Peterson Place

Peek-A-Boo

2011-08-15T15:20:00.004-04:00

Linking up to I Heart Faces Photo Challenge.

Andrea

It's Been A Long While...

2011-07-26T12:21:00.004-04:00

But having a little one in preschool is TOUGH!!!! That, and I will be honest with you. I got a little blogged out for awhile. So I took a sabbatical and now...I'm BACK!!! Is there anyone still out there??? Well, to sum up what we have been up to lately, it can be said in one picture.

It appears as though Rob and I have a couple of fish on our hands, although Emma claims that she isn't a fish, but a mermaid. She is now able to swim without a lifejacket, but we still make her wear it out in the deep water, of course. We went to our local pool the other day and she LOVED the slides. It's in 11 feet of water and I was a nervous wreck. But she popped herself up just fine!
Entered into this week's photo challenge at I Heart Faces

Away in a Manger

2010-12-16T12:34:00.007-05:00

So, while listening to Glenn Beck this morning on my way to pick up Emma, I got to thinking. I don't care if you love him or hate him, he makes you think. For everyone who thinks he is all political, that is just a piece of Glenn Beck. But this particular morning, I listened to a version of the Christmas story. A version that made you look at it in a completely different way. In a PERSONAL way. One that made you put yourself in that stable many years ago.

I can't really put this into an actual paragraph format. It is more like a bunch of random musings that are running through my head.

Can you imagine yourself as Mary? Can you imagine having to tell your parents, friends, and husband to be that you were pregnant? And pregnant with the son of God, nonetheless. I do understand the fear of having to tell your family and friends that you are pregnant (and somewhat "unmarried" in their way of thinking). Been there. Done that. Imagine the fear of telling them that you are pregnant, yet still a virgin. Would they believe you? How would your husband to be react? Would he believe you? Would he think that you had strayed from him? Would he still want you to be his wife?

Imagine Joseph's fear, after dreaming, that he was to be the father of Jesus. Would he be able to raise a son to God's standards? Would he love him as his own even?

Imagine the trip to Bethlehem. Can you imagine being full with child on a donkey (assuming a donkey was used)?I know how uncomfortable I was those last couple of months. Add a good long donkey ride to that discomfort.

Imagine knocking on the doors of the inns, only to be turned away. Imagine Mary's fear after learning that she was to give birth to the son of God on the dirty floor of a stable, with only Joseph and the animals to exalt the King? Imagine being a young woman giving birth for the first time. If you are a mother, do you remember your first child??? How scared were you, not knowing what labor was like? Mary, I am sure, had seen labor before, yet was still afraid, I am sure. Imagine Joseph learning of Herod's plans to kill his son. How would he protect Mary and the baby from Herod?

Do you remember looking into your babies' eyes and wondering what the future held for them? What would they look like? What would they be when they grew up? Would they follow in your footsteps? How are you going to raise this little being into someone who loved God as much as you do? How would you teach them what they needed to know to be a good person, to be compassionate to others?

Mr. Beck reminded me this morning, "They were just people." Just like you and I. Normal, everyday, people.

Can you IMAGINE?

Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven"
video by Tony Cortes
Both very talented and using His talents to praise Him.

"...but I offer all I am

for the mercy of your plan...

help me be strong..

help me be...

help me..."

The prayer of a mother...

Also, please pray for a fellow mother, Dana (a friend of Renae Deckard, a blog friend) at Roscommon Acres who lost her precious baby boy this week. She is surrounded by God, family, and friends, but another prayer could never hurt. I have been crying with her here in Indiana. Heaven is blessed to have Mattias, and Mattias is blessed with heaven.

Blessed Christmas to you all!

God Bless You!

2010-09-24T17:13:00.003-04:00

Well, I received my first Booksneeze product to review! I watched "The Way Home" today while the girls were napping. It was an okay movie with a great message. This movie is a great reminder of what is important in your life. Dean Cain plays a father whose work is priority one. His life is shaken when his two year old son goes missing under his supervision. Okay acting, little plot, great message. I think that it would be okay for kids, but I would be worried about little ones, since there are scary parts when they talk about the possibility of not finding the boy in time. I enjoyed it nonetheless. The part about the movie that I liked the most was that it was based on actual events. Dean Cain does a good job of playing the distraught, guilt ridden father. Lori Beth Edgeman, not so believable as a mother whose son is missing. This post is JUST MY OWN OPINION.

School is Cool

2010-09-20T15:53:00.004-04:00

I know it has been awhile, but we finally found a preschool for Emma Claire. I had found one that was local but, for some unknown reason, kept looking. I then found a different one (that is about 10 miles from home), but they only had openings in the afternoon. No big deal. I'll switch our schedule around. Problem number 2: Six boys and Emma Claire. No girl friends??!?!?! Oh no! Then I got to thinking, "Well, maybe in comparison to all of the rowdy boys in her class, Emma will be somewhat tame! This can be good. This WILL be good. We will make it work." The class wasn't full, so there was still room for a little girl to join Emma. Time for LOTS of prayer. I know, I know. I shouldn't bother the Big Guy for such trivial matters. And it wasn't really a prayer. Just everyday conversation.

A week passed and I was in "The Wal-Mart" (yes, that was me talking like the hubs) looking for non-marking soled shoes (and thinking to myself that I needed to call Emma's teacher and see just how serious they were about ONLY shoes that had laces) when Miss Jenni herself called. She said that there was an opening in the morning class! Yay! So, what is my point with all of this rambling? The point is that prayers work, even if it is the small stuff. So don't sweat it, just pray. :o)

Emma started back to school. She is with a few kids from her old preschool, and she LOVES that she knew someone going into it. It's a bonus that her close friend Mackenzie is with her too! She goes to school five days a week. I am glad that it is five days a week because I think that it will better prepare her for all day kindergarten next year.

Needless to say, we have just been getting back into the swing of things.

Her are some pictures that I took for her FIRST day of school and the beginning of FALL! Praise be for cooler days!

First day of school 09/07/2010

I surprised her one day by taking her to the state park after school. She then surprised me by cooperating with the Canon.

Andrea

My Name's "Whoa, Damnit!"

2010-08-19T16:47:00.006-04:00

As I can recall only one thing sets 6th grade apart from the others in middle school.

Tommy.Jack.Savage.

Now, you may think to yourself, "Who in the world is Tommy Jack Savage?" You may recall, from my previous Piggy Tales posts, an old gray mare by the name of Frosty. Well, as I grew, so did my search for adventure. Frosty was NOT a challenge. I needed EXCITEMENT. I needed something FIESTY. I needed something DANGEROUS.

Enter Tommy Jack Savage into my life.

He was a three year old green gelding with TONS of spunk. I spent more time on MY backside than on his. Every chance he got, he bucked. He ran away with me. He was ill-tempered, ill-mannered, and spirited. We got along FAMOUSLY. I loved that big old leggy baby. He was MINE. ALL MINE.

I took him to the 4-H fair that year. In amongst all of the professionally trained horses, we stuck out like a sore hoof. Instead of calmly, smoothly loping around the arena, we RACED. We galloped ~~wherever TJ damn well pleased~~ around the perimeter of the ring, nearly causing the demise of one judge who looked like he was having ZERO fun. We may not have placed that year, but we were made for each other. I was never one of those kids whose parents did the work for them. For one thing, my parents wouldn't be caught DEAD on that big galoot. We did the work ourselves and we grew together.

**Nota Bene: TJ is still alive and well. He is now 18 and LOVES my girls. Check out this post for pictures of the infamous big guy himself.

On Becoming a Woman

2010-08-19T15:46:00.004-04:00

Fifth grade. On the verge of being a teenager. No longer a child, in my mind. I know that it was a rough time for my parents. For me too, for that matter. I have always been a bit...outspoken. Never the type to bite my tongue. That caused a rift between my mom and I, which I regret to this day. Dad used to say that it was because we were so much alike. I look back and agree entirely. There were good times though too.

I started playing sports in fifth grade. Volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, then softball in the spring. I liked sports. Heck, I STILL like sports. I prefer to play a sport over a cardio workout any day.

I wasn't too great at any of them, but I LOVED softball. In volleyball and basketball, I always ran around crazy, never quite understanding completely. On the diamond though, that was a COMPLETELY different story. My place was behind the plate. There, I knew what EVERYONE was doing. For some unexplainable reason, I adored having a softball hurled at me and having a sweaty old man breathing down my backside. "STRRRIIIIIIKE!" was my favorite word. My mom played softball too, when she was younger. She was always the bad ass behind the plate too. :o) I was always proud that we shared that ONE thing.

I should probably add that my dad coached me. It was a bit of a love/hate thing. I loved that my dad was involved in my activities, but MAN! It was ROUGH!! Just sayin'. He coached me on our school basketball team. I was TERRIBLE, so it was okay that he made me ride the pine a lot. It was always said that I spent more time on the floor than on my feet. I guess that my nickname (Hubs calls me Gracie basically to mock my complete lack of finesse.) was in the cards even way back then.

All of this culminated to the 5th grade end of the softball season party. My mom and dad offered to host a swim party at our house. Keep in mind, our house was pretty much a kid's dream, complete with go-kart, horse, riding trails, swimming pool, and pond. It was going to be a great time. Lo and behold, the day of the party came and so did a visitor (the FIRST time this particular visitor graced me with her presence). Any woman reading this can pretty much guess which visitor I am referring to. Any eleven year old girl with a swim party's worst nightmare. So while my guests were due to arrive in a few hours, I was learning the ins and outs of womanhood. To this day, I VIVIDLY recall my dramatic younger self crying to my mother, "I don't WANT to be a girl! I want to be a boy!" As if my theatrics were going to make EVERYTHING go away instantly... Needless to say, the party guests arrived and I had ALMOST as much fun as if everything were "normal". Thank goodness all of the guests were girls as well.

So the end of the school year ended, and I was officially on the brink of womanhood.

"Em" is for Motorcycle.

2010-08-17T16:07:00.004-04:00

Hubs got his bike back from the buddy who was borrowing it. Em had to have some photos taken with it. And as much as I hate to look hillbilly with a picture of my child on a motorcycle, I HAD to take it. She so rarely asks for her picture taken!

Daddy with his girls

Girl after his own heart

Hell on Wheels.

