Austin Hunter Peterson

I know that I have fallen way behind and hope to catch up! I'll do that soon. We wanted to share in the joy of welcoming Austin Hunter Peterson, born on Oct. 16, 2009 at 8pm. Austin is 7 lbs. 2.2 oz. and 20 in. long. He is very sweet and so far has been a great baby!

I do have to say that he was in such a hurry to come into this world that he did not even give time for the anesthesiologist to get out of preparing for surgery in time to come and give me an epideral! Definitely not expected! Let's just say that an epideral is definitely the way to go!

I was lucky enough to have my Mother-in-Law with me, who I might add is amazing and has been an awesome help! Thanks again Mom! Buck did a great job, he was so sweet to let me say and do anything to him at this time!

A little side note of happenings in the delivery room.

Mom "Do you want some water or ice chips?"

Julie, during a contraction "Yaaaa"

Mom "K I'll be right back"

Mom puts ice in Julie's mouth. The next contraction comes (it was a big one), Julie spits ice pieces all over Buck...I couldn't breath and chew up ice chips at the same time!

I told Buck that I had not had a blessing yet, he says "you had one yesterday, I thought that was for this...Julie "No, that was to help me through the day"...Buck walks over to the side of the bed, me not knowing, and puts his hands on my head to give me a blessing (I thought that he was petting me in my defense) and then I yell at him and tell him I'm not a dog, quit petting me as I throw his hands off of my head!

Buck's and his Mom's hands became my grips for every contraction. Afterward, I ask if I broke their hands, they tell me no. Buck says, "You just dug your nails into me a couple of times, I'll be okay". I left marks...Sorry Husband, I love you!!!

All in all it went way too fast for me to even complain. I have had great help from both Buck and his Mom during delivery and since we have been home. I am so grateful to have the husband I have! I love him so much!

Thanks to all who helped before, during, and since baby arrived! We really appreciate everything!

I know that these pics are in the wrong order, but baby is starting to stir and I have to finish or it won't get done...use your imagination of the order!

July

July has brought on more family fun! It began with the annual 4th of July breakfast with the Rifle 2nd Ward. I love anytime that I do not have to cook! Good food mixed with great friends is always good times!






After the breakfast we took off for 4-wheelin' fun up on our friends John and Chelsie Shideler ranch. Riding started out great, Brayden learned how to drive his own 4-wheeler for the first time. He did very well for the first time, I might add, until we got to a hill that he was intimidated by. That's okay, it was a great start for him! Brayden jumped into the back of the rhino and went the rest of the way with Miranda and Me. We packed lunches and found a little flat spot to stop and eat! Yummy food! From lunch on it was quite the experience! It started to sprinkle, which is no big deal. It has seemed to rain almost every time we have decided to go out riding! After lunch, Gavin had now decided to ride in the rhino with us. It started to get chilly, so he covered himself with his sweatshirt. Little did he know that shortly after getting in the rhino it would start to downpour and hail, and not just hail little teeny pieces, but about 1/2 inch size balls. Miranda had fallen asleep in her car seat strapped to the passenger seat, the boys helped me quickly put her sweatshirt and Buck's jacket over the top of her. As the hail proceeded to literally pound on us, which I might add really hurts, thunder and lightning all around us, lets just say I became very anxious more than ever to get back to safety. Being in an area that you have no idea which trail to follow and more water and hail than you could imagine, no windshield wipers, and the first time that I decide not to wear my helmet, it was quite the experience. All I could think about was getting my kids back to safety. At this point I had 2 of the three kids screaming, which doesn't help my blood pressure in a very intense situation. Buck decided on this ride to borrow Spencer's dirt bike to drive. Dirt bikes don't do very well in the pouring rain on mud! As we came up on the fields that had just been bailed I hoped that that meant that we were getting close. I then saw the house and the barn and gunned the rhino to go as fast as I possibly could. We all pulled into the shop and waited out the storm safely! Every single one of us were completely drenched down to our bare skin and all we could do was laugh about it! Let's just say that I am really thinking twice about this 4-wheeling thing!

