Happy July 4!

We celebrated the 4th of July in Murray this year. We are blessed to live close to Murray Park so we didn't have to drive or find parking. It was awesome! We started the day off by watching the parade. One of our closest family friends son was in the parade as the Chicfila cow. So, it was incentive for us to go, to show our support for this wonderful young man. I didn't know how Elsie was going to think of the parade, but she loved it!

At the parade!

 Later, that day we went swimming which is quickly becoming one of Elsie's favorite activities to do. Ross has taught Elsie how to make motor boat sounds while playing in the water. It is pretty cute. It was also nice to go swimming because the week of the 4th we were in a heat wave. It was pretty much to hot to do anything but eat ice.

Ross, Elsie, and Kim at the pool

Ross, me, and Elsie at the pool

We ended the day with a private firework show put on for Elsie by Ross and Kim. Well, it was more like a couple dozen sparklers and Kim dancing with them while Ross lit them. Elsie loved it! She kept insisting that Ross give her one. Obviously, that didn't happen.

After, the private show we went and sat on a blanket in the park and watched the cities fireworks. Elsie clapped the whole time. She is so much braver then I was as a kid. I was convinced that the fireworks would fall in my hair and burn it, so I never liked them as a kid.

Elsie and I watching the show.

I am so thankful to live in America and to celebrate the freedoms that I enjoy each day! I am thankful for our solider who work around the clock to protect these freedoms.

Happy 5 Years!

This picture was taken on our way to Denver on our way to be sealed for time and all eternity.  It has taken me awhile to post about our anniversary this year. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on June 21. We are truly blessed to have each other and  be each other best friend. 

The our first night of our marriage we stayed in Denver, we had dinner at Chili's and then we went and saw the movie, Get Smart. It has become our tradition to eat at Chili's and then go see a movie. This year due to being pregnant and not wanting to wait 30 minutes for a table at Chili's we at a steak house and saw Man of Steel. It is a humble tradition that we have and Ross is convinced that I will get bored and want something more exciting each year. I won't because it reminds of where our marriage began. 

I have been thinking a lot about the song Wonderful, Wonderful, by Johnny Mathis and I decided that it is my song to Ross this year.  I truly do say to myself how Wonderful, Wonderful, it is to have Ross as my eternal companion.

Dear Elsie!

Elsie the day she was born!

My Dear Elsie,
    On Wednesday we celebrated your first birthday and it was a great party. Your daddy took the whole day off from work. You spent the day at the zoo with Jackson, your best baby friend. It was truly a perfect day!

You and Jackson!

     It is hard to believe that it has been a year since you became our piece of heaven on earth. I can still vividly remember the first night you laid in your hospital bed next to mine, and I didn't want to sleep cause I just wanted to see my beautiful baby girl.
     Here we are a whole year later, I have been so blessed to watch you grow and learn everyday. I love watching you interact with your "dadadada" and I love watching you wrap him around your tiny little finger and I love that you let him think he is still in charge. I love you vampire smile and you kisses are simply the best. I love when you let me snuggle.

You and your dadada

      I have been told  to cherish every moment with you and never take a day for granted. I truly have, I have done everything in my power to be with you every moment. You have changed the way I view my time and my life.  When I am not with you, you are constantly on my mind and in my prayers.

Your family!

      As you continue to grow, I look forward to watching you with your baby sister. I know that you will be an amazing sister and daughter. I know there will come a day when I am not cool, and you won't want to be around me, but even those moments I will still be your biggest fan and will love you always!
     You are a smart, funny, energetic, beautiful and silly little girl. I know that when Father in Heaven created you He knew that you were just what I needed. I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday my sweet little angel.

Happy Birthday!

With much love,
Your Mama

In the Moment

I always feel like it need to be a big event for me to blog about it, like a Birthday, Christmas, Wedding, or a Vacation. Recently, I have been thinking a lot about this quote and trying to implement it into my life.

I do think of myself as a happy person, but I do think that I am guilty of waiting for my golden ticket or my golden moment. As I do this, I put a huge emphasis on the big moments. I expect every holiday to be this magical memory. Or wear myself thin,  trying to make sure that everything is just perfect. That way if Good Housekeeping, were to ever stop by, I would be ready for an impromptu interview and photo-shoot. While I think that perfect holidays are a "worthy goal", I do want to stop and "discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments."
Since, I have stopped working I feel like I now have more of these moments, or more time savor them, or I am not as busy and  now recognize them. I would like take the time and share some of our moments from the past three weeks.