And no, she HAD not brushed her hair yet. Cute, huh? Oh well, life's too short to wait for the PERFECT photo op. :o)

Homeschool Swap

2010-08-17T15:14:00.003-04:00

This summer, I participated in a Homeschool Swap. Now, you may say, "But you don't homeschool!" But I am considering it. STRONGLY. So while scouring many different sites for information, I happened upon The Homeschool Post and found this swap. So, I thought to myself, "Self, this sounds like fun!" I love getting mail and making new friends, so I signed myself up. And into my life came Renae Deckard. My Homeschool Swap swapper. We found that we have a lot in common, including impeccable taste in naming children. :o) Both of us have Emmas, which I guess shouldn't be surprising, since it seems as though 90% share our fondness for the name. I digress, here are the goodies that Renae found for me for just $15!

And might I say, that vase looks just FAB with my milk glass collection!

It was GREAT "meeting" you, Renae. I will think of you often! Especially when I indulge in Twizzlers!

Off the Face of the Earth

2010-08-12T18:03:00.005-04:00

A friend of mine let me know nicely that I have been neglecting dear old blog. So here I am, back at it...quickly, however, since I SHOULD be making dinner for the hubs and kids. :o) So what, in a nutshell, has been keeping me from blogville??

Sick kids. Yes. I said it. Sick kids! Mine! Sick! I can hardly believe it myself, since Emma has only been sick once (other than a cold here and there) in her 4 years so far. We have been so blessed with our healthy little ones. Way to go, mama's milk! You have done a wonderful job thus far. :-D

Visits with the aunt. Rob's aunt Delaney (who is 18 years younger than he is) came to stay with us for a week. Last week consisted of me trying to entertain a 15 year old. I'm not sure how I did, but I hope that the 4 year old and 1 year old didn't drive her TOO crazy. We had a lot of fun. We went and saw Beezus and Ramona (I <3ed it), went to the zoo, went on a picnic in the park, and went to the splash pad. We also took her to a local haunt called Tyeger's Pizza. I cannot describe how delicious their pizza it. Mmmmm...It makes my mouth water just thinking about it! :-P

We've also been on a plight to find Emma a new preschool, since ours had to close due to budget cuts. :o( We will definitely miss Miss Leslie and the rest of Emma's classmates this year. But we have a new preschool lined up. I just have my fingers crossed that it works out since our selection in this little one horse town is sort of slim. :o/

Clothes shopping for Em.

Rearranging furniture. Moving another desk into our living room. It definitely doesn't look designer in here with the crapton of furniture crammed in the tiny little spce, but I needed it in here to work with Emma on her schoolwork.

So what else...Evelyn is talking now. Sort of. She says, "Hi, Dad" and "dog." No sign of "Mama" anywhere. :o(

Planning a trip. A trip that is happening in about a month. But we don't know where. A touch last minute, ya think? Any suggestions??? Need someplace historical with water nearby. Must be a house with a pool since my girls are water junkies. :o)

Also looking for a dance class for the Dancing Queen.

Checking out some new websites:
Paperback Swap
Click

to sign up and get me a free book! "Andrea Peterson" MUST be in your referred by box! You know you want to help a fellow blogger out!
and
Becoming an ambassador of Barefoot Books
Click here to shop around!
Yeah...I'm a book nerd...

Oh yeah, and I MUST get out of the house soon. The walls are closing in on me.

Okay! Well, that's about it. For all of you that were thinking that I was off on some extravagant holiday or even a top secret mission, I am so sorry to disappoint you! We've just been busy living the Peterson life!

Baby Steps No More

2010-07-22T23:45:00.005-04:00

Do you ever have one of those days when you just sit back and wonder about where time went? I do all the time, every day. But sometimes it REALLY smacks you in the face that time isn't standing still, regardless of how much you want it to.

Emma Claire is no longer making baby steps. She is now growing by leaps and bounds. Every day, I step back and wonder to myself, "Who is this little girl and what did she do with my chubby fingered Bug?" It is surreal that just a mere four years ago she was this helpless thing that depended on me for every meal, diaper change, and naptime.

Now, she is just a bundle of energy and frankly, a little girl. She has grown to have loves, aspirations, and dreams of her own. She no longer is interested in "babies", but loves to play with her Barbies and her horses. She is the spitting image of myself at her age: an absence of fear and is not afraid to get gussied up, yet doesn't mind getting dirt between her toes.

She has grown to have responsibilities. Today, I asked her to clean up her room, make her bed, collect the trash cans, get the mail, and take out the recycling. She did EVERYTHING!

(Emma Claire cooks)

And it only took ~~me yelling for five minutes~~ one timeout! Hey, she is still a work in progress, just as we all are.

Last night, she slept in her own bed all night long and ALL BY HERSELF. Oh, okay. So she should have been doing that for a long time, but as some of you may remember, she walked in on a robber in her room about a year and a half ago. Needless to say, she is a little leery of her bedroom at night, bless her little heart. She didn't want to, but she did with only a little quivering lip. But she is a brave little thing, and she's back in there again tonight! YAY for only two people in the queen size bed!

My little Em has also been swimming. LIKE.A.FISH. I took her to a local waterpark, and she went down a GIANT slide (Yes, I was right beside her). I can take her into water that is over her head and she paddles around without any problems. (I strongly recommend the Speedo swim jackets. They let kids learn to swim without forcing them to depend on the jacket to hold them up.)

(Emma Claire swims)

The other night, I took her to my softball game with me. There was another little girl, just around her age, whom she made friends with. It was so cute to watch them sit together, hand in hand, inside the dugout.

She is a little sponge. We were walking in my Mom and Dad's garden with my brother tonight when my brother asked about a particular plant that was growing. I replied, "Those are marigolds." To which Emma Claire added, "We have marigolds in our garden too, don't we, Mama?" We surely do. And on the way home, she told me as she pointed out a willow tree along the road, "Willow trees are my favorite trees." I may be partial, but she is one smart little girl.

All of these things lead up to my point for this post. Time flies on swift wings. It will pass you by, and leave in its place just a whisper of a memory. So for now, I will just have to settle for the ticklefests and somersaults that she now prefers over slobbery open mouth kisses and snuggles to the breast.

Infatuated with Kitchen Gadgets

2010-07-15T14:04:00.008-04:00

Does anyone else have a thing for kitchen gadgets? These are on my wishlist.

KrumKake Express by EdgeCraft. Imagine the beautiful ice cream cones I could make with these!

Since we need ice cream to go with the cones...

Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker (The Ice Cream Ball) You roll it across the ground to make the ice cream! Tell me that you aren't intrigued or that you wish you had come up with that idea!

I've recently been into Popsicles and the like.

Vacu Vin Stainless Steel Pineapple Easy Slicer. Not that I ever slice my own pineapple, but maybe I would if I had one of these. At least, that is what I will tell the hubs.

Chicago Metallic Slice Solutions 9-Inch Square Brownie Pan Set. Yeah, I am one of those dorks that would buy the Perfect Brownie off of an infomercial.

And heck, while we are getting the perfect cut...

Slice Solutions 9-Inch Divided Loaf Pan Set.

Fusionbrands Poach Pods. Nope, I don't make poached eggs either. But then again, I WOULD if I just had...

Norpro 3170 Stainless-Steel Pancake Dispenser Now, THIS would get used, I promise!

More pancake fun!

Tovolo Pancake Pen I would use this at LEAST twice a year. :-P

Progressive International Lettuce Keeper. Who doesn't want unwilty lettuce?!?! And it lets you wash and store in the same container!!!

This tops my list.

Mr. Coffee BVMC-FM1 20-Ounce Frappe Maker. Frozen coffee rocks my world.

While we are on beverages...

Fruit Infusion Pitcher by Prodyne. Maybe I could kick the soda habit with help from this.

And back to brownies, because what kind of person doesn't like brownies!?!?

Wilton Easy Pour Funnel

Wilton Round Brownie Pop Mold

What are YOUR favorite newfangled kitchen gadgets???

The Object of my Affection (Piggy Tales Thursday)

2010-07-15T11:01:00.004-04:00

Fourth grade rolled around, and with it, the magic number TEN! I remember for my tenth birthday, my uncle gave me a little fake fish in an aquarium. With it, he told me that I now had reached "double digits"! Double digits didn't mean anything to me. Just another day for the kids to tease me. In fourth grade, I had my first unofficial boyfriend. We would sit in the back of the school bus with our fingers laced tightly together. We were two of a kind, both sort of the kids in the outer circle. It was a perfectly innocent love. But soon, as all puppy love does, it dimmed and was replaced by another love. This time, the object of my affection had four legs instead of two. I fell head over heels with a horse. Not any horse in particular, just A HORSE. Any horse would do. Before I could have one of my own, my parents enrolled me in riding lessons. This was to assure that it wasn't one of my hobbies that lasted just ~~30 seconds~~ a short while. After all, I was just a kid who had no idea what they wanted to do in life! Then again, maybe things haven't changed that much after all... Nevertheless, I began riding lessons with a former teacher who went simply by Alice. She was tough, but a GREAT teacher. She put me astride a giant mare (or maybe she just seemed that way) who was just as wonderful of a teacher as Alice. Together, they taught me the ins and outs of horsemanship. Soon enough, I bought a horse of my own. The prettiest old Appaloosa I could ever have imagined. Her blanket of spots served as my head's pillow many times, and her dirty mane dried my tears more times than I can count. Benjamin Disraeli once said, "A canter is a cure for every evil." How right he is. To this day, a good canter will erase any of my troubles. Now, they are few and far between, but back then without Frosty and her rocking horse canter, those young transition years from child to preteen would've been agony. Oh sure, I fell off. I had more tumbles and spills, bumps and bruises than I can even remember. But like Alice always said, "You aren't a rider until you've fallen off." As is in life, you haven't lived until you've fallen. I stumbled through fourth grade, but every time I heard the shrill whinny of that little gray mare (who to everyone else, wasn't anything special) she picked me back up and gave me the strength to trudge on through life.

