Top 20....Round 3

Dun-Dun-Dun. Okay so I was looking over my list and there may just have to be one more after this one. We'll see how long it takes me to download my pictures tonight, especially since it's already 11:30 p.m. and yes, that is late for me. I know I'm getting old.

• Hot Dog Roast with Peterson Crew

So it's tradition in my family, especially on "moon night", to head to the hills or out to Big Rocks for a hot dog roast. We sometimes try and guess where the moon will come up on the horizon and sometimes break out in the song, "When the moon comes over the mountain..." If you don't know it, which most of you probably don't, it's okay. It's a Peterson thing:) We were in Utah for my brother, Michael's, wedding, and were lucky to get a good roast in. We had a beautiful sunset and nothing beats sitting around a camp fire with this great crew. And the kids can't get enough of their cousins!

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• Michael and Lindsey's Wedding & Reception

In May, my little bro married the girl that he has been in love with since the 8th grade! They are such a great couple and she is hilarious to be around! Speaking of....they are in California right now celebrating their 1st anniversary. sigh. Consider this post a celebration of them! Anyway, it was wonderful being in the temple with my family and the reception was beautiful! Her colors were a turquoise blue and chocolate brown. I loved the center pieces. Lindsey and her mom painted all the apples. Such a cool idea. Brooklyn could not stop staring at the beautiful "princess". We had a great time and even busted a few dance moves! Oh, and check out the photo of the boquet being tossed. My niece Brinlee caught it. All I have to say is, "Yeah right, Brin, not for at least 15 years!!"

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• The 4th of July

We ventured out to watch a parade and enjoyed a favorite little street carnival afterwards, where the kids had a ball getting their faces painted, playing in the jump houses and slides, watching the balloon man create something for them, and eating popcorn, sno-cones, and cotton candy. All for FREE! For the fireworks that night, we went to a little waterfront park on the Sound and prepared ourselves for what we thought would be an incredible show. Let's just say we were so far away from the action that we could barely even hear the big boom noises from the fireworks. We instead, were entertained by Brooklyn and Isaac dancing for us and playing on the lawn. We did have a great view of all the fireworks across the sound, all along Whidbey Island though. It was just a little quiet, that's all!

Top 20...more or less...of 2008...Round 2

Here we go with a few more of the Top 20 for 2008. (Editorial note to any readers of my blog: I know this may not be very exciting and you're probably thinking, "What the heck! Get on with 2009 lady!" but let's not forget this is my personal journal/scrapbook/history and once again, I don't want these events to be forgotten in the cyberspace of my computer! So bear with me. And besides, who wouldn't want to see more pictures of my cute kids, no matter what year it is!)

• Memorial Weekend at Ensign Ranch

This is the place that made it's debut on my very first blog post almost two years ago! And once again, we had an incredible time and only a little rain! My brother Ryan, and his family were staying with us at the time while he was doing an away rotation for school so they got to join in on the fun. I can't believe that was a year ago! We had a great camping spot and had a blast canoeing, riding horses, eating smore's, playing bocce ball and town ball, tubing on the homemade water slide hill (which for some reason I don't have pictures of) and just hanging out with all our great friends by the camp fire.

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• Belnap Family Cabin

It is always such a blast when we spend time at Papa's Cabin. We played our hearts out in the snow and discovered a new favorite; being pulled behind the "mouse" on the sleds all over the mountain. I think we could have done that all day long. We loved spending time with family. (and are so giddy that we get to do it a whole lot more often! WooHoo!)

So, many moons have gone by and I'm still working on this Top 20 list. I think I'm only up for one more round. There's already way too much to blog about in 2009 as it is and I think I'm ready to move on.

P.S. Is everyone else as blown away by Adam Lambert as I am? Amy, I know you're with me :) Is there anything that kid can't sing? Love Him!

Top 20...more or less...of 2008

Could this year be going by any faster? It's the end of March for cryin' out loud! (that was fun to say). Well, I once again have found myself leaving this blogging business on the back burner of life. I admire all you bloggers out there who are posting daily or even weekly. Either you manage your time super well, or you've just got a lot of time on your hands:). Neither one of those applies to my life, so here I am playing catchup, again.

Today I'm going to avoid talking about our current events of.....pointless-timewasting-doctor-appointments, and the economic-can't-sell-our-house-unless-we-fork-out-a-bunch-of-$-crisis, or the finally-got-my-three-year-old-in-big-boy-pants (which is very exciting blogworthy news for later!). No, those topics will have to wait another day. Today I've decided to go back to something I wanted to do in January but just haven't gotten to it yet.

