Anything new?!!

OK, so I've added a couple more of our recent family pictures. But other than that I have nothing to tell! This whole post surgery sitting on the couch thing is driving me CRAZY, and I don't even have a new curvy augmentation to show for it! (For those of you who don't know I had a hysterectomy) I do love the holidays though, and have had plenty of sit in front of my charlie brown tree time. Maybe one day we will finish the basement and the kids can have their charlie brown tree in the basement, and I will finally get my "Amy Peterson tree" to proudly display in the front room window. Other than that SNOOZE! I'm going to call the police department tomorrow to tell them we need an officer on 10th west to catch the speeders so I can watch out my window and have something to occupy my afternoon!

Thankful List

I'm thankful for so many things...

...for starters, my family. Greg and the kids have taken such good care of me while I've been on the mend. I had know idea that Greg could be such a good nurse/housekeeper/taxi... thanks, honey. I'm also grateful for a free country and those that sacrificed everything to allow me the freedoms I enjoy everyday. I'm grateful for the gospel, and the peace and comfort it brings to me, it balances my life and helps me to focus on whats really important. I'm thankful for good, thoughtful friends, and for the great examples for me. I'm usually thankful for my challenges because as I reflect on them I can see that they were only for my own good, and helped me to learn and grow. I'm thankful for love, because love truly does conquer all, and is a fierce emotion for good. And I'm thankful for laughter, and for how good it feels to laugh until your eye are watery.

A "million" pictures

My friend Michelle has a "million" of everything. Even though its her phrase, I have to borrow it to update my ancient blog now that my camera has been recovered from the Disneyland camera protection and relocation program.

Here you can see all three of the kids at Maybe's pumpking patch. However, you can clearly see that in the 2nd pic you can see that we are missing one. Right about the same time this photo was taken Greg is carrying her over his shoulder back to our house where she can finish throwing her tantrum about not getting the 350 lb pumpkin that she couldn't live without.

Here you can see that 4 out of 5 White's love celebrating Halloween by making carmel apples, dressing up and attending Mumsie's annual Halloween scream.

A few pics from the beach in Ca. We could've spent our whole vacation hunting down pieces of broken clam shells and it would have been the best vacation ever. The kids loved the ocean, even though it was too cold for a fair weather girl like myself to get in.

Aspen the mermaid

Gage the crab

Trace the starfish

The monkeys hangin' out at rainforest cafe. (Note: make sure you share when you go, the portions are HUGE!)

If its time for a Disney trip go in October, everything was decorated for Halloween, it was perfect weather and not at all crowded.

We didn't even have to wait to see Mickey, we walked right in!

If Aspen could have a sister, I think she would choose Minnie.

Obviously Aspen isn't Minnie's only fan...

The kids feel most at home with their own kind...

We watched the Highschool Musical 3 show in California Adventure. Trace and I both got to guest star, we're famous.

Its "Ant Island" from Bugs Life

Greg wearing Trace's prince crown, I think he is half sauced on Disneyland.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

October is definately the month to go to Disneyland. Most everyone is in school, so there are no lines. It's all decorated for Halloween, and it's California so the weather is beautiful. We started our trip off with a day at the beach, and I'm thinking next time we'll just stay at the beach, the kids couldn't get enough sand and water. (I think Gage brought half the shoreline home with us in his swim trunks, which then ended up all over the laundry room floor and in my washer.) So on Monday, Tuesday and most of the day Wednesday we did everything Disney. We even decided to stay right in Disneyland this time, which I could take or leave on our next visit. The first night we were there a young couple walked up to us with $60 in meal vouchers that they gave to us. They were with a military group and were leaving, but still had left over vouchers from Disneyland. Lucky us! Then back at our hotel that night another woman (with the same military group) offered me another $100 worth of meal vouchers. Double lucky us! The next day was super fun until I got back to our room that night and realized that our camera had been taken while we were watching the parade. I was sick about it, and of course it wasn't at the lost and found, so I bought a disposable camera to get a few shots our last day. Then right before we left to go to the airport we rode Buzz Light Year on last time. Greg accidentally left my backpack with our souvenirs, and my wallet on the ride, and yep you guessed it, it was gone. Fortunately for me I don't look too much like a criminal and they let me on the airplane with my checkbook, and an old plane ticket I was using as a bookmark for my 2 forms of I.D. Then a day after we got home Disneyland called me and said they found my camera in "Room 2". Hmmm, not sure what "Room 2" is but at least I will have some photos of our trip, as the disposable camera got stolen with my bag. BUT, everything is cancelled and everyone made it home safe and next time I go to Disneyland I will invest in a fanny pack that will be bolted to my waist!!!

