Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy birthday to the best dad a girl could ever

(and I do mean EVER)

ask for!!!

I Love You!!!!

(Sorry I teased you about your age today. You aren't old. Maybe when you turn 90, but not now! I love you!)

According to Emma...

Emma and Max were tagged by Cooper and Ethan .

I couldn't pin Max down long enough to do it (he's a little busy now with being 8 and all!) so

here's what Emma had to say...

1. What is something mom always says to you?

I love you.

2. What makes mom happy?

Looking at my funny faces.

3. What makes mom sad?

When we don't listen.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Singing funny songs in the car.

5. What was your mom like as a child?

She liked to go to Primary and color.

6. How old is your mom?

Five. (Wow, that would be a first!)

7. How tall is your mom?

(Holding her hand up as high as she can) This feet.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Cooking and pushing me on the swing.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

Watching T.V.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

Have a cooking show.

11. What is your mom really good at?

Draw pictures and make cookies.

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Drive. (What!?!)

13. What does your mom do for her job?

Cleaning the dishes. (Oh, my favorite. NOT!)

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

Lasagne.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

Making cards. (?)

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

Cinderella. (Oh, yeah.)

17. What do you and your mom do together?

Go to the park and play and make somethings.

18. How are you and your mom the same?

We have the same skin. I look like Mommy. Papa always say that!

19. How are you and your mom different?

Mommy's big and I'm little.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

Giving hugs.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

He has money. (That's news to me!)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

WalMart.

Emma tags...

LIBERTY!

Emotional Rollercoaster

To say this has been an emotional week is an understatement. This post will probably not make much sense but I feel like I need to try to get some of this out. Bear with me.

First, I still can't grasp the terrible news of NieNie's accident. It's one of those things that I'm losing sleep over. I just can't get it out of my mind. I don't really know her. I have met her a couple of times for a brief second but I mostly know her from her blog. Almost daily, I read about her beautiful life. She has this way of making the most mundane things look beautiful. Her love for her husband and children is so incredible and she documents all her cherished moments with them.

It's just so beautiful.

And now, she's laying in a burn center with severe burns over 80% of

her body. Her husband is in the same burn center with 30% of his body burned. They can't be together right now. She can't be with her children right now. It's just so hard not to feel emotional about this. Then, I read about her wonderful family who live in my town. Her sister is a friend of mine. We used to be in the same ward. She, too, has a beautiful blog where she has been keeping the blog world updated on Stephanie and Christian's condition. Then, I start thinking about if this is hard for me, imagine how it would be if this was one of my sisters. She is such an example of staying positive. Even in the horror of all of this, Courtney can still stay positive and can find reasons for joy. It's just amazing to me. This family has pulled together and is just incredible. The efforts right now are concentrated on raising funds to help Stephanie and Christian. (If you'd like to donate, click the box below.)

My heart goes out to them all!
Thank you for all your wonderful examples!
My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Second, school has started. I know I may have hinted (okay, I SAID) that I can't wait for school to start this year but I really didn't mean it. I'm having a hard time with this year. For starters, Jake is a senior.

A Senior!

You know what that means? College next year. He's busy applying for this and that and carrying a work load like no other senior I've ever seen so he'll be prepared to face the rigors of college. I think back to my senior year and all my easy classes and I'm in awe. He's incredible and I'm so filled with pride (sorry, I know that's not good but it's the truth) and so sad at the same time. I feel like my son is slipping away in a sense. He's no longer a little kid and isn't needing me so much anymore. I know that's how it's supposed to be but still--it's hard. Then, Scott and Cole are growing up too and I just think,

"When did this all happen?"

It's just hard to get used to. Max has started a new school and along with that comes all the "getting to know" the ways of the new school. I'm happy so far and I really do think it will be a good year but it's been an adjustment. Emma received her invitation to her Open House at her preschool. To say she's excited is an understatement! She's ready to be be big and go to school too.

This is all just hard for me.

