Pictures from Kaitlyn's 16th birthday family party!

Shirts from Auntie Keri and Auntie Ally

Can you tell her favorite color is purple?

1st day of December...

Maren woke up this morning and asked, "is it winter yet? It is the first day of December!" SOOO CUTE!

Thanksgiving=Movies

I don't know why, but when I get together with family...sisters actually, we go out and watch movies. I hardly ever go to a movie when they are not there. So, the movies I saw this past week...
New Moon-Twice...and I am done. Kaitlyn and Hollie were sooooo excited for this one. We corraled a group of girls/women and Kaitlyn stood in line from 4:00 pm to save us a place. We had about 20 of us. By the time, it was time to go to the movie-I really didn't want to go! Taught seminary that morning, took Kaitlyn to get her braces off, took Steve to get his knee surgery, took Kaitlyn to the movies....and went to a band concert! I wanted to crawl in bed and I felt guilty for leaving my husband who was hurting! He supported us going and it was fun to be with the girls...
Anywhoo, if you are not a Jacob fan by the time that movie is over, nothing will turn you! Did have a good talk with the girls on the way home...Any man that makes you do extreme and stupid stuff...not good! And if he leaves you because he thinks it is best thing for you but doesn't include you in that conversation...not good! I don't think they will be going to a movie again with me soon.

Blind Side-LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!!!! So not just a football movie! Husband's first outing since surgery. Went with my brother and sister and their spouses. Great movie and Sandra Bullock rocks! I think the thing that I loved the best is that she was a strong woman and her husband just loved and supported her. Good to see in a movie.

Julie and Julia-$3.00 movie, went with sister and sister in law...LOVED IT!!!! This movie has stayed with me because Meryl Streep is so totally awesome. Seriously, is there nothing this woman can't do! You did not believe she wasn't Julia Child. A portrayal husbands loving and supporting their wives to go after their dreams. I seriously loved it and I think I will buy it.

North and South-BBC productions-watched with sisters huddled in my bedroom because the men were watching football in the lfamily room and the kids were sleeping in the bonus room! LOVED IT!!!! Ok, this is NOT a civil war movie-it is about the Industrial Revolution in England...soooo cute accents! Kind of a Pride and Prejudice where there and judgements made and misunderstandings but at least there is a kiss at the end of it-a good one too!!!!!!!

It was a great Thanksgiving break! So grateful for movies! :)

I am now a parent of a 16 year old!!!!!

Happy 16th Birthday Kaitlyn!!!!!!! Today is Kaitlyn's birthday and it has been an interesting one for the girl! We celebrated it yesterday while we still had family in town (we had over 29 people here for the week of Thanksgiving-it was great!) So, we had the family celebration last night but I got sick shopping for while shopping for the ingredients for her cake. Luckily, her Auntie Amy stepped in and made it. She got lots of cute clothes and we made her do a fashion show afterwards. Of course, my camera died-but her Auntie Ally took lots of pictures so we will get them from her.

We always tell the kids "birth" story on their birthday. Kaitlyn's is very memorable because she was a week late! I went with my mom and sister, Stephanie to go and see the movie "remains of the day" (kind of depressing)! I was so frustrated, uncomfortable and hormonal that I begged Steve to give me a Priesthood blessing so I would go into labor!!!! I remember Steve rubbing my back and saying, "I just don't think that is what it is for, honey!"

So, on a Sunday my mom took us to Temple Square (we were starving college students at the University of Utah) and she "walked" me into labor. The poor sister missionaries would come up and ask questions and my mom would say, "we are trying to get her to go into labor, so unless you can help us with that, we don't have any questions" You should have seen their faces!

But it worked, we went to the hospital at like 2:00 AM and had her at 8:30 AM with the help of forceps (nothing like looking down and seeing salad tongs in you!). She was so beautiful and I am forever grateful to her for making me a mother! She is still so beautiful and I am excited for her and the experiences that awaits her and love to see her blossom and grow. She is telling me now to head down for family council, so I better get going....

Happy Birthday my sweet Kaitlyn, I love you so!!!!!

Halloween 2009

Here are the pictures from our Halloween this year. It was a different Halloween for us, only Chase and Maren went trick or treating which means my kids are really growing up!

Hollie and Kaitlyn went to a party at their seminary teacher's house and McKay stayed home and passed out candy.

I told McKay he really should do something. So, he called a few friends over and they watched, Batthumb, Frankenthumb and the Blair thumb. Movies only twelve year old boys could love.

So, I felt like our Halloween was in shifts...

6:30-girls leave for party; 6:30-8:00 Trick or Treating (Chase got tired); 8:30-put the younger kids to bed; 9:00-teenage boys come over and I get to stay up and pick up the girls and wait until the teenage boys get picked up and....eat candy! :)

The woes of scouting!

Many of you know that I struggle with scouting-the overwhelmingness of it all. But I have been around enough to see good things come from scouting BUT my beef is now with the uniform!