Confessions of a grocery store beating

Gage and Aspen are off track right now, and let me just tell you how I love off track. I always have these delusions that off track is going to be sooo much fun, I plan, prepare and try to keep the kids entertained 24 hours a day for 3 weeks. But instead of all my creative plans Gage and Trace would rather beat on each other. Soo, they have been banned from all play wrestling, sword fighting, boxing matches, and the likes. This came to pass after a little incident at Smith's. So picture me already at my limit because I have denied the kids the 450 items that they begged for, then they told me I was (of course) "the meanest mom ever" when I didn't cave. So on the way out the door after I scolded Trace 5 times to not use the divider rails between check stands as his own personal reformer the proudest mom moment happens. Gage turns to Trace, who is a step behind to tell him some sort of exciting news and all I hear is a giant THUD. The THUD was Trace (on the defense) giving Gage the biggest kidney punch ever in the back before he could even receive the news. So Gage lets out an OOOOWWWWWW and bends over backwards clutching his lower back. At which point Trace realizes that he has just dug the last shovel full of dirt for his own shallow grave and starts apologizing. "Sawwee Gage, sawwee, I didn't know, sawwee." This is all happening in the entrance to Smiths. So close, so very close to the door and we just couldn't make it. And all I can see playing in my head (as other customers are shaking their heads at me) is the scene from Dumb and Dumber were they are dressed up in their orange and baby blue tuxes with canes in hand and they start beating on each other. I think I may check ebay for some tiny little orange and blue tuxes, and I'll of course purchase the optional canes so we can at least film it and get some money from America's Funniest Home Videos. That will teach those judging grocery store onlookers.

The perfect day

So I love fall, and I would love for it to last right up until Christmas Eve, when the snow should start and snow everybody in for Christmas day. I'm just hoping that fall will hold out for a while longer. It always seems that around these parts you blink and fall (spring happens this way too) is gone. Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the perfect weather, and head to Tracey Aviary (the perfect price--free for UEA) and soak it in. We saw the keepers feeding the pelicans, a bird show and the 50 year old condor that is the size of a small car. We had Abby Koch with us, she was the tour guide with map in hand the entire time (I'll take her anytime Michelle, what a good girl) however, Trace felt a little dethroned (I'm sure you can't tell by the pic) having to share his "I'm the youngest" attention with another cutie. (Ruffled his feathers a bit--no pun intended!) It's good for him to share, and not so good for me to see how spooooiled he is! (yikes) So enjoy the fall, carve some pumpkins and if you have any power over the weather, grant me one wish...warm sunny weather through the middle of November for my birthday.

We're moving!!!

So Greg was just offered an awesome position on the big island of Hawaii, we're set to move before the snow falls. No more shoveling or coats for us. Dream on Sunni, don't I WISH that were true! I'd settle for a Hawaiian vacation. Seriously though, we are "moving". You know the toilet that needs a new strip of caulk, or the dings in the wall that need to be touched up. What about that closet, or drawer that need to be de junked and reorganized. Amy gave me some great advice as she was taking care of all those things before she moved to Az. She said that she would never again fix up her house to sell it. She plans to go through her house every 6 months to take care of all those little projects that add up around the house. What a great plan Amy! As you can see by the picture of my office, its at the "looks worse before it gets better stage." The good news is that my filing cabinet and all the drawers are de junked and organized! Progress. Although I'd rather just go to Hawaii.

Happy Birthday Trace!!

