Growing Up

Well, it's official. My first born is growing up. Here is her first school photo. I will admit I cried a little when I filled out the picture packet. (Another good thing about small towns - she didn't turn it in, so I just ran over the photographers studio two weeks after the fact and they took the packet without blinking an eye.)

I know I am the mom - but come on - it's a pretty cute picture!

Lost Tooth

Sorry, the pics are a bit blurry but you get the idea. Jacee lost a tooth! It has been hanging on by a thread this week but she wouldn't let me pull it out because she has been waiting for daddy to get home to do it. Well...it came out while she was eating chicken for dinner. She's mostly glad there wasn't very much blood and that she didn't swallow it like Joshy.

Jacee Beth

Jacee felt there should be a post just about her - so she set up a couple of photo ops. This is her pretending to eat a nectarine we picked from the tree out back. (She doesn't like them...) She thinks it will "freak" people out!

Here she is doing her homework at the table. She is a bit of a perfectionist so her erasure gets lots of use. She loves, loves, loves school. Her best friends are Daniel and Parker.

She is quite a little light in my life. Every day she does or says something that amazes me. I am enjoying it all because I know it will go fast - the first five years sure has!

(For Michelle - the answer to the question about dinner - we had DQ - and they fixed it!)

Reach for the Sky!

Today Jack is Woody. Is it possible for him to be any cuter? I love being a mom!

My favorite quote is "There's a snake in my boot!" And Jack does it with the cowboy twang and all.

To Infinity and Deon!

My son has discovered the movie Toy Story. We watch it once a day and he can pretty much quote it. He has a pretty good impression of Woody but needs to work on Buzz Light Year - To Infinity and DEON!

Today he asked me if I could make him some wings like Buzz Light Year - this is the best I could do but he seems pretty happy with them. He can barely fit through the hallways and he pretty much knocks everything over when he's "flying" around the room, but the smile on his face is worth every mess he makes. Ah - the joys of childhood. (And yes, he is standing on the back of the couch for his big launch.)

TAG

I've been tagged by my sis-in-law, Michelle...so here goes.

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Living the single life
2. Teaching at the best elementary school in Utah
3. Working myself to the bone to create a great ballroom program for kids
4. Wondering if I should move to Boise
5. Not going to church

Five things on my "To-do" List:
1. Figure out what to do about the house since mom and dad are coming home for a bit
2. Organize my desk
3. Fold Laundry
4. What should we eat for dinner - and who can make it
5. Take Jack to the potty

Five favorite snacks:
1. Chocolate in almost any form
2. Chips and Salsa
3. Lifesavers - are those even a snack or just a courtesy for other people?
4. Grama Binki's Carmel popcorn
5. Pretty much anything

Five things I would do if I were a Millionaire:
1. Make sure mom and dad and Brent and Vicki are taken care of for retirement
2. Buy an actual couch that is BRAND NEW!
3. College funds
4. Scholarship for a ballroom dancer or a BHS graduate to BYU
5. Build a house and a barn

Five places I have lived:
1. Burley, ID
2. Rexburg, ID
3. Four cities in Utah County
4. Boise, ID
5. Two cities in Salt Lake County

Five jobs I have had:
1. Life guard (college)
2. Elementary Teacher
3. Ballroom Dance Studio Owner and Director
4. HS Ballroom Dance Teacher
5. Wife and Mother

I tag:
1. Josh Petersen (adapt as needed)
2. Jen
3. Sayda
4. Kim
5. Laura

Let me know when you have posted your list and I will check out your site for your answers!

Bitter, Sweet - part 2

There was a regime change in the Argentine Government so no VISAs are being issues so my parents get to come home for a few days - SWEET!

They are delayed in serving the Lord on their mission - BITTER.

Bitter, Sweet

Mom and Dad have left. The house seems very empty and quiet.

Bitter...


They are off serving the Lord and helping build the kingdom.

Sweet...

Miss you more than words can say. We love you! The Burley Petersons.

Two Fish, One Dog & Three Happy Kids

We told Jacee last Spring she could get some fish when she started Kindergarten - and of course she reminded us of it all summer long. Well, the day came so off we went to Wal-mart to buy some fish. The spotted one's name is Starburst (today) and the gold one is Heartburst. She is very diligent about feeding them and making sure their tank is clean.


We have been talking about getting a dog since we have been married. This is the first place we have lived that have allowed pets. We went to the store to buy Jack a backpack for pre-school and outside were eight adorable puppies - a mix of some sort. The price was right and I told John I would never get a dog in the middle of winter, so the time was right. We have named him Putter II. (Back story I'll fill in later.) Anyway, the plan was for him to be an outside dog, that plan lasted long enough for us to drive home and walk in the house. So far he is docile and goes to the bathroom outside. He started sleeping downstairs but John thought he would be too lonely, so we put his bed in Jack's room. The kids sure love him. Maddie wanted to get right in his milk bowl and drink with him last night, her tongue was going faster than his was!

There's just something about kids and a dog. We, as parents, just have to suck it up and realize it will be work and inconvenient at times, but the payoff with the relationship between our kids and the dog will hopefully outweigh all of that.