The Peterson's

To the mother of one child

2012-01-29T14:21:00.000-08:00

My mom emailed me this poem the other day, and I loved it. To be honest I might have cried a little. This poem is exactly how I feel, in so many ways, and I was so happy to see that some one else felt the same way! So I didn't have to feel like a rotten mom.

To the Mother With Only One Child
by Simcha Fisher

Dear Mother of Only One Child,

Don’t say it. Before the words can even pass your lips, let me beg you: don’t say, “Wow, you have nine kids? I thought it was hard with just my one!”

My dear, it is hard. You’re not being a wuss or a whiner when you feel like your life is hard. I know, because I remember having “only one child.” You may not even believe how many times I stop and reflect on how much easier my life is, now that I have nine children.

All right, so there is a lot more laundry. Keeping up with each child’s needs, and making sure they all get enough attention, is a constant worry. And a stomach bug is pretty much the end of the world, when nine digestive tracts are afflicted.

But I remember having only one child, and it was hard—so very hard. Some of the difficulties were just practical: I didn’t know what I was doing, had to learn everything. People pushed me around because I was young and inexperienced. But even worse were the emotional struggles of learning to be a mother.

When I had only one child, I truly suffered during those long, long, long days in our little apartment, no one but the two of us, baby and me, dealing with each other all day long. I invented errands and dawdled and took the long way home, but still had hours and hours to fill before I would hear my husband’s key in the door.

I cared so much what other people thought about her—they had to notice how beautiful she was, they had to be impressed at my natural mothering skills. I obsessed over childhood development charts, tense with fear that my mothering was lacking—that I hadn’t stimulated her enough, or maybe had just passed on the wrong kind of genes. I cringe when I remember how I pushed her—a little baby!—to achieve milestones she wasn’t ready for.

I lived in terror for her physical safety (I once brought her to Urgent Care, where the doctor somewhat irritably diagnosed a case of moderate sniffles) fearing every imaginable disease and injury. In my sleep-deprived state, I would have sudden insane hallucinations that her head had fallen off, her knees had suddenly broken themselves in the night, and so on.

My husband didn’t know how to help me. I didn’t know how to ask for help. My husband had become a father, and I adored him for it. My husband got to leave the house every day, and sleep every night. He got to go to the bathroom alone. I hated him for it.

When I had only one child, I told myself over and over that motherhood was fulfilling and sanctifying and was filling my heart to the brim with peace and satisfaction. And so I felt horribly guilty for being so bored, so resentful, so exhausted. This is a joyful time, [darn it:]! I should enjoy being suddenly transformed into the Doyenne of Anything that Smells Bad.

I loved my baby, I loved pushing her on the swing, watching squirrels at the park together, introducing her to apple sauce, and watching her lips move in joyful dreams of milk. But it was hard, hard, hard. All this work: is this who I am now? I remember!

So now? Yes, the practical parts are a thousand times easier: I’m a virtuoso. I worry, but then I move along. Nobody pushes me around, and I have helpers galore. Someone fetches clean diapers and gets rid of the dirty ones. When the baby wakes up in the middle of the night for the ten thousandth time, I sigh and roll my eyes, maybe even cry a little bit for sheer tiredness—but I know it will pass, it will pass.

It’s becoming easier, and it will be easier still. They are passing me by.

I’m broken in. There’s no collision of worlds. We’re so darn busy that it’s a sheer delight to take some time to wash some small child’s small limbs in a quiet bath, or to read The Story of Ferdinand one more time. Taking care of them is easy. It’s tiring, it’s frustrating, but when I stop and take a breath, I see that it’s almost like a charade of work. All these things, the dishes, the diapers, the spills—they must be taken care of, but they don’t matter. They aren’t who I am.

To become a mother, I had to learn how to care about someone more than I did about myself, and that was terrible. But who I am now is something more terrible: the protector who can’t always protect; the one with arms that are designed to hold, always having to let go.

Dear mother of only one child, don’t blame yourself for thinking that your life is hard. You’re suffering now because you’re turning into a new woman, a woman who is never allowed to be alone. For what? Only so that you can become strong enough to be a woman who will be left.

When I had only one child, she was so heavy. Now I can see that children are as light as air. They float past you, nudging against you like balloons as they ascend.
Dear mother, don’t worry about enjoying your life. Your life is hard; your life will be hard. That doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re doing it right.

More on the Christmas Treat

2011-12-20T10:37:00.000-08:00

I know I posted about this already but so this is pretty much for my mom, but this is Briley showing her excitement getting the candy!

We make things work!