The Trials of 3rd Grade (Piggy Tales Thursday)

2010-07-15T10:21:00.008-04:00

Let's face it. When I was a kid, I was a little bit ~~introverted~~ nerdy. I enjoyed my books and tended to lose myself in those worlds rather than making friends in my own. Don't get me wrong, I had my best friend Ashley, but I was never one of the "in crowd" So, by third grade people started having little crushes, and I was not unlike the other girls in that sense. Mine was a cute little guy with red hair and freckles. But I was just the little girl with big blue eyeglasses and a crooked smile. Anyway, one day, I got a sweet little card with rainbows on it from that redhead that asked me to be his girlfriend (or something along those lines). Now, I should have been skeptical when I saw that rainbow. But I was blind to the obvious. And of course, I was SO excited! But before long, the obvious was brought to my attention by another one of the girls in my class. The card was a fake, written by another little girl.

Regardless of my dorky exterior, I was never the type to be pushed around, even if it wasn't a shove in the literal sense of the word. So, I shoved back. I shoved that fake card author. Hard. Into a desk. She shoved me. A teacher approached and broke in. We were both ushered out into the hall to work it out amongst ourselves.

Now, I don't remember the details of how it came to be, but somehow, that was the beginning of a new friendship. It's funny how things work out. Paige was one of my best friends for the next five years. Of course, in high school, we drifted apart as we did our best to explore the new halls with new friends. Just recently, I reconnected with her on Facebook (Ah, the wonders of the web.) and can't wait to get together in the real world again.

Third grade was a time when you began to realize that people could be mean. That not everyone was a friend. But sometimes, something that seems like the worst thing in your life really wasn't so bad. No, the boy didn't like me. Really, he probably never even noticed me. Maybe, he knew about the note. Maybe he didn't. But that nasty note turned into one of the best things in grade school. I look back on it and realize two things. First, kids are resilient. They bounce back from things that adults wouldn't. Don't think for one second that I wasn't back to whispering about boys the next day. I just had a new friend to whisper to. Which brings me to number two. Kids forgive.

Just recently, I had a falling out with a close friend due to an inadvertent slip of the tongue. I have apolgized, but this was almost six months ago and I fear that I have lost this friend. Kids don't hold a grudge. They fight. They make up. Life goes on.

We all could take some lessons from our younger selves.

What About Andrea?

2010-07-02T09:59:00.006-04:00

I've never done any of the question posts, but I figured that it was time to take a little looksie into my life. What makes me...ME! So check out Five Crooked Halos for Five Question Friday and link up. Or leave the answers in my comment spot! Be sure to let me know if you have linked up! So here we be!

1. What is one thing you miss the most about childhood?
I miss my grandmother. Every day I miss her. They say that over time, the ache goes away. They lie. The ache doesn't go away. Sure, it dulls a bit over the years, but the pain never leaves. Oh and I miss the simplicity of it all. I miss the ease with which I blew through life, flitting from place to place, time to time. I miss the lack of technology invading my life. I miss the feeling of "no worries". I used to have absolutely no fear of what the future held for me. Now, I worry if my girls will have the same simple life growing up that I did. I worry about their quality of life. I even worry about their retirement, and I'm only just halfway to MY OWN retirement! I miss the slow pace, easy come, easy go attitude.

2. Are you still friends with your friends from high school?
Well, my best friend Ashley (who makes fantastic jewelry, check out her blog here) went to a different high school, but we were friends during the high school years, so I assume that this is the same. In fact, I met my best friend when I was five. Amber has always been a great friend from high school, although I knew her before high school as well. I guess all of the friends that I made IN HIGH SCHOOL are no longer my friends.

3. Is there a catch phrase, cliche, or word that just drives you bonkers every time you hear it?
the c word. And all of you ladies KNOW the c word. It is a dirty, despicable word. And ta-tas! What the heck?!?!? As far as a phrase, I can't stand the phrase, "Don't hate on me," or "Stop hatin' on me." And sometimes, just sometimes, I REALLY don't like the word, "Mom". Most of the time, it is followed by...wait for it...Mom. And then again...Mom. So it goes something like this...MomMomMomMomMomMomMomMom. Mom, can I? Mom, why not? Mom, do I have to? Mom, why? I am sure you can understand my lack of fuzzy feelings for this word at times.

4. What is one thing that you think symbolizes America...besides "Old Glory"?
Hmmm...that's a toughie. I think that Declaration of Independence symbolizes what America used to stand for. But that's a subject that is off limits for me in this blog. Mainly, because I want to keep all of my followers. :o) In the famous words of Forrest Gump, "And that's all I have to say about that."

5. What are your 4th of July weekend plans?
Tonight, my husband offered to take me out on a date. To see Eclipse! He even offered! When I looked at him questioningly, he replied simply, "I'm Team Alice." Tomorrow, my in-laws are coming to visit!!! I haven't got to see my brother, nephew, and NEW sister in law since CHRISTMAS. Tomorrow night, we have a barbecue with some friends. Sunday, we will probably go to the lake and stay till Monday. We kinda fly by the seat of our pants, so only the weekend will tell. :o)

Enjoy your fourth, and fly Old Glory high!

My new rustic bunting from Rural King. It's so me.

Pick Nicks and Country Miles

2010-07-01T12:51:00.006-04:00

By second grade, I was a big sister to Nicholas Wayne. He would have been five or so, by that time. He was also born in my parent's heart, and a gift from another mother. He was my best friend growing up, even though you wouldn't have known it to hear us bickering.

When I was six, everything we did was outdoors. Bicycle riding. Hiking down by the creek. Picnics in the woods. Walking on the trails my dad had meandering throughout our property. We grew up in a little house in the woods in a world where mosquitoes and deer ticks were the only predators my parents had to worry about.
We had picnics by the creek where it seemed as if time stood still, and the world was ours for the taking. That small woods allowed our imaginations to soar. I used to always think to myself, "Picnic. Pick Nick. My parents PICKED NICK." It was one of my favorite words for just that reason.

I remember my little brother telling me one day when I was in a particularly bad mood, "Sissy, don't be such a Johnny Appleseed." What he meant by that was don't be a crabby appleton, but through and through, that was Nick. Always happy. Always wanting others to be happy. To this day, he only wants to please others. I remember whenever I got spanked (with that dreaded flyswatter), my little brother would cry louder than I myself would. He has always had a heart of gold.

As I spoke of earlier, bike rides were a part of our every day routine, it seemed. Our route on our bicycles was a jaunt around the block. A four mile country block, mind you. Those bike rides will always be forever ingrained in my mind because it is the first conscious memory that I have in which I was told about my being adopted. So as you see, I have always known the truth, which is something for which I am so grateful to my parents.

Needless to say, by second grade, everyone knew that I was adopted. It was no secret, but kids had a lot of questions. Of course, I obliged them and explained that I was not "born under my mother's heart, but in it." And I was fortunate that none of my classmates ridiculed the fact that I was adopted. I think they thought that since I acted as though it were special, it made THEM realize that too. And I have those "pick nicks" by the creek and the long, lazy bicycle rides to thank for knowing that fact. The fact that my brother and I were picked. We were chosen.

Adventures in Bucket List Completion

2010-06-30T15:56:00.005-04:00

So, if you have been following my adventures in bucket list completion, I checked a few off this past week and that is why I have not been posting as much. I plan on getting caught up soon, I promise!

Here are a few pictures from our visit to the zoo, which was a bucket list item.

Emma Claire and my little cousin, Isabel

kangaroos. They are one of my favorites. I love that the devoted mama carries them snug as a bug in their pouch until they are ready to face the world.

Joeys of our own

"Is this event black tie???"

Evelyn Rose. She's my animal lover. You can tell by THIS photograph.

Izzy's face painting. Set her mom back FIVE DOLLARS!!! Wowza! I think I should learn the art of face painting!

Emma Claire's horse ride. Cost: Four tokens. When she has a horse at home to ride for free. Note to self: Charge people to ride horse.

Best buds. Sometimes. Other times, can't stand each other. They fight like sisters, but love like sisters too.

Piggy Tales Thursday...on Friday

2010-06-25T08:21:00.005-04:00

I know, I know! I'm late! And I apologize, but I took the girls swimming yesterday
(I'm going to use this post for double duty so I will put them...
here.

and the day just got away from me! Regardless, here I am for Piggy Tales Thursday...1st grade edition.

First grade came and I was all set for my first day of school. Bag: check. Lunch: Check. Mom...no check??? I had gone to kindergarten, but this??? This was a whole 'nother dinosaur!! But Mrs. Bixler made it okay. She ushered me in and nurtured my love of reading. She was, and still remains, one of my favorite teachers! I remember my mom used to come in and help some days, and those were always my favorite days!

I remember my first sleepover party was for my 6th birthday. My best friends, Allison, Ashley, and Sara were invited. My mom and dad thought that homemade pizza would be a great treat. I remember making it ourselves. Then...for dessert...ICE CREAM! We were allowed to fix it up any way we wanted.

I also remember the time that my mom dressed up like an elf for my class. I don't remember much of this, just the green elf shoes with bells at the tip of her curled toes! Christmas time was always fun. I recall a Christmas bazaar with all kinds of crafts and good food. Even then, I was into crafty things!

Speaking of crafty things, I used to spend a good bit of my childhood coloring. I was always sort of a loner (until probably...middle school???), and coloring was one of my favorite hobbies. I also loved to read. Dr. Suess was, of course, loved by the entire household. My favorite books of his were In A People House and Put Me in the Zoo. My mom says that, to this day, she still remembers the antics of Hooper Humperdink, Marvin K. Mooney, and Young Yolanda Yorgensen. These days, I have nearly every one of Dr. Suess' books, and my girls love them just as much as I do. I mean, did. ;o) Well, I suppose that is all that I can recall specifically about first grade.

Tune in next Thursday for 2nd grade. Hopefully, I can make it on time then! I also hope to add some pictures to these posts, so you may want to stop back to check and see them.

Link It Up Wednesday

2010-06-23T18:29:00.003-04:00

Linkin' it up! I wish that I could stay and chat but I am on my way to use some of my spare Weight Watchers points. Yay!

And if you are visiting, I strongly encourage you to look at another one of my posts since this is not one of my more interesting posts. OOOOOR, you could just take my word for it that I am one cool chick, follow me, then try again on a more exciting day! I am sure that there will be plenty more shenanigans this summer! Oh, I just remembered! i have splash pad photos! Those are...well, not boring anyway!

