Merry Christmas!

Okay so this is a little late but I haven't felt like sitting down on the computer to type it out for a while.  So anyway, I hope you all had a great Christmas.

We spent Christmas Eve having dinner with my family.  That was really nice.  My mom is an amazing cook and I just love the warm comfort of a family dinner.  That is one of my favorite things in the world.  We got out of there rather late, for us anyway (Jake has transformed me into an old person who wants to go to bed at nine).  While we drove home I just kept thinking about how all the kids were warm in their beds waiting with such excitement for what Santa was bringing them.  That was one of my favorite memories of childhood.

Christmas morning we packed up all the presents and headed back to my parents' house for Christmas morning.  Coffee, breakfast, family and presents.  You really can't complain about that.  We did stockings and Jake has his own stocking now.  My parents also got him quite a few presents.  I don't think he realizes it but it really warms my heart to see him coming into the fold of my family and accepting the fact that we're close and do things that he probably hasn't done before.  He's such a good sport and I love him all the more for it.  I also love that my family has accepted him.  He's my  heart and I so wanted him to be a part of my family.

I have to brag more on what I got for other people than what I got from them.  I got my mom little bird Christmas figurines to add to her bird theme.  I got my dad a Broncos blanket and coffee mug.  I got my sister two books of needlework she wanted for the baby's room.  She has a lot of work to do!  I got Jak a shirt that says "Keep Calm and Nerf On" for his obsession with Dart Warz.  I got my older brother a really nice handmade wooden coin holder for his military coins with the Air Force insignia and his name on it.  Though that was the package that the post office lost/stole.  Jerks.  So it didn't get here until after Christmas.  I got my younger brother a bag of coffee which is supposed to be the strongest coffee in the world.  I got Jake a coin holder for his military coins too only with United States Army on it.  One of his presents is still coming so I can't say anything about it.

Amongst many things I got a paw washer for the dogs, a tablet, a sonic toothbrush (which sounds weird but I would have never bought it for myself and I actually love it), some books from my brother, money for office furniture, a fitbit to track fitness, and other bits and pieces.  It was really great.  Jake got me a penguin onesie and seat warmers for my car.  Awesome!

After Christmas with my family we went home and Jake got Samuel.  We had a small present opening with him and that was a lot of fun.  Kids on Christmas are SO much fun.  The excitement is infectious.  I got him Harry Potter and The Sorcerers Stone and a customized ornament for his aikido orange belt.  I want him to get an ornament every year like my mom did for me.  I also want to read to him so hence the book.  Sure, he wasn't thrilled with them but at least they weren't a video game or something.  We went out to play with two of his presents, a pogo stick and a little jump rocket launcher thing.  I'm telling you, kids on Christmas.

We finished up with dinner, peppermint ice cream and watching the Muppets Christmas Carol.  I read Samuel Harry Potter until he fell alseep and it was just a wonderful Christmas.  I couldn't have asked for more.

I am more and more in love with my life day by day.  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas is in the Air!

It is no secret that I love the holidays.  I love the winter and Christmas and I'm actually getting at least somewhat in the spirit this year.  I kind of missed out last year which made me sad but this year I'm hitting all the traditions...

Gingerbread house:
When we were kids, my mom would make these huge gingerbread houses for us to decorate.  Not just that dinky house you decorated at school but all out gingerbread house... or fort, or log cabin, or castle... Stained glass windows and over a foot high.  Then she would set us loose with candy and frosting... honestly it was brave of her to let four kids who never got sugar go to town like that.  Anyway, we did it again this year.  I think she mostly did it for Samuel but I had fun too.  We did a train station and I think it turned out pretty well.

It is all edible... and we did eat some.  Which I regretted later in the day. What with frosting and eating your decorating mistakes, it was way too much sugar in one sitting.  How do kids do that?  Bleck.  But it was so much fun to do again.  Maybe this tradition will live on.

