Vacation to Arizona - part 1

About once a year I visit family in Arizona. When Ben was under two it was easy, because he was a lap child and there was just him. Now there is two of them and one of me. Daniel was not able to come with us this time, so I had to really prepare to make it through this trip.

We had two carry-on rolling suitcases, a backpack, a diaper bag, and a car-seat. I had seen these attachments where you place your car-seat on a little contraption and it would roll. You then would place your child in it and it functioned as a stroller. They retail for $80 and I am cheap, so I looked on amazon for something that was comparable. They were still expensive. Then I started to read the comments and this person came up with their own contraption using hooks, straps, and the built in clips of the car seat. I looked at what I had on hand and made my own as well. It worked so well! Everyone stared and said "That is smart!" So how it works is I made a "T" strap with three hooks. You use a single rolling luggage as the base. You place the carseat in front of it and take the hooks you would use in the car and clamp onto the "T" strap hooks. Tighten and then you have a stroller! This way I don't have two suit cases and a rolling car-seat, but one for each hand!Tayrien was in a moby wrap around my middle.


I was also nervous of Ben running away from me on this trip, so I made a cuff for him to wear that had fun fabric on the outside and his name, my name, and my phone number on it. Then we practiced saying "Where is your mommy" and he would point to his cuff. Ben loved it!

So We flew out of Arkansas because it was cheaper. When we were about to go through security there was this nice lady and her young son who asked if they could help. I said "Yes!" So she helped get us through with less stress. Then we went to the gate and another couple asked to help us through to the plane. We found a row of three seats and no one sat by us! Ben was cooperative with the seat belt and taking off. He loved flying like Buzz Lightyear. He watched movies and colored with color wonder stuff and was a great boy! Tayrien fell asleep for half the trip and I put him on the extra seat.

When we landed someone helped us get off, When I rolled through the doors I was greeted by chuckles from Dad and Kathy. I am sure I looked funny!

The first thing we did was go to a thrift store. I found so many wonderful things. I love thrift stores! We also went out to eat at Matta's. It is a Mexican food restaurant that my family has been going to for years. My Grandma Tayrien goes every Monday with her siblings. It was so yummy! Ben loved the chips and salsa and dad and Kathy couldn't believe that he was eating something so hot! We also met Christian, My sister Samantha's little boy for the first time. He is so cute! He is between Ben and Tayrien's age. Ben and Boo had so much fun while we were there.


The next day was church. Ben had a little trouble sitting still during sacrament meeting, so my dad took him outside to see the horses just over the fence. He loved this! He went to nursery just fine and was good they said. The rest of Sunday was a lazy day.

Monday I went over to my Aunt Racheel's house (a few blocks away) to visit her family and Granny. We went in to their backyard and played with their dog Bruser and watched their chickens. Ben loved the dog and Granny had a ball with us. Ben also picked lemons of their tree and Granny made us lemonade. It was so good!!! When it was lunch time we walked home and ate In and Out Burger.Then we walked back to see my cousins Brookie, her little one Rhett, Brucie, his wife Chanteal, and their week old baby girl Bristyn. Tayrien looked so tiny next to Rhett and so big next to Bristyn!Dad took us out to Chillies for Valentines day. When I got home I found a vase of beautiful flowers from my wonderful husband! They were the prettiest I had seen! I sure do love him!

Two big milestones and a super something

Tayrien turned four months! time has flown by even faster it seems than when Ben was a baby. Tayrien has hit two very huge milestones in his life in the past week.

One was getting his first hair cut, He was stating to look like a clown, because the hair on top and the sides was growing longer and faster than the back. I just trimmed the sides and it looks tons better.