2011-12-20T10:24:00.000-08:00

So there was a house down the street form our, that had a table and chairs for free! And I have plenty of time on my hands so I wanted it so I can refinish it! (Paige I am going to need you to take about a week off of work to help me) So Richy being so wonderful said I could get it.Now the next problem, we had no idea how to get it home, after a minute of pondering Richy's idea was just to carry it on his back,I thought that was to embarrassing! So we went with my way use the stroller, it worked really good actually! I am sure people looked out their window and thought we were so crazy for doing this but it is here are ready to be finished!

Not much to say!

2011-12-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

Well I don't have much to say in this post not much has happen in the last little while! But I have Pictures so they can show you what we have been doing!

So to explain this picture, my mom made us a cute little count down to Christmas with candy kisses and a little ornament, she even made it to match the other decorations in my house. But anyways now Bri has figured out the there is candy in there so every morning she walks over to it points and says treat, treat over and over again! Richy and Bri both love this because they get candy and I am pretty sure Richy is as excited as Briley is every day to take another candy out, so it has been their little thing every day to take one out together. Now if Richy is carrying Briley and just walks past it she gets all excited saying treat, treat. Thinking he is taking her to get another one! But................

This is what happens when you tell her to wait for dad, or you already had one, its good my mom isn't here she would just give in to that face and get her more! It has been fun to have around to count down to Christmas though!

Briley helping me make caramel (don't worry t

he oven wasn't on yet, she couldn't get burned) She just wanted to help.

Her first pigtails!

She loves her winnie the pooh! Giving him kisses!

This isn't the best picture of this but Briley loves to glare at people, the first time my friend Tyler saw it he laughed so hard and said "Oh I have seen this glare before, from your mom!" She is really good at it, and knows just when to glare at you, like when you put her to bed, or change her diaper or take things away!

Just reading her books!

This was out Family Home Evening activity decorate sugar cookies, Bri just ate the frosting off.

Just being silly!

Boo

2011-11-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

A lot of people say Briley looks just like Boo from Monsters Inc

This is for you mom!

Halloween 2011 and Our house!

2011-11-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

So I can't believe that Richy's brother Ryan will be home in 2 days, I think it crazy how much has happen since he has been gone, we had a baby, joined the air force and moved away. He has loved his mission and done well which we are proud of. I am excited to have Ryan home, which it will be different now because we won't see him as much being gone. But when Richy was gone on his mission, Ryan and I had so much fun, we rode four-wheeler, tube, just a lot of fun things. He is such a cute kid and very nice. When I was "struggling" with Richy on his mission, Ryan wrote me the cutest song, about Richy still loving me and such. He is very talented in his music abilities and his talent at writing music and lyrics. I am excited to see him, and have him meet Briley! But the sad part about this, is my cute brother which I love will be going on a mission in 7 months and I hate it. When we moved Parker is so cute and will call and ask me how its going all the time! When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, he was so cute in how excited he was about it, and then when I miscarried last week, he called a couple times just to check on me and see how I was doing. He has always been that way. This is why I struggle with missions, they are so bittersweet he will be wonderful, but it hurts my heart thinking he won't be here! But i guess I still have 7 months with him! This picture is of Ryan(Richy's brother) and Parker( my brother) The night before Ryan left!

I have finally finished some rooms in the house so as I finish rooms I will put up more pictures, so here is the laundry room! Kinda boring but at least the boxes are out of there! And yes there is laundry that needs to be folded right there but my mom wanted me to blog, look how well I obey her!

The TV room it isn't all the way finished but I wanted to show some pictures to my family!

So this is Halloween at the Air Force Base, I really liked it. You could only trick-or-treat from 6 to 8 and at 6 o clock Everyone just stormed out of there house, kids in costumes running, moms and dads with wagons and strollers. It was just like the movies there was Halloween music playing. It really was so fun!

So every time that we went to the door to pass out candy, Briley was right there wanting to see who was at the door! She loved having people come to our house.

Out Trick-or-treating

Sorry it's kinda dark but she is smiling so cute!

This was her first house we went to, she caught on fast.

This was family home evening on eternal families, Briley was drawing a picture of our family! :)

Just Briley

2011-10-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

That's all just cute pictures of Briley before church today!

Trunk or Treat

2011-10-30T18:31:00.001-07:00

We went to our first activity in this ward and it was the ward trunk or treat, they had chili and bread sticks which was very good. Then they did the trunk or treat, Richy and I decorated the car as a ghost and the kids had to reach their hands in the mouth of the ghost to get candy out. It turn out cute!

Daddy's Girl!