Tree cutting.  This may be one of my favorite childhood Christmas memories.  Every year, we would pack up to the mountains in search of the perfect, or in our case huge and fat, Christmas tree.  We would go with the families of Ruth Washburn with cookies and hot chocolate and have the time of our lives running around the mountains.  I always had so much fun and I'm so glad we got to do that again this year.  Mr. Hannigan's organization owns a ranch up in the mountains that we went to this year for a free tree.  Since this winter has been relatively mild, it was warm and sunny and beautiful.  We drove up there with Samuel and the dogs and began the great tree hunt.  First thing out of the car, what does Whitman do?  He peed all over my leg!  Stupid dog had all these trees and rocks to mark and he just had to lift his leg on me.  It was lovely... of course, I can't say that is the first time that a dog has peed on me and it probably won't be the last sadly.  Anyway, it really didn't take us too long to find the tree we wanted and Samuel and I sawed it down.

We were up there for less than an hour.  I had to get back to work which sucked because I would have loved to soak in that mountain air a little more.  Jeanine LOVED her first expedition to the mountains.  She ran around like a crazy girl and found a stick.  Such a Labrador.  I am so happy that she expressed her joy in a way that didn't include urine on my leg.

Thank goodness I live with Jake now because when we got home he got the wonderful job of putting the tree up.  I would do it but I do prefer this way because I don't get sap on me or poked.

Decorating.  One of my favorite things to do was get all the Christmas boxes out and decorate!  Over the years I have slowly started accumulating my own boxes of Christmas decorations.  I love this process!  Of course I get my best stuff after Christmas when it is all on sale. Anyway, this was the first year that I've actually put up Christmas lights on the house by myself.  And when I say by myself, I mean with Jake's help.  I am so pleased!

Every year, my mom got us ornaments about something we did that year.  I've continued this tradition with Samuel this year.  Needless to say, I have a lot of ornaments now.  I usually put as many up as I can and the poor tree gets overwhelmed but this year I tried to put a cap on it and limit the swarm on the tree.  It looks a little naked to me but still nice I guess.

Even the dogs got involved in the decorating fun... or they were lassoed in.  I plead the fifth.

One of the best things about this time of year is gift giving.  I like getting gifts, just like everyone else in the world.  If you say you don't like getting gifts then you're lying.  Anyway, I like that but I LOVE giving gifts.  I love picking out things that I think will just be the perfect gift.  I love people's faces when they get something they love and had no idea to even ask for.  I hope everyone loves their gifts this year.  More on that later.

Until then, happy holidays!

Merry Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It has been a busy Christmas so far.  This morning I had two petsitting appointments, one in blasted Black Forest which I regret agreeing to.  Then walking rescue dogs so I didn't get to my parents house before 10am.  It's funny that as a kid you are up at 5am even if you are banned from leaving your room until 6am but as an adult you just aren't that excited to rush into the living room that early.

As kids, we would either all sleep downstairs in one room or we would meet in one room early in the morning.  My parents did lay down the law that we weren't allowed out of that room until a certain time, probably about 7am but I don't remember.  When it was time, we'd creep upstairs, being VERY careful not to peek into the living room to see the tree.  We would tap on my parents' door and wait for them to shuffle out.  They would go to the living room and wait for us.  We would line up, youngest to oldest, which at the time was also shortest to tallest, and we would file into the living room.  I'm sure the sparkles in our eyes when we saw the tree and presents was pretty cute.  I can remember just how excited and thrilling that was.  Then we all take our seats after much admiring of the presents and the tree so that we could do our stockings first.  The best thing in the stocking, besides candy, was the ornament that we would get every year.  Then it was a present opening mania.  Then breakfast.

As adults, we didn't get to the presents until almost noon.  We wanted breakfast first and some of us had to go get eggnog and what not.  It is less of a mania when we open presents and more orderly.  Whoever is near the tree hands out some presents until we go through them all.

I got Dad a bird book, mom a camera, Caitlin a funny shirt, Jak a nerf gun, Geoff a set or weights and Riley a shirt.  I always like giving gifts rather than receiving them.  I got cash, some stuff for my kitchen and an air conditioning unit.  Oh and Jake, the little shit, gave me a Keurig machine.  He kept saying that gifts made him uncomfortable so I got him this funny apron for when he bbqs.  I thought we were just doing something small without pressure.  Then he gets me a Keurig machine!  Haha made me feel like an ass gift giver.  It was cute how he did it.  He had me open one box with the coffee servings in it.  I was like "...thanks..." all the while thinking 'good God I don't have a Keurig.  What am I going to do with these?'  Haha then he tells me that the other big box is for me too.  And I was like, "No you didn't..."  But he did.  What a sweet guy!  Even if he wrapped it like this:

What a sweetie!  I tell you what, I've hit the jackpot with him.

