My Happiest Days

Bryant, standing at the ready to rescue Sissy as soon as she needs it.

 Squashing a bug. Or a tomato. I can't remember which one.

 This is the image of a Daddy who is not too busy to teach the boy about man's work...and play, as is the case with my Johnny. See that big pile of wood? Yep, he was chopping that when Stuart wanted to see what Daddy was doing. So Daddy stopped and "practiced" with Stu-Bear.

On a sidenote, I'm so thankful for John and his panning for gold, er, wood, for this winter. Free is always a nice price.

Apple Picking

Nana, Papa, Stephanie, Annie, John, me and all of our kiddos + 1 (cousin Beckham)  headed up to Hood River last weekend to have some good old fashioned fun picking apples!

Bryant and Jack, cheesing it.

 Aubs & Jack were the most interested in picking the apples.

 Bryant & Jack, enjoying taste testing.

 Stuart enjoyed eating the apples and playing in the fort with the bikes.

 The eldest...Jack, Noah, Bryant & Beckham.

 The entire crew, left to right:
Beckham, Sam, Noah, Aubrey, Bryant, Levi, Stuart & Jack

 My sweet helper.



The Daily

Lately it's been hard for me to blog because we've been just living daily life with no special events to speak of necessarily. But then I remember that our daily life are my special events. Daily life is the reason I began blogging in the first place. So here is a little of what we've been doing.

It doesn't happen nightly, or even weekly, but singing around the piano as a family will always be a treasured memory for me. Hearing our kids sing out sweet words of praise to God undoubtedly puts life into perspective for me.

 The kids were getting a bit ornery at one point this particular night, so I sent them all out with an ear of corn each to shuck. They were so glad to do it and it was a good reminder for me that sometimes kids not only want to, but need to contribute to the family structure. They all did a really good job at it to boot!

 Johnny showing his tribe the inner workings of a yo-yo. To which Stuart replied, "Dis just so mut fun!" (This is just so much fun.) Stu-Bear is putting whole thoughts together as of recently and it is hilarious and charming.

 Bryant, getting bigger and older and more grown up right in front of us.

 Stuart, having "so mut fun!"



The Streak Has Ended...

...and while the streak is awfully fun, we are pretty over-the-moon excited about the fact that baby Alice will be joining the Petersen clan in early March! Isn't she beautiful?

Alice will join big brothers Jack and Sam, and cousins Bryant, Stuart, baby boy Anderson, Noah, & Levi...oh, and....AUBREY.

Today when I told Aubrey that Alice was, in fact, a girl, she squealed and then screamed. And then pointed out that Alice is her very favorite girl on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

This after telling a classmate last week that she was voting for a girl because, "I just have so many boys in my life." We love all the boys. Like crazy. But it is surreal to think that now there will be ruffles and lace once again.

We can't wait to meet you, sweet Alice.