hammond happenings

Christmas

2012-01-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone again! We had fun with family in town, and the kids have loved seeing their cousins and staying up late.

We went to the temple lights one night, after eating at Pete's fish and chips, of course!

Blake in front of the nativity

Brynlee taking a closer look

Christmas Eve was spent celebrating cousin Canaya's birthday, watching Scrooge, and receiving our Christmas pajamas from the elves.

cousins showing off their new pajamas

the kids waiting at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning

examining stocking contents

Look what Santa brought!

Notice the cast- Blake broke his finger at P.E. and had to wear a cast for about 3 weeks. He did all his school work with his left hand, and did really well.

I got a cute beach cruiser! I'm very excited about this!

After presents at our house and church, we headed over to Grandma and PaPa's. One of the gifts was an announcement that Richard and Erica are having another baby!

Blake and PaPa playing a Jingle Bells duet!

Marinne playing Pachelbel's Canon in D

I love Christmas time, but I also love the start of a new year! I'm ready to begin working on some new goals, like improved personal scripture study and getting in shape!

Hammond Halloween 2011

2011-11-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

I had a hard time coming up with our costumes this year,

but here we are as Bob Ross

(you know, from The Joy of Painting on PBS, "happy little tree" afro painter guy),

and his painting (found at Goodwill, then forged by yours truly).

We had our annual Halloween party, and I even made the doughnuts this year, since Jordan and Karin weren't here. I was a little stressed since I had never made them before, but they were delicious!!! It seems like a lot of parents hate Halloween, but I think it's so much fun!

I didn't get pictures of all the great costumes, but here's what I have:

Bethany and Blake as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie!

eating pumpkin bread bowls and soup

Blake is the mummy

Have you ever seen a cuter Harry Potter?

Brynlee was Cinderella, and grandma made the cute dress!

(too bad she cut her own hair, so no Cinderella bun)

Marinne and her friends were Justin Bieber fans

cute cousins

sorting the loot

yummy doughnuts!

"Bob"enjoying a doughnut!

gross!

Steven and Adina

more cute cousins

The kids even shared their candy!

The day after Halloween, they taped some of their Snickers bars on the front door for Ray to find when he got home from work.

Corn Maze

2011-10-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger lately! Rather than trying to catch up, I will start from where we are. We went to a corn maze at a little farm on Saturday.

cow train

Farmer Brynlee

Marinne and a friend

James lost his two front teeth, so I just had to get a picture with the pumpkins and his jack-o-lantern smile! He says if they haven't grown in by school picture day, he wants to wear fake teeth! Silly kid!

Marinne is 12!

2011-06-21T09:17:00.000-07:00

This pretty girl turned 12! How am I old enough to have a child this age?

We had a family party on her birthday. Ray grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and Costco made the cake, since I was burned out with the cake making.

She got her bedroom redone, a ticket to see Wicked, and other cute stuff from family and friends, but I think her favorite gift was being allowed to get a facebook account.

That Friday night, she had a friend party complete with Justin Bieber cupcakes and everything purple.

They made headbands, thanks to Aunt Natalli who provided the materials and made a bunch of flowers for them!

We played a "get to know you" candy game, and Just Dance on the Wii.

Marinne and a candle-lit Justin!

The Young Women came and decorated her room. I'm excited for her to be in Young Women's! She already got to do baptisms at the temple and go to girls' camp.

Wasn't I just doing all of that for the first time?

Happy Birthday Marinne!

Blake's 10th Birthday

2011-06-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

Blake turned 10! We had a friend party at the rec center. We played the forehead "guess who I am" game, ate pizza and cake.

Then the kids got to go rock climbing!

It turned out to be a smaller group of kids than we planned, but they got more turns to climb, so it worked out.

The party favor was a nerds rope to go along with the climbing theme.

We also had a family party on his actual birthday.

opening gifts

strawberry cheesecake

His favorite gift was a snake! He named him Buster (after Buster Posey).

Girls' Night, Bridal Shower & Mother's Day

2011-05-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Ray took the boys to the fathers and sons campout, so of course a girls' night was in order!

It was fun to have three sisters and my mom join Marinne and I.

We got pedicures, went out to eat, then came back to my house for a movie and treats.

The next day was Bethany's bridal shower...

The bride-to-be

presents

Aunt Natalli and Brynlee

Marinne and Grandma

For Mother's Day, Ray made me a delicious breakfast in bed, and gave me these chocolate dipped strawberries!

We had a yummy dinner at mom's to finish off the day. I am so grateful for her example. She's the best mom ever! I'm also blessed to be a mom to great kids!

I recently read Little Women for our book club, and this quote about moms stuck with me:

"You are the sunshine maker of the family."

(Marmee says this to Meg)

I think that's exactly what a mom should be, and it's definitely something I can work on and strive to become.

Happy Easter 2011

2011-04-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

coloring eggs

Easter Rolls

We've started making these every Easter morning. You use thawed Rhodes dough wrapped around a large marshmallow. You dip them in butter and sugar and cinnamon, put them in the fridge overnight and bake them in the morning at 350 for 15 min. The marshmallow melts, and the rolls are empty, just like the tomb. They are so yummy. I won't say how many I ate.

Easter Rolls and hard boiled eggs for breakfast

I was in charge of sharing time in primary, so I taught about the ressurection. The kids were all very reverent, and having to teach was a blessing because I had to really internalize the true meaning of Easter. I am so grateful for Christ and all He did for us.

Happy Easter!

Honors Orchestra

2011-04-11T10:07:00.000-07:00

Marinne auditioned for the district honors orchestra and made it! The performance was this weekend. They sounded great, and it was a good experience for her. I hope she will continue to play, because she is doing really well!

Pinewood Derby

2011-03-29T14:19:00.000-07:00

Blake got first place out of 20 cars in the Pinewood Derby!

As you can see, he was pretty excited to be the big winner!

He named the car "Star Scream". Ray is the Cubmaster, but I promise we won fair and square!

A police officer from our ward even came at the end to issue speeding tickets to the first, second, and third place winners. Nice job, Blake (and Dad and PaPa for helping)!

Spring Break

2011-03-24T09:26:00.000-07:00

We had a fun Spring Break! Jordan and Karin and kids came from Oregon and stayed with us. These pictures are from the spring training game. It was very hot that day, but we still had fun. Throughout the week, we ate way too much good food, went to a movie, went ice blocking with more friends, went to the science museum, played many games of Catan with Jordan and Karin, and enjoyed not having to be anywhere in particular!

SISTERS!

watching the game with Matthew and Isabelle

BROTHERS!