Speaking of Jake, he should be here soon so I am going to go nap before he comes and we play games.  Yay for Christmas nap!

Merry Merry Christmas Eve!

Here it is, all the kids are excited tonight.  There are going to be a lot of them up tonight, vibrating with excitement in their beds.  Norad is tracking Santa and he should be here soon.

I must say Christmas Eve is a lot more exciting when you're a kid waiting for Santa.  Tonight I am going to be spending the evening with my man.  I plan on making him watch Love Actually while we wrap presents.  If I'm lucky there will be some snuggling involved too.

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you are all warm, safe and with the people you love!

The Hastings Clan Tradition

Another crazy day and it's not even over...

Started the day waking up to creepily silent house.  I got up and crept downstairs.  Normally when we stay with my aunt and uncle there is ALWAYS something going on.  It is rarely quiet.  I crept around... nothing.  No one.  I was actually starting to get worried that here I was creeping around the house finding some breakfast and coffee while everyone in the house had been murdered in their beds.  Yes, those thoughts to tend to go through my head.  Thanks crime shows.  With that happy thought in my head I crept over to the room where my brothers were sleeping and peeked in.  Neither of them moved but they were breathing.  So with the fact that my family hadn't been murdered in their beds, I enjoyed two cups of coffee in the quiet house.  Turns out everyone else was at church and they came back to cook breakfast.  Through no fault of my own I actually missed church completely.  I've sworn that I won't go back to mass because I don't believe in it but I was actually going to go. I just didn't understand the schedule and missed it.  Oops.

Anyway, we got all dressed up and made it to church to meet up with the whole crazy Hastings clan.  Let me tell you there are a shit ton of us.  Sometime when I have more time I'll count for you but for now just know there are a lot of us.  Usually it is like herding cats but we actually made it into some sort of organized group and got a family photo done.  I'm excited to see that.  I think it went fairly well but there is always someone not looking or not smiling.  It wasn't me!  It will be nice to have a picture of all of us.  Maybe the last one.  Missing my Uncle Don who just recently passed away though.

After the picture we all traipsed across the parking lot to the gym where we were going  to have the play.  Honestly the play has always been kind of a silly thing that we do because we love Grandma... or because we're all terrified of Grandma's wrath, you take your pick.  This year, I knew they were planning on it being more like a play play with people watching but I did not count on this:

That is pretty serious.  I had no idea it was going to be like on a stage with cameras and lights and THAT MANY CHAIRS.  Seriously a gulp moment.

There were A LOT of parts in this play but I was lucky enough to get one that is actually in the story of the birth of Christ, a shepherd.  Oh yeah!  So I got ushered back to wardrobe and got all shepherded up.  End result was pretty good I think.

What I didn't bank on was the fact that the shepherds, my sister and I, were in charge of two shepherd children and the star, who was my 5 year old second cousin and a handful.  Yes, I am sure that everyone was pleased to hear that I now have a boyfriend which means I am not a lesbian.  Oh yes, I have heard the whispers and rumors.  But does that really mean I need to be saddled with children during a play in which Grandma would skin me if I let them ruin it.  Keeping kids quiet and entertained for hours in costumes and in a hallway waiting for our couple of minutes on the stage is not easy.  It certainly was good birth control though.

Other fun play prep:

My Grandpa who was the narrator. 

Brothers

Got to have some fun

Thank God I wasn't a camel...

Shepherd Children

Cousins

Cousins

So after one run through we put the play on for an audience of like 60 people.  I've said it before and I'll say it again that being a Hastings in Edwardsville is like being in the mafia.  I only kid...

I think it went as well as we could have hoped.  I'm sure I will be getting a copy of the video and we'll see if I ever let anyone see it.  I'm glad we all got together to do it for my Grandma though.  It was her baby.  To get all of us together and in costume shows you how strong she is.

After that we had to put everything away and then it was dinner time!  Wooo!  If you ever get the chance to eat with the Hastings clan, here's a tip.  Get in line and get the food as soon as you can.  Just file that away.

