Navajo Times....with the Peterson Family

2012-01-18T23:27:00.000-08:00

Times they are a changin'

2012-01-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

ok. So, I'm not sure what to say except this post starts in the middle! I forgot about the picture upload coming to the front of the post every time. If anyone knows how to do blogs without having to upload pics last ones first please let me know. But it's too late for me to even want to try and fix this post. Having said that enjoy!!
Our sailing trip with Captain Russ. It's a beautiful boat and we had so much fun!!
Nick on the dock with baby Gabe in his life jacket.
Kids on the dock waiting to be hoisted into the boat.
Nick stearing the sailboat. He sent us flying towards the wall with a hard turn once, but did really well after that. It was pretty scary but when we realized we weren't going to fall over into the ocean there was a cry for "do it again!!"

Well, it seems like a good idea to start posting regularly so I'll begin with our weekend.

We wanted to have a good weekend family trip before Nick's departure on Mon. So this is what we did. Friday we picked up the kids half a day and left for the Vancouver temple. We are so Lucky to have the Haladin Family live so close by. They have kids about the same age of ours and are more than gracious. They watch our kids, feed all of us, and just are plain fun to hang out with!! The temple was beautiful as always but even though we had plenty of time to spare before the session we were running late when we left the Haladins house. I think it was the really good food that delayed us. (Homemade chicken pie, yummy salad, canned beets) RoMell and Doreen had joined us and they didn't realize that you needed to bring your own clothes and in the rush to make it to the session I left my wallet at the Haladins (ie, no recommend). We ended up missing the session but all got in (whew!) We were able to do some initatories and just had a really great temple experience.

An additional surprise after the temple was a visit from my good friend Cecelia!! She stopped by and I finally got to meet her little baby girl. She was born two days before baby Gabe.

What a Cutie! I tried to get pics of the two babies together but none of them turned out. If you really want to see some check Nicks facebook for some blurry pics.

Friday night we spent at the Christensen home in Anacortes, Wa. Russ and Heather are friends of our from Ut and we love them and their family. They have two boys and a brand new baby girl. Russ took us sailing on sat and that was quite an adventure. We sailed out to a little island and then went ashore and explored. It was so much fun!

Sunday night we spent at a hotel near the Seatle airport. And the kids LOVED it. I'm not sure what it is but it's Ansels dream come true to stay at a hotel. Monday we did some shopping and then dropped Nick off at the airport :( I miss him already. Louise had a little breakdown that night before we even got home and said she missed her dad. It's only been two days that he's been gone. Six weeks is looking pretty loooooooong. But we're doing well.

Sister Weekend

2010-05-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

We took the trek to Bullhead City, to spend time with my Sisters and Mom. Joleen has a new lil'one we had to meet, plus any excuse to spend time with family is a good thing!

We spent some time soaking up the sun, on the Lake, and Then visited an old Ghost town, were they had Wild burros running around. The kids had a great time!

Exploring our home

2009-12-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we decided to stick around instead of running off to the city to do some shopping. The end result was a wonderful day enjoying the area. We went exploring one of the many canyons here in Navajo Mt. and then ate mutton and fry bread at Inscription House. After that me and the kids were pooped out but dad headed out on the 4 wheelers for some more exploring. Here are some of our pictures of the day.

Making and baking stuff

2009-11-30T21:07:00.001-08:00

I've been trying to keep busy and do things me and the kids enjoy to keep my mind off of how home sick I am. Kids are amazing. They think Navajo Mtn is GREAT!! Louise especially. She just LOVES school. IT's so much fun for her and she's good at it. Children are so versatile and fun-loving. They keep smiles on my face. It's been fun to get to know Ansel more on a one to one basis with Louise in school. I didn't realize how much attention she demands. We also have an after-school following that is up to 4 kids. They are the neighbor kids and come "home" after school and demand a snack and stay to play. Last week louise was sick on Monday so I kept her home. All the kids were still down for a nap when Louise usually comes home from school..so I was taken by surprise when someone was knocking and trying to open the door after school go out. It was Owen our neighbor. He came in and hung out until the kids finally woke up. LOL!! I was trying to get him to go home but he wasn't fazed by the fact that all the kids were napping. So here are a few of the fun things we've made recently. Donuts, baked, not fried. Still delicious but a little on the lighter side. Art: Modge podge notebook covers, painting, and pastels.

Also a pic of Mahonri and his new favorite thing to do... climb up the stool and get into something. We have now put this stool away because it got to dangerous!

