I admit I have a problem....

I have had my Blackberry for several months. For the life of me I have no idea how I ever existed without it.

My Blackberry is not just my cell phone. My Blackberry is....

1. Home to our family calendar.
2. My portable office. Allowing me to respond to emails on the go.
3. GPS device for directions and maps.
4. Pocket ESPN - for receiving and monitoring sports scores/lines.
5. Video Camera - See below! used in church to get thumb video of Moriah.
6. My own "Weather Channel" with instant access to forecasts, radar, and etc.
7. Wireless web on the go.

And much much more..........

I have set limits and rest assured that my Blackberry does not come to the dinner table or the bedroom. I have always been a "gadget guy" and this is just another toy. So thank you RIM for creating the Blackberry and simplifying my life.

Sterling

Moriah 2 month check-up

Moriah had her two month check-up yesterday. The doctor looked her over, weighed her, measured her, and gave her 4 shots. The shots went over as expected...she was angry at first then by the 4th shot she could have cared less. At that point the damage had already been done.

As of 9/29/10....

Weight 11LBS.5oz
Height 22 inches

Hard to believe it has been 2 months. Our family has adjusted very well to our new addition. Everyone pitches in and helps in the day-to-day. Sydney changes diapers, Marshall helps with bottle feedings, and Shauna (of course) is the glue that holds this family together. We are all very excited that fall is here. Fall for our family means Marshall and Sydney's soccer games, KU football, Halloween, raking leaves, lots of grilling, Chiefs on Sunday, and our upcoming daytrip to Jamesport/Cameron/St. Joe.

Sterling

Help me find my thumb!

Mac and Cheese - Finally

I have been experimenting with a Mac & Cheese recipe for over a year. I finally have it perfected and I'm sharing it below.


Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

1 (16 ounce) package shell pasta
2 eggs
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1-2 Jalapenos diced (optional)
3-4 pieces of chopped bacon or cubed ham (optional)
1 teaspoon garlic salt or I use California Style Pepper (can be found at Costco)
1 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces process cheese (Velveeta)
2 cups shredded mild Cheddar cheese, divided
2 cups shredded pepper jack or Mexican cheese, divided


Directions
1.Cook macaroni/shells according to package directions. Do not overcook pasta. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, butter, garlic salt and pepper until combined. Add cubed Velveeta and 1-1/2 cups of each cheddar cheese.
2.Drain macaroni/shells. When done cooking shells, immediately rinse pasta in cool water. Stir into cheese mixture. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and edges are bubbly. Would recommend stirring once at 15 minute mark.


The kids love this recipe and it is so easy to make. No rue! Just throw it together and cook it...


Sterling

Moriah One Month Old

Video/pictures of Moriah at one month old!

Real Love...defined

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends...



Time has taught me the word "love" means different things to different people. Some people just throw around the word love and do not have any feeling/meaning behind it. It is just something they say in passing or because they think they love someone. I would suggest to you today that REAL LOVE is something you live DAILY. I have made my share of mistakes but in the end love (aka REAL LOVE) conquers all!

Forever, For Always, & No Matter What!

I love you, Shauna! Always have & ALWAYS will!


Sterling

City Market

We love to go to the City Market. We get up early on Saturday morning, pack the wagon, stop to get fountain drinks, and then drive to the City Market. This was Moriah's first trip to the market. Sydney sat in the stroller and held Moriah. Marshall got to "drive" the girls. When we go to the market there are certain items we always purchase. I always purchase jalapenos, and onions. Marshall and Sydney buy Pita bread from the Jerusalem Cafe & Bakery. I have had my eye on a pepper (jalenpeno) cooker for the grill for months. So today I bought that in addition to fruits and veggies. The City Market truly has something for everyone.

Sterling

Nothing says fall like......

Our family enjoys going to football games on Friday night. Marshall enjoys watching the game and the band. Sydney is totally focused on the cheerleaders and always dances/cheers in the aisles. We usually wait until the weather is truly fall like. Fall is our favorite season. Is there anything better than jeans and a sweatshirt? Not in my opinion. I have a rule that once I put on a pair of jeans I retire my shorts until the following year. I'm not quite ready to do that so on Friday night I was only one in the family in shorts. It was a beautiful night.

Watching high school football now takes me back to my years in high school. I can remember going to football games and watching a certain cheerleader. This cheerleader was so beautiful...she had long curly hair, and beautiful blue eyes. After she cheered we would go get something to eat or stop by Winstead's for a limeade. Shauna has always been my "cheerleader" in one way or another!