The second was he got his first tooth! I didn't know four month old babies could get teeth! He woke up this morning crying (unusual), nursed and went back to sleep for three hours! When he woke he was non stop fussy (unheard of), and super drooly. He also had a temp of 101.4 degrees. I tried to find a tooth, but couldn't. I gave him Tylenol and a warm bath for the temp. I talked to our nurse and she couldn't come up with a reason for the temp either. I thought that there had to be a ooth in there, I must not be looking hard enough. Sure enough I found the hidden tooth and it already poked through the gums! Poor baby! He is really miserable! I heard that the longer it takes for a child's teeth to appear, the healthier and straighter the teeth. I hope that is just a myth!

Four month stats:
-Height: 24
-Weight: 14
-Head circumference: 16
Accomplishments:
-Push up chest when on tummy
-Takes a bottle beautifully
-Can sit in bumbo (has for a month now)
-Only wakes up once a night
-He is very strong and sits up all the time
- Follows people with eyes and head
-Laughs a lot
-Lactose intolerant
-Takes a binky (I love)

Daniel built a brand new super computer. When I mean super, I mean super huge! The case hits the middle of my thigh when it it flat on the ground! He loves it and I can say I do to! More picture space!

Watching horse movies on youtube with daddy

Snow! Snow!

Last night we had a snow storm. We got about 2 inches. THis was not Ben's first snow, but it was the first time he could go out and play in it. When he woke up this morning I said "Lets look outside!" We ran to the front door and when opened, Ben jumped out, pointed and yelled "SNOW! SNOW!" HE was so excited and I told him we could go out and play later. We waited till Tayrien took his morning nap and then suited up. I put mittens on Ben's hands. They are black so after I put them on he looked at them for a minute and then exclaimed "Mickey Mouse?" So adorable!
Ok so we go outside and I try to take a photo before he gets to snowy but he is just so interested in the stuff. He walks around observing and playing with it. He tries to wipe it off the car and then doesn't want his mitten on anymore so he throws them. Ok whatever, you will learn soon enough what mittens are for. I took a spray bottle and filled it with paint and water and gave it to Ben to paint the snow with. He LOVED this idea. After a while of that he looked at me and said "Cold!" Meaning his hands were too cold. I asked him if he wanted me to take the spray bottle and we could go inside and he said no. He kept painting till he lost interest and then started to roll around in the snow. All of a sudden he realized that the snow isn't fun on your skin, but rather really cold. His face got this shocked look and then started screaming! He wouldn't move. He just sat in the snow and cried. I had to carry him inside and he kept saying, "Warm, mom, warm!"
I guess his first experience was eye opening and we will try it again later!

Two little men

It seems like the time is flying way faster with Tayrien being little as opposed to when Ben was a baby. I don't find it hard to have Tayrien around, most of my stress comes from Ben and the terrible two's.

Tayrien 3 months

Tayrien weighs 14.5 lbs. He is already in 6 month clothing. Ben stayed in the range of six months clothing for 9 months! He is small for his age. I think Tayrien will pass through this size much faster. He loves to be talked to and has the best smile. He has one dimple in his right cheek and I LOVE it. His cheeks are also HUGE. He has a ton of hair still and can already pull up to the sitting position. He gets called a girl about once a week, even when dressed in blue. People have to say something about his hair the second they see him.

He has had gas and digestive issues since 1 month old and the doctor just thought it was colic. I am allergic to milk and have been trying different alternatives. One week I tried lactose free milk and Tayrien's digestive issues stopped. He started having a BM every day again, no gas, and I started to notice that he wasn't as greasy or stinky- like in his neck where babies collect junk. I used to have to bathe him every day due to the greasy-ness, but since I haven't had lactose milk, I haven't had to do it daily. Hi hair is two inches long on the top and is thick!

Tayrien and Ben both caught a cold over the Holiday's and Tayrien's progressed to a double ear infection and bronchitis. I couldn't even tell the difference in his behavior. He is such a great baby.

Daniel and I spent the night in St. Louis to attend a Temple sealing of the Holloways. They were a part member family and the dad was our Realtor. He joined about a year ago and we love their family! The boys stayed with my mom overnight and they were awesome. Tayrien was sick, but he did relatively well. It was so fun for Daniel and I. We ate at a Brazilian restaurant and loved the Temple like always!

