Catch Up Post (I Promise To Do Better This Year)

Okay, I know I have been a complete slacker about keeping this thing updated.  Let's just say once you let a couple things slide it then becomes a huge mountain of catch up.

Instead of trying to individual catch up posts I am doing one big one and hoping I hit most of the highlights and then I promise to do better.  I have actually decided to set aside Sunday afternoons to write the blog and letters.  So, we'll see how that goes.




The girls had a huge sleepover for their birthday.  They invited friends from the old ward, new ward, and homeschool friends!  They invited a total of 15 girls, 14 were able to come!  At first we didn't think that all the girls would be allowed to spend the night, which was fine with me.  In the end though 13 of the 14 girls spent the night!  So, we had a total of 15 girls there, counting Mia and Emma, spending the night for their birthday!  Things were crazy!

Here are most of the girls posing for a crazy picture.  Of course after we took this picture more girls showed up!

We had make your own pizzas for dinner. They had a table full of choices of toppings to put on their pizza. And make your own cupcakes for the cake.  They had a table full of candy and sprinkles and icing to decorate the cupcakes however they wanted to.

We had the Wii going in one room, the karaoke machine going in another.  Girls sliding down the steps in sleeping bags. Girls drawing, reading, and just having fun.  There were girls talking, screaming, shrieking, giggling, and laughing, in just about every corner of the house!  Mia and Emma opened presents.We had a pinata in the backyard filled with candy because in case you couldn't tell we weren't hyped up on enough sugar yet!

I finally ended up having to threaten to turn into "mean Marci" if they didn't go to sleep at 4 in the morning!  By 4:30 they were all sound asleep!

I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then parents started to come and pick up their sugar filled and tired girls!  I was beat!





Emma did get her ears pierced and was able to change them to fun earrings on our anniversary.  It wasn't planned, it just worked out to be 8 weeks after we got it done.  But we did get a Happy Anniversary after a yell of excitement, "Do you know what day it is?  Time for fun earrings! Oh, and Happy Anniversary."

So now both my girly-girls have their ears pierced and get to wear the "fun"earrings.  They love to change their earrings to match their outfits.  They also love to shop for earrings but that's a whole other story!





Austin left us at the end of October and went back home.  Isaac flew in for a week after he got off his mission and Austin and Isaac flew home to PA together.  Thanks for the visit, we miss you guys!

Halloween 2010 saw the girls looking cute as could be!  We attended our first ward activity in our new Rialto 1st ward.  Mia was Spidergirl and Emma was Alice.  Erik went as Indiana Jones and I went as a Hick, I know big stretch for me. ;)

Mia as Spidergirl

Erik as Indiana Jones and Emma as Alice from Alice In Wonderland

We had Thanksgiving dinner at Mammy and Grandpa's and to carry on a tradition that the girls wanted to start a few years ago, the girls got to make a fun dessert.  This year they made cake balls on a stick and they decorated them to look like turkeys.

Around Christmas time we went and toured a candy story that still makes by hand candycanes. 

Preparing the candy with color and flavor.  They keep flipping the candy to cool it off so it gets harder.

Stretching the candy.  The pulling makes it turn white.

The girls then got to shape their own candy pieces.  They didn't choose the usual cane!  That's my girls!

While there we also bought chocolate covered bugs to try.  Well, Erik, Emma and I tried them.  Mia couldn't get pass the fact that they were bugs!  They were just chocolate and crunchy!



As part of our Christmas presents from each other and Granny and Pappy, we finally got season passes for Disneyland, so I am sure you will be seeing a lot of Disneyland this year!  Here are some of our favorites from the time we got our passes and on!

And no Christmas is complete without telling Santa what you want!  So here are the girls with Santa at Rialto 1st Ward's Breakfast With Santa.

Birthday Bash With The Family!

The girls' birthdays are only 3 weeks apart and I am right smack dab in the middle.  So, to make it easier on everyone, okay so I don't know exactly how easy it is on everyone else but it sure is easier on me, we have the family birthday bash on the same day.  And then they get to have their party with their friends.

