That's So Raven...

Forget The Jonas Brothers, it's The Hammond Siblings!!!

GQ...

Zeke loves the Wii fit and hops on whenever he gets a chance. Can you spot something that just looks wrong in this picture???

We got the fit plus game for Christmas, when Pantera saw the extra games she exclaimed "We grew new games!!!"

I was looking at pictures of a family in our ward who has 2 sets of twins the other day. Pantera thought the 2 girls were twins, the 2 boys were twins, and was completely taken back when I told her each set has a boy and a girl. About an hour later she approached me very concerned like, "Mom, so you are saying Zeke is my twin?" Why would I keep something like this from her? She is also very fond of the word ridiculous lately, she informed someone at the store that she "got so many presents it's ridiculous!" She is so funny.

Merry Christmas 2009

I am loving Christmas a little more each year! I thought it was exciting as a kid, that was nothing compared to now! I had a hard time sleeping last night and was up before the kids this morning! I just love the looks on the their faces when they open their presents. Whenever Pantera would open a present Zeke was right there to see what she got. When she opened a barbie toy Zeke dropped what he was holding, ran over and said "OOOOOOO!" It was hilarious! And of course, the big hype was for "Spike," AKA Pantera's Christmas miracle. She has been asking for him for a year and I almost bought him for her birthday, but she blew it by not listening. I happened to find him on clearance yesterday at a store I NEVER go into, I think she has magic powers.

I am so grateful for such a wonderful little family! I am so blessed to have 2 beautiful, hilarious kids and one more on the way. I am so grateful for a loving husband who never has anything negative to say to me. I am so grateful for friends and family who put up with me. I am especially grateful for the knowledge I have of our Saviour and the peace and joy it brings into my life! Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Daisy Pocket

I just remembered what Pantera said that made me laugh so hard earlier. She asked me "You know that song 'Daisy Pocket?' it's funny huh? Who sings it?" I had no idea what she was talking about and she said "You know, on the Disney CD!" She meant Davey Crockett, I didn't correct her...it's the little things that keep me going. :)

Happy Santa Pic!

Here is my 25th painting for the year! It is 4'x3' the biggest canvas I've worked on yet. I know I won't have as much time to paint this year, but I would love to work more on my composition and get my own style going.
My little reindeer! Zeke looks like he wet himself and he did with a "Pree-suh" AKA Capri Sun.

I guess Santa is a little less intimidating this way...

We had a great Christmas program at church today. Zeke enjoyed to music so much that I had to take him out into the hall. He was dancing like a MANIAC!!! And of course Pantera was talking way to loud, so it was the couch for us again this week. Zeke took interest in a "baby" today, he is 3 months younger then Zeke. At first Zeke went up and started kissing his head, then he pushed him down. Needless to say, I'm getting a little nervous.

Pantera has told me several time this week "I wish I was you, then I wouldn't have ANY problems!" It's so true.

We got a little bit of snow last week, just enough to make it look pretty!
Pantera was an angel for a nativity at church, she wanted to make sure I got a picture of her flying...

Zeke has been so much TROUBLE lately! He figured out how to get on the kitchen chairs and then onto the table. If you tell him no he just smiles at you and continues to do it. If you tell him "BOOOOO" in a deep voice, he cries and stops. I don't understand it but it works. He has taking up dancing as of late, he has a lovely plastic partner named Barbie. Pantera has this horrible Barbie doll that sings so flippin' loud when you press its hand and Zeke loves to dance with it; but only if Jess is home to push the Barbie's hand for him. Zeke has also learned the sign for more and loves to use it to get treats. He pointed to the spot I keep the fudge, did the more sign and said "Budge!" it was so cute. Yes fudge is one of his first words, I love it!

