Merry Christmas!

We had a fun Christmas...

December 20th was the Hammer Family Christmas Party. We had a yummy dinner, exchanged gifts, got christmas jammies, and recieved our Christmas Stories ( my favorite tradition that we do with the Hammer's) Every year, Beth Ann chooses a Christmas book. Each family gets a book and something to go along with it. This year we got the book I believe in Santa Claus, and a clear block that has Believe on it that is vinyl lettering. We read the book then everyone puts on their Christmas jammies and we take pictures.

December 21st was the entire Hammer Family Christmas Party (with all of Steve's aunts, uncles, and cousin's) this year Preston and I didn't go because Preston was really sick. In fact, Steve had to come home early from the party so he could go with me to the Instacare with Preston. Preston had pink eye, a barky cough, a runny nose and a fever. I finally gave in and gave him some Tylenol so by the time we got to the Instacare, Preston was feeling better and running around the joint....we got some drops for his eye and his cough lasted about a week. It amazes me how happy Preston is. Even when he isn't feeling his best, he still laughs and wants to run around.

Christmas Eve is when my mom's side of the family celebrates Christmas. We had the party at my Grandma and Grandpa's clubhouse. It was so fun. That day was when Steve and I started to get sick, and we are still trying to get over these stupid colds!! Santa came to the party, and Preston loved it! He sat on Santa's lap and loved his beard! I will post pictures later (we forgot our camera)..After the party, we went to my parents house to hang out.

Christmas morning was great! It was so fun taking Preston downstairs and watching/helping him open his presents.
Here is Preston opening his favorite present that day. Dump Truck #1 ( We gave him another one for his birthday) He LOVES this dump truck! We also gave him a basketball hoop for the tub, a book, and some shoes, but he didn't care about any of those..he only wanted to play with his dump truck.

Getting to know you...getting to know everything about you

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.
Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, & try not to be a SCROOGE! Copy this entire post & paste onto your own new post!
Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then tag a bunch of people you know....Tis the Season to be NICE!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? BAGS!! Super easy. So if you get a present from me and it's wrapped..you should know that you are truly loved
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. again..super easy. I grew up picking out a real one with my fam every year, and not only a real one, but the frosted white kind! Steve and I tried out a real one the first year we were married and ruined our carpet...so that was the end of the real tree's for us
3. When do you put up the tree? It changes every year...it depends on when I feel like it. I have yet to actually decorate it. I know that I am boring, and I do realize that now that I have a little one, I am going to have to be more creative..so next year, my tree will be decorated. I promise.
4. When do you take the tree down? This also changes every year..my goal is by the first week in Jan.
5. Do you like Egg Nog? NO WAY, NO HOW!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? my pink radio
7. Hardest person to buy for? My mother in law and father in law
8. Easiest person to buy for? Steve, Michelle or my parents
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes..THANK YOU Beth Ann :0)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? IF I were to do it, I would mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can honestly say I haven't had a bad gift given
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? ELF..I am going to say it..I can't stand It's a Wonderful Life..it makes me want to scratch my eyes out
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Sometime in November...or December 23rd
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? homemade fudge
16. Lights on the tree? Yep, that's all my 'decorations'..just the pretty white lights...good thing my tree came pre-lit :0)
17. Favorite Christmas song? Heather, I am right there with you! O Holy Night by Celine is the BEST!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel...sigh
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and the most famous reindeer of all..Rudolph..NOT Rudy, like that stupid song sings...
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither..remember..I am boring...just lights.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open one gift on Christmas Eve, and save the rest for Christmas Day
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The really bad Christmas songs...ANYTHING from Neal Diamond needs to go..and ANY version of Drummer Boy..again...they make me want to scratch my eyes out
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?When I DO decorate, I will have gold, green and blue
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Anything that my dad makes
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A sewing machine..I am sure all of you who really know me just gasped, but it's true. I just found my FAVORITE store and I want to make curtains for my kitchen and living room...