Who knew that you could put all the merit badges on the sash backwards?!?!?!??! McKay went to a scout masters meeting and the new scout master is in the military and ripped his (my) scout shirt apart!
I asked McKay, "does it really matter, I mean will anyone else notice it besides Brother Hollingsworth?" He said, "mom, when I am standing up there with the other boys and all their sashes go one way, and mine goes the other, I think they will notice!"

UGH!!! SO, because I glued on all the merit badges, I need to go and buy a new one because the glue will not come off. Off to the scout store today...!O(#@&*($&#@(*^&(#&%$(*&!!!!!

Why didn't I listen to my grandmother???????

Ok, I am going to write a book someday about all the things my grandma said and how right she was. Usually they are profound or funny things. I thought this one thing she told me was kind of "oh that's just grandma spouting off again" when she said that she never bought Kool-Aid once it permanently dyed her wooden spoon. She went on about how it couldn't be good for you having all that dye-what was in it anyway? I shook my head and continued to stir the Kool-Aid. I am sure she had a cigarette in her hand when she told me so I think I was probably thinking I was good not to spout off about her "ciggie". ( don't get me wrong, I ADORE my grandma and feel a great sense of loss still to this day-even though she has been dead for over 10 years)

BUT...here she is, right again! On Thursday morning, rushing to take the kids to school and then off to work. Totally ready for work...I grab my water bottle and put one of those single crystal light packs in it. I put the plastic lid thingie on it and something goes wrong and it shoots up all over my face, hand, counter and floor. It is RED as RED can be juice mix and I could NOT get it off my face!!!! It totally dyed my face and hand!!! I went to work with RED streaks down my face, neck and hands!!!!!!!
Forget the wooden spoon! It was my skin that was dyed! Surely something that stains your skin for two days is not good for the body!!!!
Lesson finally learned Grandma-it just took my vanity to learn it!

Ding Dong, the psycho cat is gone!!!!

Forgot to update you all, those who questioned my sanity as to why we have kept psycho cat so long (you know who you are!)
When we moved, she was so freaked out, she moved her kittens and we couldn't find them. So, we moved to our new home (.5 miles away) and I felt so guilty just leaving her and the kittens there! Especially when the animal cruelty commercial came on!
I took McKay over and we looked and couldn't find her and he just bellows "Kitty" like he has for the past two years and she comes trotting from across the street. He picks her up and gives her loves and then opens a can of cat food for her and he starts looking for those kittens.
He finally started asking the neighbors and she moved them to a neighbors home 3 houses away. McKay got them all and got Minerva and we brought them to the new house where they stayed...ONE night...then Steve took them all to the pound. Thus the chapter ends on psycho cat and ALL cats in our home.

Thoughts on moving....

This is our new house. It doesn't look so big on the outside but somehow, it is HUGE-almost too big. I think it is 4700 square feet.

We are still unpacking and we have been in here for 3 weeks now. I think with each move, we can tell we are getting older because of how long it takes us to recover! We are just sooo tired. I slept in today until 10-10:00!!!! I mean I haven't done that since I had pneumonia...last May...ok, it hasn't been that long since I have slept in. BUT, I woke up to Steve bringing me his delicious banana pancakes (inspired by Jack Johnson song) If you have not had them, come and visit and Steve will make you some, they are delicious! Steve is the king of breakfast food an bbq-what more does one need?

What happens when you start a job...

that you don't love? I am on my second week training working for Central Valley Autism Project (CVAP). It is a great organization that uses Dr. Lovaas' ABA program and it has been written about and is thought very highly of and I was really excited to work there but I don't LOVE it.
Am I expecting too much? Should you LOVE the job you are in? On Monday, I was working with a child that is young and fairly new to the program and I spent the whole morning on the bathroom floor because we are potty training him and trying to do the program with him (make eye contact, give me a high five, sustain 15 seconds of looking at something) and I am sorry, but I don't want to spend a morning on the bathroom floor with another child-totally would and HAVE with my own-but not too thrilled with it. But someone needs to do it and I know that they will and can progress!
Maybe I should have had a clue when they talked about arm guards for biting, and head butting etc on my first day. I keep wondering if I need to just stick with it and maybe I would enjoy it more. I also think I can't just quit-I mean, I just don't quit-that just isn't me-especially only after 2 weeks.
On the positive side, I have started tutoring two students for dyslexia and LOVE that!!! SO, excited how this will change their lives. I would love to get more students and do more of that. I would REALLY love to tap into the home schooled kids so I can do it during the day when my kids are at school. (would that make me a hypocrite because I don't homeschool my kids?)

So, ideally, I want to get more dyslexic student to tutor and go and get my masters. So, I guess I better figure out how to do that.
AND move with all this going on-yes we are moving on Saturday-ugh!!!!

Out of the mouths of babes.....

Last night, I crawled in bed with Chase to "tuck him in" and say prayers with him. He asked me what the big thing on my chin is (yes, I have Mt Fuji growing on my chin!). I told him it was a pimple and he said, "oh, I thought it was a zit!"
I then explained to him that a pimple is a zit and he asked me why I have it. I told him I don't know why I have it and I wished that I didn't and he asked, "why don't you pray not to have them anymore?" I looked at him blankly and said, "umm, I don't know why I haven't done that yet" and he said, "I will do it for you now?"
I feel like one of the children of Israel who was bitten by the fiery snakes and wouldn't look on the staff that Moses held up because it was too easy. Called to repentance by my youngest!

