PART ONE: Check Pageant Mom (+Dad) off of the Bucket List

Gotcha week for the Hamm's was not just for Noah, but Kira, too!   Pageant week, Part One.

Check Pageant Mom (+Dad)....oh and a village of others who came to support Kira.  She felt like a winner WELL before the pageant even happened.  For the last seven years, I have been on a phenomenal team at my school's pageant.  We have had months, weeks, days, hours and minutes living and breathing...pageant stuff.  (There is no other way to say it.  It really is a lot)

If you would have told me that Kira was going to enter her school's pageant, I am pretty sure I would make you say her name again, just to make sure we were on the same page.  

Allow me to give you the tips behind this beauty queen's regime.  Alarm goes off at 6.  Daddy wakes her, I wake her, Kyler wakes her.  Blow dryer is going on while Kaidence is getting ready, two boys are running around the house and three dogs.  We leave at 7:20 because she has class at 7:35.  Kira rises, sloth-like at 7:05ish.  That's a STRONG 'ish'.

Pageant was scheduled for Dec. 2017.  but the weather did not cooperate and the new date was in Jan. 2018.  Matter of fact, same week as Noah's adoption!   WOW, right?  Busy week.

There are three parts to the school pageant.  Interview, casual and formal wear.

A Hot Hamm Mess 2.0 | Our Hearts Are FULL!

May I share our story with you?  When I decided to blog about our family a year or so ago maybe 2 years ago, but who's counting, I struggled that we couldn't share our WHOLE story.  Today and forever, we will be able to share the adventures of what it is to be a Hot Hamm Mess!

We are Hammofficial!  1,266 days of absolute love, laughter and trials.  Growing together, learning new things about ourselves and truly adding to the chaos of what it means to be a family.  Today was our official 'Gotcha Day'!  We have come a long way with family pics, too...let me tell you.  Here's the true pic of it all...

Bahahahhahaah, I seriously cannot make this stuff up!  The behind the scenes is pretty much like this ALL. THE. TIME.  Especially with the boys.  When I asked Big Bro about the BIG day, he said, "Mom, I am excited...I really do love him...BUT don't tell him I said that."  You know...Mr. Cool has a reputation to keep amongst the crew.

Among our fan club of the day was Nanny, Poppa, Uncle Jer...and let's not forget Judge Edwards and our AHMAZING lawyer, Calhoun Pruitt.  When Noah first came home to us, we planned to meet Nanny and Poppa for supper at Walhalla Steakhouse (best chicken in the world).  Both Nanny and Poppa were the first two in the family to receive familial names.   Gabe and I...what Noah called us, is another story for later. I cannot share all of the funny stories up front.

Let me introduce you to Aunt Selena and Uncle Wes...(Uncle Wes is the amazing one with the incredible beard).  Throughout these last three and a half years, we have had these two to pray with us, listen, answer our text messages, take Noah on family trips, spend the holidays with our BB (Blonde Boy)...and just flat out, be part of our village.  Side story:  When our kids were in daycare (all three until they were in Kindergarten) we would pass Selena and Wes, Monday through Friday, for several years, as they brought their sons to daycare.  Only God knew that our paths would cross MANY years later and they would become family.

AND, finally...the surprise of the day, ANN!  Ann was my roommate in college, along with one of my childhood besties.  This special person has been to every birth, almost every single birthday, sporting events, taken Kaidence to Clemson games (no words on that one), and has just loved our family because she is part of our family, too!

Picture taken by Mary Mason Photography | Sevierville, TN

I cannot wait to share the shenanigans from our home.  I am praying you will see us just as a normal family that is surviving and living on love, building a beautiful story and testimony.

Welcome back my sweet blog!  Ready to take this by storm.