Daddy's Work, A Growing Belly, A Long Distance Sis, & Signs of the Season

At week 27, I am starting to require help getting from the sitting position to standing up, rolling over in bed is starting to become a chore that requires serious thought before launching into maneuvering over, and I pee incessantly...ahhh...only 12 more weeks to go.  

AJ joyfully yelled, "airplane" as we pulled into the airport to have a quick breakfast with a sis I hadn't seen in over a year.  She had a brief layover at DIA, so we hopped in the car for some quick hugs and pictures!  From there, we spent a couple hours at daddy's work entertaining ourselves with highlighters, bubble wrap, boxes and packing peanuts.  Forget going to Toys R Us for Christmas this year, I'm doing AJ's shopping at daddy's work!  And finally, to kick off my holiday cheer, I put together a couple free make and takes at Archivers with friends!  I cannot wait to get started feathering my nest for Christmas this year!  Here are a few of my favorite signs Christmas is on its way: 

1.  When King Soopers starts stocking their shelves with Christmas Tree Little Debbie cakes!...I just love the crunch of the green sugar crystals!  

2.  When Starbucks starts using their holiday cups!  The first sight of these red decorated cups makes my heart leap for joy!  There is just something so festive about drinking a hot drink out of a red cup adorned in snowflakes and reindeer!  

3.  Hearing Christmas music on the radio...still eagerly anticipating this one

and in other news:  I am off track and have an action packed three weeks planned!  

I plan to:

1.  Read twilight by Stephanie Meyer by the 21st so I can see the movie

2.  Visit family in Missouri for some early Thanksgiving feasting

3.  Help my daycare provider out a few afternoons

4.  Officially start...and completely finish Abby's nursery

5.  Celebrate Thanksgiving with Andy's family

6.  Start a staff development class

7.  Decorate for Christmas (I think we will only decorate 3 trees instead of my initial thought of 4 this year...our traditional rustic/country themed real one, AJ's tree, and Abby's tree...we may not do our childhood ornaments one that usually goes in the den)

8.  Transform the den into our guest bedroom as Abby will be taking over our old one

9.  Move the den and little dude's playroom down to the basement

10.  Finish our Christmas shopping

11.  Start potty training

...and I think that is it....whew!  

Fun Word Splash

I discovered a fun website that creates a fun word splash with the words you choose.  I have one as my wallpaper on the mac daddy now.  Enjoy!  www.wordle.net

Lots of Candy and Wild Animals

After we moms chatted, munched on jack-o-lantern shaped pizza and carmel apple chips and downed a 2 liter bottle of Dr. Pepper we indulged ourselves in taking approximately 30 pictures of AJ and Ashley in their Halloween attire.  It was a great Halloween day!  Here are Tigger and Tink all dressed up ready to hit the candy circuit.  

AJ caught on quickly...tigger suit = lots of candy, so he eagerly suited up, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door shouting ick or EAT Friday night! 

Saturday we had our first trip to the zoo!  Highlights of AJ's day: pulling the wagon, watching the monkeys and his first carousel ride!  Mom and dad were exhausted!     

Check out www.thehastingsfamily.net for more pictures!  

What Do Tigger, Dad, and A Construction Worker Do Over A Weekend?

We had a haunting weekend as we traveled from one Halloween event to another.  We started out by eating hot dogs & popcorn and playing games at my school carnival.  Then, we ventured to a Trick or Treat at a local medical center where Tigger got to see a fire truck, a police car, an ambulance, Miss Colorado, and a helicopter close up.  I'm not sure who was more excited about meeting Miss Colorado and seeing a helicopter land within 100 feet of us...AJ...or daddy?  Then we partied till we turned into pumpkins at a family Halloween party Saturday night!  AJ ate at least four suckers, a quarter of a watermelon, and a decent size bowl of potato chips.  He decided he had so much fun partying  this weekend to continue the festivities by escaping the baby gate on his door tonight.  30 minutes, many bedtime stories, and about 100 laps around the upstairs later...mommy and daddy got smart and moved the foot operated baby gate to AJ's door...AJ finally surrendered to his bed and mommy and daddy felt a sick sense of success at once again containing the little escape artist.   

Curtains, Trains, and Pumpkin Bars...Oh My!

When I fell in love with a vintage floral fabric at Joann's this week and Andy agreed it was cute, I went for it!  15 yards of fabric and a day behind the sewing machine later, Abby has curtains!  As I was measuring, cutting, and sewing...Andy and AJ were busy setting up AJ's new train track.  A neighbor offered us a smoking deal on her son's train set, and I haven't seen Andy or AJ since!  As the boys played with their trains this afternoon, I filled the house with the smell of pumpkin and cinnamon!  Check out the recipe of these amazing pumpkin bars from Little Bit Funky!     

Favorites Swap!!!

You know that bubbly feeling that rises up inside of you when you open the front door and find a box addressed to you sitting on the porch!  Where you can't wait to discover what exciting treats wait for you inside!  I love that feeling!  You know, where you run in the house and grab the first sharp object you can find to bust into the box!  I got to experience this pure joy this week!  And it was worthy of every ounce of anticipated excitement!    

I received my Favorites Swap box from As Special As It Gets this week and am spoiled rotten!  It is amazing how similar our boxes were for each other!  As you know, I love all things Fall and this box was all Fall...from the leaves she used for packing to the yummy candy corn!  She pampered me with:

1.  an adorable fall box padded with leaves perfect for decorating

2.  three scrumptious smelling candles

3.  a bag of Dove silky smooth milk chocolates

4.  a bag of Autumn Mix candy corn

5.  two packages of fabulous Harvest Crafts fall stickers

6.  three rolls of orange, cranberry, and olive ribbon

7.  fun foam fall stamps to make crafts with AJ!

Thank you swap partner!!!  I love every bit of my box!  

Off To The Race Track

Mesmerized by the loud hum of the motors, the whoosh of wind as they sped past us, and the thrill of watching go-karts hit speeds into the 70's, AJ was glued to the track last Sunday as we watched one of my second grade students take first at a local Motorsports Series Race.

He shouted a spirited, "race car...fast" and pointed fiercely at the track as the go-karts rounded each corner.  Although dad is not up for starting a family racing team, I was psyched to find out that adults can race!  It's gotta be a better adrenaline rush than I-25 in the mornings and there's no risk of getting pulled over.  The only thing holding me back is...well...being with child, but give me a few months ,and I plan to hit the track next spring.  Maybe not racing, but try a few laps.  I've always wanted to dry dirt bike racing also...

On to other exciting news...Abby and I would just like to thank the Boy Scouts of America for chocolate covered carmel popcorn.