Big Hastings Christmas Get-Together

About a week ago we got together with the Hastings side of the family for the traditional soup dinner, gift exchange, and games.

All of the little kids enjoyed passing out the presents and of course opening them!  Phoebe especially enjoyed her Reese's Pieces.  She thought they were M&M's and wanted to eat the whole box.  Both girls got some fun new toys, and pretty new dresses.

In the picture below is (right to left), my dad - Paul Hastings, Charles Hastings, Dale Hastings, and one of their cousins Jerry Hempsmeyer.

Dale and Jan hosted Christmas at their house in Hesston.  They actually live in an old church... Eric has been wanting to climb up in the bell tower for quite some time now.... So, Eric, Jordan, Josh, Amber, Johannah and I all climbed the four ladders up into the bell tower to get to the top and look out over Hesston, KS.

Looking up at the church and bell tower from the street below...

Lots of fun was had by all!

Thanks for a fun time Dale and Jan!  The food was delicious (soup is always one of my favorite things).

Emporia Christmas and New Year's

We went to Emporia to have a little Christmas with my family over the New Year's weekend.  We were also able to spend time with Eric's Grandma Dorothy.  We spent one night at her house.  The girls had a lot of fun there! 

At my parents' Eric helped my dad finish cutting down a big tree in the backyard.

We had a nice time being with family, playing games, going to the park, and opening gifts.  The girls did a great job again, taking turns, watching, and helping others open their gifts.

Thanks for a great weekend in Olpe and Emporia Dorothy Bowers, Dad, and Mom!

Grant Christmas 2011

We hosted the Grant Christmas at our house this past December.  Grant Christmas is always on the small side.  My mom only has an older brother... my Uncle Ernie.  Uncle Ernie, Aunt Judy and us.  This time we missed having Lindsee and EP with us.  (We will expect to see you two next Christmas.)  We always have a good time... and good food. 

Phoebe was excited to open a package with books in it from Ernie and Judy.  Immediately she sat down, saying, "Read Read".  Both girls got big Pillow Pets too.  Sarah named hers Huggy Bear and likes laying on him.  Phoebe's is a dog, or a "Woo-Woo" as she calls it and all other dogs.

Thanks for coming to Christmas at our house this year Ernie, Judy, Dad, Mom, and Matt.  We enjoyed having you all here.

Family Christmas Recap

We had a great family Christmas!  Here are some pictures of looking in our stockings and opening gifts Christmas morning....

The girls were ready to open their presents.  They did a great job taking turns and waiting to open their gifts.

Sarah gave Eric and I a gift and card that she had made at school. 

I got the cake ball maker!!! I cannot wait to try it.

I let the girls each pick what they wanted to give Eric for Christmas... Phoebe picked a ball.  I helped her find a soft K-State football to give him.  Sarah got him hot sauce.  (All her idea!)  Great picks girls.  Daddy loved them!

The girls each got a princess dress from Eric and I and the matching princess doll.  Sarah got Snow White and Phoebe got Ariel - The Little Mermaid.

Our Little BIG Announcement

We are going to have a BABY!  Yep, that's right... #3 for us is on the way.... Our due date is August 23rd, 2012.  We are all very happy and will be glad to have a new addition to our family this year.

Just like the the other times that I was pregnant we will NOT be finding out if we will be having a boy or girl.  We like to be SURPRISED!  And, it does not matter to Eric or I the sex of the baby... we just want a healthy baby.  For all of you that may be wondering or may want to ask us if we have names picked out... just like the other times, we do already have names picked out, but we are NOT telling them.  It will be a SURPRISE for all of you.

Here are a few pictures from my sonogram today.  The baby is small, so pay attention to the lines and arrows.  That is the baby.  The sonogram provided measurements that helped to project our August 23rd due date.

Sarah keeps telling me she is excited, and that she "will be a big sister again, and that Phoebe will be a little sister and a big sister".  I am not sure that Phoebe understands yet that there will be a new baby... When we told her she tried to pull my shirt out and up to see my belly, trying to see a baby.

Please keep our family in your prayers for a healthy baby and an easy pregnancy and delivery.  Thank you all for your support!

Quilts For My Girls

And here they are... the two twin-sized quilts that I made for my girls.  The first quilt on the left, with the zig-zag pattern around the edge, is Sarah's.  The one on the right, with small rectangles around the edge, is Phoebe's.  I finished the tops over the summer and had them quilted in the fall.  A friend from church helped me do the binding.

This is the flower and butterfly pattern that was used on both girls' quilts.  (a close-up view from the back)

This is Sarah's quilt on her bed.  It looks great and she likes it!  When she makes her bed in the morning she likes to leave the top folded down just a little bit.... to show some of the brown back fabric... she says, "I want some of the chocolate to show".

This is Lindsee's second t-shirt quilt that I made for her.  This one has t-shirts from activities that she was in from elementary school through high school.

This is Matt's first t-shirt quilt that I finished for him.  It has t-shirts from when he was in high school.  It turned out big (38 different t-shirt pieces) and would look good laid out across a double bed.