525,600 minutes

Year in Review

Fire Wok in Mission

Our family has a favorite Chinese restaurant. We love Fire Wok. Fire Wok is located in Mission,KS and offers a super buffet for lunch & dinner. The kids love their crab Rangoon and lo mein. Shauna and I enjoy the numerous chicken choices that the buffet offers. Fire Wok keeps their food hot and fresh. Nothing that they serve is old or been sitting out for hours like most other Chinese establishments. The staff is constantly replenishing the items so the food is served piping hot. Fire Wok supplies Coke products which is another huge plus for us. After, we have gotten our fill of Chinese we all partake in the Belfonte ice cream. They usually have 3 choices and you scoop your own from 10 gallon tubs. (I love the Mint Chocolate Chip) MMMMMMMMMM!

Our family would highly recommend Fire Wok to anyone that is searching for high quality and reasonably priced Chinese food. The atmosphere is fun and the staff is very friendly. We are so happy to have added this to our rotation of places where we dine.

www.firewokmission.com

Fire Wok Restaurant
5818 Johnson Dr., Mission, KS
913-543-3256

Sterling

Presents, Grit, Food, and Kobe....

We had a wonderful Christmas this year at the Hammett house. Marshall woke up and discovered that Santa had brought him a hamster, which he promptly named Astro. Moriah got sock animals, stacking cups, and building blocks. Santa got Sydney 4 hamsters, but hers were the toy Zhu Zhu kind. Sydney spent most of the morning playing with her hamsters and the princess castle, ballroom, and carriage that went with them. We exchanged gifts with each other and had a great time trying to guess what we were about to open. Every year, we buy each other movies and then spend the week after Christmas watching them as a family. This year was no different. I got The Expendables, Get him to the Greek, Family Guy Volume 8, and Eastbound & Down. Shauna got The Blindside, Modern Family Season 1, and the Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 1&2. Marshall received The Karate Kid, Avatar, and Despicable Me. Sydney loved opening up Toy Story 3, and Barbie Christmas Carol.

After the craziness of opening presents had died down, we went to see True Grit at the movie theater. Seeing movies on Christmas day is a tradition that Shauna and I used to have before we had kids. It was nice to get out of the house and relax in the comfy theater seats.

Even though our day was half over, we still had much to do. We told Marshall that we could have our meal and watch his precious Lakers & Kobe while we ate. Our Christmas meal consisted of ham, Turtle Mac & Cheese, green bean casserole, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, peach vodka & Sprite (for the adults), and dump cake for dessert.

With the kids put to bed, Shauna and I snuggled up on the sectional to watch one of our new movies.

We reflected on our day, the addition of Moriah to our family, and how the best gift we received was the quality, "happy family" time that we all enjoyed today.

I truly have everything that I could ever want or need inside these four walls.
Sterling

It's good to be King...

For Christmas this year, I bought Shauna a new bed and mattress. We had been discussing for awhile moving from a queen to a king. After much discussion and research we decided to purchase a 12" memory foam mattress. Of course, a new size bed meant new sheets, new comforter, and new mattress pad.

For the record, we do not intend on regularly using the extra space that the king provides. Shauna and I barely used the entire queen. We always seem to "spoon" or curl up together. In college, we managed to find a way to cuddle & spoon on a twin. Our first mattress when we got married was a full and that did just fine. In 1999 we upgraded to a queen and had plenty of space for us. Occasionally, we have a family movie night in our bed. We invite the kids to bring blankets and join us, that's when it got too crowded. The king will be perfect!

Shauna loves the new bed....so bottom line...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Sterling

Family?

Dictionary.com defines family as...

1. a. a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not: the traditional family.
b. a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for: a single-parent family.
2. the children of one person or one couple collectively
3. the spouse and children of one person
4. any group of persons closely related by blood, as parents, children, uncles, aunts, and cousins
5. a group of persons who form a household under one head, including parents, children, and servants.

A family can be and should be much more than that! Families spend time together. Families love each other, support one another, and much more. How can you be a family if you do not spend time together? I am not saying that a couple should not spend time alone. If anything, Shauna and I went through a stretch of time where we did not take enough time for just the two of us. We were so focused on being a family and teaching/showing the importance of family; we let our marriage take a backseat. There is a fine line between having some "couple time" and constantly dropping your child at a babysitter so that you can take trips, attend events, and etc. It would seem to me that finding the balance between "couple time" and family time is the key to a well rounded family.

I believe that quite frequently people have children because that is what they think they should do. Some people have no desire to be parents, real parents. See...a parent should provide more than just a roof, food, and etc. A parent has a responsibility to make memories, teach, love, support, discipline, and instill values in their child. Being a parent means sometimes not doing what you want but doing what your child wants or what is in their best interest. There is no place for selfishness in a family. You can not play parent when it is convenient to you! Should you really be a half-ass guardian of a child? You either are totally committed to raising and shaping that young person or you aren't; there is no in between. It is pretty cut and dried.