This year, my mom, my dad, Wesley, Jordan, and Austin were able to be here for the party again.  Others who came were, Erik's parents, Michelle and Dustin and their kiddos, Ryan (Lizeth and Leilani had something else at her parents), and Nikki (Andy had class that night).  Also our dear friends, who might as well be family, Shonna and her kids made it over as well (Andy had a bunch of work to do). 

All in all it was a fun evening, I think.  Okay, so the girls and I had fun.  I hope everyone else did as well!

I made this really cool sunflower cake with Hershey Kisses, yummy!  Chocolate!

Thanks everyone who was able to make it and spend some special time with us.  And those of you who couldn't, wish you were here!  Love ya!

The sunflower cake. Can you say awesome?  and easy?  The petals are twinkies!

And of course you have to have a cake that says their names!  This was thrown together last minute, not my finest.

Family and friends!

Blowing out the candles!  They should get their wishes!

Love having everyone over!

Opening of presents, the girls' favorite part.  Thanks everyone!

Mia Got Her Ears Pierced!

We, well mostly Erik but I went along with it, decided that the girls could decide for themselves when they turned eight whether they wanted their ears pierced or not.  We figure if they are accountable in God's eyes, we might as well have them start making some choices. 

Mia went back and forth between wanting them pierced and not wanting them pierced.  She finally decided for sure that she wanted them done, and then we had to figure out a time to do it.  I could have just taken her one day to get them done but Erik really wanted to be there for it, so we had to coordinate with his crazy schedule.  And then remember to do it some evening when Erik got home from work.

Anyway end of August we finally had the time and memory to do it. 

We got there and there was some teenage girl having the cartilage pierced and freaking out so Mia who was already apprehensive about lost it.  We told her she didn't have to get it done but she really wanted to.  I told her that getting the earlobe pierced was totally different from having the cartilage done.  (I had my ears pierced when I was about 8. I finally got the cartilage pierced when I was at BYU, I always wanted that.  I really wanted a couple more holes as well.   And then the prophet came out with one hole per ear thing so bye bye all other holes and I took out the other.)

Mia was strong though.  She gripped my hand for dear life and with tears welling up she tells the guy to do it.  After he did the first one she asked, "Was that it?  Are we done?"  Love you Mia!

She can take them out October 18th, and have the fun earrings!!!  She is so excited! 

Emma said she didn't want her ears pierced but now that she really looked at all the fun earrings she wants hers done as well.  But she promised her friend that she would wait and go with her after her 8th birthday the end of November. 

Emma's Birthday and Baptism

Once again I am playing catch up.  Emma had her 8th birthday on August 26 and we had her baptism on her birthday! 

When she woke up she got to open her presents, she got a lot of Littlest Pet Shop stuff, her book was even a Littlest Pet Shop book. 

My parents and two youngest brothers, Wesley and Jordan, were in town visiting from PA for her baptism.  Ian, Angela, Adelia and baby Joseph were also able to make it up from San Diego where Ian is doing his internship at the Naval Medical Hospital in Balboa Park.

For their birthdays they get to pick what their "special" birthday dinner would be.  Emma chose homemade pizzas! 

Things were crazy that day running from one thing to another trying to get everything done.  We were not able to have her birthday cake before we had to leave for her baptism so we had it when we got home.

There were about 71 people there at her baptism!  Wow!  Thank you everyone who was able to make it.  You helped make Emma's special day even more special.

After the baptism we all traipsed back home for cake and ice cream.  Emma chose those Cheesecakes from a box, the Jello brand.  We love those things at our house! 

We also brought home with us friends Rachel, Crystal and Winter as their mom had to leave the baptism early.  Mom, Wendy and brother Darian got there shortly after we did so they all joined us for cake and ice cream.

It was a late night getting to bed.