Post Script on psycho cat

She had ONE more!!!! So, we are back to 4 orange ones, 1 calico and the other is actually a gray cat. The kids are in heaven but keeping their distance from post pardom psycho cat.

Psycho Cat!

Ok, I have too many posts about our cat, Minerva who truly is a psycho cat-so more than one post is too many BUT she had kittens at the end of April. We finally got rid of them at the beginning of July and she just had kittens AGAIN THIS MORNING! How can that be? She was still nursing??!?!?!?!?!?!?!??! We were going to take her in to get fixed but she didn't give us enough time!
She had them in the bushes this time and the sprinklers turned on this morning and they got all wet! She had 4 orange ones and 2 calico ones like her. The kids are so excited, of course, and Maren came up with the idea to name them from her favorite movie at the moment, Little Women. Oh, the excitement that was felt in our home, knowing that one of the boy kittens would be named Laurie! (The last litter was named after the Percy Jackson series and her first litter last year were named all Narnia names-so apparently we have a tradition going)

SO far, one of the orange ones have died, so I had to dispose of that (why did Steve have an early meeting in Sacramento this morning?) and Minerva only seems to be caring for one kitten. SO, I moved them into a box and then moved them into our "spare" garage where she has had the other 2 litters and locked her in. She isn't being the "good" mama she has in the past which worries me a bit because I think her hormones are out of whack and she will attack us like last time. I mean, Post pardom depression in cats is not fun!!!!! But who can blame her-12 kittens in 4 months-serious cause of whacked hormones!
Maybe I should get her some animal anti-depressants-I don't care what Tom Cruise says-post pardom is real-even in cats!!!!!!!!

RAGNAR relay race in Washington State!

Ok, I don't know why I do this, but I have done the Ragnar Relay Race for the past three summers. The first one I did was with 3 of my siblings and my neice along with a lot of my friends in Utah, starting from Logan and ending in Park City. It was horrible and I vowed to never do it again there but I LOVED running with people and the feeling I got finishing and hanging the big medal and number on my wall closet along with my medals/numbers from the Lake Tahoe 1/2 marathons. (maybe that is why my closet is smelling?!?!?! The "stinky" numbers!)
We then found out that they have the Ragnar Race in Washington state, running through the puget sound islands. My friend Jen and I flew up and joined my sister and my neice and a 15 year old stranger and ran it last year and had a BLAST! It was sooo fun.

SO, this year, Jen and I recruited 4 other people and my sister Keri recruited 5 other people and we ran it again! BEAUTIFUL-so BREATH TAKING BEAUTIFUL. I think I did my best ever even though I was the least prepared because I didn't put any pressure on myself. I just thought I would do my best and finish and that would be enough. I did 14.5 miles and walked maybe 2.5 in there and loved it.

Here are the pictures...

My elder sister Keri who ROCKED this year! Looking good!

Teammate Jessica leaving at "twilight" hence the dorky head light, vest and ankle reflector they make us wear.

The view at a quaint restaurant we discovered last year. The best burger and garlic fries EVER!

My "team" the HOTFLASHES! You too can join us this next spring, April 24-25. We will be doing the LA Ragnar from Santa Barbara to Dana Point on HWY 101-it will be beautiful! Come join us!

(because two of these ladies said they would never do it again :( -I wonder why? )

Maren's Baptism

Here is sweet Maren on her baptism day on July 11th, 2009. She is wearing a dress that her Grandma Hammarstrom made that all of her girl cousins have worn when they were baptized. Her cute hair is by Auntie Ally and her bow by her cousin Erika.

Steve baptized Maren and had mixed feelings about his jumpsuit NOT being the "elvis" jumpsuit-tight, stretchy with a belt!

Maren is wearing a dress that her Grammie Bingham made in Africa for her to wear after she was baptized. The beads on her necklace are from Africa too.

When Grammie came home for awhile before they went back to Africa, we went shopping to pick out the material and pattern. It was quite an experience! Maren wanted these dresses that were big and fluffy and looked like costumes or "mini" wedding dresses. I found myself saying, "I don't think that is appropriate for a baptism dress". We finally all agreed on one that was "fluffy" enough for Maren and "baptism worthy" for me!

Maren asked her Grandpa Hammarstrom to confirm her. Grandpa felt it was a priviledge to be asked and was happy to do it. It was a great day and were so glad to be able to share it with Maren.

First Day of School, Aug. 5th 2009

Ok, here they are-our first day of school pictures, it seems like I just posted pictures from last year!

McKay isn't in these pictures because he was at band when we took these-like Hollie was last year. Speaking of Hollie, she was not pleased that she had to wear here cheer outfit on the first day of school instead of the outfit she picked out.

Kaitlyn is a sophmore this year, Hollie a freshman, McKay is in 7th, Maren in 3rd grade and Chase in first!

