My Grandpa Hammonds

Grandpa . . . you know what?? I LOVE YOU!!

In memory of my dear grandpa who passed away 12/12/09. You will be dearly missed . .

Happy Birthday SNOOKUM!!

Happy, Happy 24th birthday to my wonderful husband. . . Clayton!! I love you baby!! Had breakfast with the family today and then we traveled up past Jackson to find our very own Christmas tree and cut it down!! I have never done that before and thought it would be fun and fitting for our first christmas together in our first home. It was a blast!! Now it is off to roast dinner at my mom and dad's house with desserts, games and friends to follow!

New Job

I have finally recieved a job in Labor and Delivery as a Registered Nurse. This was the reason that I had started nursing school!! While L&D has been the goal from the beginning . . . I had a few twists and turns along the way (thanks to my good pal Misha . .hehe). I was forced to recieve some experience in Med/Surg first (which is probably a helpful twist) and have finally found myself excepting a position as a full time Perinatal Nurse. So, So, So excited! I start this monday!

Dinner

ugh!! My first dinner made in my very own house was a disaster!! I tried so hard . . . and I really CAN cook . . . sigh. . First, I got a recipe from my mother-in-law for chicken and rice. Bought the groceries, was excited. I then forgot to cover the chicken and rice with foil which I realized AFTER I pulled it out of the oven 1.5 hours later. I also cut the tip of my thumb off with a brand new junk knife while I was cutting ingredients for a salad and spilled A&W all over the floor when it exploded upon opening. None of this should have happened. . . sooo . . as it was. . . we ate the poor dried out and hard rice with chicken and it wasn't all that bad. Clayton bandadged my thumb up and I have since cleaned all A&W off of the floor, cabinets, countertops, etc.

Tomorrow night I shall try a roast in the crockpot . .

Bridal Shower

I had the MOST wonderful bridal shower ever!!! Thank you so much to all of my absolutely FANTASTIC bridesmaids who made my day so special. . . and to all of my most EXCELLENT friends who came to show their support!

Again, I could not say thank you enough! *tear

Wedding Website

We finally have a working wedding website. . . here is the link if you all want to take a look :-)

www.sarahandclayton.wedsite.com


(to see each page you have to click on the page you want to see from the index. . . if you just click the next button on the book you won't see all the pictures. . . if that makes any sense)

Funny Video

I think this is a good idea!! Should I do it?? LOL! ;-)

Engagement. . . .

. . . what a wonderful thing!! :-)

Clayton asked me to be his wife this last saturday in Napa, California . . and I said YES!!! So happy!

Red Room

I have a RED room. . . there is no question about it!!

This will be my "guest" bedroom . . it was a little brighter than I thought it would be :-)

4:12 AM

What is there to do at 4:12 in the morning when you can't sleep??? I have been working 12 hour pm shifts for the last three nights and as a result was extremely tired most of the day but have now found myself completely awake at 4:12 am. Since I cannot sleep, and none of my friends are awake to hang out with me on my night off, what is a girl to do???

I have been working on renewing my expired passport online for the last 15 min or so, have taken a benadryl to perhaps help me sleep, and have tossed and turned in bed for the last 3 hours prior to me getting up and coming downstairs to sit at the computer.

Anyone have any suggestions for me to do the next time I find myself without an ounce of sleepiness in the wee hours of the morning??

Back in the Day. . .

Found some pictures from a few years ago. . . . hehe

My favorite scripture

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" ~John chapter 14, verse 27

This scripture has been a favorite of mine since my old bible quizzing days. . . . it has ministered to me on many occasions. I thought I would share it will you all. . . feel free to leave something that has ministered to you. . . you never know who it will help :-)

Sigh. . . .

My life has really been in the fast lane these last several months, and while some love living life in such a fashion. . . it is not exactly my cup o’tea. I prefer quite nights at home, time to myself, reading a great book, scrapbooking, playing games with my best friends. . . don’t get me wrong, I love to party it up as well. . . but I just haven’t had time for ME lately, or for my friends. While once upon a time I was somewhat of an “avid blogger” I have been reduced to maybe one post every 2 months. Sad.