2011-10-30T18:13:00.000-07:00

Briley took a little bit to get use to Richy after he had been gone for 7 months, but now she love him! She loves to play with him and follow him around the house and do whatever he is doing. She loves when he come home from work to play!

I asked Briley if she wanted to go out side with me, and she grabbed Richy's hand and walked him to the door!

Growing up!

2011-10-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

It was our first Sunday in the new ward, this was Briley all ready to go!

Briley decided she would get her self dressed today! She has seen her dad put his hat on one to many times! She came walking into the room just smiling so proud of herself!

Our House!

2011-10-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

I thought my mom would be proud, this was Bri's first Oreo she loved it!

This is our first time coming in to our new house! I will post more pictures when i get the house finished and all set up!

Zoo

2011-09-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

We went to the Zoo on Tuesday with my mom, richy, addi, oakley, and paige. It was so fun Briley loved the animals!

Richy's home

2011-09-29T10:04:00.001-07:00

After 7 months of training Richy finally got to come home! His family and my family were all there to support us at the airport.

Briley Birthday

2011-09-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

So Briley 1st birthday is Oct 4 but we wanted to celebrate it with the families so we had a party for her before we left. It was a polka dot theme party Richy said my mom and I are out of control but it was really fun. Thanks mom for all of your help!

All of her fun presents.

She never would eat it until Richy put it in her mouth.

She wanted her dad to eat it! She was sharing.

Briley really wanted to play twister to!

We made it!

2011-09-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at 8 A.M. I said goodbye to my family that I have lived with for the last 7 months, and let me tell you how hard that was. It is and was horrible I will miss them terribly, but i just have to keep telling myself I am only in Idaho it is only 4 hours away. Like I said we started this new adventure at 8 in the morning and I was a little nervous about Briley I wasn't sure how she would do but She was wonderful she slept for 3 hours of the ride and then just talked to her self in the back for the last hour! So our first base we are stationed at is Mountain Home and let me tell you it is in the middle of nowhere, but I have to keep telling my self to make the best of it. I was really having a hard time with this because Richy and I spent a lot of time praying about this Air Force thing and both felt it was right. I was just not happy with anything, we didn't have a house to come to when we were leaving, we were on the waiting list but they had told us it would be another month before we probably would get into anything. So I was very unhappy about not having a place to live. But our prayers were answered when we went to the base housing office and they said the best news I have heard all day YOU HAVE A HOUSE! I was shocked but also so grateful! We went and looked at it, and its a 3 bedroom 2 and a half bathroom with a backyard and 2 car garage and so much more I really like it. So maybe this is his way of showing me it will work out, if i just start trusting him more! We are planning on moving in on Monday if Richy's schedule works out so I will put up pictures of the house then and I will keep you post on our happenings in Idaho!

2011

2011-07-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well so much has happen in the last couple months so I will let the pitctures tell the story! Sorry they are in the wrong order though!

This time we went out to see Richy in May! It was just Briley and I, it was so much fun!

Going swimming!

Cute dad and Parker matching outfits on their way to work!

Addi and Briley, she really loves her cousins!

Briley and I at girls camp, my mom was the director this year and when I moved in the bishop called me to be the assistant camp director, so being a single parent right now Briley got to tag along she loved it. She is such an easy baby and was so good. If you are wondering about the bandage on my chin two days before we left I got an infection in my chin, they don't know how or what happened anyways it was awful, I looked like Jay Leno with how swollen my chin was. You couldn't even see I had a jaw bone the swelling was up all the way to both ears. The whole weekend all my mom could say was "you don't even look like you self" and i didn't it hurt to talk and to smile. I ended up in the ER and they had to lance it twice and then drain in, put me on a strong antibiotic and Lortab. So all weekend it drained and drained and throbbed thank goodness for Lortab!

Briley was the hit of girls camp, they loved her. It was nice to have so many helpers when I didn't feel the best!

Our theme for camp was BEARS, this was our mascot, Briley loved her when someone would bring her around she was kick her legs and go crazy!

So excited to be at camp!

Mac and Addi at the parade in Hooper!

My dad is so amazing! He decided the night before to go run a 5k with my brother Cody in Plain City, and he did it! He did a lot better then the look on his face shows!

My beautiful sisters, I tell them all the time I hate being the ulgy sister! They are both beautiful!

Briley with grandpa before the parade started!

On the fourth of July! We are at the parade in Hooper we sat by Robyn's family! We love when we get to hang out with there family, we have so much fun playing games and laughing with them!

Briley and Oakley! These two are cute cousins they both get so excited to see each other and Oakley is so good to Briley she loves to give her hugs and kisses.