Third, we took Elisabeth back to school yesterday. It's not quite the traumatic experience as the first semester was but it's still not fun. Not to mention a husband who wanted to make this a short day outing (and he wasn't kidding!). I feel like we just said,

"Okay honey...we'll slow down and you jump out with your things.

Have a good life, K?"

Well, maybe not that short but I didn't even get to help her get her new room all put together. I had plans on making her new room in her first real apartment awesome but, no, of course I couldn't. I barely got to help get her bed made.

(And get "Amelie" hung in her new home finally!

Thanks Courtney. She loves it!)

Oh well. I know she'll make it awesome and she'll have a great semester. I'm filled with pride for her too. She's such an incredible young woman. I'm feeling blessed and sad at the same time. It's awful. Maybe if she was closer I wouldn't have to feel sad but that's selfish of me. I already miss her. I ended up sleeping in with Emma because she misses her sister. It's always an adjustment when she goes back but at least I do get to see her off and on throughout the semester.

I am grateful for that.

(And that she's blogging again!)

Well, I need to get busy on something or I'm going to be crazy (or crazier--whatever.)

Carl is Haunting Me

So, I got a new cell phone.

(It's just one of those prepaid ones--nothing fancy. It does the trick.)

I thought I'd check it the other night,

and here's what my welcoming screen said...

Yes, it says,

"Hey Carl!"

What the heck!?!

I thought Carl was in my past!

Laughter erupted from my family and I immediately knew

I had been punked.

Scott changed it while he was home from church on Sunday.

(He stayed home sick.)

I think I'll keep it on.

It makes me laugh.

Last and Firsts

Summer vacation came to an end so Friday night the kids wanted to have

one last hoorah

to celebrate summer.Thanks to the awesome tent we now have

(thanks Karli!) the kids had a campout together in the yard.

I was surprised Emma made it through the whole night out there!

She thought she was such a big kid!

They were up until the wee hours of the morning (I'm sorry neighbors!) laughing and having a great time. Once it calmed down, I went out to check on them and I saw wall to wall kids sawing logs. I loved it!

Saturday morning I went out to get a picture and I got a surprise...

an extra kid!

Sometime during the night, our neighbor and Scott's friend, Jose, joined in on the fun.

(without me knowing--little monkeys!)

I couldn't tell in the pitch dark that he was in there!

Anyway, they had a great time and that makes me happy.

Even though they were sneaky!

Yesterday was Max's first day of 3rd grade.

It was his first day at his new school and the first time riding a bus to school. I was nervous but he was fine. He loves his new school, riding the bus, and his new teacher.

I really think this will be a good year for him.

(He didn't like me taking pictures but too bad!)

Riding the bus home was an adventure.

The bus driver didn't drop off the kids at the right stop so

he (and a couple other children in our neighborhood) got confused and, to make a long story short, ended up getting a little bus ride around the two adjoining neighborhoods with me chasing the bus on my bike.

(Yes, it was as funny as you picture...Me, on a bike, chasing a bus! I can laugh now.)

Let's just say,

that BEST not happen again today.

Today, the other three boys started school.

Jake starting his senior year.

(excuse the darkness of this picture...it was REALLY early!)

Bright and early, Jake was off to early morning seminary. He chose to take an extra class again (Sports Medicine "just for fun". Not my idea of fun, but hey...whatever makes him happy!) so he's doing early morning seminary. He was so excited to start school. He told me,

"I can't wait to get it over with."

He's excited to get to college.

One step at a time son!

Scott starting his sophmore year.

(He wanted NOTHING to do with early morning seminary this year.

Don't blame him one bit!)

I got back from taking Jake and Scott was getting ready. Luckily, he'll be taking the bus so I don't have to make two trips across town! He's excited to start his sophmore year. I'm so happy!

He looks happy too...Yay!

Cole starting 8th grade.

After Scott left, it was Cole's turn. He's the BMOC this year at the middle school. I think he's thinking 8th grade will be pretty cool.

He left, banana in hand, ready to

take on the world!

So, this begins the new school year.

Farewell to sleeping in, late dinners, and staying up late.

I better get my act together!

