Choose the RIght

Ryan's parents got the boys some cute CTR shirts for christmas which I have finally managed to snap a few pictures of. The boys were excited to all be matching.

Yeah for CTR!

Austin doesn't cooperate too well with pictures but even he has one.

Here he is. Whats that he's eating you ask? Is it Saltine cracker? or dirt? I think the correct answer is a little of both.

Sweatshirts too!

"Brandon.. look at the camera.. Say cheese"

There you go. too bad no one else is looking now.

Love the shirts and sweatshirts. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Best Buds

Carter and Brandon have been playing so great together lately, it has really been awesome. I just had to post these pictures of them telling each other "secrets." All day they were whispering things in each others' ears and then they would laugh and laugh. They haven't always played together this way, so I am so grateful for the stage they are at right now, and I am going to enjoy it while it lasts! It makes me think that through all the really tough things that come along with having young kids so close together, moments like this make it all worth it! I love that they will always have each other as friends!

Just had to post this cute one of Austin. This one is nothing but trouble! He does love being outside though.

Weekend Getaway!

Last month I was lucky enough to escape for the weekend with my mother and three sister in-laws. We had a great time hanging out in San Franscisco for the weekend and got to do all sorts of fun stuff like bike the golden gate bridge, tour Sanfrancisco in GO-carts, eat at all sorts of delicious restraunts, and just plain relax and have fun! Here are some of the highlights

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge

Eating ice cream at ghirardelli chocolate factory. (can't get much better than that!)

We even did a little gardening. :)

My Sisters!

A really yummy fondu dinner at a little place called "Melt"

Scenic stops while touring San Fransico in our go carts!

So Fun!

You will notice that I am absent from this jumping picture. All my sister in-laws have some awsome cheerleading skills genetically ingrained within them I think. I somehow didn't come with those same abilities. Thus I managed to ruin every jumping picutre I was in, because I barely got off the ground!

"Let's Pick A Topic"

Let's pick a topic, is a phrase that is commonly heard in the Hastings household. I guess it started a few years back when the boys started to get really silly at the dinner table. (......breakfast, lunch, dinner, any meal really) I am one to definitely tolerate a little silliness but not at the table while trying to eat. And no matter what I tried nothing seemed to deter them when they got going. So I came up with this idea, "Let's pick a topic". Basically the kids get to ask about whatever they want, and I tell them all I know about that subject. They usually pick something like beetles, spiders, ants, or other insects. Germs are also a favorite. But today at lunch Brandon chose babies. "Ya where do babies come from?" Carter says. I was not prepared to be addressing this subject so early, but luckily my boys are still very easily appeased with my simple answer that babies start out as just small cells and then grow and get bigger in mommies tummies. Then Carter moved on to the topic of playdough. "How do they make playdough?" he asked. I was very surprised by his question because we make playdough together at least ever couple of months. (it is still one of his favorite things to keep him entertained.) So I ask him what he thinks it's made of.. "hmmm Rubber?" "Don't you remember making playdough Carter?" I ask. Then he says "oh yeah, I know!" "Food Coloring!" I guess that must be the most memorable part. :)

IBALLE

Carter has been really into writting lately and trying to spell different words. He and Brandon were both asking me how to spell some words the other day so I went ahead and wrote a few for them on their white board. Then he said ok, I got one for you mom, and he wrote down ....IBALLE... for the life of me I could not figure out what he was trying to spell untill he explained to me, "you see, there is a silent 'E' at the end mom so the 'I' says its name." Then it clicked..oh... EYEBALL!! I shouted and then just laughed and laughed. Unfortunately Carter thought I was laughing at him because he spelled it wrong, and the sweet little guy just burst into tears. I felt so horrible. I had to take a picture though, to remember the moment. I thought it was so cute. It turned out really hard to see though because our pen was running out of ink.

Brandon

I Just wanted to give a quick little Shout Out to my middle child. Brandon I feel like gets so neglected some times. Our lives seem to revolve around either Carter (getting him to and from preschool) or Austin, (getting him fed, changed and down for naps) and Brandon just seems to get lost in the mix sometimes. He is so great about it though, happily riding along to drop off or pick up Carter and never asking when it will be his turn. Then when we get home he entertains himself while I get Austin down for a nap. He is always making up games that he plays on his own, Throw and Go being a favorite right now (yes he makes up the names for them too) in this game he throws a ball and then runs to get it before it reaches a certain point. Then he increases the level "I'm on the second level mom!" he'll inform me and he adds in more balls. He is such a great brother, standing by Carter while he plays a game on the Wii, and getting so excited for him if he is winning that he starts jumping up and down saying "YES!" He also agrees to play games with Carter such as Chess, which Brandon has no interest in playing and can't even understand, but yet he does because Carter asks him too. He's such an easy going kid and I'm so grateful for him right now. Love You Brandon!!

Austin's One!

Austin turned 1 on the 7th! I can't believe he's one already, my baby sure has grown up fast! He is such a happy guy! He loves chasing his brothers around the house, throwing balls, and giggling at the crazy things his brothers do. We are so lucky to have him!

Brothers

He did the best I've ever seen with his cupcake. Took it into his two fists and started packing it in! No hesitation there.

Love you little man!

December

Ok, I know I am way to late to blog about christmas/December, I am a horrible blogger, but what can I say? I'm just going to blame it on the the kids. We had at blast a grandma and Grandpa Hastings, here are just a few of the highlights.

Making Gingerbread houses (still in Seattle) Not sure why Carter is wearing a neclace.

Acting out the Nativity. Always a Christmas favorite!

Sledding with Cousins! Brandon didn't really Love this ("Snow is not my favorite season" he says)
But Carter got to be quite the daredevil going down the slopes, would laugh when he wiped out and had an all -around great time

4-wheeling with Daddy. Fun, fun times in Wyoming.

plane ride

Ryan's Dad was nice enough to take us on a little ride in his plane. None of us had ever been in a small plane before and it was so fun. It was a beautiful sunny day and the valley was absolutely georgeous from the view up above. I must have snapped 100 pictures, but I'll just share a few.


Carter and Brandon both fell asleep right after take off. I think the noise and lull of the plane just put them right out. It was kind of nice, that way I could just sit back and enjoy the view.

Breathtaking

Here is Ryan when his dad let him "take the wheel" for a minute. I was pretty nervous at this point!