Christmas Eve Tradition

Christmas Eve tradition for the Hastings' is to go to Grandma and Grandpa Hastings' house to read different versions of the story, "T'was the Night Before Christmas". All the grandkids come dressed in their new Christmas pj's and the daddy's take turns reading the different books (Texas, Louisiana, and traditional versionsof the story). Then Grandpa Hastings ends the night reading the passage from the Bible. Grandma Hastings usually has hot chocolate and cookies as a treat. The perfect night for making memories!!!

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

I really wanted to post this before Christmas, but life was just too crazy! Anyway, the week before Christmas Tristan FINALLY lost his upper right tooth. The last of his "front teeth". I have never seen a child hold on to his teeth the way Tristan does. He likes to wait for his tooth to be so loose it practically slips out on it's own. He must have walked around with his super loose tooth for about a week before we could convince him to let Jim or I to take it out. He finally gave in, and Jim was the one with the magic fingers this time because he was the one Tristan entrusted in taking out his tooth. Tristan was then qualified to sing the song, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth..." He is getting so big and growing so fast, I can hardly keep up!! Just thought it would be fun to show pictures of his toothless smile.

White Christmas in Dallas!!!

As many of you may have heard... Dallas made news this year because we had the first white Christmas in something like 80 yrs. On Christmas Eve, we went to the movies as a family to see The Princess and the Frog (which was very cute!). Before the movie the storm had been blowing through north Texas, kind of easing it's way into Dallas. By the time we got out of the movie, the wintery mix was blowing in like you wouldn't believe. The precipitation hadn't quite made it to the nice soft snow. It was more like being pelted with little shards of ice (aka... sleet). We thought it would be so fun to take a picture outside the theater in the snow... Boy were we wrong!!! It was so bad we couldn't even keep our eyes open because sleet was blowing into our eyes, quite painful!!! So we rushed to our car, loaded up the kids, and by the time we made it home...

It was like magic!!! The pelting ice had turned into soft snowflakes. The kids were so excited. The funny thing is that days earlier, Ruby and I were talking about Christmas and how Santa would be coming to bring gifts, and she asked me, "Mommy, when is the snow going to come?" I guess she had seen enough Christmas shows and movies that she figured that snow would have to come before it was time for Christmas to happen, and sadly, I had to explain to her that snow doesn't usually come in Dallas, especially not for Christmas. She must have wished it here because when the kids woke up, they had a white Christmas. It was so fun and magical!

Hastings' Grandkids

Trying to get pictures of these 6 grandkids is almost impossible. There always seems to be someone with their head turned or looking the wrong way. Katy and I pick a day each year, and try to plan it just right to avoid tears or other complications. It may take us 15 shots, and the kids getting so fed up with us, but the end result is always so priceless. The picture at the bottom left is the one we presented to Grandma and Grandpa Hastings on Christmas Day this year... with accompanying ooooh's and aaaaah's, and the one on the bottom right is the one we let the kids release their silliness and frustrations for having to be put through this year after year. Top to bottom the kids are: Zoe, Hanna, Tristan, Madeline, Ruby and Samuel.

So many memories being captured!!!

Early Bird Catches the Worm...

This morning Tristan was up first, bright-eyed, bushytailed, and ready to get his day started. Without ANY prompting he picked out his clothes, got himself dressed (shoes and socks included), and wanted to make his own lunch. Usually I have to go and stir him a few times before he finally gets up and gets dressed. I think the excitement that comes with Christmas vacation is sparking his initiative. He is such a fun kid to have around. He ceases to amaze me with his enthusiasm for life!!! Two thumbs up for Tristan!!!

Pinning Party

Since our school only has graduation once a year, in May, a bunch of us decided to put together our own little celebration at a friend's house. We are all wearing our lab coats. This is a small portion of the students from my class, but a good representation of the people I've been going to school with these last couple years.

It was a night with good friends, good food and a pinning ceremony. One of the girls in our class gathered money from those who wanted to participate, and bought an "RN" pin for each of us to pin on a fellow student. It was emotional for some, and such a neat experience for all. At the end of the night, in the outside fireplace, we had a ceremonial burning of scrub tops, notes or anything else that represented the tough road we've all been on the last couple years. It was a night to remember!!!

This is my good friend, Shari. She and I spent a lot of time together going to class together, studying, eating lunch at the hospital, carpooling, practicing skills, etc... She and I both have four kids. Only hers are older. Her oldest is in college and her youngest is the same age as Zoe, my oldest. We relied a lot on each other to help get through the tough times. Her friendship really helped make the days more bearable! I am forever grateful for her dedication to our friendship!!

Thank Heaven... Jim's 37!!!

Jim's birthday was Monday, December 7. So, the kids and I sent him off with a family breakfast before school (a rare occurence)... It was a little rushed, but a fun way to start the day and week.

Later that evening, we had a family dinner and invited Jim's Mom & Dad, Nick, Katy, Maddie & Sam, and Katy. We wanted to make sure Jim had a special day from start to finish. He is so busy this time of year with private lessons and teaching classes, that we don't get to see him very much, and I wanted to make sure that he had a nice enjoyable day on his birthday... A GREAT end to a GREAT day!!