Kamrin, Ashley, Jaydan, Madyson, Kamdyn and Brynlee: June 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Even though we were gone on Fathers Day and I already posted everything we did that day I wanted to post a special post just about Kamrin. I am so lucky to be married to my best friend. He has seen me at my best times and at my worst times and has stuck by me through it all. He works so hard everyday so that I can stay home and raise our kids and for that I will forever be thankful! I love being home and not missing anything in my kids lives and it wouldnt be possible without him! He has shown me numerous times that he really loves me unconditionally. Jaydan and Madyson just adore their daddy. Maddie and Kamrin have this special bond that is just amazing to watch. She idolizes her daddy and he looks at her the very same way. He is so excited now that Jaydan is getting big enough to do all the daddy-son things. I love watching them all play together. I love seeing Kamrins face when he is just sitting back watching his kids play. I cant wait to have another baby with this amazing man! I really look forward to our future! I love you Kamrin!!

Jaydan Turns 4!!!

I cant believe my little Jaydan is 4! He turned 4 on June 24th. . We drove home from the ranch on his birthday. He was so excited when we told him it was finally his birthday. Right before we started eating breakfast the staff came and sang to him. He wa blushing the whole time but loved every second of it! He adores all the girls that worked there and followed them all around so for them to sing to him was extra special. They also gave him a blueberry pancake with whipped cream and sprinkles on top. I wanted to make his day special somehow for when we got home so I arranged with my sister for her to decorate our house for him while we were gone and also pick him up a cake. I ran in the house first so I could get a picture of his reaction. After we settled in for a bit I gave the kids baths and then my sister came to see the birthday boy. My mom also came after she got off work and then my other sister Steph came over. We had cake and icecream with him and opened hi presents. We played games and he played his new Wii game. Even though we didnt get to do our tradtional birthday date day with him that day I think he had a fun birthday and loved all the attention and gifts!

Jaydan is such a special little guy. He is so sweet and loving. He is always wanting to help others and shows concern when they seem down. I love everything about this kid and I am so thankful I am lucky enough to be his mom. I love you so very much little guy!! Happy 4th Birthday!!

Eating his pancake with whipped cream and sprinkles

His reaction to the secorations (Sorry its dark)

His banner

More decorations

Seeing with Kim gave him

Hello Matey!

Opening presents

A Cars helmet!!

His reaction to his new bike!!!

The very happy birthday boy!!

Hammond Family Vacation Day 5

By day 5 I was so wore out and so was the kids. Some of our group went on a hike in the morning and after the hike was another run down the river in a raft. I didnt go on either of those. The kids and I went to watch Shaless and Jared shoot bow and arrows which only lasted a tiny bit then I took the kids to play on the playset. Also that day the kids got to ride Bonnie the horse again and the adults got to ride the horses freely in the arena rather then having to go on a trail and sticking right by each other. I rode Little Reba then but forgot to take a pic. We had some more down time where everyone just did their own thing. Right before dinner they gave line dancing lessons to whoever wanted to learn. It was so fun. After dinner they had a live band come in and play while the staff danced and them the guests would join in once in a while too. Jaydan loved to try and so the line dances. It was adorable! The next morning we ate breakfast and headed home! It was Jays birthday that day so I was excited to get home and do as much celebrating as we could. This vacation was truly one of the best I have ever been on! I love all the memories we made there. I really hope one day we get to go back there. I want to thank Gran for such an amazing trip!

Riding Bonnie again

Arena riding

She was so excited to ride again

Our last trail ride

Pashell and Shaless doing the Boot Scoot and Boogie

Jared and Shaless dancing

Maddie kissing DW. He thought the world of her. He thought she was the cutest thing that ever walked this earth. He even jokingly told her to look him up in 20 years :-)