This is a picture of Elsie and her friend. He is 6 months and 1 day older then Elsie. That is why he seem so big next to her. He has already "stopped" using his binky, but he likes to take Elsie's and use it. When he gets caught he always acts like he was just putting it in her mouth. This normally is not a big deal. This, however, is the moment where my whole family got the pukes. We were watching Jack that day cause his mom thought she had food poisoning. It wasn't we learned that night during scripture stories when Elsie threw up twice on her book. Within a few hours Ross had caught the bug, and by morning I had it. This was the longest weekend of my life. I have vowed that we will never ever again be sick all at the same time.
Elsie is a social butterfly. She can't stand being stuck in the house for to long. So I have been looking for things what we can do during the day that are free or of little cost. One of my absolute favorite activities is Wiggle Time. It is at our local library on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is just a 40 minute singing time. Elsie loves it she loves playing with the scarves and with the bubbles.  This is also were she learned to clap her hands and say, "Ya!"

Our first time at the library. 

Elsie is starting to want to eat more solids. Recently, I made the mistake of feeding her spaghetti. The mistake wasn't the spaghetti, it was that I thought that I could feed her while we sat on the the livingroom floor. I know, even as I read that sentence, I still don't know how I thought that would be okay.

Well, it turned out to be my favorite moment. Elsie now loves spaghetti. 

Look, at that cute face. I think I could feed her spaghetti everyday and she would have no problems. My favorite part, you can see in the first picture, is she without being taught knew that spaghetti was meant to be slurped. She has also recently became a fan of crackers. 

I have really enjoyed this challenged to focus more on everyday moments. I have liked it so much that I want to continue doing so. I would like to challenge each of you to savor the moment, because like Ted Mosbey says, 

“The beauty of a moment is that it’s fleeting. By its very nature, it slips through our fingers, making it that much more precious”.

A New Year

I am surprise with how fast the years go the older I get. Now, that I have Elsie, I really want to slow down time and just savor my sweetheart. Last month, I was feeling like I was missing out on too much with Elsie and was sad that I was working. I always thought that I would want to work at least part time. My job was very important to me. At Parkside we have some students that the only people who really care about them, are the teachers. I love all my students and I wanted them to strive an become something. Amy, decided that she could no longer watch Elsie, as she need to to tend to her family. So I left my position at Parkside. When I told Ross it was what I wanted to do, he was shocked, cause he knew I loved my job, but I love Elsie more. We took the leap of faith, truly believing that God would take care of us, and He did. On my last day of work, Ross was offered a new job that made the difference, and Ross was able to use this to lobby for a higher paying position at Tomax. I am so thankful to be starting a New Year, putting my family first and that we were able too. I am thankful that I married such a wonderful man, that is so very hardworking and loves me. I am so thankful that God heard and answered my prayers this last year with a wonderfully clever little girl. I am only one week into this year, and I already know that this year will be one for the books.

My sweet little family.

Big Tub Bath

 Earlier this week, I was being a great mom, and great moms take care of their kids. So I thought, "Hey,  I bet my kid would love a bath!" Elsie loves baths, she loves chillin in them, getting clean in them, but she mainly loves splashing in them. So, I went to her closet got out her little pink tub filled it with water, and placed her in it. She chilled in her bath, she got clean in her bath, but there was no splashing. Now, I know that many of you are worried about why Elsie, who loves to splash, wasn't splashing in her little pink tub. I was worried too, then I saw it. She is too BIG for her little pink tub. Now, as a great mom, I provide for my child, if that tub was too small I was going to have to get her a bigger tub. As luck would have it, our apartment came with one, whew, saved some money there. 
I am not going lie, it stressed me out to put her in the big tub. Some of the things that stressed me out were, she might be too big for the pink tub, but she has to be too little for the the big tub, what if she goes down the drain, what if a sewer alligator gets up the pipe and eats my child, the list goes on and on. But I am great mom, so I took a deep breath, put on my great mom pants, and gave her a bath in the big tub. 