Chase keeps asking me if it is still summer because they have started school. It is hard to explain that even though it is 101 outside and it is still summer, but they have to go to school!

Graduation pictures

These last few months have been full of graduations for our family. This picture of Chase is at his Kindergarten Graduation. They performed a little program and then we had a get together afterwards where his teacher Mrs. Kirschenman talked about each student. The one thing she said about Chase is that even though he seems very quiet and calm, he is a dare devil and came to school this year with two black eyes, a broken arm and a gash on his neck ! She also added that he is a sweetie. Thank goodness she knows our family and didn't call CPS!

This is my attempt of trying to take a picture of Hollie walking out of her 8th grade graduation. She had already unzipped her gown and was out of it so fast because she didn't want any pictures in it because it wasn't flattering.

All of us celebrating her night.

I agree with Hollie that graduation gowns are NOT flattering but I was soooo happy to wear mine! This is at my graduation-we are missing Hollie because she was at EFY.

I had dreamed of this day for awhile and I wanted our 2002 SLC olympic cowbell to be rung when my name was called and McKay took care of that for me. I was just hoping I wouldn't fall as I walked across the big stage. It was a great day!

It is finished....

I did it-I am DONE with bachelors degree!!!! I went to my last class tonight and I almost started crying as I walked out at the end of class! I am so grateful to be done but so grateful to have finished something I started over 20 years ago! YAHOOOOOO!!!!

My last paper....

Last night or I should say, this morning at 3:00 AM I finished my LAST PAPER of my bachelor's degree career!!!!! It was hard for me to do because I was NOT motivated and it needed to be 8 to 10 pages and after making all my points, I only had 4 pages! SO, I was just putting stuff and junk in while watching "the Nanny" on nick at nite (she is sooo funny, I swear my hair was just like that in the 80's! That is why I thought I was 5'4 when I am really only 5"3-1 inch of height baby!)
When I was done I clapped my hands and accidently woke up Steve and told him, "I am done!" and added, "this is the biggest bunch of crap I have ever written!"
I am going to write up the bibliography tonight, and do a power point presentation on it and then tomorrow I will work on my test and finish that in time for my LAST class on Thursday!!!!
I can't BELIEVE I am DONE-now what?

How do you teach girls to marry a man who is good to them?

Ok, seriously-I want feedback on this if anyone reads my blog!
I have been thinking about this a lot lately because I have seen it a lot lately. I watch couples interact and I would say that 6 times out of 10, the husband is not treating, talking to or about his wife in a way I want my daughters to be treated! I look at these smart, beautiful women being treated in a less than an acceptable way. I ask myself, am I being too harsh?, too judgemental ? because if Steve talked to me like that-giiirrrrl, he would get an earful and his life would be akin to hell for at least a month!!!!!!
But I know he wouldn't do it. We talk about this in my classes and I am always trying to understand it...why does a woman go with a man who talks/treats her badly? Did he always do so? Were the signs there and the women didn't see it? Did he turn unacceptable over night, once he "made the sale"? Why does a woman take it?
I guess I bring it up because my girls interact with boys from the ward that come from active families but I have watched their parents' relationships and think, "will the son pattern the father?", "can you teach your girls to look for the things without talking bad about certain couples?"
I know couples aren't perfect and I am sure people could and probably do watch my marriage and point out a lot of things that they would not accept but I asked Steve tonight, "since when is it ok to talk to your partner like that in front of other people????????" I mean, it isn't even like they are trying to hide it! And I just FEEL for the wives who try to play it down, make excuses for their husbands or explain why they are acting like jerks. Do the men not know how they sound?

I have thought when I see these things, I could quietly cough, "amen" like AMEN TO YOUR PRIESTHOOD, BROTHA!!!!!!!! so my girls could see that the way these men are acting is not quite right but then that seems like pointing out fault instead of teaching.
All I tell my girls is, "watch how the boys' parents treat each other and see how the boy treats his mother" I think I am going to add, "and his sisters" too.
Any ideas??????? Man, ANOTHER thing to worry about....this parenting stuff is hard!

The Best Movie!

Steve and the boys are at the father/son camp out tonight and as tradition goes, that means that the girls and I go out to eat and rent movies. Maren picked out a new little mermaid which is actually supposed to be old, like how it all began or something like that-it was endurable.
Kaitlyn has been begging, begging, begging to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and I just haven't been in the mood to watch it since it came out. I am so sick of Brad Pitt and the whole Brangelina thing and how people just love him and I want to say, "excuse me, he cheated on his wife-HELLOOOOO, he isn't THAT great!"
After mermaid, Hollie and Maren went to bed and I only stayed up to watch Benjamin Button to be with Kaitlyn and she fell asleep within the first 10 minutes! But I was knitting, so I figured I mind as well watch it and I am so glad that I did, it was WONDERFUL, just WONDERFUL! I was afraid it was going to be another Forest Gump which my grandmother said it so well, "why would I want to waste 3 1/2 hours of my life watching a movie about an idiot?" Not too politically correct but I didn't LOVE that movie but I LOVED Benjamin Button, I just sobbed, I mean all out sobbed at the end. Maybe I should watch it again after the steroids have gotten out of my system but alone after midnight on a Friday night-it was great!

