DOMINATE IN 88!!!

Have I told anyone that it's my 20 year reunion this year with Skyline High School. THE only true school out there!!!!

Yes, on 8-8-08 the alumni of Skyline 1988 will meet in the Skyline courtyard and "reconnect". How fun does that sound? Really? And then the next night we'll be at the JCC eating dinner, having a fun program, watching a slide show of all our memories...... (I just had a skylinegasm!! as Mary would say)

It's a lot of work getting stuff planned, but do I laugh at myself when I complain about it, yes! This is heaven to me!! Anyone who knows me knows that this is my calling and I love it! I loved High School, and I still embrace it and still feel like I'm there, and have no problem stating it and no problem with the fact that people think I'm a bit of a loser because of it!

GO EAGLES!!!

Pure Religion...

I don't think I've ever really done the "serious" thing on my blog. I guess this isn't that serious, just more insightful!!

This quote was used in a lesson at church and it really made sense to me......

President Joseph F Smith on pure religion: "This may be interpreted as meaning that a person who is religious is thoughtful to the unfortunate, and has an inner spirit that prompts to deeds of kindness and to the leading of a blameless life; who is just, truthful; who does not, as Paul says, think more highly of himself than he ought to think; who is affectionate, patient in tribulation, diligent, cheerful, fervent in spirit, hospitable, merciful; and who abhors evil and cleaves to that which is good. The possession of such a spirit and feeling is a true sign that a person is naturally religious.

"The Church's outward ordinances and requirements are but necessary - yet they are necessary - aids to the inner spiritual life. the Church itself, the organization, meetings, ordinaces, requirements, are only helps, but very necessary helps, to the practice of true religion - schoolmasters to direct us in the way of eternal light and truth." (Gospel Doctrine p 121)

It really hit me, and I wish it would hit people within the church that there is Pure Religion, where we are just plain and simply trying to be good people and help and love each other. The LDS church does have a lot of ordinances and things to help us along the way, but those are things to help us get to God, not to be a better church member.

And that's all I have to say about that. (from Forrest Gump)

CABIN TIME...

It's a real pain to pack all your clothes, and all your food, and all the snow clothes and skis, etc..., but I swear, the minute you get it all unloaded, turn on the heat, turn on your first movie and close that door behind you, you're in heaven!!! What a great place to just get away and be with the family!!

There are still the fights with kids, and some cooking and cleaning to do, but all the other cares of life are gone, and you can just be together!!

Here are the kids climbing on the cabin next door!! If there are any complaints about that one, pretend like you never saw this picture!!

So much fun with baby! We love her so much!

Boys will be boys!! They just love to wrestle and fight!!!

Ryan, hanging out with the dogs by the fire! What a cute sight!

Oh my gosh!!! I was sitting on the couch reading and I looked up to see a MOOSE walk down the road right in front of the cabin! It was sooooo cool! We all went out to find it and when we did I got a little nervous about it chasing us! It was so neat!

How fun to see the wildlife! These elk were up on the mountain right by the cabin too!! Not quite as close as the moose wandering down the road like he belongs there, but still cool!!

WE LOVE HAMMER HIDEAWAY!!!

Ryan's Big Brain!!!

So, back in October baby Ryan's head was in the 49th percentile. At her 6 month check up the size had jumped up a bunch, so the doctor said we should keep an eye on it and I should bring her in to check it again. I went in yesterday and we measured her head again, she had jumped to the 97th percentile!!

The doctor said we should get it checked so he made an appointment for a CT scan. At this point he told me not to worry, that we just need to make sure nothing is going on.

My gut reaction was that nothing is wrong, she is doing everything developmentally she's supposed to be. But deep down inside I have to admit I was freaking out, I knew I needed to just wait and see what the results were before I get worried. I let myself at one point do the whole "what if" thing, and had a bit of a break down. Steve was great and told me not to "what if" myself!! He said, "What if" you get in an accident on the way to the hospital?" and it made sense that I need to just wait and see.

Long story short, my baby is totally fine. They did the CT scan and nothing is wrong. My conclusion, she's just going to be really smart and have a Big Brain!!

Truthfully, long story short, I love this baby more than life itself and have no idea what I would do without her. She is the most amazing little girl and brings a smile to my face and melts my heart with her smile or her "talking". She completes our family, and I'm so thankful to my Heavenly Father that she's going to continue to do that!!

DOMINATE IN 2008!!!

The Newtons had such a fun New Year Eve!! Since dad and mom were going out later, we got on the internet and found out where it was turning the New Year at 7:00 our time! Guess what, we celebrated the New Year with Buenos Ares!! It was so much fun to be with our kids! We turned on loud Disney Kid Bop music, and jammed out to the new year!! Here we are making a toast!

Then we just played and danced and acted crazy....

Time to go outsid for some "fireworks". You can't tell in this picture, but there were streamers going everywhere, along with the loud noise!!

And to finish it off, a family dance to YMCA!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE NEWTONS!!

AND FROM THE INFAMOUS WORDS OF AN AWESOME SCHOOL , OUR SKYLINE, THAT IS FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS, "Go Eagles!!" "DOMINATE IN 88!!"

OH WAIT, I MEAN, DOMINATE IN 2008!!! (so I'm a stuck in high school, it make me happy!)

No More Tonsils...

My cute sweet Camryn went into Primary Children's last Friday to get her tonsils taken out. She has been getting strep throat all the time, and we just decided to have it done while she's out of school.

Look at how big those things are!!


Surgery of any kind is just scary. It really makes you think about what "could" happen. Camryn and I sing a song from Grease together "You're the one that I want, oouu oouu oouu Honey" We have actions that we do with it and all. We sang that on the way to the hospital and my prayer the whole way was to please let me be able to sing this with her for years and years to come!!

She was really excited to have it done because she gets ice cream and popcycles!! I kept telling her it was going to hurt, but the ice cream sounded soooooo good. My poor little girl has been MISERABLE for the past couple of days. The minute the pain medication starts to wear off she is crying.
I just love her so much and can't wait for her to be happy again and ready to eat popcycles!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

There are so many fun pictures to blog for Christmas, I could go on and on. So I'll just start with this segment.

Our holidays started out with a fun trip to see the Mall Santa. I sure miss the Dickens Festival Santa!!!



Christmas Eve was so much fun, with the pinata, and cousin nativity scene. Our cute Mary and Joseph. Wow, Mary must have had some labor with that baby Jesus!!


In the Hammer home we like everyone to express themselves they way they'd like. Along with our boy angels we had these three "wise women"....



Steve giving his baby a Christmas kiss!!! Yes, he was reluctant about the 5th child, but he LOVES her!!!

Our Christmas Eve evening starts out with a drive around our neighborhood to look at all the Christmas lights, and some special Hot Hot Hot Hot Chocolate!! Then we come home and Steve reads "The Night Before Christmas" to the kids. It was so funny this year, at 5:30 pm our kids were asking to go to bed, they were SOOOOO excited!!

Cute NEWTON Kids on Christmas Eve

BEFORE........

AND AFTER......

The Newtons had a WONDEFUL Christmas, hope you all did too!!!