Christmas Day

The kids came to our room at 6:30a.m.  I think this was the latest we have been up since the kids were very small.  We all got to bed so late on Christmas Eve, Joel told them they couldn't get up until 7am, they insisted on 6am so we compromised. 

Coelton got a camera from Santa and some new goggles, the book Born to Run,  liners to wear under his ski coat and pants, new vans, a sweater and tie to wear to church and a new shirt for school. He also got a new CTR ring. He and Caden got a Nerf gun game.  Caden gave him a new basketball.

Caden got a really cool soft air gun/rifle from Santa, a new football, a new ski coat and gloves and liners to wear under his stuff and he also got the Fabelhaven series to read.    He also got a new sweater to wear to church and a new shirt for school and new BB shorts.  Coelton gave him the X box game Need for Speed.

Hailey got clothes, clothes and more clothes.  She grew so much this year and her nicest shirts were ruined in the dryer.  Santa gave her boots and a vest from Aeropostale, jeans and a couple of long sleeve shirts.  She also got more shirts and some cami's.  She found perfume, shower gel, and sweet pea fragrance in her stocking.  She also got a new ski coat,  pants, helmet and gloves!  Chloe gave Hailey a new purse and wallet.

Chloe got a bed for her American Girl Doll and several outfits for her doll from Santa.  She also got a vest, jeans and some shirts.  She was very excited to find some sweet pea fragrance in her stocking and we all cough a little when she is around because she smells so sweet! She got a hang man game and a zhu zhu pet and a Pinkalicious book.  Hailey gave her the Tangled barbie doll.  

Joel got some much needed work clothes and a new sport coat.  He also got a football from the kids and found some peanut m&m's and a new water bottle in his stocking.  I gave him a UFC X-box game to take out his aggression when he needs to ; )

I got some Dansko shoes and liners for under my ski gear.  I also got new gloves and some lotion.
The kids gave me a sweet new crock pot.

Santa left us some new games for our Wii!  Mario Cart, Mario Brothers and Super smash Brothers and my favorite...Just Dance.  We also got some new movies and really fun games: Snorta and Five Crowns.

  

Pajama Hunt!

This is a tradition that we have done since the beginning.  I did this in my family while I was growing up and we carried it on.  The kids LOVE it!
Joel and I hide all the new pajamas in the living room.  We have some pretty good hiding places...we usually have to help them by playing the "hot/cold game."
After the kids find their pajamas, they put them on and we have a fashion show and take pictures.  Then they hide mine and Joel's pj's.  It's hilarious and we love this tradition.  We always read T'was the Night Before Christmas book just before going to bed.  I had forgotten this year and Coelton was the one to remind us. 

And...I cried when I thought this pajama hunt might be Coelton's last. 

Christmas Eve

Mom and Dad Hammer came to Western Idaho for Christmas this year.  They had Christmas with Jason and Stephanie in Nampa.  They came over several times during their visit.  It was nice to have family around. 
Jason and Stephanie invited us to their house for a Christmas Eve dinner.  Stephanie's parents are serving a mission, so her brothers who aren't married came to their house for Christmas too.  It was a nice gathering and we enjoyed some fabulous food and good company. 
We watched the Luke II movie and the kids did a nativity play.  We also gathered around the piano and sang Christmas carols. 

Ethan, Logan, Ammon, Chloe, Landon, Hailey, Maiya

Bogus Basin!

We have finally hit the point in our lives when we can all enjoy skiing/snowboarding together.  It's so great!  We love it!  We got a family pass for Christmas. 
Bogus opened during Thanksgiving this year! Joel and Caden went to bogus with friends on Dec. 11.   We weren't able to go as a family until Dec. 20.  It was a nice first run.  Chloe needed some refresher runs down the bunny hill and then spent the rest of the day on the green runs. 

Hailey goes with the boys and Joel.  They rip it up, then when they feel guilty enough to find Chloe and I they will ; )
The girls and I leased our equipment this year and it was determined that my and Chloe's boots were too small and Chloe's ski's too long.  We took our gear in for the perfect adjustments and were excited to hit the mountain again.  We also bought a little clip to keep Chloe's ski tips together. 

Our second family ski trip was on Christmas Eve.  We had a great day and Chloe graduated from green runs to blue.  The ski clip for Chloe's ski's was awesome!!  She did so great!  I actually was able to enjoy myself a little more too.  I keep telling myself to keep patient and it will all pay off. 
We ran into Hailey's best friend Kylie Barber and her family.  I snapped a pic of her and Kylie, also Joel, Chloe and Kylie's Mom: Chloe's PE teacher.

