Last Minute Trip

            

Last weekend we decided to take a quick trip to Myrtle Beach. Everyone talks about how fun it is there, so we thought we'd check it out for ourselves. Since we are "out of season" for going to the beaches, we were able to get a hotel right on the beach with a room facing the ocean. It was Awesome! (and since we are from Idaho, it's still beach weather for us...bunch a woosies.) The hotel had tons of swimming pools and a lazy river and a pirate ship! Ya.....it was so cool! We didn't have any plans set for the weekend, so we basically just took it easy and did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted.

Grey loved it! She adjusts well to hotels and new surroundings, so she just goes with the flow. It's nice that way! 

We realized our first night as we were getting ready for bed that we had forgotten the toothpaste. I thought Ryan packed it, he thought I packed it....(you know how it goes). So we just skipped brushing our teeth that night. I know what you're thinking...."grossss!" But you know what, it's memories for us. And please....don't act like you've ever went without brushing for a day. It happens to the best of us! 

As for the rest of the trip it was all fun. We woke up early and watched the sunrise from our bed. Ryan stood by the window to take pictures and he saw dolphins jumping near the shore. I jumped out of bed to watch. 

It was beautiful! 

One of those moments you may not ever experience again!

We had a great time! 

Hotel views day and night! I loved seeing the moons reflection on the ocean!

Grey takin it easy

Playin foosball at the pizza place across the street. Grey wondering what keeps poking her belly.

Feedin the fish. There were so many. Kinda gross.

Swimmin

The Cookie Curse

I love COOKIES! But, this is not the curse I speak of in my title..... I canNOT make cookies! I have tried many times to make yummy cookies but I fail every time! I follow the recipe to the T....still, not a good cookie.

So today I pulled out my trusty frozen-store-bought cookie dough. How hard can it be to scoop the dough onto the pan and bake it....? 

Well, I did just that. Along with all the other things I was doing at the moment. 

I was doing laundry, changing a diaper, listening to Grey scream about the bugs outside (yes, the bugs were outside and she is still afraid of them.) Anyways, I was scatter brained when the cookies were put into the oven. So, what a perfect time to go visit my neighbor....?

 I had something to talk to her about so I walked up to her apartment and we talked on her doorstep for a moment and then she had some crafts to show me (we all know how I can't resist looking at the crafts) and I was just havin a good ole time. Completely forgot about the cookies in my oven!!!! 

Who knows how long they were in there? 

I don't. 

Lets just say when Grey and I walked through the door I could smell well-done-cookies. That's when it hit me.......aawwww crap.....the cookies!! I run over to the oven (I think I knocked Grey over on my way there) I open it up and the cookies were black......I could not believe that I managed to ruin the frozen-store-bought cookie dough cookies. 

All I could do was laugh....and then Grey laughed at me laughing. 

So if any of you feel sorry for me and my cookie curse, feel free to send some cookies my way or a lesson or two on cookie making.

Beach Pics

We went to Siesta Key in Florida over labor day weekend. We had a blast. This is by far our favorite beach. We went there a couple times last year when we lived in Florida and we just had to go back. It's beautiful. Enjoy the pics!!

Muscles

Short video of Grey showing off her muscles. The video is very dark, I wish you could see her facial expression when she shows her muscles. Sooo Funny! Enjoy! There's a little taste of her dancing in this video too.  

All Grown Up

Most recent picture of Grey. She's growing up so fast. Enjoy!!

(if you click on the picture it will enlarge it and it's much cuter when it's bigger.)

It's about time!

I'm having a hard time these days with updating my blog. It's not that I don't have anything to share with you all, it's just me being lazy and our internet connection not always there. I have tons of pictures I'm uploading as I write this, so stay tuned for those. 

Well, where do I start. We seem to be adjusting well to Aiken. The weather is awesome. We were actually a little bit chilly the other day. (I'm going to freeze when I make that trip home to Idaho.) We are able to go outside and feel comfortable and not feel like we are cooking. Speaking of cooking, I've been trying to be better at cooking more and I'm getting pretty good at it. (That was random, but just thought I'd throw that out there.) 

Ryan is sooooo busy with work. He is back on the day shift, which we love, but he is always so exhausted when he gets home. I would be too if I had to wake up at 4:15 everyday! How do you do it Ryan? I'm so proud of him. I truly do feel lucky to be able to stay at home with Grey. She is so much fun and is really starting to show her personality. She is very talkative and she's not afraid to talk to strangers. That part makes me a little nervous. I feel like we are in a parade whenever we walk out of walmart. She's got everyone's attention and blowin kisses and "bye, bye's" and "see ya laters." I'm not sure where she learned that. She loves her new kitty (that's another story in itself) and sometimes she loves her a little too much! Grey is so funny in the car, she plugs her ears if she doesn't like what I'm listening to and if I change the station from something she did like she yells "hey" so I change it back and she starts dancing. She loves to dance. I've taught her a few moves, sooo cute. She says excuse me after she burps (and then she has to fake alteast 5 burps and excuse me's after that.) She can say her name (not while she is burping) and she is definitely talking with us a lot more. I could go on and on about Grey. We are just so proud of all she's learning and the sweet little girl she is. 