I am disgusted by people who pretend to be "parents" and portray a family when they are the furthest thing from it. Having the financial means to be a parent does not necessarily mean that you should be. I am a part of a FAMILY! My family makes memories, has traditions, and Shauna and I truly enjoy spending time with our kids. My heart goes out to the children who know no true "parents". Guardians who, by their own choice, will not put up a tree, establish Christmas traditions, or be at home for Christmas. Christmas morning their child will not wake up at home and see presents from Santa.

As much as I might like to, I cannot save or change the world...I am fully aware of this. All I can do is continue to take care of my family. I will strive to be the best husband and father that I can be. I will not always succeed but can guarantee that I am and will remain dedicated to being a "real" parent! My kids deserve and expect nothing less.

This Christmas as you celebrate with your family and hopefully make memories, remember those children who are not as fortunate. On paper, it may look like those children are better off being with their current guardians, but are they?

Is he?

Absolutely NOT!


Sterling

Coming soon...

Year In Review video coming 12/31/10.

Join us for a look back at some of the memories our family made during 2010.

Stay tuned!

Sterling

My life has a soundtrack...

My life has a soundtrack! I am very versatile when it comes to the kinds of music that I listen to. Certain moods call for certain genres. Some songs I enjoy due to their great rhythm, other songs speak to me through lyrics. Occasionally, a song comes along that has a perfect beat, awesome lyrics, and describes exactly how I feel. I have added a play list to the right hand side of this blog. Inside this play list you will get a glimpse of where I have been, how I feel, and the soundtrack that is my life.

The song below couldn't be more PERFECT! Right, Shauna?


Sterling

Narnia

I didn't think the third Narnia lived up to the expectations set by the first two. I was disappointed in the amount of action the movie had. I missed the old characters. I didn't enjoy the new character either. I was also sad to see the mouse go. I liked the idea of the green mist and the seven swords, just wished they would have done more with it.

I give the film two stars.

Marshall

Making Cookies, Christmas Cookies

Every year, we have many special traditions we share with the kids during the holidays. We decorate the house, look at lights in pajamas, go ice skating, and and so much more. One thing that I really enjoy is baking with the kids. Today we made over five dozen sugar cookies. We cut out, baked, and frosted the yummy treats. Even Dad got involved. I just had to stop this year and take in the family being together and having Moriah with us. I am so thankful for my family. I cherish the memories we make as a family. I look forward next weekend for two of the season's favorites at our house , Marshall's Famous Pretzels and Sydney Chocolate Chip Cookies. I wonder what Moriah will want to make with Mommy when she gets bigger?

Shauna

Fire Pit

Usually, Shauna and I put the kids to bed and then we go enjoy a nice fire, a few drinks, and conversation. Tonight, the entire family took advantage of the nice weather. We all sat around the fire talking about our day, roasting marshmallows, and drinking hot chocolate. It was simply quality family time. The fire pit has been a new addition to our home, and we foresee many more nights spent around the fire creating memories.


Sterling

Change?

I voted for Barack Obama in 2008. He will NOT be getting my vote in 2012! What a huge disappointment. The final straw for me was the tax deal he cut with Republicans. He campaigned on repealing the Bush tax cuts and then extends them? What? Good idea, it will only add 900 BILLION dollars to the deficit. It is insane to continue to give the top 2% tax cuts.

So far in his presidency he has....

1. Signed a worthless health care bill. Every American can get health insurance but at what cost? Completely worthless!

2. Not done anything to bring back the jobs that Bush shipped overseas with tax breaks for corporations.

3. Done nothing to help reduce the price of gas. Gas prices are currently at $2.86 and inching higher everyday.

And so on...

Once again, we have a President who is ignoring the middle class. We have a President who is focusing on the wealthy and big business. You are not helping the middle and lower class by extending unemployment benefits. Creating jobs would be helping those people! DUH!!!!

So much for "change"....

&

GOD HELP US ALL if Caribou Barbie gets elected in 2012.


Sterling

It's Time

I have put off my Christmas rant long enough...so brace yourself.

Christmas is NOT about spending STUPID amounts of money on presents. Christmas is NOT about having a certain number of presents under the tree. You cannot make someone love you with gifts(well, no one that is worth loving & being loved by). To many people either spend ridiculous amounts of money on Christmas or put absolutely no thought in the gifts that they give people. Why is it so hard for people to find a happy medium?

1. You can NOT replace spending time and making memories with your child. Spending hundreds of dollars on your child and getting them everything they ask for does not make you a good parent! One day of presents does not erase a year of sub par parenting.

2. Stop the no-thought gifts. If you feel obligated to buy a gift and fulfill that obligation by just pulling something off of a clearance shelf, then please just save your money.

As adults we have a responsibility to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is an opportunity for us to show compassion, thoughtfulness, unselfish behavior, and love towards others. The "Christmas spirit" should live on throughout the entire year.

I have been to hell and back. There was no "gift" that got me through the tough times. A gift cannot hold you on a bad day. A gift cannot laugh, cry, love, listen, and talk to you. Material things may fill your home but they will never fill your heart!


So this Christmas season as you spend money, buy gifts, and make a list for what you "want" for Christmas, I would suggest that you stop to remember what it is that is truly important. All of us have the capability to change someone's life and make it better. Our actions and emotions are the real gift this holiday season! With that being said, what is it that you truly "want" for Christmas?

Sterling