I tag: Michelle, Kinslee, Kristine, Becky and Tasha

Introducing...THE HAMMER'S

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

A picture says a thousand words

If any of you have met my fabulous Grandpa John..you know that he is always smiling! He and my Grandma Emma are such great examples to me. They are so kind to everyone. I have never heard my Grandma or Grandpa raise their voices. Everyone of their grandchildren feel like 'they are the favorite grandchild'...to me, that shows that my grandparents did something right. They never told any of us that we are the favorite, but when you are with them, they make you feel like you are the most important to them.

Growing up, every Sunday we would go over to their house. ALL my Aunts, Uncles and cousins would be there. If we were bad during the week, my mom would say..if you keep this up, you aren't going to Grandma's on Sunday..yep, THAT was our punishment! We would do anything just so we could go to Grandma's house.

I love my Grandparents so much! They are truly one of my most favorite people.

When Preston was a newborn, I was at my mom's house ALOT..ok, I still am, but it was such a fun time for me because my mom usually has Fridays off, so my sister and Desi would go over to my mom's on Friday, and we would all hang out. I LOVED IT! I told my mom that Thursday night was my favorite night of the week because that meant the next day was Friday.

Desi was so cute with Preston. I would have Preston laying on my mom's couch and she would just lay her sweet head next to him and stare at him. I love this picture.

Sweet Desi LOVES Steve. When Steve would come over to my mom's after work, Desi would drop anything that she was doing just so she could be by Steve. Steve was holding Preston and pretending to be asleep, a game that Desi loved to play. So Desi nuzzled her way onto the couch and layed by Steve. It didn't matter how long Steve stayed on the couch, Desi was right next to him..all the time. One time Steve was holding Preston and I was sitting next to Steve. Desi came onto the couch and sat between us. She layed her head on Steve's arm, looked at me, and said 'My love him'....oh she is so precious!!!

I.......

......LOVED the movie Twilight!!! LOVED IT! I saw it this afternoon with my FANTASTIC friends Heather and Erin, and Erin's sister Ashley (she too is fantastic)...I thoroughly enjoy being around these girls and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I can't wait to see it again, and I can't wait to BUY it so I can watch it over and over and over and over... Thanks girls for going with me!

......want to say CONGRATS to Heather and Jeff...Heather told us yesterday that she is pregnant!!! She did it in the most creative way. She mailed packages to everyone. In the package was a picture of her wedding day, with all of us brides maids. She had a binki in the package and a letter telling us that she was expecting. Very clever! Oh baby! They are going to be the cutest parents, and their little one is going to be DARLING! Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!!

......only have to wait 25 more days until I go pick up Michelle, Desi and London from the airport!!! 25 more days!!

......think a 'GO UTES' is in order! On the count of three...'GO UTES'

Story of my life

There are two things I would like to do before I die.

#1 swim with/touch a killer whale

#2 see Celine in concert/person

Let me tell you a story. When I was in the fourth grade I did a report on Killer Whales. That is when the obsession started. In fact, one Christmas, my darling mom and dad gave me nothing but killer whale stuff. It was AWESOME! I had everything from a killer whale calendar to Free Willey the movie. I LOVE KILLER WHALES. So, when I was 14 you can imagine how exited I was that my mom and dad were taking us as a family to Sea World. I had convinced my 14 year old self that my parents had called Sea World and explained my obsession with killer whales. So Sea World was going to choose me to be a part of the show. They were going to pick ME out of the audience and help with Shamu. Well, we get to the show. There I am with my disposable camera ready to take a few pictures and have my named called so I could go down and help...well I waited, and waited, and waited. I took 22 pictures of Shamu, still thinking that even though the show is almost over, 'I am SURE I will be called'. NOPE! some other RANDOM girl was called. 'Oh I get it! My parents set up a special one on one session with Shamu..ok...I am on to them'...NOPE! After the show my mom and dad look at me with huge smiles and say..'well, what did you think?'...I was crushed..I didn't let them know it at the time (in fact, I think I told them only a few years ago about all this)

Fast forward to 2003..mine and Steve's one year anniversary. We decide to go to San Diego. Well, I had convinced my 22 year old self that Steve has ABSOLUTELY called Sea World because I had told him about the crushing experience when I was 14. So, we get to the show..there I am with a disposable camera in hand, ready to be called out from the audience at anytime....anytime now...NOPE! The show ends and Steve gets up to leave..WHAT??!! So I again am left with 22 more pics of Shamu and crushed spirits.

