Moab Trip 2008

Remodel

About every 4 months Cam and I get a surge to work on remodeling. Now we've picked up again. It would have been fun to keep a log, not necessarily of what we've done, but the dynamics of Cam and I working together. Talk about equally yoked but unequally wired. It cracks me up. For example, it seems that we both get the surge close to the same time. But WOW!! totally different ideas on the entire thing. It's almost like we both have the exact same outcome, but getting there is another thing. He's coming from one direction and me from another, and at first we both don't realize we headed to the same place. Once we realize that, after trying to come in on our own roads, then it seems to not matter how we get there, just that we both want to, and we both are doing it our own way and having fun and helping each other in their way. Ok, I've got to go to yoga, but I want to say what the differences are next. By the way, Cam took all the boys to his flag football game at the U. I want to go to a game sometime, but today the yogies are calling. . .

Me and Jen

I was going to add more pics of "me and Jens" that's why I didn't comment, but we'll start with this one. This is me and Jen Limpert (hope she doesn't mind) last year up at Lake Blanche which I believe is one of the prettiest hikes close around. I just saw this and got excited for hiking and mountain biking. And I was reminded what a great friend Jen is. She doesn't blog (yet) so I can say anything I want about her. She is way awesome! I don't believe it is just a consequence that we both moved into this area at the same time. I'll save more details for her b-day coming up, and that way I can ask her if she minds being featured in cyberspace.

Not sure this is how you do it, but we'll see

Tagged!
Who do you love? Cam and fam and friends
How long have you been Married? going on 11 YEE HAW!!!
How long did you date? I've been dating since I was 14. Oh and Cam hmm...6 months - ish.
what is dating? for me, making out
Who is taller? Cameron
Who is Smarter? on usless information (I guess it can be useful to some people) CAM, on fun-er topics I'd have to say ME, actually who knows
Who does the Laundry? Me and it piles and piles up folded until Cam puts it away or we both do.
Who pays the bills? We split them (I think)
Who mows the lawn? I love to, Cam, and Wyatt
Who cooks dinner? both
Who drives? I like doing that too
Tag: Chels, Mandy, How many do I choose? and Nicole

Moab Trip 2008

Boys trying out Slickrock Trail.

By Golf Course.



I think if I had my camera constantly clicking, 90% of the time I'd catch Landon in mid-air.

Cam was teaching a wilderness medical mountain biking class in Moab, so we thought we'd all go down. It was perfect weather, just a little cool, not too hot, just the way I like it.

We stayed in a condo, had the pool to ourselves.

There is nothing like driving to Moab (not necessarily the town although that is quite amazing as well) and arriving in the dark, and waking up the next morning (well if you are camping) and you wake up in the middle of red rock heaven. There is nothing quite like it. It is one of my most stunning memories.

The Other Side of Moab

This is what I call "a sign". We should have just stayed on vacation and not have tried to come home. This is an example of what happens when you leave before you were mentally rejuvinated and ready to leave.



Landon was telling me, "This is the first time I've riden on a tow truck." Then Everett realized the same thing. And you'd think being my age, you'd have experienced just about everything your little kids have. Hmm... Cam rode in the tow and me and the kids rode in the van ON the tow.

Last thing on this, we were somewhere dry and brown between Green River and Price when our car started smoking a ton and stinking, and a $200 tow later and a stay at a Price hotel, things turned out OK. I hate to admit this but I think my kids had more fun in Price than in Moab. NAAA, they couldn't have.

Coming Soon!!!

Vacations at their finest! Check back for more details. Details on "Chicken Little" or "Brown" as we call him/her still to come.

Oh ya, my B-day in Goblin V.

It feels so weird to be 25 yrs old.

Oh, I had a little chicken

One of my b-day presents, more pics to follow with a brief explanation, some of you don't need an explanation.

Packing for Moab

I'm supposed to be packing to go to Moab tomorrow right now, but I've wanted to add a few more things for a few days now and Cam's not here to distract me so I'll have to hurry.

Bryce Kimball Peterson born 2 years ago yesterday (on Easter that year). He is such a chunky monkey and we can't help but love him and squoosh his chubby fat bottom. I had him in Pocatello, Idaho with Dr. Kim Cox, the Dr. of my 3 last boys, the son of the Dr. of most of my mom's 9 kids, and the husband of my sister. He is incredible!!! But we'll talk about him later... It was both Cameron's Intern Year and planned. That in itself was a questionable idea. But I couldn't be happier! He has been icing on the cake for sure. All though that whole year of pregnancy and just life I was mostly on my own, for everything from kids, to school, to homework, to Dr. appointments for all of us, to bills, to keeping up the house and cars and lawn and pets control (ok I did have Cameron do that). I was going to a Dr. here in SLC for convenience, but chickened out at the last minute and went up to Kim. Anyway, long story short, I left the doors of the hospital elated and thinking how fun that birth was and I loved it, and I was euphoric to have Bryce, it was sooooo fun!!!! I was seriously loved it!!! He's is the best! He is too much fun!