P.S. Pneumonia

Ok, so I didn't reach my goal of taking a shower yesterday, but I did take one today around noon and it wore me out! I had to go and take a nap afterwards! Is that normal? I really thought I would be a lot better than I am by now. Everyday, I have to think of ways I am getting better so I don't get frustrated. For example, well...today I took a shower, the first time since Saturday-eeewww I know TMI! I am not coughing up so much stuff and it is not longer bright green but has turned to regular yellow-see improvements!!!!! I am still wheezing but not so much gurgling and I have more energy at night because of my prednizone! I am going to try to channel that energy now and go and read all the journal articles I have printed out about Autism for my last ever paper and presentation!!!!

How does one get pneumonia in 95 degree weather?

Yes, I have it, I have pneumonia and it is a pain! I want to know, how did I get pneumonia when it is dang hot outside-100 degrees yesterday-not that I would know because I was in bed all day coughing my lungs out-literally!
I am mad that I have this right now-not a good time-a report and paper due on Thursday, Hollie's birthday today and we are supposed to go to the mall to get her makeover at clinique because at 14 in our house you can wear make up and clinique is a good place to take them so they go for a "natural" look instead of "look at me, I can wear make up now" that you can see a mile away!
All I do is sleep and cough, sleep and cough and take medicine, anti-biotics, steroids, inhalers etc. I knew I had to go to the doctor when after a morning camp meeting on Saturday, I slept for 4 hours and Steve woke me up and I had the "wheeze of death"-I am not kidding-when I would breathe out, I could hear gurgling like when my grandma was dying-that got me to call the doctor. SHe said I first had bronochitis that has now gone into pneumonia. Has does it "go into pneumonia" don't you either get the virus or bacteria and get it? Have I infected anyone at class and the camp meeting when I was coughing my guts out? grrhhhgrrrhhehelshjdoaiudfpoaseifuaosdkfj;saldkfj-not happy!
I am going back to bed now, my goal today is to shower-I am sure my family will appreciate it. That may be my one gift to Hollie-hey your mom doesn't stink today! alsdjf;alsdkjf;alsdkfj;asldkfjas;dlkfj I am so mad that I am sick!

My apolgies to Firth, Idaho!

Ok. my sister Ally took these pictures of Steve. The first one, a nice picture of my husband at my nephew's wedding making faces at the camera. Then my sister begged him to do his "Firth, Idaho look" which is what he is doing in the second picture. He has been doing this look for YEARS and I don't know how it started or why it is indicative on Firth, Idaho but it makes us laugh so hard we cry! Even my brother in law from Shelly thought it was hilarious and isn't Shelly and Firth, Idaho about the same? (Oh, I know I will get grief from him on that!)

More pictures of the wedding...

Too Precious!

Here is my niece, Brooke Allyson Adams who is two weeks old. Her brother Hunter calls her "agok". I take the Salt Lake Shuttle express back to Utah this afternoon. Steve and the kids are traveling to Utah today and I am so excited to see them tonight! I have so missed them. I missed Chasie's first t-ball game yesterday. Steve said he would hit the ball and then run to third base instead of first! I can't believe I missed that! He even wore underwear! (if you don't know about McKay not wearing underwear to his first game, ask me to tell it to you-it is a classic!)

I am glad that I have been able to come here though. Ally and Brad took Brooke into the emergency room on Tuesday night because she had caught a cold and was having a hard time breathing. She was running a temperature and the doctor's took a chest x-ray to make sure that she didn't have pneumonia which she didn't but we watched her closely yesterday and she ran a fever all morning and just looked "sick". I had the challenge of sucking the snot out of her nose which I am pretty good at from when Kaitlyn had RSV so young. Glad I can be of use!

I cannot believe how much Rexburg has changed-especially Ricks. On Tuesday night I went to pick up some girl's from my ward to take them to dinner and they told me they lived across from the girl's dorm. I knew where the dorms are-hello I lived in them for two years! But, as I drove there, I could not go up the road that I thought I could. It is all blocked off, filled with new buildings and I had to go around, pass more new buildings until I could finally head up the hill to get to the girl's apartments. We went to Applebee's-yes, Rexburg now has an Applebee's and then out to Wal mart so they could get some things-yes, it has a Wal Mart too! It is so weird to see all the young married couples too. They even have school married housing! So weird, because it has changed so much, but the Spirit of the school is the same-wonderful!

