Dylan is growing so fast. He is turning into such a cute, handsome and happy young man. (Well except for when he doesn't feel like practicing his violin, and then I assure you he is NOT happy.)
Dylan is so passionate about Basketball. I can't believe how far he has come. 18 months ago he couldn't even dribble, and now he is the leading scorer in 95% of his games. He has worked so hard. It is amazing to see what hard work, discipline and practice can do. He went from being the worst player on his team and not contributing anything, to being the best player on his team. He played in two leagues over the Winter. One was a local Blackfoot League and one was a traveling team that he was recruited for. We have so much fun attending his basketball games and cheering for him.
This team was almost undefeated in the Idaho Falls League. They only lost 1 game and it was when they were missing 2 players and it was to a team that they had previously beat.
Dylan loves his Red Nike's that Santa Claus brought him and he is really into long black socks. Dylan was the tallest player on his 4th grade team. Dylan shot about 50% for free throws this year.
This shot kills me. I'm so nervous that there is going to be hair growing from that armpit in the near future.
His best record this season was scoring 25 points in a game... but he made the most money when his papa came to town and promised to give him $10.00 if he scored 10 points. Dylan didn't miss a shot that game and scored 22 points and walked away with $20.00. That was pretty fun, especially because it was the day of Kate's baptism and all four of his grandparents were there to see him play.
A picture taken right after Dylan won $20.00 off of papa.
It is pretty fun watching your kids get bigger. I love you Dylan and I'm so proud of you.
This Past weekend, Kate and Dylan competed in a Talent Competition put on by the Farm Bureau. The winners get to move on and compete in the State Fair. I was super proud of these two. They have now been in lessons for six months and are really taking to the violin. {Just like their Dad!} The violin is a difficult instrument and they are really pushing themselves. They love their teacher Kera Butts, and she loves them.
Kate took first place in her age group and took home $25.00.
Dylan took 2nd place in his age group and took home $20.00.
I never would have guessed it, but the judges also picked them for 1st place in the Group Competition!!! They got to split $25.00 for the group win, so they were pretty excited to make a large deposit at the bank.
The Family Peterson Duo will be competing their duet at the State Fair! I am really proud of them for their hard work. And I get to toot my horn too, because getting them to practice and driving them to lessons is NOT EASY! How do mom's do it? Am I the only one that thinks this music business is a HUGE CHALLENGE????
When we got home from the competition they gave the neighborhood kids a recital and I snapped these photos.
Happy Father's Day to all you dad's out there. There are a few super special dad's that we like to celebrate at our house. I took turns asking the kids questions about their dad and their grandpa's and we have a few video's to share with you.
(Please note that my voice is super, I mean super annoying and I apologize. Hey, I'm the one stuck with it. Turn your speakers down PRONTO!*warning... screeching tones and patronizing voice may leave you slightly nauseous.)
Happy Father's Day Scott!!!
Happy Father's Day Papa Robert!!!
Happy Father's Day Grandpa Blake!!!
We sure love you awesome Men
and we are so blessed
to have you for our own.
Next week is a big week for our family. Dylan is going to be baptized and I am getting so excited. I really want to make it special for him. He is such a great kid and has such a strong desire to do what is right and to follow Heavenly Father's Commandments.
I can't tell you how many times in the past week he has told me that he is praying for me to feel better. He is really good about praying. I don't think that he and I have missed one morning this year that we haven't prayed together. Well except the one's that I was still in bed and Scott got the kids out the door. I fail as a mother quite a bit, but those morning prayer's go a long way.
Dylan, I sure love You!!!
I made these images to frame side by side for his bedroom.
Saturday at our house is always a little bit slow getting started. Scott usually goes to the gyms for a few hours to make sure that they are clean and that fresh towels are out, and I try to start the laundry, get the house put together and feed the kids.
We love Saturdays.
Today Kate was obsessed with doing hair, and since I wasn't in the mood {it seriously hurts...just saying} Sawyer ended up being the guinea pig.
This is so funny to me.
Really funny.
We headed over to Dylan's Basketball game. He played pretty good. I haven't seen him play since last year and he has come a long way. He scored 14 points. He is still a head taller than all the other boys.
Kate and Sawyer went to the game with me. Sauce ate Cheetos and played with his cars. Every time the buzzer rang he got so mad.
Dylan is getting so old. He will be 8 in February. I'm kind of getting sad about it. He seems to be growing on fast forward.
The rest of the day was spent taking a Costco trip {they stole my money again, but I got a fabulous fresh wreath, and a beautiful fresh garland...oh my blessed smells}, hanging up Christmas lights, and just relaxing together.
1. I made the LIST!!! I got a text yesterday from my friend Marlo and it said, "your name is written on the bathroom wall". I had to text her back to figure out what she was talking about. She was at Anytime Fitness and my name made the list for most club usage in the month of September. I was # 19!!! I burned off 10 lbs at that place in the last 6 weeks. I think I earned it!