Emma and Erik in their white jumpsuits ready for the baptism.

Emma and Mia making memories.

We are so proud of our accountable girls! ;)

Time for cake!  Happy Birthday Emma!

Happy Birthday to Erik!!!!

Erik celebrated his birthday on July 9th.  As is tradition in our family he got to choose, the meal and cake and something special to do on his day.

He chose to do an informal 5K fun run and we invited the whole Peterson side of the family.  Even the kids participated in this.  I think everyone had a good time.

Afterwards we went to Erik's parents for birthday breakfast of a crepe bar.  (I think next year it will be easier on me to have it our house instead of carting all the food over to their house.)

And then for birthday cake we had dessert crepes!

Erik loves crepes and unfortunately he hardly ever gets them, so I try to make him crepes around his birthday each year.  But this was the first year that we did it as a crepe bar and it went much easier.  Usually I try to make up a few different complex gourmet crepe recipes.  This year it was just everyday food.  Maybe he will actually get crepes more often after this.

We love you Erik!!!

Things I love about Erik:
1.  He is the best dad and husband, and is always trying to become better.
2.  He has worked at the same job that he doesn't like for the last 10 1/2 years to provide for the girls and I, giving up a lot of things that he wants like school and immersing himself in following his dreams.
3.  His sense of humor and general craziness
4.  His love of knowledge and learning
5.  His ability to set goals and keep at them until they are reached.
6.  His writing and imagination
7.  How he honors the priesthood he holds
8.  He always supports me and all my crazy ideas
9.  How he gets so passionate about things
10. We are out of debt, except the house, because of him and the goals he set and going without things he wanted so we can be more financially secure
11. He got us a house of our own, even though he is scared out of his mind about being a homeowner and all the responsibilities that go with that
12. He gets me to open up about things instead of holding them in like I usually do
13. He knows the REAL me and still loves me
14. He is sensitive, loving, and kind
15. He is my best friend and I am so glad that we will be together forever
He's Superman!!!

What Mia loves about Erik:
1.  He's kind
2.  He's loving
3.  He's fun to play with

What Emma loves about Erik:
1.  He's funny
2.  He's nice
3.  He's fun to play with

Fourth Of July Weekend In La Selva Beach

We went up to visit Erik's Grandma Carole's home in La Selva Beach for the fourth of July weekend. Erik's parents went as well. we all had a great time and a lot of activities packed into such a short amount of time.

Erik, the girls and I slept in a tent in the backyard. The girls had a blast, this was their first time camping. And I was close enough to all the modern conveniences so it worked out well!

Setting up the tent

"Sleeping" in the tent

We drove up to La Selva on Friday, we arrived in that evening and had enough time to put up the tent, eat dinner, visit a little bit with Grandma Carole, Erik's Uncle Ted and Ferd.  Then it was time to go to bed. Why does traveling make you so tired even though you are sitting the whole time?
We love La Selva! The weather is great, there is none of that death heat that we get down here in So Cal. You get that small town lifestyle, where everyone knows everyone. La Selva also has a private beach for the residents and their visitors. No fighting for an inch of beach space!
Saturday morning we got up early and tried to help Grandma Carole get ready for the next day's celebrations.

The girls Erik and I went on a walk to the cliffs overlooking the beach. On our way we saw Erik's Aunt Diane in her front yard and stopped to talk with her for a few minutes before we continued on our walk. 

We chose to take the scenic route to the cliffs.  We felt like we were the only ones there in the "forest." 

Love the greeness of it all!

On our way to the beach we stopped tat the park and the girls had a blast playing on the equipment.  After leaving there we ran into Mom and Grandma Carole who gave each of the girls a popsicle.

We also stopped into the small corner store that Erik's Uncle Mike and Aunt Diane own there in La Selva.


It was a foggy day and the beach was covered in fog even in the afternoon.  Of course I had to get a picture of it.

