I have been reading posts the last couple days on my Uncle James' facebook page...it is amazing all the lives he touched...here is a posting from one of his former students..

I cannot do justice to what Dr. Glass meant to me, what he did for me, what I learned from him or what it means to know that I will never talk to him again. 

I struggle with a feeling that I never managed to live up to the promise he saw in me. I wanted to make him proud in that way, but it just wasn't meant to be. But then I realize that he taught me much more than music.

I look to him as a model that I am proud to say influences my way through the world. In that way, I believe I do him honor, and I will never forget everything he taught me, gave me, or did for me.

He was a giant among men, though many would not recognize it. He was the epitome of an open heart and a kind soul. He was intellectually brilliant. To understand that I spend as many years in his company as I did feels like a gift. For this reason, I cannot be sad. I rejoice in his life. He continues on in all of those he touched. I am a blessed man to count myself in that lucky number.

RIP Uncle James

My Uncle James lost his battle with Parkinson's this evening. He was a gentle man who took such wonderful care of my Aunt Vanna. And she took such WONDERFUL care of him the last years he was not well. He was a music professor and changed so many students lives. Just looking at his facebook page he was often referred by many former students as "my favorite professor." They were married over 50 years and never spent more then 25 days (TOTAL)  apart from each other. I remember at every Thanksgiving and Christmas growing up he was always singing Opera! Aunt Vanna and Uncle James were two people in love up till his last moments on earth. They were two peas in a pod...and soul mates.

We have been praying for Uncle James the last couple weeks every night...I told Rory he went to heaven...she responded.."He is Dancing!" He Sure is!!

We last saw him two summers ago when he was well enough to visit...Rory instantly took a liking to him and he to her.
We love you Uncle James! :)

Duck Hunting two weekends in a row! I don't know how Gregory convinced me of that...but thankfully Mimi came up to keep me company! We had a great time...Rory had a birthday party Saturday so she took care of Rylee while we went to that! :) Thank you so much Mimi!

Pedicures with Mimi! 

Mimi will be moving the weekend of Rory's birthday party so we celebrated a bit early...Mimi gave her a Doc McStuffins doll. She loves it!! So much that this morning she took it to Lauren's and we forgot it. When we got home she began crying. I thought she would get over it but she went to her room shut the door, pulled the covers over her head and began crying "Doc McStuffins! My Doc McStuffins!" I tried reasoning with her, "We will get it on Wednesday when we go back over to her house." Then a teaching moment..."when we take things to other people's homes we have to be responsible and remember to bring them back home." That didn't work and after an hr of her crying we were back in the car driving back to Trophy Club to retrieve Doc! 

Park Time! 

Throwing Rocks in the river!

 Juliet's birthday party! :) 

Greg got home early, so Mom and I had time to go to lunch and get a margarita before taking her to Train Station! It was lovely! 

Duck Hunters! :)

Happy MONDAY!

Lauren was off for MLK day so we went to her house this morning! :) 

And then the park for most of the afternoon! It was a beautiful day!!! :) 

update on my weight goal: It was under the 145lb mark today...I have an old school scale..so I am optimistic it was on the 143 mark but most likely the 144. The popcorn and large soda I drank at the movies on Sunday with Gregory was not in my favor. But it was delicious....Miss Sarah came over Sunday after church and Greg and I went to see Jack Ryan. It was good...a nail biter. I may of been covering my ears half the time. 

Great-Grandma and  Great-Grandpa came over for dinner last night! Love spending time with them! 

Grandma sugaring Rylee up with Ice cream and Cookies!  :)

Kisses for Grandpa! :)

For every stay at home mommy...it is essential to have a walking mommy buddy!! Mine is Mrs. Becca Lowe (we met in the cry room at church when Rylee and Luke were just a couple months old) and we bonded instantly after discussing the lack of sleep we were getting. We love walking with our little ones while the big ones are at school! :) Aren't they cuties???

