Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to your family!

We are so very THANKFUL for our family, health and happiness! 

Thank you isn't enough!

The Mr. started grad school in the Summer of 2012...we knew that there would be parts of his program that would require us to find childcare for Tucker. We had no idea that God had even bigger plans for our family and before his program was over we would have two more little ladies join our family! :) When we found out the exact dates for his student teaching and graduation date we knew we would have to find childcare for our 3 children! 

We have been very fortunate that Tucker never went to day care(NOTHING against daycare)because the Mr. was able to stay at home with him and do grad school in the evenings. So, when we found out that the Mr. would be student teaching for 14 weeks we knew we would have to figure something out. Of course we prayed about it...and the Mr. is way more patient about that then I am. I've learned quickly that he's not being lazy or doesn't care but most of the time he's put it in God's hands and is waiting for Him to answer. 

So, we asked our family for help. I sent an email before the girls were even born to all of our family asking if they could help us in the Spring of 2014. The response was AMAZING! They said YES, of course! 

After the girls were born we knew quickly that we would need more than just our family to help. The Mr. and I could handle our 3 children alone, but we knew it would be tough for someone else. I became VERY stressed about this. Please remember this was during the time that EK screamed 9-11 hours a day so my stress level was elevated already. My very dear friend K mentioned, my sister is available this semester so if you ever need an extra hand just call her. Well, that just about saved our lives! E, graduated in December and was awaiting grad school acceptance, so she had this whole semester open. I called her quickly and she responded within a week and we were set! Her main focus would be TJH and she would come everyday from 7-12. :)

For the last 15 weeks we have had a family member in our home taking care of our children. And for the past 15 weeks E has come everyday to play, care for and make our son so happy! Most of them would arrive on Sunday evening and would stay the whole week and then would leave on Friday afternoons.  Without these 6 people we COULDN'T have done any of this semesters work. The Mr. was able to student teach for 14 weeks and complete a course to complete his masters, he was able to take his certification test and complete all his school work. I was able to work everyday and stay for any after school meetings. I came home to a clean house but more importantly 3 VERY happy babies! 

These 6 people have fed, played, cooked, laundry, vacuumed, changed sheets, baked, ironed, walked dogs, household repairs, grocery shopped, played in the snow with us, organized things, and LOVED us! I feel as though these people have made no judgments about us and have loved and supported us so much this semester. We COULD NOT have survived this semester without these people. 

We are so grateful for their time, energy and LOVE. Our children have been SPOILED (in a good way!) by these people. And it bring tears to my eyes to think about how stressed I was about how this would all work just a few short months ago and how BEAUTIFULLY it all happened. I came home everyday to happy babies and the adult had survived each day! :)

My children won't remember this semester because they are so young, but the Mr. and I will ALWAYS tell them how much their family (yes, M and E...you ARE family!) loves them and how they dropped everything (even SPRING BREAK and trips!) to love on them so their Daddy could finish grad school and their Mommy could work. 

So thank you, Aunt J(she wins the for the OLDEST care taker!), Aunt B( Gold star for taking time away from her 9 GRANDCHILDREN to be with us!), Aunt Cee( BEST auntie ever!), M(BEST neighbor ever!), GMama(BEST grandmother EVER!) and E(BEST nanny ever!)!!! We cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for our family this last semester. 

We love you so very much and our children (and of course us too) are SO blessed to have such a wonderful support system! 

Goodness, I'm crying now. 

And I'm sure my babies are too because it's just me and their Daddy now! :) 

This week...

This week...

I pulled an all nighter...literally

I've had about 15 cups of coffee.

I've kissed my babies about 1,000,000,000,000,000 times.

I've had 22 parent/teacher conferences.

I spent 4.5 hours in the ER and took two of my babies to the doc.

I've probably had 10 minutes of covo with my husband...besides babies schedules.

I've thanked God for my family, friends and co workers.

I was weighed and my body fat % was taken for our school's Biggest Loser competition. 

I've used a lot of Emoji's...they have been helpful in describing my feelings through text messages.

I purchased Tucker two new books from our Book Fair. 

I haven't slept more than 3.5 hours in a row. 

I have taken many deep breaths. 

I've looked at all I have been given and have and am thankful for my beautiful life!

#thankfulnovember

Last year I decided to post a picture on Instagram each day of what I was thankful for...well I decided to do it again this year! Last year I did weekly post of my thankful pics...but I haven't done that but I'll post the pics I've done so far! :)

It's only half way through the month and I have so much to be thankful for! I know the next 15 days will hold a lot more. And I'm so thankful for more than just what's in these pictures. But it's fun to document them through a picture a day! :) 

What are you thankful for? 