The Before I Kick the Bucket List

2010-06-19T09:53:00.006-04:00

Who remembers this amazing, fun, moving movie?

I was inspired by Melissa's post at A Family in Love to make a Summer Bucket List of my own since the summer usually slips through my fingers like sand from a pail.

Make an address planter (like this one at Cap Creations)
Make my own salsa
Learn the art of canning
Organize the pantry (again...and again...and again)
Take the fam to the drive in
See Eclipse with the girls (Yes, I'm a Twi-nerd)
Learn how to use the Singer (Anyone offering lessons???)
Take the girls for a hike at Ouabache (the local state park)
Take Emma Claire canoeing
Make these cute little ladies for the garden
Take the girls to the Children's Museum in Indy
~~Make the garage a usable space~~ Done! Well, it's clean anyway!!
Start a little Christmas shopping (Be quiet. I'll be the one laughing at Christmas.)
Build a playhouse for the girls
Paint the house (I'm shootin' high on that one.)
Build a kitchen (for said playhouse) like Kristen's that was featured here at Knock Off Wood
Hang clothes on the line (The line that doesn't exist yet...)
Make this chore system for Emma (from Making the World Cuter)
Visit the in-laws in Tennessee
~~Take Emma Claire to Pine Lake~~ We had a blast!!! Hubs even took a day off (this hardly EVER happens) and even HE had fun!!
Take Emma Claire to see Junie B. Jones (this isn't until November, but I thought that I would include it anyway) at Amish Acres
Go to the flea market at Shipshewana (If you are ever in northern Indiana, go there! It's WONDERFUL!!!)
Have Aunt Delaney come for a visit.
Camp out. Even if it's in the backyard.
Stick to Weight Watchers.
Run a 5K. Starting small.
Join a Zumba class. See what the hype is all about.
Make a new friend.
Find a batting cage.
Shooting range. (Yes, I am a self-proclaimed hillbilly. I shoot.)
~~Convince the hubby to get a dog (This may take more than just the summer).~~ (Yes, this was the first one accomplished of the summer!!! I have no clue what got into him!!!
Sign Emma Claire up for a dance class.
Finish the Summer Reading Program that we never do. We always read, we just lose track).
Go on a mini-vacation to the Sandusky area.
Cut down on soda to one a week.
Take the husband to the Cord-Deusenburg museum in Auburn
Convince the husband to take me to see Steel Magnolia at Three Rivers Festival.
Take Em to Johnny Appleseed Festival
Convince Mom to go to the Country Living Fair in Columbus
~~Go to the zoo.~~
Go to the zoo.
Go to the zoo.
Go to the zoo.
Go to the zoo.
(Yes, it's on there multiple times so that I can check it off MULTIPLE TIMES. We love the zoo.)
Take the girls to Science Central.
Convince Emma that there are not any robbers in her room and that she can sleep the whole night long in her OWN bed.
Complete MY summer reading program. (8 books in two months. REALLY?!?!? Come on. So far, I am three and a half in. One month remaining. Odds are not looking good to me.)
Take some photos of Magic Valley. (Stay tuned to find out what this is.)
Fine tune my photo skills.

This will be a to be continued post...

Glimpses of the Past (Piggy Tales part deux)

2010-06-17T09:16:00.010-04:00

I have few and far memories from my preschool years, but I do have recollections of pudding painting, naptime, and show and tell. My preschool teacher's name was Mrs. August, who's daughter I remain friends with still today. She was a sweetheart, and I DO remember loving morning preschool at St. Mark's preschool.

Fast forward two years to kindergarten. One of my fondest memories of kindergarten occurred one day when we were late for school. I don't remember it happening OFTEN, but as a mother myself, I understand how we may have been running a bit tardy here and there. Well, on this particular morning my kindergarten teacher Sister Rose apparently decided that I had been late a couple of times too many because she REALLY laid into me. I remember crying. Little did this nun know, but my mom was right behind me. And you all know Mama Bears when their cubs are wrongfully being attacked, right? Mama Bear was NOT having it. My mom let that silly old nun in a habit know that the blame was to be placed not on me, but her.

Now, Sister Rose has passed on, but I can still feel the protectiveness that I felt that day. So while that memory is not a happy one, the memory still holds a special place in my heart.

Yet another memory comes to mind of kindergarten. This one, from the Christmas pageant, in which the kindergartners played the angels in the nativity. I remember getting all dressed up in white, and then Mom adding that silver, glittering, ironic halo. Just another mere glimpse of times long ago.

The things that come to me from my past just come in glimpses. But it is funny to think back on them, because they seem to be from a completely different lifetime. I feel as though reincarnated (if I believed in that sort of thing). My first life: my preschool years consist of memories of my grandmother rocking me in the wooden rocker that PROBABLY still sits in the same spot in her bedroom. Glimpse...Plucking locust shells from the tree in my grandmother's yard. Flash...the sounds of the bug zapper that seemed to hang in the thick Indiana humidity...flash to picnics at the creek with Mom and little brother...flash...looking at Grandma's collection of wheat pennies...Marshmallow circus peanuts from Aunt Ev (my Evelyn's namesake) ...Glimpse...Peanut butter toast with Grandpa with me in one of his old, white V-neck tees. Flash...Grandma and I watching Plinko on The Price is Right.

It's like listening to a radio station that is coming in and out of range.....CSSHHHH...memory....CSHHHH...another random piece of long ago remembered. Then, my second life occurred in middle school. Memories of my first "monthly visit" (came at my end of the softball season SWIM PARTY. I was dramatic and told my mother, "I WISH I WERE A BOY!"), first kiss (chaste and a little slobbery), and the death of my grandpa (I hit a home run for him while hospice prepared him for his death. He loved coming to my games.) Third life: high school. Ugh. More on THAT later. College was my fourth life. That was a reckless, carefree (or careLESS, rather) life. Fifth life was when we were just a family of three. That life ended one year ago when I entered into this life I am in now. Sixth life, blissfully married wife of five years, mother of two astoundingly amazing girls.

My mother readied me for this life (and all the others too) in that dark kindergarten hall some twenty years prior to when I would have to put those skills to use.

The one thing that I recall and that ISN'T just a mere glimpse is this: No one messes with Mama.

Not even a nun.

Refrigerator Raider

2010-06-16T19:13:00.005-04:00

While putting these

and these

away after visiting several of the local fruit producers, this is what the Refrigerator Raider was doing.

She's my little fruit freak. :o)

Life is a Bowl of (Pitted) Cherries

2010-06-15T16:16:00.004-04:00

This is a stressed out mom's DREAM!!! This is about the equivalent of my husband's loaded gun at the shooting range. And much cheaper (at $9.97 from Target) than bullets!

And you use it on these:

To make her

one happy baby with a full belly!

Cleanin' House

2010-06-15T15:23:00.005-04:00

Here are some pictures of what the best friend and I do when we have a yard sale.

We take pictures. And we play. And sometimes, we get rid of stuff.
(Warning: These pictures do not actually portray ANYTHING yard sale related.)

We take pictures of shoes.

We take pictures of best friend.

(and my Evelyn Rose)

We take pictures of my kids.

We take pictures of her kids.

Mainly, yard sale days are FUN DAYS!!!

So, now you know why I have been M.I.A. lately. This pretty much brings you up to speed!

See you all soon!

P.S. Linkin' up.

I Got Your Backtracking

2010-06-15T14:02:00.010-04:00

Well, things have been a bit chaotic around here, so I am gonna really quickly summarize what we have been up to in a few quick photoblogs, just to catch up!

Well, to backtrack a week and two days ago, Evelyn celebrated her first year with us with a HUGE bash. Well, okay, so maybe not huge, but a decent amount of people considering it was right in the middle of graduation season! We are so appreciative to all our friends and family who came to celebrate Ev's first birthday with us.

Here are a few pictures I took to commemorate the occasion. However, since I was pretty much in charge of Ev as well, the pictures are few and far between, and basically, pretty random. :o) Oh well, that's us anyway. Random.

Emma and my little cousin, Izzy waiting for more guests to come

Izzy

The REAL Izzy

Evelyn and her Great Uncle Alan taking a stroll

Proud big sissy, and Aunt Amy

Little cousin, Maggie, and her pinwheel

Best friend and HER pinwheel :o)

Evelyn and her second cousin, Emily

Cake Time! FINALLY!

YUM! Evelyn Rose LOVED the cake. And dorky me, forgot to take pictures of what it looked like BEFORE she demolished it. Bummer.

Don't forget the next two installments in the "backtracking" series! :o)

A Record of My Youth

2010-06-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Over at Mommy's Piggy Tales, I am linking up to record WHAT I CAN REMEMBER (I just played Brain Age on DS for the first time and my brain age was EIGHTY. WHAT?!?!?) of my youth. So I will be linking up on Thursdays to revel in my youth. Today's topic: My birth. Well, what can I remember of my birth? Not a lot, that's what. Oh, sure. I know the basics. Born on September 6, 1982 (I share my birthday with my father-in-law, BTW. Only person I have ever met with the same birthday as I. Weird, right?) at 6:07 in the morning. Bright and stinkin' early. I don't know WHAT I was thinking making an early morning appearance. I am NOT a morning person. Anyway...I weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces and was 19 and a half inches long. Was the labor long? Don't know. Epidural? Probably not. Not back then. But I don't know. I never will. You see, I was given up for adoption. And I hope that that didn't sound hateful because I'm the exact opposite. Until a couple of months later, I was placed in temporary foster care and was referred to as "Molly". It's a good thing that wasn't my permanent name because I REALLY don't look like a Molly. Mom and Dad agreed. So I became Andrea. AZKZ for short. AZ for REALLY short. And sometimes Skeez Louise. But usually AZ (pronounced like the plural of A. Like two As would be...AZ Got it? Got it. Good.) So anyway, this post is dedicated to my Mom and Dad who blessed me with an AMAZING life growing up. But also to that one young girl out there who WAS there on September 6th, 1982 in a small town in rural Indiana. The girl who knew that the best gift she could give me was to just let me go.

aka AZ

What She Said

2010-06-09T15:05:00.008-04:00

Emma Claire says:

"Mama, I want ice cream from the lips place."
Think hard about that one...just think about the logo.

