Making Up For Lost Time

Updates on Clifton -
He is going through and independent kick right now.  Which is great.  He has always been easily frustrated when he cannot do something right which causes him to rely on me for most things.  But this week he was all over it.  Every morning he would wake up pick out his clothes try his hardest to get himself dressed.  He even went down stairs and helped but toast in the toaster and spread peanut butter on it for his breakfast.  I love it.  I hope this continues:)

Updates on McKay -
Her hair is getting long!  I put braids in her hair for the first time.  They turned out really messy but still super cute.  I need to start practicing on hair so I can start doing cute things with her hair.

McKay is a smart girl.  She is learning her colors and learning how to match.

So I have my van back again and I can get out of the house!!!!  I sure made up for lost time this week.  We got out everyday and had a blast!  Monday we went to the park and walked around the docks to visit the cool boats.  Clifton said they were Captain Hooks and Peter Pans boats:)

Then that night we had dinner and FHE with good friends.

Karen got giant bubbles out for activity.  The kids loved it, heck I loved it.  A fun night:)

Tuesday I had a Groupon that was about to expire for the kids museum in Bainbridge that I used.

It was a fun place.  The kids could have played for hours:)

Wednesday we went to the zoo for preschool field trip.

 First camel ride!

 First time feeding the birds.  Both of my kids were really afraid but it was exciting for them.

Then that night we went to the Kitsap County Fair.

We had a ton of fun.  Clifton got to go on rides and McKay even got to go on a few as well.  Clifton is getting over a lot of fears he has.  He did a lot of the rides all by himself and one he had to climb up high and slide down a big slide.  He climbed up by himself and pushed his fear aside.  I know it is silly but I was so proud of him.  McKay loved seeing all the animals the most.  It was a great night.

Thursday we went to the Y and signed Clifton up so he can take classes.  While we were there we decided to take a look around and see what the Y has to offer.

The swimming pool was great.  My kids are often scared of water but they had no fears at all and played for an hour and did not want to leave.

Saturday we went to ride the trains.  Always fun!

A crazy fun week.  In Clifton's prayer one night he thanked Heavenly Father for having such a fun day.  It made me so happy to hear he was having as much fun as I was.  I love being a mom and going out and exploring the world around us, it's one of my favorite things to do with my kids.  I am so blessed to be able to have my van back and to be able to stay home and explore with my kids.  Best job ever!

Soccer Mom

Updates on Clifton -
He is picking out his own outfits but does not understand that he will get hot if he wears long sleeves in 80 degree weather:/  But continues to want to be independent!

Updates on McKay -
Her new favorite thing to say is "No way!".  At times its funny:)

The big news this week is that we finally got another car!!!!  We bought Alex's moms car that has not been used in YEARS!  It was so nice how much his parents helped this car get ready for us to use.

The bird!  We are hoping it last at least a couple years.  Fingers crossed:)

Clifton started soccer this week!!!  It was his first time practicing with a team and it was my first time coaching.  I was real worried he would not join in.  He is pretty young still and the team is 4-5 but my friend is letting him join since I am coaching the team.

I was pleasantly surprised with Clifton.  He did really well.  He did quit a little early but I think he was frustrated.  He was playing hard during the game but could not quite get the ball away from the other team.  So we will have to work on understanding its okay to try and not win, but to keep trying.

Hopefully it just gets better and better every week:)

Friday night was the Electric Run.  A few friends and I went.  Kathryn and I got ready together.  And I think shopping for the outfit and getting ready was my favorite part:)  Oh and walking through Walmart all decked out.  Good times!

The kids even joined in on the dressing up:)

Love them:)

Last minute another good friend of mine joined us:)

And I got to meet up with an old friend, Jack.  It was good to see him.  It has been years.

It was a fun race.  The down fall is we had to wait in line to run longer then it took us to run the race.  It was a fun night out with pretty fun people.  I am a lucky lady because I have great friends that are willing to be goofy with me.

Saturday we went and saw Planes with the kids.

It was a cute movie and Clifton really liked it.

Later our neighborhood had a party.

Snow cones!!!!

Another great week at the Peterson's!

Trek 2013

Updates on Clifton -
He is being really testy and defiant lately.  He is trying to see what he can get away with.

Updates on McKay -
She can walk up the stairs without using her hands!

It was a hot week here.  So a ton of water play:)

Water is always fun!

This week was our stakes trek.  Alex and I were asked to be a Ma and Pa.  We have be super busy trying to get things together to go.  Clifton helping us get ready:)

My mother in law was awesome and came to watch our kids at our house while we were at the trek.  I knew this would be hard.  I have not left my kids over night and not for two nights and three days.  But I knew we were asked for a reason and that we should do it.

So away we went bright and early Thursday morning.  I was nervous to meet our kids that would be in our trek family.  Afraid I would not be what they needed, they would not like me, or I would have to push them and be too hard on them (I'm not a quitter).  However we got a great group of kids!  I know that they were prayerful in that decision!

 He was looking mighty fine all dressed up as a pioneer:)

Before I got all sweaty, dirty, and smelly.

Peterson family!!!!

Playing stick pull!  I even took on Alex.  And I lost, of course!

Family against family tug-a-war!  We won:)

Ma and Pa kissing and grossing out our kids!

We seriously had a wonderful and crazy experience.  We pulled hand carts three days and about 8 miles each day.  Except one day when we got lost and walked almost a mile in the wrong direction:/ Oops!  Along the way they had actors/actresses acting out scenarios that actually happened like missing kids or family members, sick people, people turning back and quitting, etc...  They did such a great job planning and making the experience realistic.  One morning the kids had to pull carts up a huge hill and with out the Ma and Pa's.  It was great to see them working hard and working together.  Instead of just doing it once as a family.  All the families worked together to get the 15 hand carts up the mountain.  We also had a challenge that was unexpected.  A huge thunder and lighting storm with a flash flood!!!! It was the craziest storm I have ever seen and we were out open to it.

We were the only girls that stayed dry!  My girls were smart and reacted fast!  It was very scary to be out in the open field watching this storm all around us but we survived.  Since the majority of the youth were wet it was decided we needed to get to shelter for the rest of the night.  So we contacted the local bishop for help and members that we have never met before came and shuttled all 180 people to the church and provided us with blankets at 2 am.  The next day we were running on a few hours of sleep.  So we had to decide what to do.  We left it to the kids to decided.  Almost all the kids decided that we needed to trek to our final destination.  They did not want to give up and knew that the real pioneers had to keep going.  I was so proud of the youth that day.  They trekked and trekked with great attitudes.  It was such a great experience!

My kids did great with Grandma P.  She is such a wonderful women to be willing to help out.  My kids loved having Grandma and really did not mess me at all (which hurts a little, but it is good).  When I got home Clifton asked where Grandma was and he did not want me:/  I am glad they had fun and glad they got to spend quality time with Grandma.  I cannot thank her enough for helping us out and taking such good care of my babies!