Year Two for Jake...

Our house is back down to only five children.

Jake has gone back to school.

He's finishing up his pre-requisite courses for his Biomedical Engineering degree.

Although I miss him, I know he is happy to be back in school so I guess if he's happy, I'm happy.

He's no longer living in the dorms which scared me at first.

He got himself a nice little apartment a few blocks away from campus.

The outside of the apartment building.

We went up Saturday and took some pictures.

One thing, he didn't tell us it was unfurnished until a couple days before he left so he still doesn't have all his furniture yet.  He's working on it.  He has a roommate that had some furniture so at least they aren't sitting on the floor!

His little kitchen.  It does have a dishwasher though.  That's a plus!

One view of his living room.

The other view of the living room.

The opening from the kitchen to the living room.

The potty.

Max showing off the closet.

Finally, the rest of his tiny bedroom.  He's borrowing Papa's air mattress (thanks Dad!) until he gets a bed.
After I took this picture he said, "Don't put that on your blog."  Oh well Jake.  You leave me, I'll post pictures!

So, he's settled and living on his own now.  He started school yesterday and is happy to be back to the books!  

Good luck Jake!

We love you!!!!!

My Baby Now Has a Career

I look at this picture and think,

"Where on Earth did the time go!?!"

It seems like yesterday I was teaching her

 and now...

she's the teacher.

Elisabeth is now officially a 5th grade teacher at Calvin Smith Elementary in Taylorsville.

She was hired on about a week before school started.  This past week has been very stressful for her but, not surprising one bit, she pulled it all together and was ready to begin yesterday.

To say I'm proud would be an understatement!

This girl worked her tail off to get her education completed (including her student teaching) in 4 years and persisted all summer, keeping a positive attitude, in finding a job in this tough economy.

Yeah, I'm a proud mama!

I got to go with her all day Friday to set up her classroom.

She put me to work and was all business.

I loved it!

Those students of hers are so incredibly blessed!  I hope they realize that someday.

Here's some pictures of her classroom...

Her first class list!  Lucky kids!

Some of her classroom management stuff.

Busy decorating.

She put Emma and I to work.  Here Emma's checking if all the markers work.  :)

Miss Houghton at her desk.  

The finished product.

Emma by the classroom library.

On our way out after a long day.  She's going to do great!

I'm so excited for you, Elisabeth!!!

Summer Recap...Part 4

Emma finally got her swing set!

You're looking at one happy little camper!!!

Summer Recap...Part 3

The beginning of August, we got together with my dad's side of the family, the Peterson's.

It was in honor of my Uncle Richard's 70th birthday and it was pretty neat to have all my dad's living brothers and sister together.

We had a big party at my cousin David's house in Salt Lake.

It was so great to see everyone.

It's been way too long and I hope we can get together again soon!

My Dad, Uncle Ron, Aunt Helen, and Uncle Richard.

Uncle Ron, Marcia, Uncle Richard, Aunt Eva, Aunt Helen, Uncle Jay, My Mom and Dad

Dad enjoying the cake.  It was really yummy!

Some of my cousins and cousin's children.

Yes, you are seeing correctly...THAT IS EMMA!  I couldn't believe she was all over the pool with a little life vest on.  I need to get one of those!  She had a blast!

Max was loving it too!

I love it!!!

Kim (David's wife in the grey shirt) was such a gracious hostess.
They have only lived in their newly built house a few months and this was her second huge family party in a month!
It is such a beautiful home!
Thanks David and Kim!

Summer Recap...Part 2

This summer,

we got toilet papered for the first time by some of Scott's friends.

I was pretty impressed they managed to get us with all our windows wide open and the kids watching t.v. the entire time!

Lee and I went out and when we got home, we came home to toilet paper!

They also made all kinds of blown up latex gloves with faces on them, plastic forks, marshmallows, and honey all over the yard.  The honey was gross, but I thought the faces were hilarious!

One of the funny-faced latex gloves.

Did I mention my camera broke this summer?
Yeah, I have to use the camera on my phone and it's pretty ghetto but here's a picture of the forks and one of the gloves.

My favorite of the blown up gloves.  The "thumb" was a tongue sticking out.  Hilarious!

Scott and Cole found out who did it and returned the favor later that evening!

A Summer Recap...Part 1

When I look back on the Summer of 2010, 

I will try and remember the fun times we had as a family.

(I say try because, boy, this was a tough summer!)

We didn't get a family vacation, 

but we did get to spend lots of time with our extended family.

It was so much fun!

For starters, 

The week of the Fourth of July!

Whew!  

This was a busy week.

Uncle Scott, Aunt Linda, Gina, Taylor, and Blake came 

and

boy, did we have fun!

Just ask Scott!

Emma, Max, and I stayed up at Grammy and Papa's for a week so we could spend as much time with Taylor and Blake as possible. 

It was our first time meeting them (Taylor and Blake are my cousin Gina's darling children) and Emma and Max hit it off with them right off the bat!

Here's a quick picture recap of that week...

Dad with Ezra's baby tie on. 

Oh, the food!!!  Yum!

Mom enjoying a little break.  Mom and Dad worked so hard planning a fun week for everyone!

Little Blake got the best of Max while playing soccer!

Our Talent Show ended in a crazy dance party!

Emma and Taylor waiting for the fireworks.  Beauties!

We went to watch the fireworks in the Cabela's parking lot in Lehi.
It was FREEZING up on the hill but that didn't stop us from having fun!

Sunday we went to see Music and The Spoken Word at the Conference Center.

Taylor and Emma thought it was pretty cool hearing the Tabernacle Choir singing with the Orchestra.

Aunt Linda, Taylor, Uncle Scott, Gina, and Blake
outside the Salt Lake Temple.

Elisabeth, Me, Emma, and Max outside the Salt Lake Temple.

Inside the Visitor's Center on Temple Square.

At the Children's Museum inside the Church History Museum.

Emma was in heaven playing with the dolls in the nursery inside the museum! 

Spending the night on the parade route.
Jake loves wearing his UofU stuff in downtown Provo!

Scott with some of his really good friends.  Love his group of friends!

Emma and Kate playing cards and having a ball.

Emily, Hannah, and Beth--our family has good genes huh!?!
Such fun girls!!!

Max and Ross shooting the bull and playing cards.

Cole taking a break after the Obamamobile broke.
They were riding it around but it was hit by some bicycles and it broke.

The parade.
The boys and Lee scored an awesome spot this year.  We were in the shade the entire time!

Yeah, It was a great week!