For the 24th our ward held its first camp out in a long time, from what I understand, at Meadow Lake up on the flat tops about an hour away from our house. We went up Thursday with our friends Jon and Sherry, set-up camp, and enjoyed the evening! Friday morning we got up ate breakfast and went for another "trail ride"! This time around it was absolutely beautiful with the sun shining and just wisps of clouds. We had a great ride! By that evening we were surrounded by those in our ward that were able to come, we all sat around a fire and listened as Bro. Evans put on a great fireside telling us stories of the Pioneers and their travels. Saturday morning we woke up to the High Priest Group leadership making us a yummy pancake breakfast!

We have had a great Summer thus far! It is coming to a close rather quickly as school begins on the 17th of August.

Happy Summer everyone!

June

The month of June was quite the adventurous one. Buck worked in Salt Lake for the first two weeks of the month finishing a job that they needed him on. While he worked in Salt Lake we (the kids and I) took advantage of being there with him! After finally getting home we celebrated his 32nd birthday with 4-wheelin' and cake! The next weekend was Father's Day and again Buck was spoiled! So basically we celebrated for two weeks at our house just for the DAD!!! Love ya Daddy!


On June 17th we had our ultrasound to find out what sex our baby would be. I know that I am late at posting this, but, better late than never! We were very excited to "see" that we are having another boy! If you are familiar with ultrasound pictures you will be able to see for yourself that there is no greater shot than this to see what you are having! Yep, definitely a boy!



The kids have been part of the Summer reading program with the Garfield County Library! The theme this year is "Be Creative". The kids have enjoyed going every Wednesday (that we have been able to) to the Library and participating in their Activity days and also watching the performances being put on. I think their favorite so far has been "Science Gone Mad". After watching the Scientist, all of the kids decided that is what they want to be and do. We have been trying out all of the experiments since then! If I had known Science could be so fun, I would have taken more classes in school. The Science classes I took were not near what the show was!

Stay Tuned

I will try to post the events in June and July tomorrow! My bed is calling me! Stay tuned for the excitement!

Wayyyyy Behind!

I am so far behind in my posts I can't even keep up. I will try to update everything of importance that I have missed in the past 3 months. I can't even believe it has been that long! Time flies by so fast!

May 2009

There were field trips, graduation from Pre-school, the last day of school, and of course Memorial Day weekend. Brayden went to the Math and Science Museum in Grand Junction where he got to do hands on experiments. He had a blast! Gavin's field trip was to a sheep farm here in New Castle, just up the road from us a way. They got to see all of the baby lambs, help feed some with a bottle, and hold them. Both Gavin and Miranda got to hold a lamb, very sweet! I might add that baby sheep are very cute! Not so cute as a mama!





After all of the madness of field trips there was graduation from pre-school and the last day of school. Gavin graduated pre-school on the same day that Brayden had his field trip, having to choose between both children is not fun. Brayden was very understanding and was okay that Buck and I went to Gavin's graduation instead of going on his field trip. It was Gavin's turn to have Mom and Dad's complete attention! Gavin's class had a great party and ended with a very cute program for the parents. Mr. Lindenburg the Principal handed out certificates to those graduating and moving on to Kindergarten. The kids thought that was awesome!





The last day of school brought on our first camping/4-wheelin' trip for the year as a family! What an exciting weekend!!! (That is totally an understatement!) We decided to go to Green River, Utah and camp and from there we went to Temple Mountain down by Goblin Valley, and also to Thompson Springs, which is East of Green River about 30 miles. I don't think that Mother Nature is very happy with me. Every time we have decided to go out riding it has rained, but not only rained, down poured! When we showed up to our camp site in Green River, let's just say that it was the most ridiculous camp spot you could ever imagine. We got our money back and searched for a new site (at 10 pm). After calling every hotel/motel/inn/shack/and campgrounds, it was apparent that we were not going to find a spot real easy (who would on Memorial Day weekend!!), meanwhile, we needed to park anywhere that we could so Jon and Sherry could go and save Sherry's daughter and friend Jake bullock who had broken down on the freeway back about 20 miles or so. I don't know who I felt worst for Jake and Chelsea, the kids, or Jon and Sherry, the very nervous parents! Love you guys! It worked out just fine, Jon had a tow strap in his truck and pulled them back to where we had parked back in Green River. The night was just getting started, by now it was about midnight, no place to stay and no bathrooms close by available for use. It made for a great time! We decided to stay in our vehicles for the night and set up camp at a campground the next morning when an opening became available. Can I just tell you that I am soooo grateful for my bed and my home! This is how the bed situation went: Buck, drivers seat; Me, passenger seat with Miranda on my lap after several attempts to have her sleep on the row of seats behind us; Brayden on the seat behind the front seats; and Gavin (with the most comfortable bed in the truck) in a sleeping bag on the stack of "stuff", mostly pillows, sleeping bags, and padding underneath him, up above the back seat where it was a perfect fit just for him. The kids seemed to fall asleep and aside from Brayden falling off of the bench once in the night, they did really well given the circumstances. Buck and I on the other hand, let's just say that we were both in and out of, I wouldn't call it sleeping, resting our eyes; we would glance at each other chuckle, laugh, and say what a great time we were having! It was definitely a NIGHT TO REMEMBER!!! Good times! The camera was buried or I would have pictures to show you our little bunk house! Just try to use your imagination, I'm sure that you will be able to picture it!

