Sunday Naps Are Back!

Can I just say that I am so excited to have church at 9 am this year! I love that we change every year because by the time the new year comes I am ready for a new time. We have been 1-4 for the last year and while it is nice to have so much time in the morning I am more excited to have time in the afternoon. This time allows for some good ol' Sunday naps! For several years now (at least 5 but probably more) our Stake has had Sacrament last. Having it last has become the normal for us because it has been that way since we have been in TX. Well for the new year it is going back to Sacrament first and I think that is fabulous is. (Jacob just asked me a question while I typed and I typed OK in my post because that is what my answer to him was, but I took it out...anyway) So 9am church and Sacrament for the new year....YAY!!!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm going to have a baby this new year...just in case you hadn't heard yet :)

So What's New?

What's new around here? Well for starters we might be moving to TN! Kevin has been offered a job in Johnson City, TN. Wow!!! He flies out next week to interview with the CEO and VP of the franchise he would be working for. It is the largest Taco Bell franchise in the nation. If the interview goes well...the job will probably be his. I cried for the first week and told him how much I didn't want to go but I've gotten used to the idea and actually think it might be fun! We had a lot of requirements that we were looking for and they seem to meet everyone so far, we'll know everything after the interview and then we will make our final decision. I prayed a lot that first week and probably cried even more and then one day I felt at peace about the whole situation so I am thankful for that. My two main concerns are the baby and selling the house and I know everything will work out just fine whether we stay or go.

We had a great Christmas! Kevin took his vacation the week before Christmas so he was home for 9 whole days and it was so much fun! I can't believe how time goes by so fast.

The baby is growing and is healthy. She has a name (as long as she is a she) Riley Ann Peterson. The first sonogram said girl and the second said 70% chance girl. We have another on Tuesday so hopefully we will get a really good look that day.

I have been in a purging and throwing out mode. Surely nesting does not start in your 6th month. Nesting or not my house is getting organized and cleaned out and I love it. I am tossing anything I haven't used in the last year. We had a garage sale earlier this month and got rid of a ton and donated what we didn't sell, it felt great to get rid of so much.

Jacob and I are enjoying our time off of school, going back on Monday will be hard. Only 3 more months and I get to stay home again! I love my job but I love my job of staying home with a cute baby even more!!!

All Things Pink!

The sonogram showed a girl!!!

Boy or Girl???

Well that is the big question around here! Wednesday is the big day! I'm so excited I can hardly wait! We have decided on a boy name but we don't have a girl name yet. My only worry is that the little guy/girl might be modest and not show us, I sure hope not.

So what do you think...a boy or a girl?

Thanksgiving

Yesterday was a great day! The morning started with me freezing while I watched Jacob and Kevin play in the Turkey Bowl, it was fun though. We headed home for some warm food and a nap before going to grandma's for dinner. I truly stuffed myself, I could eat rolls and stuffing everyday of my life! We had fun just hanging out as a family laughing till we (or maybe just me) almost peed my pants. We also played two fun games of Settlers. Kevin and I decided that we would go to Toys R Us at 9 because they were opening for their Black Friday deals at 10. Olya and her boyfriend Brandon decided they would go with us so off we went. Oh my gosh!!! The line started at the front door and went all they way down past the next several stores wrapped around the corner and started towards the back of the buildings. It then was past the back door of Toys R Us and down the back of more stores. I bet it would have wrapped just around Toys R Us 3 times. After standing in line for about 5 min. we decided to take their ad and head to Walmart and price match. Well they would price match as long as it wasn't a percentage off. Most of the things we wanted Walmart didn't have so we will head to Toys R Us today and see if they have anything left. I would have only saved $45 on the four items I wanted so I decided it wasn't worth standing in line in 30 degree weather for hours.

Today should be another fun day. Jacob is going to a friends house all day and Kev and I have the day to ourselves! We are going to do a little Christmas shopping then we are headed to the temple. After we pick up Jacob tonight we are going to our friends house for a game night which is always fun! Today is the day that I usually like to decorate for Christmas but I think it will have to wait until tomorrow. I love putting up Christmas decorations!

Fall Is In The Air and I LOVE It!!!

