Done esta el bano?

Jeff and I are so excited to be going to Mexico in a few weeks. We've had some stress in our lives for a couple of weeks, and we're very much looking forward to all the virgin pina coladas, and strawberry daquiris one can handle. We're going to see some Mayan ruins, snorkel, swim with sting rays (I'm not to excited about this one), and spend a coupl of days just relaxing on the beach. We can hardly wait. I know how to say "Where is the bathroom" and "how much is it?", and "I want to eat". With those few phrases and the hopes that heaven will open and I will be blessed with the gift of tongues, then we should get by. Plus, we're told that where we're going is very "americanized" so we can only hope! :) Oh, and don't worry about the drug cartel. I will give em the old heave-ho and then I'll kick 'em. I'm not afraid to use the tools I say on Miss Congeniality with the self defense. I'll use my elbows, jab em in the eyes, and of course (my personal favorite) the groin! Don't mess with me. I'll kick your butt! :) It's going to be a great trip!

Grandma Pennie

I visit teach this wonderful friend of mine in the ward named Pennie. I met my dear friend while working with her daughter at Stone Drug. This lady is amazing. She really is like my adopted grandmother. She would give the shirt off her back if she found someone who needed it more. Well I went with my partner to visit Pennie, and we were a few minutes early. She had modern, youthful music playing loudly, and she was in the kitchen. We came to visit her, but she had a pie baking in the oven for US! I love her! She gave us a fresh piece of pumpkin pie, a large glass of chocolate milk, and some homemade caramels that are to die for. I finally got to the spiritual message after awhile, and we chatted for a bit. I thanked her for my "dinner" and gave her a big hug. I told her and my companion that we would for sure come back more often :) I can only hope that when I am in my 70's, I can be as charitable and youthful as she is. She rides jetski's and 4-wheelers and wants to ride in a hot air balloon for her birthday. She's an amazing perosn,and I love her.

Was I ever like that?

As I serve in the Young Women's in my ward, I often think back to when I was 12 and 13. I don't EVER remember acting silly and girly like they do. I love the enthusiasm my girls show. Sometimes it gets too loud and chaotic, but I love 'em anyway! Maybe I had teenage blinders on, I don't know, but surely I wasn't giddy, right? I remember being a tomboy-ish, quiet, shy, and an awkwardly tall teenager with not many friends. That's what I remember about being 12 and 13. When my YW leader said to me "Boy, I'm so glad you came out of your shell." I didn't know what she was talking about. I was the same as always. I am so grateful that those awkward years are behind me, and you couldn't pay me to go back. What do you think? Do you remember me acting like that? I don't!

2 officers and a Gentleman

December has been a busy month. My sister had a new baby boy named Tanner(he actually arrived on Nov.30, but close enough to December). He is such a cutie. My oldest brother, Jared graduated from the Police Academy and is now a corrections officer. My brother-in-law Jeff O was commisioned to the rank of officer in the U.S. Army. It's crazy how fast time flies when you're busy. Jeff's been crazy busy at work with the Christmas season. We've been working to help a family for Christmas. It's been crazy, but very rewarding. May your Christmas be full of happiness and celebration. Have a Merry Christmas, and happy new year!

Forgotten Carols

So, it's been a few years since we've gone to the Forgotten Carols. This year we were 3 rows from the stage on the floor level. It was great. I would recommend it to anyone. They've changed quite a bit of the script, added more characters, and changed the lady who plays Connie Lou. I was sad to see Katie Thompson go. The new lady was good, but I like Katie better. This year was extraordinarily touching to me for some reason. One certain part really touched me. I found it ironic and funny because I usually don't care for this part very much, but this year, I felt like a bawl baby. If you know much about the play then you'll know that at the end of each show they have the audience sing a song and think about those who have passed on or in the military or on a mission etc, but it ALWAYS gets me. I automatically get thinking of my grandparents, and Jeff's little sister, Kirstyn. He loves her so much, and I'd give anything to let him see and talk to her again. They were very close. I know she's taking good care of our children up there for us until it's time for them to be here with us. Boy, how I wish I could meet her. Someday I will!

Holiday wishes

I just want to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. I know we have much to be thankful for! We're thankful for our jobs, our health, or family and our friends. I am especially grateful for my husband. He is an awesome man, and I couldn't be any luckier. He's always willing to help, and is willing to watch an occasional "chick-flick" with me. I look around and see people so much worse off than me and it makes me grateful for the little things in life. I'm even grateful for my challenges and trials that I have been given. I know they are for me and I gladly accepted them before I came to earth. We can do anything as long as we keep near to the Lord. I love Thanksgiving! Have a happy one!

Brother and sister?

So I've heard that as a couples get older they look more and more alike. We're not that old yet! However, it makes for a funny story. Please read on: We were just standing there, at the grocery store check-out line, waiting for our stuff to get rung up when the cashier girl looked at us and asked if we were brother and sister. WHAT ??I kind of laughed and said "Actually we are husband and wife." I then said " I haven't heard that since High School." The cashier looked up at us again and was saying how awesome it was that we knew each other in High School. She kept going on and saying how she was a hopeless romantic. She told us we were cute. What do you say to that? Luckily our stuff was bagged at that moment so we could be on our merry little way. We laughed about that for awhile. I told Jeff that our kids are bound for destruction with brown eyes and brown hair. He laughed and agreed with me. We don't look that much alike, do we?

Forget the icecream!

