Toddlers and Tiaras with Tom Hanks

Hidden picture, can you find spring???

Spring seems to be hiding this year.  I hope you have found spring!  In March, when all the hoopla starts and everyone starts filling in the brackets and getting all worked up over predicting the outcome of college basketball tournaments, it always reminds me of when Mike was at the MTC.   I remember sending him updates basketball March Madness, thinking he would really care.  He was really too busy learning french but, the Mom in me thought he needed a diversion.  Another article I sent him was about vendors selling yummy roasted bats on a stick in Abidjan, kind of like corn dogs at the fair!  I was just trying to prepare him for the culture shock.  That was a long time ago.  In June of 2005, we helped Mike and Melissa move out to Chicago where he began Medical school. Since then, they have had two more children and we have missed them terribly.  When he started school out there we knew that in March of 2009, would be Match day and with some variables that would depend on him and chance, we would know where they would go from there.  The days in March went so slow....we were so anxious.  He had worked so hard and done really well and had interviewing to specialize in Radiology which is quite competitive.  I was nervous.  Each day seemed like four.  Following is a link to their blog to find out more about Match day.  Needless to say, for me, it was an emotional day.  He and Melissa were delighted with the news of getting exactly what they wanted. They will move to Spokane for one year and then move to Phoenix for four and he will indeed specialize in Radiology.  With age I've become a bit soft and didn't only shed a few tears of joy and relief but I actually heard myself sob which....did worry me a bit.....I sounded like an emotionally distrait whanny!  But when I pulled myself together to identify my emotions.....yes, to own them......., (no need to pay John)  I felt gratitude for his protection, and humility for the obvious little role we play in our childrens lives.  Four out of our five children have thrived and become wonderful independent adults.   Only Tyra needs her mommy and she is just about 12.  Phew!  http://mnmpetersonfamily.blogspot.com/

Play keeps us vital and alive

Is this the puzzle piece I am missing in my life?  Maybe, although, I'm not sure I know how to let lose and reclaim it.  I found this illustration on a blog one day and haven't been able to shake it.  The quote that was with it was:
Play keeps us vital and alive.  
It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable.  Without it, life just doesn't taste good.    
~ Lucia Capocchione

Everyone has to find their own way to play.........
 Winter is tough.....last week was extra tough....

Linda, Gayla and Dianne and their husbands were in Mexico without us.  We couldn't go.  I thought if I ate at Taco bell, and tanned a little in the tanning bed, it would be okay.  But even when my taste buds were lighting up like usual, as I ate my cafe Rio salad, I was still thinking of them, waltzing down the beach with sandals on. The week had come and gone and I had almost forgot.  Last night, Hal was off on a scout camp out.
I sat down to check on the world and I found this picture of
my three cute sisters on the beach, in Mexico without me!

And just like that....it hit me....it's perfect.... 

I know how to play :)

Just look what I did.....it was really fun!....just me   

photo shop and my jimmy john sandwich.....
Sometimes we have to find creative ways to play!

New Years and Cookie Crumbs....

If you are reading this, you probably know me well enough to know that if I could eat anything I wanted to, and nothing else, it would just be cookies and chocolate-that's all and sometimes I do! That's why I go to the gym every morning. I even have a t-shirt that says
"I run so I can eat cake"
You might like my cookie story,
it's been a week and I'm still laughing.
Every night before bed, I have this ritual; I fill up my water bottle with ice water, I get my gym clothes ready, my coat out, I get out my gym bag....I everything ready to go to the gym the next morning. I can't give myself any excuses not to go. So....last week,
my black gym bag is on the bar stool, all ready to go and next to it, on the bar,
is this pkg of those hard yukky yellow vanilla filled sandwich cookies.
They are the, "only good in the middle of the night", kind of cookies. Anyway, before and on the way out of the door to the gym, I was eating some of those yukky cookies. Now-keep in mind that it is 4:30 a.m. and it is dark in our house, and on the way out the door....really dark.
I was on auto pilot as I entered the gym, sat down on the bench, took off my
slippers and ripped open the zipper of my black duffel bag to change into my running shoes.
Just as I ripped open that zipper, vanilla cookie chunks and crumbs flew off the top of my bag and all over the gym! They almost hit the people on the stationary bikes in front of the bench! There were other people on the bench with me. They turned their heads and tried not to notice, probably thinking I'd be embarrassed. I started giggled and laughed the entire time I was on the treadmill, in fact every time I think of the look on the peoples faces, it makes me want to do it again on purpose! Wow, I need to get out more!

