A Crazy Summer

It's been forever since I posted but life has literally become crazy overnight. I will attempt to give an update on everyone's comings and goings.

Chance turned 16 at the beginning of August and we had a big shindig with his friends. It was a blast and everything turned out really great. I served pulled pork sandwiches, chips, and fruit. My friend Emily helped me a lot with all the decorations and we even had an outdoor movie. Chance loved the scavenger hunt that Cory and our friend Heath took two groups on and the fire blowing was a hit as well. I can't believe how fast 16 years goes by. I remember holding him in my arms for the first time at such a young age and praying with all my might that I would be a good mom for him. It has been a bumpy road at times but I have never regretted bringing him into my life even as young as I was. He has brought me such joy and has kept me on my knees more than anyone else since that first prayer with him. Everyday I love him more and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Sierra has officially started Jr. High and is loving it. It's really wierd because I was WAY more nervous about her starting than she was. I didn't think it would be hard for me but the first day when I dropped her off I almost cried knowing that I wouldn't be able to see her until the day was over. She on the other hand was excited and made friends with a group the very first day. We are excited for her to excell in this charter school.

Alex started kindergarten again and is doing awesome. I talke to his teacher  and she said he has more confidence, he knows his words better, he answers questions and is doing much better this year. His speech teacher even said she has noticed his anxiety disappearing.  We are so pleased with our decision to hold him back.

Cami is starting preschool in a few weeks and is SO excited! She is a very smart girl and needs to be challenged. I am excited for her to go and learn new things. She has already started reading from a set of books that I gave her and is progressing fast. She is such a sweet spirit in my life and keeps me on my toes!

Anthony is getting so big and is able to communicate so much better now. The other day after I got done telling him no for soemthing he looked at me with a grin and said "No, no, no". It was so cute that I tried really hard not to laugh. He loves to explore and stands at the door saying "open". frequently throughout the day. He is very smart and if I tell him to please get a diaper or something else he knows exactly what to do. I used to think of the day when he would get older and it would get easier without a baby around but as he is getting older I find myself wishing he would stay this was forever. He brings so much happiness and laughter to our home.

This summer has been crazy busy for all our family. With having 5 kids at all different ages and levels it never really slows down for us but we try to fit in at least one famiyl night and date night a week to keep our family close. Some of the fun things we have done this summer include: picnics in the mountains, fishing, Lagoon, Seven Peaks, dressing as cows for free food on FHE, food drive at The District, bowling, The Burns week long visit, seeing grandma and grandpa, roller skating, game nights (those get a little crazy), Chance's birthday, and having fun with friends. All in all it was a great summer and we are excited that school has started and we can get back to our routine!!





Change Of Scenery

Sierra is starting Jr. High this year. I can't believe it! She has been having a tough time lately with all the changes in her life so I wanted to do something special for her and surprise her. She went to Young Womens's tonight and I updated her room. It turned out really cute and cost me very little with some creativity and help from Cory.

I hope that even though she has to share a room with Cami that this will help her to feel more like she has a space of her own that she really likes. I've grilled Cami on the rules of the room and cleaned out all of her toys so she will play in the playroom instead. I can't wait to see what Sierra thinks...

So "Freakin" Cute

Cami cracks me up everyday with her antidotes. She always says the funniest things that sound so grown up but yet so innocent. Today she came out after her bath in this getup which consisted of her pajama shirt under her favorite skirt. She looked right at me and said "Mom I look so freakin cute!!". That is the best part of being a mom-the laughter that your kids make you do everyday.

Personally I think Cami is so freakin cute all the time!!

Off Again

It seems like just yesterday Chance was starting kindergarten and now he's almost driving. As I sent him off to another week away I thought about how much harder it's getting to send him off knowing that in a few short years I will be sending him off for good.
I worry about him and hope I have taught him all he needs to know to survive in today's tough world. He is a great kid and has so much strength that I know whatever he becomes he will be great at it.
He did an amazing thing last week on Sunday that answered so many prayers I have had these past five years. He gave a talk about his trek that he would not let me see before he got up there. He bore his testimony for his first time and said that he will do whatever it takes to go on a mission. I was completely floored by his change of heart. He also said that he realizes that even though he is a polite person he has not treated his family the best always.
I could not stop crying and I felt more love from Heavenly Father at that moment than I ever have before. I have always told him that I can see what he cannot always see in himself which a strong, valiant young man with a testimony bigger than any other young man I have ever known. I am so grateful that he is turning into what he is meant to be. I look forward to the day when he becomes the first missionary in Cory's family. I am so proud of him.

Family Fun Day

Saturday we went bowling for our Family Fun Day. We were able to get a pass which let's us bowl all summer long for FREE!! It was our first time going and our kids loved it. Alex actually won the first game and Cory the second. With life being so crazy busy (Alex's surgery, Trek, Cory's birthday and Father's Day, end of school,etc., etc.,) it has been awhile since we have went out as a family. It was great to see everyone having fun and smiling!