3 B's: Birthday, Bethany, and Blake

2011-02-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

My dad's birthday was yesterday. He is one of the most talented people I know! I love that he is always mastering a new skill. I made this hat cake for the occasion. He likes to play hearts, hence the cards on the cake. Bethany gave him a card that said, "For your birthday, I'm giving you a new son!" She and Blake are engaged! They are great together and we're excited for them!

"Open up your chest and let it in... just let the love, love, love begin."

2011-02-16T12:20:00.000-08:00

The title is from the song "Everybody" by Ingrid Michaelson. I love it- such a fun song!

The boys making Valentines for school.

On Friday night, Bethany and Blake came and watched our kids so we could go on a Valentine's date to Benihana's.

They helped the kids make personal pizzas. We ate steak and shrimp- yum!

On Valentine's Day, we had a family candlelight dinner.

For dessert, we made parfaits with brownies, whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles.

Since it was also family night, we had a little lesson. Each person picked a heart from the basket and read a quote or scripture about love.

pretty flowers from Ray

2011 Hodge Podge

2011-01-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

We spent New Year's with Ray's parents and his sister Melinda and her family. They all came from Utah to get warm, only to find unusually cold weather here. They were here the day it snowed! We went to Amazing Jake's, temple lights, out to eat, movies, etc., and had a great time seeing them.

cousins

My cute cousin Klydi got married the next week, so my mom, Adina and I took a short trip to Utah for the wedding. It was a beautiful sealing and fun reception. It was fun to hang out with my mom and sisters, and to catch up with my cousins. It was also a nice break from the daily routine!

James was selected as student of the month. Here he is with his awesome teacher.

Our Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa Hammond was a chance to see Shrek The Musical at Gammage. We took the three oldest kids, and everyone loved it.

We've already packed a lot into 2011,

including a mishap with a horse (the grandson of Seattle Slew), who ran right into the front of Ray's truck!

It promises to be an exciting year!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

It was a fun Christmas, with all of my family in town but Richard. We're glad we saw them at Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve was spent at my parents' house, and included the traditional talent show & white elephant gift exchange, and of course, The Elves delivered Christmas pajamas to the door.

James read an M&M Christmas poem.

Jingle Bells duet

Blake played Jingle Bells on the recorder with his nose!

Papa always plays the song about the Christmas animals, while the grandkids sing with puppets.

sisters

waiting at the top of the stairs Christmas morning

Brynlee loves the bike from Santa! She didn't want to get off of it to open presents.

Santa brought a ping pong table!

stockings

Marinne got a phone, so I apologize in advance for all the texts you're going to receive!

silly bands

Ray got wireless headphones, thanks to the Coke Rewards he's been saving.

Marinne bought me this lovely hat with her own money.

We do Christmas morning at our house, then head over to my parents' for Christmas brunch.

My sisters and I made this quilt for my mom's Christmas gift.

Our Christmas was wonderful! Now on to the new year!

Hammond Halloween 2010

2010-11-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

It was another fun Halloween at the Hammond house!

Ray and I were Edwina and H.I. McDunnough from Raising Arizona. I'm sure the people who haven't seen the movie were confused, but the ones who had seen it got who we were!

We had friends and family over for our annual Halloween party. We order bread bowls that look like pumpkins, and have soup and chili.

Here are the people who came:

Parkinsons

Stephens

The other Hammonds

She was a cleaning lady, and he was Mr. Clean!

Tim and boys (sad that the rest of their fam couldn't come)

Smiths

Buff and Blake (costumes made by Bethany herself)

My parents were there too, but I never got a picture of them:(

Marinne was a witch.

James was a prisoner.

Blake was a fellow inmate.

Brynlee was Cindy Lou Who (another one that some people didn't get, but I thought it was a cute idea)

I covered a pumpkin bucket to make it look like a Christmas ornament.

Ray's jack-o-lantern served as a great good luck charm, and The Giants won the World Series!

The kids sorting and trading candy.

Jordan and Karin always make the best doughnuts from scratch for the party!

Mamacita's Birthday!

2010-10-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

My mom is the best mom ever, and it's her birthday today!
I am lucky to be her daughter!

We celebrated on Sunday, since she had surgery the day before her birthday (poor lady)!

She does so much for our family, and we appreciate her so much!

I made a Mary Engelbreit cake for the occasion!

2010-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Brynlee is growing up too fast! She is my buddy all day while the other kids are at school.

Here she is at the D Backs game.

Her attention span is increasing, so she will sit and color or do an activity for a while, which is nice for me! This girl has so many funny faces. She is quite the little actress, and will show faces for every emotion we name.

In this picture she had painted her own toe nails, legs, and hands.

She also loves lip gloss, and gets into it on a regular basis. Her favorite song is "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam", and we have to sing it at EVERY Family Home Evening, and sometimes just when we read scriptures. She knows how to sort the silverware and put it away. I'm amazed every day at the new things she says. She is speaking in sentences, and has the silliest laugh.

She is keeping me BUSY, and entertains the whole family! What a fun girl! I'm so glad to be home with her every day to watch her learn and grow.

In other news, my sisters and I made a little blog for crafty stuff, recipes, ideas, etc. Here is the link: Sisterhood of the Crafty Pants

James is 6!

2010-08-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

My James turned 6! Where has the time gone? He has been such a fun kid to have around!

We went to Peter Piper Pizza with family for lunch, then got to go to Sunsplash water park that night. It was a fun birthday!PaPa & BrynleeI can't remember the last time I was this excited about anything! James did a happy dance when he opened the "New Super Mario Bros." Wii game.

I made a San Francisco Giants cake for the occasion.

We love James and his cheerful personality!

Fabric Silhouettes

2010-08-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

I made these silhouettes of the kids using a window frame I got at a garage sale.

Here's how: First take a profile picture, enlarge it to the size you want, and print it.

Cut it out, then trace it onto the paper side of Heat n Bond.

Iron that to the wrong side of your fabric.

Cut out the image.

Peel off the Heat n Bond paper and iron onto background fabric.

Frame it. I used spray adhesive to stick the fabric in each panel, then I hot glued trim around the edges.

I paid $1.50 for the window frame, and $2 for the trim. I had the other fabric and Heat n Bond already, so it was an inexpensive and fun project!

Cerreta Candy Co.

2010-07-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to keep the children entertained, we went to the Cerreta Candy Co. today. They give a free tour of the factory, and free samples too. They even had a ginormous Easter Bunny rice krispie treat. It was a pretty short tour, but we escaped the heat for a while and got some yummy treats.Making chocolate covered marshmallow pops.

Now you know where to go if you're ever in the market for a human-sized chocolate Santa!

A Bunch of Birthdays!

