Talan's 4th birthday

Talan is now 4. He still loves all things Lego, ninjas, swimming with big arms, and playing with his friends and toys. Honestly, he could, would, and does sit and play with his legos and star wars guys for hours. Literally. He will go off on his own and just play and play and play. His favorite TV shows are Phineas and Ferb and Jake and the Never Land Pirates. He says the funniest things and is so animated. The other day he had locked himself in the bathroom while going potty, when I realized he had been in there for awhile, I knocked on the door and told him to open it. And that's when he screamed "NEVER!" at me. When I ask him to do something he'll say "YES SIR!" I don't know where he comes up with some of the stuff he says and does. I drove carpool last week to his preschool and it was so fun watching Talan interact with his little buddies in the car. He is such a class clown. Anything for a laugh. I have a feeling we will be spending some time in the principal's office with our sweet and adorable little Talan in the future. :) Kids and people tend to be drawn to him. I can't say I blame them, it's always a good time when Talan is around.
Opening presents

He loved Taylor's ninja present

We have a tradition for birthdays at our house. The night before each of the kids birthdays we blow up a package of balloons and spread them across their bedroom floors. It's a small thing, but hopefully helps them realize that today is their very own special day. I feel like birthdays should be HUGE! After all, they all only come around once a year.

I mentioned to Cort that I wanted to make Talan some sort of Lego cake for his birthday, and look what Cort stayed up super late making and surprised us all with. I'm telling you there is nothing Cort can't do. Best dad and husband EVER!

New birthday bike

Getting ready to celebrate his birthday at Peggy's house :)

Happy Birthday Budda! We love you SO MUCH! You bring so much happiness and excitement into our lives and there is nothing we would change about you.

Boston and Much, Much More

For our 10 year anniversary Cort surprised me with a trip out to Boston. I have never been there and LOVE seeing new places and just driving around imagining what life is like for people who live there and what it would be like for me if I was born there. We drove up the coast to Maine, stopping in Salem, Mass., saw some witches, had brunch in Dorchester, Mass. at a quaint little place, drove through New Hampshire, and stopped at a beach in Kennebuckport, Maine along the way. It is so beautiful over there. It is so green and there is so much history. We also did as much tourist stuff in Boston that we could sneak in. The bridge where the shot heard around the world, Paul Revere's house, Bunker Hill, (my calves are still a little aching after walking up 294 steps to the top of Bunker Hill.), the Boston temple, Concord, Mass., Sleepy Hollow cemetery, Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., and then our last day we took a ferry over to Martha's Vineyard from Woods Hole and rented mopeds and cruised the island for the rest of the day. My favorite part of the whole trip was without a doubt, Salem, Mass. with all the witchy stuff, Sleepy Hollow cemetery and Martha's Vineyard. But it was all great. We put 649 miles on our rental car in 4 days. A trip to remember. For sure.

favorite things

Easton is in LOVE with Elmo. Whenever we mention Elmo he turns to the side and "sings" the theme song to Elmo's World, while shaking his hand. "Emo's Wor, du, du du," It's very endearing. He has a couple of Elmo's that he loves to love on. His eyes beam with excitement when ever they are near or whenever we mention to him anything about his precious Elmo. I LOVE the age he is at right now. I wish we could freeze time and enjoy him at this age a little longer. It all goes by way too fast. Elmo and Easton friends forever.

Talan's turn

Talan started preschool with Mrs. Peggy this week. He calls her Peggy. Instead of Mrs. Peggy. "I'm going to Peggy's house." "Peggy said...." It's adorable. When we went to the meet and greet before school started, Talan turned to me at the front door and said "bye mom." Without a dash of hesitation. I told him I got to stay with him today and he seemed as though he could careless. He reminds me a lot of Taylor that way. Very independent. He loved his first and second day there. He is now our little scripture star. Today he was telling me all about how Nephi went and got the plates from the bad man. So grateful that we have our very own Mrs. Peggy.

1st day of school outside of Mrs. Peggy's house

Second day of school with his kindness bucket. The idea behind the kindness bucket is we all have buckets we carry around and when we do or say nice things to each other it's like we are filling each others buckets up. So, in his class they all went around and said nice things to each other and as they did that they got to put a red rock in each others bucket's symbolizing the nice things they did and said to each other. Oh how I would of loved to have been a fly on the wall as these sweet little 3 and 4 years took turns saying nice things to each other! I'm sure it was very entertaining to hear what they came up with. We love our Scripture Star preschool! I know Talan is going to grow and learn so much this year.

August 16, 2011

Cort and I have been married for 10 years. 10 years ago we were sealed for time and eternity in the Manti Temple in Manti, Utah. In the same place and on the same day as my mom and dad. I wanted to do it on that day and in that place as a tribute to my mom. 10 years, 4 kids, 7 years in Herriman Utah and 1 year in Mesa Arizona. Hard for me to believe. Where does the time go? Hope the next 10 will be as great as the first. (I have a hunch that they will be!)
2001 Engagement picture. Awe Young love.