2. I am still on track to complete The Book Of Mormon in the month of October. Today I was at the gym doing squats while I was reading Alma chapter 32. I'm having to make use of every spare second so that I can reach my goal. I feel immersed in the GOOD WORD OF GOD, and I am becoming reacquainted with my love of The Book Of Mormon.
3. Wyatt, Wy-Wiggs, Wiggles, WyWy turned 8 months old. His skin is so milky, I adore him. He loves to eat and finally has figured out how to swallow food. He is obsessed with Baby Einstein, his mamma, watching the siblings play, sucking on anything and everything, waking up during the night...over...and over again, laughing, smiling, grunting and kissing.
4. The leaves on my new maple trees are to dye for. They are so beautiful and I love them so much. Thank you Scott for supporting my major splurge this year buying 10 new BIG trees.
5. Saturday I took Kate to the Doctor. I thought she had an ear infection, but she just has fluids draining behind her ears. The Doctor we saw was the nicest guy and told me an old pioneer trick for relieving pressure on the ears. This lead to talking about the movie 17 Miracles. Have you entered my giveaway? Only a few hours left. Then I made soup and took it to Super Saturday at the church. I spilled half of it in the back of my car (AHHHH!) I got to be social with my friends for a few hours and then Scott picked me up and we headed to the BRAND NEW $2.00 theater in Blackfoot and saw Cars 2 with the kids.
6. I was in the Movie the RM? If you are a new reader you might not know. I played the part of Molly and got to dump the RM. I am in the opening scene of the trailer saying goodbye at the airport. Feel free to make fun of me and laugh because BOY DO I!!!
7. Kate is 5 and she is nice enough to tie her older brother shoes for him. Dylan is 7 and just cannot make his fingers do the work. Poor kid.
8. I got to listen to Scott teach our Primary class on Sunday and he is AWESOME. He is so good at teaching and really has a way of keeping the kids attention and making the lesson appeal to them. This is so attractive to me and I sort of want to kiss him while he is teaching the lesson.
9. My friend SUE and her daughter KATE (sue is like a mother and Kate like a sister) were both in the hospital on Monday. Sue had an ENORMOUS surgery following her Chemotherapy to remove damaged and cancerous tissues ( I don't even know all they did) on the Pancreas and surrounding organs. She will be in the hospital recovering for 10 days. Kate had a baby on this very same day. Her first and I am so happy for her. Sue, I hope you get better quickly so that you can go and see that sweet little grandson! I'm praying for you.
10. Dylan is a cutie and I love him. 2nd grade School Picture.
Have you ever read The Book Of Mormon In 30 Days?
Have you seen the Movie the RM?
Has your name ever been on the bathroom wall?
Have you had a friend or loved one that has battled cancer?
I had a really amazing moment today during church. As I was wrestling Sawyer during the Sacrament hymn, I looked over at Dylan. He was sat with his hymn book open and was singing the hymn. I heard his sweet voice blurt out in his best monotone singing voice, "My God, how great Thou art."
It was one of those really rewarding parenting moments. His sweet little spirit was singing with conviction and I couldn't help but laugh and tear up all at the same time. This was the first time that Dylan's reading skills have been good enough to sing along in a hymn book. I know that he has a budding testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. It makes me so pleased.
I will remember today always.
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I've made two free printable's if you would like to use them for anything.
It is a movie about one of the handcart companies as it traveled towards the Salt Lake Valley. I don't know if I can say enough good things about this movie. I first watched it with Scott and the next day I watched it with Kimm, Dylan and Kate.
I can't believe what amazing dialog it opened up between a 5 & 7 year-old and their mom.
The kids didn't understand why these people were going through so many struggles and why Heavenly Father wasn't helping them.
I was able to really dissect the movie with them and answer a lot of their questions and then they wanted to watch it again.
It is a powerful movie because the experiences are true. The Early Saints of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints overcame amazing obstacles in following their faith. I am humbled by their many sacrifices, even death, in the name of their Savior whom they loved so much.
Do you have your own copy? You can purchase one at Deseret Book. Christmas is coming shortly and I think that this would be an awesome Christmas present for any family. My family loved it.
And here is the good news:
I am giving away a FREE copy!!!
To Enter:
1. Become a Follower of this Blog
2. Leave me a comment
***If you would like an extra entry, you could post this giveaway on facebook or on your own blog and leave me an extra comment for each.
*A Winner Will Be Chosen Thursday, October 20th.
I also want to recommend this book.
Fire Of The Covenant is one of my favorite books about the Handcart companies. Please do me a favor and read it. I love the stories and the research that Gerald N. Lund put into writing it.
"The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.'"