As for me, I spend my days keeping the kitty alive and playing with Grey. We have fun. I'm still sewing a little here and there. I just got 3 more patterns, so those will keep me busy for a while. I'm going to an Aiken moms club meeting on Monday. Basically the moms club is for stay at home moms and they get together throughout the week for different activities and they have a moms night out once a month. They do fundraisers for different charity groups in the community, so I'm excited to be a part of that. 

We miss everyone at home, but we are loving our lives here in South Carolina. We hope all of you are doing well! I will try to keep on top of my blog with pictures and updates. Have a great day!!

My New Hobby

I've recently started sewing dresses for Grey and I'm having so much fun with it. I think I go to the fabric store every other day (sorry Ryan) but I just can't help it. I've got so many ideas for dresses and I can't wait to make all of them. Here are my first 3 dresses. I tired to get Grey to model them for me but she wasn't cooperating and I didn't have the patience to wait, so this is as good as they get.

My first dress I made. Portobellopixie Claire dress with attached apron. 

Strips of fabrics made this halter dress

Portobellopixie Petal Knot Dress. This dress also has an apron and the straps go through a button hole and tie in a knot. So fun!

S.C

Well, we are officially living in South Carolina. I have to say, I really do love it here. The people are so nice, the weather is warm, it's green and the town is just my size. Now that we are settled in I will catch up on my blogging. I have lots of pics to show and stories to tell. Ryan ended his training last thursday. Yay! He likes his job and is glad to be qualified to work on his own now. Grey is adjusting to the new place and to being with me all day long. We don't have any play buddies yet, but we will soon I hope. And me, well, I'm settin up the sewing room and getting started on my dress creations for Grey and I may sell some as well. We'll see. 

Check back in a few days for pics and more exciting stories. Bye for now!!

Venting

Hello. Just wanted to let everyone know I am moving to South Carolina July 10th! I am busy packing and getting ready for the Skidmore Family reunion on July 5th. I hope to enjoy my final weeks in Idaho and I'm trying not to be to stressed about everything. I really loved these past 9 months of living close to family. I couldn't ask for anything more! (except to have Ryan here with me) Grey has formed friendships with cousins and I have grown closer to Ryan's family. I have enjoyed being able to do as I please and go visit my mom and sisters anytime I want. I am really going to miss so many things and people here. I am excited and nervous about this new chapter of our lives in South Carolina. I am trying so hard to have a good attitude about it all and I want to make the most of it. Normally when we move I have a hard time making friends because all I care about is coming home and why should I make friends because I have my sisters, right? But I've come to realize that I should try harder to form friendships and really try to make South Carolina feel more like home. We may be there for a while so I'm going to try and make friends and become part of something there. This probably sounds so silly to some of you, but I hope there are some of you that understand what I mean.

Basically the purpose of me writing this is to let all of you know to not take life for granted. Opportunities come and go and if you don't enjoy them when they come, you'll look back and kick yourself for not making the most of them; they may never come back.

Pleeeeeease call me or email me when I'm away. There's nothing like a phone call from a friend. It makes my day to hear my phone ring and know that someone thought to call me. I love all of you! I will miss all of you!

An Update

Hello everyone. Things have really changed here in the life of the Hammons. Where do I start.....Ryan has accepted a job at the Savanah River Site in South Carolina. He moved there on May 23rd and I will be moving out there sometime in July. We are very excited for this new chapter in our life and what blessings will come from it. So Ryan is there and we are here in Idaho Falls. I hate living apart from Ryan, but soon enough we will be together.
Grey is growing up so fast! She wore her first ponytail yesterday. She doesn't seem to grow hair on the top of her head, only the back, so she has a mullet but she's still a cutie. She can say daddy, kitty, Elly, baby, meow, moo, this, papa, whoops, yes, no ( and it's never just one no...it's no no no no no.) She gives kisses like crazy and she'll come up to me during the day and give me the "one armed" hug. Sooo precious! I love it! She just started throwing tantrums.....don't like that part so much. She's a lot of fun though. I couldn't ask for anything more.
I am trying to keep busy however I can. I clean the house everyday, we are living in a house that is for sale, so I have to keep it clean and staged 7 days a week. It's a beautiful home so I don't mind having to do that. I'm getting my sewing machine out tomorrow to start a quilt for Grey. I'm excited for that. I also keep busy with my crafts, so if you ever need a gift for someone, call me and I'll whip something up for ya.
So that is where we are in our lives right now. I have to say I am so proud of Ryan for working so hard to support our family. I love and appreciate him more and more everyday. I love being able to stay home with Grey and he makes that possible for me. Thank you Ryan! We miss you!