Annual Halloween Hammond Family Party!!

Last Saturday my family had our annual Halloween Party! We had an absolute blast! We all dress up, go to the store to buy pumpkins, carve them, make home-made donuts, eat snacks, make caramel apples and caramels, eat dinner...all in all, it is a long, FUN day!!

This year I am sure of two things. Marc and I had the absolute best costume and Marc had the absolute best time carving his pumpkin! I'll try not to overload with pictures but you have to see some to get the full spectrum.

Bad picture, I know. But in my defense, I wasn't feeling very well. I was shocked at how many people really didn't get my costume. At the grocery store while buying our pumpkins, many people would stop and stare at me and then say, "oh, you're a stove." I thought it was very obvious that I had a "bun in the oven" but I guess I was too discreet. Marc was a baker. We tried to find a cheap baker's hat but alas, we couldn't. I just couldn't justify $30.00 for one hat! Either way, we were so excited about our costumes and had such a blast making mine!! Yeah for my bun in the oven!

We made so many donuts!! I must confess, this is usually my favorite part but really the smell of deep frying (one of my past favorites) made me absolutely sick. So I really didn't take part in the donuts this year. :( I am looking forward to being ready to fry, frost and EAT these delicious donuts next halloween. I did actually eat 2 just plain glazed donuts that were good but the maple are usually my favorite and I stayed far away from them. Sad that I don't like sweet things any more!

Just to preface: Marc told me in June that he had the best idea for a pumpkin for halloween. He was so excited to carve this face. At that point I wasn't pregnant and we had no idea that we would be pregnant by halloween. It would have been fine if I hadn't had such bad morning sickness. But when Marc first presented his pumpkin to my family many people turned to me and asked, "is it supposed to be you?"

Other people besides me throw up don't they?? I guess it is me.


I don't know why I even am posting this picture, first because it's so bad and secondly you can't even tell what my pumpkin is without the candle and the darkness and such so, just bare with me. I usually come up with some boring face (I'm not too creative when it comes to jack-o-lanterns) so this year I decided to trace a design from a pumpkin carving book. Semi-boring and not creative but easy. That's what I was going for...easy. And with all the little delicate, details I had to carve out, it ended up being hard anyway.

I know it's blurry but here is the picture of the pumpkins, minus three, that were carved and displayed that night! Very fun!

Here is a closeup of Marc's and my pumpkin. His, the throw up one. Mine, the scarecrow that is semi-easier to make out with darkness and a candle. If any of you have desires to see more pictures of our wonderful party, go to my sister Trina's blog and view the link "Halloween" on the right to see more of the fun finger food that was very "Halloween-y", other costumes and fun things.

Also, Sunday was a very good day. It was the first time in weeks that I made it to church. Nights and mornings are very hard for me so the fact that I made it and lasted all three hours...whoo hoo!! I threw up that morning so I did end up being late for sacrament meeting, but I'll take what I can get. I have REALLY missed going to church so I was very happy to be there.

I Can't Believe It...

I just can't believe how fast this pregnancy has flown by these last few weeks! 4 months along already! I've felt a couple good pokes from this little baby and it has been amazing! We're getting excited to find out what we're having coming up in the next few weeks. And I'll try to post a belly picture soon. Maybe...

A few pregnancy tidbits...

I hate meat. I used to love a really great medium rare steak and now I can't even think of choking down thinly sliced deli meat let alone chicken, beef, or anything that remotely reminds me of meat.


I hate anything sweet. I can't believe this has really happened to me. I LOVED sweets: brownies, chocolate, peanut butter M&M's, cookies, lemon bars... I can't even think of eating anything that sweet! Not only can I not choke it down, if I do manage, the pain in my stomache just wasn't worth it.


I love love love the taste of pickles!! I always loved pickles but now I LOVE them! The downside is the inevitable heartburn. But sometimes I'm willing to sacrifice my esophageal comfort.