Our week back at home!

This week has been filled with lots of rest...it's what me and Tuck both needed. :)

Monday and Tuesday were filled with doctor appointments for me. Three to be exact. We are so thankful for our sweet neighbor that helped us with Tucker while we had appointments and the Mr. was in class. She is so great with Tuck and he had really missed her. Both days when I got home he was so tired because they had played so much! :)

Playing on his train table incorrectly. But happy to be back with his toys...I think he thought they were all new! ha!

Playing with M while she kept him for us. 

I've said this before, but Tucker loves to play with things that aren't "toys". One activity he loves is playing with the mixing bowls. He's great at stacking them according to size. 

And of course wearing them like hats!

Tucker loves his bed and doesn't cry one bit when it's time for nap time or bed time. And actually will ask to go take a nap if he's tired. We are so lucky that it isn't a struggle. I sent this picture to my mom because he was all cuddled up with Pup Pup (the doggie she gave him on her birthday!). 

It's hard to get a good picture of this busy boy now! :) 

Tucker has had a lot of fun playing with the pups this week...he really missed them! Ethel is so much fun with him, she plays so gently with him! Even at tug-of-war! 

It might help that TJH always shares his snacks with the pups! 

Tucker found some new foods he enjoys while we were in PTC. He's had them before but you know how toddlers are...they like things one day and then the next could hate them. Well he's back on green beans! And GMama got him loving rice! 

He's also been working on feeding himself. :)

And of course we've done a lot of reading this week! We organized the books in his room...he has a mini library and I try to keep them on a rotation so we aren't reading the same exact books all the time. Of course there are a few favorites that we must read every night before bed. 

Can we talk about how hot it's been!?! Old news right...ha! Well Tucker isn't really bothered by the heat...but his mama is! 

He likes to go out when we hook the pups up. (And you can see our nicely mowed yard...the Mr. always keeps it looking good!)

We are looking forward to a restful and fun weekend! Gotta soak up the last few moments of summer with this sweet boy! 

Bare with me for a minute...

I usually keep it pretty happy and positive here on HammarLoveHappenings. Because that's our life. We are happy and positive people. I can't stand reading blogs where 1. They portray a fake life. 2. They complain all the time.

 

Well bare with me for a minute.

 

1. I know I'm more emotional/sensitive because I'm pregnant...and it's two babies...and two girls...more hormones that anybody can handle.

 

2. I know it's a busy time of year...end of school year, wedding season, and so much more.

 

But I'm going to vent for a minute.

 

• I am tried of people saying, " You're HUGE!" "O my gosh, you've gotten so big!" "You're never going to make it to September!" People, I am carrying TWO babies...yes, my son is only 15 months old so it wasn't too long ago that I had a baby in my tummy...and YES, I will make it as long as possible. Our prayers are that I will carry these girls full term.

 

• I don't like when people have pity parties or like to play the helpless or left out card. If you want to be apart of our lives....join us! :)

 

• Self-centered people really annoy me. It's not all about YOU all the time!

 

• It's teacher appreciation week...we should be appreciated! I read another blog that was complaining about it. Come do our job for one day and see what it's like!

 

• Don't try to make me feel like a bad mother. Or that I'm doing enough for my son. I would lay down my life for that sweet boy. He is my number one thought in every decision I make. Of course with the Mr. too. It's our family and we will make decisions that are best for OUR family.

Okay, I'm done venting! :) Thanks for reading. I don't do this often but sometimes I need to get my thoughts and feelings out! And keep it real here!

 

And I will leave you with this sweet picture that our awesome neighbor took this week:

I am a very happy person and have SO much to be thankful for. I just have to remind myself that sometimes I need to distance myself from negative things and people. And looking at my sweet boy's smile reminds me exactly what is important in life...my boys, my pups, and my sweet twin girls on the way and all of the positive people in my life that support me! 

 

iPhone Pics are great reminder!

Sometimes it's fun to look through my iPhone pictures and thank God for how blessed I am! 

I love this little booty! :) He's still only wanting to stand in the tub but we are working on sitting. :)

I'm so thankful this boy loves everything we give him! Daddy made him some noodles with sauce and he LOVED it and was covered when he was done! 

TJH has been watching Mommy do yoga I guess....ha! :) And I love that he only has one sock on in this picture! 

I'm so thankful for my job. I work at the best place with the best people! We had Twin Day last week and this is our 2nd grade team in twins! ha! :)