We had a crazy Sunday and our church was cancelled because of black ice, yikes! I had to make some phone calls and Pantera overheard me say that one of the members of our congregation was trapped at work. She was very worried and asked "Who trapped them?" I explained the situation and she quickly came up with a solution for everyone's problems, "Just get some ice skates and we can skate to pick her up from work!" She told her dad the other day "I never thought I would say this to you, but (long dramatic pause here) it's great to have you home." Today she was pretending to be a cat not 2 minutes into the game she says "Now I have fleas and ticks and Rabies. GRRRRR!" and begins scratching herself and growling at me. I love these kids!

Chip off the ol' block!

I've always loved this picture of Jess and yesterday I got a very similar one of Zeke. My boys are so cute, even if they hate Santa.

Painting with pudding

This is one of my favorite activities to do with my kiddos. We call it painting with pudding, in all reality it's just a mess but they love it! Pantera announced this morning that "I'm not bumblebee anymore, I'm princess Liana." So today is not a transformer day, it's a barbie day. She has been into "Barbie Diamond Castle" majorly lately. She got the watch the movie for the first time yesterday and when the prince showed up she said "Chiwowowowowow!"

If you kiss it before you throw it, it's ok.

A male and a female Cardinal, my window was a little foggy so the pic isn't great.

Here's the new addition to the family:

Doesn't she look just like everyone else's???

It was a very eventful weekend in our household. We traded in the Hyundai Accent for a minivan! Imagine how old school we looked at church on Sunday when Pantera is excitedly telling everyone "Guess what?!? When you push a button, the doors on our van open by themselves!" Not only did we get a new vehicle from the dealership, Pantera got a new man! She said "Remember the guy that helped us by the van? I think he is hot. I can't stop thinking about kissing him!" He was in his 20's and he was very nice, not really someone I would call attractive, but nice. Jess had to go back in to give them some more paperwork today and Pantera said "Dad can you ask him if he has a girlfriend? If he doesn't I'm going to marry him when I get older, like 13."

Zeke took some toilet paper from me the other day and was acting like he was blowing his nose. He puts it up to his nose and mouth and makes a little spitting noise into the tissue, so cute! We really have to watch the toilets with this guy, he loves to put things in them, thank goodness he isn't strong enough to flush yet!

Jess and I went to see New Moon tonight. It is so fun to go with your best friend so you can laugh at the cheesy parts and they don't get offended. We need to go out together more often!!!

Yumalicious

It's been a pretty good couple of weeks. Pantera has adjusted very well to being 5. When she was 4 she would use not being 5 as an excuse for almost everything she would or wouldn't do. Like when we would do "school" and she didn't want to try at her flashcards she would say "I can't read, I'm not 5 yet!" Funny thing is, all those things she said she would do when she was 5, she is actually doing! She was reading sentences for me yesterday. When I tell her what a good job she is doing she replies "It's because I am 5 now." She also has a new independent streak, she loves to make her own breakfast and lunch. She is quite a cook and even made up her own sandwich recipe, she calls it "Yumalicious," you may know it as a bologna sandwich, she is so proud of this that I would never dream of telling her it's been done before...many times.

The weather has been great out here. Pantera went outside to a trampoline full of leafs the other day and exclaimed "It's a miracle!" We took time on Saturday to put out bird food and fill the bird bath. Both kids ended up soaking wet and in the tub afterwards. It was so exciting to see all the birds in our yard the next day. I love cardinals, they are so beautiful.

Zeke is becoming more and more of a little antagonist everyday. He loves to tease us! I will ask him to say mama and he smiles and calls me "Nanana" which is how he says banana, then he laughs. He had really bad gas yesterday morning, after one really loud one he waves his chubby little hand in front of his face and says "I farf." He is just so sweet and getting big so fast! He tries to do everything his sister does, down to playing with transformers. He tries to say Bumblebee (which is Tera's favorite) and it comes out "Bubaba" I just love the way he looks up to her.

We found out on Friday we are having another little girl! Hopefully all goes well between now and then.

Does a dinosaur ROAR?!?

Earlier this week we were listening to the radio, they were advertising for "Ladies Night" at some bar or club. Pantera got really excited and says "Tomorrow's Ladies Night! Are we going?" She was also super pumped because they were going to sing her happy birthday in Primary today. In her primary you get to hold maracas while they sing to you. She had a different plan she would "Take off her shaky high-tops and use those as maracas. And all the kids will say 'Wow, Tera doesn't even need instruments!'"