2010-07-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Marinne turned 11! She got to spend the day with her cute cousins. We went to lunch, and then to the mall. She got her ears peirced and bought a bunch of clothes and accessories. She is such a girlie-girl!Her cousin Livvy's birthday is the same day!I'm also another year older, and spent my birthday in my scout uniform running pack meeting. I did eat some yummy chocolate cake, and Ray picked up P.F. Chang's.

Ray wrapped up our birthday month, and I made him a MUSE cake for the occasion.

Four birthdays in less than a month! Now we get a little breather until James' birthday next month!

9!

2010-06-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Blake turned 9! For his birthday, we ate at Organ Stop Pizza. The kids loved the entertainment, even though those dancing cats were looking a bit mangy! Look closely and you'll see the organ player in the background.

We came home and had presents and cake!

I decided to play with fondant again and made this Mario cake. It took much longer than anticipated, and I was rushing to finish in time. I think I need a cake stand instead of a pan turned upside down!Blake is getting so tall, and will probably pass me up before long! He's doing well in piano, and is a great artist! We're glad he's part of our family!

Fondant Fun

2010-06-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to try to make fondant, so yesterday I used this recipe to decorate some cakes with the kids. It was a fun experiment. This is the cake I decorated:

The kids made this one:

A child who shall remain nameless put an elbow in the cake, hence the large crater...

First we baked the cake and frosted it. We got a "crumb" layer of frosting on the cake, then refrigerated
and frosted again.

We followed the above recipe to make the fondant, then kneaded it well. (Your hands have to be covered in Crisco).

We rolled out the fondant on a greased table,

layed it over the cake,

smoothed it out,

and cut off the excess.

To color the fondant, I used regular gel food coloring. The directions said to buy some fancy kind, but the stuff I had worked great. Just knead it till you get the color you want.

Then we cut out shapes and decorated. It was surprisingly east to work with, and a lot of fun!

We even combined the leftover colored fondant, rolled it out and put it on a mini cake. It made a tie-dye effect.

With all the birthdays coming up, I'll have many opportunities to make more cakes!

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Another School Year Over!

2010-05-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

James graduated from Kindergarten! I wasn't sure whether to start him this year or not, because he's young for his grade, but he has done so well and can read like a pro. He has started reading Magic Tree House chapter books,
and finished the first one the day after he got it.
For the graduation, the kids sang some cute songs and received a diploma and plaque.

It's been fun for these cousins to be in the same class, and they even managed to refrain from talking to eachother during class time.

Marinne received a Music Achievement Award! The fabulous music teacher, Mr. Blau, picks one student from each grade, and she was selected out of all the 5th graders.

Blake was the only student in his class to receive straight A's the entire year. We're proud of all 3 of our school kids! Now to figure out how to entertain them this summer! As I listen to "Hip Hop Harry" in the background, I'm more determined than ever to think of creative activities to occupy their time! Wii and T.V. time will definately be limited, and hopefully we can find some great things to do!

This is what's going on at our house...

2010-05-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

Brynlee has developed a shoe fettish, and constantly tromps around the house in everyone's shoes but her own. She's talking more and more and is as energetic as ever. I can't seem to keep her off the kitchen table! She loves pushing her baby stroller, and says "sorry" when she bumps into
someone or has to get around them. She's 18 months now, so she can start nursery!

The kids had their annual Spring Sing at school and did a great job.

James loves having cousin Canaya in his class.

Marinne got a retainer this week. It will correct her underbite. She's trying to adjust to how it feels, and its hard for her to talk clearly. I'm sure it will be worth it!

She chose hot pink with black polka dots!

For her book report on "The Lightning Thief", she made a diorama of Hades' castle in the Underworld, with Persephone's garden in front.

I think we'll be finding glitter around the house for quite some time!

The kids fell asleep watching a movie Saturday night. I can't believe how big they're getting!

Mother Daughter Date

2010-05-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

Last night was the Fathers and Sons campout, so Marinne and I had a girls' night!
We ate yummy Mexican food at Tia Rosa's Taqueria.

Adina and Canaya came with us to get pedicures.

It had been way too long since I last had one, and it was great!

Our pretty toes

To end the night, we got treats at Sonic and rented a movie. We should do this more often!

Disneyland Trip Part 1

2010-05-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday morning, the kids awoke to this:We then asked them if they would like to go to Disneyland instead of school. I had been planning this surprise trip for months, and was so excited the night before.

It felt almost like Christmas Eve!

I had already packed all of their things,

so we piled in our new van (hallelujah!), and headed to California.
That night for dinner, we went to Philippe's in L.A. This restaurant was on an episode of
"Man vs. Food", and is the birthplace of the french dip sandwich.

Gotta love James' fake smile!

It was filled with Dodgers fans, and Ray made it a point to wear his Giants garb just to stir things up.

The famous sandwich was yummy!

The next morning we got up early and walked to Disneyland! We were able to walk right on to the first few rides, and the lines weren't very long even when it got more crowded. We also used the rider switch passes for the rides Brynlee couldn't do. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time!

Sorry Blake, there was a smudge on the camera.

"It's a Small World After All"

I love that ride! It reminds me of my childhood!

Brynlee managed to get her nap in, even with all the excitement around her.

On a side note, I wish I had eyelashes like hers!

Jungle Cruise

Waiting in line for ice cream! That place smells sooooooo good!

I thought I could just share with Brynlee, but in the end, she won and took over the whole cone.

The obligatory family in front of the castle pose!

The "happiest place on earth" delivered once again!

Disneyland Trip Part 2

2010-05-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning we went to Huntington Beach for a few hours. None of us wore swim suits, because I thought the water would be way too cold to get more than our feet wet. It didn't take long for the kids to get completely soaked. I should have known better!

Oh well, they had fun!

sisters

James looking pretty cold!

Disneyland Trip Part 3

2010-05-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Our final stop was The Sugar Shack, a little restaurant on Main St. in Huntington Beach. We have eaten there a few times and it's always delicious! Their breakfast food is the best!

It was a quick trip, but so much fun!

A Hero

2010-03-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've always been grateful for this country and the freedoms I enjoy, but the past couple weeks have increased my patriotism dramatically. My cousin SFC Glen Jacob Whetten was killed while serving in Afghanistan. I am so grateful for his sacrifice and bravery. He was the "best of the best" at what he did, and had earned many awards, including three purple hearts. What amazes me is that his family didn't even know about some of his awards

because he was too humble to tell them.

His funeral was beautiful. The tears started as we pulled up to the church, which was surrounded by flags.

It was wonderful to see so many cousins and family members who traveled here for the funeral. The amount of respect shown by the military was poignant, and

I won't ever look at the flag the same way again.

As my Aunt Amy (Jake's mom) put it,

"I think a great many eyes have been opened by Jacob's death. How can we ever see a soldier or a flag in the same way again? Our freedom is infinitely
more precious because we finally realize, in a most personal way, its terrible cost".