She loved it! She did try to drink the water, but most importantly she splashed. She could have stayed in there all night. Elsie is so lucky to have a great mom that would have fought off sewer alligators just so she could splash in the big tub. 

Happy Anniversary!

I feel really blessed today. Today is our 4 year wedding anniversary. I met Ross when I was 14, and I really like him then, because he was so tall. We started dating when I was 17, and after 3 weeks, I was madly in love with him. We broke up when I was 19, and we spent a few years apart. After several failed relationships on both our parts, I think we both finally realized that what we wanted in a spouse was what we had with each other.

I saw the movie,  Shall We Dance,  the 1937 version with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, when I was 16. I love this film! There is a song in the film called, "Beginner's Luck". It is a song about a guy who talks about how lucky he is that because the first time he fell in love he fell in love with her.

 I have always said that I had beginners luck with Ross. I am very lucky, I was able to marry the person who also happen to be my first real love. Last year, when we had the ectopic pregnancy, the hospital social worker was telling Ross and me, that a lot people can end up divorced after an event like that. We told him that wasn't possible because for us divorce isn't option. The social worker told us to be realistic, and I told him, "If Ross and I were to get divorced, we spend a few years being stubborn, and then come to our senses and get married again." I honestly know that I was made for Ross, he is my soul-mate and my bestfriend.  Thank goodness for beginners luck....

It's because we are humble...

I would like to think that the reason I haven't posted anything to our blog is because we are humble people who don't like to brag...but in all reality I just have been busy or...lazy. Well, what has happened since Christmas? I think the easiest way to catch up is to list what happen month-by-month.

JANUARY

I love the start of a new year I think they bring about hope and a sort of renewal, this year we rang in the New Year at the Limb's house. We simply love the Limbs! We played Just Dance 3, well they played, and my fat pregnant self watched. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures on this,and I wish I had, because Ross and Riley did a great little dance to This is Halloween. Just picture Ross dancing with an eight year old girl. It was super cute. It made me happy to know that I chose such a great guy to be the father to our little girl.

We also bought a new car. Ross bought me a 2009 Nissan Rogue. I love this car! 

Thank you, Ross, I love you and my new car!

 

FEBRUARY

Her group.

As many of you know, Kimberly has been living with us since October. It is a BLAST! Her sixth grade did a Lipsync to celebrate Valentine's Day.. Kimberly's group was made up of four girls, Jenna, Alana, Kylie, and her. They also had one boy in the group, Theroy, he has autism so he held up the cards and isn't actually in the dance, but he did a great job.Her group danced to Staying Alive by the Bee Gees. Kimberly said that, "It was AWESOME! I had the best Afro!"

Kim dancing across the stage.

 

 

 

 

MARCH

SPRING BREAK BABY!!! This year I was so excited for Spring Break, because I was pregnant and I just wanted to sit. We started our break with Ross and I spending a weekend in Grand Junction. We went there to visit Grandpa Hamilton, or I as like to call him Biggest Ross. He fell and broke his leg and had to spend some time at an assisted living center, and he was lonely. I loved the trip it was nice to get away with just Ross. During this break, Kim became number 8 in the Limb family roll call. She is really close to their 14 year old Morgan. So I think, Ross and I had a great time and she may have had an even better time!

APRIL

 We celebrated Easter! I love Easter, I am so grateful for our Savior who through the Atonement offers all of us Eternal Life. I love knowing that I will get to live forever with my sweet little family.  That knowledge I hope leads to be strive to be a better person each day. We also dyed eggs...which is more fun with someone younger. 

Ross gave up on the dye and decided to use crayons.

Kim trying to Tie-Dye and egg.

We felt like it was an epic fail.

April was also a month of showers...baby showers that is. I was blessed to have two showers held in Elsie's honor. The first on was on April 9, at my school. I work with some pretty awesome people. They combine there money and bought a stroller that came with a matching carseat. It is pretty awesome. Then on April 21, Kim and Halley threw another shower for Elsie. I need to thank every one for the work they put into each shower. They were both a lot of fun and so pretty. The showers really helped get us prepared for her. She received everything form cute dresses to a Diaper Genie.

I loved the paper lanterns.

 

They had a table where people could decorate Onsies and Bibs. So cute!