Sterling

SantaCaliGon

Shauna and I have been attending SantaCaliGon for 17 years. I can remember going to look for things for our apartment the month after we got married in 1998. Shauna has always loved to collect things for Halloween and the Christmas season. I can reflect back and see her being pregnant with Marshall in 2000, she wore overalls and tucked a water bottle in the front so she had quick access to a drink. It was HOT! This year the weather was PERFECT. As we went through the various craft tents we reminisced about the "good ol' days" and previous trips to the Independence square for SantaCaliGon. Moriah spent most of the morning in her new stroller accepting compliments from strangers on how "cute, and sweet" she was. Shauna purchased a few Halloween items and a new Christmas wall hanging which we had personalized to include the names of everyone in our family. After spending 3 hours walking, talking, and shopping we headed to Dixon's for lunch. How wonderful it is to have memories and traditions that we continue to enjoy as a family year after year!

Sterling

Time for Soccer

Fall soccer has started. Marshall has moved up to C league. Marshall will be playing with the offside rule enforced this year. He is on a new team and is looking forward to developing additional skills. He realizes that it will be hard to top his 5 goal game from last year. In his words..."I just want to have fun and hopefully win a few games."

Sydney returns for her second full year of soccer. She is still in A league and will be on the same team as she was last spring. With me as her coach! Sydney has worked very hard this summer to improve her footwork and shot placement. She is excited to see how all of her practice this summer pays off in games.

I am very thankful that I have been able to coach both Marshall and Sydney. It has been a great experience and created special memories that can not be replaced. I look forward to coaching Moriah...many years down the road.

Sterling

B-I-N-G-O

We frequent the Overland Park Community Center, so we were interested in a flyer advertising Summer Bingo. It was during the week and during the school day, which was perfect for Sterling and I. We thought that Moriah could just tag along, while we had some fun. We had never played BINGO out before and thought it might be a fun story to share with friends. We probably shouldn't have been surprised when we showed up and it was 50 Plus BINGO. I swear the flyer didn't mention the age portion. So not only are we playing BINGO, but BINGO in a room of senior citizens. Needless to say, we had a good laugh and surprisingly a GREAT time!

First Day of School

Today was Marshall's and Sydney's first day of school. It was especially exciting for me, because I got to walk them to school with Dad and Moriah. I got to walk both of them into his/her classroom on the first day. This is really special to me because usually I have twenty some students waiting to meet me in a classroom of my own. It was great to just be a mom on the first day of school.
After school, we continued our family tradition of eating out on the first day. We had lunch at Margarita's. We heard all about the first day of school. Marshall and Sydney both LOVE their teachers. It's going to be a Super School Year!!

Twelve Years Ago Today

Today, Sterling and I celebrate our twelfth wedding anniversary. It is hard to believe that it has only been twelve years and in the same breath the time has past so quickly. I remember that day so vividly and marvel at the path we have traveled to get where we are today. It hasn't always been easy--but we believed in each other and kept faith that our love would bring us through. We have made a family and have celebrated so many special events. We have started traditions and made valued friendships. We have taken trips and reached goals. We are so blessed for the life that we have together.
It is almost impossible not to look to the future and wonder what it holds for us. I am sure that excitement, adventure, and challenge wait for us. I rest easy knowing that together, my husband knows that I am always--"eager to the task". The words of one of our wedding songs says it all "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be". I continue to cherish the time we spend together and look forward to growing older and greyer with my turtle. I love you, Sterling....endlessly.

Adventure Oasis Water Park

If you haven't already, check out the Adventure Oasis Water Park. The price is very reasonable ($25 for family of four) and it is the perfect size for a younger family. Marshall and Sydney had a blast on the the three large water slides. They also enjoyed the splash playground. The day we went they gave out free popsicles all day long. The have lots of shaded areas to beat the hot sun. Even the concession prices are very reasonable! It is definitely a place we will visit next summer!!

Click for our slideshow:
Water Park

The Expendables - Date Night

Shauna and I shipped the kids off so that we could have a "date night". We are not ready to leave Moriah yet so she got to come with us. I have been waiting all summer for The Expendables to come out. We decided to take Moriah to the movie and hoped she would sleep through most of it. Moriah was PERFECT and slept through the entire movie!

**Side note....Shauna and I both enjoyed The Expendables. It was a great action flick that you could just relax and get lost in. Required no thinking or effort to follow the story. It was a bloody and violent mess but exactly what I expected. Just what I wanted it to be!**

After the movie we went to Red Robin and Moriah continued to sleep. With Moriah sleeping (being very low maintenance) it allowed us to talk and truly enjoy our date night.

Sterling

Pool Time

So we loaded up in the car and decided to try and beat the heat at the pool! Kids loved the slides. Marshall prefered the slide with the big drop. Sydney liked the "twisty" slide. Moriah and Shauna couldn't play but are excited for next summer when they can join everyone

Sterling

Happy One Week Birthday Moriah!

We celebrated Moriah's one week birthday at Chen's Super Buffet. Sterling gave Moriah a choice between Chinese and Mexican. He held up his right hand and said "Chinese". Then, he held up his left hand and said "Mexican". The choices were repeated over and over. The kids and I sat and watched with great anticipation. We cheered at each move towards a hand. Moriah took her time and then finally she went for the right hand. Chinese it was.

