I shake you warmly by the hand!

I was an awesome mom yesterday. We went to the new library grand opening. We made a craft and read books for a while. They had these super cute built in reading nooks that the kids loved. We also listened to story readings by the local principals. Alayna thought in was so funny because Masen's principal was a character in the book he was reading. Afterwards we went outside a had snowcones.

I also brought the kids to a play that some of the local children put on at the theater. They performed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I was worried that they wouldn't sit through it and get stir-crazy but Masen and Layna did pretty good. The play was super cute! One of Layna's friends was an umpa-lumpa. I asked if they want to be and in the next one but Masen said he gets stage fright. Layna said she wants too so maybe, if our schedule lets us I will.

Jeremy was working nights so he wasn't able to come with us.. But today has be declared family fun day (#2) and we are all going to spend the day in Carlsbad. I'm looking forward to another busy day. :)

Story Time

Snow cones and reading!

Theater and cupcakes.

Sledding!

Over the weekend we got our first snow of the season. Snow doesn't last very long over here but at least we get some. Alayna said we needed to put up our Christmas tree but I told her we need to make it threw thanksgiving first.

Jeremy has lit our fireplace! I love love love it! I think its my new favorite part of our house. It makes me more excited for Christmas!

On Saturday we took the kids and one of Masen's friends to the park to go sledding. Masen had fun but was over it after about half an hour. The hill we found wasn't very big or steep so next time we will have to go somewhere else. But it was perfect for Layna! She had a blast and was trying to do tricks. She was up and down that hill non stop until we left.

Lookie!! I got a picture of Jeremy smiling!!

Cub Scouts

Yesterday Masen was awarded his first badge and belt loops from cub scouts!! He was one proud boy!

Art
Citizenship
Collecting
Map and Compass
Wildlife Conservation
Basketball
Fishing
Flag Football
and his Bobcat badge!

We had a potluck and played minute to win it games.((So hilarious!!)) My kids just love cubscouts they look forward to it all week long. They even have a class for siblings that Layna goes to. I love how its so family friendly and family orientated.

Why do they have to grow up so fast?!!?

After two weeks of wiggling, Masen has finally lost his first tooth. I thought it was pretty graphic and I was more worked up about him pulling it out then he was. I am just so impressed on how brave and calm he was even though I was freaking out behind him. He just reached in and pulled that thing out!

I remember when Masen was little and all he had was those two bottom teeth. He ate vanilla wavers by scrapping them along those two little teeth. Now one of those teeth are in a ziplock baggy under his pillow!

Today was Alayna's very fist day of preschool! I drove her to school and hung out for a while. Today she did puzzles, had music class and colored. I left after the first hour because she really didn't need me there. She did so well. I can't believe that I'll be home alone three hours a day five days a week! I'm going to be so lonely!! At least I'll have Paris to hang out with! I'm hoping that I'll be able get my chores done and start running again.

Sweet October

Masen has turned SEVEN!! Where has the time gone?? Has it really been seven years since I first held this sweet baby? I can't believe it.We had a simple birthday party and I brought cupcakes to Masen's class.

Football is finally over! With the practices and games it made our week so busy. Masen improved a lot and learned a ton. I didn't like how little the coach chose to play Masen during games so I don't know if I would put him in again next year. Masen goes to boy scouts once a week and he REALLY likes it. I'm glad that he's found something he has a passion for. 

For Halloween we went trunk-or-treating at the LDS church with Staci and her kids! The kids played games and we had a BBQ. The next day we went trick or treating around the neighborhood a little bit.I wanted to meet more of the neighbors. We have more candy than anyone would ever need!  Alayna was Princess Celestia from My Little ponies and Masen was a Pirate. He really thought he was hot stuff with the eyeliner and goatee!

Thats it for now! Tomarrow were all going to Joe town and the valley for my grandma's wedding! We can't wait to see everyone!!

Keeping up with the Petersens!

So heres a quick update on us!

Layna had her ballet recital a few weeks ago. She had three performances and she did pretty good. I only watched the first and last one because they kinda sprung the middle one on us and the tickets were kinda expensive.  Hopefully Ill be able to post a video of it soon. I have never been so proud of my little girl. Watching her dance on stage is something that I'll always remember and treasure forever. 

