Tag you're it

Sorry to stray from the whole family blog thing and focus on myself, but this tag came from Jer's cousin Annie and it came a long time ago so I better get on it. All three girls are asleep at the same time and even though I know we will pay for it tonight at bedtime - I am not waking them up!

1. Best thing you cooked last week? I have been trying some new recipes lately (thank you to all those who have been passing them on) and so far the one I like the best is Mardarin Chicken. It has the yummiest sauce that goes great with any stirfry. I also have to add that the Roast Beef sandwiches we had last week were really good too. (Thanks to Jen Scott for both of those)
2. If money, time and babysitting were no object, where would you go and with who? My brother Judd is living on the big island in Hawaii and my mom is living in Maui so I have the biggest itch to go over there. Jer and I haven't been somewhere tropical since we've been married and it would be so much fun to spend a week or so at the beach with him and even though I would probably regret it once I got there, I would love to take the girls too. Then again I would also love to go on a ski vacation with just Jer where we could ski all day and then curl up by a fire at night - no kids allowed on this one of course. And then again I would love to take the girls to Disney World and some of other fun theme parks in Florida. They are just getting to the age where it would be so much fun to see them interact with the characters - both girls are slightly obsessed with anything princess. Wow - ya think I want a vacation or something?!
3. When was the last time you cried? I am going to take a direct quote from Annie Miller and add about three months post-pregnancy and three kids under three to the list..."Does the term 38 weeks pregnant help answer this question? I pretty much cry everyday...and for no good reason." I am so glad there are others out there who are on the wonderful hormone roller coaster called motherhood.
4. Five things you were doing 5 years ago: 1. This is great - Jer and I met 5 years ago this month - Wow! So much can happen in 5 years 2. I was finishing my Masters Degree at the U of U in Social Work. 3. Living with my sweet grandmother Mimi 4. Finishing up my year as Relief Society President in my singles ward - and meeting some of my best friends there 5. Working as an adoption coordinator at LDS Family Services.
5. Five things you were doing 1 year ago: 1. We were here visiting for the Christmas break and cramming in as much family, friend and snow time as we could 2. We were living in Arizona while Jeremy worked on his dual Masters Degrees 3. I was the Primary President in our Mesa ward 4. Ashley was in her terrible twos, Lauren was turning into a huge handful and we were just about to find out we were pregnant with Macy 5. I was learning how to do digital scrapbooking from Annie and so was excited to make my own Christmas card
6. Seven of your favorite hobbies: digital scrapbooking, reading, making greeting cards, sewing, cooking, traveling and spending time in the outdoors doing anything with my family
7. Five favorite foods: 1. Jeremy's steaks 2. Deanna's chocolate chip cookies 3. Cold Stone or Maggie Moos ice cream 4. Porcupine Grill's house salad 5. Tortilla soup and crumbled blue cheese salad at Paradise Bakery
8. Five places you've been: Israel, Egypt , France, Italy, and Jackson Hole
9. Five Favorite Memories: my fist real date with Jeremy when we went snowshoeing up Millcreek canyon 2. Our reception at Mimi's house and how much fun we had setting up with family and friends 3. Brushing my grandma's (Mimi) hair earlier in the day before she passed away 4. The day my girls were each born - it's too hard to pick out one. The reason we keep having them so quickly is because of that awesome feeling of falling in love with that little one the moment you lay eyes on them 5. The look on some little kid's face at Disneyland while Jer and I were on our honeymoon - he rounded the corner and starting screaming and crying when he saw the character Woody from Toy Story - "Woody, Woody!!!" You had to be there.
10. Favorite Shows: 1. The Offic 2. 24 3. I can't believe I am admitting this - Days of Our Lives 4. Ellen 5. ER and honorable mention to Hannah Montana, The Suite Life and Wizards of Waverly Place - all on Disney channel and shows I can watch with my kids
People to tag: Lisha, Louise, Meg & Lu (I don't know who else reads my blog since these are the only ones who leave comments - hint, hint)

Hope everyone is having an awesome holiday season. Merry Christmas!

The perfect picture

I have decided that family pictures with small children are almost as bad as trying to shower each day with small children in the house - It is IMPOSSIBLE! I have been wanting to take a family picture for our Christmas card since Macy was born, but it just never seemed to work out. So last Sunday before church Jeremy and I tried (very hard) to get a cute picture of the girls. Well, we got some great pictures of the girls - just not one of them all together. So until I get really good at photo shop I guess I will just have to settle for at least one child looking at the camera and hopefully one smiling. The picture in the middle where Lauren is finally giving us her best grin is her and Ashley showing off the treat they got at the end.