We did some visiting then we did our traditional present exchange.  Anyone who wants to be a part of it is assigned another person's name.  That way you don't have to get more presents than one.  I had Kara and got her some earrings.  Alexis had me and got me a pretty cool gourmet cookbook.  Can't wait to try that out.  After the exchange, it was only 6pm even though it felt like midnight.

We did some more visiting and I finally got to hold my baby cousin.  He isn't the newest, just got another one three weeks ago but I somehow missed out on holding him.  Babies in this family usually get passed around like no one's business.  Coming from the mind of a dog person, it is like socializing a puppy to as many people as possible.  I remember being a small child in the family.  Sometimes you don't know how you're related to that person, you just take it with faith that you are.

Isn't he darling!?

 So after cleaning up we all packed up and some of us headed off to another house to play games.  Which is where we are now.  I'm exhausted and so ready for bed but I don't want to miss a minute of family time.  I really wish I lived closer to all of them.  It is a blessing to have a such a wonderful and loving family.

Off to play games!  Who knows when I will be bed bound but earlier will be better since I have to leave tomorrow morning for my flight at 5:45am.  Oh man...

Whirlwind day...

This weekend is going to be crazy busy for me. I feel a bit like I've been swept into a hurricane and it will be a miracle if I can keep all my balls in the air.

This has been my day:

• Finished packing and made sure everything was set up for the dogs.  (Whitman and my sister's dogs.  Been at their house)
• Met with Astrid to petsit some cats.
• Went to Geoff's house to pick up a present.
• Off to work for a couple of hours.
• Straight from work to Jake's house.
• Jake took me to the airport.
• Flew from Colorado Springs to Dallas.
• Layover.
• Delay.
• Delay.
• Delay.
• Finally fly from Dallas to St. Louis.
• Wait for my brother.
• Drive from St. Louis to Edwardsville.
• Chat a bit with family.
• Now finally in bed updating my blog.

So why am I in St. Louis?  Well this year is probably the last time we will all come together as the Hastings clan and see each other.  If I didn't come I would be the only one in like 50 that couldn't make it.  Everyone is here and that's quite a feat.  My grandma does this Nativity play every year but since it is getting to be so hard to get people together for Christmas in this huge crazy family, this year, the 25th year, is going to be the last official year that it happens.

It has been a crazy day and I'm already wiped but I'm glad that I could make it here.  I'm kind of irritated that it is going to be so crazy because stupid work wouldn't give me more than ONE day off for this.  So I worked this morning, flew out and I have tomorrow to spend here.  Then Monday I fly back home and go straight to work.  Yay for the crazy holiday season.

I love flying.  I am not such a huge fan of the airport though.  I was pretty pleased with Colorado Springs though because I got to do the TSA precheck thing at security.  They do a chemical test on your hands, for explosives I assume, and if you pass that then all you have to do is walk through the metal detector.  It's amazing.  Usually you have to basically undress and bend over backwards in order to get through security.  I am a huge fan of precheck.  It got me through so fast that I had lots of time to sit at the gate.  I will say that I probably won't fly American again.  Their agents are little power hungry jerks and don't seem to know what is going on.  The lady at the gate in Colorado Springs was a dragon lady wielding her little power over bag size like a Grinch.  This other girl and I were watching her make people repack their bags so they could fit in the carry on cage thing.  I've never seen people actually check that.  And she was being a bitch about that.  Yeesh.  When it was my turn to board, by God she was not stopping me and making me do anything to my bag.  I just brushed on past her.  Take that dragon lady!  At least the flight was good.

Usually I just put on my iPod and either sleep or read/write.  The flight from Colorado Springs to Dallas was different though.  I was sitting next to this cute army guy and he was pretty talkative.  He just got back from Afghanistan and he was making his way to New Orleans to go on a cruise.  We had a great time talking about almost everything and we were actually making each other laugh.  It's rare for me to connect so much with a stranger so that was fun.  That was something new for me and I'm glad I didn't just brush him off and put on my earphones.  I wish him well.  Doubt I'll ever see him again but it was good to share that flight with him.