We finally found a campsite at the Green River State Park the next morning about 11 am, set-up camp, and found ourselves in our tents while we endured yet another rain storm! Sunday and Monday were different, we got to take warm showers, eat yummy food, play games, enjoy each others company and finally ride! Although while riding around Temple Mountain, Sunday afternoon, we had just finished our little "stroll/trail ride", were eating lunch and a crazy flash flood and hail storm raged into the area. The washes that we were riding in that were completely dry while we were going through them, now had about 3 feet of raging water running through them. I can't believe the weather, it is absolutely crazy and definitely unpredictable. I am so thankful that we were not back in them when the storm came in! After the weather cleared up and we could get through the road that had been washed over we headed back to Green River for an enjoyable evening. Monday, we went to Thompson Springs, about 30 miles East of Green River and road up to the Indian Reservation. It was such a pretty ride, we saw several petroglyphs and beautiful wilderness. Of course, the rain couldn't stay away. We were almost to the top and another storm came in, just not as bad as Sunday's. We endured! From there our fun and eventful weekend came to a close and Buck, the kids, and I were on our way to Utah to work for a couple of weeks.








I could go on and on of the events of that weekend, but that was about the jist of it. We had a great time and it was definitely was a "Memorial Day Weekend"!!!

Baby Peterson 2009

Another Peterson baby on board, due November 7, 2009. We are excited to announce another addition to our family! The kids are super excited. Brayden is hopeful for another sister, as Gavin and Buck want to have a "BOY". Miranda is still pretty clueless, but as my tummy grows, I'm sure that she will start to recognize. I have no qualms either way, now that we have had both I could do either. I just hope that it will be healthy. I have been extremely sick and have not been able to do even the simplest things like laundry and dishes. I can get the laundry washed and dried, but by the time it comes to folding and putting away...I just don't know what happens!! Poor Buck will come home and I have loads of laundry set out on our bed to be put away, he steps up to the challenge and the task is then completed. Buck has been awesome, he works so hard all day at work and comes home and helps out with all of the house work that has not been done that day and helps get the kids to bed. Thanks Husband, I really appreciate all you do for our family!!! We love our Daddy!!

Branding!

On Friday Apr. 10 Buck and our friend Jon had the "great" opportunity to help some of our friends John and Chelsea Shideler brand and castrate their calves. What an experience! What a smell! You should have seen Brayden and Gavin's eyes and they watched so intently as they saw the first calf done. Their look was of total confusion. They were pretty nervous. We explained everything to them and why they brand, castrate and tag the cows. After that they were totally fine with it. Brayden even jumped in and asked if he could help tag the calves that had not been tagged yet. Buck and Jon were supposed to be finishing working up at John and Chelsea's house (remodel), but we stopped by the ranch to check out the branding. Needless to say, work was put on hold and the fun took over! It was such a fun experience. Of course, I did not throw down the cows, but I sure enjoyed watching them struggle!!! I think that Buck enjoyed the castrating more than he did the throwing down if you ask me!! I asked John if we could borrow the little contraption for Buck. Who needs a Doctor when all you need is a rubber band and the right tool. They told me it only takes about a week for them to just fall off!!! I'm sure that there is no pain involved! Okay, I thought that was pretty hilarious, I guess you had to be there! While Buck and Jon were helping with the calves, Brayden, Gavin, and Miranda (after she woke up from her nap), helped to move the calves who had already been done to the fields with their Mama's. They had a really great time! Kids for HIRE! Any takers?! Just kidding. What a great day!! Although, I will add that Saturday Buck was pretty sore in muscles he didn't even know that he had! I have pictures and video's, but they are on Buck's cell phone and I have not downloaded them yet. I will as soon as he is home long enough to do it! Stay tuned!