This morning seemed really rushed and really hectic. I lost my temper with a two year old, I didn't know what to wear, and I felt like I had too much to do, with too little time. I found myself feeling really guilty on the way to church and I kept thinking to myself that I really needed to apologize for being such a crazy mom. But I didn't apologize; I was too busy putting on my mascara.
It is funny how many times I must have thought to myself, why am I doing this? Sheesh, I want to sleep. Please tell me that I'm not the only one that starts their Sunday's like this sometimes. I felt nervous that we had to sing in church and that my lesson wasn't really "that" prepared. I kept wondering if Wyatt was going to have a blow-out right before we were suppose to sing as a family.
I find that Sunday's are like this a lot for me. I try really hard to pray, sing, feel the spirit, and enjoy the Sacrament, but as a mom with four kids I fall short 99.9% of the time. So I feel bad and that I must be doing something wrong, because every other mom has it perfectly together. And you guys do, right? I think we think this about each other because we tend to be so hard on ourselves. And sometimes we do ask "why am I doing this?" And I think it is okay to ask. Because every time I think this to myself, I am comforted by the sweet assurance that comes from the Holy Ghost, whispering special promises that it will be alright, that I'm doing a good job, and that there is purpose in all of it.
And maybe our reward doesn't come instantly. And maybe each Sunday isn't earth shattering. But every once in a while I'll get a glimpse of the reward that is waiting.
It is conversations like this that prove to me that our labors do matter. That the fight is worth it. And that we are raising the 'Army of Helaman' for today.
Dylan: Hey mom. Did Jesus get his cool powers after he died?
Me: Actually he had God's special power while he was living on the earth?
Dylan: Well then why didn't he stop the evil men from killing him? He could have stopped them right?
Me: Ya, bud. He could have stopped them.
Dylan: Well then why didn't he stop them mom?
Me: Why do you think he didn't stop them?
Dylan: So that we can live with him again. Because he loves us.
It is moments like this that things seem crystal clear.
And it is moments like this that my Rewards are evident.
Life seems to be rushing by. The kids are growing so quickly, and before I know it, I will be sitting alone, next to Scott in Sacrament meeting, trying to borrow other people's children.
Last month Dominic Cifarelli and Morokath Redman used my credit card to rack up over $6000.00 dollars in Airline tickets. I'm sure you can imagine the anxiety and the panic that I felt when I opened up my credit card statement.
Oh.
My.
Word.
It amazes me that people are okay with being so dishonest.
It totally blows my mind.
Maybe they didn't have a good mom like I did who made them walk back into the grocery store at the age of six and return the stolen candy-bar. Or maybe they just need a Bishop that looks them in the eye's every year and asks them if they are honest in ALL their dealings.
I just don't get it.
Needless to say I felt violated.
So I called up American Express to try and resolve the issue and their customer service was EXCELLENT.
Not only did they treat me like I was the victim, they didn't blame me or try to ask me a million questions. They just thanked me for my ongoing membership and took care of it all for me.
Took.
Care.
Of.
It.
People, this really happened. Like, in real life.
They just took care of it for me.
What?
Amazing. And I promise that this is not an advertisement for American Express. But I will be a Member for Life.
AmEx = Love
Liars = Stoopid (with two o's)
PS. I found this crazy lady picture on the web, but I think it kind of looks like me if you don't look to close and if you blur your eyes a little and if the room is dim. ;)
Am I the only parent that becomes grumpy when their children's teeth fall out.
I really get mad...I hate it. Their sweet baby faces change from cute and innocent to
I'm Huge and I'll be moving out in a month.
( a little dramatic, but it is how I feel.)
This picture that Dylan drew was too cute not to post. I love it that he drew a picture of the fairy and also a picture of himself sleeping in his bed.
Adorable.
And maybe it is my fault that he had to add the message,
"I hope you come",
because maybe the tooth fairy forgets at our house.
My Mother-in-law Shawna took my kids for an entire week.
She drove to Blackfoot and picked us up and drove me and the 4 little monsters all the way back to her home in Washington. I spent one day with her at her house and then she kicked me out and sent me packing to my best friend and sister-in-law Amber's house. She kept Dylan, Kate and Sawyer, and Amber's girls, Samantha, Amy and Hallie, and Amber and I had the whole week to spend shopping, playing, eating out, watching movies and playing with the babies.
It was Heaven.
I'm not sure if she will be up for it again. My kids are a little naughty.
I'm hoping it is like child-birth and by the time next year rolls around she will have forgotten that Dylan and Kate fight like Cats and Dogs, and she will want to do it again.
It was AMAZING for me and such a needed break.
We fed the ducks.
We taught Saywer how to jump on the tramp.
It was so kind of her. She is amazing and I am so lucky to have a 2nd Mother like her that loves my kids so much. She raised great kids of her own and I enjoy watching her teach my kids such important life skills.
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