On Christmas we all got odds and ends where we needed.   Ski coats, pants, gloves, goggles, face masks, helmets etc.  We were all excited to try out our much needed new stuff.  So our 3rd trip was Dec. 27.  We got up there around 5 and did the night skiing.  It was so awesome!  Chloe skied so well, I could hardly keep up with her!  She even did her first black diamond run!  She rode the quad the entire night.  It was so beautiful!  Each time we rode one of the chairlifts past this grove of trees we heard an owl hooting at us.  Coelton met up with friends this night...we didn't see him much.   This picture is of the 3 kids in new coats etc.  They look great!

Bogus received 2 feet of fresh powder on Dec. 29.  The boys, Austin and Joel were planning to hit the slopes early.  The girls and I decided to stay home, I didn't think Chloe or Hailey would do very well skiing in powder.  That's an entire different ball game.  However, the guys were bummed when they learned the road to Bogus was closed.  They waited for it to open and took off around noon. 

I didn't take very many pictures.  

6th Grade Choir Concert and Piano Recital

Hailey loves to sing and was excited to get to take choir this year at school.  All 6th graders have to choose a music class.  They can choose choir, band or orchestra.  It's the best! 

This year they sang "Twas the Night Before Christmas", "Beautiful Snow" and "Winter Song".

Hailey is right by Miss Olgdenburg's hand.

Hailey also had a Christmas piano recital.  She played Jingle Bell Rock and Fur Elise.  She played both pieces beautifully.  Hailey has taken piano lessons for 3-4 years. 

1st grade Christmas Program

Chloe looked beautiful for her program.  She was so excited.  There are 4 first grade classes, each with about 30 children equals approximately 120  six year olds singing Christmas songs.

Chloe had a speaking part this year.  She went right to the microphone when it was her turn and said her part without any mistakes, then she realized she said it too soon.  The other kids weren't lined up behind her yet.  It wasn't a big deal but when she made this face, it made it a big deal and everyone started to laugh.  She quickly said her part again and walked back to her place.  I thought she was going to start crying, but she kept her composure and handled it beautifully. 

Company Christmas Party

The protiviti Christmas party was on December 17th this year.  Joel and I both flew to SLC on Friday.  We stayed at the Hilton by the airport.  We got spiffied up and drove to the La Callie Restaurant in Sandy.  It was a beautiful restaurant.  My camera battery died just after taking this picture.  I wished I had some pictures of the restaurant.  It was all lit up for Christmas.  Part of the movie Dumb and Dumber was filmed there. 
We enjoy seeing everyone and visiting.  It was difficult this year to really want to be there when we really wanted to get home as fast as we could so Coelton could open his mission call.  Just as we landed in SLC the kids called and said Coelton's mission call was in the mailbox!  But he waited until we returned the next morning.
Joel got a new sport coat for Christmas (early) and looks very dashing. 

Canned Chicken Anyone?

I found some chicken from a company called Zaycon.  They were selling organic chicken breast for 1.48 a lb.  I bought 3 boxes or 120 lbs of chicken. 

The company was delivering the chicken at a pick up point on Boise on a certain day.  I was going to be gone to Disney Land on that certain day.  I asked a friend to pick it up for me and she did along with her order.  She also went through 2 boxes of gross chicken and separated it, trimmed it and put it in freezer bags for me!  Now that's a friend!!

I decided to can the 3rd box.  It was an all day ordeal, and I was a bit nervous to use a pressure cooker.  I remember as a kid canning with my Mother.  We had a pressure cooker with a gage and she would say, "don't let the needle go past this line of the whole house will explode!"

I was freaking out.  Sweating bullets watching that pressure cooker gage. 

We managed to cook all the chicken without incident, and are proud owners of 36 pints of chicken.  It is so Yummy!  It puts the Costco chicken to shame.  It really was super easy to do, just time consuming. 

Christmas Angels

I have had an overwhelming feeling lately that Lori wants her pictures and journals somewhere that all can see and she won't be forgotten.  I decided to get her journals from the cedar chest at my Dad's house.  When I open the cedar chest, it is painful and sad seeing her few earthly possessions mixed among Mom's meager belongings.  I always close it quickly because it hurts too much. 

At Thanksgiving, however, I brought home a small box of Lori's journals.  She wrote every night.  I should know, because we shared a room, and she would always leave the light on as she wrote.  I would get so mad at her because I wanted to go to sleep! 

I started reading May of 1987.  Her last entry was May 7.  She passed away on May 11.  I have read 3 journals  so far.  I have stepped back in time and re-lived many sad times, but the happy times out number the sad.   Lori was and is an amazing woman.  I can't wait to see her again and get reacquainted.  I don't think we will skip a beat.  I think our relationship will be just as it was, but better. 

With the help of my sisters and sister in laws we are going to make Lori a blog of her own.  We will scan all her photographs and I am going to re-type her life story from her journals.  It's going to be so great.  I hope to get this done by her birthday on April 2. 