 MAY

Introducing Elsie Rose Hamilton

I am not going to waste anytime here....Elsie Rose Hamilton entered into this world becoming our little piece of heaven, and she is gorgeous! She weighed 6lbs 4oz and was 18.5 inches long! Best of all she has RED hair!

I was due on May 23, but due to some complications I was having with my heart, I was induced on the 15th. I liked being induced, I am a bit controlling and I liked knowing that it was going to happen on this day and that my doctor would be there. At my last Parent/Teacher Conference, I was given some advice that turn out to be some of the most helpful. This mother told me, "Just push as if your life depends on it and you will be done in an hour." Well, my doctor told me that he would let me push for 1 hour and then I would have to have a C-section due to the stress it would be putting on my heart, and he wanted to make sure that I would be around to enjoy my sweet baby. So I started pushing as if my life depended on it, cause it did, and I was done in 58 minutes! I did have to cheat a little, Dr. Dinger did on the last push use a vacuum. I still did most of the work. I can honestly say this was the hardest thing I have ever done...but now I look at her and think it was the best work I have ever done. I also joke to Ross telling him, "If I would have known how perfect she was going to be...I would have had you knock me up 10 years ago." We LOVE every second with her and we feel so blessed that God trusted us enough to watch over her. 

Look at her hair!

 Kimberly is also growing up so fast. I can't believe that on May 30, we celebrated her leaving elementary school and being promoted to junior high. I remember when she started school and how scared I was that now other people would have sway in her life. That other people could build her up or tear her down. I swore on the day that she was born that I would love her endlessly and that I would do everything I could to protect her. I remember when she was 4 she was having problems with a boy at preschool, he called her a butthead. This really hurt her feelings and really hurt my feelings seeing her hurt. So the next day, I was going to take care of this. I was 17 years old ready to throw down with a 4 year old. I literally got to the doors of her preschool when I realized, "I was 17 years old and was ready to throw down with a 4 year old." Rest assured I didn't hurt the 4 year old. Now, she is going into junior high and she is moving home, and I am worried that at some point I will be 27 years old and ready to throw down with a 13 year old. Then there is boys...BOYS! Yikes! I am going to have to move home and sit on the doorsteps to beat of those 16 year old fools! To Kimberly, Congrats on becoming a young woman that is making her family proud with her grace, poise, testimony, and of course your AWESOMENESS!!! I couldn't have asked for a better sister.

Kim getting promotion certificate.

Kim with one of her very hardworking teachers, Mrs. Drown

JUNE

Ross turned 29 on the June 7, I love his birthday, because without it I wouldn't have him. For his birthday I made him homemade Snickerdoodles, this is his favorite cookie. Elsie bought him a cake that said in bright yellow letters, "Happy Birthday Daddy!" 

The cake Elsie got him.

Then there was Father's Day. I have always thought of Big Ross as father figure. He and Laura made the journey all the way to BFU, Butt Freakin Utah, to meet our sweet little girl and it was nice to finally give them a grandchild.

Big Ross with Elsie

Then there is my father and my Papa. I have only had a healthy relationship with my father this last year.Growing up my father was alcoholic, but he has been 7 years sober, and I am so proud of him, and we are working on our relationship and I love it!  Growing up the man I really looked to was my Papa. He is without a doubt my favorite! I love him so much!

This is my dad.

This is the World's Greatest Grandpa!

Then there is the most important dad, Ross. This was his first Father's Day and we bought him a razor, cause I was tried of every time he gave Elsie lovins her left her face all scratch up and red. He has been a great daddy, he loves that little girl so much. I joke and tell Ross we need to get Elsie a ring that says, "Daddy" because at 1month old she already has him wrapped around her little finger. 

I love this picture...she is smiling with her daddy.

 Well, now you know I am not actually humble....we have a great few months with lots and lots to brag about!!!!