She also wrote a beautiful poem about Jake here.

Baby Shower Gift

2010-03-12T06:37:00.000-08:00

We went to a baby shower last night. Amy, my mom, and I collaborated on the gift. My mom made a blanket, Amy made burp cloths, and I made these out of coordinating fabric. I should have taken a picture of all of it together.

I'm glad my family shares my desire to do crafty projects! My mom just showed me a cool way to make flannel baby blankets, so I'll post a picture of the one I'm working on when it's finished.taggy square & baby rings

Hands

2010-03-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

For our Relief Society dinner on Tuesday, they showed this video: http://skybox1.com/sossaman-rs/rs.html. They took pictures of almost every sister in the ward doing service/hobbies with our hands. We are instruments in the Lord's hands, and can be the answer to a prayer if we are in tune with the spirit.

Dr. Seuss and Student of the Month

2010-03-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

This week Blake was chosen to read an excerpt from "Oh the Places You'll Go" at flag ceremony for Dr. Seuss' birthday. I love that book! James was selected as Student of the Month for his class. He was recently asking why Marinne and Blake both got Student of the Month and he didn't, so I was glad when he got picked! Poor James has a goose egg on his head from some kid knocking him down during P.E. :(

Family Tree Quilt

2010-03-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

I've been working on this quilt for a while, and finally finished it for Ray's mom's birthday (it was only 2 weeks late). It has Ray's parents, siblings & their spouses and children's names on it. I wanted to quilt it on the machine, but haven't really figured that out yet, so I just tied it. I used Heat n Bond to iron on the leaves and branches, then sewed around them.

I will have to add names of any family additions as they come along.

I'm not a perfectionist, and I didn't follow a pattern, so it has its flaws, but it was an adventure figuring out how to make it. Hopefully my mother in law likes it!

Answers

2010-03-02T00:07:00.000-08:00

I think a lot about what I need do to be a better mom. I know I have work to do, but sometimes it's hard to know what to do, and even harder to actually do it. What we teach our children, especially by example, is so important. I need to remember that little eyes and ears are taking in what I do and say. Although kids don't come with manuals, we do have guidance and a perfect example to follow. I read an article in this month's Ensign that answered so simply the question, "How can I be a better mom?" Here is the link: LDS.org - Ensign Article - What Mothers Can Learn from the Savior

Brynlee

2010-01-30T06:47:00.000-08:00

My baby is 14 months old! She 's getting big so fast, and it's kind of sad. She has such a fun personality, but can be pretty fiesty too! I love her sparkly red shoes!

She loves this blanket and anything silky.
"helping" with dishes
we painted her tiny toes
Brynlee is the queen of silly faces!

She says "cheese" for the camera now. She also loves to eat cheese. She has learned to say please "deese", and she answers our questions with "ya" or a disgusted "eh", which means no. The kids are all growing up too fast!

And Now For Something Completely Different (Ray's contribution to the blog)

2010-01-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

Baseball Boy

2010-01-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

James played baseball this year. It was great because the practices and games were at the neighborhood park, and I'm all about convenience! This was his first time playing, and he really showed improvement by the end. It got us out of the house, and James had fun!

A New Year

2010-01-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

It's time to make resolutions, and I can think of more than a few this year. It can be overwhelming to acknowledge weaknesses and make changes. It might be easier to believe the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", and forget about making goals at all. I believe people CAN change, though, and I'm excited to start a new year!

I read a great article in the Ensign this month by Jeffery R. Holland.

He said, "Believe that people can change and improve. Dismiss the destructive, and keep dismissing it until the beauty of the Atonement of Christ has revealed to you your bright future, and the bright future of your family, your friends and your neighbors. God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are, and with His help where you are willing to go."

We don't have to make changes on our own because Heavenly Father wants us to improve and He will help us. At the end of the article, he says, "Keep your eyes on your dreams, however distant and far away. Live to see the miracles of repentance and forgiveness, of trust and divine love that will transform your life today, tomorrow and forever.

That is a New Year's Resolution I ask you to keep."

I also like this quote from David O. McKay:

"No man can sincerely resolve to apply to his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without sensing a change in his own nature."

What better way to change than to make Christ a bigger part of daily life?

I think if I can do that, the important things will fall into place, and I will improve in areas that really matter.

Here's to CHANGE and a wonderful new year!

CHRISTMAS 2009!

2009-12-26T09:36:00.001-08:00

Here are a few snippets of our Christmas this year...

Smith Family Christmas Talent Show "Silent Night"
"Blue Christmas" (complete with actions)

"Jingle Bells"

On Christmas Eve, the "Christmas Elves" visit grandma's house with new jammies for everyone!

Brynlee is thrilled!

Cousins

A real tough guy with a power tool

Blake got binoculars that take pictures.

Papa MADE this amazing music stand for Marinne!

We always have a nice spread! My diet starts in January, right?

Brynlee didn't make it through the gift opening!

There aren't many pictures of me at Christmas because I'm the one taking them, but I had a good one, and even got a new sewing machine! Thanks Ray and Mom!

I'm so grateful for the real reason for Christmas, and that I have such great family and friends!

Christmas Concerts!

2009-12-17T02:18:00.001-08:00

The kids had their annual Christmas concert for school, and did an excellent job! I've said it many times, but I love their school and that they sing about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas!
Blake won the poetry contest for 3rd grade, so he got to recite the poem at the program. He did great in front of such a large crowd!

He received a nice shiny medal.

Brynlee was so cute in her red ruffle shirt, but obviously wasn't up for pictures!

Marinne also played well in her orchestra concert last week!

I've been running non stop trying to get Christmas projects and gifts finished.

I really do love this time of year, though!

My Baby is 1!

2009-11-18T09:49:00.000-08:00

Today is Brynlee's first birthday, and the year has flown by! She is so fun, and I am extremely grateful for her! She has developed quite a little personality, and entertains us every day. I love her so much! She is walking all over now, and starting to talk.

Some of the things she says:

Daddy

Mama

doggie

go,go,go!

banana (bababa)

Mostly, she asks, "What is it?" about everything!

She dances and sings and can sign "please". She likes to show us her big lips and makes all kinds of funny faces. I love this stage where they are learning new things every day.

I feel very blessed to be Brynlee's mom!

Great Christmas Gift!

2009-11-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, my mom is an amazing artist! She has decided to sell her pencil portraits, and has a new blog with examples and prices, etc. She draws portraits from any photograph, and does a wonderful job! This would make an original and personal Christmas gift, and her prices are VERY reasonable. Go check it out and put your order in soon so she can finish it for Christmas! She can ship to those who are out of state. This sounds like a commercial, but she really is good! Here's the link: http://likenessbylari.blogspot.com/

I will also put a button on my sidebar to link to her blog.