So I am officially an old lady now. My baby is 5 years old! I keep telling Trace that I am going to squish him back into a little baby ball, but he is not having that. I have even tried to guilt him into staying home from kindergarten next year so I won't be alone, but he says I have Jilly Boo (great I'm old, and a crazy cat lady). I guess at least he still talks with his little lisp. "Mom, I'm wiwee big now." I just love that . And I still slather him with pink baby lotion. I have him convinced that he has an allergy to the "big people lotion". I know, he's going to be totally warped, but I don't care I'll take what I can get. Today at Challenger they highlighted him and sang Happy Birthday. Then he got to show pics of himself, the day he came home from the hospital (he told them it was taken when he was 2 yrs old) and pics of him playing baseball (he told them he hits home runs). Then the teacher asked his favorite color (blue, of course) and about his favorite animal (dogs -at which point he shot me a dirty look because we only have a cat and stuffed animal dogs at our house). Then the teacher asked about his favorite food, I was expecting dinosaur nuggets, or candy but he said "mesican food". Who knew?!

Trace helped me pick out his bday presents this year. So he has been carrying them around the house in their boxes for two weeks telling me that he isn't looking at them and that he is trying to forget about them like he promised at the store. The problem with transformers is that even though I purchased the ones that said 5+ I didn't read the fine print that it is not humanly possible to transform them back into anything recognizable after your 5+ child has played with it. Its like the Rubiks cube all over again. Anyway Tracey, we love you and are so glad that you are part of our family. There will never be a dull moment with Trace in the house, and I'm looking forward to the many many sporting events I will sit through (even the ones in the dead of winter) as your #1 fan. Happy 5th big boy birthday, I love you butter!

Chicago

So I just got back from Chicago, the "windy city". Do you know why its called the windy city? Nope, nothing to do with the wind, it actually has to do with politics and all the "hot air" from the politicians. I can't talk much on the subject of politics though because I only know enough to know that I'm voting for some obscure independent party. What with all the commercials and such I'll be glad to see Nov. 4th come and go. (Mostly cause my bday is the 16th, so who cares about the 4th.) Back to Chicago, Greg had a business trip so I tagged along on. I was the true blue tourist, I sported the Seinfeld look with my white tennis shoes and jeans (I'm hot) and my camera, and the dazed look of trying to figure out my north, east, south and west directions. I saw many interesting things on my trip, and most of them weren't in the 3 museums I visited. And if I were a better photographer, who actually used my camera instead of just letting it hang around my neck I would've had some great pics to add to this blog. I missed pics of the contourtionist man in the skin tight leopard print full body leotard stuck in 2 tennis raquets, and the man frozen on a box, everything painted copper from head to toe, and the sea of women in our hotel lobby meeting for their red hat society convention (purple and red truly are the new black). I did however get a pic through the bus window of an elderly couple with great style. The man had on bright blue shoes I mean bright blue and blue socks, with grey slacks and a pale yellow cowboy shirt complete with bolo tye, and his wife had a black and white outfit on accented with the biggest red flower I have ever witnessed on a lapel. I hesitate to put their pic on my blog because 1. I took it through the window of a city bus, so the quality is lacking, and 2. it might be your grandparents and I don't want to have to pay them royalties for using their photo. It was a great trip, Chicago is a beautiful city. If you haven't had the chance to go, you should.



Make sure to stop at Gino's for some deep dish pizza with cornmeal crust. (Thanks Mich for that reccommendation), just make sure to get in line at 4 o'clock so you can eat by 7. And you will be pleasantly surprized at how NICE Chicagoans are. I was really impressed and have made a promise to myself to be more friendly to everyone I run into. I feel like we are a little snotty around these parts-probably not on purpose (and of course I don't mean you), but I think we all get a little busy and forget to smile and we could maybe exchange a few more pleasantries, or let someone merge in front of us on I15. (Yes everything in my closet is either green or white, and yes Greg and I planned to look like Christmas -who doesn't like the holidays?)

Based on a True Story

So I've just started this book called "The Marvelous Journey Home" by John M. Simmons (thanks for sharing mom). Its about adoptions from Russian orphanages. I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but so far I haven't read many pages without eyes full of tears. I just can't imagine what kind of life those children live. I'm sure the providers do the best they can with what they have, but it breaks my heart to think of any child not being loved and cared for by his or her own family. I feel so blessed to live in the U.S., I'm thankful for our oppertunties, and hopefully I don't take all the abundance that I enjoy for granted. I will have to let you know what I think of the end of this book, but until then make sure you hug your kids and tuck them in tight tonight.

Move over Cinderella...