Masen had his kindergarten graduation and Bary and Sharon came up to watch. His class sung about a zig-zagging little puppy. I can't believe that he will be in first grade next year!! We really enjoyed having Bary and Sharon here. We don't get a lot of company here so their visit was a treat. The boys went motorcycling whille the girls just hung out at home. We had a smorie roast in the back yard and discovered that Masen is a little pyro! Staci and Aaron came over with the kids and joined us for a whille. 

Now school is out for summer and we hope to find somethings to do to keep the kids busy and my sanity. I plan on taking the kids to the splash pad, a beach day at the lake, hopefully at least 1 or 2 visits to Joe Town, and our San Diego trip!! Happy Summer!!

Happy Presidents Day!!

Jeremy FINALLY had a day off and goes back to his normal schedule next week! Yay! Today we all had some fun together and went motorcycling outside of town. Even mama had fun! 

Masen turns 6!

Bikini Bottom

Last weekend I went with my brother and his family to Bottomless Lakes outside of Roswell. Jeremy was on nights so he stayed home to sleep. It kinda sucks because my brother and Jeremy are on opposite schedules so they never have the same days off.  The lake is set up so nice! It had covered shade only like 20 feet from the beach, showers to rinse off and BATHROOMS! The kids had so much fun I can't wait to go again. 

Joseph Knight Rogers

A few months ago while I was visiting my parents in Joseph City my dad set me to work going through a box of some of my grandpa's things. My dad wanted to put together some pictures for him to bring to a family reunion. I was never real close to my grandpa Joe and have few memories of being with him. I do remember him always walking with a cane and later I discovered why. 


As I went through this box I learned so much about my grandpa and explored this man's life. Among the pictures and paperwork was a small envolope with some old cards and letters. They were aged and delicate and the script style was difficult to read. The letters were sent to my great grandmother with from friends and family expressing their condolences for her son who had gone missing in the war. My heart hurts for how she must of felt having a son missing on the other side of the world and unable to do anything about it. After doing some investigation and finding a one page autobiography, I pieced together the life of this amazing person.


My grandpa grew up in Stafford AZ and as soon as he graduated he sighed up to join the army. My grandmother made him wait to graduate first. I read in his year book  that the senior trip to Carlsbad Caverns was canceled because of the war. We've moved to New Mexico last year and the Caverns are only about 30 minutes from us. 


 He was on the 101st airborne division and was a paratrooper on D day June 6, 1944.  I've heard that on his jump his pack and plane were overloaded resulting in them missing there target landing place and my grandpa breaking his ankle or foot on landing. It had to be terrifying for him. I can't imagine.


 He was later taken and put in a prisoner of war camp. He managed to escape by riding under a train only to be discovered and captured again my German soldiers. He was forced to particiapte in a death march. I've learned this is where the captured soldiers are forced by gunpoint to walk mile after mile with very few rations. Some how grandpa Joe escaped again, I think someone helped him get back?? 
When he stated the war he weighed 185 pounds and after he was 140. 


After the war he married married a lady from Joseph City ( I totally can't remember her name right now except she was a Rogers too) Grandma Charlotte Petersen has told me she met him before at a dance or something and everyone was intrigued by him being a war hero. They had twin babies who were still born and later separated. 


His next wife was my Grandma Carol and they had my dad and uncles. It didn't work out because they separated too but if you knew my grandma you wouldn't blame him.... ((Just kidding grandma Love you!!!)) He ended up spending his life with my sweet Grandma Marie. My grandpa had jobs like working at a school and being a truck driver. He enjoyed to garden and had a green thumb. 


I'm so great full that I discovered this history of his life. I wish that I knew more and had gotten to know him better. I am so proud to be able to say that Joseph Knight Rogers is my hero and on this memorial day you are not forgotten.

Every girl deserves a Valentine!

Okay I just have to brag about my amazing husband!
The last three mornings  I've woken up to find beautiful flowers in my kitchen! My table is full with lilies, tulips and roses! This morning I found a dozen roses in a beautiful vase with one artificial rose and a note that saids..."I'll love you til the last one dies" Jeremy saids one dozen flowers for every year that we've been married.