Ultimately, I'm happy that at least I'm out of the throwing up 8-10 times a day phase and excited to be that much closer to holding our little baby.

Grateful...

Some times life is crazy, unpredictable, and hard. At times like these I am grateful for my Savior and the gospel. I'm grateful that I have direction even when everything else seems upside down and uncertain. I loved conference this last weekend!! I love our prophet and the wonderful leaders of the church. I am so grateful to be a member of this church.

General Conference filled me with so much hope and light. I felt the spirit so strongly and I know that my Heavenly Father knows me, understands me and loves me. I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am grateful that I belong to it.

I am also grateful for my husband, Marc. I am so glad that through everything, no matter what, he is by my side. With him, I can truly make it through any trial. I love him so much, he is everything to me.

AUTUMN!!

I am so glad that Fall is finally here. This is my favorite weather.

Sweatshirt and jeans... BYU football!

I love the cool breeze and the smell of fall in the air.

I love the color of the leaves.

I love the rainy days.

I am so happy it is fall!!

One of the Million Reasons Why I Love Marc...

I love that Marc and I are laughing our heads off at 11:30 pm while eating gogurt and reading the lame jokes on the tubes.

Top Ten Greatest Blessings in last 2 1/2 years

#10-Living in this neighborhood. We have absolutely loved this duplex we've been living in for the last 5 months. Our ward is wonderful and our neighbors are fantastic. We have found great friendships and have met some of the most genuine people ever.






#9-Marc joining the Army National Guard. As much as I hate to admit it Marc joining the Army has been a great blessing in our life. Marc's tuition being paid for is obviously one of the major blessings but many other benefits come because of it and we are very grateful.





#8-Marc getting his job with Ivy Hill Corporation. This job offer came at the perfect time. Our prayers were answered and we were blessed to find this job that was more than we could have hoped for.






#7-Finding our hormone specialist. I have struggled with some health problems for about the last 2 1/2 years. In Feb. of 2007 Marc and I decided it was time to see a specialist. We were very lucky to find a very great lady who helped put me on the road to treatment.





#6-Living close to our families. We live very close to each of our parents and most of each of our siblings. Having our families close to us has been a great strength and blessing. We think families are the most important thing and are so glad to have the influence and strength we get from associating often with them.



#5-Marie being able to stay at home. I haven't been working for about a year now and it has been a great blessing to be able to have less stress and be able to focus on my health. Marc has been amazingly supportive and works so hard to provide for me especially with all of the medical bills we've encountered. I love you, Babe!










#4-Marc starting his Aviation degree. Marc is so happy to be studying Aviation and learning to be a Helicopter Pilot in school. It is his dream and we're so happy that he has been able to start and be happy in his career.







#3-Finding our fertility specialist. I was with the hormone specialist for over a year and we were so grateful for all the help she gave us, but I was more grateful when she admitted there wasn't any more she could do for us and she recommended we see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. We looked around and decided on a doctor at the University of Utah Clinic for Reproductive Medicine. This was the best decision we could have made. Our doctor is so wonderful. She is knowledgeable, understanding and compassionate; she quickly became my friend. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It has been a long road of treatment with many many ups and downs. If you are interested in learning more about PCOS visit this link (http://www.4woman.gov/faq/pcos.htm). Our treatment has led us to many many prescription medications, ultrasounds, doctor appointments, LH kits, follicle stimulating medication, ovulation induction shots, IUI even a trip to the E.R. which all lead to extensive medical bills. But we feel so happy with how far I've come in the last year that we'd do it all over.








#2-Marrying my best friend. Marrying Marc is the best decision I ever made. I love him so much. June 29th, 2006 was the best day of my life. We have an amazing relationship, if I say so myself. Marc is my best friend. I could not have asked for a better husband. He makes me laugh every day. I have so much fun with him. I am grateful for everything he does for me. He loves me so much and he makes it so apparent every single day.

#1-Finding out that we're having a baby!