HAMMOND HALLOWEEN 2009

2009-11-02T12:31:00.001-08:00

We had a fun Halloween and the kids got too much candy after Trick or Treating

at three different events. We had our annual party with pumpkin bread bowls ,soup, and homemade doughnuts (thanks to Jordan and Karin).

I got in the mood to make costumes this year, and had a lot of fun with them!

Carving pumpkins at Amy's house

My mother, my kids, and a couple cousins

Isn't my nephew cute as Buddy the Elf?

Brynlee as a lady bug

Yes, I know we are nerds, but I made some Settlers of Catan costumes for Ray and I.

If you've never played it, you should!

Marinne was Cruella

Blake sketched a picture of what he wanted his costume to look like, then we headed to SAS to get a bunch of felt!

I also used felt to make a cheeseburger for James' costume.

He told me yesterday that he NEVER, EVER wants to put it on again,

because "it's too sweaty"!

Flower Tote Bag

2009-10-16T12:42:00.000-07:00

Q: What do I do when I'm trapped at home?

A: Make stuff out of stuff I already have.

My kids have been sick, so we've spent the entire week of Fall Break at home. Needless to say, we were getting bored! Today I taught Marinne how to make this little bag.

I have seen these material scrap flowers, and thought I'd try them. I rather like them, and think I'll make more for hair clips.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2009-10-16T12:25:00.000-07:00

My cute mom had a birthday, so my sisters concocted a "Lari and the Chocolate Factory" party. It included a variety of chocolate desserts, dancing, and pictures of my mom as Willy Wonka (thanks to photoshop and Amy).

Yeah, the Smiths are a little "silly", but life is never boring!

Student of the Month x 2

2009-10-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

Marinne was selected as Student of the Month for her class, and Blake was chosen out of the whole school as the P.E. Student of the Month! We are accumulating a nice collection of free kid meal certificates that we need to use!

A Good Reminder

2009-10-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

The other night when I couldn't sleep, I came across a talk by Neal A. Maxwell. It was a good reminder of the characteristics we should be developing.

He says,

"We are to be:

Meek and Humble - those who shine as lights in the world have no need to seek the spotlight! The world's spotlights are not only fleeting, but they employ inferior light!
Patient- not hectic, hurried, pushy.
Full of Love - not demanding, dominating manipulative, condescending, or harsh.
Gentle -not coarse.
Easily Entreated - not unapproachable, inaccessible, and nonlistening.
Long-suffering - not impatient, disinterested, curt, easily offended.
Submissive to God - not resistant to the Spirit, counsel, and life's lessons.
Temperate - not egoistic, eager for attention and recognition.
Merciful - not judgemental and unforgiving.
Gracious - not tactless, easily irritated, ungenerous.
Holy - not worldly."

I think I should post these words somewhere in the house, so I can remember how I should be!

Copy Cat

2009-09-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” -Dr. Seuss

A Story About Honesty

2009-09-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Mr G.(Blake's teacher) recognized Blake and one other student for being the only two in the class to receive 100% on the math test. He made a big deal over it and gave them each a special award in front of the class. As Blake looked over his test, he realized that he had actually missed one of the problems, but the teacher hadn't marked it wrong. He raised his hand and told the teacher that he really didn't get them all correct.

Mr. G sent a note home telling us how impressed he was with Blake's honesty.

It's a great feeling to know he is choosing the right, even when it's hard! He was also selected as Student of the Month for August!

Marinne for Secretary!!!

2009-09-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Marinne ran for secretary of her school and won! She held up a T.V. frame and gave a cute commercial for her speech. A lot of kids just read their speeches, but she had hers memorized, and did a great job! A few of her good friends were also elected, so they will have fun!
This is the principal congratulating her at flag ceremony.
This will be a good experience for her, and we think she's awesome!

"Funky Lunches"

2009-09-03T06:39:00.000-07:00

I came across a website called "Funky Lunches" where they show creative sandwiches such as these:

This goes above and beyond cutting the crust off your kids' bread (which I don't agree with, BTW). Sure, these are cute, but who on earth has time for this? This is the statement on their site:

We hope to produce a book of our Funky Lunches to show you how to create them and how to incorporate new foods into your childs meal by distracting them from what they are actually eating.

Sorry, but I think parents should teach their kids to eat what they are given, even if it doesn't look like the latest cartoon character. Why do children need to be tricked into eating?What happened to the PARENT being in charge? Who's running the house if parents make alternate meals for the child who doesn't like what's for dinner? I guess I'm just venting because I feel strongly about teaching my children to be grateful for what they receive. I don't want my kids to be the ones that say they don't like something before they even try it.

Maybe I'm a "mean" mom, but my kids will continue to get regular shaped sandwiches in their lunches (crust included), vegetables on their plates, and the same meals as mom and dad.

O.K., I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest! All that sparked by a picture of a "Funky Lunch"!

Pillow Covers

2009-09-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Just another nerdy project of mine... My cute little sister Natalli just got married, and I made her a throw pillow with a different cover for each season/holiday. I just made envelope style covers, so they are easy to change (and simple to sew).

The Birthday Weekend

2009-09-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

We had a carnival theme birthday party for James and his friends on Saturday. Aunt Bethany made the cake and even painted faces. Thanks, sister! Wow, birthday parties with small children require a lot of energy!!! I think everyone had fun, so it was worth it! We went to the

D -Backs game on Friday as a family, then James opened his presents from us that night. He also got to open presents at grandma's on Sunday, so his birthday was celebrated all weekend! He's a great kid!

Happy Birthday James!

2009-08-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

My little James turns 5 today! From day one, he has been so easy going and HAPPY.

When I ask him to do something he just says "sure" and does it. He radiates JOY and has been such a fun kid to have in our family.

He never ceases to entertain us!

Happy Birthday!!! We Love You!!!

BUMP-ITS!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

All the sisters and sisters-in-law sporting BUMP-ITS!(we even involved some of the children)
O.K., Have you seen the commercials for these things? Absolutely ridiculous, right? We like to make fun of them, so my SIL brought all the ladies in the fam our very own BUMP-ITS. She even made sure we got the correct color to match the hair. These are meant to create the illusion of volume at the crown of the head. This was not so effective. Some of the sisters, myself included, have extremely thin hair, so imagine spreading thin wisps of hair over a plastic rainbow. You could see big air tunnels and shiny plastic through the hair. Quite humorous! We had a photo shoot, of course! Erica's was believable, and too bad Amy's blends in with Nat's shirt, because she pulled off the look quite well. Yes, we are starved for entertainment. Thank you for the lovely gift, Erica! My sincere apologies if anyone is offended that we are mocking these, but seriously!