 

 

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas has been extra special, I would say that it has been one of the best ever. As many of you may know, if you are reading my status updates on facebook, Ross and I our going to have a baby!
I was told that I wouldn't ever be able to have kids, but we kept trying. We did fail multiple times. We have had multiple miscarriages and the ectopic pregnancy in April, where we lost our twins, and I was ready to give up.... Thanks to all the pep talks and the prayers we have received from everyone, we will be having a baby in May.
We went to the doctors on December 22, 2011, and we found we were having a girl! I am not going to post a picture of the ultrasound, simply because I do not ever want my daughter's lady parts on the internet. I am not going to lie, I was relieved to find out it was a girl, I know way more about being a girl and raising a girl then a I do about boys. I am finding it was easier and time went faster when I didn't know what we were having, now I can't wait to see her face. She really is our miracle and we are so blessed to be her parents. She is my favorite gift.
Due to the pregnancy we unable to travel this year. I guess the altitude change can cause preterm labor.  My mom came early and we celebrated with her on the 23rd and then Ross, Kim, and I celebrated today. We had a very low key Christmas, we woke up this morning open presents, then went to church and had lunch. Kim and Ross have spent the day having a videogameathon. We wanted to take the time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Kim, me, and Ross. 

The Top 10 Reasons I Know I am Heading Back to School...

10.  The days are increasingly shorter and the to do lists are increasingly LONGER.

9. Instead of planning my entire day around going to a dollar store or the Target dollar spot, I am now planning my days around getting into the school building.

8.  Every time I go to school I have to get a flat bed cart to bring my load into my classroom. 

7. I am currently printing out more name labels then I care to admit too. 

6.  Monday through Friday I have to wear dress clothes.

5. My "fun" money becomes "the kids really need this" money.

4.  I have spent over 250 dollars on school supplies.  

3. I start calling Ross the Hamilton Fund, supporting kids educations and my teaching hobby since 2008.
2. I recorded my name in a whiny voice and have it playing repeatedly  as I set up my classroom just to desensitize my ears to the sound.  If I could simultaneously be tapped on, tugged on, and followed around the room I would add that to my teacher training.
and the number 1 reason I know I am heading back to school....

Every waking moment I think about something else I want and need to do for my classroom and my students!

WElCOME BACK PARKSIDE FRIENDS!

Zoo Day!!!

Yesterday we went to the Hogle Zoo. I love the Hogle Zoo, I love going an seeing all the animals and just having an enjoyable day. We decided to go to the zoo because it was Zoorasic time at the zoo. The zoo has all of these robot dinosaurs, and Ross loves dinosaurs and dinosaurs, so he had to go. They had lots of neat dinorobitcs.

Ross and I running from a T-Rex.

We also went to the zoo to see all of the cute animals. We saw two of my favorite animals giraffes and meerkats. The giraffes were neat because they were inside eating so we got to see them up close.

Look at that giraffe. 

The meerkats were my favorite for two reasons it was indoors and they are so stinking cute! We had been walking around in like blistering heat. So when we got to go indoors it was nice. The meekats were in their pin and they were soaking up sun, and they knew they had an audience so they were playing it up for the audience.

Look at me.

Cuddles.

We also just had some great time with each other Kim and I rode the carousel. Ross and Kim had fun hanging out.

All in all, I would say it was a great outing at the zoo. I think everyone should go and have some fun and spend some time with the animals.

Father's Day Weekend Fun!

Since it is finally summer, Kimberly is back! She will be her through July. We are so excited. We absolutely love having Kim with us. My mom and my brother Alex, brought he up on Friday.  We decided to something fun on Saturday to celebrate Kim getting here and Father's Day. On Saturday we went to Five Guys for yummy burgers and fries. Then, we went to Thanksgiving Point, we went to the Museum of Ancient History. The Museum of Ancient Life has the distinction of being the world's largest display of mounted dinosaurs.  Not only did we meet fierce prehistoric friends at the museum, we also become a part of their world.  While weaving through the exhibits, chirps of insects and growls of ancient creatures greeted us in each hall.  Exhibits like the Erosion Table and the Fossil Dig gave Ross, Kim, and Alex,an opportunity be a part of the science of paleontology.  Needless to say, this is not an ordinary museum.

Oh no, it is a Joeysaurus!

A two-headed Kimmieasaurus.

What type of dinosaurs are these?

DinoLovins!

Kim wants him as a pet.

Okay, I am kind of fond of him too.

My mom thinking man that thing is huge.

It is going to get me!!

My family!

Ross and I.

You can pick your nose, but don't ever pick a dinosaurs nose.

Alex loves turtles.

Ross and Kim trying to get a snack.

Digging for dinos!