Christmas pictures!!......finally!

Finally!! Qwest has finally figured out what was wrong with the laptop internet, maybe it took so long because they ship their tech support calls over seas and the people can't understand or speak english. Enough venting, on to CHRISTMAS!!

My little bro, Levi, and his friend Sennad came this year for 10 days. It was great, we went to the dino museum (pictures later I forgot to download them from Levi's camera), the boys went snowboarding a couple of times and the kids bugged them instead of me! It was a great trip!! I wanted a light christmas this year but because Brett worked a TON of overtime and Levi and Sennad couldn't control themselves we had a decent Christmas. I was just grateful that we had a great day, everyone was safe and the boys got home ok. We didn't even have to go anywhere on Christmas day...it was PERFECT!!

almost two weeks!

Sorry everyone that it's been almost two weeks since I've blogged anything. We have been doing things to blog but I've been sick the past two weeks. IT SUCKS! I don't have a fever or anything, just coughing alot. I don't think its catching because the kids don't have it (knock on wood) Levi is coming tomorrow night!! I don't think you know how excited I am to see my little bro!! YIPEE!! So as soon as I start feeling better i will be back to blogging!! Hope everyone enjoys the snow!! (Yes, Ali Martin even you!!)

My Birthday!

This is what I made for the beads I bought for my birthday. Pretty cool huh? These pictures are backwards. Brett helped the kids make growth charts for themselves. They are awsome because you can put pictures of how old they were at what time you measured them!!

This one is Jetty's

this one is gage's

And Khloe's

And this is all of them all together. we just need to hang them up and get their measurement from the doc. Brett did a great job.....helping the kids.....I love them!!

Happy Birthday to me!!

I just had my last birthday! no I don't think I'm going to die before my next one, I just will be 29 for the rest of my life!! It will be sweet. I can barely see myself past 18 let alone 29. Crazy!! Brett and I went out to dinner while Val and Wil watched the kids. It was really nice. Brett helped the kids make growth charts for themselves. That was my present from the kids. And Brett humored me by going to the craft store with me so I could pick out some beads for the necklaces I wanted to make. What a great husband!! All in all it was a great day!! I will post pictures of the growth charts because I think they are AWSOME. It will be later today or this week. I need to make a tree for thanksgiving....more about that later. thanks for the birthday wishes!!

My Ode to Carrie!!

I meet my friend Carrie thru Brett. They worked together at UPS. After we moved down here, Carrie and Brandon and their little boy Finn came to visit. We started talking about socks and she thought it was funny that all I wore was white socks. She was wearing the most interesting socks, they didn't match her outfits and I thought it was a little loopy. BUT I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT!! I love socks now. Last year I wanted socks for christmas, and I got to pick out some. I didn't do anything to crazy becasue I didn't think I was going to be wearing them alot. While Brett and I were in WA for Oktoberfest I needed to buy some warm socks so I bought some knee high socks in blue argyle. (I LOVE ARGYLE) I fell in love with them. Target was having a sell on knee high socks so I had to go buy some more. Even an argyle pair!! So Carrie, thank you for opening my eyes to socks and how cool they can really be!! Carrie is also SUPER creative and she makes fleece hats for little kids. Her website is http://www.funnyfinn.etsy.com/. you should check some of her stuff out!! So here are some pictures of my awsome socks. I know its a touch weird to give someone thanks for turning you on to socks. But I love my socks so much and it's all because of Carrie!! thanks!!

we are going to have to wait a little longer....sorry

I was going to do this awsome blog about my friend Carrie, but because the computer is being stupid, we will have to wait. This blog will need pictures for the full effect. So until I can figure it out you will have to wait in suspense!!

Wow, I need to get on the ball!!

I know I can't keep blaming the computer for not blogging, but I'm going to. The internet is super slow for some reason.....well I know the reason Qwest sucks!!! Ok well things have been going well here. Khloe still loves preschool, Gage is getting better at talking. I think it's a little of him talking better and me understanding him better so it's really nice. Jett is getting over an ear infection so that was fun for about at week. And he's starting to stand up by himself. And we are having Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year. I'm excited, a little scared and stressed but it's going to be lots of fun with all the family at our house!! I told my friend Carrie that I will be writing a blog about her.....it will have to wait until tomorrow!!

Here's my Tag!!