New Van

This last week we broke down and bought a newer, more reliable van! I have to say it feels really good to drive places and know that we are not only not going to break down but we also feel very safe. Our van is the nicest we have ever had and it's in VERY good condition. We love all the features and are enjoying every minute of it!!

Happy Birthday Anthony!

Today is Anthony's 1st birthday. Boy has it gone by fast and what a year it's been! I remember a year ago how happy and at peace I was when he was born. I also remember a few days later when he got meningitis and how scared I was that we would lose him. There is no feeling to describe how it feels to watch your baby suffering and know there is nothing you can do to help him. I am so grateful that everything turned out alright and that he is with us today. He brings such joy to all of our lives. I wanted to blog a little about him today so that I can remember how he was and how I felt about him on his 1st birthday...

Anthony is the happiest baby I have ever met. Not a day goes by where someone is not commenting about how cute and happy he is. He always has a smile for anyone. When he sees someone he doesn't know or know very well he has a habit of smiling at them and then burying his face in me. Then he starts to warm up and can't stop smiling. It is so cute. He loves to play peek a boo and smiles with his chubby little fingers covering his face.

He is very active and walks well now. I can't get him to sit on my lap for very long anymore but he always has a hug or kiss when I pick him up. Most of the day is spent walking around and seeing what he can get into that's on his level. He gets bored with his toys but loves to open cupboards, drawers, and runs for any open door to explore. He has been able to crawl up the stairs for a month or more now but last week he started being able to crawl down them too. The first time he did I was in the other room and I didn't see him until he was almost down but when I saw him he gave me the biggest smile and looked very proud of himself.

He talks a little now but me and Cory are constantly amazed at what he understands and his ability to communicate through his actions. Nobody would probably believe us but he has has said "right here" and "thank you" a few times but mostly he says "mama". I love it and it's like music to my ears. He is smart and does thing earlier than my other kids mostly I'm sure because he has big brothers and sisters to show and teach him.

He loves to play with his big brother Alex and mostly his big sister Cami. She is constantly putting him on things, feeding him, giving toys to him, and doing everything else to "mother" him. He surprisingly doesn't mind this and in fact seems like he likes the attention. With his big brother Alex he likes playing with him in the morning when Alex arises early and I haven't retrieved him from his crib yet. They are very tender together and seem to have a connection that only they have.

He is by far the most content baby in the world. He is very happy to just hang out and play with anyone that wants to. He only gets unhappy when he is tired or hungry and even then it's just grumpiness that clues me in. When it's time for nap he gets a little onry and I pick him up with his binky in his mouth and set him in his crib with lots of blankets on him and he goes right to sleep.  He is really easy to put to bed as long as he has lots of blankets and his binky. With the way our busy life is I am SO grateful he is like that.

He likes to eat the same food as us and doesn't care much for baby food. I cut up healthy foods and he prefers to feed himself. His favorite fruit is grapes and bananas. He likes them so much that I have to hide them in the cart when we shop otherwise he won't stop trying to get them. He does not like carrots unless its mashed in a baby food jar (gross I know) but loves broccoli as long as it's spiced. He will eat chunks of potatoes but doesn't like the texture of mashed potatoes. Most of the time though he is very easy to feed and will happily eat whatever I make.

He is a big baby and passed the 20 pound mark at 9 months old (Cami was 1 before she did). He looks very chubby because of his chubby little cheeks, hands, and feet. But last time I took him in the doctor said he is just tall and is actually a little under his weight for his height. I think he is just cute and it's a good thing he is a little stocky because he has a little "mother" that drags him everywhere she goes! Plus he has reached all his milestones early thanks to 4 big siblings so there's been a lot of bumps and bruises along the way.

It has been challenging to say the least this year to bring a baby into our crazy busy lives but we are so grateful for him. He has been more of a blessing than anyone can imagine. It does get crazy keeping up with his constant needs but he takes everything in stride and accepts things the way they are. I have a tendency to get over busy with my life and my kids lives sometimes. He helps me to slow down each day. Keeping up with him reminds me constantly to appreciate each day with my kids.

He is our last baby and I know from experience how fast the time goes.Having the other 4 before me has taught me so much about what's important and what's alright to let go. I am still learning but with this last angel I have cuddled, kissed, smiled, let the little things go, stopped to appreciate the moment, and played more than I did with any of my other children their 1st year. I am grateful for what it's taught me and for how much it's changed me as a person and a mother.

I hope he has a wonderful birthday and that we can have many more with him!!!

First Haircut

I was going through old pictures the other day and came across these pictures of Cami's first haircut on July 6th, 2009. She was two and a half years old so it took awhile until her hair was finally long enough to cut. I was so excited that her hair was getting longer because up until that point really the only thing I could do with her hair was to put her hair in two pigtails on the top of her hair. We took her to Cookie Cutters in Lehi and she sat in a pink convertible chair. She sat really still and seemed more in awe than nervous. She was very cute about the whole thing.

This photo was taken 4 months before her first haircut. At this point it was barely getting long enough to be able to put it in pig tails like this.