I've got my own Fairy Godmother! So I'm digging through the bottom of my disaster closet (hence the pic on the stairs, instead of in the closet) looking for my brown shoes, and happen into what seems to be an adorable new pair of shoes. At first I pay no mind knowing that I didn't pay for the "magic closet feature" when we built the house. As I reached out to touch them sure that my hand would pass right through the mirage, I was delighted to find that they were real! Of course I tried them on right away, walking back and forth in front of my closet mirror. I may have even clicked my heels a time or two. But alas, I had only Trace and Jilly Boo (the cat) to share my new treasures with, and neither showed the sheer delight that would have only been appropriate for such a find! So, I promptly changed my outfit to match my new shoes and headed off to the temple (I told you I was going FOR SURE this week) where I may have seen and envious orthopedic shoe or two! ;) Thank you Fairy Godmother...

"It's not my season."

This weekend we had Stake Conference. We have a really great stake, and I feel that I can "brag" about that because if anything, I am one of the stake charity cases, not necessarily one of the reasons for its greatness. Saturday night was the adult meeting, which my neighbor Michelle and I attended together sans husbands. So there we sit in the overflow of a very packed Stake Center listening to a member of the stake presidency, the temple president and his wife, and finally Elder Pingree after a beautiful all male quartet. The night was mostly focused on temple attendence and the blessings and service therein. The talks were very inspiring and quite enjoyable until Elder Pingree stood. He started his remarks by saying that he was very impressed by the turnout at a Saturday night meeting, remarking that he hadn't seen a Saturday night meeting that full before. Then he talked about our stake having the highest number of temple workers (all of this information seemed very impressive to me) he seemed to want to prove his point to us by using a visual so he asked all the temple workers in the audience to stand, half of the audience stood (it was impressive). Then he asked all those who had attended the temple in the last week to stand, 2/3 of the audience was now standing (at this point I start to panic realizing it has been almost 6 months since I attended a session), then he asked all those who had attended in the last month to stand, and pretty much everyone in the entire chapel, overflow and gym all the way back to the stage stood. And there I was amongst the few of us trying to remember for sure when the last time we attended was. I leaned over to Michelle, who I will not incriminate by saying that she too was still sitting and whispered "Its not our season", mostly trying to make myself feel better. Soon the audience was seated and we blended back into the crowd, unlabeled, but not uneffected by the scenario that just took place. As Elder Pingree went on to give a most wonderful talk I reflected on my comment to Michelle about it not being my season. I think it is my season. I seem to have time to go to dinner and a movie, or to go on a bike ride after I drop preschool carpool off. I can find a babysitter for a doctors appointment, or to make a lunch date with a friend. But for some reason I have been able to justify to myself that because I don't have blue hair and orthopedic shoes I don't have time, and its not my season. Well, tomorrow starts my season. I may not be a temple worker anytime soon, or even make it more than once a month. But once every four weeks for two hours is not a lot to ask of any us. Besides, that actually only adds up to four times each season, and the the word on the street, or at least at our stake conference is that the temple is always in season. Hope to see you there...

It's Time to Tri!

Gage did his 3rd triathlon this morning. The weather held out just until Gage crossed the finish line, then the flood came. Rain, wind, hail, everyone scattering and huddling under the pavilion trying to escape the weather. This was his 2nd time competeing in the Murray Tri, and he did awesome! He took 6th in his age group. Congrats Gage!

Swiss Daze

Who doesn't love Swiss Days in Midway Utah? Michelle, my squeeky shoe girlfriend (shamelss plug for "The Squeeky Shoe") shared a booth with the "Bows and Bobbies" girls. Michelle invited me up to stay at her family cabin and hang out with her on Saturday to get my fix of the mass humanity. I felt like Templeton the Rat from Charlotte's Web. I glutted my way through a "Swiss (navajo) Taco", cookies made with love from the dedicated R.S. booth, warm cinnamon sugar almonds, and half a box of whoppers that I ate all by myself on the way there. Oh, and lets not forget the taco salad from Don Julio's fine mexican eatery late, late Friday night. (That was a seriously bad choice!) Its no wonder I couldn't fit into my Sunday best today. (burp!) So, it was a great weekend in the world of boutiques, shopping and good friends. I think I might work on some hand woven handicrafts of my own so I can get a piece of the excitement, and maybe a little more carnie food...