Now in my fabulous parents and my amazing husbands defense..I should have just communicated to them that they should try giving Sea World a call and see what kind of deal they could work out.

Now, on to Celine. HER SHOW IS CANCELLED! SHE IS SICK SO SHE HAS RE-SCHEDULED FOR SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY. The day that she is rescheduled for is a Sunday..so I won't be going...personal decision. I know you are all thinking..Well Jeana, she was in Vegas for FIVE years..you should've gone there, and I AGREE with all of you, and it is something that I am kicking myself for not doing. I have been waiting for ONE YEAR (I think you can recall back to my post LAST November when I was given the tickets) to see her. All I have ever wanted to do since I heard the cd Colour of my love was to hear her live.

One day both of these 'wants' will happen, and I can't wait for that day!!

Well, that's my sob story for night. Thanks for reading :0)

Brace yourself folks...

This is going to be a long post.....

First..there are three MAJOR things that will be happening this month and next that

I CAN'T WAIT FOR!

#1: 12 days until CELINE DION..love me some Celine! (it's like the 12 days of Christmas!)

#2: 13 days until Twilight the movie...love me some Twilight

#3: 38 days until MICHELLE AND THE GIRLS COME FOR 22 DAYS!!!!! Drewman will be coming for 16 days...LOVE ME SOME LAMBOURNE'S!!!

Until all of these things have taken place, I am afraid you will be hearing about them quite often:0)

I also need to post about HSM3 (for those of you not in the high school loop, that stands for High School Musical 3 :0)) My mom and I went to the movie opening night. I wish I would have had my camera. It was me, a 27 year old, my mom, who could pass as a 27 year old, and about 200 10-15 year olds... I know I will be made fun of, and YES I am aware that the movie wasn't made for a 27 year old like me, but I will admit that I enjoy, sing along, and dance to, the High School musical movies...We're all in this together right??

The second one was a bit much for me (again, I am aware that the movie wasn't for 27 year olds) but I have to say that I loved the first and the third. THANKS MOM for going with me! My mom is such a fun person to be around. We were laughing the entire movie and I know that if I ever need someone to watch it with me...I can call her. I LOVE MY MOM!

Back to Halloween...We went Trick or Treating to Steve's work. We met up with some of Preston's cousins..We have Brixton, the studliest lion of the jungle. Sara and Alyssa the cutest cat and mouse you will ever see, and of course, Preston the darling-est monkey around! Considering all the kids where exited about the candy, this is the best pic I could get.

Daddy and Preston walking through the halls

Then, yesterday I took Preston to FARM COUNTRY at Thanksgiving Point. Oh my heavens! HE LOVED THE ANIMALS. He wasn't afraid to touch any of them. I had to post this pic because let's be honest..IT GROSSES ME OUT! If you look closely, Preston has his whole hand on the cows tongue!!! and to make matters worse, right after I took this picture, Preston's WHOLE HAND was in the cows MOUTH!! He thought it was funny, and I almost threw up. I came home and washed Preston's hand for at least five minutes. I wish I would have gotten a picture of him riding the pony. He loved it!

I have been trying to post some vidoes of Preston walking all by himself, but I am having some major difficulties...hopefully I will be able to figure it out because he is doing such a good job and he looks so cute!

One little monkey...