They are both on pretty much on the same schedule for nap time and bed time. It is really nice to not have two different schedules. That way I get some mommy time.

He is such a momma's boy!

Benny 2 years old

Benny is going through a hard phase. Not hard for him, but hard for me. He likes to throw more tantrums and especially in public. He gets to go to his room a lot more for bad behavior. He really is such a sweet little boy. I love the cute things he does or says. He likes to say a phrase and then add mom or dad to the end. ("Uh oh! Me fall down mom!", "Me jump dad!") He loves the movie "Spirit" about a horse and wants to watch it 20 times a day. Some days I wish he could, but I only allow once. We bought him a little horse figurine on our trip and he carries it around everywhere. He feeds it and sleeps with. I found him on top of it the other night.

He loves his baby brother and sometimes is a little too rough. I found him IN Tayrien's crib the other day! He loves playing with his dogs and runs through the house chasing them or they chase him. He loves to read scriptures and go to church. He has moved into a big boy bed and Tayrien has moved into the crib!

He loves to eat cheese and fruit. The second he hears a wrapper he yells "Candy me mom!" When you ask him what is his name he sassy "2" and when you ask him how old he is he says"Ben". He loves football and yells "touchdown!" sporadically throughout the game or when he sees a football.

He is my little sweetheart!

I found this banana on the counter...I guess he can reach them now...and peel them.

I am so blessed to have such sweet little men to call mine.

New years goals

Update

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I actually have the book the Fly Lady and started it in college, but got to busy to implement anything and forgot about it. I started reading it again last night. I realize today that I don't need to finish everything in one day, and to just let some of it go until tomorrow. I can do Baby steps. I already got rid of a box of things for the thrift store! I also had time to make muffins today! Instead of wearing myself ragged trying to do everything today, I did about half and gave more time to my kids and myself! If momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy, and today I was HAPPY!



I feel like I have struggled for a long time now trying to find a balance between kids, chores, hubby, me time, and church. The kids are number 1 everyday so I can't change that-nor would I want to. Some days are better then others and depending on those days I feel lucky if I can get one more of those categories. Yesterday was a total kids day. As soon as Ben fell asleep for nap time Tayrien woke up and wanted to be held the rest of the day. I did not get anything done. Does anyone else have days like this?
I have always grown up thinking women did certain things in the household like dishes, laundry, cleaning and taking care of kids. I feel totally overwhelmed with this without adding kids to the mix. I don't know know how women did things 30+ years ago. I think I would have to be drunk or on happy pills to have lived back then. I just can't do it all. I feel guilty about not getting things done and that the house looks like the same mess when Daniel comes home from when he left. I also feel guilty wanting him to help me with chores and the kids when he gets home from work. He is sooo busy with work, school and church that I don't want to overwhelm him more than he already is.
I HATE messes and clutter, but no matter how much determination I have my house is always out of order. The toys are more under control now that I have a toy box, but somehow there is more mess. Maybe it comes from having two little ones under the age of 3. I sure hope so. I can at least get through this if there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, that's my venting for the morning. Sorry to unload. What do you guys do to balance your chaos?
Ok so the reason I mention this is that it is number 1 on my New Years goals list. Here it the rest:

1. Get a system down for kids, housework, etc.
2. get my young women's recognition again
3. attend the Temple monthly
4. read 2 new books
5. read scriptures daily
6. support and uplift my husband
7. school time for Ben at least weekly
8. FHE every week

What is on your list?

Christmas, traditions, and gifts on a budget

Hamman Family 2010

My boys

Tayrien and momma

Santa baby

Ben age 2

Nathan and Benjamin

Making cookies for Santa

I did not have time to post this before Christmas, so maybe you can all tuck the ideas away for next year.

