

Nathan was a bit sad to wake up and find everyone had left him home. He couldn't figure out why he couldn't go to school yet...after all he's been the one most excited to start. Luckily he has a few friends in the same boat and was able to spend a good part of the day hanging out with one of them.

Shortly after we got to Nathan's friends house we noticed big clouds of smoke billowing up from the mountain behind us. Sad news. A forest fire started just north of the new Draper Temple they are building. It has already burned over 600 acres. Sadly this is where Jacob did his Eagle Scout Project (he built a trail). We don't know for sure yet (because the fire is still burning), but we are guessing Jacob's Trail--as it's called in the Hatch house-- is black.

There has been lots of ash and smoke and, sadly, wind. Hopefully they will get it under control tomorrow. Matt's sad. That area was one of his favorite running spots.