Boise!!!

No pictures yet... But I'll have some later of our wonderful time we are having in Boise. We got here July 20th and are getting as much family time in as we can. We've been able to see some old friends, eat some yummy food, drive by our old house, and play play play. Elliot has been cracking me up, she was only 18 months when we left, so really, she doesn't remember anyone. Yet she keeps hugging everyone telling them, "I missed you" and she can't seem to keep her Aunts and Uncles straight. But she is having as good of time as the rest of us. Really it's just great to be home at my parents house and know family is close by. Mike will join us next week then the boys all head to the cabin. I know Griffin and Miles can't wait.

A reason to blog.

I think I've mentioned before that my blog is our family journal. Which is why I try to keep it updated and FULL of details. We don't want any memories to slip by us. I'm excited to say, a few months ago I completed my first blog book. My kids have already poured over the pages for hours. They love seeing themselves and reliving all of our adventures. I'm in the process of working on 2009's book. I am using Snapfish for 2009, but 2008 was done with blurb. Here's a review of my experience with blurb and snapfish (so far).

Blurb.com gives you a program called "booksmart" which you download onto your computer. Once you have that program you simply put in your blog address and which dates you want (ex: from Jan 1st 2008-Dec. 31st 2008). Then it will auto flow your blog into a book. You then have control to add a background, change the font, colors, and rearrange your pictures. I found the whole process a not difficult but a little frustrating. I had to go through all of my Journaling and center the titles and change the size and what not. Plus there is a large supply of backgrounds and designs, but I didn't LOVE any of them. They were not very modern, or scrapbook looking. Also the program "booksmart" seemed to be the cause of my computer suddenly becoming very sluggish. In the end, I loved my book, but I won't use blurb again. Oh, and the price was around $60 not bad.










I am in the process of using snapfish to create my 2009 book. I think it has been a lot quicker, but snapfish isn't set up for blog books, which means, I am cutting and pasting all of my Journaling directly from my blog. That sounds time consuming, but really has been pretty easy. Also I had to upload all of my photos to the program, but still I didn't mind. It has really been going quicker than my other book. So the bad of going this route, my book is already up to $118, Yikes! I did go with the 12x12 book, much bigger than my blurb book. But still, yikes! I'm hoping there will be a coupon or something when I get the book completed.

Our 4th of July Celebration

We had a wonderful day, full of good food, good friends, and fun fireworks. The kids went to church in their most patriotic outfits they could find. At 6pm we had friends and the Elders over for a BBQ, then fireworks later in the evening. We were so glad to be joined by the Bishop and his family for fireworks, and our wonderful neighbor kids. It was such a good day. Relaxing and fun.

Silly poses, Elliot of course did a 4th of July dance.

We bought mostly little fireworks, but 3 or 4 at the end really shot up into the sky. Poor planning on my part, meant we were right UNDER the fireworks. Can you see the girls laughing in the center picture of the last collage? Oops!

Hampton Beach Sand Sulptres

Last Week we headed to the annual Hampton Beach Sand Sculpture contest. The sculptures were judged on Saturday, and we showed up Monday hoping to beat the crowds. They were amazing! Even more amazing is they are made from only water and sand! At the very end, the sculptor will add a coating of Elmers glue glaze, to protect the sculpture from the elements, but other than that it's good old water and sand. But the glaze won't help at all if the sculpture isn't built right. Each contestant has the same amount of sand and time to complete their creations. There were so many different sizes you would never know. The bio's of the sculptors are so interesting. They range from sweet grandma looking ladies, to your typical looking beach bum. But most of them said they all started out just like Miles, Caleigh, Griffin and Elliot with a shovel and a bucket.

Can't wait to see the works of Art.

Griffin very into castles and Dragons loved the one with a castle and dragon.

They were all Great, but my favorite sculptor is this little girl, and her works of art are always prize worthy.

Summer is in Full Swing!

We have been so spoiled to have Tracy, Frankie and Tom here for the past few weeks. We have been hitting the beach with them as much as we can. The weather hasn't been perfect, but warm enough for swimming and playing in the sand.

These collages are from this week, it was a little overcast but warm. We had so much fun drawing in the sand, and playing in the waves. Too bad the sun wasn't out, the pictures would have turned out better. But I can't let a summer go by without some beach pictures.

Mike loves to look for the biggest shells he can, this time he found one, with the clam still inside. Just a few more and we could have had a clam bake.




Elliot is very into "dances" right now. Some of her fav's to perform for us are: ice cream dance, pizza dance, beach dance, go to church dance, and her most often performed the potty dance. They all look the same, she applies enthusiasm to each and everyone. Good job Elliot.




Caleigh, Elliot and Griff are my artist. Not that Miles can't draw, it's just he doesn't enjoy it as much as the other three. Elliot is getting pretty good, she is starting to draw people with arms and legs coming out of their heads (no bodies yet). So what more could a budding artist want, but a stick and a entire beach of clean sand ready to draw on. They had so much fun, I did too.

Pinewood Derby

Our ward doesn't really have a cub scout program set up yet (were working on it) but Miles has been dying to start ever since he turned 8. I think he would really enjoy it and we have debated starting him in our town program. But, the other ward that meets at our building just started up their program and they invited any of our boys to participate in their pinewood derby. Miles was so excited and worked on his car the very day he got it.