Back to School!

2009-08-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

The kids started school on Monday and seem to enjoy it so far. Blake - 3rd grade, James - K, Marinne - 5th grade

James' first day of school! I can't believe he's old enough already!

James gets to be in the same class as Cousin Canaya!

Here they are with the BEST school nurse ever- Grandma!

P.S. I would like a nice camera someday! My pictures are so grainy! Maybe Santa's elves will read my blog and oblige!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

2009-08-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

Utah Trip

2009-08-06T16:27:00.000-07:00

We went to Utah for the annual Hammond reunion and stayed at a KOA in Panguitch so we could visit Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. The kids loved spending time with their cousins and the scenery was beautiful. We also stayed in Draper for a few days, so we got to attend the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house, which was a great experience for our family.

picnic in the canyon with cousins

Lagoon!
(this was the 1st time our kids have been)

talent show
(lovely outfits, I know)

hangin' at the cabin

catching water at Weeping Rock

Bryce Canyon

the fam

Blake pondering

I have to say that I'm proud of the family van for making it there and back!

It has now crossed the 150,000 mile mark!

The 4th

2009-07-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

We spent the 4th of July in Beatty, Nevada. It's a tiny town where our friend Jordan grew up, and they have great festivities for the 4th.
We saw some strange sculptures,

visited the ghost town of Rhyolite,

saw some wildlife,

explored the "cheese holes",

saw the parade (they threw candy),

saw some interesting small town folk,

relaxed,

raced,

and watched a fabulous fire works show without having to fight any crowds! It was a fun weekend!

Kambria's Wedding

2009-06-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Kami and James were married back in April, so I thought it was about time to post some pictures! I can't believe my little sisters are old enough to get married! They were just little girls when we got married. I'm grateful that my siblings have found good spouses and that they have all been married in the temple.

Sisters (what is Bethany doing?)

All 7 sibs

James actually had some pretty good moves that night!

Cake Wrecks

2009-06-26T22:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

It showcases professional cakes with errors like these . . .

Maybe I'm easily amused, but I found the blog quite entertaining.

Two Birthdays and a Baptism

2009-06-18T08:42:00.001-07:00

Blake turned 8!

He was baptized on June 13th and we are proud of him!

New Scriptures

Blake and Dad

Both sets of grandparents were there to celebrate with us.

DOUBLE DIGITS!

My first born child ("futh bone chaul" for all you Smiths) turned 10! Double digits from here on out!!! I'm certainly not old enough to have a 10 year old!

CAUGHT!

Manicures for the birthday girl and her friends!

Birthday Lunch

Summer Snippets

2009-06-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here's what we've been up to lately... eating ice cream (real and fake)
going to The Children's Museum...

which had a NOODLE FOREST,

interesting modes of transportation,

and a cool handkerchief vacuum!

We went to breakfast with cousins and got Mickey Mouse pancakes

(I got a nice big cinnamon roll and an omelett).

We wouldn't survive the summer without a dip in the pool now and again!!!

Don't you love baby chub?

Now if I can just think of more activities when we are home. We can't go out and do something fun everyday, and the kids get bored and cranky (oh, maybe that's me) when cooped up in the house for too long. "Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?"

Brian Regan

2009-05-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

We went with some friends to see Brian Regan last weekend! We've been fans for a while and saw him when Ray and I went to "The Late Show" a few years ago. He is hilarious without being disgusting. I highly recommend seeing him live or getting his dvds if you haven't already! I don't generally like stand up comedy, because the fact that I know they are trying to be funny makes them less funny to me, if that makes any sense. For some reason his style of humor just cracks me up, and we had a great time! In other news, James had his pre-school graduation.

We are grateful Aunt Libby let him come to her school!

Marinne had her orchestra concert, and aside from sitting in the hot sun, it was great!!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T15:47:00.001-07:00

I am grateful for my wonderful mother and for the opportunity to be a mom! Ray made a lovely breakfast this morning, gave me flowers and a gift card to Old Navy, and cleaned the kitchen! I love all the cards and hand made gifts from the kids too. I truly am blessed and thankful for the beautiful kids that call me mom!

Decade Day and Spring Sing

2009-05-05T10:23:00.001-07:00

Marinne wanted to be an 80's girl for Decade Day...

We even "pegged" the jeans - Oh the memories!

Brynlee enjoying the Spring Sing

James conducting with his straw

I'm always impressed with the music program at our school. They do a great job with the kids!

Kami's Shower

2009-04-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Kami had her bridal shower on Saturday and I made this picnic quilt for her gift. Why all the R's? Her last name will be Robinson. The letters are reverse applique, which I'd been wanting to try. It was pretty easy and fun to make!

Award Dinner

2009-04-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

Marinne won 3rd place in an essay contest, so we went to an award dinner for her last week. The winners were selected out of students at four campuses, so we are proud of her! The only down side was that the dinner was spaghetti. As Marinne pointed out that night- you can't expect much when it's a free meal.

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-13T08:51:00.001-07:00

sisters

No, we're not camping - just having fun in PaPa's backyard.

(notice the roosters and chickens in the background - my father's latest hobby)

We have our very own Aunt Bethany.

Vote for Jordan!

2009-04-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Jordan has a chance to win free Lasik surgery, and we need your help so he can win! He and Ray made a video that was selected as one of the top 10, and the two with the most votes win the surgery. Just go to http://www.nba.com/suns/fans/vision_challenge.html. and click by the picture of Jordan. You can vote once a day through Friday.

GO VOTE!!!!!

So Good!

2009-03-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Watch this video taken from a BYU devotional talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw
It is so uplifting, and changed my attitude for the day!

Lucky, Lucky!

2009-03-25T11:47:00.000-07:00

Some of our friends have labled us the most "un-lucky" people they know. I have a few "Hammond Highlights" that fully support their theory.

All of these happened in the last week and a half:

I locked both pairs of keys in the van, so we had to pay 80 bucks for a locksmith.
Ray was rear-ended on the way home from work.
The air conditioning in our van decided to stop working right when it started getting hot here.
I got a flat tire, and while stranded at Firestone, got a call informing me that Marinne was sick and needed to be picked up from school. (Thanks for rescuing us, Mel!)
We thought it would be a fun Saturday activity to take the fam to the air show at the air force base, which is about 1 hour away. We drove all the way there, parked in the desert at the "park and ride"and waited in the hot sun to be shuttled over to the base. Hundreds of people were standing in line, waiting for buses that never showed up. Did I mention we payed $10 to park and sweat in the desert for no reason? After a while of that nonsense, we packed up and went to lunch instead. This is my picture from the air show:

All we saw in the AIR was dust!