Zeke is getting more talkative by the minute. He says "Nanana" for banana. Today while we were looking at pictures in the hall he said Jesus, before I even reminded him who it was!!! It made me so happy. When I tried to show anyone else he just says "Who dat?" He will also roar like a dinosaur if you ask him to, so cute!

Happy Birthday Pantera!

Pantera turned 5 today! I can't believe how fast the past 5 years have gone by. She woke Jess up this morning by saying "Dad, am I 5 today?" When he told her yes, she was so excited! She has been sounding out words today. You see, whenever I try to get her to read she gets really frusterated and tells me "I'm not 5 mom!" Now that she is, obviously reading is something that should come naturally. I just love her, I am so grateful to be her mom. Happy Birthday Pantera!!!

Update

I hate it when I get so far behind blogging that it seems overwhelming to update! Here it goes. Zeke is walking. He started around his birthday and is nearly pro now. The problem is he is walking in soft sole shoes cuz his feet are to fat for regular shoes, so really he will have to learn all over again with shoes on. The last month has been one giant countdown until Pantera's birthday, this is the most excited I have ever seen her!

We had family come into town. My sister and Jess' brother came into town with my super cute nephews! Papa with the dogs (AKA my dad) was able to come out as well, it was so much fun! Andrew, the oldest, documented the trip with his new found writing skills and drew pictures to go along with it. Andrew has always had a special spot in my heart (ok they all do!) and he knows how to make sure it stays that way. He wrote about me 3 times in his entries, it made my whole life! Ryan is always good to see because he reminds me that Pantera is normal. They are only 3 months apart and are going through so many of the same things, life is hard when you are 5! I can't believe how big Jordan is, he will be 3 next month and he is obsessed with Star Wars. We went to Fort Necessity and he insisted on having his picture taken in front of a colonial sword because he thought it belonged to "Matter Yoda."

We also had our primary program last week. Pantera was asked to give a talk this year. She informed me "I only like to talk when they don't want me to!" So the night before the program, Jess' brother Jake came downstairs and told us "Pantera just asked me to do her a favor, take her talk, rip it up and throw it in the garbage." She is something else! She did give her talk and did a very good job.

You belong with me-e-e-e!

Last week I took the kids to a little zoo. There were not that many exotic animals, but they had the HUGEST petting area I have ever seen! Pantera was in heaven! Not only did you get to pet them but they give you food to give the animals so they all come right up to the side of the cages. Pantera kept saying "Can you believe how much they love me?" She was the one holding the food. The Zeke had his first pony ride and was very serious about it. I don't think he cracked a smile once but he was not ready to get off when it was over. He also enjoyed kicking the baby sheep in the head.

Pantera has a great ability to misinterpret lyrics. This week it was Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me." Pantera is constantly singing this song and I hear her once again but picked up on what she was saying this time "Can't you see that I'm the one who wants to stab you?" (It really says "Can't you see that I'm the one who understands you.") Yes.

Grooming

This morning while I was preoccupied by something, Pantera was saying "The cat thinks I'm his mom when I do this." I was only half way paying attention (the longer I'm a mom the better I seem to be at this) and said something like, I'm sure he does. Then she said it again and I looked over to see her licking the cats head, gross!
Zeke threw his first real temper tantrum today! I let them ride on a merry-go-round at Wal-Mart, when I went to take him out he freaked! Full blown screaming and tears, I thought it was cute only because it was his first one and he was being so assertive about what he wanted. Every time anyone would talk to him in the store he buried his face in my chest, then Pantera tells them "He's shy" then proceeds to talks their ears off.

Lacey broke 2 collars in 3 days. She is such a strong dog for her size. I wish I was half as ripped as she is! She is also starting to get really protective over us. Our neighbor was mowing his yard today, she was not happy with that! She would go back and forth from the window she could see him from to the spot where Zeke was sleeping to make sure he was ok. She might serve a purpose after all;)

For your listening pleasure...