Emma's jokes warm my heart. And crack me up. They are so silly, they are funny.

Here are her favorites:
Emma: Knock, knock/
Me: Who's there?
Emma: Emma Claire
Me: Emma Claire WHO?
Emma: Emma Claire Peterson, that's who!

Emma: Knock Knock
Me: Who's there?
Emma: Kitty Cat
Me: Kitty Cat who?
Emma: Kitty Cat Meow!

I remember when my best friend's little sister was about that age. She too loved to tell knock knocks and often came up with some doozies! Now, little Chelsea is graduating this weekend. It's ironic that Emma just started telling knock knocks this week. Life is funny.

These are the little things I hope to remember always.

I Heart Faces Photography: Week 23

2010-06-07T17:31:00.007-04:00

This week's theme at is "Play". I know that recently, I already showed these photographs in a small series, but I thought that it fit the theme too perfectly to chose a different picture to represent play. That, and I knew UNFORTUNATELY that I wouldn't have enough time to capture any new photos by tomorrow night! Call me lazy. :o)

Anyway, this photo has play written ALL OVER IT!

My oldest daughter Emma Claire and her playmates up at our lakehouse

And who else but a boy was at the other end!

Click here for more from this series.

Hugs,

A Sort of Greenish Brownish Thumb

2010-06-07T09:50:00.014-04:00

As promised, I am posting some pictures of my adventures in gardening. Just recently, I decided that I was going to be the wife of my husband's dreams. This includes being Suzy Homemaker. ERGO, I am becoming a gardening, baking, cooking, and canning guru. It's a slow process, but I'm giving it my best shot. SO...I am not quite to the point of having a green thumb, but I suppose the chlorophyll may be seeping into my blood slowly, thus turning this particular phalanx a somewhat murky olive color. Don't ask me how I remember some of my 5th grade science vocabulary and college anatomy words, but can't keep track of my keys. Especially when I didn't exactly do outstanding in either course. Alas, I won't keep you in suspense any longer.

Here are some shots of my gardening escapades and projects!

My hydrangeas. Beautiful. But not my favorite flower. I love poppies. Poppies are my favorite flower. Just a random "about me" fact.

Fresh potted herbs. Cilantro, Italian parsley, and basil.

Shots of my square foot garden. If you are thinking about doing this, DO! I have not had to weed it yet, and it's been about three weeks since we put stuff in the dirt. Or compost, rather. I've got jalapenos, sweet peppers, cooking and canning tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, chives, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green onions, red onions, and Vidalias. A couple of pumpkin plants and a few watermelon and cantaloupe (the running plants) are all planted up by the house in the flower beds. I like to mix my gardening in with the flowers. The cucumbers are in the flower beds along the other side of the house. The beans and the blackberry bushes are planted along the privacy fence.

These are shots of Emma Claire's planting season. She told me that she wanted to do it by herself, which translates to "go away", only much more polite! So I told her to fill the cups a little with rocks, then pile dirt, poke a finger in the dirt, plant the seed, and water. A lot for a little girl to remember. I just stepped back and watched it all happen. She didn't miss a step. Sure, by a horticulturist's perspective, there may have been too many rocks, the seed been planted too deeply, and then flooded till there should have been doves sent out to look for surviving life, but she did it PERFECTLY in my book.

Time to water!

Success (in her book. Drowned in mine. Hey, whatevs.)

Our cheering section.

Had to sneak in a shot of what Emma does best. Hopscotch. Yes, I know there is no actual hopscotch. What can I say? She is an excellent pretender! I am sure less than 24 hours prior to that, the chalk version was there in reality.

Happy Tending,

Lessons in Editing

2010-06-06T23:30:00.004-04:00

If there is one thing I don't like, it is the clone tool. Don't get me wrong, it's handy as heck. But a pain in the NECK, it is! And TIME CONSUMING. Geez. Been messing with it for an hour!

Well, it's not perfect, and I BEG YOU, DO NOT TAKE TOO CLOSE OF A LOOK! Yes, it's shabby work, but you can't really tell the details. You just get the gist of what is going on. A hint. You are not supposed to know their secret conversation anyway! But I love this picture, and it was a spontaneous and precious moment for me. They were just having a BLAST. I didn't want to ruin it with, "Hold still! Mama's gotta move the carseat out of the photo frame!" We all know what Emma would do...Or if you don't you will. She RUNS! Fast!!! She is the WORST photo subject EVER. So when I do capture candids like these, I resort to the cloning tool. It would probably be easier if I was using Photoshop, like I hope to ONE DAY. But for now, I suppose www.paint.net will have to suffice. (It really is great for freeware.)

Before

After

Now, you can just focus on the girls enjoying the summer's first rays of sunshine!

Linkin' up to The Paper Mama's Photo Challenge

I Lake It A Lot

2010-06-02T21:40:00.005-04:00

Some of the best memories I have growing up tend to have two things in common. The lake and my family. I remember sitting on the back porch at our old lake cottage on Adams Lake shucking buckets of corn for the extended family. I remember hearing ten different voices while hitting the sack. Grandpa's snores that could rival a freight train. Grandma's attempts to quiet him. Dad's, ahem, after dinner sounds. My brother and I's fighting over who got the top bunk. They were all contented noises after a day filled with tubing, skiing, "deep sea swimming" and the occasional run aground boat. Each day, the night would be followed with OFF bugspray, a campfire, and an aloe vera nightcap. These are my memories of the lake. Now, another generation is gathering memories of the lake. Our oldest spends every weekend at the lake. During the winter, what we look forward to is not Christmas (although it is a close race), but lake weather. "Mom, when can we go to the lake," is heard at LEAST daily.

THIS is what the lake is all about...

Swimming (Always wear a lifejacket!)

The mildly hostile, and therefore occasional, game of croquet

Sandy toes (and a bucket to dip them in)

Snuggles with Paw Paw on the hammock

Creating lasting friendships

Gettin' some vitamin D on our Indiana White bodies (I think that should be added to Sherwin-Williams paint swatch catalog).

Chubby bare legs

Sink Baths with Nana at the end of the day

But all the rest is nothing without these.

These are the memories that will remain with them still twenty years later.

AlphaWeekend

2010-06-01T16:01:00.005-04:00

My weekend, again, alphabet style.

A is for Ashley. My neighbor. And her husband Mitch. They came over and we chatted on Friday night. I love when we can manage to sneak in an adult conversation!
B is for Bing Cherries. Bought some. One apparently escaped and found its way into...You guessed it. Evelyn's mouth. She ate the entire thing. Pit and all. I just found the evidence on her BRAND NEW, tags taken off that day, outfit. Drat. Shout, do your magic!
C is for cruise control. Wow, if this were Scategories, I would totally have gotten double points for that one. Sorry. Cruise control. I drove about 3 hours total on Saturday. Backseat driver free. Woohoo!
D is for ducks. My little Emma Claire IS A DUCK! She is a swimming fool, and we were in the lake ALL DAY on Saturday. I only got a little burnt.SPF 50 is a pale white girl's bestie!
E is for Evelyn Rose. She turned one last week and has started to walk. A little. Not completely yet. Just a quick leap of faith from a table to the waiting arms of Mama.
F is for frankfurters. No, I don't really call them that, but whatevs! Bummies Spanish Dogs! YUMMMM Has anyone ever noticed my mention of Bummie's in like, every post??? Well, if you ever get to Bluffton, IN (I don't know why you would though), be sure to stop by Bummie's. Best. Dogs. EVER.
G is for garden. My garden is growing! Yay for everything still being semi-alive! Well, for the most part anyway...

(Not in my garden. Eh...)
H is for house. We have been doing repairs to the house. Next up, repairing the back screen door. For an early Father's Day present, I provided the hubs with the necessary materials. 'Cause I'mma sweetheart like that. ;o)
I is for Ice Pops. We are big fans of Ice Pops in the Peterson household. Favorite flavor? Red. No clue what flavor the color red is and it probably has LOTS of Red 40 in it, but dang is it refreshing!
J is for Jump! Because that is the ONLY way to get in the frigid water. Just JUMP!
K is for kindred spirits. Emma has a summertime friend up at the lakes and they are very different looks wise, but kindred spirits on the inside.
L is for LAKE. Because the lake is where we can be found every weekend. All summer long.

M is for Mama. Evelyn still hasn't said it yet. But I'm her favorite person!!!!! Why the heck is it all about the DaDa???!!!
N is for no strike outs. That is my goal for my softball game tonight. I know, I am extending my alphaweekend a bit. But it's my blog. So I can do things like that.
O is for Obama. Cause that is all that comes to mind right now. But shame on you, Mr. President for taking yet another vacation when you should have been honoring the fallen heroes of our country. Oh, and the fact that you haven't mentioned Tennessee's flood situation is ridiculous. Okay. I am going to stop right now. No more politics. I promise.
P is for potatoes. Grilled potato packets on the grill sound good for summer.
Q is for quiet. Emma spent half the weekend with Nana and PawPaw again. Therefore, it was relatively quiet around here. Quiet in a good way. Quiet in a bad way. Both.
R is for rain. Yesterday, all it did was rain.
S is for Stan and Sheila. My in-laws. They came up for a visit from Tennessee. I love when they can come to visit, even if it is a short visit.
T is for Taco Pizza. Went to Pizza Hut last night with The Hubs and the girls. Got our favorite pizza, gulped it down in three minutes since Evelyn was ready for bed, and I left Rob to wait for the bill. Gotta love dining out with the kiddos. No, really, NORMALLY, my kids are VERY well-behaved in public. They know better.
U is for under the weather. Evelyn was running a fever this weekend. Her first ever in the first year. I credit it to breastfeeding, because it makes me feel good. My girls are relatively healthy little girls, and I am so thankful for that.
V is for Veterans. Hand over your heart, ladies and Germs. Honor them all. Thank them all. Every day. Not just Memorial Day.
W is for watch. I watched Dear John on Monday. Anyone else have a serious boy crush on Channing Tatum? Sob. Love that movie. Bonus points for being set in my favorite place on Earth.

X is for eXtremely empty handed. I always come up empty when it comes to X.
Y is for YouTube. So for your viewing pleasure, these are some of my favorite YouTube videos that I viewed recently.