Look at these handsome men...
Brother in law, Brother, and Hubby (from Left to Right)
Savannah, Deke, and Layla Lou (from left to Right) :) 

I am going to post my weight on here every Monday...hopefully this accountability will help motivate me to loose the last 10 lbs of my baby weight (If you can call it that...my "sweet" weight is more like it). I am tired of looking in my closet at all my size 6 clothes that don't fit. So here it goes...

Today 145 lbs

Goal :134 lbs

Weighed after I ate a Cinnamon Roll from the donut shop Uncle Fuller bought the girls yesterday....sigh. 

PS Hubby if you are reading this...you could really help me out by not buying 2 tubs of blue bell a week....sigh. 

Fuller Gals come to visit! :)

The Fuller Family came up for the weekend! Fulsky dropped Rags and the girls off Thursday evening and he and Greg hit the road to Paris, TX to meet Buddy and some of his friends for a duck hunt! We had a great weekend...it was crazy (surprisingly not as crazy as I thought.) We had lots of laughs and fun times! The girls even joined us at MOPS on Friday morning! So looking forward to many more weekends with these sweet things. :)

Rylee enjoyed digging through all the "baby" items. :)

Morning Coffee and Breakfast Time! :)

Rylee entertaining Harrison during Tummy Time :)

Nothing like a good Smack in the face. :)

Cuties! 

Amanda, Maddie, and Carter also came over Saturday morning to play! :)

Reagan and Blakely at their First MOPS meeting! They did great! :)

Little Harry and I at MOPS! :)

The Hammerlun's Join the MIni Van CLUB

I am so HAPPY/EXCITED to report we have joined the Mini Van club! After 6 months of being a single car family we finally decided to get a van! When we first sold the truck (June) we decided to see how long we could do the "one car family thing" to save the would be "car payment." We only thought we could do it a month but we made it 6 months! We still can't believe we did it....I will miss spending quality time taking daddy to and from work. However...the getting up at 530 and loading the kids in the car and the afternoon "whine" sessions when going to pick him up will not be missed. We did the van shopping as a family...shockingly a car dealership is kid friendly!! Rory enjoyed taking pics of her sister in the waiting area, pushing her sister in the stroller, making multiple trips to the vending machines for SKITTLES and ANIMAL CRACKERS, and "climbing" in aka shopping for her new car! She loved it!  And we are in love with our new van! Rory named her "Zero!" 

Mini Van shopping (photo of Rylee courtesy of Rory Grace) 

Our First Mini Van Selfie! :)

Our 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan!  :)

Aunt JJ

We are sad to see our roomie go!! 

A little hair washing in the sink! :)

About Mid December we had a huge ice storm...my dear friend Jamie decided she wanted to have a Pinterest day so she headed to Michael's/Target to stock up on Craft Items! She fell and broke her leg and ankle on a sheet of ice outside the store. She was in the hospital for 3 days and considering she lives on the 3rd story of her apartment building she couldn't return to her home. :( The Hammerlun Family took her in!) She stayed with us for 2.5 weeks. Jamie is like a sister to me and while it was an adjustment for both of us (she is used to living the single life of hitting the town and "quiet" time when she needs it and i had an extra person to take care of (laundry, taking boot on and off, cooking for)  As she was pretty much on bed rest that first week, we made the best of it. She may of been reprimanded by me once for going to the bathroom just as I put the girls down for bed. I think my exact words were "If you wake them I'm going to kill you Jamie Lynn!" Joking of course (maybe)! The scooter and walker were not my friend! lol. Rory and Rylee greeted her every morning and Rylee said "JJ" about 20 times a day! Jamie says she misses that so! We did love having her here and the day she left we both cried....It was nice to have a friend around to keep this stay at home mom company. We love you Jamie and you are always WELCOME in our home!! xoxo 

DuBois/Hammerlun Family Get Together

A week before Christmas we went over to The DuBois' for a Christmas Dinner/Gift Exchange/Craft FUN! It was lots of fun! :) 

Mr Carter and I :)

Christmas Crafts in our Princess dresses! :)

Snack Time! 

Gift Exchange!

Boys Bringing home Pizzas! :)

Precious Girls!