Sorry its sideways but this was our first trip to Texas to see Richy graduate from BMT, it was in April. My mom and Richy's mom were there also, it was great to see Richy after 2 months of only talking to him once a week on the phone!

Briley!

I think he looks great in his ABU's!

Richy first time feeding Briley, it got a little messy!

First time briley was held by Richy in 2 months she wasn't sure about it at first but then she sure warmed up to him!

So as for the rest of the time, Briley is getting big she is crawling, and saying mama and dada, it is so fun to watch her grow and learn new things, we also found out the we will be stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho at the Air Force Base up there! We couldn't be happier to be living so close to family!

Our new adventure!

2011-03-23T14:20:00.000-07:00

As some of you might not know, Richy has joined the Air Force. He left Feb 8 to training, they job he has been giving is Tactical aircraft Maintenance(which in easier terms is he will be a crew chief for a fighter plane). There is a lot of pros and cons for the Air Force and I know everyone has their opinion, which they are entitled to, but for us the Air Force was right. After many times to the temple, many tears shed, and many fast, and prayers, we knew it was the direction that our family should go. Richy has always wanted to be in the Air Force and when we were first married I laughed and said "heavens no:, that is not something I want to be part of. Then time went on we both felt like it is something we should consider again, and we did. It has taken a while to get Richy in, he started looking in to it over a year and a half ago.

So as of right now Briley and I are back at my parents house and I love it! I miss Richy so much, but it would be a lot worse if I didn't have my family there for me! And I get to be a stay at home mom to Briley, and I do love that! She has gotten so big, she will be 6 months on April 4. In two weeks from today I get to fly out and see Richy graduation, I am thrilled to see him! Then we will part our ways again for another 4 months, until Aug the we will find out where this new chapter in our life will lead us.

End of 2010

2011-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

2010 was a great year for our family, pretty much the whole year was spent preparing for, then loving this..........

Christmas morning she was not thrilled to be awake that early!

This was my diaper bag I got for Christmas! It's perfect for Bri!

Christmas 2010

Her dad is teaching bad habits already!

Grandma Helen

2010-12-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

On Dec 13, my grandma Helen passed away unexpectedly. My grandma had Alzheimer disease for 13 years, but she was one of the healthiest people I knew. Her heart wanted to keep going, when she was passing away they had to keep Ultra Sounding her heart because she quit breathing but her heart kept wanting to beat. We all loved my grandma very much, she was an amazing person. I I love you grandma and we miss you so very much!

Halloween 2010 and other things!

2010-11-23T16:39:00.000-08:00

This is about the only way I can get en exercise done, I have a very spoiled baby and I don't like putting her down so when I do she gets very fussy. This way she is still content and I can get stuff done.This is my friend Melissa little boy, he was born a week before Briley they were very different, Briley was very little and Tayton was very big! They will be great friends though.
This year for Halloween little Bri was a football! She was the cutest football I have ever seen!

I love this face!!!

2010-11-23T16:36:00.001-08:00

Briley is 7 weeks old, she has been smiling for a couple weeks now! And she has broke the scales at almost 9 pounds! She is very fun though!

Briley!

2010-11-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry I am a blog slacker, but I am loving this mom stuff! Here are some pictures thats the most important part. Briley is getting so big though she is changing every day! We love her!!!!

This is her favorite pillow that her uncle Parker made for me in jr. high!

She is here!

2010-10-11T15:25:00.001-07:00

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this post up, but our little Briley is here! She came on Oct 4 at 11:56, my doctor called it he said she would be here at noon, and she was pretty close! She only weigh 6 lbs 14 oz she is a very little baby, but everything about here was small, her cry, her noises she makes, we love having her though! She has been a good baby, just a little confused on day and nights hopefully that will change though! Well I will give you the up date on the delivery story later as for right now here are so pictures! Sorry the pictures are in the wrong order but there she is! Robyn my sister in law designed this cute picture, she is wonderful!

I loved my epidural!

Having a contraction while we were walking out to go to the hospital, I had to stop!

Richy lost his wallet, so he was running all over the place trying to find it, I sure thought it was funny!

Oh boy, well I guess oh girl!

2010-09-26T18:29:00.001-07:00

2 weeks I can't believe it 2 short, but long weeks!!!!!!! Are little girl will be here! Maybe shorter. Richy and I though have been having issue deciding on a name the three we have decided between are:

Briley (a mix between Richy and Brinkley)
Jandy (what my mom was called when she was little and I always have wanted my girls named to be after her!)
Acelyn (Richy sister came up with this and we both like it, which for us it a big deal)

So I want to hear everyone votes and you only have 2 weeks and counting so post and let me know!!!!!