December Fun

The Fun and Parties started early at our house.  Mike and Melissa came the first weekend in December and Jessica came the 18th because the spa she works at was closed for remodeling.  It would have been a sad Christmas without her to pull my act together for me.  Sometimes, mothers take care of daughters, this time, daughter took care of mother.  I'm grateful that my children are all happily independent and I'm not a meddling mom but.....it would sure be fun if they live closer!  I'm grateful that Melissa loves her family and really wants to move back her and not to ARIZONA!!!  ( She may read this) 

We had fun making gingerbread houses, going to Drake's Birthday Party, going to the Ward Christmas Party, Taking Drake and Madelyn to see the lights and taking everyone down to see Mom and Dad after Christmas.  Dad looks like a natural with those Cache and Annie! 

Christmas all kinds of fun 2009

Christmas all kinds of happiness 2009

Thanksgiving at our house the very 1st time!

Because we are both lucky enough to have family that has hosted Thanksgiving all these years, we haven't ever experienced the whole shebang ourselves.  Tyra, Hal, Scott, Jorine, Mindy, John and Johnny started the day by running in the "feed the hungry"run.  I hope that will be a standing tradition at our house and maybe next year I can do it too.  I am old and have never really cooked a turkey that mattered.  That seemed like too much pressure!  Scott volunteered to cook the turkey for us and did a fabulous job.  He soaked it in some concoction in a 5 gallon container and honestly...it was the best ever. 

The kids and I made turkeys with our little pumpkins for the tables.  The rest of the dinner was an accidental success.   The men and kids were funny.  They usually have a turkey shoot using real guns out in the fields.  They improvised with BB guns in the back yard.

Halloween and Annie's Blessing

I got a little crafty and made these funny cupcakes.  I knew if I didn't document the...I'd forget.  We went to Mindy's for Halloween because it was on Saturday and Annie's baby blessing was on Sunday.  It was fun to spend Halloween with the kids and Tyra is getting kind of old for trick or treating and so.....we had to soak it for all it was worth!  They have a great neighborhood to trick or treat in!

After the kids came back from trick or treating, they did the funniest thing!  They dumped out their candy and put it into categories depending upon value....based on how much they liked it.  Then....they  bartered with each other until they got what they wanted or wore each other out.  We had to watch over Josie's loot a bit but, it was the funniest thing ever!  Our kids used to come home and sort it all out but barter????   That is a Livingstone trait!  It was fabulous!  Annie's baby Blessing was the next morning.  I'm grateful they live close enough that we can spend time with them on special occasions and come and bother them when it's not a special occasion!

(I don't know why that txt is underlined-it's not worth fixing)

Love the Babies!!!

This is the New Baby, Cache Michael. Isn't he a cute little thing!!
We can't wait to have them all come home in December!

Annie has changed so much in 5 weeks!
She is such a dainty little thing and smells so good.

I'm alright with fifty.......

Fifty came and went. I had a birthday cake that my Son in Law made sure said, "Happy 39th Birthday" on it. There were some great gifts. There were all kinds of funny ones from my fun friends and family. There were black flowers, calgon bath salts, a giant remote control, a fireman calendar to hang in my office (really), a vitamins, and etc. And there were all kinds of really nice gifts too. Our first stop that weekend was at Mindy's. We took Maggie with us to St. George. It was fun to spend some time with Jessica and Jordan. They live too far away. I've looked forward to the Marathon all year. It is an inspiration! It was a thrill to see
Barry cross the finish line. We even saw Amy cross and my friend Kari. Our neighbors husbands all ran in it too. It still shocks me every morning when I have to put my age in as 50 on the treadmill at the gym.....but....it's okay, on my 49th birthday I ran 8 miles and I couldn't have ran 1 on my 19th, 29th or 39th....so, it's okay! I've had a couple set backs but....it's okay.....
I'm alright with fifty!

Welcome Annie Jeanne....such a sweet thing!!!

Tyra and I got to spend Saturday and Sunday at Mindy and John's. What a sweet baby! The kids love holding her. She just layed in their arms like a doll until I changed her.
That's when she did things dolls don't do.
Maggie and Josie were not prepared for such things!
It was hard to leave on Sunday......I guess it 's a mom thing. Even though Mindy's been grown up with her own family for a long time and is such a great mom, It's times like this that-I can't imagine she can get a long without me!