The girls were so excited to go to our ward party last week to see Santa. It was so much fun to watch Lauren. She is really getting into Christmas this year with Ashley. They let each family in one at a time to talk with Santa. As we stood outside the door and waited for our turn you could hear a little girl inside crying as her parents tried to take a picture with Santa and when the door opened up for us to go in Lauren looked a little scared. But as soon as she saw Ashley excitedly run in, she had no fear and followed quickly behind.

The magical heart of my daughter

I had to post this. Last night we were driving home from Nanna & Papa Peterson's house and Ashley was in the back seat telling another one of her princess stories to Lauren. She loves to make up stories about the adventures she has with the princesses and Minnie Mouse. I turned around and told her she had a great imagination. She replied, "I know mom, I have magic in my heart." I asked her who told her that and she said no one. I love being a mom.

Congratulations to Annie, Mike & Braden who have a new baby girl in their family! Baby Grace was born this morning at 11:00 am. We are so excited she is here and that everything went well. I am sure that Annie will post pictures on her blog soon. Her link is on my page and it's Annie & Mike. Yeah!

The Hardy Siblings

I have the greatest siblings in the world - and I am sure everyone that knows them thinks that too. Lots of people have been asking me what they are all up to - they are all still world travelers and continue to have the best adventures. Erin was great to get us all together for a sibling picture when by no small miracle we all happened to be in the same town this summer.

Now for the update.
Erin: Erin moved home from the Virgin Islands last year to be here to support Judd through his chemo treatments. She is working at the same spa she left up in Park City and is running the "sib crib" household. James, Judd, Erin and sometimes Skip or Zach are all living together. I am looking forward to our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners this year - last year they cooked the most incredible feast and entertained my kids while we ate!

Judd: Judd is doing great and to prove to us that life doesn't have to stop for anything - including cancer - he is moving to Hawaii later this month to live on the big island and enjoy the sunshine and great life of the tropics. Judd was diagnosed with leukemia in July of 2006. He is now in his second year of chemo treatments and things are going really well. He keeps up his blog site and is an incredible writer so be sure to check it out.

James: James moved back from California/Washington after Judd's diagnosis to be with the siblings. He is working at a local restaurant and at a home for at-risk boys. James is heading back to school at the U in the next year or so and is still working on a major. He also has some great plans to travel in the coming year, but is deciding which adventures look the best!

Skip: Skip has taken time off from his college career at the U to do more traveling. He is looking at a trip this summer to South America. He hopes to be able to spend some time with Zach in Brazil. Right now he plans on heading with Judd to Hawaii for a short time to help Judd settle in and visit my mom who is currently in Maui for a few months. Tough life!

And Zach: Yep, you read right - Zach is living in Brazil this year. After Skip's great experience in Spain his junior year, Zach decided he wanted to try the same thing. He is a foreign exchange student with an awesome family and is busy learning Portuguese and checking out the local hot spots. He is living near the coast and is loving the weather and the great the people.

Halloween, Halloween & more Halloween!

This year we celebrated Halloween for a good two weeks. Between the preschool Halloween party, the dance Halloween party, the neighborhood Halloween party, Boo at the Zoo, Pumpkinland, the ward Halloween party, and then Halloween day of course we definitely got great use out of our Halloween costumes this year (half price at Old Navy!). Have to show pictures from everything - Enjoy!

Misc. Halloween

Boo at the Zoo
While Jer was playing his last outdoor soccer game of the season, my sister-in-laws, Amy and Nekell, were so sweet to join us for the busiest day ever at the zoo. Crazy crowds, but definitely worth it. We met up with our friends Sid, Natalie and Heather. We had a great time!

Pumpkinland
The day before Halloween my mother-in-law, Deanna, and I took the girls down to Orem to Pumpkinland. As you can see from the pictures the place is great! Tons of pumpkins, a corn maze for the kids (in which the grown ups can get lost too!), farm animals, a playground and a light alley (instead of spook alley). The girls got to pick out their own pumpkins and had so much fun.

The ward trunk or treat
And the winner for the best adult Halloween costume is.....Jeremy Peterson! Jer's costume was so good. Everyone kept telling him that they only knew who he was because he was with me. It was the hair - that threw everyone off!

Wow! We had so much fun and I am sure my kids will be on a sugar high for the next few months at least. They are still asking to go trick or treating after dinner each night. Can't wait for next year.

Baby Macy & more

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

She's here!

Baby Macy came right on her due date - October 3rd. Things went really well. She is so beautiful and it is so much fun having a little one again. The girls adore her and love to help. I will post a longer blog and more pictures soon.