YeeHaw - Country Cousins!

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Yes, I know - another one. It is just too fun for the cousins to watch themselves - this group has actually practiced the dance and is doing it around the family room as we speak. Hopefully we'll find something else just as funny so we can do something different - but until then - enjoy and laugh!

A Whole Lotta Love

We have been having the best time! Thanksgiving might just be my secret favorite Holiday. John's family comes every year - no trading with in-laws here! We all crowd in Grama's house and just enjoy each other. Yes, the cousins occasionally fight - as do the sisters. Someone always seems to get hurt. Grama is always baffled by the lack of left overs and life is just good. I was introduced to the art of looking over the ads when I entered this family nine years ago. They are constantly passed around on Thursday - by Thursday night they are crumpled and worn - but still being perused. The lists are made, the schedule is set and the alarm goes of at 3:45am. John made it to JC Penny, Walmart, and Target in Twin all befor 6am! Then comes the haul. The adults all gather in a room and go over all the bargains, and wonder if there are any left if we could just hurry and go to Walmart one more time. Coats for $8? WHAT? Sexy Momma Boots were a big item this year - most of the fun was modeling them and seeing the teen-age neices roll their eyes. Talents have been shared, wild trees have been tamed and right now, while I am typing this, the aroma of my husband's world famous fudge is wafting through the house. Thanksgiving weekend is now complete! We love family and we love this week especially - we must count our blessing - even though we may not have riches, we are rich in family - we love you guys!

Has Anyone Seen My Husband

John left at 4am and hasn't been seen since! WE LOVE BLACK FRIDAY! I didn't get to go this year because I have our three kids - but I have been called about every 1/2 hour with updates. Isn't this fun!

Makes me Smile

This picture just makes me smile every time I look at it. Cousin's are the best!

More for me than anyone else

I know this is a long list so you don't have to read it. It is fun to remember what you've gone through and that you have had a good life!

What I've done...

copy and paste the 200 statements then bold the ones you have done!! Hope you enjoy it!!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (chocolate dipped strawberries for girl's camp)
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it (love you hubby!)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (no comment!)
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking (everyday!)
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (what happened to drive -ins?)
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring (I think it broke because my mood swings are so violent)
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train (oh the inhumanity on the Russia tour)
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class (remember Richard?)
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunch box
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane (every time)
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival (drug dip!)
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a camp fire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Commented on someone's blog

Little Elves

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What a great way to spend a Saturday morning! The neighbor girls were over so we decided to make them into elves also - sorry it's Disco again - but it really is the best one. Enjoy!

He's too Sexy!

So...a special prize to the first one to comment on who the great looking guy in the middle is - and no it's not Austin Powers - just someone with as much mo-jo!

Just Elfin Around!

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Resume - Copy Writer

Sorry for the poor quality - but anyway...

Here is John's first add in our paper. He had the paper open to this page when we came down for breakfast - well Jacee immediately cut it out and wanted me to read it for her. Later, as I was doing dishes, Jackson was sitting at the table holding the add, and here was his copy, "Welcome John Brent Peterson! He loves his son, and his name is Jackson John Peterson! Mom - I think that's a great idea!"

So - it looks like Jack has a future in copy writing -anyone know of any jobs?

One Hot Momma!

We have been cleaning out our storage unit so when I am sick of organizing, I sit down, open a box and just enjoy walking down memory lane. Here is one of my all time favorite promo pictures from the PG Ballroom team. We really teased Nicole because she is such a good girl, and here she is surrounded by boys and her costume had ripped so it shows quite a bit of leg. Now she has her own darling family with a brand new baby boy. I admit I get a little emotional when I read her blog because she has grown up to be an amazing wife and mother. John and I are so glad she was on our team for three years - we love you Colee!