I know what you're all thinking.....Boy, she really stinks at blogging, but don't fret! We haven't died yet! We've been really busy (just not with anything exciting), and I just don't know what to blog about..................UNTIL NOW! By looking at this pic you can probably guess what the C house has on the brain............................................ Yummy, scrumpdiddilyumpsious (?) CHOCOLATE! We spent all last weekend prepping and then dipping about 50 pounds of chocolate. Forget the icecream, ice cubes, juices, chicken or any frozen food for that matter. The Chocolates have taken over the freezer. Who needs to make dinner, right? Just have some homemade chocolates! We made all the ooey,gooey centers one day and then dipped them ALL a couple of days later! It took us from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. last Saturday to dip them all and let them set. Let me reassure you.... it was worth every minute! My dad-in-law makes a melt in your mouth caramel that is to die for! Just ask my hips, they'll testify for you! :) We split the goods between 3 families and we each took around 15 pounds of chocolates home. We've got the sweets covered in our food storage, so if a disaster strikes, just come find us for your sugar fix. We've got you covered (anything for a small fee, right?). We have chocolate filling our freezer with little wiggle room for the real food, but hey, it's once a year. That's what I say. Thanks Mom and Dad M for teaching us how to make chocolates. We look forward to next year!!!!(wink, wink)

Our candy guinea pigs (adrienne, and Camille) haven't died yet, so I'm guessing we passed the chocolate-making test. I love this episode of I love Lucy, so I had to post the pic. Funny, funny! Chocolate, chocolate, everywhere! Do you know any good holiday treat/candy recipes? I'd love to hear!

Peterson Family Reunion!

My family had the first ever family reunion this year! My brother's family from Washington was able to come down for a while, so we planned a trip to Park City! We went out to eat at a restaurant called Bandits on the historic mainstreet. With the whole Pete clan together, things can get pretty crazy.. I appologize for all the pictures, but they were all too cute. Plus, I have to show off my favorite nieces and nephews ever.

Kyle had a full tummy,and was just hangin out as a real cowboy! He's very opinionated, but can be really cute when he wants to be ...........Keep smiling, buddy. I had to take a picture with this gorgeous girl, Celeste! She wanted her hair to be pulled back like mine, and she loved it.

I was the annoying photographer that just wanted to take pictures of everyone! We haven't been together on a trip for way too long, so I iwanted to remember how much fun we had. Maria and Sam are on the left,and Aaron and Nicole on the right. Love, the shirt, Aaron. It was too funny!

Grace also wanted her hair like mine so we pulled it back and straightened it for her, oh, and the lovely makeup job. She had to have on some mascara and lipstick. She is such a cute girl. I'm glad we got to spend so much time together with Aaron's family. It's been too long since we've done something fun. It was about time. We took the free troley ride to the restaurant. The kids just absolutely loved the ride on the trolley. I had to take pictures because they had so much fun. It was different for them, and there were no seat belts to be strapped in with. Yeah, for the trolley!

It seems like the only time we get our picture taken together is when we take it ourselves. Oh, well! I think it turned out better than some of the others. Plus, Jeff is such a babe, who wouldn't want to look at him all time? I'm the luckiest girl around.

My Dad tripped on the sidewalk just before we left for dinner, and he banged up his arm. You can see the band-aid on his elbow. It was raining and slippery, and he just went down. He thinks he broke his rib, and it hurt for quite awhile after. I'm glad he's doing well now. He's getting older now and his muscles aren't doing as well as they should, so he has a hard time getting around sometimes.

More trolley fun with Jeff and Jenny and Sean, and Sam and Rosie in the background. I love my family. They are great!

Aaron took care of Jared's boy, Spencer, on the trolley ride. This look just sums up Spencer to the T. He is quiet and quick, and can get into trouble quickly, but then he looks at you with his big, brown eyes, and he looks so innocent. Looks can be deceiving. Especially with a 3 year old!

We took part of our family on a walk up main street. We can't go to park city without going to the chocolate factory, right? They had to have a treat, so Maria was nice enough to buy them one. As you can tell, the treats were really enjoyed. Yummy!!!!!!!!! I'll post more pictures later, so stay tuned!

Anniversary Weekend!

I've never claimed to be a graceful person,and here's the proof! For the big 5th anniversary we decided to spend a lovely weekend in Park City. Jeff was so excited to mountain bike down the mountain, but as you can see, this is how it turned out. Our short, but very fun-filled bike ride ended up with me on a mountain with a gash in my knee bleeding all over the place. Jeff had to carry both bikes back up the mountain while I tried to hold a sock on my gushing wound. It was awkward, but we made it to the top. The lift operater had to get special permission to let us ride the lift back down. He let us know that an EMT would meet us at the bottom to look at my knee.............lucky me!

Here is us going on the forever long ride down, while everyone was looking at us funny and talking about us even though we could still hear what they were saying as they rode past us. YES, those are tears on my face. It hurt, I was embarrassed, and I am a girl. That gives me all the right in the world to let them out sometimes, right? I think so! We spent a lot of money to rent the bikes, purchase all day ski lift passes just to end up riding them for 5 minutes. I had to go to the Urgent Care center and get 4 stitches. WOW, what ta fun anniversary weekend, right? IDON"T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best part about it was I was with the man I love!! Even though I was in pain ,and ruined Jeff's bike ride, the few from the top was gorgeous! I'm just a Klutz, and it's all good! Love you,babe!