What is your husbands name? Brett
How long have you guys been married? 5+ years
How long did you date? 8 months
How old is he? the big 30
Who is taller? Brett
Who can sing best? Brett of course I don't sing at all
Who is smarter? I would have to say we are about even but it's smart in different things
Who does laundry? I always do
Who pays the bills? that would be me
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do
Who mows the lawn? I have never mowed a lawn in my life so that would be Brett
Who cooks dinner? it's 50/50
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? most of the time it's me even when I'm not
Who kissed who first? Brett kissed me first
Who wears the pants? I would say Brett but I can crack the whip when I need to

Oh Yeah, one more thing!

I forgot one more picture from trick or treating. There is a very nice lady that lives on the street that we use to and she gives everyone hot chocolate on Halloween. So Brett was pushing Jett in the stroller and must have spilled some on him without knowing it because when we got home and I saw Jett in the light this is what I saw. What a mess! Don't worry it wasn't hot.

Preschool Program

Khloe's preschool puts on a little singing program for Halloween. It's really cute and like the primary program she sang really loud. There is one song that they do called "black cat" and it gets stuck in my head. It wasn't so bad this year because she didn't sing it around the house as much. But I was all excited because this is the last year that we would have to hear it but then Brett brought to my attention that Gage will be singing it soon. Yea.....I can hardly wait!!

Trick or Treat!!

This is the third installment of Spooky Halloween! going Trick or treating, was fun, it wasn't too cold, a little windy and the weather people were wrong because it RAINED!! We didn't get soaked and I'm grateful the kids only like to go down one street. They were so cute in their costumes!! We had fun!

Spooky Halloween!!

I don't think I'm going to be able to get all the pictures in one post so I will make this 3 posts. So this first post is from the pumpkin patch with Brett's family. We go to Pack's Pumpkin Patch. I was worried that it was going to be packed because it was the last saturday before Halloween. But it wasn't and there were still a ton of good pumpikns left. We always have lots of fun picking pumpkins and spending time with the family.

Quit being selfish and think of me first!!

that's just a little quote from my good friend Hailey. I love it. So here are some pics of the kids...still don't have any from Court and Michelle from oktoberfest (hint, hint). We are going to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and it's BRett's week off and it's so nice because he's not working any extra days. A whole week with Brett what am I going to do with myself. yea!!

Fall is in the air...well sort of

I would normally love this time of year, the crisp night air, the changing leaves and all that other fun fall time stuff. But it's way to warm here right now. It's nice but at the same time it's not. i miss Seattle fall. Have you ever really noticed that it's not ever sweater weather here. We go from tank tops and t-shirts to winter coats almost overnight. And the weather is nice now but you know that its going to be cold enough to snow by halloween. So that's my venting about the weather here. One more reason why I miss Seattle. Oh well what can you do!!

I want to move back!!

We got back from Seattle Sunday night. It was such a great trip and it makes Brett and I realize that we want to move back. Not until he's done with school though, so no one in Utah needs to worry yet. Friday we hung out with Levi, and meet his new girlfriend (which we like alot!). Saturday the boys watched the football game while Michelle and I went shopping. After lunch we headed up to Levenworth for Oktoberfest. It's an authentic German town. It looks like a christmas village, so in the winter time I'm sure it looks awsome. We ended up driving back that night because there was no hotels. (it's one of the biggest festivals in the nation!) Sunday we got ready to go to the airport, and went to the new southcenter mall to get something for the kids adn then went home. It was a little chilly because it had snowed, crazy!! We didn't take any pictures so I'll have to wait for Court and Michelle to email me some pictures. But it's good to be home with the kids, they had fun at Grandma's but it great to see them again!!

getting tagged??!!

Ok Ali here you go , ya jerk. I guess I'm supposed to write 6 random things about myself and then tag 6 other people by telling them with a tag. So I think I only have like 5 people so we shall see how this works,

1. Believe it or not I'm a very shy person until I think you can handle the real me. I think it's a good idea to test the waters so to speak with people I don't know before I unleash the full personality of Jaycee!!

2. Nothing irrates me more then when people slide thru a door without checking to see if there is someone behind them about to go thru. Also when there is two doors side by side they go thru the wrong door (yes there is a right and a wrong door, it's like driving!!)

3. Wait there is something that irrates me more.....people who don't pick up their feet when they walk, please don't do that around me, it takes all my strength not to cut your feet off.

4. I like to scare kids at halloween but hate to be scared myself.

5. I will never go bungee jumping or jump out of an airplane because I have dreams that I fall and hate the feeling of falling, and the fact that in my dreams I always hit the ground.