Friday we had a Hammer Family Halloween party. It was SO much fun. First we all stopped by and suprised Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Love. Then we went to Beth Ann and Gordon's house to have Halloween festivities..

Here we are with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

The CUTEST monkey I have ever seen!

Instead of carving or painting pumpkins, Beth Ann had THE BEST IDEA of buying 'Mr. Potato Head' like faces and letting each kid pick the pumpkin they wanted to decorate. Everyone had such a blast choosing the eyes, ears, mouth and nose..

Finished product..
THANK YOU FOR SUCH A FUN DAY!

Hubby tag

1.Where did you meet? Tux N Tails, Cottonwood Mall in 1998. I was working the night him and 15 of his friends came in to see if Steve could borrow a tux jacket because they were about to get their picture taken before they all left on their missions, and Steve was the only one with out a suit jacket. He had a girlfriend, and I had a boyfriend at the time, but I went to the U of U's homecoming with one of his friends. A couple weeks later I broke up with my boyfriend, and his girlfriend broke up with him, and he called me....the rest his history.

2. How long did you date before getting married? 3 years with a two year mission in between

3. How long have you been married? 6 years and four months

4. What does he do that surprises you? He never tells me what I am getting for Christmas. He always says 'lets not get anything for eachother this year, but he always gets me something

5. What is your favorite feature of his? Eyes and smile..what a hunk!

6. What is your favorite quality of his? He is always willing to put other's needs before his, and he is such a nice guy..in fact, we went to his 10 year reunion a couple months ago and EVERYONE I talked to, once they found out that Steve was my husband, said...'He is the nicest guy, he was always so nice to everyone'..he still is!

7. Does he have a nickname for you?He has had a few but my favorites are sweetcakes and mister..it's a long story why he calls me mister

8. What is his favorite color? red..for the utes

9. What is his favorite food? my dad's Sunday dinners, twice baked potatoes, and pizza

10. What is his favorite sport? It's a toss up...basketball or football

11. When/Where was our first kiss? in front of his house in 1999. I was the first girl HE had to make the first move on, all his other girlfriends kissed him first. That just isn't my style. If he wants it, he can come and get it:0)

12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? kiss:0) or watch our favorite TV shows

13. Do you have children? Yep. One boy, Preston

14. Does he have a hidden talent? he has a good eye for decorating. I actually will ask him his advice on things before I buy them...does that count??

15. How old is he? 28

16. Who said "I love you" first? In letters..me. In person..him

17. What is his favorite type of music? O.A.R. and Dave Matthews...

18. What do I admire about him? EVERTHING. He is levelheaded. He doesn't hold grudges/He forgives easily. He will do anything for anyone. He is fun to be around, and everyone likes to be around him. His knowledge about the gospel and church history, but most of all..that he puts up with me.

19. Will he read this? Not sure..maybe

Hammer Girl Book Club

My mother in law had the fanstastic idea of starting a book club with us Hammer Girls. We will take turns each month choosing a book and a place to have dinner to discuss it. This month was Beth Ann's turn and the book was Princess Acadamy by Shannon Hale. This book is an easy read and it is so cute! I really liked it.

We met at Gardner Village for some yummy dinner, to discuss the book, and then did a little shopping. It was so fun! I am glad we are doing this.

Thanks girls! I had a blast! Can't wait until next month!

Look who's walkin'

Ever since Preston was about 5 1/2 months, he has wanted us to walk him around. He did the usual holding our fingers with both hands..the first video is of him in St. George walking around the pool. The second video was him this morning.

He gets SOOOOO exited when he is walking. He now only wants us to hold his left hand. If we try to hold his right, he won't move, or he physically make us switch to his left hand. If he wants to walk, he will crawl/cruise over to us, sit in our lap, grab our hand with his left, and stand up. He cruises and he loves it. Maybe by his first birthday he will be walking on his own...

Look at me go!!