Deanna Rose

Previously, many trips to Deanna Rose included conversations of visiting the farmstead with our new bundle of joy. This week, we remembered those conversations as we toured the park with Moriah. We all took turns pushing the stroller and dodging the sprinklers. The most time was spent feeding the "gaggle of goats", a definite family favorite.

Moriah

Moriah


Video/PICS of Moriah Grace Hammett

Priceless

Hospital Stay - - - $300 a day

Husband pushing chair next to you so he can hold you while you sleep - - - PRICELESS

Salt

We have seem quite a few movies this summer. Most of them a huge yawn. Salt was the first good popcorn flick of the summer for us. It had good action, a twisting plot, and lots of surprises. Thank you Salt for being a movie I didn't mind paying for.

Slumber Party

What do you do when a new baby is on the way and a family of four is growing to five?
Can you say SLUMBER PARTY? Last night, we had a pajama-rama celebrating the last night before the kids went to Grandma's. We hunkered down in the master bedroom for some snacks, movie, and some cuddles. The kids had a great time. We talked about memories of our family of four and what we wanted to do as a family of five. It was really special and we all slept like a rock.

Rock Star

Sterling bought a special family surprise for us yesterday, Guitar Hero! We had a snack dinner of his famous cheese ball, crackers, and sausages. We each took turns playing the tutorial. We laughed and cheered each other on. Sydney and I enjoyed rocking the guitar with our bodies as much as hitting the right notes. Marshall and Sterling were more concerned with fine tuning their skills. It was so much fun. I know there are many more Guitar Hero Nights in our future! I wonder what Mo will think of that?

Baby Makes 5

Baby Makes 5

Family Portraits presented in video format

The Fourth of July

We got up early and spent the morning (9am-Noon) on Lake Jacomo. Everyone had a great time swimming and relaxing on the pontoon boat. The rain held off and the sun even peaked out here and there. We then spent the rest of the afternoon grilling, and shooting of fireworks. We made shish kabob's for dinner with chicken, steak, shrimp, and veggies. Marshall loved the parachutes and Sydney seemed to prefer the "Happiness" light up kind of fireworks. Our family has a tradition of making fruit kabobs for desert on the 4th and this year we shared that tradition with other members of the family. Once it was dark we walked down to the "official" neighborhood fireworks display. The kids sat on a blanket and commented about which kind was their favorite. It was a long day but the rain held off until the drive home. Many memories were created and everyone had a great time.

Click the tabs below to view a musical slide/video show of our day....

4th of July

Fireworks

Knight and Day - AWFUL

So Shauna and I had a date night last night. Decided to go to see Knight and Day...BIG MISTAKE. Was unfunny, uninspired, and unoriginal. We walked out of the movie after 45 minutes. This movie was given decent reviews and I have NO idea why! YUCK!

Sterling

Twilight : Eclipse Review

Just got home from Twilight - Eclipse. Purchased our tickets yesterday so that we could avoid the lines and see the first show (10am) of the day today. Sydney spent most of the movie munching on popcorn and curled up on my lap. Marshall was deeply concentrated on the story and occasionaly would reach for some corn. Overall it was a good movie. Ratings from the family are as follows...

Marshall: 3.5 stars
Sydney: 4 stars
Shauna: 3 stars
Sterling: 2.5 stars

Family Forever

Family Forever - doesn't that just say it all?

Other things may change but we start and end with family!

Times can be good, bad, hard, quiet, hectic, and etc. But in the end family and love gets me through the day. Nothing is more important. Not money, not the stuff we own, just my family and the love they provide! With family and love comes memories that will last a lifetime.


*The first chinese symbol on top means FAMILY, the bottom means FOREVER*


Sterling

T-Bones Game Wednesday June 23

On June 23 our family went to the T-Bones' Game. It was a 11:05am game and very hot/muggy. We had great seats located about 12 rows behind home plate. Our tickets also came with a parking pass so we got to park about 50 feet from the front gate. Shauna especially enjoyed this as she is getting closer to her due date and mobility (especially in the heat) can be awkward. Marshall and Sydney enjoyed sitting close to the action so they could cheer at the players and hear all the sounds of the game. Sydney has become an expert "peanut sheller". She did manage to look up occasionally from her snack to watch some of the game. Marshall took on the part of the umpire and made it his job to call balls and strikes. Shauna tried to stay cool and keep herself hydrated, while also partaking in the typical baseball fare of peanuts and hot dogs. The T-Bones won and then we headed across the road to do some shopping at the Legends shops.

I think Sydney summed it up best when on the way home she said "Doing things as a family is fun!"

Sterling

Saturday, June 26th our family went to a sneak preview of Despicable Me. We saw it at the Independence Commons AMC. It was in 3-D. Marshall and Sydney love 3-D movies. Sterling and I could do without all the extras. This might be the first sign of getting old. The movie had some really cute parts and both kids were quoting the film for most of the day!