2002 Hawaii.

2003 Our little family. Taylor at 6 weeks. Getting ready for our first night out after her birth.

2004. Us and my brother and sister in law at my little sister's wedding.

2005 Couldn't find the bulk of my 2005 pictures??? Not good.
2006 Us on my 30th birthday.

2007 Family pictures 3 months after Talan was born. The kids all look so young. Sometimes its so hard looking at pictures of them at this age. They sure are changing and growing up fast.

2008 Disneyland in October. My favorite time of year to go. Matching sunglasses. WOOT! WOOT!

2009 Family Reunion in Arizona. Picnic in the Pines. 6 months pregnant with Easty.

2010 One of our last days together in our house in Herriman.

2011 Just the two of us on the actual big day. Picture courtesy of Talan. He was so funny trying to take it. It took a couple of tries and this is the best one he got. :) When he took it he said "I got it!" So cute.


It's been a great ten years, good times and bad. Happy and Sad. I wouldn't change a thing and look forward to the future together. Yesterday at lunch Cort asked me "10 years ago did you think we would be where we are?" The answer was a definite no. Funny how that works. And then it made us think about what the next 10 will bring. Lots of changes I am sure. That's the one thing you can count on in life right, is CHANGE. Happy 10th Cort. Thanks for putting up with me all these years. Love you!

back to school

I can't believe this day is here. Taylor started 3rd grade today and Chase started kindergarten. They both have been so excited for their first day. I know it's going to be a great year.

First day pictures

Chase knew exactly what he wanted to wear for the first day. He picked it all out. Even his shoes. And I let him. :) Doesn't he look great!

Taylor kept saying this is going to be her best year yet and when I asked how come, she would say cause "3rd grade is always the best!" Love, love, love her!

Walking to school. We seriously live like one block from the school and if it weren't for this heat we would walk every day! We were glad to run into to some of our great Arizona friends on our way.

Chase found his name right away

Chase did SO good. I knew he was a little nervous. When I hugged him goodbye I could feel his little heart pounding away. But he didn't let it show. He walked right to class when the bell rang and his teacher Mrs. Dill put him right to work as her helper with the door. He looked back a couple of times and blew me a kiss when it was time to go. When did these kids get so big!?? I don't remember okaying their growing up! So bitter sweet!

Where's Chase?

After we dropped off Chase I HAD to go peek on Tay. She spotted me through the window and waved at me with a smile and then gave me a look like "I'm good mom, you can go." I couldn't help it though, and I snapped a quick pic of her! I'm pretty sure the little girl looking at me in the picture is wondering what I am doing. Happy First day back Taylor and Chase so grateful I get to be your mom.

Waiting to drop off their best buddies so we can go home.

One last picture of Talan riding Chase's scooter heading home. It's just the 3 of us now...and it's VERY quiet. 1:45 can't come soon enough!

summer bucket list 2011

This year we decided to make a Summer check list of all the things we wanted to do together during the summer. We have already marked like 6 things off the list, not too shabby with exactly 2 weeks to go til school starts. I love looking back at the memories we have made and reliving them again on the good ole' blog.

Swim Team


Lake Powell

We miss our Utah cousins! A LOT!
ROCK ON!

Only 7 months apart. Easton and cousin Kayson



Chase doing some cliff jumping

Boxing with Grandpa. Watch out Grandpa! They are sneaky.

Naptime! Grandpa Pete and Ryan

My favorite people

Talan jumping off the back of the house boat. Look how pretty Powell is in the background. Sigh. I want to go back.

The oldest and youngest Peterson grandsons. Easton couldn't get enough of Tannon.

The youngest and oldest Peterson grandaughters. Such pretty girls!


Taylor tumbling on the beach in San Diego

Cort's sisters family, Tori, Ronnie, Brewin, and Brynlie came to our hotel and played on the beach with us. We really were so happy to see them and spend some good quality time together. Wish we lived closer to our Welker cousins too.


Legoland. A whole land dedicated to Legos?! Chase and Talan have never been happier!


Porterville. Cort's hometown

Chase boxing Uncle Cameron on the Wii. Chase takes this stuff very seriously! Cameron had no idea what he was up against! :)

Taylor and her Grandma

Campout on the tramp. Which actually turned into camping out in the tent with a fan blowing on us. Which also only lasted til about 1:00 that morning, due to the heat, and barking dog next door. Regardless a good time was had by all.


Summer school. My aunt made mention that she did a summer school with her kids as they were growing up. Loved the idea of it and we have actually done pretty good. Taylor is almost done reading her 3rd chapter book. Talan is learning his shapes and how to write his name. And Chase continues to be a awesome little reader and is working on worksheets from a 1st to 2nd grade book. I think someone might be a tad bored in kindergarten.

Going on a run with mom. Some of my favorite memories as a child are of going running with my dad and brothers. The tradition lives on. My newest favorite running partners! :)

Helping dad wash the car

Running through the sprinklers and the hose in the backyard. Easton is such a Bully!