Storage...finally!!!

When Michael took the job with Ceres Environmental (where he works now) we had little to no time for apartment hunting. We made one visit up here together in May, and then I had to come back tour them and choose on my own. We are overall pretty happy with the space and the location. The real issue for me has been storage.

We have a total of 5 closets here. You'd think that would be enough, right??? Not at all! We haven't totally unpacked things since we will only be here through December at the latest. There are lots of boxes in closets. 1 closet houses the furnace and litter pan. One houses medicine, paper goods, towels, tools, and boxes. Two are bedroom closets that house clothes, shoes purses, bed linens, and more boxes. The other is a coat closet with, you guessed it, coats.

So, where in all of this does one put pantry items? Since all of the closets are basically on the other end of the apartment from the kitchen, it has been difficult! We had been using a few of our cabinets, but couldn't fit extra two-liters, coke cans, gatorade, and bottled water. So, their place had become a corner of the floor behind the table.

Yesterday Michael and I made a trip to IKEA and here's the solution that we found...

What will it be?

I am so excited about Nick & Christy's new addition! I cannot wait to find out whether they are having a boy or a girl! I was out shopping the other day and bought an outfit for each sex! Although, I am praying that whatever they have is healthy, I really want a niece to spoil!

Go Cubs Go 2009 Edition with Lyrics the song

Go Cubs Go!!!

That's right, our fun plan for Monday was a Cubs game! For those who don't know Chicago has two MLB teams The Cubs and the White Sox. The Cubs have a cuter mascot and are the underdog so that is the team that I have decided to root for. Anyway, the Sox are good and win all the time. The Cubs rarely ever win!

The cool thing is that IF the Cubs do win the ENTIRE stadium sings the Go Cubs song, which is super cool to see!
The Cubs actually pulled out a Win over the Astros for my birthday!

Here are the lyrics!

Baseball season’s underway

Well you better get ready for a brand new day

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They’re singing …

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

They got the power, they got the speed

To be the best in the National League

Well this is the year and the Cubs are real

So come on down to Wrigley Field.

We’re singing now …

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

Baseball time is here again

You can catch it all on WGN

So stamp your feet and clap your hands

Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans.

You’re singing now …

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today

Go, Cubs, go

Go, Cubs, go

Hey, Chicago, what do you say

The Cubs are gonna win today.

Happy Birthday to me!

Let me start out by mentioning that birthdays in our family have always been kind of a big deal. Not so much in Michael's family. So, as wonderful as having a nice quiet birthday at home with just Michael and me is GREAT, I was super excited to see that my birthday fell on Saturday of Labor Day weekend!

Michael's job requires long hours, sometimes 12-13hr days. He also has to work Saturdays, thus leaving me bored out of my mind! Well, last week he was asked if he would drive to Indy to see how this one part of their project was being done. He thought he would have to go early in the week, but managed to hold them off long enough for us to go on Friday on our way home! Which meant a whole extra day with Michael!

Friday after our stop in Indy we ran by the outlet mall in Edinburgh :-) We headed to the Caruso's for an hour and then had dinner with two of our good friends at Richo's in New Albany, my fave! It was great to see Julie, my oldest friend, and Forrest one of Michael and my college buddies. (I should just mention that the two of them are not dating, we just wanted to see both of them)
Saturday morning I woke up at Debbie and Joe's house. For breakfast Debbie had made my favorite, Almond paste coffee cake. Normally she only makes it once a year at Christmas in the shape of a Christmas tree. She made mine in the shape of a cat! YUM! They got me an ice cream maker. The new-fangled kinds that doesn't need rock salt and does most of the work for you! I can't wait to have some homemade ice cream!
Mom and I did a little shopping on Saturday. Then we had birthday dinner with Nick, Christy, and Luke, Mom & Dad at Rocky's. When I got there N, C, and L were already seated. I started to slide in next to them and Luke stood up to give me a hug. Christy seemed especially interested that I look at his shirt which said "Big Brother #1" I think I screamed and hugged them both! What a wonderful birthday gift! I can't wait to be an aunt again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We spent the rest of the evening together at Mom & Dad's opening b-day gifts, and sitting on the back porch listening to Nick play guitar. My 24th may have been my best birthday yet!

Sunday we went to CIC, (YAY!!!!). After church the entire Hammond clan came over, along with Debbie and Joe, and some of the Smith family for Labor day dinner. Again, it was just a laid back relaxing time!

We headed home on Sunday night because we had yet another exciting day planned for Monday.

This is the entrance to the old railroad bridge in Louisville, that Michael
did layout for!

My new "do"

I got my hair cut in Crown Point, because I couldn't get an appointment with my usual girl. She cut a little more off than what I had hoped for. It is really close to the same, but seems so different to me!

Templeton's loss

Meanwhile Templeton suffered a loss of her own. That's right, call me inhumane, but we had her declawed. It was getting to the point where all I was doing was yelling at her and spraying her with a squirt bottle. We made the decision that we thought was best for all three of us, and our furniture!

Here are a few new pictures of her:We hardly ever use that frying pan, ironically we were going to use it that night
needless to say we washed it thoroughly first!

We thought she'd hate her carrier, not the case here!

RIP Cole

My cousin Cole Ryan Harl died on Monday August 16th. He was a husband and father of 5 children under 5 years old. Please continue to keep the Hammond family in your prayers as it is never easy to get over a tragic loss!

Yet another visit with Debbie & Joe

I'm playing catchup for the last month(ish).

Michael's parents came up for a visit the weekend of August 13th & 14th. We love having people up to our new apartment, especially now that we have two bedrooms!!

We spent the day Saturday at the beach, and Sunday was split between church, relaxing, and searching for good artisan style breads!

I do have a funny story of sorts. Templeton doesn't seem to like having visitors. The last two times we have had someone over she has thrown up! She makes this bone rattling yowl and then makes the motions. Luckily I have caught her quickly enough and we have been able to toss her out onto our balcony. She hasn't had any other incidents since then. We'll see I guess!