My Big Man

So...here is Jack's preschool picture. If I freaked out over Jacee's - John freaked out over Jack's. Pretty crazy that our kids are growing up - it's just so hard to imagine this when they are babies. He is all boy. John and I were laughing this morning because he got one of his curved train tracks and made a gun out of it and was shooting everyone. They really do come as boys - dirt, dogs, and lots of sound effects. Luckily his favorite place to be is sitting on me - no matter what I am doing. And he still will give me kisses in front of his entire preschool class - how long do you think I'll get away with that one? Hopefully for a long time!

Pretty Fun Conversation

While I was doing Jacee's hair today we had a little conversation about education. Jacee was telling me all about how you start in preschool when you are a baby, and then go to kindergarten when you are five and then 1st grade and all the way up and then you go to college! I asked where she was going to go to college - her prompt reply was "BYU!" After a short pause she asked, "Mom, where is BYU?" I said, "Utah." "Hmmm, so when I go to college we have to move to Utah?" I tried to tell her she would go by herself and that didn't fly at all. I then said I would move with her - still no good. "Can't we all move to Utah when I go to BYU." What could I say but "YES!"

A Jacee Beth Original

Jacee worked really hard on this piece. Now...everything that happens is "Because I drew such a good picture." I.E. - you are letting me snuggle you because I drew such a good picture. You got me some chocolate milk because I drew such a good picture. You get the idea. I do think it's pretty great - so enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

PS - she does think her boy pilgrim now looks like a Leprechaun because she colored him green.

Hero Tributes

I love this picture. This is John's family at our annual family reunion at the Cassia County Fair and Rodeo. I am always impressed with John's family because I think they "Live Life Joyfully!" It seems that even amidst hard times, joy can be found because of the faith we have in the Gospel. I think they have learned this trait from their mother. I have never met a happier, more joyful person. If it wasn't hard enough to give birth to and raise nine children, she has gone through other hardships as well during her life - yet she seems to always have a ready smile and a helping hand. This is for you Grama Binki - thanks for bringing joy into our lives!




A tribute to another hero in my life. If this picture doesn't sum up my brother Steve, I don't know what does. Only Steve would show off his milky white muscles to a super tan, super muscular Conan the Barbarian. I'm sure it didn't even enter Steve's mind that this man might appear to be his physical superior (and I'm sure still doesn't!) This is how my brother takes on life. I can do this, I can be the best, and no one will intimidate me or tell me otherwise. I look up to you Steve and am impressed with how you have lived your life. I love you and miss you more than words can say.

PS - and who else could wear those shorts with such confidence!

PSS - this is the best! Jacee was looking at the picture and said, "Mom, which one is Uncle Steve?" And she was still not convinced when I told her it was the white one. She still kinda thinks it is Conan!

5-6-7-8!

Jacee had her first dance performance tonight. She is in the Munchkin group at Jennifer Sager's studio (same studio I took from when I grew up here.) She loves it and loves dancing. Her favorite part was the hair piece - she couldn't stop moving to make it bounce. Even in the car she would swing her head around to make it move. I can relate - I always loved the hair pieces - it's so fun to get all dolled up!


We did have some trauma putting eyelashes on. We finally took them off and on the way to the performance had a talk about doing something that might not be totally comfortable but needed to be done. We did put them on at the performance and they were the first things off when she was done.

John and I think she is the best one in her class of course. She new the entire dance and was on rhythm and didn't look at any of the other girls. Of course she practices her dances everyday! (Her teacher sent home a dvd for the girls to watch and practice with - very smart.)

Anyway - I think we are in the thick of it - she has another performance next week and then is a bon bon in the Nutcracker in December. I think next year it's going to be Pee Wee ballroom!

Going, Going, Gone! Bye, bye truck.

Some of you may not have heard that John totaled his Truck. Not fun. Here is the cement barrier that he "skateboarded" across - breaking the axle under his truck.

He was just fine until the police officer told him the last two people that had an accident there died, that shook him up a little. We are lucky he is ok.

A dog ran out in the road and he swerved just as he came to the cement barrier in the road. Luckily he wasn't hurt. We sure do miss his truck!