And he even left some fake roses just for Layna....When I said something about this you know what Jeremy said "Every girl deserves a Valentine" Isn't that the sweetest thing ever? I love my husband!

February Bring it on!

Howdy Hey! Well things have been going good lately for my little family. We moved again two days ago from the worlds smallest apartment to house. We feel so relived to be out of there! The kids each have they're own room again and the kitchen is definitely more functional here. We have a huge back yard too. Our new landlord is super sweet and friendly, he didn't even make us sign a lease. Now that were more comfortable we can relax and take our sweet time while we look for a house to buy or even build.

Masen and Layna are getting bigger and bigger everyday. They surprise me by how much they know and pick up so easily. Masen has taken apart and put back together his skateboard several times. He has the tool box he got from Christmas and he sets up shop. I took him to the park where they have like a skate park area set up and he sat on the board rode down the ramps. I was surprised that his skate board stayed together the whole time. My son is such a bad ass!!
Masen had a eye appointment and the doctor saids that he needs to wear an eyepatch on his good eye to make him use his bad eye more. She said he sould wear it for a few hours a day for the next few months. We tryed it and that lasted like two minutes. He hates it. He get frustrated and feels like he can't see. We havnt been forcing him to wear it because its just impossiable. But he does look like the cutest pirate in the world!

Layna is now mostly potty trained! We started working with her a few months ago and gave up because she just didn't understand. About a week ago I just stuck a pantie on her and its like a light bulb went off in her head because she has hardly had any accidents!

Jeremy's work is starting turn-a-round this month. Its like an over haul where they shut things down so they can replace and fix things at the plant. So since they're working on a lot of things on the south side where Jeremy works, he'll be working every day this month. Well he'll actually be working nights. I'll only see him a few hours a day :(

 Jeremy won't have any days off until March so were planning a Joe City trip that month yay!! I'm so excited to see my family! I'm still getting use to being so far away from my family. I miss my mommy! Yeah I'll say it!! I don't think I've ever gone more than maybe two weeks with out seeing her.

I think that's about all thats going on with us. I just feel so thankful lately! Things have been so awesome I feel spoiled. Like really?! This is my life I love it! I am so blessed! I'm so lucky to have such wonderful kids and an amazing husband! You guys make my world go round!

Christmas Pictures!

We had tons of fun and a busy weekend! I was in the kitchen cooking like a mad man, (I can't believe I ate so much cookie dough yowzers!) the kids helped decorate cookies for Santa. Our tree had exactly two Christmas ornaments on it. We started to decorated it last week when i realized all my ornaments were glass so we only put up six of them and only two survived our tiled floors.

My Mom and Dad came down for a few days and it was so great to see them. We went over to Aaron and Staci's new house and ate dinner. We played cards and the kids had a snow ball fight with Papa. Heres some pictures, I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas!

Playing in the snow

Alayna had so much fun!

Decorating cookies for Santa.

Opening presents, thanks grandma!

The only shot of Layna opening presents.

New Mexico!

We've been here for about a week and a half and today we finally got Internet so I'll update you guys on our new life! Jeremy started his new job on Halloween and he saids its been boring so far. They have to train him on safety and explain how everything works. It sounds scary to me! He said theres some kind of gas they use for something but if you breath it, it'll knock you right out. So he has to wear some kind of monitor thing that lets him know if any is in the air. They have told him all these horror stories about accidents that had happened and I think it scares me more than him! I think that's just how it goes the first few weeks they have to make sure everyone understands safety procedures before they let him do anything. Mostly all Jeremy has done this week is sit in a classroom and get lectures and watch training videos. Hes looking forward to actually looking around the plant and doing something more physical.

Were the worst parents ever because we kinda skipped Halloween. Opps! My kids didn't have any costumes and we were still getting settled so we just decided they didn't need the candy. I'm pretty sure that there will be another Halloween next year too.