This picture was taken the other day with her very short hair she now sports. She has taken up to cutting her own hair lately. It started about two months ago when she got gum stuck in her hair. The day after we used peanut butter to remove it she came out and said "Look mom I cut my hair so I won't get gum stuck in it anymore". I was pretty upset at that point but I bit my tongue and explained to her the reasons why she shouldn't cut it and forgot about it until a month later when she got ahold of Sierra's scissors and did it again. I wasn't as patient with her that time until she sweetly said "I want to look like my best friend Kyler". I of coarse hid ALL the scissors thinking that she wouldn't be able to do it again. So imagine my surprise when I walked into the bathroom yesterday just as she was starting to shave her hair. Yes she plugged in her dad's electric razor and turned it on by herself. This time I grabbed it from her and told her if she ever tried to cut her hair again people would think she was a boy. Alex trying to be the helpful brother that he is immediately told her "Yeah Cami people will be so confused because you dress like a girl but you look like a boy!" I'm now starting to miss the pig tail on top of the head days...

Dinner At Olive Garden

Last night Cory took me out to dinner with Alex, Cami, and Anthony with a gift card he got from work. We don't take the kids out to eat very often so they were excited and didn't know what to expect.
We went to Olive Garden and Cami and Alex kept saying how they wanted olives for dinner. They obviously thought it was where you went and ate olives. While we were waiting to be seated they gave us one of those beepers to let us know when it was our turn. Alex and Cami had no idea what it even was so they kept asking questions about it and watched it to see what it would do.
When we were seated and they brought out the plates they put one in front of Anthony. He has never used a plate on his own so he bent down and tried to eat it a few times until he figured out he couldn't chew it. It was so cute!
When the food came Cami loved her food so much she ate it within a few minutes. Alex on the other hand savored it and kept talking after each bite about how we needed to get online so we could find the recipe for his spaghetti so dad could make the chicken and I could make the noodles. After he was done eating he carefully took his lefotvers home and put them in the fridge so he could save them for today. At lunch today he carefully got them out again and savored it again.

I guess the trick to getting kids to appreciate things in life is to not give them everything they want. It was fun to see them excited about the little things.

To The Mall Again

With a teenager and tween it seems like I am always either at the mall or driving them to the mall to meet friends. Yesterday I took the kids and Chance's friend to the mall again. Sierra came up to me in a store and said "Mom I want to know your opinion on some shorts.". So I went and looked at them with her and tried really hard to hide my surprise (I've learned freaking out is NEVER the way to reason with hormonal kids). So I was like "Um, I don't think your dad's going to like those shorts very much their kind of immodest." and she of coarse was like "Mom!". So I showed her another pair of shorts that were much longer and more appropriate. Then she looked at the price tag and said with her hand on her hip "I don't have enough money for these ones mom." Being the mom that I am I looked at her with my biggest smile and said "I will pay the difference of those shorts if you buy these ones." I figured I would be getting a lot of extra material between the two shorts for the little bit of money extra I would pay! Of coarse she looked at me with her hand on her hip again and said "Ahhh Mom!"........ Good thing one of my first two lessons as a parent of a teenager was you have to learn creative ways to say no to them and you can't take things personally.

A New Way To Change Diapers???

I walked in to see Cory changing Anthony's diaper this way! I was a little disturbed until I asked Cory why in the world he would change him like that. Cory said that it was the only way he could get him to stay still to change him. That's probably very true.... Anthony will not sit still for diaper change at all. I guess I can't complain if he's willing to change a stinky diaper. After 5 kids it's amazing how much little "tricks" you learn with kids.

Fun Day At Classic

The kids are off track again and I wanted to take them somewhere fun that wouldn't cost a fortune. Classic Skating has a MOMS club that does a deal on the weekdays that includes skating, bouncing, games, and a jungle gym. It was just what the kids needed to burn up all their cooped up energy from winter. Cami and Alex brought their bikes for the skating rink and they had a blast. Even baby Anthony had a fun time crawling around the toddler section. Sierra brought a few friends and it was a great time to go because there were no boys there so they were able to let loose and have a great time.  We ended up staying for over 4 hours and the kids could have stayed much longer if we didn't need to go. It was so good to get them out of the house and let them run around after being stuck inside for so long. It makes me so glad spring is just around the corner.

What A Great Big Brother

Chance is such a fun big brother. He is always playing with them and including them in things. He loves to show them off to his friends and is never embarrassed of them like a lot of teenagers. Yesterday he spent the ENTIRE afternoon playing cowboys and Indians with Cami and Alex. He was so cute with them and did everything from picking out their clothes for it, putting makeup on their faces for a dirty look, built forts, found safe weapons, and "scared" me and Cory with them. They had such a blast. Then today Chance came to me and said "Mom will you take some pictures of me and my brothers so I can show my friends on facebook?". He got them all ready for the pictures including doing hair, picking clothes, and getting them dressed. He is such a cute brother with them and will make an awesome dad someday. He's a huge blessing in all of our lives and does an amazing job at leading the Petersen kids gang.