Back to School

The summer went by entirely too fast, and school is here again! Ethan is in 7th grade and starting at Lehi Junior High this year. He actually started a day before his sisters to get the lay of the land at the new school before all the older grades were there. Erin is in 4th grade and Katelyn in 1st grade, both at Sego Lily Elementary. Ryan and I get to be buddies all day while the olders are at school. We will both miss them!

Ethan and Ryan (in diaper who HAD to be in the picture too.)



Sisters

Katelyn 1st grade



Ethan 7th grade



Erin 4th grade

 



All together and ready for school.



Father's Day

Jeff was gracious enough to share Father's Day with my birthday this year. We had cinnamon rolls before church and a little R&R after church. Two power outages couldn't stop dinner. Jeff fired up the grill to warm up the beef brisket and boil the mashed potatoes. After dinner we had my birthday cake and let the kids run around in the backyard. Jeff got some fruit pies and a multi-position ladder. We are so grateful to have a loving husband and father. We love you Jeff!

** Side note- Ethan passed the Sacrament for the first time today. It was very special as it was my birthday and Father's Day. A day to remember!

Deacon

Ethan was given the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday and ordained to the office of a Deacon. It's hard to believe that he is old enough. We were lucky enough to have Grandpa Petersen and Great Grandpa Lewis there to make 4 generations of priesthood holders. Ethan says it felt even better than when he was baptized. I am so grateful to have a son who makes good choices and is striving to live the gospel. He is looking forward to fulfilling his priesthood duties of passing the sacrament and collecting fast offerings. Father's Day Sunday (also my birthday this year) will be his first week to pass the Sacrament- that will be a  special day to remember.

The Graduate

My Miss K has graduated Kindergarten! Her program was so cute. The 3 kindergarten classes all sang some songs while wearing their paper hats (morterboards). Katelyn was so happy and excited. She has loved school and her teacher Mrs. Coles. K has come a long way this year and is caught up academically to where she should be. She is looking forward to first grade and the promise of getting a lunchbox.

Ethan's 12!

It's hard to believe that I am the mother of a 12 year old! Ethan celebrated early with us on Saturday at Tucanos for his birthday dinner date with just mom and dad. He got to pick the place and we all enjoyed a delicious feast. Ethan expanded his palate by trying a passion fruit lemonade, filet mignon and chicken hearts. Today we celebrated big. There was no school because of Memorial Day. We hosted the family BBQ at our house and had lots of fun with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We have expanded our family this week to 10 people with the addition of 4 cousins while their parents are out celebrating a wedding anniversary. Because of that we decided to host rather than travel. Ethan received lots of wonderful gifts including a Lego set (wouldn't be a birthday without one), a Newton's cradle, plasma ball, fun cards from the cousins, and cold hard cash. He really wanted all money, but wasn't quite ready to give up all the opening of real presents. So he settled on a compromise of a few gifts supplemented with moolah. He is growing up! He wanted an ice cream cake this year (Reeses, yum!), and he even was allowed to man the lighter to light his own candles.

I am so proud of Ethan. He survived his time in Primary. The last month hasn't been easy, but he has kept a positive attitude. He is a great example to his younger brother, sisters and cousins that look up to him. He earned his Faith in God award for church. He is a good boy and is maturing into a young man. I am excited and apprehensive to watch the transition. I am not ready to let him go, but know that he needs to make his own choices and learn things for himself. It can be tricky being a mother. He has a giant piece of my heart and will forever.

His summer plans include band (trumpet), youth conference, scout camp, lots of time swimming and hanging out with friends. On to the next phase in life- Jr. High!

Trouble

Ryan's new nickname is "Trouble." It has gotten progressively worse as he has learned to get around on his own. First the army crawl at age 7 1/2 months. Then he mastered the hands and knees crawl by 10 months, which was quickly followed by the pulling up on everything. Finally, a few weeks before his first birthday he took his first steps. I can only imagine that the trouble will get worse!



June 30, 2011- Ryan was just learning to stand. He always came crawling whenever I would do laundry. The front loading washer is one of the best babysitters I ever bought.

















Washers are cool, but so is the camera. Let me see that...














July 21, 2011- Ryan in the dryer. It is so hard to do laundry sometimes with all of his "help." But he is one of the cutest laundry helpers I have ever had.









July 30, 2011- Ethan was so kind as to share some of his ice cream cone with Ryan.













September 9, 2011- He must have the same talent as his big sister Erin. I can always tell when those two get some chocolate. And usually so proud of it too.







September 18, 2011- Another incriminating chocolate picture. Just a few chocolate chips please...












September 24, 2011- Ryan figures out he can get where he wants to go by pushing the kitchen chairs around on the tile as a walker. Then he doesn't have to stop and crawl the rest of the way if he falls.







Now he has moved on to walking unassisted, and is getting faster and better everyday. Last week he was upstairs with me while my visiting teacher was over. Ryan disappeared from the room for a while. I just assumed he was in the kitchen. Moments later I heard Katelyn yelling from downstairs for Ryan to get away from her toys! He had crawled all the way downstairs by himself. I knew he could come up, but not down. He does it all the time now, usually by sliding on his tummy backwards on the kitchen tile toward the stairs. Then he heads feet first all the way down like Superman in reverse. What a crackup! The entire house is now his domain and he comes and goes as he wishes. (Much to the dislike of his sister Miss K.)

The Painting of the Purple

When we bought our house, Katelyn got the boy Mario room. We promised her a new paint job soon. Soon has come later than sooner, but it is finally finished! She helped to pick out her new purple butterfly bedding and the coordinating wall color. Only two walls were painted purple, and the other two white. Sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. It took two days (thanks to the four coats it took to cover, even with primer), but she is happy. She was excited to help on every coat and is so excited to show it off to everyone that comes over.




Katelyn happily gets things going. She has been patiently waiting a long time for this.














One coat is never enough. It ended up taking 4!















Some of the not-so-happy help.










Finally in the new purple room with her new bedding.












Ryan shouldn't mind for another year or so, right?