My favorite time of year is without a doubt Fall!!! I love everything about it! Right this minute I love the cool air that is coming through my front door screen. Tonight the low is 39 and that is just how I like it! Jacob is sitting in the living room playing with acorns. He found some really big ones in the grass at school and brought them home. He is using a butter knife to get the nut out of it's shell...such a boy! How dangerous can a butter knife be anyway?

My pregnant belly is growing and I LOVE IT!!! I am 16 weeks now. In two weeks we will know what we are having and I can't wait to find out. This baby needs a name! Almost everyone seems to think it is a girl and that's okay with me. I honestly don't care one way or the other I truly just want a healthy baby in my arms. Any name suggestions one way or the other???

I can't wait for Thanksgiving next week. I love me some stuffing and rolls. I also make a really yummy ice cream pie that I love. I'm really trying to watch my weight this pregnancy but being pregnant over all the food holidays is not easy.

Now Jacob is standing on a soccer ball trying to juggle. He is so funny or such a mess I don't know which one.

Ramblings

We'll here I find myself again blogging several weeks after my last entry. I guess I just need to accept the fact that that is how I roll when it comes to my blog.

It is cold here this morning like 40 degrees cold. OK not that cold but the coldest it has been so far this year and I LOVE it! I think I will make myself some hot chocolate after I am done with this post. Things are going well here in the Peterson household. We had a great Halloween, I think Jacob got more candy this year then any year in the past. He separated his candy into a chocolate bowl and all other candy bowl. The chocolate bowl is going away much faster, I don't know who would be helping him empty the bowl??? Yesterday I took down the Halloween decorations and put up the Thanksgiving ones. I really can't wait to put up Christmas ones but I always wait until the day after Thanksgiving to do so even though I am tempted to do it earlier.

The pregnancy is going along great! We heard our cute babies heartbeat on Wednesday and it sounded great. We will find out what this little one is on Dec. 1. Many people seem to think it is a girl and Jacob hopes it is a boy although he thinks it is a girl too. I honestly don't care boy or girl I just want a healthy, crying, pooping, cuddly baby in my arms! It would be nice to have a girl though because we have almost everything we already need for a girl. I will definitely post it when we find out. Since we will deliver early I only have about 21 more weeks to go! It can't get here fast enough! I'm excited to stay home again and take care of a sweet baby!

Jacob is staying busy between school, chess club, bowling, and cub scouts. He loves bowling! We go every Saturday morning and he is really improving! He is growing up too fast. He definitely has a mind of his own and has a large imagination. He talks/whistles/makes noise non-stop and some days I think I might go crazy but I wouldn't change any of it!

Kevin is super busy at work I think I put in 70 hours this week, yuck! Hopefully next week he will be back to his normal of 50 something hours.

Maybe I will feel motivated sometime this weekend to post some pictures, we'll see :)

Wow! Well we did go to California and we had a blast. We went to the beach, Universal Studios, Magic Mountain, The Jay Leno Show, and lots of other stuff. We had so much fun and are so thankful for my dad and Cheryl for their generosity.

The first day of school has come and gone actually the first six weeks is almost over. Crazy how time goes by so fast. My baby is now in 4th grade, how he is so old and I am so young I do not know. My school/work year is going well. Jacob's homeroom class is right across the hall from my class which gives me plenty of times during the day to peak in on him without him knowing.

Kevin is doing well at work. He has been asked to create and present a training program for some managers in the area. He is doing very well with that and enjoys doing it.

Life is great for us so great that we are pregnant!!! That's right folks we are expecting a baby! I will be 9 weeks on Wednesday. We could not be happier with this new blessing in our lives. Heavenly Father has truly answered our prayers. Jacob is excited and is looking forward to having a baby around. We will have a newborn and a ten year old, it should be so much fun!

Well once again I have played catch up with my blogging. We'll see how long it will be until I blog again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

California Bound

Well I am spending the day cleaning, doing laundry, and packing. We are so excited to go to California! We leave in the morning, I have to get up at 3:45 am, eeeek! O'well we can always sleep on the plane. While there we will be hanging out in my dad's pool and going to Universal Studios, the beach, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and one day Kevin and I get to spend the whole day alone doing fun stuff. He wants to go to Pink's for hot dogs. I also have something else planned but I can't tell yet because I don't want Kevin to know I am going to tell him in his anniversary card, he will be so excited! Saturday is our 11 year anniversary. I can't believe it has already been 11 years. We have been through a lot and I wouldn't have wanted to go through with it anyone else!

