Hamilton Family

Wichita State  ‘ Shocked ’  the whole world and made it to the NCAA Final Four.  Needless to say Amber was loving basketball season and was a proud Shocker fan.  She even had a picture that she took on campus make the news in Wichita. Talk about becoming “big time”. We graduated college.  I mean, that’s pretty much the biggest accomplishment we could  have  ever asked for. It was such a cool experience to graduate together as husband and wife and to be the first in both famil ies to have graduated college. This made all the struggles completely worth it.  (But we aren’t excited about the student loan paybacks that will be starting here soon). We made the decision to start the process of Payden  applying  to join the Officer Training for the United States Air Force.  Although it didn’t work out  in our favor or the way we had hoped , we learned a lot about the process and may be trying again in the New Year. He is al so  re...

I wanted to see this movie when I saw the first preview because I just love Ryan Reynolds but we agreed it wasn't worth seeing in theaters so we waited until we could get it from Netflix.  The movie was pretty good. Kind of a strange storyline but it was pretty funny. Worth the Netflix rental but that's about it. I'd give it maybe a three and a half star rating. It wasn't terrible but wasn't the best movie I've seen. 

I can't believe that Christmas has already come and gone. I always get so bummed on December 26th no matter what. My favorite holiday is over.  Christmas Eve was spent with me waking up at 8am to make my first EVER batch of peanut butter blossoms. Which apparently turned out great because I didn't even get to eat ONE of them.  Christmas Eve is always spent with the whole Hamilton side of the family. This year aunt Brenda and uncle Bryce hosting the celebration. It was a lot of fun: with gift exchanges, trivia, Christmas movie themed tshirts, white elephant gifts and  a PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (little Ellie is going to be a big sister in August!! I'm so excited for Brittney and Aaron!!)    Christmas Eve is always so much fun with the Hamilton side of the family. I'm so blessed to have been able to join their family seven years ago. (I attended my first Hamilton Christmas the December after we started dating, pretty crazy right!?)  Christmas Day started with m...

We decided to open our presents to each other tonight due to how busy we will be the next two days. I love our Christmas together and this year was so wonderful. I typically buy all the gifts myself and wrap everything (including things for myself) which doesn't bother me but I'm never surprised while opening gifts. I just adore watching him open gifts though. But this year he was beyond wonderful and surprised me at the end of our gift giving session. And even Vegas participated in gift opening, I mean she does get her own stocking with goodies inside. Plus she loves playing in the paper!  And here is my little surprise! I'm so in love and so lucky to have married the man that I did!!  So Merry Christmas Eve Eve from us Hamiltons! We are so blessed to have each other and ready and excited for the next two days! 

Payden has been wanting to see this since it came out in theaters but with how fast life has been moving its hard to be able to see all the ones we want in theaters. So I made sure to add this to out Netflix list (I also kinda bought this already for him on bluray did Christmas).  So it is a good thing that we LOVED the movie. Such a neat and interesting story line and so much action. Plus we are both big fans of Matt Damon as an actor (and I think he is attractive). This movie is easily a five star rating. No joke when people say it is one of Damon's best films. Highly recommend it!! 

**note I've decided to change my ratings to be out of five stars instead of letter grades*** I finally got to see "Catching Fire". I was obsessed with the book series, loved the first movie and have been meaning to see this one but with work, the holidays and my surgery I just haven't had the time. So yesterday two of my work friends: Kim and Dannielle and I got off early and headed downtown to see the movie for $5 movies.  The movie was FANTASTIC!! I had so many emotions all the way through the movie. I just loved it! It stuck to the book so well. One of the best movies adapted from a book that I've seen in awhile. Easily I give this niche a 5 dtars score. Hands down! 

