FINALLY-- A NEW POST!!!!

Never fear--- I am finally posting something new. I know some of you have given up on me and for that I am sorry. Playing softball/baseball/t-ball on multiple leagues five nights a week is proving to be quite hard. But this weekend we finally had a relaxing, nothing on the calender, "what should we do" type weekend. WWWOOO HOOO!!!! So how did we choose to spend it? You know it-- at the ball park. We went to a Bees game on Saturday and the new Narnia-Prince Caspian movie on Monday. And guess what baseball fans... we caught our first home run ball ever!!! Oh yes, it was hit out to the general admission area in right center field where I had strategically placed our blanket. Brayden actually almost caught it out of the air, another guy knocked it down, and Brandon made quick grab before some big teenage boys could take him out!! It was SWEEEETTTT!!! We tried to get it signed after the game by the player that hit it, but unless your willing to wait in the parking lot for a couple more hours after the game for him to come out to his car, there is no way. So we settled for the bumble bee's signature. The kids were happy anyway.

Can you believe another year of school is behind us? Me neither. How sad, my babies are growing up. Maddie had a fun year and did wonderful in all her subjects. She is starting to show a little bit more of her social side, as I had a couple of chances to watch her interact on the playground. Brayden did well, but he is usually a straight A's student, so this year when he struggled a little bit trying to find a balance between school work and recess/sports Brandon and I had to give him a couple of "talks". He just doesn't understand that it's not pass/fail anymore. A C grade shows either your level of understanding or your focus and diligence in class. He is absolutely capable of getting straight A's, he just doesn't do his work in class. Ugh! only 9 more year of this. :) I love being a mom.

I don't have any sweet pictures of Brayden and Maddie playing ball yet, because either A: I forget to bring the camera. B: I am score keeping or C: I am coaching. I will be sure to get some soon and let you see how cutey cute they look playing ball.

Maddie Girl

Maddie had her first school program. And it was the first time that I have missed one of my kids school functions :(

They did a bunch of dances including the chicken dance, which the parents and spectators were encouraged to stand up and participate in. Brandon swears that he did the chicken dance, but I have a hard time believing that! I wish I had proof :) But you know if I would have been there, he never would have participated, so I guess there was one good thing that came from me missing.

ODE TO...Petey, Cool Ranch Blanch, Beaver, Bleach, and all Other Nicknames Given to my One & Only

Tagging... Why not play along? Besides, I have decided to be nice and give B some showtime on my blog.

How long have you been together?

Proud to say fifteen years. Married for 12 of those.

How old is he? 34 same as me

Who eats more? I do! Can't you tell by looking at me? But he has been known to drink a gallon of Peps in a day. Sad but true.

Who said "I love you" first? B of course! It was truly sweet and I will never forget when or where it happened.

Who is taller? B - but only by 3 inches.

Who sings better? I don't know, but I think we could sing some pretty good harmony on Tim and Faith's "Angry all the Time" song. Anybody who knows B knows that he is a whiz with song titles and artists. He loves to play, "Name That Tune" with anyone who's game.

Who is smarter? HaHaHa, this has been the source of many conversations, and jeering remarks lately. One day while riding in the car together, I asked B how he ever made it through college and his answer was plain and simple "I am pretty smart you know". And so the argument was started and will continue for a lifetime.

Who does the laundry? Me!!! And occasionally B folds when I dump a couple of clean loads on the bed and he is forced to to make space for himself to sleep.

Who does the dishes? Me!!! Again with exceptions. For years B watched his grandma make the meal and his grandpa clean up after. Someday he might take after one of them.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? B --always B --and he has to sleep on his right side which, of course, is facing away from me.

Who pays the bills? B makes the money and I click the send payment button on the BillPay website. Wow, isn't that great team work. It's not easy being me.

Who mows the lawn? What lawn? We believe the earth should be left in it's natural state. YEAH RIGHT! B can't wait to sod his entire half acre and buy a riding mower. Ahhh the dreams of us cowpokes in G-ville.

Who cooks dinner? That'd be Me. A chore indeed, especially now that I work three days a week.

Who is more stubborn? B. Someone we all know and love spoiled him very badly growing up. Now he thinks he should always at all times get what he wants when he wants.

Who kissed who first? I think I kissed him first. Hell, it may still not have happened if I didn't make the first move :)

Who asked who out? I'll give B all the credit for this one. Thanks hun for the wonderful day of bunny killing :) If only I had known what the rest of my life with you would be like.