6. I would like to move back to Washington because I miss the water and the rain!!

Alright so this is who I tag, Carrie, Cat, Renae,
Sorry it's not the full 6 but I'm kinda lame!!

fall Cleaning

For some reason I seem to do my spring cleaning in fall...go figure. But I think it's a great idea, making room for all the decorations for fall, Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas and new years. I've been trying to get Brett to go through his closet and get rid of the clothes that he hasn't worn in more then a year....he's a little reluctant, I don't know why. I'm getting rid of all my maternity clothes so if you know anyone one that is prego or is going to be let me know so I can give them to people that need them.

Jetty is crawling really well....too well in fact, He was crawling close to the railing and our railing is not up to code. He backed up and got stuck (Thank God!) I looked over and he was grunting because his head and shoulders got stuck so he didn't fall down the stairs. But it scared the poop at of me. Once again if anyone has any ideas about what to do about the gap, any ideas would be appreciated. He's got 4 teeth too. exciting times!

Gage is starting to talk a little better, I think we are going to wait until February before we call the early intervention people. But he's being very much like a little boy. Kicking Jett, pushing Khloe and throwing his toys everywhere. Boys will be boys I guess. But he's in for a big surprise when Jett gets older!!

Khloe is enjoying preschool and learning alot. She's being a little mom to the two younger boys, but they don't lsiten to her anymore then they listen to me. She is a great helper though and I don't know what I would do without her!

Brett is doing well in school. Well in that last two classes he is taking. He dropped two classes but it's better that he did. He took a math class that was was too high and the other class was a little too hard for him right now. But he enjoys Acting and sociology.

Thats about it for the Hammerstrom family. We leave for seattle in a week from Friday so I'm really excited about that. Hopefully we won't forget the camera so we can take some cool pictures of Oktoberfest!

I know its been awhile

The computer is being stupid again so until it's fixed or I get unlazy and download some software onto the laptop it's going to be a minute before I get some new pictures up. Khloe had her first primary program today and it was great! She was the loudest singer and had a pained look on her face the whole time. It was a riot!! Then we went to Lagoon with Brett's mom, Me, Khloe, Her cousins and an Aunt and 2 uncles. It was a lot of fun and it wasn't too hot. Wicked is an awsome roller coaster and I recommend it to anyone!! So more pictures......soon.....I hope!

So what's the virdict??

I got my hair done on friday night. Just needed a change of pace and since it's fall I thought I would go darker. It makes my eyes look really blue. And when I look at myself in the mirror out of the corner of my eye, it makes me stop and say, 'who is that, oh yeah it's me!!" So let me know what you think!!

Different Look

I'm going to get my hair done today for a different look. I will post pictures when I'm done and you can tell me what you think!! I hope you all like it. Only brett knows what I'm doing and he's excited for me. Also we are going to an Oktoberfest in Levenworth, WA. Just Brett and I no kids......I'm sure I will be ok, But I know I will miss them immensly. But I have until the 10th of October to prepare myself!!

I love camping!!

Camping was such a blast!! As we were driving to Buckhorn Wash on Thursday, the skies were really dark and right where we were driving to had lots of thunder and lighting. I was a tad concerned because last time we were there the tent flooded. Granted we have a new tent but I didn't really want to be putting a tent with metal poles up in a lighting storm. A sheriff stopped us and told us not to go down there because 3/4 of the camp ground was underwater. But we were determined and by the time we got close the storm was starting to clear up. The crazy thing is as soon as we rounded a corner into the camp ground the sun was shining right on us!! So we knew it was going to be ok. Well it sort of was. The place we camped last year you didn't have to pay, so since no one was camping in the camp ground they decided to turn the place we were at into a pay place. I can see the reasoning, there was bathrooms and better dirt roads but we couldn't take the 4-wheelers on the dame trails we did last year. But what can you do, there was still enough trails and mud to keep us busy. So we picked out a spot and started setting up the GINORMOUS tent. It didn't take us that long but once we got everything inside we realized it's not really that big. We did have in there two queens air mattresses, a pack in play, two huge bags for clothes and still had room to move around in. So it worked out really well. The kids were great the whole time. Towards the end Khloe got a little moody because she was in the sun for too long, and Jett couldn't crawl around on the ground so he was a little perturbed. Gage was a touch whiny because he couldn't climb a tree like the other kids. We had fun on the four wheelers, even Brett's mom ( I think she wants to buy one!!). I can't wait to go next year!!
The first picture is of the cliff face that's by our campsite.....Brett wanted to climb it until the sheer face but I wouldn't let him.....sorry babe, you've got to much to think about!! But he was able to climb a big boulder that fell off a cliff when we went on a night ride. It was pretty fun!!

A camping we will go...again!