Probably both old news to you all, but new to Always 20 Steps Behind Me.
Z is for zany. Because that is me. Zany. Or something like that...

P.S. I just put snippets of my pictures. Stay tuned this week for more in future posts about my garden and our adventures at the lake.

Piggies

2010-06-01T05:30:00.000-04:00

This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had ice cream (TOTALLY better than roast beef).
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy cried
Wee, wee, wee...All the way home.

I LOVE "pigs" as we call them around here. But only baby and little kid toes. Big people toes? Nah, not so much.

Over at we are celebrating Barefoot Week. YEAH!!! Us hillbillies here in the sticks of Indiana? WE LOOOOOVE bare feet. But some others would LOVE to not have to go barefoot. I Heart Faces is sponsoring a Photo Walk Across America to spread the word about Souls 4 Souls.

Soles 4 Souls is a Nashville based organization that collects shoes from people and donates them to people from ALL walks of life around the world. To those people who have no choice but to go barefoot.

Here are some of my favorite FEET photos (Sorry, some of them are repeats.)

Hmmm...I am thinking mani/pedi right now. HUBS!!!?!?! Pretty please?!?!

P.S. I probably won't be on here very much in the next week. My internet is not functioning. I called my providing and they said that they can't get anyone out until NEXT TUESDAY?!?! WHAT?!?!

I'm a Photo Contest Junkie

2010-05-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

These are my girls. The younger two are mine, and the oldest is my cousin's little girl. My older daughter is similar to her cousin that it really is unbelievable. Both blonde haired and blue eyed beauties, but that is all just superficial. What reminds me most of Izzy is the actions and the facial expressions! They really are, not only cousins, but kindred spirits as well!

Photo Challenge

2010-05-28T15:20:00.000-04:00

Fix it Friday at

Original:

My Fixes (made with my sad excuse for photo editing, Windows Photo Gallery):
Fix #1

I cropped, then turned the contrast way up and then unsaturated almost to a grayscale, but not quite.
Fix #2

Not unlike Fix #1, I cropped and turned the contrast way up, but this time instead of unsaturating, I turned the color temp up so that it added the pinky tones that we all love about a baby's skin.

Now, to convince the Hub's that a decent photo editing program is worth the bucks...

Favorite Friday

2010-05-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

Let Favorite Friday commence!

As I have said MULTIPLE times before, I have an addiction to books. Really any kind of books, but mainly children's books. When I was three or four, my Mom (bless her heart) set down EVERY night to read a stack of books. Yes, you heard me correctly. Not a couple, or even a few. A STACK. Needless to say, her hours of reading time and beaucoup bucks spent on library fines paid off. I hope to foster a love of reading in my own children as well. Ergo, my house looks like this:

(From our weekly trip to the library)

(The girls' books)

(My books)

(Hub's books. Now THAT is a manly stack of books. And all non-fiction. Blech.)

And at any time, Emma Claire can be found like this:

So all of this is leading up to my favorite thing for Favorite Friday. Really, it's not a thing at all, but a place. Half Price Books. As if having dirt cheap books weren't enough, Half Price Books is having a 20% off Memorial Day sale this weekend. EVERYTHING is 20% off!

These are my steals (all hard-backs):
My Almost Epic Summer: $3.98
Brunettes Strike Back: $4.78
Ol' Lady Grizelda: $2.38
Naptime for Thaddeus: $3.18
Pheobe and Chub: $2.38
The Best Pet of All: $4.78
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee: $3.18
Dumpy La Rue: $3.18
Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw: $3.18

Nine books for $32.12!!

Other reasons why Half Price Books made my PRESTIGIOUS Favorite Friday post:
• They support literacy with their A,E,I,O, & YOU program
• Their Half Pint Library Book Drive for local children in need
• They support the environment with their Go Bagless bag refusal program. The bags each cost only 98¢! And 10¢ of each bag sold goes to BecomeGreen.org Environmental Education Initiative, which goes toward the education of the public on various environmental topics. AND the store in itself is a way of recycling!
• If you are anything like me, you have TONS of books stashed away in boxes, totes, and chests. Half Priced Books gives you CASH for your books. Not check, not store credit. Cold, hard CASH!
• Last but not least, they offer the Feed Your Brain summer reading program for kids. Read (for ONLY 15 minutes a day!!!!! Gosh, how simple!!!), fill out the log, print it out, and return it weekly to receive a $3 Half Price Books gift card! It lasts nine weeks, so if you complete all nine, you could rack up an easy $27 per child! And we all know how many books that buys!

Go check out HPB this weekend for an awesome deal. And tell them you saw it on Peterson Place's Favorite Friday. Okay, don't do that. They won't know what the hell you are talking about. Oh gosh, I am amused at the thought of the extremely befuddled look on their faces. ♥

Reading Girl, 1850 by Franz Ebyl

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves." ~Anna Quindlen, "Enough Bookshelves," New York Times, 7 August 1991

Things That Are Sent to My Email Account Thursday

2010-05-27T21:25:00.000-04:00

So, I thought that I would share some of my better emails from the week on Thursday. I am guessing that you have noticed my lack of ingenuity while choosing titles for my posts. Sorry about that. Also, I will be headed to the lakes this weekend, so I won't have a chance to post this weekend. Now I am telling you this not because I think that you all will miss my oh so exciting blog posts, but to remind you all to remember the reason for this holiday. It is not for a three day holiday, contrary to MOST people's beliefs, but for all of the service men and women, past and present. So have fun on your long weekend, and thank a veteran for the freedom that you have to enjoy it. Now...on to the silliness!!!

Random Thoughts of the Day [Not my thoughts, by the way, but someone else's]: (from my friend Camryn)

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

The letters T and G are very close to each other on a keyboard. This recently became all too apparent to me and consequently I will never be ending a work email with the phrase "Regards" again.

Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

There is a great need for sarcasm font.

Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f*ck was going on when I first saw it.

How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

Was learning cursive really necessary?

Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a d*ck from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

While watching the Olympics, I find myself cheering equally for China and USA. No, I am not of Chinese descent, but I am fairly certain that when Chinese athletes don't win, they are executed.

I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

I think that if, years down the road when I'm trying to have a kid, I find out that I'm sterile, most of my disappointment will stem from the fact that I was not aware of my condition in college.

Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.

I agree with that dude on so many different random thoughts. Especially his rule for pant wearing.

P.S. I am told that I am supposed to tell everyone how much I love my husband. Why the hell would I want to waste my precious blog space on that crap? No, but seriously, I think that would max out my blog space (Is that even possible????), so I just will have to save that for another time.

To the One They Said Wouldn't Ever Be Here

2010-05-26T07:48:00.000-04:00

Evelyn Rose, you turn one year old today. Doctors told me that it would never be likely to have another pregnancy since my tube was still blocked from the ectopic. But here you are, our bouncing baby girl. Happy birthday, Evvie Rose. You are our pride and joy, and the answer to your sister's biggest request for Christmas. God truly blessed us with you. You are the happiest little girl. With just one look in your direction, you have a grin from ear to ear. Anytime I am feeling down, just snuggling with my two girls will have me back in action in no time. So, thank you. To you and the Lord. For making my heart and the Peterson family whole. I thought that I would post some of my favorite photos from your wonderful first year.

First Breaths

Mama and Evelyn Rose. Going stir crazy in the hospital, waiting to get the okay to go home.

3 months

Baptism. Evelyn with her Godparents (AKA Nana and PawPaw)

Baby Evelyn is ALERT and never misses ANYTHING.

Body Parts

First hat! If we could just get you to KEEP THEM ON!!!

First delicious meal. Hey, you liked it and that is all that matters. As time will pass though, we will learn that you will eat ANYTHING. Oh yeah, GOOOOO WILDCATS!!!

Just to remind ourselves that it wasn't all peaches!

Your First Easter

1 year pictures.

Happy Birthday, Peanut.

New Follower Tuesday

2010-05-25T08:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks for stopping by!!!! Read a few of my latest posts to get to know me better! Sit a spell!

Alphabet Weekend

2010-05-24T15:15:00.000-04:00

A is for Addiction. My addiction to another "A". Army Wives. Can't get enough of it.

Briggid Brannagh as Pamela Moran is my favorite Army Wife!
B is for Bargain. I went to several yard sales and found the BEST bargain. See letter "G". Gotta love pinching pennies!

C is for Campfire. We had our first campfire of the summer with some friends. The sound of laughter, tales of shared memories, and the smell of campfire does my heart good.

(image from Alana Elliott at Flickr)
D is for Daughter. I have been minus one of them for a couple of days. Emma spends a lot of weekends in the summer at the lake with her Nana and Papa. She loves it. I miss her though. Nana called and said that she is taking to swimming like a fish!

Last year at the lake
E is for Exercise. No, I haven't been shredding with Jillian this weekend, but I have been sweating BUCKETS while edging out the flower beds with a 50 pound spade. I think it was more work than shredding, if that is even possible!
F is for flower fun. Planted sunflowers, poppies, zinnas, and a butterfly mix for Emma to play amongst. Last year, she LOVED to pick my zinnias and they are plentiful enough that I don't mind. By the way, did you know that zinnias used to be referred to as "old maids"?
G is for GeoSafari. I found one at a yard sale for $1 and it STILL WORKS! Did anyone else play with these in school other than myself???? My husband thinks I am crazy for getting this excited over an educational toy.

H is for HUMIDITY! I haven't even BOTHERED with my hair the past couple of days. Hello, SUMMER!!! Humid Hair is not hot. Even on Courtney Cox.

I is for Ice Cream. I allowed myself to indulge in a yogurt ice cream sundae yesterday. If I had to name one sweet that I couldn't go without, it would be ice cream. Favorite Flavor? Caramel Caribou. To DIE for!

J is for Jalapenos. Can't WAIT for try out some homemade salsa this year!
K is for kids. Emma's school year is over, so kids will be EVERYWHERE. Keep those kiddos safe and be aware while driving!!!
L is for Lowe's. We got a new wheelbarrow. Hubs says that it won't last as long as our marriage. :-p Needless to say, the quality just isn't there.

Ooops. Different Lowe, although definitely more fun to look at.