I wanted to share some pages and pictures from Lori's journal of her last Christmas 1986.  Also, some other entries that I hope will bring you to "remember" the good ole days.

Thursday   December 25

Hi!
It's Christmas!  We had a really nice Christmas.  We all got up about 5:00 and went and got our Christmas!
I got a crock pot, crystal glasses, towel set and rug, a mickey mouse Ricks College shirt, d.k. blue sweat pants, Ricks college scarf and gloves.  I got the blue and pink plaid quilt!
From Grandma & Grandpa I got a pair of black pants and a blue blouse and sweater vest!  From Tobe, I got a sheet set!  I'm real excited!
As a family we got a new TV and VCR!  We also got 2 little black puppies.  they are so cute!  We call them Wilma & Betty.

Lori and Mom made quilts for all of us that year.  Lori was getting ready to go back to Ricks college for the 2nd semester.  She didn't go the Fall semester because she was too sick.   A lot of her journal entries tell of her taking naps and DaNae would come and crawl in bed with her and they would take naps together.
She was always making cookies and figuring out who to like from the many many guys in her life.  She loved getting mail from her missionaries...Kayle, Wade, Sam, J.C. David, Mark, Kent the list goes on and on.  She also bought many cards and wrote all the people in her life a birthday card or a Christmas card.  She loved cards!

I love this picture.  Probably because I think it is the last picture taken of the 2 of us.  Lori is wearing her wig, and looks so cute in her stuff.  I got a new ski suit!

I love this picture because you can see the roses she gave Mom and Dad.  Also Mom made the dolls the girls are holding.

Not sure what Lance is wearing...a blue leisure suit?

Here is another Christmas entry:

Wednesday December 25 1985

Hi!
Today was Christmas and it was a really nice Christmas too!
Justin and Lance got us up at 5:00, I got a gorgeous pink and gray long coat with matching moon boots!  Natalie gave me some gray gloves too!  I also got a really cute Levi dress and some lavender shoes and a new hymn book with my name engraved.  I am going to make my powder jacket.  I got some nail polish and chap stick.  Bethia gave me a bumper sticker that says "Are we having fun yet?" and some earrings and a necklace and stationary.  I also got a bra and nylons.  At Grandma's she gave me a darling bathrobe.  I am really excited!  I wrote everybody that gave me a card or letter today. 

Wednesday December 17, 1985

Hi!
Today I got pretty much what I wanted to done.  I got up and got in the tub and washed my hair and then organized my pills, and ate breakfast.  I did the dishes and got the kitchen looking respectable.  Then I cleaned up my room really good.  I changed the sheets and everything.  Then I did the make-up bags and wrapped them up.  Then I made out some more Christmas cards and wrote Sam a letter.  Tonight we went to Shalean's program.  After that we came home and watched TV.  Just now we had someone drop a box off on our doorstep.  It had a turkey and something for the kids.

Monday December 22, 1985

Hi!
Today has been a good day.  I got up and ate and got dressed and did the dishes.  Then I got ready and went to the dentist.  It didn't take too long so I went to Only Roses and got Mom and Dad 12 roses for Christmas.  I have to pick them up Wednesday.  Then I went to Clothes Direct and got 6 pairs of earrings.  Then I headed home and got the mail, I got a Christmas cards from Sandy Brunt and Kent Abbott.  It was good to hear from them.
I have been belping mom make her candy trains and I made supper and then we wrapped presents for the Haroldsen's and took it to them.  It was pretty fun.

This picture is Christmas 1976.  Mom made those dolls for Lori and I.  We also got new dresses and suit cases.  Looks like I got a Willie Wanka record!

Oh the memories. 
Since it is 3 years ago that Mom joined Lori, I wanted to express my feelings and thoughts to her.

Dear Mom,
Has it really been 3 years?  It seems like a long time whatever it is.  I miss you so much.  The other day I was day dreaming and  I saw your hands in my mind.  I saw them so vividly.  Those hands that cradled 9 babies and made endless meals and changed endless diapers.  Your hands that dried tears, did hair, gave hugs and sewed Easter dresses.  I hope that my hands can be as accurate and tender as yours.
 I always say, "I don't know how my mother did it."  but you did, and you did it well.  You made Christmas magical.  I loved making numerous Christmas "T rings" with you.  You supported all 9 children with whatever it was we did.
I am working on Lori's life history and then want to start on yours.  Please help me, and give me the inspiration and direction to do it. 
I miss calling you and sharing special news and bragging about the kids.  Dad is so good to put up with my annoying phone calls.  The kids are growing so much.  Caden and Hailey each grew 4 inches this year.  Chloe is growing out of all her clothes too.  Coelton has become a fine young man and just received his mission call.  He's going to Puerto Rico.  I know you must be so proud of him as I am.   Doesn't it seem like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital and I kept giving him to you, because I didn't know what to do.  You gave him his first bath and pretty much took care of him for those first few days.  Joel misses you too and talks about you frequently.  He is the love of my life. 
I am so thankful for what you have taught me and the example you are to me.  You didn't have a lot of money or earthly possessions, but you gave us what money can't buy.   That is the most valuable of all gifts and one that I hope to give to my own family.  Thank you.