My Best Butt Cheek, Becky, is having her first little girl, Alli Jane. She is due on Halloween, so Becky's sister Megan, sister in law Tasha, me, Casey, Jeni, and a few other friends threw her a shower...a halloween themed shower. I volunteered to make the 'pumpkin cake'...not a pumpkin flavored cake, but a pumpkin shaped cake. Those of you who know me, know that I am not the baker..so Megan and Tasha were nice enough to let me do it :0) I made the 'better than anything cake' but did it in two bundt cake pans so it would be shaped like a pumpkin. I made the whipping cream and dyed it orange, and the stem was a snickers bar. My 'crafty-ness' didn't stop there, I also made Becky a hoody towel (with the help of my cousin Tracy:0))! I am sure that those of you who know me are in complete shock because baking DRIVES ME CRAZY and I don't sew..but for some reason I actually WANTED to bake and sew!! I also made this YUMMY salsa, and Megan had the cutest idea of cutting out a pumpkin and putting the salsa in the pumpkin. The food was yummy! Here are the end results...

How quirky am I??

TAG - Lets just see how QUIRKY I am...Tell us about 5 unspectacular quirks of yours...

Quirk #1... Whenever I lock my car, I HAVE to hear it 'beep' twice..as if it double locks the doors or something

Quirk #2... After I lay Preston down for the night, I have to lock all the doors. If I don't, I worry while I am downstairs that someone will break in and take him.

Quirk #3... I have a particular order in how my shower routine MUST go..first shampoo, then conditioner, while the conditioner is 'setting' I wash my body and then shave. My last step is to rinse the conditioner

Quirk #4... If I am lucky enough to soak in the tub, I HAVE to shower first. I don't want to be soaking in my own filth.

Quirk #5... I rock back and forth (with or without a baby in my arms) anytime I am sitting or standing.

So those are a few of my very unspectacular quirks..I am sure you have noticed more, so if you have I would love to hear them.

I tag the following 5 people:

Michelle, Holly, Becky, Kathy, and Lindsey

Family pics

A good friend did our family pics last week. Isn't she good?!?! I ABSOLUTELY recommend her! Check out her blog...it's on my list of favorites..it's Shelly's photography.

HE MAKES MY HEART HAPPY!!!

I LOVE this picture because of his sweet little hand! (and his darling face, of course)

I can't get enough!
This is a common sweet little face I see throughout the day. He has been cruising since he was about 7 1/2 months and he LOVES it :0) He still prefers to have us walk him around, but if he has something to chase...he is happy.

Thanks Shelly! It was fun working with you!! You are a GREAT photographer.

Also, I just have to thank all of you who responded to my last post. It is a scary thing putting something so personal 'out there' into the blogging world. I appreciate each comment more than you will know. THANK YOU for the love and support!

Thankful.

The reason for this post is because I just found out that a good childhood friend of my sister, gave birth to a stillborn some months back. All of the emotions of the past four years are flooding back.

If you were to ask me three years ago if I was going to have children, I would have responded automatically with "absolutely", but inside I was screaming "Yeah right, you make it sound so easy!" Before I was blessed to become pregnant with Preston, Steve and I had been trying for three years to get pregnant. After 2 miscarriages, and one D & C, I was able to get pregnant after two months of being on Clomid. The blessings didn't stop there. My pregnancy went great, my labor and delivery went perfect. I was able to give birth the way I always wanted, natural. Preston was born, and not only born, but he was born healthy. I truly know how fortunate I am. TOO many times mothers loose their babies, either early on in the pregnancy, during the middle of the pregnancy, or they have stillborns. Or, if they don't loose their babies, the sweet little ones are born and there is just complication after complication. My heart goes out to all of you out there that are in one way or another struggling with pregnancy, or the loss of a newborn/child.

There are two MAJOR things that I learned while going through this particular trial..
1. It was for my benefit! I learned to trust my Heavenly Father. I learned to rely on Heavenly Father to take away the pain that I felt daily. Going through this particular trial helped me realize how strong I am (with the unconditional help from my Heavenly Father)

2.There is a plan for everyone! Everything happens for a reason, nothing is by chance. A friend brought some perspective to my trial before I got pregnant. She said that yes, there is a plan for me, but what about for my children? There is a plan for them too. I had never thought of it that way. EVERYONE has a plan, a specific plan.