Dallas wasn't so bad.  I just meandered my way to my next gate and plopped down.  There is a storm out east that was muddling travel though because there were quite a few delays and people RUNNING for their next flight.  Luckily I was only delayed about two hours total so it wasn't so bad.  I got some good people watching in.  That's a good past time.  It was amusing to see so many people just take off as fast as they can run to get to their next flight.  I feel their pain and don't want that to happen to me but it was amusing to watch.  So silver lining if you ever have to run for a flight is that you're probably amusing the people watching you streak by.

Once I landed I trecked on out to my dad waiting to pick me up.  I was about two hours late but it all worked out because my brother who was flying in right behind me was also about two hours late.  We only had to wait about a half hour for him then we drove off to Edwardsville.  Finally having arrived, it was nice to see family but even nicer to climb into bed.

Tomorrow is another busy day so I'll actually try to sleep now.

Holiday Tradition

I love the holiday season.  I love Christmas.  Everyone knows this.  True, the hours of unrelenting Christmas music at work is starting to slowly drive me crazy, but I still love the season.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is going to the Broadmoor and walking around the lake.  Usually there are gorgeous Christmas lights and you can end the night in the bar for a hot drink.  So much fun.  Jake, forever earning brownie points, took me tonight.  Although it was a bit of a let down light wise this year, I loved the fact that he took me even though he wasn't overly interested.  His son came with us so it could have been more romantic but it truly doesn't bother me.  It was a really good time.  Perfect send off for tomorrow.

Kisses to my man!

Christmas Party!

I've had Christmas parties before but the WagNWash Christmas party really took the cake on fancy.  You wouldn't think that considering what type of store it is.  However, once you meet the owners you might expect something fancy from them.

Anyway, last night we all had to work so we decided that us girls were going to bring our things to work and start getting ready at the store.  The store was supposed to close at 5pm.  The bus to Denver (yes the party was in Denver even though there are more stores here.  Makes no sense.) left at 6pm and the party was to start at 7pm.  When you're a girl and you have a fancy party to get ready for you can't do that in a matter of minutes.  Think about it.  You get off at 5, go home which is about a 15 minute drive from both stores, then have to be back to catch the bus at 6.  That leaves about half an hour to get ready if you're lucky.

So us girls left Jeff in charge of the store as we went upstairs early and got ready.  Aimee and Ryan did my hair and makeup and I think it turned out pretty good.  Jake came, brownie points for him.  He looked DAMN fine but of course I forgot to get a picture of us.  I think that's his plan.  It's like pulling teeth to get a picture haha.

Jake drove us up to Denver since he didn't want to ride the bus, which I didn't mind much.  We got there early and hung out in the car for a bit.  Then we went in and man it was a fancy Italian restaurant.  There was a four course meal and it was very yummy.  I bet it all cost a fortune.  It was pretty nice for them to spend that much money on it.  It was a good time.  Course maybe they could do bigger bonuses instead but I guess a party is pretty nice too.  Drink tickets were nice too.

There was a kind of white elephant gift.  I bought a gift of chocolate, hot chocolate and a mug with a Santa hat.  I ended up with an ordainment, which I gave to Amanda, and $20 in ITunes gift cards.  I think I made out pretty will considering some people did not take to heart that there weren't supposed to be gag gifts or anything.

Overall, it was a nice time and I'm glad that I went.  I'm glad Jake came with me.  Yay the Christmas season!

Ryan and I at work before leaving.

The ladies!

Our crew!

Merry Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I certainly had a merry one.  Although I haven't been into the holidays as much this year as I usually am, I always love Christmas.

Super special this year because we had a WHITE CHRISTMAS!  Amazing!  It is much more likely to snow on Easter than it is on Christmas here so it was lovely to wake up to.  You know me and snow; we have a love love relationship.

Christmas morning!

So we had a small quiet Christmas this year.  Everyone was home which is such a blessing.  The big thing I got this year was a dishwasher.  Ah it's funny how when you get older your presents get a lot more practical but no less exciting.  I told my parents that I would never again live in a house without a dishwasher.  Now I won't have to.  Thank the Lord!  I loved seeing everyone open my presents.  Always great!  It was a wonderful quiet morning.