Prayers and Hope

This has been on my mind all last night and today.  

As many know, a tragedy has occurred in our friend cjane's family.

Her sister, Stephanie, and her husband, Christian, were in a plane crash Saturday.

They are in critical condition and are in desperate need of prayers.  

I just thought I'd let those of you who may know cjane but haven't heard yet know. 

 I'm sure their family would appreciate any prayers 

on Stephanie and Christian's behalf.

I don't know Stephanie but read her blog almost every day.  

You can see how much she enjoys and loves her family and how important being a mother to her four small children is to her.

Her blog is so inspiring and beautiful.

I hope that everything turns out well for this young family.

Please remember them in your prayers.

Girl's Day

We had a girls day today with my mom, sisters, daughters, and nieces.

We went to lunch and saw this cute movie...

Loved it!

Abigail Breslin is so cute.

I loved the music and the dresses.

Maybe I'll get ambitious and try to make one like them for Emma.

Cute, I'm telling you!

Everyone was able to be there, which doesn't happen often.

Mom kept saying how blessed she is and I couldn't help but think the same thing.

We have so much fun when we get together.

I only wish it could be more often.

I also wish I hadn't forgotten my camera.

We were in Macy's department store, and they had a red carpet.

The girls worked it like celebrities.

(Especially Emily and Abbie. They kill me!)

It's always so fun getting all the girls together!

Fun times!

A Look Back...

This picture was taken the night before we left Elisabeth at SUU for her first semester.

What a difficult time this was!

It was two years ago this month that we drove Elisabeth down to SUU and I had to say goodbye to my little girl and hello to my grown daughter.

It was hard...very hard.

But, it was a good thing for her and she has grown.

Afterall, isn't that how it's supposed to be?

A lot has happened in these past two years.

My children have grown, for starters.

The boys, especially Scott, look like little boys in this picture and now they look like young men.

Emma was only two.

Elisabeth was trying to be brave but I know she was scared to start this new phase of her life.

This picture reminds me of how terrified and sad I was that my baby was grown and leaving me. I remember having a lot of anxiety about whether I taught her everything she needed to know.

I remember thinking about how much I was going to miss her but how incredibly proud I was of the person she was and the things she accomplished.

I was also sad Jake wasn't in this picture.

Jake wasn't able to make this trip because he looked like this after a tumble down a cliff while working at a scout camp:

He had a broken collar bone and didn't feel up to a car drive. He also had started school already and didn't want to get behind so he stayed with Lee's parents.

Time has flown by and much has happened in their lives in these short two years.

Elisabeth has received her AS degree and will be starting her Jr. year in college!

(Seriously. I can't be old enough to have a grown daughter!)

She's starting the teaching program and will have

her own apartment this year.

Jake is a senior in H.S. and getting his applications ready for

colleges and scholarships.

Scott is taller than me now and will be a

Sophmore in H.S.

Cole is almost as tall as me and will be finishing up

Middle School this year.

Max will be 9 soon (I can't believe it!) and is trying as hard as he can to be just like his older brothers.

He wants nothing to do with being little anymore.

And Emma is 4 and starting Preschool.

It's hard to believe.

Then I start thinking about the future.

In just two short years,

(If all goes well)

Elisabeth will be a teacher,

Jake will have completed two years of college and will be on his mission,

Scott will be a Sr. getting his applications ready,

Cole will be a Sophmore and taller than me too,

Max will be 11 and will start preparing to receive the priesthood,

and Emma will be in first grade!

It's all just amazing to think about.

Sometimes I wish time would slow down.

(just a little bit!)

Lovin' the Youth

Can I just say,

we've got some great youth in our ward!

I got to spend some time with them last weekend at Youth Conference and what a fun time it was! Even though I didn't get any sleep (thanks to Lee talking me into sleeping in the van!),

it was really fun.

We spent the night in a park in Orangeville and the kids went to the Castledale Pagent.

(I stayed back at camp with Lee to make dessert.)

When staying back, we met a funny kid named Shannon.