Rexburg Revisited

I am in Rexburg, Idaho at this very moment and I am very cold!!!!! My sister Ally keeps telling me that it isn't that cold because it is raining and I let her know that this is like my winters in California-am I a wimp now or what?
Had a great time in Kaysville, UT yesterday with my dear friend Areta. She picked me up at the airport at 9:30 AM and we just played all day. We went to Keva juice and had a smoothie and then we went to her house and she cut and colored my hair, went out to lunch at my favorite, Rumbi Island Grill. She had an "activity day" thing that night and got to see a lot of friends from my old ward and then a bunch of us went out for a girl's night out to Kayville theatre-it was great. My kids are really thriving in California and I am glad we are there but sometimes, I really miss living in Kaysville.
Sweet Areta drove me to Rexburg this morning and we talked the whole way and were so deep in our coversation, that we missed the turn off at Idaho Falls to get to Rexburg! We made it though and I was so glad to see Ally and hold cute Brooke. She is so cute and small!
Steve and kids are hanging in there. Steve made the comment, "it is really hard to get all the kids to where they need to be" YEP, it sure is and that is why I am enjoying these next few days "off". I only need to chase my 2 year old nephew, Hunter around -I am exhausted already and we finally put in Winne the Pooh-he is all boy and so cute and so fun!

Pictures from my party!

This is what Steve gave me for my birthday. It is a shadow box of things of my grandpa's who I love dearly. It is his graduation picture from the University of Utah (a fellow Ute), a picture of my grandma and grandpa, a neurology textbook of his from medical school, his stethoscope, his clippers that he always carried around with him, his dog's tag for Duke, a German Shepard that my grandma gave to him one year and his business card that has a phone number and says, "call day or nite" like any doctor would do that now. It meant so much to me for many reasons. First, I LOVED and ADORED my grandpa and knew he loved me. Second, Steve worked so hard on this. He didn't just go to a store a buy a gift card, he put a lot of time and effort into this gift and it is the best ever. Third, I can't believe my mom parted with these things that she holds so dear and gave them to me.

Isn't the cake so pretty? Steve ordered this from a bakery in town by his office. It was HUGE and served at least 40 people who were at the party. We weren't sure how to cut it but luckily, my friend Shelly did. It is when you cut out a circle in the middle, cut slices around the outside and then cut slices in the middle-like a wedding cake. It was a white cake with fudge filling in the middle-so good! We had a great time at the party, kids running around, girls dressing up singing high school musical, men watching the basketball game, ladies chatting-it was my kind of party!

Turned 40 and got in a fender bender...will this be a pattern for now on?

Yep, today is my 40th birthday. People keep asking me how I feel etc and I tell them-I feel 27! If anyone asks me how old I am, my first inclination is to say, "27"-I don't know if that is a good or bad thing.
and Yep, I got in a fender bender today. I was backing up after dropping Kennedy off (the baby that I watch) to her mother. I was parked in the Ripon El parking lot that is attatched to Ripon High and I backed into a pole and scratched poor Rosie (our car, I think most of you know we name our cars). Poor Chasie was "hugging" Rosie all the way home, whispering to her that she would be ok. It is better than it sounded but it is probably a costly to repair; scratches on the back right side and a little damage to the bottom of the light. I waited and the guy on the golf cart came by and I gave him my name, phone number and he took my license number. I asked him if we should call the police and he said no, that the pole had a hook and it got riped out and the screws need to be replaced. I told him to call me and let me know the cost of it.
He then asked, "so, how did you run into it" and I said, "I backed into it-what do you think, that I just ran into it head on?" Like duh-how bad of a driver do you think I am? I can see things in front of me-just not in back of me! Cynthia, Kennedy's mom was saying "you know her car got the worst of it and you should really make those poles more rubberized!" Then she felt guilty that I dropped her daughter off and it somehow was her fault and on my birthday. I left her saying,"Don't you feel any guilt about this!!!!!!" The guy did say that the JROTC advisor did run into head on-you think they would get a clue! (Of course, it is there fault, not mine!:))

After picking up all the kids, I took a nap, got Steve and McKay off to their campout, went and got my traditional birthday pedicure and then the kids and I had dinner and went to the High School's musical revue of Disney songs. It was great! We had a good time and a great day over all!

I have a new neice!

This is my new neice, Keilani Bingham. She is my baby brother Mitch's daughter-his first born. Is she not just the cutest????? I can hardly wait to hold her! She was born last Friday.

Her birth is a miracle as she didn't come out breathing. If she would have been born in a second or third world country, she wouldn't have made it. I don't think the doctors will let Kristen, who is 4"11 go for so long next time. Keilani weighed 7 lbs. and 11 oz. She is a big baby for our Kristen.

You know, I am sure Mitch and Ally think we don't get excited about having new neices and nephews or new cousins for our kids-but we DO!!! We are so excited to have new family members!

I get to go to Rexburg on May 1st in order to help Ally with her new baby. She is to be induced tomorrow-Wednesday and it is supposed to be a girl. I can hardly wait to go and play with my nephew, Hunter who is two and help Ally and hold her new baby. There is nothing better in the world than to hold a baby and smell that sweet baby smell...it is truly heaven!

Family Pictures

I know my mom will want to see these photos so if anyone else is interested-enjoy the Hammarstrom clan @ mom's funeral

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McKay, Maren and Chase in the back of the car asleep.

Maren and her cousin, Katie

Chase at the funeral with his new splint.

Kimberly and Matt's baby, cute Melissa who is sooo much fun!

Mom, this is one of the necklaces from the red beads you gave me from Africa. The other necklace is longer, with just the red beads and silver things in between.

Maren and her cousin, Lauren-Jim and Kris's daughter.