Easter Happenings!

While Buck was gone helping with the youth for their temple trip to Vernal I got to take the kids to their Primary Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 11th at the church. It was tons of fun. Since it was just a downpoor, they decided to do the games inside before going out to hunt for the eggs. Here are a few pics of the games.



This is how Miranda plays bean bag toss!!

Brayden bobbing for duckies!

They brought in real bunnies, ahhh how cute!


We dyed eggs on Sunday afternoon and then ate egg salad sandwiches, yummy! Church came and went and I didn't get any pictures of the family in their cute Easter clothes. I will have to try for it the next time they wear them, I am just a little spacey these days. The Easter bunny brought the boy's new shirts with ties and Miranda a new dress with a sweater. They looked adorable!


Gavin so proud of his multi-colored egg!

I think that they really wanted to dye their hands, not their eggs!!

Brayden tye-dyed his paper towel.

Brayden being the bunny that Buck drew on the egg!! I see similarities!!

We had a wonderful Easter! We had a great dinner and watched Bedtime stories as a family! What a great day!

Catch up!!

So it has been forever since I have posted. So much has happened since I posted last, I will try to remember everything! On March 17 Brayden and Buck got to do their first Pinewood Derby. I don't know who had more fun, Buck building the car (with help from Brayden, of course!!!), or Brayden. Brayden did really well, although we did not have any graphite, as we found later he would have done much better with it. That's okay! Brayden also had District Pinewood Derby on the 21st and placed 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, and 4th in the 4 races that he participated in. No trophy's this year, but that's okay! We are off to a great start.




Brayden also received his Tiger Cub that same evening. He loves Cub scouts and has worked so hard at all that he has to complete.

Our Anniversary!!

Buck and I have been married for 9 years (is that all, I feel like it has already been an eternity)! So this morning about 10 am I receive a phone call from a guy from the Flower Mart telling me he had a delivery for me would I be home in about 20 minutes. I chuckled and said yes. I then called Buck laughing and said thank you for the flowers. He says "Do you like them are they pretty?!" I said I don't know, the delivery guy just called me to ask if I would be home in the next 20 minutes. As you can imagine, Buck was not very happy, he said that the guy should have called him not me. It doesn't matter I told him, it is still a great surprise! The flowers are a very beautiful bouquet. Might I add, this is the first time in over 10years that he has surprised me by having flowers delivered. Very sweet! Thanks Husband!

We have had quite the last 9 years of anniversaries, most of them have been spent in the hospital or just coming home from the hospital with each child respectively with their own little ailments from tonsilectomy's to having a dermoid cyst removed to not breathing. Wow, I can't wait to see where the next 9 years keep us. Hopefully we have had our fill of hospitals and are done for the most part (at least on our Anniversary)! Looking back we have such great times...from playing in the snow (don't let me fool you, Buck doesn't play in the snow, if you have seen Dumb and Dumber when they are playing in the snow and he totally white washes her, that is totally Buck and me, accept Buck did it I think 3 times in a row!), wrestling, tickle attacks (on Mom, never on Dad. Mom is not strong enough even with the help of two little boys to hold Dad down), monster truck shows, Jazz games, fixing up the Bronco, graceful falls (for me of course as Buck stands back and laughs his guts out, then comes to help me up, still laughing hysterically), hunting, camping, fishing, four-wheeling, and all the way down to having babies!!! We have had such a great time together. I really love you husband!!! Thanks for all of the great times!

Tonight we went to dinner, ALONE! Our friend Sherry watched the kids while we went out. I think the last time we went out ALONE was 1 year ago exactly! What a fun night we have had. I look forward to many more anniversaries with my sweetheart! Who needs Valentine's when you have an Anniversary!!!

Two weeks in a row!!!!