These are the angry people getting the heck out of there, $10 poorer than when they came.

BUT...

our luck may be changing, because later that day, Ray found a mysterious $10 bill in our back yard! Maybe the heavens took pity on our sorry state and reimbursed us for the parking fee.

AND...

none of the bad stuff really matters because we are lucky enough

to have a baby like this to play with everyday!!!

Like Father, Like Daughter

2009-03-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

Baby Brynlee...

Baby Ray...

It Pays to Get Good Grades!

2009-03-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Marinne and Blake both got straight A's on their report cards, which means we got

FREE doughnuts

from Krispy Kreme! They give a free doughnut for each A when you show

them the report card!

I'm grateful Marinne and Blake do so well in school!

Thanks kids!

slacker

2009-02-18T14:54:00.001-08:00

I haven't been good about blogging lately, so I thought I better give an update. Brynlee is 3 months old! She is growing fast and starting to laugh. Is there anything better than a baby

laughing?

I love watching her change and interact with the other kids. We paid our annual visit to the Renaissance Festival on Monday. Mostly we go for the food, and where else can you see images like these?...

Why do parents think it's o.k. to bring children in public with no pants?

Furthermore, why do people think it's o.k. to expose this to the world?

On a much brighter note, my sister in law Adina received U.S. Citizenship! We got to go to the courthouse for the ceremony, and it renewed my gratitude for this great country. We are so blessed!

James and Canaya got to lead the pledge at the front of the room.

Lion King

2009-01-22T07:58:00.000-08:00

When Ray's parents were in town we took the whole family (except Brynlee) to Lion King.

I love how they created the animals and scenery, and the choreography is really cool. It's a wonderful production. The kids were excellent and riveted to the stage the whole time. I'm glad they had this experience because I want them to have an appreciation for the arts. James' favorite part was when Scar says, "I'm surrounded by idiots", and has repeated that line several times since. How fabulous that he could take home such a great message! The real message of the story is great:

"Remember Who You Are"

I think all of us need to be reminded of this. When we truly know who we are, we treat others better because we also know how important they are. We take on our responsibilities with a good attitude because we remember our purpose here and want to live up to our potential. I think that is the test and challenge of this life experience - to first realize who we are, and then to act accordingly. At a recent enrichment activity, a member of our stake presidency encouraged us to make sure our actions reflect our beliefs. It comes down to making our behavior consistent with our divine nature, which is much easier said than done! I think it's a life long process, and we are constantly struggling to realign what we do with what we know is right.

2009-01-12T11:28:00.000-08:00

Ray blessed Brynlee on Sunday, January 4th. Ray's brother Tim also blessed their baby Jack on the same day (so the grandparents would only have to make one trip). It was a beautiful day and I am grateful for the power of the priesthood.

with all the grandparents

Grandma Lari made the gorgeous dress and beautiful white blanket. She is amazing!

Christmas 2008

2009-01-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas and it was fun to have all of my siblings here this year. We ate lots of good food and of course got in a few games of Settlers. This is the first picture we have of Brynlee smiling, and then a few others from Christmas Day.

Santa brought scooters this year!

Christmas Eve

2009-01-01T08:50:00.001-08:00

Posing for some pics in our jammies, which had just been delivered by the Christmas "Elvis" (Elves)... All seven sibs
SISTERS

White Elephant Gift Exchange

Soaps of mother and Buff

Faerie Tale Theatre T-Shirt (long running inside joke amongst the sibs)

Christmas Eve Talent Show

2009-01-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

We had a Smith Family Talent Show on Christmas Eve... Papa made puppets and played the guitar while the grandkids sang "I, Said the Donkey" (this was a Christmas tradition when my dad was growing up).

Phillipino Christmas Song Marinne and Natalli playing a violin duet

Blake on the piano

Kambria and James singing a Mexican Christmas song

Christmas Trio

Richard and Erica doing oragami

James' rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock"

What Christmas program would be complete without a scarved Bethany belting

"Tell Old Santy I Live in a Shanty"?

2008-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

Brynlee is 1 month old!

Marinne and Blake had their school Christmas program last night, and I was reminded why I choose to drive the 15 minutes to and from school twice a day instead of having them walk to the neighborhood school. Notice I said "Christmas" program, not "Holiday" or "Winter" program. The title of the show was "Come to the Manger", and most of the songs were about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. I'm so grateful my kids attend a school that can have programs like this. The music teacher does a great job with the kids and they really like him.

Aunt Bethany surprised Marinne with this skirt to wear for the program. Wasn't that nice?

Quick Update

2008-12-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

We had a fun Thanksgiving and are especially grateful for our sweet baby girl and the joy she brings to our family! I had to post this picture of James sporting the ever popular pillowcase indian frock!
1st bath!

1st Piano Recital

Blake was student of the month! His teacher is great and we are proud of his hard work!

We won't include the one of him holding his certificate over his face while they try to get the group yearbook picture!

My Blog Was Kidnapped! (or is it blognapped?)

2008-12-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

I made the mistake of letting Ray post the baby pictures on the blog, therefore giving him access to post other things - such as the lovely Superman clip in the previous post. He said we needed to "mix it up a bit", meaning he thinks my blog is boring. So, be forewarned that Ray may sneak un-approved content into my once
un-adulterated blog.

2008-12-05T22:28:00.000-08:00

THIS RULES

Brynlee June Hammond, Born 11/18/08 8:46AM, 8lbs. 3oz., 20.9in.

2008-11-18T17:43:00.000-08:00

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch? I Beg to Differ!

2008-11-05T13:23:00.000-08:00

Have any of you ever been here?It's owned by the same people as Joe's Real BBQ, but they have more variety. The food is delicious and their shakes are to die for. They have lots of seating outside so the kids can run wild while you eat. Amy & I went today and got FREE lunch, including a huge cheeseburger, fries , and a drink!!! They gave meals out to the first 3,000 people and we only had to wait about 10 minutes!
For some reason I love cheeseburgers when I'm pregnant, not so much when I'm not.

Hammond Halloween

2008-11-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

We had our annual Halloween party with pumpkin bread bowls and soup, followed by trick-or-treating and homemade doughnuts (thanks Karin!).

Ray has worn this outfit every Halloween for 7 years now. We're all waiting for him to shock us one year with a different costume. My choices were quite limited this year!
My cute sister made all of these Star Wars costumes for her fam - quite impressive!

Grandma dancin' in the street!

Recognize the pink dress, anyone? Bethany decided to put on one of my old dance costumes and be me for Halloween. She even drew on the mole that I have since had removed. Ray said I should be honored, but somehow I think she was mocking my 80's fabulous-ness!