He kept us entertained until the other kids came back telling us all about life in Orangeville.

He was hilarious!

He kept calling Orangeville the "Ghetto town" and kept us laughing the whole time.

Thanks Shannon for the company.

Anyway...

Thanks to our ward youth for letting me tag along on their trip!

You are great young people and I'm blessed to know you!

Embarrassing Moment #463,829...

I was going through things,

trying to make my home less cluttered,

and came across my old yearbooks.

Jr. High was filled with embarrassing moments for me but this one was right up there.

Imagine being me, a seventh grader, all excited to have your first real yearbook.

Then imagine opening it up to find this:

Yes, that's me,

Cari Peterson.

But somehow I was put in as

Carl Peterson.

Yeah, I pretty much died!

(I frantically went around putting a large dot above the "l" in everyone's yearbooks like the dot in the picture. I doubt I got to everyone's so I'm sure I'll be known forever-more as Carl Peterson in many of my classmates memories.)

The worst part of it is I kind of look like a boy in this picture!

What was I thinking wearing that for a school picture?

(Hey Seventh-grade Cari...

ever heard of the word "feminine"?)

Geeze.

But at least I had wannabe Farrah hair that looked pretty fabulous!

Whatever.

So, yeah...Welcome to my Embarrassing Moment #463,829.

Randomness

Today is a list of some of my random thoughts...

1) Yea! School schedules are all worked out! I guess the high school had to let 9 teachers go and that cut 54 classes. Can you believe it? I don't get this district sometimes. (Another topic for another day.)

2) The kids were all amazed that I made fudge pops out of pudding. What did they think they were made of? Kind of funny.

3) I have blisters (BLISTERS!) where my sunburn was. It's really annoying. Why couldn't it just turn tan? Is that really THAT much to ask for?

4) The boys made the golf team. All is good in their world.

5) I am getting a little stressed over the money that it takes to register high schoolers. What's up with those fees anyway? When I was in high school, we just had small fees for extracurricular activities. I don't get it.

6) The national average for gas is like $3.88 so why is our gas $4.11?

7) I heard a loud rattling noise while driving today. I panicked then realized that I had a stick rolling around the roof of my van. Whew! That's the last thing I need is a car repair.

8) I'm going to Youth Conference with Lee, Jake, and Scott tomorrow. I hope the kids don't think I'm too much of a dork. I like to think I'm somewhat cool but then that's most likely a mistake. We have great kids in our ward. I'm looking forward to it. (Even though I'll be sleeping in our van. Ought to be a good night sleep!)

9) I wish I had a nickel for every trip to Elisabeth's work and the golf course I've taken this summer. I'd be a rich woman!

10) We found a preschool for Emma! Hopefully she'll go and cry too much. Hopefully she won't sit on a chair by the window all day like Scott did when he was in Preschool.

Just For You, Lee

The other day, Elisabeth happened to leave by blog open on the computer. Lee went to get on the computer and read my blog.

(I've been blogging how long and has he ever read it? No.)

Well, first he said,

"That's the name of your blog? Hmmm."

What am I supposed to call it?

The Cranky Wife?

Whatever.

Then, he sees the "What I'm Most Thankful For" section on the sidebar with the picture of our children. He says,

"Well. Now I see where I stand in your eyes."

So, this section now contains a picture of my whole family. It's not a recent picture but it includes Lee. Because of course I'm thankful for him too!

(I need a cuter family picture.)

Lee, happy now?

Geeze.

It's What Fun Is

I spent the day at Lagoon on Saturday.

Even with applying and re-applying sunscreen,

my neck, shoulders, and back is the color of this lobster.

Curse my fair skin!

I'm just glad it worked for Emma. She's totally fine. Just a little pink in the cheeks.

I want someone to tell me how my face and arms are a little more tan, my neck, shoulders and back are burnt, and my legs are STILL white as snow!?!

I look ridiculous.

Anyway...

More to come on our quick family weekend.

(I forgot my camera at home. Can you believe it!)

I'll post more later when my back doesn't hurt as much.