Monsters

We bought Monsters Vs. Aliens today. Pantera calls it "Monsters birth of Aliens." After watching the movie and playing monsters with me she says "A monster's got to does what a monster got to does." Don't you forget that.

Happy Birthday Ezekiel!

I can't believe it's been a year already! I was getting all sobby looking back at pictures of him, it is crazy how fast they grow and how much their little personalities develop over one year. So here are some things about Zeke that you may or may not know:

-He has many nicknames such as Zeke, Zekie, Zekls, Stinkls, Stinky, and Bubby.
-If someone passes gas, he waves his little hand in front of his face to say ew.
-Zeke LOVES animals. Especially his "Pupa" and "KeeCat."
-If it is low enough for his chubby little knee to reach, he WILL climb it, people, animals, furniture, anything!
-Zeke has had is first kiss outside the family already. There is a cute 16 year old girl in our Sunday School class, so he went for it.
-He loves music.
-His favorite book is "How Does a Dinosaur Say Goodnight?" If you read it to him you are guaranteed a kiss, so I like it to.
-Zeke is my biggest fan, he loves all my artwork and gets so excited about it.
-He can say Dada and does from time to time.
-He only says Mama if I walk away and he is sad.
-He calls Tera "Rera" and he says her name the most.
-He LOVES his big sister and tries to do everything she does.
-If you have a blanket out, it is time to wrestle.
-If you are folding laundry, Zeke likes to take it out of your hands and laugh. When that gets old he unfolds all you have folded and laughs. If that is not enough, he crawls into the basket and sits on all of the laundry so you can't get it, then laughs.
-He has the best laugh and he uses it ALOT.
-When he plays peek-a-boo he covers his ears, not his eyes.

I hope you enjoy the Zekie facts, I just love this guy! I am so grateful to be his Mom, he brought so much joy into our lives! It is amazing to look at him and know my prayers were all answered he is our little miracle baby. We LOVE YOU Zeke!

Banana Keeper

Pantera loves to dress up the animals. Luckily they both have really good tempers and they just let her. In the picture Pantera says "It's good to be king!"
This just made my day the first time I saw it. She looks so creepily happy about this product, it cracks me up. It's a great marketing tool, I bought it strictly for the picture!

Zeke's room so far...

I will be doing big lettering above the pictures and a fading red background. I wanted to keep it high enough to put a bed underneath without covering my work.

Zeke has been sick and has had a bad attitude! He was mad at me so he knocked over my paint water with a loud grunt. He also hit me and told me I was bad for putting him down today. In other news, Pantera told me that she likes Taylor Swift better then Hannah Montana! Last week this was highly offensive to even suggest, but now she said "I think Taylor is a better example." So do I!

High Heels Steekers

Pantera is favoring Taylor Swift these days. This makes my happy because I don't find her and her music completely obnoxious like Hannah Montana's. I do worry about some of the "Saxy" moves Tera does while she is dancing, I don't know where she gets this stuff from! We were helping out a friend last week and thought we might need to take her kids overnight for her. Pantera was explaining to the boy that is her age that he will need to fold his arms during bedtime prayers if he sleeps at our house. He responded "I don't pray." Pantera got so excited and said "That's great! I will teach you how and then I will give you a Book of Mormon!"

We flipped Zeke's carseat around to face forward, he loves it! Jess and I love looking back and getting his cheesy smiles, then he claps for us. It's great. He was clapping in his sleep the other morning. He would smile really big and clap, then snore and do it again. I can't believe how big he is. We had a doctor appointment for the baby this morning and heard another heartbeat, so far so good!