I spent some time looking back over my posts (which didn't take me too long. sigh.) and going through pictures on my computer. And I've realized there have been many events in our lives that have been forgotten and I want them to be blogged about. If only for the sake of documenting them so we can look back and say, "Oh, look at all those great things that happened!" and, "We did spend time together as a family!"

So that's when I decided to come up with a list. Yip, a list. It started out as the 'Top 10 of 2008' which quickly turned into a lot more than 10. So much happened last year and why oh why it didn't make the blog I just can't figure it out? (Oh, yeah, refer to the 1st paragraph.) So bare with me. It may take me a few posts, which I'm hoping doesn't translate into a few weeks, but I am bound and determined to document our life events.

So while I should be doing the things that are on my own "To Do" List for the day, I am going to instead, work on this list:

The Top 20...more or less...of 2008 (in no particular order.)

• Brooklyn's Dance Class and Recital
  

We finally got her into her first dance class and I'm not sure who had more fun; Her, doing what she loves and is very good at. Or me, watching with a perma-grin as my little dancer twirled, tapped, leaped and spun each week.

the Ribbon Dancing was her favorite

Practicing for the "Daddy-Daughter Dance" performed at the recital. This is always the hit of the show and Brian 'graciously' accepted the challenge. Who could refuse the opportunity to dance with the cutest dance partner ever, to the hit "Danger Zone"? (just admit it babe, you loved the thrill of performing)

The Recital, "Lights, Camera, DANCE!!"

Brooklyn's teacher who she absolutely adored!

• Box Seats at the Sonics vs. Jazz Game
  

Our friends, Jill & Daniel, hooked us up with free tickets to the game. We were a little shocked (and ecstatic) to find out they were located in a suite!! We had such a fun time and Brian was in heaven. We ended the night with burgers and shakes at Seattle's famous Dick's. Too bad the Sonics left town and it would only be a one time opportunity. We had a blast. Thanks Martins!

The picture of the Sonics Mascot is not a great one, I know. If you can't tell, he's a big Sasquatch, and he literally climbed up into our box and gave me a big hug. It happened so fast I was unable to get a photo with him!

• A Year's worth of Birthday Celebrations

Yeah, so what kind of a blogger am I that I didn't even post the birthdays. A strugglin' one, folks.

First off, we celebrated Brian and the big 31!! We had to alert the fire department and detach the smoke alarm ahead of time! Check out those flames. It practically melted the icecream cake:) The kids and I had fun decorating for the party and making him a candybar poster. We sure love you babe!

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Brooklyn's 5th birthday was so much fun. She wanted a 'Princess Tea Party' and wanted the decorations to be pink. Brooklyn planned the whole thing. The girls all came dressed as princesses and had fun decorating crowns, munching on tea party treats, playing Limbo, dancing, opening presents and eating a (very challenging to make) Barbie cake which she helped decorate. I love my little girlie girl.

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Next up we celebrated Lillie's 1st Birthday. We were lucky to have Grandma Belnap in town for the festivities. (that explains the insane amount of presents:) She got spoiled!) We had a little party with just our family and Lillie enjoyed being the center of attention. She didn't want a thing to do with her little cake and was disgusted with it at first. But, with the help of Brooklyn and Isaac, she soon warmed up to it and was having a great time.

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In November it was Isaac's 3rd birthday. He wanted an alien party. We had a few little friends over and had fun playing "hide the alien", opening presents, and eating blue frosted alien cake. Thank heaven for spot shot! He was thrilled to get a big boy bike and has been riding non-stop ever since.

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And finally, we had a big hoorah for my birthday. Let's just say I feel alot younger than I am! The kids helped Brian decorate a cake for me and once again we had to alert the fire department and detach the smoke alarm. Maybe we'll resort to using number candles from now on! Anyway, I had a great birthday. Brian took me to Red Lobster for dinner and then to a chick flick, The Secret Life of Bees. I Loved It! Oh, and what birthday could be complete without birthday hugs!

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Top 20.....more or less....of 2008......to be continued!!!!!

