11 Months Old!!!

Look who turned 11 months old today! And yes, mom is having a hard time with it! I can't believe how fast the past 11 months have gone. Brit is the happiest kid I know. He makes the best expressions, and his smile lights up the house. He is starting to babble more and more, walking around like a drunk man, playing peek-a-boo, and continues to steal our hearts on a daily basis!

This was the 1st photo I took...pretty good smile. (He knows what to do when I pull out the camera!)

The smiles and sitting didn't last but seconds...luckily I snapped that photo when I did, cause he was all over the place!



I got a ton of these shots!


Here he is planning his escape route!

He wanted down and out of there

Within minutes, the pants & socks were off and he was walking around the family room.

And there sat the 11 sign...He didn't want anything to do with it.

Next month my baby will be 1 YEAR OLD! AHHH! Let the party planning begin!

Morning Ritual

Every morning after I get the kids running off to the bus stop this is what happens...

Brit rushes over to the front window...crawls up on the ottoman so he can see out.

He talks to the other kids as they head to the bus stop...what's funny is he talks loud thinking they can hear him. Sometimes they look over and wave other times not.

Other things will catch his eye...birds, dogs, cars...it doesn't take much!

While waiting he will look over at me and flash a cute smile. I think he is just making sure I am still there, because seriously he doesn't pay any attention to me while doing this.

Then after all the waiting...

The bus comes drives by...and he get so excited! After the 3 buses drive by...he climbs down and goes about his day! Every morning it's the same thing!

A New Do

So we decided to cut Liberty's hair. She looks so cute with her new do! She looked in the mirror and asked me if people would even recognize her. She looks different but really cute! In this photo she has it flipped but it has been fun to try to style it in different ways. She loves it and so do I! It is much easier to do every morning!

15 Years Ago

Well actually a little over 15 years ago...I was here (Orem Institute of Religion).

One evening I met a guy...a good guy. Who luckily I was called to work with on the Institute Presidency. We worked on many preparations for the upcoming school year. Our callings as Vice Presidents worked hand in hand. It was a great way to get to know him. I asked him out first...just cause he was too slow! (Honestly, I don't know if he was even thinking of asking me out.) We went to a work dance and the rest is history. We fell in love (he of course professed his love to me before I did to him, it's a long story...we won't get into that!)

On January 11, 1995 we went here... the Manti Temple

To be sealed for time and all eternity. It is hard to beleive that it has been 15 years already. So far it has been a great ride. One that has had many bumps, bends but I wouldn't change that for anything. I love him, so much. Throughout the years we have been blessed with 4 amazing children. They bring us so much happiness and entertainment! We are so happy and connected and I love that so much. We support, lean on, love, laugh, cry, freak out together, (mostly it's me who does the freaking out!)

This is the most recent photo of the two of us. Taken at Christmas time. We have changed but what married couple hasn't. We are happy, and yes, still in love!

This photo taken while we were trying to get a family photo...he looks so serious, but I love it!
So I say thanks for making me the lucky one! I Love you Craig!
Happy 15th Anniversary!

Happy New Year Cabin Style

Once again this year we ventured up to the cabin for New Years. This is always a fun time at the cabin. At some point while being there everyone is there. This year it snowed while we were there. But not to worry the kids still got to ride in the meadow and the sledding hill was made by the snowcat...and only minor injuries! It was a nice break to escape from the day to day responsibilies. We enjoyed spending time with family, eating yummy food, (don't you know that is what you do at the cabin?), playing games, impromptu concerts, and just relaxing, curling up with a book.

On New Years Eve, we played games...and I don't know too many people who can say they played a wicked game of "Heads Up, 7 Up" on New Years Eve but we did! We played other games and at about 9:45 Lib was ready for bed, Brit was asleep and you guessed it, I pooped out! I don't remember the last time I didn't make it to midnight...but I was done! That's okay, it still came without me, and now we have a great 2010 to celebrate!

Happy kids heading down to the cabin. We hit yucky, snowy weather, but they were troopers.

Libby taking a turn on someone's iTouch.

While at the cabin Brit decided to take his first steps. He would only walk to McKinsey, and the first day he did it he actually took the steps, I think the most he took was 3. But the following day he learned that he could get to Kins by diving to her. I never told you my child wasn't smart! But we actually captured his first steps on film. But I'd have to be really talented to put that on here, which I am not, so you'll have to just trust the still shot of him.

Dad taking his turn for the head massage.

Zach wasn't so sure he enjoyed the head massage...it gave him the chills and he would just giggle while it was on his head.

Zach, Brit and Hayden just hanging around.

This was one of the impromptu dance concerts...I never knew that Lexi and McKay had so many moves! I was crying due to laughing so hard! Good Times!

Brit thought it was really fun to talk to people through the railings.

This was the on the ride home...Liberty and Brit just ZONKED out!

It was a fun time, but I was ready to get back to reality. Surprise, Surprise! Happy New Year to you! I hope it is a great year!

Christmas Fun!

To say the kids were excited was an understatement! They went to bed happily Christmas Eve...we told them we weren't going to get up any earlier than 6:30 am. In years past we have let them wake up whenever they wanted to and take my word for it...2:30 am just doesn't make for a fun Christmas afternoon! Little did Craig and I know when we went to bed that we would be up most of the night throwing up...let's just say that a sick mom and dad on Christmas isn't the ideal! We managed to get our sick selves out of bed and enjoy Christmas morning with the kids. They each LOVED their gifts! We all were anxious to see how Brit would react...he didn't really understand it, but he loved the wrapping paper and yarn bows! We took a little longer to open gifts just taking it slow due to some of us feeling the yuck!