We then walked back home to Grandma Carole's.  And let me tell you, walking down the hill to get to the center of town is a piece of cake but walking up that last hill is another story!  But we did it, a few different times that weekend.

We had lunch and then Aunt Diane came up to visit and Uncle Mike soon followed.  Dinner plans were made and everyone went their separate ways promising to meet back up in a few hours. 

Erik, Mom, Dad, Mia, Emma and I found ourselves at the beach.  Where only the girls and I were brave enough to get in the water.  Or maybe the word I'm looking for is crazy.  The water was frigid!

Yep, that's us!

We then went back to Grandma Carole's to have dinner.  Mike, Diane , and Ted soon joined us.  We ate pizza, made s'mores, and just sat around the fire telling stories.  That is the most time that I have spent with Mike and Diane.  Thanks for the fun evening of stories, it was great to get to know you guys better.  The girls had a ball making s'mores with you as well and are still talking about it!

S'mores, yummy!

Bedtime then followed after Erik read a chapter of their book around the campfire.  Everyone fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows!

Sunday saw us rising early to begin the Independence Day Celebrations!

Erik, Mia, Emma, and I left first so we could catch the end of the pet show.  Mom and Dad soon joined us and the girls got their face painted and played on the bounce house.

We then headed over to get seats for the parade.  We saw Erik's cousin Tana and her boys in the parade but wouldn't get a chance to talk to them for at least a few more hours.

Waiting for the parade with Mammy and Grandpa

Tana, Woody, and Prescott

We then went and got lunch which was hot dogs, chips, soda, and a cookie!  I had the best chocolate brownie cookie.  Yummy!

Then the games began.  They divide the games according to age groups and the girls fell into different age groups this year.  Mia participated in the carrying a peanut in a spoon to your partner and then switching to your partner's spoon, without using your hands.  (Because we didn't know anyone there she was paired up with this sweet girl)  She also participated in the bubble gum blowing contest.

Emma participated in the run with a balloon between your legs race and the 3-legged race.  She was paired up with a sweet little boy.

Emma and her partner won second place in the 3-legged race!  Yay Emma!!!!  Their secret, as told by Emma is, "You have to go medium.  If you go fast you fall and if you go slow you don't make it in time.  Medium is the way to go."

Mia won third place in bubble gum blowing contest!  Yay Mia!!!!  As she was accepting her ribbon she blew the biggest bubble in front of everyone!

We then met up with Tana, Bob, their kids, and friends at the sand castle building contest.  Bob's team won first place in the sand building contest!  Yay Bob!!!!  Is anyone else seeing a pattern of winners here?

The girls and I made a quick stop at the store to get an ice cream treat because I was feeling really light headed.  Aunt Diane wouldn't let us pay for our ice creams and the girls were shoving their ice cream at the boy behind the counter because he wasn't ringing it up.  And looked at me like I had lost my mind when I told them to go ahead and open it up and that we were leaving.  It took some convincing before they realized that it was legal!  Thanks Diane for the treats!!!!

We went back up to participate in the games that Uncle Mike heads up.  The watermelon eating contest and egg toss!  Erik walked back to Grandma Carole's to get the car because I was worn out and drove it back down to pick us up.

The girls had a ton of fun climbing all the trees around La Selva.

We got back to Grandma Carole's in time to join the block party potluck dinner.  Where there was a live band, a bounce house, food, and friends!  Ted, Tana, Bob, their boys and kids soon joined us.

We all went back to Grandma Carole's where we met Mike and Diane.  We had some fun with some fireworks and sparklers. 

And then the craziness began.  Grandma Carole's neighbors all gathered out on the street with tons and tons of fireworks.  And then they started setting them off.  There were so many that the girls got bored after a while and asked to go back before they were done!

There was lots more visiting before another late bedtime.  This night I think the girls were asleep before their heads hit the pillows!

Monday saw us waking early and packing up to head back home.  Back to reality and the heat.  Thank you to everyone we had a great time!!!  We love you and can't wait till we see you next time.