For his b-day, this is so cheezy, but we took the boys out of school for a couple of hours and went to Chuky Cheese, not really like me, but it was pretty funny. And of course the boys thought it was cool to miss school and go there. They had construction next to Chucky's with big tractors going and digging, and I honestly think they might have liked that even more. Maybe next year. Well Happy B-Day Mogo, we sure love you!!!

Photos by Jackie

Good Ol' Days

Once upon a time there were these two people shown below. They came together by means of similar interests and outlooks and life views. In that time when they first met, they would both have been complete and completely happy living as drifters of adventure in the wild. And so, that's what they did, well, at least on the weekends. Every weekend. It was so intriguing and engaging. That is the world where there got to know each other. That is the world where they grew close together. That is the world they would love and remember forever. Once upon a time there were these two people and four little boys (all of a sudden).

The nights we lay there as quiet and still as the desert night sky hoping Bryce would be zonked this time when he'd laid down he'd not pop up and jump over one of our heads again and poke the other in the eye with his little finger to see if our eyes were really closed. We just laid there pretending to be asleep so we wouldn't accidentally do anything interesting for him to want to see. (Which was incredibly cute by the way) How different that was from the good 'ol days when Cam and I couldn't stop talking, ever, I think. We've never really had kids sleeping between us, especially in a situation that was "ours" like camping. It was just me and Cam and whatever we wanted to do, wherever we wanted to go. On this trip all of a sudden it kind of hit me. (I guess it took 10 1/2 years to hit me) That the "just me and Cam" days are really gone. Definitely NOT in a bad way, but I really did and do like him.

This has always intrigued me: We get to choose our spouse, whom we will be married to and live with forever, which is great because we chose to. Typically when first married, you and he are both working and/or going to school, not able to spend all the time with each other as you'd hoped to or would like to, thinking some day you will be able to. You choose to do nice things for each other and take care of each other and be close to them all the time.

Then comes the baby in the baby carriage, who you don't remember choosing, yet you spend most to all of your time with. And you pretty much have to care for them and do nice things for them and hold them (by have to I mean you can't not because they are so fragile and you want to and they need you and they are your own little gaagaa googoos and they rely on you and have been entrusted to you and are so incredibly awesome, as apposed to your grown husband who can take care of himself by this time, even if you still want to, the baby really needs you, even if he is 9 years old).

My point is this: 10 1/2 years later I have 4 awesome boys that have such different and individual personalities and needs and wants. They are all their OWN little person. They came to earth with as much yearning for their free agency as I did or anyone did. I, being their mama, feel the bigger than life bond and love and responsibility for them that it is absolutely surreal. I don't think that ever goes away. I think sometimes it's hard for mom's to ever explain their feelings about their kids. The bond, the care, the significance, the concern, the attentiveness, the time, the love, the weight and importance that mom's have towards their kids is a hard thing to comprehend.

Then time seems to escape every grasp. I can remember several days of the past years feeling like I was being yanked through life behind a huge semi. It was fast and furious and felt a bit out of control at times. It was sure fun though. Now looking back at the short time that we had being just Cam and me, I realize how important that time was. It's easy to have these little people consume your life and your self. You have that bond almost automatic and forever with them, they are literally part of you. But that time when it was just me and Cam camping under the stars, talking about life and plans and anything else naive we wanted to talk about and believe, those were good times. Back then maybe I thought that's how it would always be. But I believe moments happen for a reason in steps and in seasons. As much as we think we want Summer to come and stay, Fall and Winter are on their way. In each season the anticipation of what it holds or what it will bring, always in motion, always with a purpose. The ebb and flow of life will always bring with it growth and something new and sometimes unexpected. Like I always say, don't expect much, and you won't be disappointed. Who would have guessed how life would go. I'm so thankful for it and all of it's surprises.

I feel humbly privileged to be entrusted with my little boys. I feel completely honored to be with Cam. And Cam and I will camp alone under the stars again someday, or at least be awake together at the same time for a few minutes and try to peek at least one of the stars together through Bryce's fingers over our eyes, even if it ends up not being the same star or even on the same day.

Camping with Goblins

This was fun!! It's been too long. In fact Bryce camped when he was a few weeks old then I'm not sure what happened... but it has been a long time. I know that it's been a long time for a couple of reasons:
1. They boys thought they had died and gone to heaven. They are completely in their element in the "wild". It's so crazy.
2. I packed for days and the amount of stuff I packed seemed to have 10duppeled since the last time I camped, not to mention searching for the stuff. This was a "practice" trip. But turned out GREAT. It was sooooooo fun!!!!!
3. I'm not sure this indicates it's been a while but I'd like to say for the record that Cam and I realized (again) they call them "mini" vans for a really really good reason! I think that one time when I washed my van, it shrunk. Good thing I'm good at cramming things, I'm even better NOW.

This was really great. It was cold, but that's the way I like to sleep. Cam and I stayed pretty warm off and on when Bryce would crawl on our heads we warmed up real nicely. Name that plant.