Winter?

Gotta love that on the 16th of December it was a crisp 74 degrees. I wore shorts and flip flops. Doesn't get better then that! Tomorrow it is going to be 80! Anyone want to visit?

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

We found out on Thursday that we are having another girl! Oakley is excited, Kobe not so much. He was counting on a brother. He told me that if our next baby is a girl again that he was really not going to be happy. I told him that he may not have to worry about that because there might not be another baby after this one! Ryan is DONE with me being pregnant and I feel the same way!

Armadillo Captured!

Saturday morning Ryan did his morning routine and checked our armadillo trap. He was excited to find his armadillo trapped inside! He didn't have time to deal with the killing right then. He had to go help clean up at the local peanut festival (aka---local white trash carnival). While he was gone, our neighbor, Tory, knocked on our door. He asked what Ryan's plans were for the armadillo. I told him that I have no idea what he has planned this time, but I am sure it was going be a slow painful death for the creature. Tory then told me that his "South American" employees that work for him want it. They wanted to take it home and eat it for dinner that night! I guess it is a common thing to eat where they are from. NASTY! They came and got the armadillo after work on Saturday. They were nervous to kill it in front of everyone (we were all watching to witness the killing) so they took it home in the trap and are going to bring the empty trap back on Monday! Bone Appetite!

The Armadillo Hunt

The last few weeks we have had a family of armadillos try to over take our backyard.I first noticed a big hole dug next to the side of our house and going under the fence. Not being from around here, I thought the Ryan had tried to fix some pipe and didn't finish yet. I didn't say anything to him for a few days, but noticed that the hole was getting bigger and deeper. So I decided to ask him what the heck he was doing. He had no idea what I was talking about so I went out and showed him. Then the next few days we started noticing that there were chunks of grass pulled out around where the hole was. After asking around, we found out that we had an armadillo problem.They come out at night and stick their freaky looking nose down into the grass trying to find bugs to eat and destroy your lawn while doing so. Ryan looked online to see how to get ride of them- shoot 'em or trap 'em in a cage and have animal control come get them. Ryan also found Bob "The Critter Getter" in the phone book. Bob charges 50 bucks everytime he comes out and catches one. Bob said that when they find a yard to attack, they usually are there for good and will keep coming back. So my husband decided to take care of them himself. From that point we were on the armadillo watch. At night we constantly would check out the window to see if we could see them. After a few nights of the "watch" we finally saw the creature. Everyone had just gone to bed and I was up watching TV. I decided to check out the window and there he was. I ran into our room and woke up Ryan. He ran to his waiting pile of clothes and "weapons" and got prepped. He handed me the golf club and he took the shovel-yup, those were the weapons. He told me to go get my brother next door to come help. Oh so quietly, we went into the backyard. We got the thing surrounded and he had no where to go except under the deck. The nasty creature wouldn't come out because he knew he was looking at death. So I grab our hose, turned it on, and sprayed the thing until it came out. He ran right to Jason, my bother, and he whacked that thing like there was no tomorrow. The nasty creature jumped straight up into the air and when he was back on all fours he got whacked again. By this time Ryan had come over and helped in the whacking. After a few more hits the thing finally gave up. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life-watching to grown men beating an armadillo to death.
.......The next night more returned.............the watch started again............Ryan woke up every hour for several nights trying to get the thing..........didn't happen...........Ryan got very tired.........Ryan doesn't do well without his beauty sleep............Ryan bought an armadillo trap sold at Lowe's............Ryan put a fence screen along our backyard that lines the woods which funnels to the trap...........haven't seen any armadillos since...........but our neighbor a few doors down has seen them!










































Our friends next door didn't think that we would be able to ever catch and kill an armadillo. Little did they know that you never tell Ryan he can't do something. So after the killing took place, we kindly put the creature on the driveway for them to see when they got home from a movie. The next morning the armadillo was on top of our mailbox. Ryan then decided a proper burial place would be our garbage can. In Alabama, if you have a dead animal in your garbage can mixed with humidity and garbage day 3 days away-------It STINKS really really bad.

Oakley's 2nd Birthday!