Who proposed? He did! After much persuasion by me.

Who is more sensitive? Please! Not even going to answer because it is quite obvious.

Who has more friends? B

Who are you tagging? Vanessa, Nat and Jody - Good Luck girls

WARNING!?! CONTAINS RELIGIOUS CONTENT!?!

Do I really need to put a warning label on my post? I guess not.

I am so proud of Brayden and happy for the choices he is making. We have been taking the missionary discussions for the past couple of months or so. At the first of March the missionaries told Brayden that they had fasted and prayed on his behalf and felt like the 15th of March was when he should be baptized. Brayden was shocked and little overwhelmed and got really nervous, he said he wasn't planning on getting baptized until he was 10. But it must of got him thinking because when they came to see him again on the 14th, Brayden said he wanted to do "it" on the 22nd. Right after spring break and the day before Easter. He was really happy about that date and I was a little worried about getting the word out and making all the arrangements, but it all fell into place so easily that I was truly amazed and really only chalked it up to divine intervention after it was all over and I was napping on Easter afternoon. What a great week, and weekend we had. The kids were all into helping me clean the house and get the refreshments ready. Finally, the time came to go to the stake center and Brayden was all business with his little duffel bag with clean white underwear and towels in it. I only cried a little during my talk on baptism, my mom did great playing the piano, Jen's little Austin (almost 11 years old) giving a talk on the Holy Ghost, and Shery reluctantly giving the closing prayer. My dad, my lifesaver, baptized Brayden and confirmed him. He gave Brayden an awesome confirmation prayer that made me feel like Brayden has so much potential as a member of the church. I hope I can be what he needs me to be.

Many Thanks to my family for being here for me and my kids and for stepping up and making this very memorable for all of us. And thank you to Brandon's family also for being supportive. And thank you to Brandon, for making a baby named Brayden with me :)

Elder Kristola from Finland and Elder Bieber from Canada. Brayden's mentors. He thinks they are "so cool"!

Brayden showing off his new Cubbies tie. The big boy kind that you don't clip on. Apparently it is not cool to have a clip on after the age of 5. Poor guy has been wearing them for years. A close up of his CTR baseball tie tac too.

SPRING THAW??!!??

What the heck? Imagine our surprise and pissed off-ness upon finding this in our backyard.

I will admit that we hadn't been in our backyard for many weeks and when we did, there was either snow or big puddles. So we called our builder and within two days he had come out to our house with his CAT and compacted the dirt, filled it in and has made plans to re-pour the cement landing out the back door. This time with rebar securing it to the foundation. We will pay extra to have him pour a cement pad with rebar for the A/C unit, for that was not in our contract. But I think the money is worth it. I won't have to be all nerved up next year at this time. Here are some close ups of the damage.

Guess what else the spring thaw brought out? Oh yes, the beloved trampoline. The kids have not had their tramp for almost a year now. Maddie has been out on it every day since we put it up. Good times!!!

BBall 2008 Comes to a Close

Look at my littlebig man posting up underneath!

I think Brayden had fun playing basketball this year. I am not sure. It was a pretty physical league and at one point we had coaches threatening to throw kids out of the game, and parents threatening to throw coaches out. Part of the problem is that the kids are old enough to learn the rules and abide by them, but the league doesn't require the coaches/referee's (yes they are one in the same) to call fouls, traveling, double dribble, etc. So it gets wildly out of hand. We will see if he wants to play next year. It has been exciting and hard this past year to see him grow into more of a preteen body. His shoulders are starting to broaden out and he is getting the Peterson signature long torso. And.... B.O.! Guys, when did you start putting on deodorant? I don't remember using deodorant until junior high! Was I the stinky girl in elementary? I wonder.....

Here we see a fine display or correctly guarding your man (even if he does wear levi's to the game).

Here he is driving hard to the hoop!

Work Schmerk - Part II

I went and made a pitch to my boss and low and behold she accepted it!!! I am now working Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. I feel lucky to be able to pick and choose when I want to work. Plus, I will still be able to carpool with my friend and save money on gas. It's been nice having a little extra money in the bank. I'm not sure I will work in the summer, but I will worry about that in May. Maybe now I will be able to catch up on some house work and continue volunteering at the elementarys on Wednesdays. :) YAY!!!!!