When we first got to our apartment we didn't unpack right away. We were in total shock. Our apartment is SO small. Its way smaller than the one we were in to before and it was filthily. The area its in is kinda ghetto too. Its funny because theres a sign out front that saids "Shady Lane Apartments" and it deffently fits this place. Me and Jeremy just looked at each other and said what did we do! We left our family, our home and Jeremy's job for this?! But after about an hour we recovered and started to unpack. Matt and Erin drove out of they're way to come help us unload. We are so thankful they came and helped us. My brother came over and helped after he got off work too. Having family over totally saved us mentally.

We are pretty settled in now and are more comfortable. Our apartment is small but now it feels like home. Durning the day I've been babysitting my brother's kids Chaz and Kenzi and between them and Masen and Alayna  I stay pretty busy. Jeremy comes home at lunch so thats fun. His work is only like 5 minutes away. After a few months he'll be making more money and we can start looking at houses. They re having a company party in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to getting out and meeting more people. We're not sure what Jeremy's schedule is going to be like but we want to try and make it back to Joe City for Thanksgiving.

Everything is going well and we know we made a good choice by moving up here and starting our new life as New Mexicans!

Oh and I've lost six pounds since we left Joe City! Probably from stress but eather way Joseph City you can keep those pounds! :D

Yes I am that awesome!

I made this shirt yesterday for Layna! I bought a pattern from my favorite second hand store for crazy cheap. Its from 1962 and its actually just for the top piece of the halter top making it a belly shirt. So I added a ruffled panel to the bottom for more coverage. Even though Alayna has the cutest belly ever I decided not to share it with the rest of the world and keep it just for me! I love the little collar on it!! Just thought I share!

Durango!!

On Saturday my best friend from high school got married in Durango Colorado. We hired a babysitter for the first time ever and drove the four hour trip there. We where only there for the day so that kinda sucked. We left in the morning and didn't get back until midnight. I was worried that the drive would be long and boring but it so much fun! I was excited for the time with Jeremy.

When we got to Durango we walked around downtown a little while and then headed to the wedding. Kirra got married in this cute little park next to an amazing creek. She was such a beautiful bride! It would be great if I could go to a wedding without balling my eyes out and messing up my makeup but there was no way to resist! I've never cared for romance girl movies but weddings totally melt my heart! Its so amazing to be a witness to someone pleading their heart to another person. I'm really happy for her! We went to her reception and then snuck off so that we could get home for the babies. I wish we had more time to expore Durango. Its the cutest town ever! It was a rushed trip but totally worth it!

Congratulations Kirra and Jake!!

Stayin' up all night until the morning light! .....or just ten o'clock

Jeremy went to the valley over the weekend and me and the kids need some entertainment so we called the cousins!!! I had so much fun with those kids!! We colored puzzles, made a fort, played card games and even made some hair bows- well me and Brooke did while the boys hunted for lizards.

Here's some of my favorite pictures from our sleepover.

I LOVE the one where Waylon is getting attacked by a rubber snake!!It makes me smile so big! Lol I love that boy!!

The Kitchen ate the baby.

A week or so ago I was watching my niece and nephew and I was in my craft room doing something when I heard Alayna crying. I went into the play room a little bit later because I just figured she was fighting with the kids (I know I'm such a great mother right) and I found her stuck up to her ribs dangling in her play kitchen. I started freaking out and tryed to pull her lose but she was stuck tight. Jeremy was asleep so I told Masen to hurry and go get him. Jeremy didnt come right away so I started screaming for him to come help me. I didn't want to let go of Layna and risk her slipping more and hang herself. Finally Jeremy walks in half asleep and trys to help me. I guess Masen just told Jeremy "Dad its time to get up" Naughty!

So we soap Layna up to try to slip her out but she didn't move an inch. So Jeremy ends up getting a saw of some kind from the shop and he cuts the kitchen in half and frees my poor little girl. They whole time I'm standing there trying to hold her up to take pressure of her ribs and chest. Layna is not a small girl so my arms where so tired by the time she was out. She was really squished in there.

I think the kitchen was on its side and she was climbing up it and the cardboard backing broke of and she went right though. I think I was more upset then she was about the whole thing. Thank goodness Jeremy was there or I don't know what I would have done!



poor baby!

Happy again! The middle shelf is the one she fell through. Just over 3inches wide