After opening gifts and trying to clean up a little bit, we headed over to Veenker's to celebrate with the family. We talked to Scott, and we all thought it was funny that this will be the last phone call home he has, his mission has gone by pretty fast! In about 6 weeks he'll be home! Everyone ate what looked to be a delicious breakfast, but Craig and I weren't up to it quite yet! We opened gifts and just enjoyed being together. We came home to take a nap, which meant the kids were going to watch Brit after his nap and they all had free reign of the house. When I woke up and walked out into the family room, it was all I could do to just put the blinders on and NOT worry about the lovely mess that was everywhere! I had to hand it to them, they managed to keep Brit happy (that must be what was going on with all the cracker crumbs EVERYWHERE!) and they all got along, enjoying their Christmas gifts!

Craig couldn't handle the thought of another meal...so I took the kids back over to Veenker's for an impromptu dinner. It was very casual but still really nice. After being there not to long Caleb started throwing up. So our time there wasn't very long. Being sick on Christmas just isn't fun, but somehow we managed to make it memorable. The sad thing about it was, we ended up spreading the yuck instead of the love! Sorry to everyone else!

This Christmas we have been blessed beyond belief!!! I cannot even begin to explain all that was done to help our family. The last part of 2009 was VERY slow to say the least and we were blessed by Christmas Angels who stepped up to help. Our goal is to one day be able to help a family the way we were helped. We are truly amazed by the love we were shown! Thank You!

Caleb checking out his new iTouch. He & Zach both got one. They love them!

Brit loved his truck he got from Santa. Can't you tell by his face!

Zach opening his Nerf machine gun Brit got him. He couldn't wait to see how fast it shot all 50 nerf darts out, but silly us, we didn't pay attention to the fact that it took some D batteries. OOOPS!

Liberty showing off her new stage Craig made her. She got a karaoke machine from Santa and we thought this would be the perfect thing to go with it. Craig made it perfect for her!

I couldn't get Brit to stop trying to eat the yarn bows!

This is as much as you will see of me, this Christmas...I was a sick-o! But I love these knitted slippers my children gave me!

Craig modeling his new BYU snuggie!

Some of the kids at Grandma & Grandpa's house

Brit listening to the converstation about American Girl dolls

Zach opening his cousin gift...a cool pocket knife and new socks!

Liberty opening her new boots from Grandma & Grandpa. They are really cute!

Christmas 2009 was one we will never forget. Fun times, Family time, and lots of love!

I hope your Christmas was enjoyable, safe, and everything you ever dreamed it would be!

Peterson Christmas Party in Pictures

Once again we were able to celebrate Christmas with the family at our house. The party was held on Christmas Eve afternoon. This giving the individual families a chance to hold their own Christmas Eve traditions. Everyone was able to come for a great time. One that will not be forgotten. Check out how much fun we had...

**Here is a photo of the group...I think I have almost everyone in this shot. Some of the kids were downstairs. What a great group! I love them all!

** Dad got us all started. Let the Talent Show begin! Always a highlight of the year.

**Luke playing the jingle bells, while Jack plays it on the piano.
**Jack in deep concentration while playing the piano.

**Adam singing with a little bit of help from his mom.

**Julia singing the song that she made up and dedicated it to Papa.

**Ross telling some great jokes. Making us all laugh.

**Kate and Abbie singing and smiling at the same time.

**Emily singing a solo...she did a super job. Even though she was nervous.

**The Houghton Family performed some Christmas carols using the boom-whackers. In case you were wondering, yes they hit their heads with the plastic pipes. It was hilarious!

**Liberty singing "Not That Far From Bethlehem" a new favorite of mine. She sounded really good.

*Our family making complete fools of ourselves. We got inspiration from the famous you tube wedding dance, and from The Office wedding. We used Chris Brown's song Forever and acted like we were going to sing a carol, music in hand and after the music started we threw the music up and started dancing. I am pretty sure we shocked the entire family. Check us out, rocking out.

** Still the family isn't sure what to think of us weird Veenker's.

**Caleb really hammed it up. I was even shocked by this.

**Our goal was to get everyone up and dancing...we almost accomplished it, some people didn't want to dance. But everyone was laughing and having a good time.
**Papa had us all sing Silver Bells. He asked the kids to help him ring bells at a certain time. Right here he is telling Caleb to be quiet, because he kept ringing his bell at the wrong time.

**Caleb ringing his bell with pride.

**Mom opening her present from Dad.

**This is a photo of Grammy and Papa with all the grand children. This is the last year that we will all be together, due to missions starting 2010, and the other boys following year after year!

**Every family had their photo taken with Dad & Mom. One day we will get everyone to take a good photo.

**My great family. I love spending time with them, I love that we can be laughing one minute and crying the next. We have a wonderful bond one that has been strengthened this last year, and one that will only continue to get stronger. I love them all!

One highlight of the party was listening to a tape that Dad made back at Christmas 1973. Coni sang and played the cello. Cari & Craig sang and I made baby babble (I was only 3 months old). We were able to listen to my Grandpa Peterson's voice. It truly was a treasure to hear. Even with all of us being goofy, when it all comes down to it I feel blessed to have a wonderful family, and there is no better time than the holidays to be with them.

Peterson Family Party 2009