Crashed the Touchin reunion

2009-08-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

Louise and Ansel with Jason and Brittney Begay's boys....I mean.. batman and spiderman (thanks to uncle shane)
Zeeny's newest grandchild. Just CUTE!!
Brittney, Autmn, and Blaire (all grown up!!!!)
Justin and the Touchin Reunion's Most elligable bachelor...Matt!!
Jale!! What a blast from the past. Sorry he's crooked but you all know he is. BTW he says hi to you all!!

Navajo Times....

2009-08-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

The Peterson Family is loose on the Rez.... what to do?!? Stick out like a really good looking thumb! :) I wouldn't say sore b/c it seems we have nothing to be sore about. We have a wonderful new place in a wonderful new place. The beauty of this place here is awesome. How I wish I could write a song that would help you feel some of what I felt today... church was amazing. The Spirit is amazing. Or maybe if I could write and as you read you would begin to feel as I do. Maybe someday... So CHURCH. Nick ended up teaching sunday school, much to his surprise. Haha. LUcky, lucky,lucky me. What did he expect. He's a teacher...of course they would think of him when they needed a teacher. He seems to be a really good one so far!! I wonder what the kids are thinking of there wake up call... I wish I would've gotten a wake up call in High School. The call he is cheering on is "Wake up and THINK!!! Wake up you zombie robot kids and USE YOUR BRAIN!!! Maybe he should sing them a song about it and the musically inclined teenagers would catch on faster and then do a visual medium like collage or a movie. The "hands on" method is what he is parading now and they are having a really hard time trying to do it. There try is asking him questions that essentially will lead to him "telling" them what to do ie...they wouldn't have to think. His assignment was teach/present on a topic. He told them he wasn't there to teach them....hahahaha (talk about blank stares)..... He was tired already of them not thinking for themselves and said they would do the teaching from then on, hence the assignment to present a topic.

Enough on the head of our household. Two little birthdays are coming up and we're EXCITED!! Louise knows all about presents so she's excited about that and COMPANY. Ansel all he can think about is .... ... ... Birthday cake!! Shows how often I bake a cake...never.... yep, not even occasionally. We practiced today b/c it's been a Looooooooong while since i did a layer cake. And buddy boy was clapping for His birthday cake (the kids helped me make it)

Busy week. Here's a list.

1. Return my new computer. Yep, had a new computer. Dell from wal-mart for 300. Couldn't get the internet to work and it's just not an apple.

2. Return to the principles office. We need to talk about parent involvement in his school. It could end up in me being the new PTO president. Who knows what PTO is or does anyway?! Apparently not anyone at the school.

3. Plan a big party with lots of guests staying for overnighters!! HURRAY!! Maybe Mom and dad would like to take a trip to the principles office with me... since you never got the pleasure of it in my growing up years.

And last of all...... I want to learn how to play the CELLO!!! Nick is fond of the violin and louise loves the piano. (She told me sunday she wants to learn how to play a pretty song on it) Ansel is all about the drums. .. ... Hmm, wonder what Mahonri will play. We'll be a family band!! Louise will sing to and I'll back her up on vocals. What else... anyone want to join in? We'll try our first rehearsal say in 5 years?

This week is

Great things are happening

2009-01-09T22:06:00.000-08:00

So... I"m a terrible blogger. It doesn't help that I have a husband and two kids who take up all my time while they are awake....Meaning.... that I get to blog, read, write, watch what I want on tv, think (yes think in FULL complete thoughts), rest, and even sit and do nothing.....all after they are ALL asleep. I do have to admit that the other night the kids went to bed quickly and me and Nick had a great chat at the kitchen table in the half light. It reminded me of being little at Grandmas White House with all the relatives gathered in the kitchen after chasing cows all day drinking coffee and cooking potatoes by lantern light. Only We weren't speaking Navajo and now I was one of the adults talking and sipping tea in the half light after a good day.

Yesterday Nick asked my what I was most excited about with the new baby coming... I told him to see the little boy, yes I'm sticking to boy, for the first time and hold him in my arms knowing that one stage is over and another beginning. He said that he was excited for later like this summer when all the adjusting was over with and we were just a family taking a walk together and pushing a stroller with all our kids. He's so cool and I'm so obvious and uninventive.

Louise has started JOY School. It's a preschool group where you team up with other mothers and their kids and each mom takes a week teaching the kids at their home. This was our first week and so far Louise loves it. It's with others from our ward so she knows the others from primary and had one of the moms as a teacher for a bit. Her first day was cute. On the way there she asked if she could say a prayer so she would be brave and not scared when I left her alone at her school. She did great. Buddy however had a big cry session. He didn't want to be left out. He kept saying, "I sit by sissy....I sit by sissy." And he kicked and cried all the way back to the car. He needs to be three. I did tell him that one week they will all come to our house and then he could sit with all the other kids and that seemed to console him. They are both such sweethearts!! I love them and can't believe we're adding on in a month.