Wichita State went 10 and 0 by winning against Tennessee at Intrust Bank Arena. The Diekers let me sit with them FRONT ROW COURTSIDE! Such an amazing experience and Maggi and I got to get a picture with a former player from last year Dendtric Williams. And some of the Aloha Phi sisters and I got to experience public transportation together getting shuttled to the game.  I made my first batch of sugar cookies for Payden. He loves them but the recipe makes so much so I don't make them often. Merry Christmas hubster. Lol The sync department got together for our gift exchange and an ugly ornament exchange. I won both best gift giver and I brought the ugliest ornamdnt. Pretty much I'm amazing. lol  The 22nd was the same night that Wichita State went 12 and 0 and Rusty Eck Ford had their Christmas party. We had a lot of fun at the Christmas party. We both even won two $100 visa gift cards. Totally worth getting into a little bit of trouble for being too loud. Our fault for sitting a...

I so badly wanted to see this movie because I love fairy tales and I love Julia Roberts. It has been on my Netflix instant stream list for awhile. Today thanks to my surgery and recovery I finally had the chance to watch it and I was SUPER disappointed! I couldn't even force myself to finish it. It was really not interesting and not at all what I expected.  I can't really give it a grade on a grading scale since I didn't even finish it. But maybe a C. 

Our start of December has been somewhat strange compared to normal.  On an important note I bought a new Christmas tree and we have all of our decoration is up. I also have almost all of the gifts purchased and wrapped! I'm so excited for Christmas!  Here are some pictures of the tree.  The weirdest thing about the start if this month is that I had to get my wisdom teeth out yesterday. It wasn't as bad as I expected but I'm still going in and out of sleep and pain. And still have swelling. But I survived. Now I have a full week off of work so be prepared for a lot of movie reviews. Lol. 

Payden and I really wanted to see this movie when it first came out in theaters but never got the chance.  My friend Dannielle let me borrow her DVD and we got to watch it last night. Oh my lord we thought it was so funny!! It was just as funny as we expected and we totally recommend it! On a grading scale we would give it an A. So funny! 

"Bridesmaids" is seriously one of my favorite movies so when I saw the previews for this movie I was DYING to see it! Plus I really like both of those actresses.  This movie was funny but not as funny as "Bridesmaids". But overall I really enjoyed it. There were even times that Payden laughed. Overall I want to give it like a B on a grading scale. Still pretty funny overall but "Bridesmaids" wins! 

Basketball season is WELL underway and I have made it to every home game.  Loving all the basketball in my life currently. And that  Maggi  and I have the “game day  selfie ” tradition--- hints all the following photos. **Side note: Did you know that ‘ selfie ’ was the word of the year for 2013?  Um crazy how our social media generation changes trends and things. The Horth family took family photos. I swear we haven’t had family pictures done since I lived there…and maybe since I was in high school. I can’t remember but it was A LONG time ago. I was happy that we finally did them and that my husband was  a part  of them. The pictures turned out great! I have started helping my dad with the social media for his company:  Dream Life Homes . And I am having a blast doing it. Hoping that I can get to do more to help his company grow.  I am in love with his work and so proud of what he does. Thanksgiving was such a fun and busy day!   The day...

Every year from the start of November leading up to Thanksgiving I try and write something that I am thankful for each year. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and here is my list of my twitter post this year.  Day one: I am beyond thankful to be married to my best friend. He is literally the best thing that  has ever happened to me. He makes me happier than I could ever imagine. He puts a smile on my face each day and I fall in love with him more and more each day.    Day two: I am thankful that my two favorite seasons are finally here: BASKETBALL season and the HOLIDAY seasons. This is my element! Day three: I am beyond grateful for my best friends. I don't know what I would do without them & th eir advice. Always by my side; l ove y'all . Day four:  I'm thankful that I've worked so hard to get where I am with no help. It has been harder than I wanted but I'm better because of it . --November 4 th  is also Grandpa Hamilton’s birthday!  One of the greatest...

Last year the Hamilton gang took extended family photos with the grandparents. (Which worked out because sadly grandma Bonnie passed away shortly after, RIP).  Here are some of the pictures from the Hamilton family photos.  Today the Horth family got together to take pictures for Christmas cards and because we haven't gotten family photos done since like FOREVER! The pictures turned out great. Here are some of them.