Love the Lord

Sunday as we were headed to church, we were scanning through the radio stations when we found an old gospel song to listen to. So we were just listening when I hear a whimper from the backseat. I turn around (Chad is driving) to find Alyssa with a huge frown. I ask her what is the matter and she says "they are saying I don't love God and that makes me sad." The song goes "If you don't love your neighbor, then you don't love God." What a tender heart! If only little things like that made us frown and really cause us to question our attitudes and feeling towards others.

It's Summertime!

Well, it's been over a month since I've posted anything and I truly am sorry. We have been enjoying the summer though and having a blast! We have been going to the free movies offered at the movie theaters with friends, swimming at the pool, going to VBS, going to the minor league baseball games and there is no end in sight!


T-ball is over. Alyssa's t-softball team placed 3rd in the county, we are so proud of them! They had a marathon of games 2 weeks ago and played 2 on a Friday night, winning one and losing the other, to place 3rd!! They all have grown so much in the last 3 months and have become such great ball players! GO WILDCATS! Katie has been their biggest cheerleader too! She was the youngest girl out there with all the parents but came to every practice and game. We couldn't have asked for her to have been any better.



Our big news is that we (Me and the girls) are flying to Miami for a visit at the end of July. We are so excited...all Alyssa can talk about is seeing Jen! She really does miss her. Jason, Brenda and Dean will be down there at the same time so we get to hang out and visit with them too!

Alyssa's big girl room!

We did it! We finally gave in and changed Alyssa's toddler bed out for a full size bed. She loves it! Last week, I somehow was able to gather everything I needed and put 2 pieces of furniture together without her ever suspecting that her room was getting a makeover. So Sunday, while she was playing next door, I transformed her room from toddler to big girl! Like I said, she loves it...and so do I!

Tee Ball Pictures Are In!!

I wanted to share with everyone Alyssa's tee ball pictures. She has loved tee ball, even though they haven't played since last Saturday thanks to the rain. Unfortunately, tomorrow's forecast isn't too promising either. Oh well, at least we go the cute pictures! Enjoy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Katie!

So last Friday was Katie's 2nd birthday and I know I am late getting these pictures out here. We were actually able to have her party the same day as her birthday. I was excited about that just because it doesn't happen very often in a lifetime. Anyway, we all had a great night and really enjoyed watching the kids play and have fun at a regular 'ol birthday party...no frills. We had pizza & chips, cake & ice cream and the kids just played outside in the backyard. The weather was beautiful and everyone was able to be outside. We ended the day in the backyard with the ladybug pinata which all of the kids seemed to enjoy. As for Katie, she suprisingly enjoyed all of the attention she recieved and seemed to know that it everyone was there to see her. She sat smiling as everyone sang Happy Birthday to her and tried her best to blow out her candle! She did great though and I am so proud of how she handled everything that went on that night. She really had a good time.

When it's all over, then you'll know...

This weekend was big for the Hastings. We made a trip to Auburn (a 4 hour car ride away). I guess you could say it was full of memories. We left Huntsville around noon on Friday and returned home Sunday around 4 in the afternoon. We had a great time...we walked around campus, ate at Breezeway, got to go to the football practice field, see the cheerleaders, see the Chick-fil-a Cow, watch an "auburn game", sleep in a hotel (which was huge for Alyssa who got to sleep in the same bed as Daddy for 2 nights), go to a softball game, see Aubie, eat at the Barbeque House, and visit with our friends at Tenth Street church of Christ. We had a great time.

There were challenging times, though. We expected most of them considering we were traveling with a 4 and 2 year old. The usual "I'm hot", "I'm tired", "I'm hungry"and "I'm thirsty" complaints were plentiful, but expected. Unfortunately we also had some sleepless nights, some potty accidents, some tantrums, and even some all-out breakdowns that weren't so expected.

For Chad and I, this weekend was a learning experience...one which will not be soon forgotten.
But, "Did the girls have a good time?" is the question. When we asked ourselves this on Saturday afternoon or even Sunday morning we were quick to answer No...but now that we are home everything has changed. The girls seem to have enjoyed the trip. They talk about it with smiles. Alyssa is quick to recall the good times to us and Katie is walking around the house with her shaker cheering GO AUBURN! So, now that it is all over, the answer to that questions is "Yes, we had a great time!"

Check out the pictures!!! http://picasaweb.google.com/chadrickhastings/AuburnADayGame?authkey=Gv1sRgCN3T3tjq8LncXw&feat=directlink

Easter fun!

So we have created a crazy last few weeks for ourselves between tee ball and Easter functions and birthday parties and all the other fun things we find to occupy our time but I finally got around to posting some more pictures for everyone and filling you in on what has been going on.

Alyssa finally had her first tee ball game this past Saturday and it was COLD! She played well and I think she would have enjoyed it more but it was so cold that all the girls spent more time trying to stay warm than paying attention to the game. That's okay though, cause like I told her when she was putting on her uniform, no matter what happend she will at least look cute! And she did!