I know that my trials aren't over. Am I scared to death that I won't be able to get pregnant again, or that it might take another 3+ years? Yes. Am I scared to death that my next pregnancies won't go as smoothly as Preston's? Yes, but because of the things I have had to go through, and the things that I have learned, I have HOPE! Things will work out how they are supposed to. I am also so thankful for the testimony that I have that families are forever and that WE WILL see our loved ones again. Without this knowledge, I would not be able to be so positive about the future.

I can't kiss Preston enough. I can't hold him enough. I just can't get enough. I know that I am blessed to have these feelings because there are too many out there who haven't exprienced these feelings. I was asked a couple days ago.."so what do you do all day?" I was holding Preston at the time, and said "this". I was given a look of "your kidding right?" and then the person said "really? that's it?" I smiled SO BIG and said "absolutely!" If they only knew how truly content I was, and how TRULY happy I was to even be able to say that!!

I can not express how much admiration I have for all the women out there (and the men in their lives) that have had, or are going through this same thing. It amazes me what it takes to even be able to get pregnant, but the miracle doesn't stop there. It amazes me what it takes to have these sweet spirits come to earth. It amazes me what we have to go through, but again, I know that everything happens for a reason and that there is a plan. For this, I am thankful.

ChIcAgO!

Me, Preston, my mom, and Ryan were able to go to Chicago last week. It was SOOOOO much fun! I want to move there! It was BEAUTIFUL and there is so much to do! (I'm sure having the Lambourne clan there has a lot to do with me wanting to live there), but honestly, it is a place where I wouldn't mind living.

Preston did SOOOOO good on the plane! He loved looking out the window, and watching the t.v.

As soon as we landed, we headed to Chicago..we went to Lincoln Park Zoo...it was AMAZING! (Drew and Michelle live in a beautiful suburb outside Chicago so we decided to just spend the day we got there in 'Cago...) I was just so exited to be with my sister that I peed my pants! JUST KIDDING! I had an open bottle of water on my lap, and Preston knocked it over.

I can't believe how darling Desi is!!! She was being a monkey on Uncle Ryan's shoulders.

Chicago is behind usIsn't she beautiful!!?? She is one chunky monkey!

First morning there.. what a cute grandma!

We went to Independence Grove and did a little paddle boat ride...infant life jackets are a joke! Both London and Preston screamed while the jackets were on...He was MISERABLE....so I took it off, and he fell asleep :0)

Here were are at Lake Michigan. It is a really pretty lake! The weather was perfect! Again, isn't my mom the cutest grandma?? Desi was so much fun! She was so into building her castle.

To keep the little ones out of the sun, we made this 'tent'.. it worked out pretty good :0)

Of course Preston needed to get out and walk around..here is with Uncle Ryan.

The lake was really cold..so I just held Preston and let him dip his feet in it..he didn't last too long
We tried to get pictures of the three grandkids, but it didn't work out too well...the picture below is the best one we got..so we ended up taking a lot of individual pictures that turned out darling...
For Desi's birthday, my mom and I gave Desi a make-up kit...we thought the make up wasn't real, but it ended up being real make up!! (Michelle still reminds up everyday how we gave a three year old real make up) Well, I had the privilge of having Desi do my make up...she did a great job! :0) I love the pink eyeshadow above AND below my eyes! :0) I LOVE this girl!!

Michelle and Drew....THANK YOU SO MUCH for letting us come and visit! I miss you guys like crazy and I think I am down to only crying once a week when I think about you guys, but being able to visit you meant the world to me!!! I was able to see just how happy you guys are, and just how fun it is to be in 'Cago! I love you guys and can't wait until our next trip out there!!!