My grandma!

2010-08-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

As some of you know my grandma lives with my parents she has been there for about 5 or so years now. My grandma is wonderful! She is so sweet, we are very glad she lives with us! She is a trooper I am pretty sure that she has 9 lives, she just keeps going! Richy and I are also very lucky to be living in her house. This is a cute picture of her!

Summer!

2010-07-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

Well this summer has been great! It is the first summer since Richy's mission that he hasn't gone to school, it's been wonderful having him home with me! We have been doing so many fun things here is just a few of them!

He is just a cute picture of Richy and Oakley!

Richy has been wonderful with this pregnancy, he has helped out so much around the house. I asked him to cook the noodles for dinner and I left the room only to come back in to find him sitting there cooking the noodles. He is one smart guy, make me happy my helping and still checking on his sports!

On June 8, it was Addi's Birthday Cody was able to adopt Addi in Oct, and she chose when they went to the temple to be sealed as a family. Addi wanted to go on her birthday, so they did it was a neat experience to see, I had a perfect seat to see Addi's face she was adorable just looking at her dad.

Addi always said that she was going to the temple to marry her dad, so Robyn's family bought Addi a Flower is was really cute.

A Forever Family!

My parents and my mom's brother Fez and his wife Angie came to see the sealing.

Waiting for them to come out of the temple!

Something that wasn't one of the happiest things we have done all summer is Richy grandma past away. They asked Richy to speak at her funeral he did a wonderful job, then he was also a casket bearer. This is at the grave site with his FAVORITE nephew Chase.

Here is am at 20 weeks, I am about 28 weeeks so I am just a little bit bigger. But she is still growing, and is still very healthy. We have found she has a little stage fright when anyone puts their hand on my stomach she will not even move and when they move their hand she will kick again. Richy has only felt her a few times!

For Mothers Day and Fathers Day we got my parents tickets to the Foreigner, Stiyx and Kansas Concert. It really was a lot of fun, I have never seen so many drunk people in one very close area! In the picture below my mom is turned around watching the guy in the Yellow shirt. He was so funny he danced with everyone and was completely plaster!

The results are in............................

2010-05-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

On 10-10-10 we will be having a...........

GiRL!

Richy and I were both surprised but we are still excited!

Wednesday!

2010-05-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

Well Wednesday is the big day that we get to find out what the little kid is! It will be nice to be able to say he or she not just it! We are excited, it is getting a little more real when I can feel the baby move and she my stomach getting bigger! We are just over 20 weeks now, so half way I think I might make it!

Anyone need a drink????

2010-04-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Well things right now are going good, I am almost feeling ok. I have started to clean a little around the house and not have Richy do so much, which I am very grateful for!!! But the reason that I have had to do more is last week I was taking a final and when I finish I called Richy, This is how he answered! "Your never going to believe what happened", great I had a lot of things going through my head but what he said was not one of them! Richy then tells me that we have 8 inches of water in the basement! Well for some of you that don't know I have suppose to have been taking things easy because I have had high blood pressure, well let me tell you this did not help! So while I was in taking my test Richy called my dad and told him, well he did not believe him he just said oh some time water gets in through the door it happens to lots of houses up there it how they were built, but Richy then insisted that it was just a little bit of water, this house is over 60 feet long and every bit of the basement had water covering it. Come to find out that I pipe from the sprinkler had burst and just all flowed into our house! The bad part is that my cousin was in between moving so this is all of there stuff down there just floating around and this is also just one room.

So after hours of Richy's dad, brothers, my parents and parker, and my Aunt Angie and Fez, and Richy cleaning we finally have gotten all of the water out of the basement but things are still trying to get all dried off! What an adventure, but we can tell this story at our families parties in a couple of years and laugh, but it won't be for a couple of years!

10-10-10

2010-03-18T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well I guess now is a better time then never to tell! Richy and I are expecting a baby, and our due date is 10-10-10 This has sure been an adventure! In my plans I was planning on kids in 2012. Thats the year we thought, but I guess some one had a different plan in mind for us. We are excited and Shocked all at the same time. But we will keep updated! Oh I am almost 11 weeks along now!

MY DAD

2010-03-04T18:50:00.000-08:00

Well some of you might not know my dad was diagnosis with melanoma in 2006, it was an awful time. But I am so happy to say that yesterday marked the 4 year he has been cancer free!! when my dad was first diagnosis they gave him a 10% chance of survival, well he has beaten the odds and now and is doing so good!!! I am so grateful for that, we have had to much happen in those four years, my brother came home from his mission, Cody got married, I got married, my dad has gotten 2 of the cutest grandkids, my parents have been on two cruises, Paige moved to Logan to go to school, parker is in high school, and mac is in jr high! I couldn't have imagined my dad not around these years. Mostly I couldn't have imagined not having him at my wedding! I love my dad and I so glad he is still part of our lives!!!!!