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

So I have been dreading "breaking up" with my bug guy. We have been using the same pest control place for about 3 years. I am perfectly happy with the service but I do have one problem, he calls non stop when it is time for them to come out again. When he calls it is usually between 9-10:30 pm, hello that is too late to be calling me (not that I'm asleep but still you are a business call during the day). Well one day I was at our RS presidents house for an activity and a kid was selling pest control. Of course he was from Utah and the name of the company is Romney Pest Control...can't get more Mormon then that. I wouldn't have switched except he only charged me half price on the first visit and they sweep the eaves of your house for wasps and use some superdy duperdy product. Well they came and they sprayed and now every morning I have dead ants on my kitchen counter with some alive ones. Well I didn't even have ants before they came so I called and they are coming back out tomorrow. Maybe I shouldn't have broken up with my old bug guy, we'll see after tomorrow.

So on my last post I asked about flowers in my hair and only my mom answered my question. So I am thinking one of three things: 1. I have no readers. 2. Nobody cares about stupid flowers in my hair. 3. People who read are too shy to comment. So which is it? I sure am curious.

Only one week to California!!!

Flowers in my hair?

After spending a hour trying on swimsuits in one store, I found one! It wasn't exactly what I was looking for but I still like it a lot. It only cost $40! Much better then what I was going to spend. It is a black skirtini (tankini with a skirt) and there is blue ruffle on the neck line. Simple but cute.

For those of you local folks (it may be all Payless stores) Payless (on 360 by Sublett/Camp Wisdom) is having a flip flop sale on Thursday. Buy one get one free. Yay!!! My favorite pair of flip flops came from there so I am excited to get some more. I love a good sale!

OK I have a question...am I too old to wear a small flower in my hair? I have a friend who says I am and if she reads this I hope she laughs. I see girls of all ages with them all the time but I don't know if I can pull it off. I have been looking for a cute black flower for my hair but I haven't found one that is the right size and simple. But maybe I should stop looking. In case you don't know how old I am, I am 31. So what do you think?

Friends and Swimsuits

Another summer day, oh how I LOVE summer! OK it could be 10 degrees cooler here but o'well. I'm looking forward to CA in just over a week. Just thinking about it makes me smile!

So yesterday at church one of the talks was about friendship. It was given by Michelle who is new in our ward. It really made me think about what kind of friend I am not only to my close friends but to all my interactions with people. I often have the best intentions to introduce myself to new people but sometimes I just don't. It's not like I am shy I have no problem talking to complete strangers. In the talk she talked about examples in the scriptures of good friends. I want to be that kind of friend to my friends. Not that you have to be BFF's with everyone you meet but to be friendly with everyone. I think that when someone is new especially in the ward they feel alone and I know how that feels I've been the new girl plenty of times in my life. I guess what all this babbling is about that I want to make a better effort to befriend new people who come into my life and I want to be a better friend to my friends I already have. I love my friends and I don't know what I would do without them.

Today is the dreaded day when I go swimsuit shopping. I have found a super cute suit online but it costs around $100. I want to look around first and see if there is something I can find locally. I spent $80 two years ago and my swimsuit and I loved it. It is so worn out though and it is definitely time for a new one. Why do they have to be so expensive? Are the immodest ones cheaper? They must be because they have way less fabric. Who knows but what's a girl to do she has to have a cute swimsuit. Hey if I can find one here for cheaper that would be great! I am going to drop Jacob off at my moms for a little bit while I go shopping, he is excited about that. He hates clothes shopping! To be honest I don't like clothes shopping with him much either. I can't really spend the time I want so I think swimsuit shopping alone is a good idea. Oh ya...I got my first pair of prescription sunglasses. I am so in love with them. I never wear sunglasses because I am blind with out my glasses and contacts don't do well in my eyes anymore. Wish my luck in my swimsuit finding endeavors today!

I am trying to come up with a new design. It is still a work in progress. I am trying to design a new header in Photo Shop. We'll see how that goes. I'm off to watch the original Willy Wonka with Jacob. I love that movie!

Well Hello

Well we never got a hamster or a fish. No pets for now, but if we come across a lab puppy I don't know if I can resist. I just want a puppy to feel my baby need because no babies are coming our way anytime soon.