Anyway, here is a brief synopsis of what has been happening: Work at my new house is a constant and while looking at the “big” picture we have actually accomplished quite a bit, it doesn’t seem like it on a day-to-day basis. It seems as if it DRAGS on and on and on, meanwhile consistently draining my checking account. Ryan and Kelly were married the first part of February and it was a beautiful celebration. I was also able to enjoy many of my family that came out for the occasion. I am continuing to work three 12 hour shifts a week and that is definitely enough for me! No extra pick-up shifts no matter HOW much they pay me. . . no sir-e. Beth, Clayton, my parents and myself went on a small adventure over this last weekend to Half Moon Bay and then up through Pacifica, San Francisco and then home. It was quite fun and relaxing! I have decided that we need to do a day trip like this at least once a month. I am really missing Europe at the moment and am looking for every chance to go back. My mom and I found some great deals to Ireland right now. . . it is very tempting. . .if only my checks weren’t disappearing as soon as I get them . . .

Well Friends. . . I hope my life slows down here soon. . . can’t quite keep up with this pace for very much longer. . . good news though: my dearest friend Janell is moving back to California in a few months and bringing her new husband with her. I can’t wait!

Here is some of the work that has been going on at my house: Before and "somewhat" after of main bath room and entry way between living room and dinning room/kitchen

Few pictures from the wedding. . . don't have many of the actual ceremony on my computer since I was in it. . .

Trip to Half Moon Bay. . . it was Beautiful!

The work begins. . . .

Thought I would share the updates on the house with everyone. . . .

I got my keys!!! yay!!My realtor, Courtney. Courtney, thank you so so so much! U are awesome!

Getting supplies. . .

The results of our shopping spree :-) (there was more stuff as well. . . )Mom hard at work in the kitchen. . . she did a WONDERFUL job on the refridge. . . we can actually use it now!

The men tearing apart my pitiful and pathetic bathtub. . . this thing was UGLY!!!

This was what was under the bathtub! It was quite a surprise. . . we found all kinds of goodies. . . acorns, droppings, etc. . . . don't worry, I cleaned it all up.

The demolition crew!! It was actually quite fun ripping and pounding the drywall, wouldn't you say so kelly?

Me and my hunny

Taking the refuse to the dump. . . what an adventure!!! First of all, I didn't know that we actually had to do the work of removing the trash once we got there. . . . also, you wouldn't believe the great stuff that people actually throw away!!! I saw so many great finds (but clayton assured me it was against the law to take the trash that others threw away at the local dump) . . . too bad . .

Caught the guy coming to take away my sign . . he wasn't too thrilled that we were taking pictures of him though. . .

Some of the first visitors to my new house :-)

My New Home!!!!

I have gone and done it. . . . I bought my first house!! The loan docs have been signed, financing has been completed and I will receive my keys tomorrow! It is truly a dream come true!

I found the house while garage sale-ing with my mom about a month and a half ago. . . when we had my real estate agent, Courtney, call and inquire on the property we found out (much to my dismay) that the sale was already pending. Upon further inquiry, however, we discovered that it had been pending since June of 08 and could be coming on the market any day. Courtney had though it would be a good idea to go take a look at it and perhaps make a back up offer as soon as possible. On my way out to meet Courtney to view the house I received a call. THE HOUSE WAS BACK ON THE MARKET THAT DAY!!! I couldn’t believe it!! My mom, Courtney, Clayton and I went to the house in the dark, with no electricity and flashlights to check out my house. I put an offer on it that night! After a grueling weekend of waiting to find out whether or not my offer was accepted, I finally found out that it indeed was!! My next obstacle was to get the financing through (which I was already pre-qualified). As of last Friday, my loan docs were signed and as of today the financing was completed. I should get my keys tomorrow!! (that is kind of the whole transaction in a nutshell. . . everything went uncharacteristically smooth and sort of fell into place. . . weird!)
(The fireplace! I LOVE this!!!! This sold me big time!)

I still have a lot of work to do (actually, my dad and Clayton have a lot of work to do! Ha), but the house is adorable and I can’t wait to make it “my own”!!!

(on Christmas Day. . . . family went to visit my little house and wish it Merry Christmas in our own special way)