A little of everything!

2010-01-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

Cute Oakley!

He loves his helmet for skiing!

My dad is so funny! Ever since his surgery almost 4 years ago under his eye swells so my family got him this to help with it! HA HA HA. We think he looks like a ninja turtle.

It was freezing out side!

My grandma Dixie, Parker, and Paige were so funny they were all facing this building and it was just a white board!

The Christmas lights with my family!

Oh my funny husband, we went with his family to a nativity play just before Christmas, and it was freezing! I had a huge vest, 2 shirts, Richy's jacket, and Richy's dad's coat! Plus the camera bag all piled on and Richy had a coat! He is crazy it reminded me of elementary school, it would be snowing out side and Richy would be running in the snow!

Well first I will blog about Richy! I love my husband! I am very lucky! But one thing that I love about him is how he is with my nieces, Addi and Oakley, as you can see in the pictures he plays with them and lets them crawl all over him, makes cookies with Addi then lets her get chocolate all over him! Just last Friday I was suppose to be babysitting Addi and Oakley, well I was very tired and couldn't keep my eyes open! So me and Oakley slept on the couch and Richy played with Addi while we slept! He is amazing! Just on Friday we were driving in the car and Addi says Richy I love you and then was out, she fell asleep so fast! It was sure cute!

A New Year!

2010-01-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

Well 2010 has started and I am loving it, but school has started back for me again. I took off a year to work full time while Richy pushed through school, but its that time to go back. I want to complain about school I really do, although I was talking to a lady at work today she is going to school again and I asked her how school was and her reply made me think she said "its good I can't change that I have to be there, I know I don't want to but that doesn't matter. So I am making the best of it". I thought that was awesome and she is right I signed up for school, so I am going to MAKE THE BEST OF IT! So when I haven't blogged in months don't worry I just have nothing good to say about school so I won't say anything.

Other things we are doing are just school and work and basketball. Richy is the ward athletic director, and its that time he is there on Thursdays and Saturday mornings. So its good we love our ward. I have been in the same ward before I got married so I was a little worried at what it would be like, being in a new ward and all. It's great though at first it was no fun, then the bishop's secretary called and i was nervous he wanted to meet with me. I thought "oh no, what in the world calling am I going to get"??? And I got called to the Young Womens I am the beehive advisor. I have been doing that for a year now! It is a great calling! I love it. So there ya go your caught up on my life! Anyways it's time for more homework!!!

I Love Dec!!!!

2009-12-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

So Dec has come and almost gone! We have had a wonderful month! So much had gone on. At the beginning of the month we had a Burrows's around the world, Christmas tree express! First of all though we head up to Christmas( I know its a perfect name!) Meadows, to cut down a tree, we wen't with Fez, Angie, Whit, Brent(who Whitney is marrying on Feb 22, and we are excited for them!) Taylor. Also we had all of my family, everyone it was great! Even my grandma Helen came, she is such a trooper! But it was fun we all found the perfect trees for our homes some shot and fat, some tall and skinny! But it very fun!

This is the tree that Richy wanted for our house! Just because he is the one stuck doing the lights so he wanted to go small!

We left parker in the parking lot on Wyoming on the way up there! We drove for about 5 mins before noticing that Parker wasn't there and we found him walking around the parking lot, he thought we were just hiding from him! Park we wouldn't leave you for good your to cute!

My cute Grandma Helen! She is one amazing lady!

And here is the whole crew!

Well so after we got our wonderful trees! We decorated them for our Christmas Tree express! First stop my grandma Dixie and Grandpa Art house! Where they fed us amazing dips and chips!

Then off toCody and Robyn's house for salad!

Addi loves "HER" tree

Cody and Robyn's tree and family!

The off to my Mom and Dad's House for the main course!

My mom made it look so cute!

Then we came to our house, we decorated sugar cookies that has kinda become a tradition with our family, but I found cute recipe the you can make the ornaments so thats what we did!

So it had been wonderful but I am very tired, so I will post about our cruise and such later!

Nov is over!