Merry Christmas Mom,

All my love,

Natalie

Called to Serve Him!



I never thought this day would come.  I am watching my boy open a big white envelope addressed from the Office of the First Presidency.  As I watch him nervously open the long envelope his hands are shaking.  He pulls out the paper on top and tries to make a joke as he gets his emotions under control.  I am trying to steady the camera and take some amazing photographs of this once in a lifetime event!  I hear him say, "Dear Elder Hammer:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months."

The tears flowed and I couldn't believe that my son had just received this amazing call from the Lord.  The rest of his words were drowned out by my thoughts of him as a baby, little boy and teenager.  We had talked about and pondered this day for many years.   He is now a man...a worthy young man who will be serving the Lord for 2 years, learning the Spanish language and helping the people in a far away island in the middle of the Caribbean sea...to come unto Christ.

I willingly will give my son to the Lord for 2 years.  I know that through Coelton's labor of love, the Lord will bless him with more happiness than he has ever experienced.  He will be protected and certain angels will help him be safe and cared for.  (I have contacts). 

Mission Call

The church started to let young men submit their mission papers 120 days before their 19th birthdays or if they are in college etc.  120 days before their eligibility date. 

Coelton was accepted to BYU-I on the Fall/Winter track.  We were so excited to be on this track.  We decided that he would finish 2 semesters of college and then go on his mission.  His birthday is March 18, so he would only be 19 a few weeks anyway.   Winter semester ends April 9th.  He put his eligibility date on his mission papers as that. 

Coelton had his interviews with the stake president (the last step before the papers are sent to church headquarters)  on November 21st when he was home for the Thanksgiving break.  The papers were approved by the stake on December 5th and sent.  Coelton's call was issued on the 10th and his call was mailed on the 14th. 

Mission calls always come on Thursdays.  We had figured it would hopefully arrive by the 23rd of December.  If we didn't get it by then we feared it wouldn't come until Coelton was already back to BYU-I for winter semester.  WE didn't know what to think with the holidays and also the many many calls they would be issuing with all the BYU-I students who put April 9th as eligibility date. 

Coelton called all day on Thursday the 16th.  Finally the mail came and there was no call.  We figured it would hopefully come next Thursday.
 Joel and I were flying to SLC the next day (Friday) to attend his Company Christmas party.  We decided to call our bishop and ask him to check the status of the call.  He did and told us that it is on it's way here!  We were shocked, and didn't know when it would arrive.  We thought perhaps the holiday mail slowed it up a little. 
I figured it out that if his call did come the next day (Friday) he couldn't open it until Saturday, December 18th.  This is a special day, because it's the day my Mother went to heaven, 3 years ago.  My family gets together on this day and meet at my Dad's house to assemble "goodie plates" to deliver to he and my Mom's  friends, neighbors and family members.   They call it a day of service.  I thought "hmmmmm, I wonder if Mom had anything to do with Coelton's mission call being opened on the 18th...what greater service on that day than to have her first grandson called to serve the Lord on a mission."  But I just wasn't sure when the call would actually arrive.

Friday we landed in SLC and Caden called us and said the call was in the mail box.  He called coelton who was on his way home from college.  He said to go ahead and bring it in the house.   Coelton promised us that he would wait until we returned to Boise the next morning.  None of us could think of anything else the entire night.  We didn't sleep and we were up early headed for the airport to get home as fast as we could.  Our flight was delayed an hour and then we had to de-ice, it seemed to take forever.  Finally we arrived home.  A few of Coelton's friends had come over to see the big event.  We quickly found cameras and had to wait a couple of minutes to charge my little camera's battery so we could tape it!  Finally he was able to open it.

For the "opening story" see the post "Called to Serve Him." 

Coelton is to report at the Provo MTC on March 23rd.  We were surprised at this because school doesn't end until the 9th of April.  Our bishop and Stake President are looking into it.  I think we may have some options.  1- perhaps the date can be changed  2- Coelton can take block classes that would end in March.  3- He doesn't attend winter semester.   I'm sure whatever happens will be fine.
Coelton will spend 3 weeks at the Provo MTC and then 6 weeks at the Dominican Republic MTC.

For a fabulous talk on how Mission calls are extended...go to LDS.org and look up The Divine Call of a Missionary by Ronald A. Rasband.