Why am I such a slacker in my blogging lately? Hopefully with the summer will come more time to blog. Here (in list style again...I need to stop doing this) is our summer plans:

Girls Camp (already happened, it was a blast, especially because I got to got with my best buddy)

Twilight Camp next week. It's a Cub Scout camp at night, Jacob loves it and I help staff it.

California here we come, YAY, I am so excited to go this year it has been two years and that is way too long. Thanks dad and Cheryl, we love you guys and can't wait to see you!

2 Days after we get back I leave for Wood badge Training (leadership training done by the Boy Scouts of America that applies to all leadership in your life) camp for 6 whole days. Let's just say I haven't been exactly thrilled about this one. The Bishop asked me to go and that's pretty much why I am going. My attitude about it is getting better. I know I will have a great time and learn a ton. I really don't want to leave my family for 6 whole days!!! I will go and do the things that the Lord wants me to do...right?

There you go a snapshot of our summer. Should be busy and fun. Today Jacob has a friend coming over in the morning and a friend in the afternoon. He will be busy and maybe I can get some stuff done around here...maybe not. Tomorrow we are going to Fossil Rim, such a cool place. We went last year and it was amazing. It is where the animals come right up to your car and you can feed them and pet them, even giraffes, can't wait!

Hamster or Fish

OK I need help. We are getting a pet for Jacob's 9th birthday. Should we get a hamster or fish? All of you out there who read but don't comment help me out and leave a comment. I want to know your experiences with both. Thanks a bunch. We had decided on fish but after talking with some friends maybe we should get a hamster...I don't know.

Exfoliating

The other day I saw a tiny blue bead in Jacob's hair. I figured out it was from the body wash in his shower. As I was taking it out of his hair this was our conversation:

Me: "There is something blue in your hair."
Jacob: "What is it?"
Me: "Oh, I think it is from the body wash in your shower."
Jacob: "Is it a x-floating bead mom?"
Me: (laughing) "It's called exfoliating."

Too funny... do you have x-floating beads in your body wash?

This is an amazing video.

Our Stake President showed this last night at Stake Conference, I loved it. I hope you will take the time to watch it. Enjoy

What a long week!

Monday...science project
Tuesday...chess club, soccer practice, science project
Wednesday...cub scouts
Thursday...crafty group for enrichment
Friday...nothing :)
Saturday...science fair, soccer game, Stake Conference adult meeting

You gotta love a busy week because time sure does fly by. I am so busy with one kiddo I can't imagine what it would be like with 5 or 6. I love my life so I wouldn't have it any other way.

Can I just brag on my cute boy for a little while. His birthday is coming up in 2 weeks and he will be 9! I can't believe how fast time really goes!

*He is really smart. He loves learning and gets good grades in school.

*He is nice to some of the kids who nobody else is nice to.

*He is hilarious, he loves to tell jokes.

*He loves his mama and daddy. He is so loving and gives lots of hugs and kisses.

*He is ALL boy. I don't know how much I love this one. He would never take a shower, change his clothes, or brush his teeth if I didn't make him.

*He loves to have fun!

*He has a great laugh!

I LOVE MY BOY!

Easter

This year we spent Easter in McKinney. I loved having Easter on General Conference weekend! Jacob had so much fun playing with his cousins. He always loves going to McKinney to play with them. On Sunday we had Easter dinner and a egg hunt at Dave and Wendy's. There were a lot of eggs and the kiddos had so much fun.

Addyson, Ethan, and Jacob coloring Easter eggs.

This is my CUTE niece Paige, she is so funny! Wendy and Tatum

Finished project

Jacob left a carrot and note for the Easter Bunny.

Easter morning at Grandma's house. After searching for a while he finally found his basket.

Easter egg hunt at Dave and Wendy's. This is the kids waiting to come down the stairs...off they go.

Hunting for eggs in the backyard.

Jacob found the golden egg.

Tatum and a picture of all the kids trying to make puppy dog faces...too cute!
It was a great weekend!

Catch up...

So much to catch up on. I guess list style will have to do (this is the result of not blogging on a regular basis).

Only 7 more weeks of school!!! I can't wait until summer!

Had so much fun playing Cranium with Kevin and Jacob tonight.