Thursday we leave for Buckhorn Wash!! I'm super excited to try out the new tent I bought. It's ginormous!! (18x10 to be exact) It's a great story so let me tell you. Last year our tent leaked so we decided to get rid of it. Well that and we have 3 kids plus us and all of our junk to put in a tent now. I looked online and I found one for $200 that was 20x10. My smart bro-in-law Jason said I should look at Sports Authorityand Big 5. Sports Authority didn't have anything big enough. So I headed to Big 5 and got a little excited because they were having a sale on camping stuff. I went in and saw a sigh that said that an 18x10 tent was $99!! I couldn't believe my luck. I couldn't find anymore so I asked a sales lady and she said that was all they had. I was CRUSHED!! Then she suggested she could look in another store had one...and they did!! I raced to the other store and bought it. I took it to Jason and Kristy's to use their front yard to set it up, ya know making sure it was big enough. HOLY CRAP!!! I know that 18 feet by 10 feet is big but I guess I really didn't realize just how big it really was. It's like 3 seperate tents pushed together, it has removable room dividers and 3 doors and the top is mesh so you can see out side (there's a rainfly in case it rains). It didn't take that long to set up once we figured it out. And being the awsome tent roller I am (with the help of Jason, Austin and Tyler) we were able to get it back in the bag!! So after we get back I will be posting pictures of my awsome tent. Hope everyone has a great weekend while we are gone!!

Happy Birthday Scotty!!

The 4th is Scott's birthday. As a matter of fact it's also Brett's sister, Ali's birthday too. It's kinda trippy that the oldest and the youngest were born on the same day. I didn't think Scott's death was going to affect me the way it has. I realize (of course too late) that he really was a great brother-in-law. I wasn't the friendliest to him all the time, sometimes downright rude, but he never said anything mean to me or behind my back (at least not that I know of!!). He was always polite to me and the kids and was never rude. He did somethings that I wish he hadn't but that evil part of his life is over now and I realize that wasn't who he really was but that's how I perceived him. He was a great dad to his kids, a hard worker, nice to everyone he met and devoted to his family. It's too bad that we realize these things after people are gone from our lives. But that is life!! I know Scott doesn't want us to be sad and mopey on his birthday. We need to celebrate his life and remember all the good times we had with him!! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTTY!!! We miss you and love you!!

Any Ideas??

I really need to get better about taking pictures when we go do fun things. I went to the zoo with Renae and totally forgot the camera. I've see all the animals it's the expressions on the kids' face I want to capture. So I'm going to hint to Brett that I want for my birthday or christmas is a decent camara. Does anyone have any ideas on what I should get?? I don't know ANYTHING about cameras, so it needs to be easy to use and take great pictures that I can be proud of showing to people. thanks!!

We are back from CAMPING!!

It was such a great week! Bear Lake is by far the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. It's really clear and deep so it the most goregous blue color. I could just stare at it all day. The kids had fun playing on the beach and getting sand in every crevis on there bodies. Luckily we had access to a shower or I don't think Khloe would be walking straight from all the sand in her butt. We went four wheeling and mostly went down to the beach to swim...the water was pretty warm. The tractor was to pull hte boat down to the water...the kids liked to play on it, so we had to yell at them a few times. But all good things must come to an end but it was a great week!!

Camping, Camping, can't wait to go camping!!

We are leaving thursday for Bear Lake!! I can't wait. We haven't gone camping all year so this will be the first trip with all three kids......we shall see how it goes. I'm sure it will be a fun time. So I will be putting pictures up as soon as I get back!! YEA!! Just thought I would add this picture of Gage being cheesy!

What a GUY!

I just wanted everyone to know that I am married to the best husband in the world!! He does everything in his capacity to make sure I am happy. And believe me that is no easy task. He works hard to provide for his family. He takes time to play with the kids and teach how to be great people. My favorite thing about him is he can make me laugh over anything. I can remember when we were first together and I was mad at him over something (probably something stupid) and he was joking around trying to make me laugh and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't not laugh. So I'm not able to stay mad at him for very long. I love him more then anything in the world!!

Gage's Big Day!!

Gage turned 2 on Saturday and it was such a blast! We had pizza at a local park and then had a huge water balloon fight along with squirt guns, then a pinata and cupcakes. It was a good time and I'm glad everyone came. I forgot the candles for his cupcake so we just sang to him. That's the picture where Brett is holding him. He loves all his new toys....mom and dad not so much especially the ones that make ALOT of noise (Thanks Grandma Val!!) We go to Bear Lake is Two weeks!! I can't wait!

It's about time!