In the end he got 2nd place and had the best time. It made me realized how important it is for boys to participate in the cub scout program. What a great confidence booster!

Do you know Henry?

Miles was asking Mike the other night if Heavenly Father has a first name. Elliot was listening in and answered for Mike,

"His name is Henry...Henry Father."

Last Day of School...a kick off to Summer.

We have all been going crazy waiting for school to end. July 18 is a long time to be in school, so on the last day, since it was only a half day, as soon as the kids walked in the door we headed to the beach. Tracy and Frankie are still up in York, ME at their beach house, so we met them up there. We had a great time on "Long Sands" One of Yorks beaches. The weather was perfect for a beach day. We left only because the tide came in and we had no more beach to sit on. We weren't sad for long since our next stop was Browns ice cream bar. Yummy! What a great kick-off to summer.

Caleigh and Grandma Frankie collected sea shells together. G. Frankie thought of painting them with fingernail polish, and now Caleigh has a whole new reason to fill up her bucket with sea shells.



Elliot the "surfer Girl" She is too funny with her "moves." She was loving the water and playing in the waves.

Our new favorite ice cream stop in York.

Daddy's little girl

Growing up in a house with 3 brothers would have been rough without my big strong Dad to take care of me. (My brothers became my best body guards) My Dad is amazing and I can't say enough about how much I love him... so here's 5 reasons.

-My Dad is a convert to our church, and he has always been the biggest example to me on how to live the gospel. He and my Mother taught us children to love the gospel and live it to the fullest.

-My Dad is Hilarious! He is so fun to hang around. He always make us all laugh, and he's the first to get all my crazy jokes.

-My dad is Cool, I mean James Dean-Grease Lighting cool. He used to race cars in high school, and worked on all of his cars himself. I don't know if all that racing was legal.

-My dad is a sponge for knowledge. He is always reading and asking questions. I love to see him deep in conversation with Mike. He loves to learn, it's such a good example to me. His scriptures are never ignored.

-My Dad is a great Husband. Poor Mike has been compared to my Dad too often. If Mom wants a wall ripped out, or a new kitchen, my Dad is in there getting it done. He is not afraid to do something new and is a wealth of knowledge on home improvement.

Love you Daddy!

A day with Grandma Frankie

I can't get over how wonderful it is to have some family close by, for a little while. Elliot and I headed up to Maine to go shopping and exploring with Grandma Frankie.

We stopped first to take some photos of this "Lobsta" house in York. Doesn't it just scream, "take my picture" Love it.
I got a shot of the Lobster boat too. Elliot liked the water.


Then we drove along the coast (gorgeous houses) to Perkins Cove. The rain had kicked us out on Mike's birthday, but it was a beautiful day so we knew we would be able to explore.

We ended the day at "Barnacle Billy's" for some clam "chowda" (which turned out to be a little watery) and a clam roll (yum). It was such a fun day. And I'm sad I didn't get any photo's with Elliot and Frankie.

The big 33!

Mike is the big 33! Mikes birthdays are always pretty low key, but this year we were so glad to have his Sister, Tracy and his Mom and Dad with us. We let the kids stay home from school and we headed up to York, ME where Tracy is renting a condo right on the beach. The plan was to have a lazy day playing in the water, but the weather wasn't cooperating. It was rainy all day. We ventured up to a small community Perkins Cove, but we were drenched in no time at all. So back to the condo we went for presents, cake, and ice cream. Then out to a delicious meal at Fox's a restaurant that over looks Nubble lighthouse. Hmm, fried clams, clam chowder ,baked scallops, fried shrimp... it was heavenly.

Hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma Peterson

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson were able to come have dinner with us Wed. night. It was a beautiful cool evening, and the bugs weren't too bad. The kids had fun playing dodge ball with Mike and Tom. What could be more fun that throwing things at your kids and grandkids?


We ended the evening with Pizza from our local pizza parlor and ice cream sundeas (in cookie bowls). What a great summer evening.

Thanks Grandma Frankie

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson arrived on Saturday, and we got to spend Memorial day with them today. G. Frankie never comes empty handed, and this trip she brought each of the kids their own beach bags! I am in love with all of them and will have to resist borrowing them.

The kids wasted no time loading them up and heading down to the beach.

I know they will be using these for years. Thanks G. Frankie.

Tall Ships

I saw three ships come sailing in....

Well in this case two...

I have had this song going through my head for the past week. Every year tall ships sail through Portsmouth, NH and we went to see them this year. They dock for a few days, and people tour them. We opted not to go on them, since we've been on similar ships before, but I love seeing these old wooden ships.

Tracy was able to meet up with us and come too. We love when Tracy is in town. She is quite the world traveler, but when she visits she always make us feel like there isn't anywhere else in the world where she would rather be.

The Twin's Firt Piano Recital

Saturday was a busy day, starting with Miles and Griffin's baseball game. When we got home, we got ready for the twin's piano recital. They have been working so hard on their songs, and seemed to be more excited than nervous.




At the end of their recital all of the participants got a personalized cookie with a picture of a piano on it. Miles ripped right into his, and Caleigh saved hers for another day. Aunt Tracy, who had just gotten into town that morning, was able to come and support the twins. Great Job Miles and Caleigh, I'm so proud of you for sharing your talents.