Holiday Adventures

We were lucky enough to enjoy our holiday adventures in Utah again this year, surrounded by family and loved ones! We didn't know if it would happen because of the huge snow storms that hit the northwest, but we were blessed to have 4wheel drive and decided to brave the snow and the 2 day driving adventure. (The first we've made since living here and the kids did indcredibly well, thanks to the dvd player, a pit stop at my cousin Leslie's, and the coolest McDonald's playland ever in Pocatello. I seriously dislike micky d's, but would live in Pocatello just to go to this one!)

We were a little torn leaving our cozy, decorated home with presents under the tree, (which is a first for us because we are normally packing for a flight and you can't wrap anything) and leaving the gorgeous snow covered wonderland behind, but boy howdy did we have a great time!

We had Christmas at Brian's parents first, then spent time at my parents for New Years. We had great adventures playing games, eating great food, chatting with family, lots and lots of playing in the snow, including tubing, sleigh riding, knee boarding (the best time ever!), and way too many presents!

We also had a job interview while we were home!!! (Actually the excuse for us to go to Utah in the first place.) That's a whole other blog to come. Let's just say we are thrilled about what the future has in store for us. Here's a little hint.....We will soon be Colorado-ites. Crazy huh!?!

Here is a plethera of photos from our adventures. Kick back and enjoy!

Because I Have Today...

It seems like I've watched a million sunsets

And stared at a thousand full moons

Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever

And sometimes it all feels brand new

But if there were no more tomorrows

If I knew that I could not stay

I know how I'd spend every moment

If only I had today

I'd hold you and listen

And I'd let the dishes sit in the sink

I'd tell you I loved you over and over

And for once I'd just let the phone ring

Then I'd remind you of forever

And how our love would never change

If only I had today

There's no time like the present

Life doesn't come with any guarantees

The sun will set and time won't wait

So while I have today

I'll hold you and listen
I'll let the dishes sit in the sink
I'll tell you I love you over and over
For once I'll just let the phone ring
And I'll remind you of forever
And how our love will never change
Because I have today

(words from song, "If I only had today"-Hillary Weeks)

Hi! It's me again. I know it's been a long time but I just haven't been able to jump back on the blog wagon with full enthusiasm. I keep asking myself, "To blog? or not to blog?" But, because this is my attempt at a journal, scrapbooking, family history, etc., I figure I need to give it another shot. And, since I have a moment of silence (Lillie's napping and the kids are playing at the neighbors) I figured I'd take advantage of it. Who knows how long it will last and I do have a plethera of things to blog about.

My mom just gave me the Hillary Weeks CD, If I Only Had Today, for my birthday and it is amazing! It's powerful how the music and lyrics of every song interpret the exactness of how many of us (my family) are feeling. It is so powerful, inspiring, and so healing. As much as I don't want to , I guess I will try and start where I left off 3 months ago.

So I have had a ton of things on my mind the past few months. (And just like that, Lillie wakes up!) First of all I feel so blessed to have the knowledge I do as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Knowing that we can be united with loved ones again after we die, and knowing that families can be forever, has an incredibly deeper meaning to our family.

Second, I am so thankful for the countless tender mercies the Lord blessed us with in so many experiences throughout this whole ordeal. We were blessed with incredible moments as we spent time together as a family during Alyssa's last week of life and in the days that followed. There are so many precious memories that I will forever cherish. I am so blessed and grateful I was able to be there.

Also, my faith has been strengthened as I watched my sister, her husband, and family, exemplify Christlike love for sweet Alyssa, and witnessed their example of trust and faith in our Savior's plan. Their experience touched the lives of so many and they truly taught all of us by their example.

And finally, I am truly amazed at the outpouring of love from so many wonderful people, and the way that the small community where I grew up, united in love to give their support to my sister and her family. Wow! It was incredible and my faith in the good in people was restored.

An event like this, like loosing someone we love, has had an amazing impact. I can't explain exactly how my sister and her husband are feeling, but I do know that they are so much more like our Heavenly Father and Mother after experiencing this. Our heavenly parents know exactly how it feels to have to say goodbye to one of their own. For myself, this experience strengthened my testimony and renewed my desire to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and child of God. It renewed my focus to want to try to live each day to the fullest and genuinely try to be a better person. Caring less about myself and wanting to embrace charity in my life.