So I am looking at everyone's blog and thinking "How the crap do they do all those cool things?" And if I would have just used my eyeballs I would have figured it out sooner. But I guess when your eyes are half closed all the time due to lack of sleep then what can you do. So I'm still working on some other things for the blog but so far it's fun!!

Haircuts!!

Khloe and Gage got their first real haircuts on Thursday. Khloe's hair needed it badly. I never realized how thick her hair is, she definitly has Brett's hair! With Gage I just wanted to clean his hair up a bit. They both were really good and held still so nothing is too jacked up. All in all in was a great day!!

What a waste of a day!!

Brett and I decided over the weekend (with the help of the doctor on friday) that we need to seperate the kids so everyone can sleep better (us included). So what was supposed to take 10 minutes (moving the bunkbeds into the other room) took more like 2 hours. Then having to organize all the toys and make the beds and clean up took all day! But in the long run it paid off because Jett is learning to fall asleep on his own. He was doing ok until he learned to flip over while sleeping. He doesn't get his arms out of the way and ends up sleeping on them until they fall asleep, then he wakes up because they are tingly and can't lift himself up to roll over on his back. It's really quite hilarious because Brett does the same thing!! There have been nights when Brett wakes up and can't roll over because his arms are asleep.....very funny!! I also gave Jett another hair cut, everyone says I shouldn't have but his hair was way too long for a little boy and now he looks like a little bully when it's spiked. That's about it for now....nothing too exciting in the Hammerstrom household...but that' s the way we like it!!

4th of July

We had a great 4th this year!! On the 3rd we went to the fireworks show at the local golf course with some friends of ours. It was a blast and the fireworks were fantastic! The boys didn't even mind the loud booms. On Friday we went to a friends house and watched them let off some fireworks. Nothing like the shows we would have in Washington but what can you do with wussy Utah stuff. But it's been a great weekend and I hope to have more pictures up soon!

I know, I know!

I've been really bad about not keeping this updated but the stupid computer is slow again and I think we are just going to throw in the towel and buy a new one. Whenever we get around to it. IN the mean time I would suggest to all the female readers of this blog to read the Twlight saga by Stephenie Meyer. It's REALLY good!! So until the puter is fixed or we buy another one, I won't be blogging as much. Sorry for that!

I know I need some pictures

My last couple blogs have had no pictures and I'm sorry for that so here are some of Khloe swimming during lessons and some new ones of the kids. Please take notice of how fat Jett is. It's really bizarre to have a child that fits in the clothes of what age he is. But it sure is cute to have a fat baby finally. More pictures will be coming soon. We are going camping next weekend so I will get some with the 4-wheelers!

Gage is talking!

The past week has brought so exciting news to the Hammerstrom household. We bought some 4-wheelers, got Brett ready for school in the fall and Gage started to talk. He can say cookie, baby, Daddy, apple and bubbas (Khloe's nickname). I knew it just had to click in his head and he would be off and running or talking as the case would be. I'm glad that he's talking so I can start to understand what he wants. He hasn't really thrown any tantrums yet, just when he doesn't get his way. I'll be posting some pictures soon so everyone can see how fat Jett is getting. His new nickname is Jumbo! (like jumbo jett....I know it's hilarious!!)

New addition to the family!!

I bet you are thinking that I'm pregnant again. Well Guess again!! We are the proud owners of 3 four wheelers!! Brett found an awsome deal online. Two big four wheelers and one little one plus the trailer for $6000. He talked the guy down to $5500 because one needs a battery and we have to regisiter them. I was a little weary of the purchase but after taking them out and riding on them, I'm so gald we did. It was way fun. It took a little getting use to shifting but I got the hang of it and I don't think I damaged it too much. Next time we go up to the trails I'll take the camara and take some pictures!!

Back to school

Brett is finally going back to school!! Today he talked to a counsler so he can regisiter for classes now. Maybe I should go back to school because it appears I'm having a spelling problem. I can tell the words are spelled wrong but no matter how hard I try I can't get them to look right. Oh well. Khloe started swimming lessons today also. I'll get some pictures up of that soon. Also we found out today that our assupmtions were right and that Gage is allergic to dairy products so if anyone has any good receipes I would greatly apprecate them. Sorry about the spelling, but it's almost my bedtime!!

Day at Lagoon

Brett's company party this year was at Lagoon instead of the zoo. Nice change of pace but the fact that it was Memorial weekend and the water park wasn't open sucked because there was a TON of people there. It wasn't too bad at the beginning but towards late afternoon more people started coming so standing in line wasn't the greatest. Oh well The kids had a blast on the rides and we had fun watching them.....maybe some year Brett and I will be able to go on a roller coaster together. It's only been like 5 years!!