The proudest new Auntie!!!

Sophie and Finn arrived at 9:34 and 9:36 on Tuesday morning. After a scare with Ashlee's liver (H.E.L.L.P. Hypertension, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets, its really scary, and can be fatal), and an emergency c-section S&F made their debut at 33 weeks. Sophie weighed in at a whopping 4lbs 4oz and Finn was 4lbs 11oz. Sophie was a little champ breathing and doing everything all by her big girl self, Finn needed a little oxygen help 'til he pulled his breathing tube off yesterday morning announcing that he too was big, and didn't need help. They are still in ICU learning to "suck, swallow, breath" and working on keeping their temperatures up. Other than that everyone is doing awesome, and in case your are wondering, I have pretty much dropped all my baby weight and am ready for swimsuit season ;). I am in baby bliss, loving every peek I've gotten at them, and counting the time til I can hold them, and kiss their faces off! Congrats Ash and Audy we love those babies!!!

Holes in our head

Written in sharpie on the outside of a ziplock sandwich baggie, with a microscopic front tooth inside...



Dear Tooth Fairy,

Please do not take this object.

Love,
Aspen



After reasoning with me that she has already given the tooth fairy 2 of her teeth, which justifies her getting the cash, and keeping the tooth Aspen stashed the pearly treasure in the baggie under her pillow and said to me, "Mom, please tell the toothfairy to leave me a dollar. No wait, tell the toothfairy to leave me a credit card."


As much as I love my neighborhood and the life style we enjoy I will be putting our house on the market today. We are moving to a one room shack with a leaky roof, and a dirt floor. Each of my children will have two sets of clothes. They will wear 1 set for 3 days, then swap out for the clean set. At which time they will use whatever rain water we've collected to swish out the dirty set. And now that Aspen is officially in 1st grade she is old enough to get a job, and instead of the dance lessons she plans to attend after school she will be walking the streets collecting old soda cans to recycle. I feel like this is the only chance I have to save my children.

Please Pray for Ali

After reading Amy's blog I thought I would also send out a plea for prayers. My friend's little 3 year old daughter was kicked by a horse in the back of the head on Monday night (11th). She is currently in the pediatric ICU at Primary Children's. She is holding on, but is still in very critical condition. She needs our prayers, and I know that God hears, and answers us. So on behalf of Codee, and her family please remember little Ali in your thoughts and prayers.

Should I worry?

I'm not sure that this is what the toy makers had in mind when they invented splash balls, or when excercise balls were invented that this is what it would come to. However, trust Aspen to shove anything she can find up her shirt, or down her swimsuit, which ever the case may be. My little Aspen has been looking forward to the day when her body begins to "blossom" since she realized boys were boys, and girls were girls. Soooo opposite of me. I was pretty much mortified when my body betrayed me and started "growing" without my permission. My entire pre teen, and most of my teenage life was spent behind the protective covering of an extra large t shirt over my swimsuit. I'm thinking about taking her a convent, where they will first cleanse the demons from her soul, then lock her up until she is 25.

Two Face

So if you've seen the new Batman movie, you've seen Two Face. Well, last night I had my own Two Face accident. Only thankfully, mine only involved water, no gasoline. I was making 7 minute frosting on the stove, using a pan and a metal bowl as my double boiler. Five minutes into my 7 minute frosting I hear a loud BOOM! and it takes me a second to realize that boiling water just popped all over the left side of my face. After gaining a little composure and checking it out in the mirror I decided an ER visit was the way to go. The ER visit resulted in some high adventure fun too. They gave me a drug called Delodin (sp?) for pain in my I.V. and as he was administering it he said that I might feel a little pressure or heaviness in my chest. Well, no sooner did he say that than I couldn't breath. No not a little pressure of heaviness in my chest, I was drowning. I scrambled off the table, and started pawing my way up Gregs arm to try and stretch my body long enough to have a decent lung capacity, and finally after about 2 minutes the effect started to wear off, and I could breath easily again. The drug actually worked really well, after it tried to kill me ;). Soo, half a burned face, a drug reaction, and pound of salve later I was on my way back home. Harvey Dent + Sunni White forever!!!