Sneak Peek

Family pics today.

I was able to snatch this one before Bernadette took over as our photographer.

I can't get enough of this boy!!

More pics to come.

Favorite Christmas Things

I love Christmas music.

I have listened to it for the 5th day in a row at work and I'm still loving it. The best place to listen to it on your computer: Pandora Radio...the Christmas station. Let's see if I still love it by December 25th. :)

The Season Starts

I have 14 people on my Christmas list.

I must say that is a lot better than having 53...which is how many people are in my family plus 3. But I am proud to say that I, Ashlee Lynne Hatch, am more than half way done with my Christmas shopping. This would be no big deal for those of you who are not Bart (which I'm safe to say is everyone), since you have not seen the behind-the-scenes, Christmas time Ashlee, who procrastinates buying presents until a week-and-a-half before the big day and prays that everything she bought online will be shipped in time. It's quite nice getting it all done sooner than later. Did I mention it's only December 1st? Ahhh, so nice.

Now, as soon as all the presents are bought, I get to enjoy my absolute FAVORITE part of Christmas. Wrapping the presents. I love wrapping presents. All you have to do is look at my wrapping paper and curly ribbon collection to know that I love wrapping presents. That being said...if any of you need to wrap Christmas presents (or any presents in general) and dread doing it yourself...bring them over. I would love to wrap them for you. I'm getting giddy just thinking about all the wrapping I get to do. :)

And just because I hate posting without a picture, I have enclosed a more recent photo of my darling Jack-Jack, who is (I hate to say it) 9 months old.

How he got so big, I cannot tell you, but he sure is a cutie.

I Should Be...

...preparing a lesson...washing dishes...sending an email...brushing my teeth...

but I'm posting pictures of my boy instead.

He is the best thing that's ever happened to us.

Change is Good

Unfortunately I have a hard time adjusting to change, no matter how good it is for me.

For example: I was released from Young Woman in my ward.

You have no idea how sad I was that Sunday. I have been feeling awful these past couple of months because I haven't been the best Y.W. leader ever, due to lack of time in my day...and the whole "becoming a new mother" business. Mutual was last on my list when I would get home from work at 6:00 pm and still need to make dinner and spend time with Jack. So, needless to say I felt like a failure.

But, instead of throwing a pity party I have decided to turn over a new leaf and try my best at my new calling, which I will be starting on Sunday (spoiler alert for those in my ward!!):

Sunday School Teacher for the 12 /13 year olds.

I have to say I'm pretty excited. I get to teach some of the Y.W., of whom I am missing terribly, and I get to teach every Sunday (which was not the case in my last calling). As much as I'm stressing about teaching every week, I can't wait to get up there and actually start giving the lesson.

So, here's to change...may I embrace it with a smile.

Vacation Part I: Disneyland and California Adventure

Bart and I love Disneyland. We have gone to Disneyland almost every year since we've been married. That being said, we really wanted to take Jack-Jack in order to share our obsession.

Bart was able to score a sweet deal at the Millennium Hotel in Los Angeles, so we went with our really good friends, Paul and Bernadette (P & B for short) and set out on a nice little vacation. Destination: Disneyland. P & B love Disneyland just as much as we do, so it made the trip even better. We spent a total of three days in California, two days at Disneyland and California Adventure, with a day at the beach in between. The only time I think Jack will ever see me act immature would be at Disneyland.

The Classic Picture

Jack and I mainly hung out together...he was so good in the stroller that sometimes I forgot he was there. I can already tell he's just as fascinated with Disneyland as I am.

This was Jack pretty much the whole time: looking around everywhere with a smile on his face.

We pretty much visited the following areas...and stayed there almost the whole time:

And I have to say, this was Jack's very first ride: pretty fitting.

About mid-afternoon Jack and I rested while Bart, Paul, and Bernadette rode Indiana Jones. We then stopped to watch one of the many Parades.

Bernadette and I...

...with a tired Jack

Unfortunately all of his naps only lasted 20 to 30 minutes max. The vacation was a little rough on his nap routine.