Utah-one looonnnggg trip!

Man, this trip to Utah was a LONG drive! I don't know, I mean we have driven from California to Utah millions of times but this was especially hard. I don't know if it was the nature of the visit or could it be that we didn't have a new "Percy Jackson" story to listen to (the new one comes out in MAY!).
McKay was bothered by everything and everyone. I used to think it was my kids personalities but now I think the age has a lot to do with it too. I think 6th to 8th grade is HARD. Maren seems to delight in having the ability to bother people too. One long trip, I'm telling ya!

It was good to see everyone and have all of Steve siblings together. We had sent the kids down to the school to play and an hour before the viewing, Chase fell off the zipline and broke his wrist! We were a little late for the viewing but what are you gonna do? He has it in a splint and a sling and I am supposed to take him in today to get a full cast on.

So, we drove to Utah on Monday, had the viewing on Tuesday, funeral on Wednesday, drove home on Thursday in time for me to rush to my class, another viewing in California on Friday (it was packed!) and a graveside service on Saturday. A very long week and we didn't have anything planned for Easter because we were supposed to be at my aunt's cabins in Philo. So, late Saturday night Steve and I hunted for what was left at the store while his brother, who is Jewish, boiled our Easter Eggs! But it all worked out in the end and everyone is happy and really, there is no better time to have a funeral than Easter time.

Steve's mom

On Thursday we received the news that Steve's mom, Sarah Hammarstrom, passed away rather unexpectedly. People say she has been sick for awhile and has had her health problems etc. I don't care how long she has been sick, when it is your mother-it is unexpected!

I have thought about her and the great legacy she has left. She raised 7 wonderful children, 6 normal, loud, rambunctious boys and one tough girl to deal with all those brothers. She had them pretty close together, she delivered her 5th when her oldest started kindergarten. She loves her children. The term, "mama bear" comes to mind because she was very protective of them. She gave a lot of service and her children do it naturally because of her example.

I look at my children and see Sarah in them. Kaitlyn is creative like she was, Hollie likes to plan parties and social things like she did, McKay loves history and geneology like she did, Maren Marie, she has Sarah's middle name. Chase is built like a Hammarstrom-tall and skinny-that is what she would say. She LOVED, LOVED being a grandma.

This morning I told Maren something like, "well, that is because Dad is great" (I can't even remember what we were talking about but there really isn't a reason, "Dad is great" fits about everything). Maren said, "he got that from Grandma Hammarstrom". Thanks Sarah for raising such a great son, husband and father!

Steve's New Calling...

Steve received a new calling a couple weeks ago. He is the stake excecutive secretary. At first, I worried about him because he looked like he was ready to throw up. I worried about how he would do with the added meetings and I know he does not consider himself to be very organized but I think he does well in whatever he takes on.
Then I started to wonder what this would mean for our family and well...me. I mean, I have been so spoiled to have Steve home on Sundays since he served in a bishopbric while we were at school. Then it turned into he kind of took over Sundays because I would have early morning meetings and would be wiped out after Primary. The Sunday before he was called, I was rushing around putting some finishing touches on a lesson and Chasie came to me because his button had fallen off his shirt and I told him to go to Dad and ask him to sew it on. Chase was amazed and kept saying, "I can't believe my Dad can sew!" I said, "Of course he can, he can do anything!"
The thing is, when we told the kids on Saturday night, they felt the same way. McKay asked, "who is going to iron my clothes for Sunday" YES-Steve irons the clothes! He likes his shirts ironed the way his grandma did it and so he irons his clothes and the kids clothes and then usually asks if I need anything ironed...I know, I know-I am so spoiled!
Then the kids asked, "who is going to make us Sunday breakfast?" Yes, Steve usually makes a big Sunday breakfast and I almost hate to say this, but two years ago, when we had the later church, Hollie, Maren and Steve would give me breakfast in bed-almost every Sunday!!!!!
and when I served as Primary President, I don't know if I should admit this but Steve would make dinner too! I am feeling like such a clod now but it started when I would go to my early morning meetings and I would put the roast out the night before and tell him to put it in the crockpot in the morning before church and he would season it in the most divine way and so....he just started doing it.
So, this calling is really a life change because I have to STEP IT UP on Sundays! I want you all to know that I've ironed the clothes for Sunday, I have made homemade sweet rolls and sweet Hollie made blueberry muffins for the Sunday breakfasts so far and we have dinner waiting on the table when he walks through the door on Sunday night. (Not like I don't do that everyday anyway) but I worry if he hasn't eaten all day and so I am ready to feed him when he gets home
AND we have been 10 minutes early to church since he has been called! Now that is truly a miracle!

Lincoln's birthday

Now that Chasie is a big kindergartner, he is learning about all the holidays. In February, when he came home with his cute "Lincoln hat" and we talked about celebrating President Lincoln's

birthday he kept telling me, "Mom, I'm afraid you're going to forget Lincoln's birthday" to which I responded, "honey, I'm not going to forget, you will all be home from school-trust me, I won't forget" but he said that two or three times. So, it finally dawned on me that he had a preconceived idea about how Lincoln's birthday should be celebrated so I asked him, "Chasie what do you think we should do on Lincoln's birthday?" He said, "we should have cake and ballooons and decorations and candy etc." I finally said, "How about we make a cake and have McKay (Mr. History) tell us what he knows about Lincoln?" Chase said," well Mom, I know about Lincoln too" I told him that was great, that he could tell us what he knew too and that it could be our FHE.