2009-12-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

Well Nov came and went so fast but it was a good month! I love Nov, I love the family parties we three birthdays in my family and thanksgiving! Also now in Nov is our anniversary this year was our first it was nice we are leaving on a Cruise in a week so we didn't do anything major, first Richy study while I went and re-certified my CPR, then we came home and raked leaves kinda I hate raking so I mowed them up while Richy was doing other things in the yard. Then we can in a took a nap which was very nice, then we went to dinner at Lucky China(we love that place) then we came home and worked on my Young womens hand out for the next day! It was a great anniversary, I really like a relaxed day! But we are both very excited for our cruise! Then we had thanksgiving we first went and shot shot guns at Richy's parents house then I went and help my mom get ready for dinner and we ate there. It was great I love spending time with my extended family! Then we went and played card games with Richy family. Then we had Black Friday! I have NEVER been shopping before I have never wanted to or I had to work but this year I had it off, so we slept over at my mom's house then head out at three in the morning to go to target! We had my younger brother Parker with us and he is so funny he makes everything a adventure! But we were in line and then had Richy go buy us hot cocoa, then we had to sneak him back in line while Parker distracted the security guard that was kicking people out of the line for bringing people in line that hadn't waited with everyone! Then the doors opened at five and Richy started yelling at some girl that was running in front of people then the whole line started yelling at her! It was a mad house, so that was it we were in the doors and Richy started running one way and Parker started running another and yelling to me "Brinkley, run run! and I stood there laughing so hard at everyone I couldn't remember what in the world i was going for. But then I found parker he had stolen a cart from some one so he was just running putting things in it that other people were freaking out about but that we didn't need! And Richy was running around carrying to luggages and a Barbie stroller for his sister. But it was a great day Richy got the luggage and parker got the DVD player for my mom, and I got my vests I wanted! We were in and out of Target in 12 mins that has to be a record! Then we headed off to 6 other stores and still made it home to be in bed before 8, it was a wonderful day! I will for sure do it again if I get my same crew to go! I love my fun husband for putting up with my crazy side, and my cute brother who was the one that kept us all laughing!

One Year!

2009-11-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

Well today is our one year anniversary! Yeah it has been a great year because of Richy, we didn't have the issue that most newlyweds do(maybe because I have known him for 19 years, sure helps)! He is the most easy going person I have every met! But I am grateful I am able to be married to such a wonderful guy!Thank you, I love you Richy! Happy Anniversary!

Ryan

2009-10-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Parker(my little brother) and Ryan

All of Richy's siblings

Ryan right after he got set apart

This post is for my brother-in-law Ryan, even though he won't be seeing it. Ryan leaves on his mission today. He will be serving in Hawaii. I am excited for him, but I still struggle with missions. I know they are wonderful things and need to happen, but man are they hard. I had to say goodbye to Ryan last night because I have to work today, but Ryan and I have gotten really close when Richy was on his mission, he and his mom would come over a lot to my house and just talk and Ryan would try and talk some sense into me. When Richy was gone I would go with his family to there family's cabin and we would ride the 4-wheeler for ever, there was one hike that we went on we were trying to get to the top of this mountain, we finally made it three hours later after getting chased by a wild turkey, sliding down snow and so many other funny things, also when Richy got home from his mission he came over that day and ask me to go for lunch for my birthday with his family. Well the first thing I did was turn to Ryan and ask if he was going to go. We laugh that he was my comfort zone. So yeah I am so happy for Ryan he will be a wonderful missionary and the people in Hawaii will be bless to have him! But I will sure miss him being around the family! See ya in two years Ryan! We love you!

Moab!!!!!

2009-10-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

My sisters

Mom and Dad

Paige and her friend Emily

My cute hubby

Everyone that went but my mom she was taking the picutre

There is my mom!

Mac and me

My family and my uncles family about 15 years ago went in on campground in Moab! We have work on in every summer since then and some times more then in the summers. But it has turned out amazing. I love Moab it is such a beautiful place with so many of God's amazing creations. Well this last week end we went to Moab it was Richy's first time so I was excited for him to see Moab, and to be able to go jeeping! So here are some pictures of our trip!

Volleyball

2009-10-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

Well this last week has been crazy but so fun! I have been reminded of how much I miss playing volleyball. About a month ago Wendy Long (my 8th grade teacher) called me and she is now the principal of T.H. Bell asked if I would want a coaching job at her school for volleyball, I told her I would have to see what would happen with my work schedule but it all work out and I am able to coach. We are doing clinics for right now, and next week is try-outs. I have really liked it like I said it has reminded me my volleyball careers and I miss it. Volleyball is a great sport and even if my husband won't agree, volleyball is the greatest sport to play! There is just one down fall in my coaching job is my little mini-me sister Mac is playing for Rocky Mountain Jr High, and they are in our District. So we will have to be rivals for awhile! My mom is sure in a hard spot, Which daughter does she cheer for??????? Jk Mac I hope you have a great season you are an amazing volleyball player! I am glad that you play just like me so I can teach my team your tricks! So we will see how the season goes!

