Hangin' With the Hammonds!

I've mentioned before that I think one of the neatest things ever is having a neighbor that is a close friend!  We met the Hammond family last fall (they live across the street) and I have said many times that they were my biggest blessing of 2011!

They are the kind of neighbors that come caroling to your front door on Christmas Eve.  I was sick that day and having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit.  They rang our doorbell singing "Silent Night,"...... all three of them.  It was precious.

They are the kind of neighbors that you trade snacks with.... which is the best kind of neighbor :-)  Jen and I will each stand at our front door and use Nate (her 5 year old) as our go between.  Jen will call and say, "Nate is walking over with some chips and queso"...  or I'll call her and say "send Nate over, I have some cookies for you."

It's bliss :)

Once, Nate walked over with an Easter project that he and his Mommy had worked on together.  Jen enjoyed doing it with him and was excited to save it in his keepsakes.  She thought he just wanted to "show" it to me- but when I went to hand it back to him, he said "I made it for you!"  Poor Jen....  the look on her face was of pure heartbreak ;-) .  She said it was the first time he had made something for anyone other than Mommy.  Too funny.

I saved the bunny...   and will return it to her when Nate has forgotten all about it :)

And apparently these are the types of neighbors that invite you on their road trips!?  How lucky am I?  A couple of weeks ago, Troy was on call and the Hammond's kept me entertained practically the entire week!?

They asked me to be their guest at Holiday World....  Nate needed a riding buddy (Jen is expecting and can not ride and Mike, her husband doesn't ride).


Nate thought it was neat that we were eating breakfast in the car on the way to the park :) 

After breakfast, he spent the rest of the car ride looking at the park map.  

After I took the above photo, I sent it to Troy.  I knew he would enjoy seeing Nate read the map, b/c Troy STUDIES a park map like nobody's business.  After I sent him the photo, I felt a little guilty knowing that he was working hard and wasn't with us.  This was the message he replied with a little later that day:

How MUCH do you love my husband!?  I think there are plenty of people that would have responded with something hateful like "good for you- I'm working hard."  Not Troy- he tells me all the time that he is his happiest when he knows I'm happy .  I NEVER take him or his unselfish love for granted.  I realize it's a rare blessing.

I'm getting side tracked....  back to Holiday World...

Mike and Nate had 4,372 free Pepsis.  If Holiday World changes the free Pepsi thing soon- it was because of us :-)

The next evening, I attended Nate's championship baseball game...

It was the big final game, and the parents (mainly Jen!) decorated the dug-out and field with the team colors...

The coach promised them that if they won the championship, they could tackle him at the end of the game.  The kids cared nothing about the title....  just the tackle..

The next day I spent the afternoon with Jen and her girlfriends.  They have a tradition that when someone in their group finds out that they're expecting, they drive to Cincinnatti to have dinner and celebrate at, Maggiano's.  How I was included in this group, or lucky enough to be invited, I have NO idea- but I was tickled to join them!

This is Jen's best friend, Lauren.  They are both expecting (maybe 6 weeks apart!?) and they said this was always their childhood dream- to be pregnant with your best friend.  So sweet!  (Sam/Jennifer Rowe- I'm going to need you to do this with me whenever I'm ready- I won't take no for an answer.  HA!)

We dined "family style" at Maggiano's, and I've never in my life seen so much food!?  These girls have done this enough times, and they know all the ends and outs of how to make the most of the Maggiano's experience.  They told me I wasn't allowed to have any bread or order anything other than water to drink...  they just couldn't take it if I wasted room on bread or water. :)  So funny.

Maggiano's family style menu is endless....  you can have as many orders of whatever you'd like.  If you don't finish it- they box it up for you to take home. What a neat experience!

Thank you Hammond family for asking me to join you in all of your activities that week- I thoroughly enjoyed myself!  Do you provide this type of entertainment often?  I will give you Troy's call schedule so that you can plan my next round.. HA!  ;-)

Love,

Kristin