I have been staying up way too late lately.

My back still hurts a lot but I am learning to deal with a herniated disk.

Jacob has been playing soccer and will start bowling soon, he can't wait.

My baby will be 9 in a few weeks, how did that happen??? He's going to be a fourth grader!

I still love my job.

We have a science project to work on tomorrow. Well Jacob does so we all do.

We have two baptisms to attend tomorrow.

I actually kept up with the laundry this week...that is AMAZING!!!

I finally got my car back after 7 months. I do not suggest having one car ever!

I'm sure I am forgetting something but here are the things that my brain came up with at this late hour.

Bowling For Kids Sake

A couple of weeks ago I participated in Bowl For Kids Sake with friends from work. We each had to raise a $100 to donate to Big Brother Big Sister. We had so much fun! I am definitely not a consistent bowler the first game I bowled a 69 and the second game I bowled a 139. I loved it and I hope I can do it again next year.

Kitchen Sink

OK so this is kind of random but this is what I found in my kitchen sink a while back.

After I put the last glass in I realized that there was some symmetry. I thought it was kind of cool how that just happened.

Yesterday Jacob played in his first chess tournament yesterday for his school. It was a great day. Jacob won 2 matches, lost 2 matches, and had a bi on one. Pretty good for his first tournament. We were really excited for him and he had a great time. The tournament was for any elementary in the district and there were 13 schools who participated. This was the first year for his school to go. There were just over 400 kids there and 116 were from his school. Our school won the first place team trophy, it was awesome. I forgot my camera....ahhhhh. I had a friend take some pictures so I will post them when I get them. He woke up this morning saying he couldn't wait for next year.

OK one more thing this is a conversation Jacob and I had while he was getting ready for the tournament yesterday:

Me: "Jacob get clean underwear on."
Jacob: "OK but I have to wear my lucky underwear."
Me: "I didn't know you had lucky underwear."
Jacob: "I don't I'm just going to write lucky on my underwear today with a marker."
That kid cracks me up!

Let It Snow!

I started this post last weekend and then I got the stomach flu...it was horrible but I survived. So here a week late is my post.

Here in Arlington we were lucky to have almost a foot of snow on Thursday and Friday. For many this is no big deal, but here in Texas it is a BIG deal. Here are some pictures, you know I tend to post too many.

This was after school on Thursday. They cancelled school for Friday before we even left on Thursday.

Thankfully Kevin had bought me these rain boots earlier in the week they were great in the snow.

A real snow cone and a snow angel.

Some pictures of our yard and neighborhood.

Poor Jacob got the stomach flu first and was too sick to play in the snow on Friday and Saturday. We brought a chair out for him to watch Kevin build a snowman, he was sad that he was so sick. I knew he was really sick when he didn't want to play outside.

This is how he spent most of Friday and Saturday, notice the throw up pot, it was used a lot!

That is a ruler in our backyard on Friday morning, 10 inches of snow! Kevin and one of our neighbor kids built a snow fort, it lasted way after all of the other snow melted.

We loved it and wished we had that we had that more often around here. It is supposed to snow again on Tuesday. We love the snow!

Strep Throat

We're chillin' at home today. Jacob has strep but is feeling better. I was walking down the hallway yesterday at school and I see Jacob heading to the nurse with a pass. He didn't have a temperature but he felt so yucky. I took him to my room and had him lay down on a bean bag and he fell asleep right next to my desk, It was so cute, I wish I had taken a picture. We went to the doctor and he decided he did not want the shot so he opted for the pills that you have to chew and swallow. Ya, well he had one dose of that and threw it up. So I called the doctor and we went in this morning and he got a shot in the bum. I tried to convince him, I even bribed him in front of the doctor with ice cream to get the shot. I bet the doctor didn't like that very much but I knew the shot would be easier then nasty pills. Of course I was right. Anyway, I'm just glad my little guy is feeling better. So we are quarantined to the house today and tomorrow so I should be able to get a lot done, we'll see. I don't seem to be very motivated.

Wow, that is a lot of pictures!

I thought I would plug in my external hard drive and look for some old pictures of Jacob. These are my pre blogging days. The first several were scanned in so the quality is not the best. I plan on printing my blog one day so it would be nice to have these in it. I think I added too many, but what is a mom to do? Really there are a TON!