We had an Elmo party for Oakley with some of the neighbor kids.
Grammy Hammond was even able to be here for the party!
Oakley loved having her here!






















Oakley holding onto her Elmo pinata.
























Oakley riding her new Jeep. She loves this thing!























Oakley thanking Daxton for her birthday present.























Grammy Topham saved the day with this present!
We call this Oakley's "DS". Every time Kobe had his DS out Oakley
would freak out until it was in her hands.
So now she will go get her DS when Kobe has his.























Oakley giving her new Kitty a hug.

TRI-STATE 100

In August, Ryan was looking online and came across a bike race that was going to be held in Dothan. He showed me and told me that I should do it. I wasn't so sure since I never had done a race before. You could choose between the 25 mile, 60 mile, or 100 mile race. I knew right off that the 100 mile race was out! So I figured I would try the 60 mile race. It was scheduled for August 23rd. I had about 2 weeks to mentally prepare. I had already been riding 3 days a week for awhile so I hoped that I would be ready physically and not make a fool out of myself. Well a few days later I found out that I was pregnant! From past pregnancies I knew that I would be starting to feel like crap right around when the bike race was scheduled. I decided to go ahead with the race and if I felt like crap the day of then I wouldn't do it. Well on the 22nd the race got postponed till the following week because of a Hurricane that was about to make land fall in Florida and Alabama on the 23rd. After I found that out I thought that I was not going to do the race. I thought for sure I would have my head over the toilet by the next weekend. I guess I mentally talked my body into feeling decent by the time the race came. So on Saturday morning Ryan and I headed down to the race. There was a good crowd of riders that showed up and I started to get a little nervous. The race started and off I went. The route had three pit stops along the way that I was great full for. I stopped at each one, scarfed down some snacks, and headed out again. I buddied up with a guy from Dothan and we took turns taking the head wind which I was also great full for. Well come the 50 mile mark I hit a wall (not literally, but physically) My pregnant body was done, but I was not. I kept going. I had to sit upright as much as I could so I wouldn't throw up. The last 10 miles were slow but I finished! I couldn't believe that I did it! I did the race in 4 hours and was the first female to finish. I can't wait to do it next year!!!




















I have a smile on my face because this was the beginning.





















These 3 guys were amazing! They blew everyone away
and finished way before any one else.


















This senior citizen, bless his heart, decided to tackle the
60 mile race with his beach cruiser and all!
What is funny is that he was in the lead for quite some time.
He didn't stop at any of the pit stops which caught up with him towards the end.























Having just entered the beautiful state of Florida

The Southern Hang Out----CHUCKY CHEESE!!!


We all went to Chucky Cheese to celebrate Gage's 3rd birthday.

Kobe's First Day of School!

I can't believe Kobe is in 3rd grade already.
The first day of school was August 7th. I would of not
been happy if I had to start school that early.
I felt bad that they had to be in school during August
because it was so bloody hot. Luckily, they have air conditioners.
Some of the days it was so hot that they wouldn't let them go outside to play.
They only time they let them be outside each day is during P.E.
They don't have recess here in Alabama. Since Alabama is
rated one of the lowest school systems in the states,
they figure that if they are in the classroom for more
time then maybe their ratings will change. Poor kids.

Kobe's Baptism

Kobe was baptized on July 27. Grammy and Grandpa Hammond,
Chucky, Sunee, and Bubba were all able to come!
We missed the rest of the family that was not able to come.
Events like this make you miss being closer to family.
We only have these two pictures from the baptism.
In our ward, the parents are responsible for putting
together the program for their child's baptism
since it is just your child getting baptized.
It's not like in Utah where the Stake has a baptism day
the first Saturday of the month for 15 or so kids.
So needless to say, I was a little stressed and forgot to take more pictures.
We even forgot to get a picture of Ryan and Kobe dressed in white. Oops!

Washing Bikes
















Kobe and Daxton washing their bikes






















Oakley is wanting to "help". She insisted on having the
elbow and knee pads on.






















Oakley and Gage's version of a Southern bath.

Be Careful!!!!!