Yet I am amazed at how quickly life takes over and how I find myself swallowed up in the monotony of each day. Worrying and stressing about the most trivial things and sacrificing precious moments with my kids, just to "get something done". My sister's wise words in a recent email were a wonderful wake up call to me. She said..."Treasure those days of having your children home with you all day! Play with them, look them in the eyes and help them experience life's little joys. Kiss and hug them constantly and let them see your smiling eyes and face. There is no greater love than that of a mother to her children, especially when we stop focusing on the things that need to 'get done,' and enjoy just the doing and being. Let them see it when they look into your eyes, not the 'hurry and finish what you're going to say so I can get back to what I'm doing.' Those are precious days that are gone too soon." These words hit me so hard. I haven't been treasuring my days with my children. I have been so busy and distracted with so much that they have been seeing the 'hurry and finish what you're going to say' looks more than they should.

I have been letting the important things slide, like my personal scripture study and prayer, and have found myself worrying so much about "me". And then in moments of complete desperation I find myself falling to my knees for comfort and forgiveness and for the strength to do more and be more, and to once again refocus on the things that matter. Which if I'd remember to do the important things in the first place, I wouldn't have to have so many moments of desperation.

I am so grateful for the phrase that repeats itself often in the scriptures that says how our Father's arms "are lengthened out all the day long". I love that! What an amazing comfort that is! And I know that is true, because no matter how many times I find myself falling into the same undesireable pattern, I can ask for forgiveness and strength to start anew, and I have never once felt like the Savior says, "I'm sorry. I've heard this a hundred times and I'm not giving you another chance." I always feel the peace, strength, comfort and love again.

Also, this quote I read recently has been a huge help in keeping my focus and worrying less about "me" and worrying more about my role as mother. "When a man and a woman marry with the intention of forming a new family, their success in that endeavor depends on their willingness to renounce the single-minded pursuit of self-fulfillment and to sacrifice their time and means to the nurturing and rearing of their children. " -The Divine Institution of Marriage, newsroom.lds.org

So, thank you Lori! Once again your wise words and example have strengthened me. And while I continue to try to make each day better than the last, and try to treasure this time I have with my kids, I know I won't always succeed. And that's alright. I know it's okay when some things don't go exactly the way I think they should, and that I should be grateful, because I have today.

So while I have today
I'll hold you and listen

I'll let the dishes sit in the sink

I'll tell you I love you over and over

For once I'll just let the phone ring

And I'll remind you of forever

And how our love will never change
Because I have today

Getting back to Alyssa, sometimes it all seems like a bad dream. Like none of it really happened and the next trip to Utah, things will be the way they were. But when I really stop and let myself think about, relive, and feel the events of those days, I know that we will forever be changed. And we should be. We will always be missing her. And that's okay. We should miss her. We should want to remember her and talk about her, and keep her alive in our memories and hearts. Until that glorious day when we'll be with her again.

(My sister shares some details about Alyssa on her Carepage. If you'd like to, log in and then search for Alyssa's Journey to read more!)

I Hate Cancer

My heart is breaking and I am so angry, sad, devastated, and
frustrated all at the same time. My sister called today. After months of Chemo, surgeries, and endless trips to Primary Children's, the cancer continues to spread. They are going to bring Alyssa home to spend as much time as she can, surrounded by her family and loved ones.


I hate cancer. I hate that it has the power to take lives. I hate that it alters dreams and hopes of individuals and families. I hate that it has taken over this sweet little girls body, and she can no longer fight it. I hate that it has taken away her agency and her chance to live a long, fulfilling life. I hate that her family and loved ones are going to have to give her that one last kiss. I hate cancer.

Pray for my sister and her family. Pray that they will feel the loving arms of our Heavenly Father and Savior encircle them, strengthen them, lift them up, and give them the comfort and peace they will need. Pray that Alyssa will be comfortable and free of pain. Pray for her sister and brothers. And, would it be too much to ask to pray for a miracle? We love you Lori, David & kids. We love you, Alyssa.

Splish Splash FUN......

Believe it or not we have had some beautiful weather this summer, and we've discovered a favorite place to go to escape the heat. It's a great new park not far away that has a big splash pad, sand box, and playground area. Something for everyone!

While I was loading up the car, the kid's were picking little berries off the bushes and wanted to bring some home. When we got home, Isaac said that his nose hurt. I was not too surprised to find out he had shoved some berries up his nose. I don't know if it is boys in general, or just Isaac, but he has had this thing with sticking things up his nose. A while ago it was cornflakes. Yes, cornflakes. And now the berries. He did a great job lying so still while I removed them with some tweezers (which I enjoyed a little too much) and he was good to go. Will this be enough to end his nose stuffing curiosity? Let's hope so.

the nose in pain and the fated berries