Husband!

2009-10-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

1. His full name? Richy Peterson
2. How long have you known each other? 19 years
3. How long did you date? well 9 months before his mission then 4 months after but if you count the mission then over 3 years.
4. How old is he? 22
5. Who eats more? Richy
6. Who said, "I Love You," first? Richy did
7. Who is taller? Richy, barely! :)
8. Who sings better? Um really neither of us do. But probably him.
9. Who is smarter? Oh it depends, school richy is 10 times smarter but with life and people I am!
10. Who does the laundry? He does, well sometimes.
11. Who pays the bills? I do, I have to see where the money goes, so I don't spend it.
12. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does, like robyn its closer to the door.
13. Who mows the lawn? I do, thats why he does Laundry
14. Who cooks dinner? Well if dinner gets made its me, maybe 3 times since we have been married he has made it.
15. Who drives? Richy!
16. Who kissed whom first? Richy kissed me.
17. Who's more stubborn? Me oh dear, its me.
18. Who asked whom out first? Um he did.
19. Who proposed? Richy
20. Who has more friends?Me because Richy doesn't care to be social to much.
21. Who is more sensitive? Oh me again.
22. Who has more siblings? Richy does by 2 more then me!
23. Who wears the pants? Oh me just because Richy lets me do what i want!

Cooking

2009-10-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

So my sister-in-law and mom and I were going to make so crafts while Robyn is home with her baby and my mom and I didn't have to work so we made this pumpkins, they turned out cute. But I have to confess that I pretty much just held Oakley and Robyn and my mom did my but I did paint it. But thanks Robyn and Mom for doing my pumpkins they turned out so cute!

So I have learned I really love to cook, I told Richy today that I want to go to Italy to learn to cook. So thats what this pictures is the Pot Pie I made today for dinner! Richy like it.

Family!

2009-10-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

Parker and Mac

This bison was so close to our car I wanted to reach out and touch it but there was motorcyclist right behind us so I was worried that it would charge after them.

I got tired of the back seat so I sat right in the middle in the front and put my head out the sun roof!

So a couple weeks ago we went to Yellowstone with my family. We have started doing this random thing where my mom will call maybe on Monday or Tuesday and say we are going to bear lake or where ever and we pretty much just pack up and go. It helps that I have an amazing husband that really will do whatever I want to, so he goes with no problem. So our last time was to Yellowstone it was fun my dad did a job up there so we went! Here our some of our pictures from the trip.

She's here!

2009-09-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

My dad had a cold a week ago but they weren't going to take any chances!

Proud grandma!

Cody showing us the baby up close, she was wide awake!

Addi loves her new little sister she kept asking "why is she was crying?" and "She needs me" and before the nurses had her in a blanket Addi told the nurse to get her a blanket her sister was "nakie" and cold!

She is tiny in Cody's arms.

Before the Birth!

Well little Oakley is here and so cute! She was born at 9:36 this morning! My mom and dad and Robyn's parents and brittany and I were at the hospital and after three very easy pushes from Robyn and she was here! You couldn't even tell that robyn had just had a baby here hair was still great and her makeup was still on I honestly don't think that she even broke a sweat while in labor! but we are so glad everything went good with the baby and mom oh and dad, Cody really didn't turn pale all that much!

So it's time!

2009-09-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

Well mom and sister-in-law Robyn have talked me into starting a blog! So here it is will see how it goes! So I will start by telling you our weekend! Friday Richy took me on a date we went to Lucky China one of our favorite spots to eat, and then shopping at Kohls. He is such a good husband! Then Saturday was our very exciting day! We woke up at 530 AM and left our house to drive to Preston, Idaho my mom and dad and some of there friends rode the Lotaja bike ride from Logan to Jackson Hole. So my mom rode the first leg of the ride so we were there to cheer her on when she finished her leg of the race. Then we drove to Montpieller, Idaho and thats where my dad started his leg of the race, so we got him sent off. Then we headed off to Afton, Wyoming to see him finish his leg, so he finished to bad we didn't get to see him because of a miscommunication! But anyways thats a sore spot! Oh well. Then Sunday we went to my good friends Katie Favero's homecoming she got back from Italy in August. She did so good! and it was fun to see a lot of people fom high school! Then we had all of my family over for dinner it was fun! So over all it was a fun weekend with such adventures!