Ethan's 13th Birthday!

On November 27th, Ethan turned 13!!!

Ethan is so much fun to be around.  He never runs out of ideas and he always keeps us laughing!  He is full of energy and can do just about anything he sets his mind to do.  He's stronger than his older sisters and he loves it!  He is a willing helper and he loves to organize things.  He enjoys talking to people and he's never afraid to take on new challenges.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

-Philippians 4:13

Ethan is becoming a man who is dependable and wise.  He is a strong, natural born leader who takes initiative.  Ethan is a problem solver and can usually find a better way to do things.  He is a fast learner and very resourceful!  

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

-2 Timothy 3:16-17

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

-Philippians 3:12-14

We love you Ethan and pray that you will become a strong man of God!  May you always follow His will for your life.  Love you little brother!  Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Love,

Dad, Mom, Jordan, Kelsey, Savannah and Noah

Gospel Centered Marriages Conference 2011

At the end of October, we had the privelige to attend the NCFIC conference up in North Carolina.  This year the topic was all about marriage.  This was the conference that we met the Yuck family at last year, so it was special for Jordan and Caleb to go back to the same place where they met! 

Ethan...

When we arrived at the conference center, we knew that the Yuck family had already checked in and we knew the building that they were staying in, so someone (???) decided that we should go find them! 

And find them we did!  It was like watching an old movie. 

He was running downhill to meet her, and she was running uphill to meet him...

(can't you just hear the music playing in the background?)

...ahhh....absence makes the heart grow fonder.

(If only I had the camera turned to video...sigh)

What a happy, lovestruck couple!

Chatting with the whole Yuck family! 

Oh, what a sweet family our Jordan is marrying into!

She thinks so too!

Noah...

We actually arrived a day early at the conference and stayed a day later so that Jordan and Caleb could have as much time as possible together.  So,... what's one of the things you do when you finally get everyone together???  You go shopping, and shopping, and shopping and, we'll you get the idea!  I believe we stopped at every Wal-Mart within a twenty mile radius of the conference.  There was shopping for the wedding that had to be done while all of us girls were present, so you just gotta do what you gotta do!

Outside of Wal-Mart...

(The Yuck family was particularly drawn to this statue and although we can't quite put our finger on it, we believe that it just made them feel quite at home...chuckle, chuckle!)

Caleb and Jordan

All of us!

I love this picture because it is the first picture that all of us are in!

(Thank you Finnicum family for taking our picture!)

While packing for the conference, Jordan decided to ask Caleb what he was wearing, so that she could pack accordingly.  For most of the conference, they matched pretty well!

Chaperoning!

Bethany...

Mom and Ms. Debbie...

(This is another of my favorite pictures!)

We all had a wonderful time at the conference.  The speakers (Paul Washer, Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Kevin Swanson, just to name a few) presented some very good messages.  We bougt the MP3 discs of the conference and are looking forward to hearing the ones that we weren't able to sit in on!  It was nice to be able to catch up with old friends and meet new ones also!  It is always so refreshing to attend the conferences and meet other like-minded families!  We feel blessed to have been able to attend this year's conference.  Next year's topic is missions

 

and hopefully we'll be able to attend next year's also.

The Answers...

Okay, so a big thank you to all of the readers who took the time to send us a comment!  We really enjoyed hearing from you.  So...drum roll please...here's the answers:

1. Dad...E.fell off the tin roof while painting it.
2. Mom...D.has a deathly fear of mice.
3. Jordan...F.can't stand the thought or sight of needles or shots.
4. Kelsey...G.used to be in ballet.
5. Savannah...B.used to come out of her room at night and sleep in the hallway.
6. Ethan...C.can jump off the diving board without going under.
7. Noah...A.broke his arm and one month later broke his wrist.

Thanks again everyone!

Two Year Anniversary!

CALLING ALL READERS:  We have officially been blogging for two years now!  For our anniversary, we thought we'd do something a little different!  We want to hear from you!  Maybe you are a faithful follower and have commented several times already, or maybe you've been a silent reader for a little while now, or perhaps you just stumbled upon our blog today; whichever one is you, we need for you to come out in the open and send us a comment!  Tell us:

YOUR NAME!

YOUR FAVORITE COLOR!

HOW YOU FOUND US!

I'll start.  My name is Kelsey, my favorite color is blue, and obviously, I write this blog!  Now it's your turn! 

Also...

If you're up to it...here's a match game to see how well you know us and chance to learn some fun facts about the Hammond Clan.  Think you've got us pegged???  Send us a comment with your guesses, such as 1A, 2B, etc.  In a couple of days we'll post the answers!  Ready?

                                                 

The Person:

1. Dad  

2. Mom                                 

3. Jordan                                                                

4. Kelsey

5. Savannah

6. Ethan

7. Noah                   

                                                

The Clue:

A. Who broke their arm and one month later broke their wrist?

B. Who used to come out of their room at night and sleep in the hallway?
C. Who can jump off the diving board without going under?

D. Who has a deathly fear of mice?

E. Who fell off the tin roof while painting it?

F. Who can't stand the thought or sight of needles and shots?

G. Who used to be in ballet?

Have fun!  I so look forward to hearing from you!

Warmly,
Kelsey, for the whole Hammond Clan

The Dairy

Clancy

Some pictures of Clancy...isn't he a cutie pie! A VERY hairy cutie pie!  He is getting very big!

He just received his first haircut last week,

so I'll have to put some updated photos of him on here soon!

A Camping We Will Go....

When the weather was just starting to cool down, we took full advantage of it and spent two nights camping in our tent in the front yard!  The boys love it and they beg us to do it with them, so considering that this would probably be the last time that all five of us kids were able to sleep out there together since Jordan will be getting married in March, we agreed. 

And while we were at it, we decided to make a night of it and roast hot dogs over a campfire!  Gram and Pop came up and it felt just like a camping trip!

We finished the night off with some delicious smores and and then headed off to the tent to enjoy a night of falling asleep to the sound of crickets.

As a side note:  Always make sure that you turn the lawn sprinklers off when you are going to sleep in the front yard.....