After the parade we high-tailed it over to New Orleans Square to visit the secret entrance to Club 33, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, and dinner at the Blue Bayou. I have always wanted to eat there since my first day in Disneyland. The food was so good, I just wish it wasn't so expensive.

One of the many beautiful spots in Disneyland that you have to search for to discover (In New Orleans Square).

Jack at the Blue Bayou

And so we wrapped up Day One with more rides, food, and fun. We ended up leaving the park around 10:00 pm, which made our stay about 13 hours long.

Day Three of our vacation was spent in California Adventure and Disneyland.

I have to say I love Disneyland a lot more than California Adventure. Don't get me wrong, California Adventure is great, but the rides are too scary for me (I'm a wimp when it comes to amusement park rides). Somehow Bart was able to persuade Bernadette to ride California Screamin', without telling her they were going to be in the very front. She was such a trooper.

One thing I love about California Adventure is seeing all the different characters you can't find in Disneyland. For example:

After all our fun at California Adventure (including a terrifying experience on Tower of Terror for me) we went back to Disneyland for a couple more rides, dinner at the Hungry Bear, and ride around the park on the railroad.

Last picture in Disneyland in front of City Hall on Main Street.

We had such a fun time. So much so, that I wanted to buy a souvenir for Jack in remembrance of his first visit to Disneyland:

and you better believe I had his name embroidered on them

I just hope Jack will end up loving this place as much as his parents do.

Vacation Part II: The Beach

To break up our Disneyland adventures, we decided to go to the Santa Monica beach. It was Jack-Jack's first time at the beach, and it didn't go quite as well as I was expecting. By this time, Jack was being a little grouchy (who could blame him, poor thing. His longest nap during the trip was probably 30 minutes long) and of course, the wind was making it really cold. But the views were really nice:

When we finally trekked ourselves to the perfect spot we were able to set-up the umbrella, chairs, and towels. I have to say, I loved the umbrella:

Once we finally got settled in, Jack decided he was hungry. Don't let the above picture fool you, he was not a happy camper. I had a stroke of genius right before our trip and decided to buy a portable bottle warmer to heat up Jack's bottles (which came in very handy). While I was trying to calm the angry baby down, Bart was able to walk back up to the Santa Monica Pier, find an outlet in the Arcade, and heat up a bottle for Jack. He came back down, Jack ate, and all was well again.

Bart was able to relax

While Jack and I bundled him up so we wouldn't freeze

(Don't you just love the boogery nose...)

I was able to get Jack asleep (until some random lady started screaming on the top of her lungs and woke him up), which only lasted approx 20 minutes. But in the end, Bart was able to play in the water, Jack was able to see the beach for the first time, and we did not get sunburned.

Pretty successful I'd say.

Please Forgive Me

I did not mean to not blog for more than a month...it just happened.

Please enjoy some pictures of the Hatch Family Reunion at Bear Lake below and I'll try my best to post pictures of our Disneyland trip soon.

Just remember, I'm only human.

Thanks for understanding. :)

Bear Lake Trip

I know, I know...I'm a huge slacker. But here are the pictures anyway:

(WARNING: Picture Overload)

My Jack-Jack on our first morning at the cabin

The Jack with numerous amounts of people including (but not limited to):

Mommy

Daddy

(cutest picture ever!!)

Gramma Hatch

Grampa Hatch

Great Grannie Hatch

Great Papa Tom

And then there was the devilishly handsome and equally as mischievious Brody

chillaxin' on the porch

Next came the Lake:

(PLEASE NOTE: Jack did not come to the lake since Gramma Hatch and Great Grannie graciously volunteered to watch him at the Cabin...and then he decided to be a little booger, which meant mommy got to cut her trip short.)

Dylan loved the sand and water...

...along with Avery...

...and Paigey

While Mason was trying to dig a hole to China

Bart enjoyed time with "the guys" and being on a boat.

And then our last night we were able to get all the kids in matching P.J.'s and then managed to take some pictures

We had such a fun time and it was nice to meet and see everyone again. Until next year!