My grandparents flew in which is a big deal because normally we go out there to visit family.  I'm sure my grandpa thought he was freezing to death here as he often can be found wrapped in an electric blanket down in FL.  He enjoyed seeing the deer at least though.  Neither of them are in the Colorado mindset that we don't want the deer in the yard because they were out there feeding them.  My mom is going to have a time getting rid of them now.  Guess I can lend her Gerani for a couple of days.

Went and saw the Electric Safari at the zoo with Caitlin the other day.  First time I had ever been surprisingly.  Not surprisingly, I had a great time.  I love the zoo and if you mix that with Christmas lights I'm on board.  Very pretty though I don't envy them the job of putting them up or taking them down.  Caitlin and I had fun and yes I made her ride the carrousel.  What's the fun in life if you don't let your inner child out every so often?  So what if people look at you like you're a big nut.

Here are some more Christmas pictures!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Many wonderings

I haven't been doing a whole lot lately other than working and working on my house.  We're trying to get it up to snuff before an inspection on Monday of the construction loan.  Let's see, the heat went in and they were able to get a furnace in downstairs and run ducts up to the ceiling.  We need to enclose those ducks but I'm glad that they were able to get vents in.  Painting is ongoing.  The blue trim on the house is now becoming dark green.  I love it!  Can't wait for that to be done.  The new windows are in and the plumbing is mostly done.  I need to get some pictures and post them.  I just haven't gotten around to that.  A house down the street sold for almost double what I paid for mine so that's good to know.  If I can get this all fixed up and nice I should be able to make some money off of it.  That's not the point but that's good to know for sure.

In other news my phone stopped taking a charge and died.  Then one night it half charged so I spent the weekend jealously guarding my phone battery.  It always seems when suddenly you aren't able to use something like your phone, all of the sudden you need to make all these phone calls and check your email.  Being disconnected sucks.  What sucks more is when you lay down several hundred dollars for insurance and then when you go to use it you're told you don't have any insurance on your account.  Such bullshit because I did buy it and found the receipt to prove it.  Anyway, so I called them to say I needed another phone on Thursday I think it was and the guy told me that I could either spend several hundred dollars for another phone, be out of luck until April when I get my upgrade or buy a phone on eBay.  Talk about good customer service.  So Friday I called again and I was very pissed.  The guy explained to me that Verizon contracts insurance out to other companies so that there was no way for him to get to the insurance that I had purchased so I would have to contact the other company.  Then he couldn't tell me what that company was.  That's when I got mad and pretty much told him that it was their responsibility to honor any insurance that they sell in their store.  He folded like paper and sent me a phone for no charge.  I was so angry at them.  They just try to cheat people.  Anyone not paying attention would have been screwed there.  And for those of us who don't have any other phone besides the cell phone, it's not like we can go much longer than a couple of days without that phone.

The new phone came when I was at home for lunch but of course it takes forever to get a new phone organized the way you like it.  Now suddenly my Simcard isn't reading properly in the new phone so after work I am going to go in and make them fix it.  And heaven forbid anyone is mean to me I still have a lot of pent up poor customer service rage so they better watch it.  Normally I am very nice to people in customer service because I know what it's like to deal with problem people who are just assholes regardless.  But when I feel like someone is trying to pull a fast one on me I get rather grumpy.

Top it off I got a flat on Saturday morning.  Luckily it was at home and my phone had just enough charge to call my brother-in-law to help me fix it.  Yes I know how to change a flat.  I just physically do not have the strength to do it.  So I had to take my car in to get the snow tires put on (wishful thinking probably) and get the flat tire patched up.  Sadly, that meant I couldn't go to the mountains and chop down my Christmas tree like my family always does.  I hated missing that tradition.  But my parents brought a tree back for me.  I haven't decorated it yet but when I do it will actually start feeling a little bit more like Christmas.

I love seeing Christmas lights everywhere.  It just makes me so happy.  Though I have to say I HATE the big inflatable decorations.  They are so ugly!  Please, just don't put a giant inflatable Santa in your yard because it just makes me want to pop it, which isn't very Christmasy of me.  I've been listening to Christmas carols as much as possible.  Bing Crosby is the king of Christmas if you ask me.  I'll probably decorate the tree with White Christmas playing.  I love everything Christmas.  Most of my shopping is done too so that's nice.  More time I can spend working on my house/

Anyway, that's a good post for now.  I keep meaning to post then other things get in the way.  Like sleep.