The Blahs

Things have been pretty blah around here lately. It seems I'm not too excited about much. I wonder what's wrong with me and then remember we are in the winter blahs with no end in sight. I start to get down mid-February and it gets worse in March and I start to feel better in April. One of my counselors told our new camp director that the real Julie will show herself again in the Spring - it really gets bad.

Well, I was having an extra bad day (week) last Thursday for a myriad of reasons. Later that night there was a knock at the door and to much joy and happiness, I found this beautiful valentine hanging on it.

I was suppose to channel my inner Martha that day with friends but cancelled because of the blahs...they made me one anyway and brought it over. (I know, you are all thinking it's a good thing I didn't show because it would not have turned out like this if I would have made it!)

Thanks Cammie and Jodi for helping my bad day. Another reason I love living in this neighborhood - great friends.

What a Day!

We had such a wonderful Fourth of July this year - we are hoping most of the things we did become a tradition!! We started out with a breakfast at our house. Steve and Nicole made Kneaders french toast and secret syrup - so yummy! We ate until we couldn't move much. Luckily we didn't have to be anywhere until 2pm.

Nicole and Steve's neighborhood does a fun bike parade and then a mini-carnival - right in their back yard. The kids had a great time in the parade and then spent the day going down the banzai falls, bounce house, slip and slides, making their own snowcones, and cotton candy.
Steve made up his delicious ribs and we spent the evening overindulging and then getting ready for fire works.
Jackson was not into the sparklers at all. He just cuddled by grampa the entire time.

Maddie warmed up to the idea and finally held one or two by herself while sitting on the stairs.

Jacee loved it but was very cautious.

That night John put on a fireworks show while the kids watched from the tramp. Maddie did not like the "lightning" at all and wanted to go inside the entire time. We all agree that the Wyoming Fireworks were much better than the local ones - luckily we now have a connection in Wyoming to get the good stuff for next year.

Grama and Grampa Peterson came and we just had a ball. We're lucky to have a wonderful family and live in a wonderful country. Can't wait to see everyone at teh 50th Anniversary Party!

Family Easter

These are just a few more pictures of our family with cousins over Easter. We are so lucky to be close to family and that we are able to be close to the cousins. They have such a great time together. My kids don't ever want to leave Utah, unless we take some cousins with us!

Maddie and daddy. It has been hard on her to have him gone. We all miss him!

You can't tell by Maddie's expression, but she really loves Trissy. She will be grumpy and Trissy can get her out of it. I think she followed her around all weekend.


Jack is just a happy guy. He loved the Easter Egg hunt and just had a grand time all weekend.


Uncle Tonga loves to tease my kids, but Maddie was not fooled. She knew he has such a big heart. She snuggled up to him for a moment to drink her milk. She has always gone to him - even as a baby.

Wonderful Easter Weekend

We had been planning on going to Utah for Easter for the last two weeks. Starting last Monday, Jackson would ask me everyday if it was Friday yet. Finally Friday arrived! When I came downstairs to fix breakfast Friday morning, this is what I found in the hallway - two suitcases and a pillow. (Jacee's was packed. Jack's was empty except for a pair of socks under the hood.) I think they were very excited to go.


We had a fabulous Easter dinner at Tiffany's house. Jack got a race track from the Easter Bunny and had to bring it to show Grampa. Boy, Grampa sure lasts the longest playing with Jack. They are kindred spirits.


An Easter tradition - sunglasses! I guess the Easter Bunny likes to give the same things to children that their parent's got as children. It's so fun to be on the mom and dad end of these holidays!
We spent the weekend in American Fork with the Tausinga's. They found an egg hunt for us to go to. It was raining but that didn't stop the kids at all. There were a ba-zillion kids there, and it lasted all of 30 seconds - but hey - free candy!

And here is my beautiful family after church. We went to the Tongan Ward, which is always interesting. All in all we had such a fabulous weekend in Utah. It was good to be with John and we miss him all ready. Now I'm the one counting down the days until Friday so I can see my Handsome Hubby again. Thanks for everything family - we love you!

Family St. Patrick's Day

So we started off our St. Patrick's Day picking out green clothes for everyone. It was so fun to find something for Maddie in the spring/summer box of Jacee's old clothes. I remember so well Jacee wearing that same outfit. So hard to believe she is so grown up.

Daddy even wore some green and wanted in on the pictures. Even though the kids didn't have school they did find opportunities to get lots of pinches in (mom and dad before we were ready for the day. Cousins and Aunts and Uncles in Utah).

We forgot to leave a potato in our shoes in exchange for some gold coins because we were visiting family in Utah, but there's always next year! And no we did not eat anything green - Jacee and I decided we just didn't like that - it just doesn't seem like it tastes very good.

Hope everyone else had a fun St. Patrick's Day too. Now we are really looking forward to Easter in Utah!