Panama City Beach Warning Flags:

WATER CLOSED TO PUBLIC


HIGH HAZARD - High Surf and/or Strong Currents



MEDIUM HAZARD - Moderate Surf and/or Strong Currents


LOW HAZARD - Calm Condition, Exercise Caution


DANGEROUS MARINE LIFE



Last Wednesday, My Mom, Kobe, Oakley, Andrew (my nephew), and myself went down to Panama City beach for a few days. Unfortunately, we witnessed 2 people drown. It is something I never want to see again. There were 2 red flags flying, which means water closed to the public. We did not know that and we were in the water like the other people at the beach. When there are 2 red flags that means there are strong rip currents and it is not safe at all to be in the water. Just a warning-check the flags when you go to the beach!!!!!
The 2 that drowned was a 54 year old male and a 43 year old female that were engaged. The ladies daughter who is 15 was on the beach waiting for them to come back in from swimming. We had to stay around after it happened and be witnesses for the police. Also, something I never want to do again.
I really wish that Kobe, Andrew, and Oakley didn't have to see it. The next day we were over at our neighbors when Ryan saw Kobe trying to give their dog CPR! Later that night I asked Kobe what he was doing to Coco(the dog). Kobe said that Coco looked sleepy and needed help. Needless to say, we had a good little talk about all that happened.

New Backyard

When we built our house, our builder landscaped only half of our backyard
and then fenced it in.
It was pretty much a ski slope in the back to where the fence was.
We never used the backyard for this reason
and the kids were only playing in the street in the front
(we live on a cul-de-sac, not sure if that is spelled right)
So we decided to finish landscaping the backyard.
It took us about a week and a half.
It was well worth all the work and money!!!!
The kids love it and now they are not playing in the street.

If you look really close you will see the play set down at the bottom.
I guess we wanted the kids to get some exercise by walking back and forth to the play set.
In the South during July it is REALLY HOT AND HUMID.
By the time the kids come back up to the house they are profusely sweating.
Poor Oakley sweats like her mama
and looks like she just got out of the shower when she comes in.

It takes me a good 4 freakin hours to mow and edge the front and back lawn
Not fun.

4th of July

We decided to go to the beach again for the 4th.
We went back down to Panama City.
It was really crowded, but we still had fun.

This is Pier Park.
It is a new outdoor shopping/restaurant/movie theater development.
It was huge. There are beach volleyball courts
and train rides for kids through out the whole place.

They did the firework show off the pier that is at the end of the development.
It was amazing.

Kobe playing in the volleyball court after the fireworks

Panama City Beach

In June we went down to the beach for the weekend.
It was one of our favorite trips down there so far.
The weather was beautiful.
The water was crystal clear.
We caught tons of hermit crabs and a few jelly fish.
We put them in some buckets with water on the beach
and the kids seriously played with the buckets for several hours.

Oakley wanted us to keep burying her over and over.

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

In May, Ryan's parents and Kobe's cousin Adam came to visit it us.
We headed down to the beach for a few days and had a lot of fun.

Grandma and Grandpa were nice enough to let us stay at this place

Grandma and Oakley hanging out at the kiddy pool.

Kobe, Adam, and Micah in the Lazy River.

The boys wanted a tattoo really bad.
I didn't get a picture of Oakley, but she had to get one too.
It was funny because she sat totally still in the
chair when the lady was putting it on her.
After it was on she wanted to show everyone.

This is the beach in front of our condo.

OUCH!!

Ryan doesn't have the best of luck.
He was helping our friend clear out trees in a backyard
when he slipped on a log and landed on his shin.
Just because it is Ryan, he landed on his leg that
was already damaged from getting hit by a
car when he was 16.
Needless to say, he is doing physical therapy right now and is not able to fly.
He lost the ability to move his foot up and down
and is slowly getting it back to where it needs to be to be able to fly.

This was a day or two after it happened.

A Few days later came the bruising.

This is when it got infected!

Rain Storm

It can be a clear blue day here in Bama and then out of know where it will be a down pour. It gets very humid when it rains like this in the summer. So the kids like to go out and play in the rain because it feels so warm.