Hammond Family Vacation Day 4

I dont remember the exact order we did everything this day but Ill do my best. I believe we started the morning off with another trail ride with the horses. The ranch puts things together so when the adults are away doing things like this the kids have something going on too. The first activity they had for the kids was riding a smaller horse. It started while we would have been out on the trail. We are the type of family who doesnt want to use stuff like that to babysit the kids but we want to be there to see them do their stuff also. We asked if we could do a short trail ride so we could be back in time to see them and they were nice enough to do that for us. This trail was different them our first. We actually got to ride the horses through the little town. After we got back we ran over to see the kids ride their horse and they LOVED it! Im so glad we didnt miss it. After we were all done with the horses we played lawn game. They have a bunch to choose from and we chose human foose ball. It was SO much fun and I laughed so hard the entire time!! After we were all beat from that they played ultimate frisbee but I sat out for that one. Then it was lunch time. After lunch everyone but Gran, the kids and I went on a river raft trip. While they were gone they did a treasure hunt for the kids. At first the kids were too tired but once they found the first rock they got all into it. Once we found all the rocks we went back and they gave us all icecream. When they got back from the river we went to our rodeo. This wasnt just any rodeo but a rodeo we put on ourselves. I of course didnt do any of it. I was
just the picture taker. First part of the rodeo was the barrel racing. They all had to get their horses to go around 3 barrels and whoever got the fastest time won. Kamrin won that one. Then they did a relay race. The first part was they had a ladle of water and had to ride their horse to the bucket to pour the water in and whoever got the bucket the fullest won that round. Second round was to get the rope around the wood cows neck then get on them and give your best hee haw. Final round was throwing a cow pie. Glad I didnt have to do that one :-) I cant remember what team won the relay oops. Then it was time for the kids turn in the rodeo. Jaydan was first to ride the sheep. They put his helmet and vest on and let go of the sheep. He didnt last long at all on there. He flew and rolled off. He did get a boo boo on his elbow but he is now so proud of it cause it makes him a real cowboy :-) After Maddie saw what happened to Jay she wouldnt go near the sheep lol. Then it was time for the real rodeo. They brought out the calf and Kamrin, his dad and his sister Shaless were the only ones who did it. I cant believe they all did it. After his dad did it they were still brave enough to keep going after seeing how bad it hurt. Kamrins dads biggest injury was his knee, Kamrin was his back and Shaless' was a hole in her hand from some rocks. After everyone was beat from the rodeo we relaxed until our hay ride around town. The night ended with dinner and bed after that since we were all beat!

Riding around town

My second horse Phantom

The sign while I was riding my horse

The lodge

He loved riding Bonnie the horse

And so did she

Riding Bonnie

Riding Bonnie also

Cutest thing ever!!

Kamrin flung his dad off the stick

Tug A War between Jared and Easton with the foose ball stick

Looks like Easton is going to whack Jared in the head

Ultimate frisbee

Treasure hunt

Kamrin winning the barrel races

Starting the relay race

Roping the wood cow

Showing off their scraps from the calf

Maddie on the hay ride

Jay on the hay ride under Eastons hat :-)

Hammond Family Vacation Day 3

On the morning of day 3 we were going to go to the resturant in the lodge but they were too busy so we decided to pack up and head for the ranch and stop and get something on the way. We stopped in Kanab and some got breakfast from McDonalds and the rest got it from Subway the we went to a park to eat and let the kids play. Wow it was the most amazing park I have ever been to in my life! The view was gorgeous and they had so many fun things there. Instead of dirt, gravel or wood chips it was filled with these rubber things that felt awesome to walk on. They would make you bounce with every step. We later found out that Stampin Up is the ones who fund that park and the rubber stuff was recycled rubber of stamps! I thought that was so neat! After playing there for a while we loaded up and headed to the ranch. We arrived around 1pm which is when they do lunch. After lunch we all got dressed in all our matching gear Kamrins mom got for us to take a family pic. Most of us were good sports about dressing up all the same in all our western gear :-) My kids sure looked cute in theirs though! After our family pic our ranch adventure begun. Our first thing was trail riding with the horses. Gran was sweet enough to stay with the kids so I could go also since she cant ride a horse anyways. Ill be honest I was pretty dang nervous. Not only was it my first time ever but Im pregnant which always makes me more nervous to do stuff like that in fear I will hurt the baby. We told the horse wranglers I was pregnant so they said they would be sure to give me a really mellow horse. My horses name was Snowflake and she really was a mellow and good horse. I had no problems with her at all. When we all finally got on our horses we were waiting for the wranglers to get on theirs to start leading us and I hear a horse freaking out behind me so I turn around and Kamrins horse was standing almost straight up on his back legs going backwards and he backed into a fence and thats when Kamrin was finally able to calm him down. I guess he got spooked by one of the other horses. Kamrin did really good calming him down but at that moment I second guessed my decision to go and almost chickened out. I decided to give it a try and I am SO glad I did! It was so amazing and I loved every minute of it! We were gone on that specific ride for almost 2 hours so of course I was a little sore when I got off but it was so worth it! After we got back it was time to go shoot bow and arrows. Kamrin helped the kids shoot a couple times and they both thought it was so cool. We had a bit of free time til dinner so everyone just did there own thing. A little after dinner we got to do the camp fire by ourselves and roast marshmellows. The kids loved this part. Maddie played in the dirt and got SO filthy! After the fire we took them to our room and gave them both a shower. After they were all clean they cuddled up together on Jays bed and watched a little tv. The second we turned out the lights and told them it was bed time they both fell asleep faster then they ever have in their lives :-) Day 1 at the ranch was so fun and I had already fell in love with that place!