Concerning the new babe.. well I've actually begun to wonder if I'm all right. I feel so at peace with our new arrival that I can't think of anything to do to prepare for it. I don't know if I'm being to relaxed just because this is our third child or if it just hasn't hit me yet. Either way I made myself sit down and think really hard about what I need to do. We're having the baby at home and so there's a birthing kit I need to get and our room is too small for our full size crib and so I want to get a little bassinet type cradle. There are also the baby clothes to get out of storage and wash. But other than that I can't think of anything and that list seems pitifully small for such a big new arrival. The only other thing I was worried about, yes was, is our vehicle situation. Our car does have the seat belt for another person but not really the room....I've thought and prayed about this and have decided that it's OK!!! :) We can't really buy a new car because who is going to loan us money when Nick isn't even working?!?! And he really can't work unless he does a weekend shift or night job and then I really would never see him. Even then it would only be part time work. So we can wait until his schooling is finished which is this semester!!! And plus, I'm not ready to take the minivan plunge yet. I love my little silver car. Really I do. It's been a beautiful blessing since we got it and it's newer, 2004, it starts up when I want it to, it gets great gas mileage, it looks good, we have a rack system for it, both the heater and air conditioner work on command, it has power windows and extra cigarette lighters for charging and powering things. Yes, yes, I'm sure theses aren't significant to many who say don't most cars have/do all those things anyway?!? Let me clarify. Ahem. We do have to other cars. They are both from the 70's and while reliable, according to my husband, I can't get the one to start on a cold day for the life of me and the other lacks a good heater for the cold and air conditioning is non-existant. Plus all the other things I mentioned like remember having to start your car 30 min. early on cold days to get it to run for you. Or remember how big and heavy those old metal cars are and then remember there is no POWER STEERING. Try that with a big belly and less leverage on a tight turn in the city. Yes I do love the color on our Jeep Wagoneer and if we needed to it's the one vehicle that would fit our growing family comfortably and with room to spare, and I also LOVE our VW camper bus, but alas my Little silver honda accord has my everyday heart. It saves me tons of stress and time during my weekly run arounds with the kids. The other two have my heart for special occasions like camping trips and fun outings and they are fun. But for every day I'll take the car.

Our Hair Raising Experience

2008-10-29T06:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to BYU and the Eyring Science Center (thought of you Nacco!!) For a physics demonstartion with the homeschooling group. Louise loved it and the guy and girl who did it really did well with the kids. They had the air blowing vaccum thing that made things "float" in the air. They defied gravity with static electricity. ANd made a light turn on with magnetic fields. They also had a magnetic something or other that threw metal rings into the air at a push of a button... Plus they did this fun ball of static. Here's louise and Her Hair Raising Experience!
This is the before pic which I thought I put before. But she's a cutie. It was especially fun b/c they let all the kids try all of the experiments hands on.

Forget what this place is called

2008-10-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

I went to west jordan last saturday and met Trudeen and Honey with the kids. Trudeen wanted to show me this place and get louise dressed up and take some Halloween pics there. It was fun to see all the displays but super, super, crowded. The shops would've been alot of fun to look at but they're definitely not for children. I wish I could've looked some more there was a lot of cute stuff. ANYways... buddy was napping and didn't have a costume so here's one of him. He does have one now. He's going to be a dragon.
Louise my cute little Miss Witch.
Louise and Ansel in front of the Giant Pumpkin!!

Happy Halloweeen

2008-10-29T06:17:00.001-07:00

Cornbelly's

louise riding the cow train
We went to Thanksgiving point last week with a homeschooling group and the kids had a ton of fun. Nick came with and I got to meet some other homeschooling families. I also ran into a friend from my Scene One Video pizza making days: Karen. It was so fun to see her and her growing family!! Anyway, here are a few pics of all the fun.