So, the last two Sunday's have been absolutely wonderful! If I had known that all it would take was to have all the men take care of primary and nursery, I would have suggested it a long time ago! Miranda has finally made it completely through nursery for 2 (count them 2) whole weeks! Last week we (the Relief Society Presidency) had the men take over for the day so all of the women could attend the visiting teaching conference that we as a presidency had put together. Of all days that I so needed Miranda to stay in Nursery it was last Sunday. Buck was teaching Brayden's class and I was "running the show" (no pun intended for those of you who got to participate). I really think that we should petition that the men are officially the nursery leaders! Then this Sunday Buck and I had the opportunity to teach in Primary (our poor Primary President had to find subs for all 6 classes and for the music last night at about 8:30). It was such a great feeling to be able to be a part of class and not have to fight with a 2 year old. Thanks to Jen Street and Maria Ramthun who work so diligently to keep Miranda occupied and happy in Nursery. You gals are great!

Just a quick Thank You to my husband! Buck, you are the best Husband and Dad! Thanks for all you do to support me and the kids! I love you tons!

Goooo Steelers!!!!

This is for you Buck!!!





Men shouldn't scream like a GIRL, but after this play Buck went absolutely CRAZY! Just prior to this play, he was using his Steelers hat as an airbag. I should have taken our camera, quite the site!





Good job Steelers!!! What a great season!!!

"I can't wait until I'm eight, For then I'll be baptized, you see"

Pre-Baptism photo. Brayden couldn't wait, he was so excited!

Our little family before we took on the rest of the day!!!




After we got home Buck and I gave Brayden his present. He received his very own scriptures with his name on them. Grandma and Grandpa Phillips gave him the carrying case along with a scripture marking pencil. He was so excited!

What a wonderful day we had. Here is a little run down of the meeting, for those of you who couldn't come.

Saturday January 17, 2009
2:00 Pm
Presiding: Bishop Audie Williams
Conducting: Grandpa Phillips
Playing Piano: Grandma Phillips
Opening Song: When Jesus Christ Was Baptized
Opening Prayer: Sherry Todd (One of our good friends)
Talk: Baptism given by the Relief Society President Laurie Evans
Special Musical Number: When I Am Baptized performed by Amanda and Addy Merkley (Some more of our good friends)
Baptism: Performed by Buck
While they were getting dressed we sang some Primary Songs
Talk: Holy Ghost given by Ashlee Simons Counselor in the Primary
Welcome/Thoughts into Primary given by Terri Mease
Welcome/Thoughts into the Ward given by Bishop Williams
Closing Song: The Holy Ghost
Closing Prayer: Uncle Trevor Peterson

We also asked those that wanted to, to write on a 4x6 card their thoughts or their testimony to share with Brayden. We will put together a book so Brayden will remember what a special day it was and those that were a part of it.

Brayden was confirmed on Sunday during Sacrament meeting. What a special time we have had with family that came in from out of town and with the great friends we have here in our ward. We are so very grateful to all of you who have helped Brayden make the choice to be baptized. I would like to add that back in April we had Brayden start taking the missionary discussions, to further prepare him and us as a family for Baptism. We are grateful for the many sets of missionaries who came into our home to teach us. They were the best and wish all of them could have been here, but we understand how the work of the Lord goes!!!

Going Private!!!

We are going private. If you are interested in reading our blog, please let me know in the comments section an e-mail that I can send an invitation to. You will have until Jan. 24th. Sorry, we just need to go private at this point. Thanks for understanding.

Christmas Day

Christmas was exciting for all of the kids. Poor Santa let the boys down this year, they were sure hoping for a Nintendo DS, but when we met with Santa he told us that they were not quite old enough. He brought legos instead. He wanted them to use their creativity, instead of losing it. They had a blast and spent hours building and creating. I think that Santa forgot Uncle Trevor. He sure enjoyed them just as much as the boys! Maybe the Easter bunny will follow through for Uncle Trevor. Miranda got her very own kitchen with food. She loves to pretend to cook and especially wash the dishes. (Now that we have it home, it is set up in the kitchen so she can cook right along side Mom). We got Guitar Hero World Tour for the Wii. Now that we have done Rock Band, it is time to broaden our Horizons. We just can't get enough! Maybe Buck will become a Pro and make us our millions!!! We can only wish! Love ya Husband!


Happy Holiday's to all of you!!