Christmas is Decoration count down!

Well I have my counter now! (Nat you need one) I went through some decorations today to reorganize them and see what I need to get. The house we are in now was made for Christmas It looks like something from the smokies!

Goal this year 4 big trees and 2 small! Let's see if we get there!

Friendship

So last night I was watching the Practice (awsome season opener) and at the end Addison and her BFF held hands so tight. Its that hand hold that only one of your best girlfriends can give to say hey its alright I'm here for you and we will jump over this bump. We don't need those offten thankfully but when you do it is a must. It made me a little sad cause I thought I don't have that anymore. Then I realized I still do. My person is Natalie Call. Many of you have heard me talk about her and ask for your prayers for her. She is so amazing. She is one of those friends that make you want to be a better person. She is a person that even though there are miles between us I know she is there. Just talking to her can help. I miss her so much sometimes. When we lived in Nicholasville she was my hey lets grab lunch or just a cup of "stephens" hot chocolate : ). Someone told me once people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Natalie is all of these to me.

Reason.... She reminded me to love each moment we are given and her little angel Branson always reminds us of that. I always still mention him in our prayers at night with boys. I know that him and peyton had to be buddies and Paxton can almost even get his name out now... or something close bson is more like it.

Season.... We met while both pregnant. Her first child my second but one with even more bumps then the first. Many times I was so frustrated with the bed rest and takeing meds that have your heart raceing just to stop contractions, but then I would see Nat and be reminded of the gift that we are given in being able to carry that life inside us. I think there is no way two souls can get any closer then that bond you have carrying your child. Then there was the broken leg : ( I could have so easily slipped into a depression, new baby, a one year old, and not able to even walk and hold my babies. I didnt though. I knew how Thankful I was to have what I did. Much of this was thanks to Nat. Who always seemed to know when to stop by and take Peyton for a few hours so that I could have a breather for a minute.

Lifetime nope eternity... Although I dont get to see and talk to her everyday she always crosses my mind atleast once a day. Many times when I am strugling with the stress sometimes others put on us I have often thought "what would Nat do" and of course it is always the nice thing and unselfish one. So she will be with me always... ANd that is something else she brought me to. I have always had strong faith and the reward of heaven but she made me see the true gift of how wonderful the gift of eternity is.

Thanks Nat for being such amazing person, mother, and friend. You are a amazing example of how beautiful Gods work can be.
Love ya

Vacation!

Well Robert and I planned to go to the beach this summer alone after our two summers of having babies and broken bones but this summer proved to be just as busy so we had to turn his working trip to Disney World into that vacation. I now know why so many adults go kid free... It makes you feel like a kid! We had so much fun and we were upgraded and got to stay at the Boardwalk resort. It was awsome and really did feel like you were in 40's 50's Coney Island. We loved it. The Animal park is also great I had never been there and it was well worth it. We did learn though in going alone that it really is not "magical" for kids untill they are like 6. Other wise they just walk around the park crying I am hot and when can we go back to the pool. Haha. So guess that idea of taking the boys at 3 and 4 is out the window.

We had such a good time but I will admit I also had moments of missing the boys like crazy. Coming home we almost missed our conecting flight because of a early delay and I ran that airport like a mad women because I was so worried I would not see my boys that night.

Happy Birthday Paxton and Peyton

We decided to do the boys birthday party just a tad early so they could celebrate with all their Jessamine County friends. We had such a good time and they recieved some really great gifts but most of all we just loved getting together with all of you one more time. We grilled out and had lots of yummy food. Their cake was done up with their pic in uk b-ball outfits to keep with the sports theam.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this day so special. We love you all and miss you!

Happy Birthday Branson!

We are lucky enough to have a real conection with a dear angel named Branson. Peyton was even lucky enough to play with him while waiting to come to earth, we are sure they were the best of buddies. Although his life was cut way to short he still continues to touch so many.
So today we decided to send Branson a ballon for his birthday with his website on the back and a simple we love you message. We hope that in doing this it may reach someone who he can touch with his story.
We love you Branson. It is a honor to know you, remember you, and rejoyce in knowing that we will see you again one day!

Pburg

Well we traveled to P-burg over the weekend and thankfully both decided to sleep the trip went pretty well. We all had a good trip besides the zero sleep that Robert and I got. Most kids love when they get to sleep with mom and dad ours HATE it. They will sleep like logs if they are alone but in bed with someone and they think it is party time.
While there they also got to play and have fun with their cousins Lily and Alyana. Lily served up all kinds of great pirate food to Paxton and I. Peyton also got to finally be the big one with Alyana!

Peyton Update

Well our youngest man had a doctor 9 month check up on Friday and he is growing like a weed. He is 19 pounds (a little on the skinny side but doctor is happy) and 30 inches long! Funny thing he is about in the 50% for weight and 98% for hight! All in all a good visit no shots so that made for happy baby and mommy!

Here comes Peter Cotton Tail!