We had a great visit with John, Elaine and Damien last week. We had dinner and visited for a few hours. It was great to see Damien so grown up and to see John and Elaine doing great! Damien sat with Alyssa and taught her how to play a game on the computer and she really enjoyed that. Her exact words when we got into the car to leave were "mom, i like him. we even talked to each other." This may not be much for most children, but for Alyssa it is ALOT! She just isn't much of a talker around people she doesn't see all the time. Anyway, I thought it was so sweet!

I am posting a picture of Alyssa in her uniform, Katie having fun, and both girls in their Easter dresses! Enjoy!

Our Spring Break

I haven't posted in a while. I can't really say that I have been too busy but I have just occupied my time with other things. We had a good "spring break" week. The quotations are because we don't need a spring break but it was everyone else's spring break and so we get to have more company and things to do since everyone else is out of school. We went to the St. Patrick's Day parade and visited with Papaw and Mimi and the girls' friends Mallory, McKenna and Isabella. So we stayed busy.

Our newest adventure, though, began Saturday morning at 8:30 am. Alyssa had tee ball practice! This was a spur of the moment sign-up (we weren't sure if she was too young) but we decided to let her play. She's had 2 practices so far and seems to love it! Chad is no stranger to the ball field but I have no clue what I am doing...so I am a mere on-looker and Chad has taken the driver's seat on this one. I will post pictures once she gets a uniform!

With her 2nd birthday one month away, Katie is the potty training queen! She is wearing big girl panties and is DRY in the morning when she wakes up. We are still so proud of her!

I can't believe how my girls have grown. I don't know if it is a new outlook on my part, the spring weather or if it really just happened overnite that they bloomed into little girls instead of babies.

Spring is in the Air!

An update on potty training Katie: she is a pro! It has only been a week and Katie is the best pottier ever! She has taken to it quite well and even though I have to remind her every hour or so, she is doing very well. I don't know if having a big sister has helped or what but she has no reservations about sitting on the big girl potty and, in fact, woke me up last night at 12:30 to use the potty! Yeah for Katie!

Alyssa is still going to gymnastics and loves every minute of it. She is a cartwheel fanatic and does them all day long. She is actually an ambidextrous cartwheeler, which I find very unusual. She definitely gets her coordination from Chad. We are so proud of her and of how quickly she has learned and progressed with just a few months in this class.

Auntie Jill came from Miami to visit us and show Tony around town. We enjoyed her visit. The girls have really taken to her and love her so much! They actually warmed up to Tony really well for never seeing him before and even hugged and kissed him when they would see him. That is huge for Alyssa and Katie.

It snowed Sunday (maybe an inch), but the days are getting warmer and spring is in the air! At least, for the next couple of days. Today's high is 67 degree and the next few days are supposed to be in the 70's. So we are definitely going to be enjoying the warm air and sunshine!

Ups and Downs

I have begun the mission of potty training Katelyn. She has finally reached a point in communicating with us that I know she is capable of telling me what her wants and needs are...the only problem is her stubborness. We are only on day 1 and I know it a long haul at 22 months (alyssa was potty trained by the time she was 2-so I have an idea of what I have gotten myself into), but so worth it. We have to be completely potty trained by Memorial Day in order for her to go into the "big pool" in our neighborhood. This is a huge deal for me since Alyssa is already in the big pool and it is impossible for me to be in two places at once. So the frustrations of potty training and all that rigamaroll that goes with it begins. I just hope I can find the sticktuitiveness to see this through to the end. I am known to give in to Katie's stubborness much more than I ever did Alyssa's. Imagine that!

Fun times with friends

Alyssa has a friend, Keira, that means the world to her. She lives right next door to us and Alyssa plays with her just about every day of the week...a dream come true for me: to have another stay-at-home mom live next door with a girl about the same age as mine. Unfortunately, Keira is going to be starting school this fall and Alyssa has to wait for the following fall because of her mid-October birthday. I cringe at the thought of losing Alyssa's daily playmate and constant source of fun times....now that she has learned how much fun the kids her age are, I don't think momma will be able to compare.

This is the day...

On days like today, when the air is warm and the sun is shining and my girls are laughing and playing happily outside, I can bask in the glory of my God and know that this IS the day that the Lord has made. Here in the middle of wintertime, we can get so bogged down-stuck inside trying to find something new to help pass the time. So today I am thanking God for sending this day to me and my girls, we've really enjoyed it. Tomorrow and the rest of the week aren't forecasted to be as outside-friendly as today, but we have been renewed and are ready for another week inside.

Valentine's Day Fun!

Dsiclaimer: This is my first shot at blogging so bear with me...I promise I will get better at this.

Well, this weekend was lots of fun! The morning was filled with going through all the goodies Chad got the girls for Valentine's day. We then drove to Albertville, AL (about an hour away) for Alyssa and Katie's cousin, Hannah's 3rd birthday party. The girls had so much fun. It was a Dora themed party and was well-planned, so even though there were many children there, things went smoothly. It all ended with the girls playing with balloons...so much better than ANY toy you could buy! Why is that? Anyway, the rest of the day was filled with more driving and playing outside in the beautiful day! We hope everyone else had a great Valentine's Day too and were able to spend it with those their loved ones!