There. See, you liked the other pic better too, didn't you?!
M is for Mulch! We got new hardwood mulch for around the plantation (no, it definitely ISN'T really a plantation) and it is BEEEE-YOO-TIFUL!!!! Nothing spruces up landscaping like newly laid mulch!
N is for Nair. Don't ask.
O is for O...Well...We WERE without Child #1 for the weekend...
P is for Porch Swinging. I heart my new porch swing! Thanks again, Mom and Dad!
Q is for sQuare Foot Garden! I cheated, I know. But I am so excited that I had to put it in. It's finished! Stuff is IN THE GROUND! Here's praying for a bountiful harvest!
R is for Rabbit. She's still hangin' in there, waiting for her house to be built. Just for those of you who were wondering!
S is for Summer. IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!! It's also for Sumo. :o)

(Evvie's standing on her own now!!!!)
T is for Topsy Turvy. Yes, I bought one. I will let you know how it works out! Mainly, I just couldn't think of a better way to plant my strawberries.

U is for Ugly. Ugly is what our landscaping was pre-weekend.
V is for Vegetables, of course! I have about EVERYTHING in there from leeks to tomotoes to broccoli to ivory and chocolate peppers! I am excited to give those a whirl!
W is for Wish. I WISH I had an irrigation system instead of having to roll out a hose. Come to think of it, WATER is another "W". I WISH for WATER.
X is for Xylophone. Heck, it was the only thing I could think of.
Y is for Yearn. I am SERIOUSLY yearning for a new car. My folks got a new Lincoln MKZ.

I think I'm in love.
Z is for Zoo. I tried to take the girls to the zoo again on Saturday, but there was not ONE parking space. It was raining off and on all day, so I figured that it would be a good day. I thought wrong.

Couple more photos from the weekend:

Thanks for tuning in!

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Hacker/Phisher

2010-05-22T00:53:00.000-04:00

I hope that you are reading this, and I HOPE that you have a little remorse in reading this. Luckily for me, nothing happened, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn't use my email to send out fraudulent letters about me being stuck in a UK airport without any money. For one, it's completely unrealistic. Husband works nonstop, ergo, I don't take any vacations. That was the one tipoff to everyone reading. Number two, anyone who knows us KNOWS that we would never have to send out a mass email asking for money. We are workers. We would have figured out how to pay the "hotel managers". We don't take handouts. One last thing. I hate to say never, but it is HIGHLY unlikely that we would've gotten mugged. Husband always is carrying and is very...hmmm...cautious. And since I was TRUTHFULLY involved in a supposed armed robbery in my own home, he has become EXTREMELY protective. Nah. VERY unlikely that we would've been mugged and STILL BE ALIVE. In addition to being workers, we are fighters too. Anyway, thanks for getting my blood boiling right before bed. I don't know HOW you sleep at night, because I KNOW it will take me a few minutes.

My Little Hillbilly Girl

2010-05-20T23:40:00.000-04:00

My oldest daughter, Emma Claire, reminds me so much of myself when I was a kid. I loved dresses, but loved playin' in the mud and roughhousing with my Daddy too. She's my little Hillbilly Girl.

From the instant it hits 50 degrees outside, shoes are just an option. After all, you can't feel the mud between your toes if they are stuck inside some stuffy pair of tennis shoes!

Sandy haired, blue eyed. Just like her Daddy.

Lover of all God's creatures.

The best helper.

And isn't afraid of a little dirt. (Or to swim in compost for that matter. For those wondering, I do not condone the act of swimming in manure. However...oh, what the heck. It isn't gonna kill her!)

By the way, I realize that by posting this picture, we look like the biggest hicks, BUT that is who we are, so...whatever!

Hey, at least she gets it honest! We are us. I am me. She is her. I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

Embrace your inner hillbilly!

Oh, one more thing. Check out these beauties!

Aren't they fabulous!?!?!

God Speaks

2010-05-18T16:18:00.000-04:00

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

You see? It's not a job to take lightly.

Shutter Love Tuesdays!

2010-05-18T10:12:00.000-04:00

It is Shutter Love Tuesday at Trendy Treehouse, and I have just been itching for a reason to post this picture. Oh, who am I kidding? Do I really NEED a reason to post a picture? No, it was just the lack of motivation the past couple of days really...My arthritis and the weather are tag teaming to make me MISERABLE! But a picture of these two can always cheer me up!

This is what I wished for all of my life! A sister to share secrets with, a forever friend. I am so glad that we could give my girls the gift of EACH OTHER.

Oh, So Lonesome For You

2010-05-16T15:54:00.000-04:00

Go to The Paper Mama to vote for my blue eyed girl!
Lotsa Love!

Giveaways, Garage Sales, and Unfinished Chores

2010-05-16T09:48:00.001-04:00

I've been MIA the past few days due to some big happenings.

1. Hubby passed his certs to become a firefighter. I am so proud of him. We HAD to celebrate. We went out ALL BY OURSELVES for the first time since Evelyn was born ELEVEN months ago! Billy Ann's was delish as always.

2. Garage Sales. Friday and Saturday are my bargain hunting days. Friday, my deal of the day were these cuties:

Emma Claire claimed the pink one IMMEDIATELY, so Evelyn was stuck with the green. Personally, I think Ev made out better.

Also got these beauties:

Perfect for my terrariums.
Here's a random tidbit. Ball Glass Works was located in Muncie, Indiana for 100 years before moving the company to Colorado a little over ten years ago. I live about 45 miles from Muncie. Who cares, right? Sorry, I got a little sidetracked.

Last but not least, one of these:

The Singer 1725. $10. No, I have NO clue how to use it. Yes, the instructions were included. And no, I don't live anywhere close to a Singer factory. But my in-laws do. About 50 miles from Singer HQ. Crazy, huh? :o) Again, no one cares, right?

3. Been busy getting some stuff around the house done.
To Do:
A. Compost Bin
B. Clothesline
C. Square Foot Garden (more details later)
D. Put up porch swing (Mother's Day gift)
E. Get that damn rabbit out of my house. Who in the heck thought that it would be a good idea to get a rabbit??? (Yes, it was mine.)
F. Get going on some landscaping

Thus far, the only thing crossed off of my list is letter "E". Hrmmm...By the way, did that last part of this blog remind anyone else of those stupid outlines you had to make in elementary school? And you wonder why I only have one thing marked off of this to do list. Dang adult ADD.

Okay, last note of interest:
The Bibliographic Book Blog is giving away an Ereader. Click here to enter!

Farmer vs. Immortal, Farmer Wins Every Time

2010-05-13T12:24:00.000-04:00

It's

over at The Simpler Life and all of my friends should know that I am an unabashed twilight fan. I know, I know. How very 13 year old of me. Whatevs. Call it a guilty pleasure.

I am, and always will be, an Edward girl. Maybe it's because we are both members of the I'm So Pale I Sparkle in the Sun Club. Or it could be because cuddling with him would be like cuddling with a really hard cold pillow at night. Mmmm...Cold pillows....

I digress. I once asked my husband to take something up into the attic. The attic was blocked by...well, stuff. Needless to say, he had to crawl up and over, digging in and out of the mess to get to the base of the stairs. I say to Rob (who was currently grumbling and stumbling to get to the attic, "Edward would have been up there and back down by now." Wince. Oops. Did that actually slip out? His response? "Well, Edward can kiss my (insert expletive here)." So yes, I have compared my husband to Edward. But alas, it is not a secret affair. My husband is well aware of this fantasy love of mine. Hey, at least my fantasy is with a literary character and does not exist**, whereas the Victoria's Secret models are VERY real and are VERY half naked in EVERY commercial.

** Nota bene: The love affair I have is with EDWARD, not with R. Patt). Mostly.

I Have to Choose Just Five??

2010-05-13T11:04:00.000-04:00

Well, this week's assignment over at MGR is very dear to my heart. Kid's books. I LOOOOVE kid's books. And so do my kids! I was so proud when I went to my daughter's preschool class, and the teacher said that books were her "niche". Here are my (and her) favorites...

Rain Makes Applesauce

Good Night Moon

The Gruffalo

Big Plans

And my all time fave is........

Guess How Much I Love You

My oldest and I always say, "I love you to the moon and back." Just like Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare.

**This is, by no stretch, a full and comprehensive list of my favorites. Just a few!

A Tuesday Kind of Wednesday Morning

2010-05-12T15:10:00.000-04:00

I took a trip to the Fort today to look for party stuff for Evelyn's first birthday. What a bust....BUT!!!! I discovered a new store that I never had looked into. I had seen it several times, but just never went in! Tuesday Morning!!!! Love their stuff! I plan on going back as soon as the house is ready to be redecorated..........again. :o) We just moved into our little house five years ago, and already I am ready for some new stuff.

Top Five Reasons that Andrea loves Tuesday Morning.
1. Kid's books. I have an addiction. I've admitted it. But I'm not doing anything to stop this addiction. And at $3.99 for a hardback picture book, why should I?!?!?

2. Pillows. I love pillows. I need to go back for a couple when the hubs finishes putting the porch swing together. Or MAYBE I will use the new handy PINK tool set that Mom and Dad got me for Mother's Day. Yeah, I think I will do that!

3. The CUTEST Winnie the Pooh birthday commemoration plate and cup set. CUTE!!! Not really into the literary characters and cartoon characters but THESE WERE ADORABLE!!!!

4. Melissa and Doug puzzles for $2.99! 'Nuff said.

5. Kitchen utensils. Another addiction that I don't do anything about. Next, I believe that I need a potato scrubber. Because everyone needs a good tater scrubber, right?? Right.

And you ask what I came away with from this store??? Nada. Zero. Zilch. A big old goose egg. NOT ONE THING!!! MY husband will be SO proud. :o) But from Target? Now THAT's another blog.

A Mother's Love

2010-05-11T14:07:00.000-04:00

Thought that I would try my hand at "linking up". Don't have a clue if I am doing it right AT ALL, but we shall see, won't we? So, in honor of Mother's Day, I am linking up with the ladies (and germs???) over at Trendy Treehouse.

Here's my photo!

Evelyn Rose and I. I love her, and she loves...mulch.

Head on over there and join in!

Westward Ho!