Well Paxotn had his First Officil Easter Egg Hunt and Brother Peyton tagged along.
They both seemed to really enjoy it. The hunt was at our home church Southland Christian who I will have to say are amazing with kids. If anyone is looking for a home church and have children this church is a amazing fit.

So the hunt was on the baseball field and Pax seemed to enjoy running the field more then hunting.





He also spent some time with the easter bunny who he found it very funny to smack his tail.



Thanks Southland for a great Easter Egg hunt!

Here we go Colts Here we Go!

Just a few pics seeing off the colts to state. Some of them are of Pax hanging in the locker room with his fav guys. He will not even leave them to come with us! He thinks they hung the moon. We are very lucky to have a group of guys that not only know how to play the game but have so much class. They are a great group. Even though they let Pax spill coffee on his self and run with scissors ;)

Cinderella

Oh what a run we have had. To be a rebuilding year 3rd place in state is not to bad in my openion (even if I am biassed). We had such a amazing year and I could'nt be any prouder of the team even if it were my own boys on that floor (which they will be : ). The slipper just kept fitting all the way up to Saturday morning. We were so close to the championship game but no tears hear I am so proud of Robert and the colts. Thanks for a great season boys!

Pay it Forward

The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and What will be a surprise. There's a small catch though....Post this same thing on your blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in.
Since most of you even with my pleading still do not blog though I will be happy with a email aswell. brandyhammonds@windstream.net then you must send that email out and first 3 to relply to you.
So get to it and I will try and think up something just for you!

Paxton and his Train!

Well I have to say that Paxton and Peyton hit the lottery with a belated Christmas gift. We recieved just as we were leaving on the 27th to go to my parents for Christmas and I was in shock! We had seen these befor and thought how Paxton would react to it. It is so funny to see him in the mornings first thing take a ride on his train and then right befor bed he has to take one more ride. He has even jumped on it right out of the bath tub. He loves it! Peyton enjoys laying in the middle and watching Paxton go round and round. Thank you Cotingham for such a wonderful gift for the boys. You are way to good to us all!

Dr visit.

Just a update about the boys. We had our 18 month and 6 month visits and they are growing like weeds!
They are...
Paxton
35 inches
28 pounds

Peyton
28 and 1/4 inches
18.2 pounds

Doctor seemed very pleased with both of them and their development. Sorry no pictures. Im running a bit behind, will try and get some up befor the end of the week.
Hope you all are doing well!

Christmas!

Well I am sorry that it has been so long since any updates but we have been one busy family. Christmas was wonderful (despite all the busy time of basketball :)). It started out with a trip to Roberts parents and Paxton and Peyton got to play with their cousins Lily and alayna. They got lots of cloths (very needed for paxton since he is already in 2t or 24 months), books, and a special first big boy tonka truck from his papaw Hammonds. I was so scatter brained getting ready for this trip I packed the camera in the wrong bag :( that being the reason for no pictures. But I will try to gather some together for some latter. We had alot of fun there befor heading home on the 23rd.
We decided last year that we would be home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so the boys can enjoy all their Santa Stuff. We had so much fun Christmas eve. We made snack food and just ate till we were ready to pop! Thanks to our friends Rob and Nat Pax and I made a Gingerbread house. It was interesting that was for sure. Paxton seemed to think he should suck the sugar off each gum drop then place it on the house. I thought it turned out perfect and I am having a hard time parting with it haha. We watched the Christmas Story and read THe Polar Express befor Paxton and Peyton had drifted off to dream land so that Santa could come. We were still up when Santa came and he ask Robert if he could put Paxtons work bench together for him since he was so busy. Well good old Dad thought it would take about 20 minutes. Try about 2 hours for it all haha.
Christmas Morning was so fun. We changed diapers up stairs so that everyone would be ready to come down and see all the things santa had brought! Paxton took one look at that work bench and darted right for it. Needless to say the other gifts were on the back burner. It took till 9 that night to get him to open all his other gifts. Peyton was very excited to see that he had been good to and he got several teething toys in his socking from santa and he is putting all of them to good use. He also got some really cool musical toys that he is enjoying. After a late Christmas breakfast we all snugled up watching a Christmas Story for the 3rd time and took a long Christmas nap. I of course had to cut mine a little shorter so that I could get our Christmas meal ready. We have discovered Paxton loves Honey Baked Ham. We had such a good day by 10 we were all drifting off.
On the 27th I loaded up and took the boys to see their Mamaw and Papaw Schweitzer. They had alot of fun. Paxton and Izzy are so funny together and they so drive their mamaw crazy. Paxton got his riding horse from his mamaw and papaw that he had been waiting for. He is so funny bounceing on that thing. They also got to go to church while there. The grandkids also made Mamaw cry when they gave her their present to her. Pictures of them together. You would have thought we gave her a pot of gold. Needless to say my truck was yet again packed full for the trip home.
We are glad to be setteling back into a routine now but we will always cherish the memories we make each and every Christmas. Thank all of you for helping make it so great!