Gifts for Jesus is an idea I came up with so we can appreciate the Savior more during this holiday season. I wanted a way to give Jesus a gift, since it is His birthday! So I started with an old oatmeal container and I drew some labels and cards up. If you want a copy of the label and name plates just leave your email in the comments and I can put your names in and email it back so you can print it out.
First I wrapped the oatmeal container with wrapping paper and then cut out and affixed the label with photo tabs. Then I cut out the name plates and mounted them on colored card stock. I will place a huge bow on top of the container and the name plates are put inside. On Christmas day you pull out the cards and write the year and what you are going to "give" Jesus this year. An example is reading your scriptures every day or sharing with your siblings. I made the cards big enough so you can probably get a decade on one card and then make new ones. This way you can always see what you gave Jesus!




Because we do not have a chimney for Santa to climb down, we have a special Santa key that we hang on our front door Christmas Eve so he can deliver gifts! I made a bag to house it during the off season and the key hangs on the tree up until the day!

Another new tradition I started this year was the Christmas Cracker. You do not eat it, it is a gift in the shape of a tube and when pulled it snaps and treats are revealed. I used sanitized toilet paper rolls to support my tubes. I cut the right amount of wrapping paper to go around the tube and enough to make ties on the ends.
I couldn't find the crackers anywhere here so I ordered them on-line. I just googled Christmas Cracker and picked the one I liked. Next you place the cracker -strip of skinny cardboard- in tube and tape one end to the wrapping paper. Tie that end with string and then place treats inside. Tie other end closed and trim the remaining cracker ends off. I also googled the Christmas cracker story and read it to the family before they opened them. You have to firmly grasp the ends and pull slowly to have a successful pop. They were a big hit!


The gifts I gave my children this year were either hand me downs, bought on garage sales, or bought the day after Thanksgiving. I started buying gifts on garage sales this summer. Here is the break down:
Ben
Radio flyer tricycle: $7 and a little cleaning
Mickey mouse painting easel with supplies: $0 hand me down
Candy land game: $4 black Friday
Tool belt with tools: $0 hand me down tools, hand made tool belt wit left over fabric
Total: $11

Tayrien
two sets of stackable bowl - one for tub, one for play: $0 hand me down
Total $0

Boys stocking stuffers
Ice age #1 and #2 : $4 black Friday
3 land before time movies: $6 black Friday
Total: $10
Subtotal: $21

Christmas was a success! I can't wait till next year!

Year 26

I love Christmas time and all that comes with it! One downside for me has been that my birthday is exactly one week before Christmas. So I was generally gipped, ignored or combined, not by my family, but everyone else. Ok off my soap box, I received some really great gifts this year for my birthday and I would like to share them with you.

The first one Daniel gave to me and hands down it is the best gift I have ever received for my birthday! He was reading a magazine called "FastCompany" and there was anarticle about this lady Leslie Ligon and her company At First Sight Braille Jewelry. She was given an award for her design of her Braille jewellery. Her story is very touching and she is such a cute person. I was so touched that Daniel had thought of me when he read the article. He got in touch with this lady and put a rush order on my bracelet since my birthday was so soon. Oh course Daniel can never wait to give me my gift on my birthday so he told me a week early and I received the bracelet in the mail yesterday. It is so beautiful. It has the whole Braille alphabet on it. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for hearing and visually impaired and I am very proud to represent something special like this. Here is her blog and you should read her story, you will cry. I did.
The second gift I chose myself with birthday money. I had family pictures taken shortly after Tayrien was born by My good friend Lori at Branson Photo. She has been the photographer for all the major events in my life: Wedding, Ben's birth and his growth and now Tayrien's. I finally got them printed. I think that family pictures are better when they are bigger so I bought the biggest picture EVER! It is 24in. x 36 in. I found a frame for $40 at Bed Bath and Beyond (which is a huge steal if you have ever framed anything custom) and today I put it up on my wall. It is fabulous and I am in love!

Thank you to family who gave me wonderful cards! I love them!

I totally thought I was turning 25 this year. I totally am not.