Blake as Batman, Marinne as Nancy Drew (she's read about 30 of those books), & James as a dalmatian, along with some cousins and a friend

The Gang

The Ghost of Halloween Past

2008-10-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

This Halloween season has caused me to reflect on Halloweens long ago when my father would turn the Smith residence into a fabulous haunted house. Trick-or-Treaters would wait in line for the privilege of entering. It started small and then grew year by year. I believe the witch vacuum was the first creation, followed by many additions, including the Tesla coil that shoots out purple lightning, Jacob's Ladder, the talking skeleton (who was usually dressed as Norman Bates' mother, but had at least one appearance as a cyclist on the roof with E.T.'s head in the basket), Fred the Head, who's mouth moved in time to a recorded voice, Frankenstein, who would rise up on the chiropractic table, Marie Antoinette and a bloody guillotine, The Phantom of the Opera playing the old organ, a dummy who fell out of the attic, and the list continues. Scary Halloween music would blare through the outdoor speakers to attract visitors. Needless to say, our Halloweens growing up were great fun. Sometimes we were allowed to help and bring friends to help as well. It made Halloween so much more exciting than just going Trick-or-Treating. I'm grateful for my dad's creativity, and we are the only family I know who has LITERAL "skeletons in the closet".

Here are our carving adventures this year:

Yes, for you observant ones, that is a "KISS" inspired jack-o-lantern created right out of Ray's brain, and James' shorts are on backwards.

Snippets from Fall Break

2008-10-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

Cousins at the Zoo"Papa" with all the Grandchildren
Pumpkin Patch
Corn Maze
This is how James fell asleep on Sunday...

P.S. Notice the tangled slinky on the floor. Do those things ever last more than a few days without getting mangled beyond repair?

SURPRISE!!!

2008-10-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning Ray and I went to the temple with my sister Amy & her husband Sam. My mom watched the kids, and when we went to get them, we walked into a room full of people, presents, and food! My mom and sisters planned a surprise baby shower for my SIL Adina and I! I had no idea! I think it's silly to have a shower for a 4th baby, but I had gotten rid of Marinne's baby stuff, so it was great to get some nice things for the baby. Thanks for all the fun gifts, everyone!!! Amy made some cute invitations...
Erica is in town for a few weeks, so it was fun to have her at the shower!

A Great Book

2008-10-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

A group of women from my ward have a book club, and our latest read was "These is my Words" by Nancy Turner. It's about a family that settled in Arizona in the late 1800s, written from one woman's perspective. It drew me in from the beginning and I read it in a few days. Although it isn't about Mormon pioneers, the family goes through many of the same hardships and it made me appreciate those who crossed the plains and all they sacrificed. I love historical fiction because I feel like I am not only reading a good story, but learning something as well. Anyway, it's a great book and I recommend it! Now I need to get the sequel!

Marinne's Recital

2008-10-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Marinne had a violin recital last Saturday and did a great job. I hope she will stick with the lessons so she can develop this talent. I love the violin, it just takes a long time to get it sounding really good. We are lucky to have such an amazing teacher for her. Blake started piano lessons and loves it so far. I think it's important for music to be a part of my kids' lives. I'm hoping they got the good Hammond singing genes instead of mine!

Creativity and Compassion

2008-09-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's talk at the R.S. broadcast tonight. He talked about having joy - Godly happiness. In order to have real joy, we have to emulate the kind of happiness Heavenly Father has. He is a God of creation and compassion, therefore when we are creative and compassionate, we feel true joy. This really hit home for me. He talked about our desire to create, to make things that have not existed before. As women, motherhood is our most important creative role, but he also talked about beautifying our surroundings through things we create. It is important to develop our talents and creativity because in doing so, we are becoming more like our Father in Heaven.
Our compassion can be an answer to someone's prayer. The best way to allieviate the pain of our own burdens is to help lift someone else's. Serving will heal our hearts.

If we ever feel a lack of joy in our lives, we can focus on these two aspects of Heavenly Father's nature. Be creative and compassionate!

Call for Sabbath Activities

2008-09-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

Another peaceful "Day of Rest" at the Hammond Home...

I woke up this fine Sunday morning to children playing the Wii and fighting over it. I promptly had them shut it off. They then decided to do "big shoe races" in which each child must wear a pair of their parents' shoes and then race around the house (where do they come up with this stuff?). Needless to say, this lasted but a moment before fighting once again ensued due to claims of cheating, etc. Next on the agenda... a punch out championship between the boys while Marinne pouts in her room. I would like you, the reader, to provide some creative ideas for Sabbath activities other than the ones my kids came up with today. Thanks!

First Day of Preschool

2008-09-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

There is some unwritten law that once children reach school age, they cannot smile naturally for photos anymore. They must instead paste on a fake, awkward smile for every picture taken during their elementary school existence!

James is in his Aunt Libby's preschool (is that one word?) again this year. That means for a few hours on Mon., Wed., Fri., I have no children. I am trying to soak this up because come November I will have a newborn in need of constant attention! James was so funny about getting his picture taken on his first day of preschool. He reminded me every two minutes that morning... "Make sure you take my picture, Mom."

"My naaaaaame is Jaaaaames, that's what mother called me..."(sung in a Brittish accent)

2008-08-31T11:06:00.000-07:00

My baby James turned 4 on Thursday! He was the most mellow baby ever! He has such a happy outlook and has been a real joy to have in our family.Do you think I am encouraging violence by giving him these? (at least they're real soft)
I can't believe he's four! I just love his personality. Every time we go somewhere without him, he tells us to have a great time, and then he always asks, "Dad, how was work?" or "How was your meeting?".
Happy Birthday James!!!

A Quote

2008-08-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

I have always loved qoutes by Neal A. Maxwell, and came across this one the other day...
"Ultimate hope and daily grumpiness are not reconcilable."
This is something I can really apply to my life! Maybe it's the pregnancy or just a bad attitude, but I feel pretty grumpy lately. I guess I need to increase my hope so there won't be room for a negative attitude. I really admire people who seem cheerful all the time (or, on a bad day, I want to smack them). Are they born with this ability, or is it learned? I do know that we can change and improve, so my goal is to be more "chipper"!

Pin curls & Peaches

2008-08-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Marinne wanted curly hair for church, but couldn't find the sponge curlers. I decided to go the old fashioned route and try pin curls ( I twisted her hair and then held it in with bobby pins). Not such a good idea! It reminds me of "Stars" (the dance team I was on in the 80s). We had to have a fro for every performance, the BIGGER the better!

On a more successful note, peaches were on sale at Sprouts, so Melanie and I bottled a bunch of them at her house. My food storage is seriously lacking, so I felt quite accomplished after making some effort in this area!

Happy Anniversary

2008-08-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

August 8th 11 years ago ...