2010-05-11T12:48:00.001-04:00

Does anyone ever feel the need to pack up everything and take a wagon west? Or am I the only one that has a fascination with all things Oregon Trail and Conestoga? I think that I may be a little odd...but while watching The Patriot (and yes, I know that The Patriot is NOT set during that time period) last night with the hubs, I got to wishing that I lived back then times were simpler. No car payments, no grocery shopping at the big box stores, no utility bills. Just a horse and buggy, the local general store, and a close relationship with the pump and clothesline. Don't get me wrong, I know things weren't all hunky dory for them as well. You know, that whole cholera, typhoid fever, malaria, hostile indians, and snakebite thing. Not to mention the death rate for women giving birth was staggering. REGARDLESS, I have a want for chickens scratching in the yard, a cow to milk, and a rooster for an alarm clock that wakes you at an appropriate hour. No, not eight AM. Five. You know, when the sun rises? Have you ever seen that? Me? Hardly ever. So that's my random thought for the day. How about you? Ever wish you lived sometime other than now? When? Another random thought: Do you think that anyone two hundred years from now will long for the "2000s"?

My Mom's Day

2010-05-09T22:11:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day Highlights:

Spending time with my beautiful girls

Treating myself to a McCafe

Mom and Dad's fantastic meal. Dad called me the other day and ASKED me what I would like to put in for an "order". I said a steak sounded good. He grilled me the yummiest fillet. That wasn't all though! Baked sweet potatoes, asparagus on the grill, salad, and mom's yummy Angel Food Cake with strawberries. It was delish!

Mom and Dad got us a porch swing. I told Rob to forget about housework getting done when the girls are napping. I will be found ON THE SWING, cuddled up with a book. Mom and Dad used to give me a hard time because during summers when I was a kid, I would read all day long on the porch swing. I can't wait to test it out. Just as soon as my darling husband gets it all put together. :o)

After lounging at Mom and Dad's, we headed over to my grandma's. Mom's mom. And there, I got the best Mother's Day present of the day...

THIS:

My precious girls (both EQUALLY UNphotogenic by the way It's a trait they inherited from their father's side I am told), my wonderful mom, my lovely grandmother, and myself.

I have been wanting this shot for a long time. For posterity's sake. Four generations of strong, beautiful ladies who have a infinite supply of love to share with the following generation.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing mothers out there.

A Mother's Prayer
by Mary A. Loberg.

Help me dear Lord, as a mother, I pray
And bless these hands folded in prayer today;
May they be ever strong as they guide, as they teach,
Beings never too far for a child to reach.
May they never, with selfishness, try to dissuade,
Nor too quickly punish, nor too slowly aid.
May they point out the pleasures in laughter and song,
And may they show, wisely, the right from the wrong,
So that one day I'll know that I've helped all I can
To make her a woman, to make him a man.

Amen.

That's the Way I Like Them

2010-05-08T10:23:00.000-04:00

A while back I admitted to the entire Facebook world that I may just be a TOUCH hillbilly. I guess this sort of seals the deal. My love for this guy:

Steve Earle.
(photo courtesy of Scott Newton Live from Austin TX

Mmmm...What a hottie (back in the day anyway)! What the heck happened, Steve?!?! I'm pretty sure that it's the mandolin that does it for me...

3 Posts in One Day=Ridiculous

2010-05-07T23:16:00.000-04:00

I just realized that this and the previous two blogs could have been condensed into one big old "The Girl Behind the Blog" post, but hindsight is 20/20. So here it is, the image you all have conjured in your minds...

Well??? Am I everything you dreamed of and more??? :o) Well, it's a good before shot. The after will be taken in the southern Caribbean next January. Hopefully, you stick with me that long. Or maybe not, depending on how the dieting goes. ;o) Welp, no more blogging tonight. It's time to join the rest of the crew in my cozy little bed. One day, there will only be two of us in there again...

One of His Flock

2010-05-07T22:54:00.000-04:00

Favorite:
Ecc 3:1-8
To everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and
a time to die;
a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up
that which is planted;

A time to kill, and
a time to heal;
a time to break down, and
a time to build up;

A time to weep, and
a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and
a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and
a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and
a time to lose;
a time to keep, and
a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and
a time to sow;
a time to keep silence, and
a time to speak;

A time to love, and
a time to hate;
a time of war; and
a time of peace.

Interview with MOI!

2010-05-07T09:01:00.000-04:00

1. Last movie you saw in the theater...
Dear John. Movies are the ONE time that I get to go out for a "girl's night", so every once in awhile. I would rather watch it at home, but then I would have to be interrupted by "Mama, can you get me..." and cries from the baby.

2. What books are you reading?
Mitch Albom's Have a Little Faith. I love Mr. Albom's books.

3. What is your favorite board game?
Oh, gosh! I am a board game NUT. But my favorite...Hmmm. Probably Things. Or Apples to Apples. And I LOVE a good old game of Monopoly. I get the wheelbarrow!

4. What is your favorite magazine?
Family Circle. It ain't just your grandma's mag.

5. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
Ugh. Hon, go get Ev. PLEASE. Go get Ev. (mumbled, out loud) "Hon, go get Ev."

6. Favorite fast food?
Arby's

7. What's under your bed?
Like I would tell you. Pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. :o)

8. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Hoot Hoot!

9. Favorite pie?
Mama's apple pie.

10. Favorite drink?
McCafe me, please!

11. Favorite ice cream flavor?
Any and ALL

12. What did you want to be when you grew up?
a horse trainer

13. What are you listening to right now?
Kid #1 and husband arguing over breakfast. Well, not really ARGUING.

14. What was your best birthday?
Probably my best birthday was my best friend's 21st birthday. I met my husband that night. Boy, did I meet my husband that night...Not one of my finer moments, but God knew what he was doing when he made me think that I needed to be inappropriately drunk that night. :o)

15. Best Christmas Present?
My camera. It makes me happy. Canon Rebel T1i.

16. Where did you meet your mate?
In a bar. How cliche, but it worked out for us. Not to say that it works out for most...

17. Favorite movie?
The Sound of Music and Black Beauty, even though it makes me teary. Those are just a couple of the many fave I have though. I am a movie fanatic.
NOTE: IF YOU READ THIS, CONSIDER YOURSELF TAGGED. LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW YOU POSTED IT. I WOULD LOVE TO READ YOUR ANSWERS.

Miss Horse Crazy and Her Sidekick, Sneak Attack Ev

2010-05-05T13:46:00.005-04:00

"All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl."

A day on the farm consists of this

"All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl." (This one definitely is!)
and this

(holey jeans and pink boots)
and Emma's favorite

(tractor rides with Daddy)

(couldn't resist tossing this one in too!)

(Hmmm...Hello, Mr. Bug!)

(relaxing in the sunshine)

That's what I call, "The Sneak Attack"!

My Civic Duty...and Yours

2010-05-04T08:12:00.000-04:00

If you want something to change, do something about it.

Go vote!

Got a ton of stuff to do today. The month of May is chaos in my family. Best friend, Aaron, has a birthday today. Mother's Day is the 9th, followed closely by my Dad's birthday on the 10th, another best friend's birthday is the 11th, Mom's birthday on the 14th, and then to round out the month of May, Evelyn's first birthday is on May 26th. My dad's brother and sister also have birthdays in there too. My Grampy always says that it was "those hot August nights" in response to how all three of his kids came to be born in this in kind of spring, kind of summer, month. So needless to say, I will be doing a lot of shopping today to get ready for the following week or so. I would post what awesome gifts I have planned for everyone, but...who knows, the giftees MIGHT decide that they want to read my blog. Wishful thinking, I know. Also have to finally get some stamps so that I can send out my cards ON TIME. I always have good intentions, but fail miserably when it comes to actually getting the letter in the mail, so to speak.

Then...on to the voting booths, to carry out my civic duty! Hopefully, I can squeeze all of this into the 2.5 hours that I have without Daughter #1. Here goes!!!

Mama Knows Best

2010-05-03T16:20:00.000-04:00

I have officially entered the phase that lasts the longest while raising children. You know, the phase when you stop being the person that knows everything and start knowing...NOTHING. Really? Already?!?! My daughter is only four and this is a recent conversation that we had:

Emma: Mama, can I put these on my bed? (She is referring to an extra set of crib sheets that I bought). They are so much prettier!

Me: They are prettier, aren't they? (Notice how calm I am right now?) But those crib sheets will not fit on your big girl bed. See how much bigger your bed is than Evelyn's crib? Those fit on Evelyn's mattress.

Emma: They will fit, Mama.

Me: No, they won't, Em.

Em: Yes, they will!

Me: Trust, Mom. I know. Really.

Emma: Just LET ME!!

Me: Fine, put them on. But you are putting the old bedding back on when it doesn't fit.

...

I really can't stand when letting her learn for herself means that I have to do MORE work. And you all know darn well that she didn't put those sheets back on. In her defense though, she did help. And to help me feel better about things, she DID learn the moral of the story...Mama STILL does know best. But it's going to be a LONG twenty plus years before she doesn't question me first.

So new...so improved

2010-05-02T22:32:00.000-04:00

Well, you all will be glad to hear that I have the new blog up and running...Wait...You all?!?! I have one faithful follower. But, boy, am I glad for that one follower! Otherwise, I may feel like complete failure and this entire GORGEOUS (Yes, that was sarcasm) Sunday afternoon would have been a complete waste. Oh well. I suppose I ramble on and on for my own sake more than anyone else's. No offense, Ten. And I haven't even figured out how to post pictures in a blog yet! That will be tomorrow's task. As for the Peterson update, it was another lazy Sunday. I think that you know you are old when your favorite day switched from Friday to Sunday. I LOOOVE Sundays. They just have a completely different feel to them. You know? It's such a rest after the weekend. Speaking of weekends, this weekend was jam packed with good deals. I went to a few yard sales. The steals were a Barbie car that satisfied Emma's newfound love of all things Mattel and a crib set for Ev. Barbie Car: $1. Crib Set: $5. Love them both: Crib set looks great in the girls room, and Barbie car inspired those wonderful words that every mother loves to hear: "Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou! I love you, Mama!" Music to my ears. Topped off Saturday with a birthday party (Happy Birthday, Little Jackson!!!) and a trip to Bummie's for a couple of Spanish Dogs. And you heard what I did today...NOTHING. Till next time...