So, come Monday when we celebrated Lincoln's birthday-we went to a movie as a family, (I think we saw Paul Blart, Mall Cop-McKay loved it) then we had dinner and Chase and McKay told us what they knew about Lincoln, then Maren had a game planned out which we hid her 4th of July beanie baby and did "hot and cold" (she is a clever one with planning games, let me tell you) and we ate cake and sung "Happy Birthday" I think we even put a candle in it. It was great fun and he was thrilled.

Yesterday he asked me, "so, how do we celebrate April Fool's day?" I said, "we don't"!

Carpathia; a McKay story

This is McKay's rocket that he built for scouts and they all set them off one Saturday morning. But this post isn't about that...
Friday night McKay and Hollie had a band concert. McKay's band played one song called Carpathia and the band teacher, Mr. Yearsly read how the Carpathia ship received the SOS signals and flew to the rescue of the Titanic and saved at least 700 survivors. He went on to say that when he started to read the story to the band, one student already knew the story and recited to the class in great detail. Steve and I looked at each other and whispered "McKay" and then Mr. Yearsly said, "the school system must be doing something right because McKay knew the whole story" McKay waved to the audience at the mention of his name and everyone laughed. Steve said, "that's my boy!" It was cute!

Ok, I take the previous post back!

You know how I wrote that I would like to "freeze" my kids in time and keep them that way for awhile? Well, I meant I would like to freeze them that way 3 years ago!!!!! It has been quite a weekend!
Hollie made cheerleading squad (yeah Hollie!) She couldn't understand why I wouldn't let her hang out with a bunch of would be seniors that night. Gee, Hollie, I wonder why? I told her that Seniors think it is funny to get freshmen drunk and she said, "they are good girls mom, they wouldn't do that" So, she can judge character by spending 1 hour a day with these girls for the past 4 days-I don't THINK so!
McKay spent the night at a friend's house on Friday who is also into Star Wars and Legos like he is and he wanted to know if he could play a game that is rated "Teen" when he KNOWS our family rule is no. I asked, "so McKay, you are asking me to play a game that is rated "teen" when you know our family rule is no? I DON'T THINK SO!!!! I am mad he even asked me!
Then, here is the clencher, Kaitlyn got asked on a date-a real date! A boy who I think she is interested in but if I bring it up, she blushes ALL over-seriously. I came home yesterday and he was watching Twilight with her and two of her friends. She invited him. I told her last night, "OK, Kaitlyn that is fine if you like him (she is blushing and saying, "MOM") but you have made your move and don't do anything now. another "MOM"! I said, "If you do anymore, you are going to look too forward, too eager and like (a girl from our ward who is very aggressive) and she said, "OOOHHHHH, I get it". BUT, this boy calls her and asks her out to the movies and she says "YES!" She told Hollie, and Hollie said, "Kaitlyn, that is a date!" So, Hollie thinks she can solve it by going with them. I get home and say, "NO, that is a date with a sister along and that doesn't work until after you are 16!" We thought maybe we could get a group to go but then Steve said that they would still pair off and we didn't feel good about it. So, we had to call our sweet Kaitlyn in and tell her that she had to call him back and tell him that she couldn't go because she isn't 16 yet. Oh the tears! I just held her and reminded her where the rule comes from (the prophet and Heavenly Father) and why He has it (because he loves you and wants to protect you and studies say that kids who date before they are 16 get into trouble). We decided that we could have a game night so she could invite him along with other kids to it. And this is supposed to happen AFTER the Young Women's broadcast.

Steve and I decided that for FHE, we are going to have role playing such as, "what do you say when a boy your really like calls you and asks you out on a date but you aren't 16 yet?"

Let's see in a fear if I still want to freeze them in time and let them stay that way a little longer!!!!!!

Career Day!

ok, I'll admit it, I stole this picture from Beth's blog so she deserves the credit. I was inside straightening my hair because I had just blown it dry and it was HUGE and frizzy and I couldn't go outside like that!

Anywhoo, can you tell what they want to be? Maren has her hair in a bun and is borrowing Kaitlyn's glasses-yes, a stereotypical teacher. She kept telling me, "non of my teachers wear their hair in a bun!" But I thought she looked so cute.

Walker is a doctor and looks quite spiffy and Chase? Well, most people thought he was a cowboy but he is an archaelogist like Indiana Jones. He wanted to be a policeman but of course he decided this 10 minutes before Beth came to pick them up and we couldn't find the costume and then he couldn't find his Indiana Jones costume and then he wanted to wear this black, battered hat and I just couldn't let him go like that so this is Steve's fishing hat! I prayed that it would come home with him and it did! As you can see, he was happy with it and that is all that matters!