"BA" Dog

Lacey drives me crazy most days. She is at the most obnoxious of the puppy stages and she is no longer little and cute enough to get out of trouble. She was chewing up one of Zeke's puzzles the other day and I caught her. I took it from her and said "Bad Lacey, BAD BAD!" Lacey knows those words all to well, so she went to pout in the corner. A minute later I hear a cute little Zeke voice telling her "BA, BA, BA!" He finally called Jess "Dada" for sure yesterday, he was trying to get out of naptime so he crawled over to Jess laid his head next to Jess' and said "Dada." He is also saying "Ka" for catch when he throws a ball. Today he told me "Ka" then threw the ball off of the trampoline, on purpose! He fell asleep in his crib sitting up last night Jess and I watched him for like 5 minutes waiting for him to fall over, but he just kept doing the sleep nod over and over. We finally had to help lay him down, it was hilarious.

Pantera has been nothing but drama, what's new huh? This morning she was playing a game with instruments and she informed me she did not like saxophones. I asked her why not and she said "They are disgusting, why do they have that word in it? Like when they say someone's saxy, ew."

Here you go ruff ruff...

I thought I had a better before pic, its the wall on the right.

And we no longer have this randomness, the CD player doesn't even work...

Meredith has been on my case to post pics of the projects we are doing. This past weekend Jess and his friend Jerry learned how to drywall from his good buddy Paul Ricks(Thank you Paul!). They cut out a piece of the wall that they former owner put up himself (YOU COULD TELL!!!) and made a fun spot for the TV. I will post more pics when I am done painting the room. But we did get our first decoration up!!! My dad made me this sign for my birthday in February and I haven't been able to put it up because it was to heavy for the walls at the old place. I love this sign! He has started a sign making business so I will add the link on the side of my blog, just in case you want to copy me.

Love these kids!

We always have drama in our house with Miss Tera. The other day she was pouting because she "Has all the other scriptures, but not the Pearly Great Price!" So I told her we would get her a copy. I told her months ago that I would be painting a mural on her wall when we bought the house. She has changed her mind about 50 times as to what she wants. So I started sketching Zeke's on his wall, it is Bolt, he loves dogs and cats so I thought it would be perfect; plus Tera turned it down and I love the movie. She walked into his room, saw what I was doing and FREAKED! "I wanted Bolt on my wall, I'm the only one who likes him. You never paint me anything! It's not fair." I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but Pantera has an art gallery in her bedroom. I have painted her anything she has ever asked for, but it is not directly on her wall so I guess it doesn't count. She has decided she wants Tinkerbell now, I think turning her room into "Pixie Hollow" would be cute, we will see how long til she changes her mind.

She is still so sweet with Zeke. He just adores her and occasionally likes to tease her, but they play so well together. She loves to get in his playpen with him and play dogs. And he loves to play on the trampoline with her. She is such a good helper with him. He is lucky to have such a good big sister and she is lucky to have someone who tries to keep up with her!

old man walk

Kee Cat

I can't believe it's been a week already! Pantera is no longer the only granddaughter on the Hammond side! Jess' brother Caleb and his wife Marie had a super cute little girl on Thursday, her name is Elliot. I thought Pantera was going to be the only girl forever! She keeps claiming that we are having a girl (we will see!). I have been SICK!!! I have had morning sickness for 5 weeks now, I am only 8 1/2 weeks! Oh and I am starting to show already, yikes.

Today was major drama with Pantera at church. She accidentally didn't get the water for the sacrament, oh man! She had to be brought into my Sunday school class because she said she wasn't feeling well. I asked her what was wrong and she said she "needs the water from the sacrament. I tried to get a drink from the drinking fountain, but it wasn't the same!" At least she knows it's important. We have friends named Buck and Chanie. Pantera has decided to call Buck "Buckwheat" she thinks it is so funny. Chanie told me that Tera is the only one who could EVER get away with it.

Zeke is Zeke. He is so WILD. He is all over the place and into everything. He calls Tera "Rera" it is so cute! He can say "Kee Cat" for kitty cat. I have a painting of Simba on Tera's wall and Zeke gets so excited every time he sees it. He flaps his arms wildly and shouts "KEE CAT!" He is also loving his new kitty Diesel, he will be an outside cat for mousing.