GEORGIA CHRISTMAS! - COCA COLA MUSEUM

All the Hatches and the Harpers were TOGETHER for Christmas this year!!!  5 glorious days in Atlanta, Georgia - we toured the Coca Cola Museum, constructed gingerbread houses and puzzles, ate TONS of AMAZING food (thank you Mama Melba), walked through the Atlanta Aquarium, shot our own "professional" family portraits, and spent a LOT of time laughing :)

By FAR one of the most

RELAXING and ENJOYABLE

holidays had by all! 

Pictures will come in phases...starting with...

THE COCA COLA MUSEUM

...the "Open Happiness" fuzz ball mascot...

...the TASTING room!  Coca Cola from every continent...

...not all Coke products taste so good...

DECEMBER BELLY

Belly picture update!  Rated G.

6 months...

PARTY #11 - CAROLS AND CANDLELIGHT!!

Another FBC Irving tradition...Carols and Candlelight boasts over 75 voices and a 30 piece orchestra to celebrate Christmas 2009!  With lights out and Silent Night ringing through the congregation, hundreds of candles lit the sanctuary!!!

PARTY #10 - COLLEGE LEADERSHIP DINNER

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU! ...to the sweet volunteers who help with the College Ministry at FBCI!!! 

We had a great night of food and fun (thanks again to Jason's venison chili) with our friends :)

PARTY #9 - FBC IRVING CAROLS!!!

Each year the FBC Irving Ministry Staff gets together for caroling to our sweet elderly friends and a FABULOUS dinner.  After singing through the city, we headed back to the pastor's home for our meal and a little "birth and parenting 101" from our friends :)

Our table consisted of the "Matriarch" with 4 grown children, and the greatest wisdom of the group; the "New Parents" with 2 small kids; Jason and myself - the "Expecting" couple; and the "Newly Weds" who will probably never have children after our candid conversation that evening :)  Hannah was so engrossed in the future woes and sweet surprises of pregnancy and parenting advice that she even forgot to take pictures of the party...

PARTY #8 - BIG BAND CHRISTMAS

FBC Irving hosted the Dallas Christian Jazz Band for fun brass renditions of the best Christmas music...followed by wassail and cookies in the church courtyard :) 

Never mind that it was 60 degrees outside, the Christmas spirit definitely prevailed.

PARTY #7 - COLLEGE CHRISTMAS MOVIE MARATHON

WONDERFUL!  and relaxing :)

From 2:00 - 11:00 p.m. we had Christmas movies rolling at the Hatch Home with college students in and out all afternoon.  Movie breakdown:  It's a Wonderful Life...White Christmas...Christmas Vacation...Elf.  This was Jason and Hannah's first time to watch It's a Wonderful Life...AMAZING.  Definitely Hannah's new favorite movie of the season. 

Apple cider!  Sweets!  And Jason's famous venison chili!!!  We motion to make movie marathon day a monthly event.

PARTY #6 - ROLLING STONE PJ PARTY!

No dressing fuss - we wore our pj's and brought our breakfast favorites for the Rolling Stone (Newly Wed/Nearly Wed) Bible Fellowship Christmas party!  A BRILLIANT recreation of Christmas morning :)  Complete with White Elephant Gift Exchange.