Louise and Ansel all grown up!
Ansel and his cow
Ma and Pa on the farm
My how they are growing

2008-10-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

Our Family preparations:

Mom stopped by and we put her to work helping us bottle our honey. Here's a pic of some of the sticky mess. I've never had such a sweet and sticky experience. We started beekeeping this year with two hives and only had one do well enough to get honey from but it was a lot of honey. I think we harvested close to 100 lbs of honey!!! It was alot more work than I had anticipated (plus I was pregnant and sick). But the rewards are SWEET!!
The CHICKENS!
So this was an adventure worth appreciating. Thank You chicken processing plants!! And THANKS to all those poor workers who cut up chickens for a living! This thurs. we killed 15 roosters...and what can I say. It was GROSSE. From cutting off the heads to dipping them in hot water and plucking off the wet feathers....and then.... gutting them and trying not to cut into anything that would leak out fecal matter and then chopping them up.... OH Lordy!!! I am not a pioneer woman. BUT... I did bake bread, made dried fruit leather, and butchered chickens all in one day. Thank goodness I didn't have to wash clothes by hand, grind my own wheat, and start a fire for a warm shower. Those pioneer women are hard core Babes!!!
The guts, heart, liver, chicken necks, entrails, viscerals,fat chunks... I food service cleaned the place after this mess.
Here's the finished product. Cut and ready to eat, although, by the end ( we were up till 11pm working on these birds) I didn't think it looked very appetizing.

2008-10-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Here is Louise showing all her many faces.
And Buddy....Such a cutie!! Even when he's getting into trouble.
THese next two are the prop pics... Just cute. What more can I say?

2008-10-15T07:10:00.001-07:00

Here's one of our family Standing Tall. Just like the prophet asked us to.

2008-10-15T07:08:00.000-07:00

Here's one of our family pictures.

Piggyback rides are the kids' favorite!

family Picture Day

2008-10-08T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it. Another successful family picture day is over. I'm fighting a cold and forgot how crazy pictures can get. But, b/c of the cold, I tried not to stress to much and it was ok, in fact, it was quite enjoyable. We decided on overalls for the kids and I couldn't find Ansel's anywhere. So instead of stressing and running around trying to find them Nick suggested we just BUY some. GREAT idea honey!!! And I left my makeup at the house so we ended up buying some of that too. I needed some anyway. The kids are just CUTE anyway. I'll post some pics as soon as I get them. Next year though, I plan on having matching and/or coordinating outfits. I didn't really think this one through very well.

Bee Buzz

2008-06-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of me and my bees.

Here I took of the lid and i'm smoking the inside.

Me checking out the bottom box and holding a frame full of my favorite insect.

This pic is of an emerging bee. The capped off wholes are new bees developing and you can just see one's head sticking out in this pic on the bottom, middle, and just to the left. I wanted more pics but Nick the photographer is a little scared of bees. He used to throw rocks at hives when he was little and get chased by them. I told him it served him right.

Me checking out the emerging bee. There was also another breaking out as well. It was so COOL to see!!! I love my bees!

Springville Fair

2008-06-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

Ansel and Louise riding one of the rides. This one spun around and went up and down.

They loved it!! Especially Ansel.

Ansel and his dad on the Ferris Wheel. He loved riding the horse.

Louise also loved her horse. She did trick riding and stood up and even rode it sitting backwards.

Branding in Canda

2008-06-16T07:05:00.000-07:00

Here's Louise and Justine watching the event.

Ups a daisy

Down a daisy

Nick was getting really tired ... this was one of the last ones.

rocky mountain oysters anyone. Just be glad you weren't thier. the guy who did the cutting also did alot of throwing at people.

2008-06-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

The two men in my life...what hunks.

This was taken branding in Canada

The kids eating chips and drinking soda

Fruit punch, and minute maid lemonade. Ya, things don't change much whether it's rez in Az or rez in another country. LOL

Jessica the cow girl. She reminded me of Jo Gurl when she was little. She did a good job.

Our Little Boy!

2008-06-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

Here's a funny one.. So our little Ansel is a growing adventurous boy. He loves 4 wheelers and anything with an engine. He'll be mesmerized at the leaf blower in the park and go "Whooah." Both Louise and Ansel have learned how to drive and push the gas on a quad. (They go fast!!! It's so scarry) We sit behind them but Ansel will tell you "No, no, no" When you grasp the steering handles and will push your hands off.
OK, now for a gross funny. We hatched out some baby chicks and they are just cute and a couple of weeks old now. Well little man helps us with putting them outside for the day and then bringing them back in. He really loves them but I don't let him hold them much b/c he's not very gentle and too young to understand how to care for such young animals. Well, yesterday he walked around the house and by the time he made it around I saw him holding something he had found. It looked small and black and he would hold and cuddle it, then put it down and pick it back up and stroke it a little. I had no idea what he had but I was worried and...... it was a dead bird! It was so gross! I felt bad b/c I made him put it down and our dog Coco picked it up and he was upset that the dog got his bird. I washed him up good and kept him in the house while I worked on the computer. After a while I couldn't hear him so I got up to find him and his Auntie Honey had let him out the door and said.."I think your son found a dead bird." And he was kissing it!!! Well, he got another washing and I took that smelly dead bird that he loved and put it out in the field so he wouldn't get it again.

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