Family Getaway

Is there anything better than escaping from the world with just a husband and toddler to a cabin up Fairview Cabin? I cant think of anything, so there must not be!
We decided we wanted to head up to my families cabin this weekend for a family getaway. Just the 3.5 of us. We had the snowmobiles at our house, so we just packed up, met daddy in Ephraim after he got off work and headed up.
I love love it up there. Its a special place. It holds millions of memories of many past snowmobiling trips with my family, our honeymoon trip, and 2 anniversary trips for us, many other quick overnight getaway trips,  and now several camping trips in the summer with all of Brandon's family. Both me and Brandon always look forward to our trips up there, this time was no exception. It always produces good times and lots of fun memories for us.
This cabin also is a "faith builder"cabin. At least that is what me and Brandon finally decided to label it as this weekend. No we didn't have major problems, actually besides the few set backs it was a perfect trouble free trip. So why is it the "faith builder" and why did it get its name this trip? Because it prompts lots of prayers to be said while up there. Prayers that the snowmobiles will start, prayers that Brandon and a poor fellow could find the cabin he was supposed to be at, prayers that that poor fellow wasn't a ax murder and my husband would come back safely (he was a nice guy, he was looking for his scout troop that was staying at a cabin up there, it was just taking a long time, 2 hours, for Brandon to come back to the cabin, which makes this mommy very nervous and makes her imagination fly away to absurd limits), prayers that Brandon wouldn't get stuck while being out alone hauling stuff to the cabin, and driving the said poor guy around, Prayers to say thank you a million times that he wasn't an ax murder, and that even though Brandon got slightly stuck while out helping the fellow, he was able to get out easily. Prayers on Sunday asking for a miracle for our truck to start so me and Brandon could get home for church on time, then another quick prayer to ask that someone could come help us get the truck unfrozen so we could just plum get home, another prayer offered by the pregnant useless mom that Brandon wouldn't get stuck while calling for help cause i cant help him get out, and then at the end of it all a prayer of thanks that A. Brandon's 2 brothers came 1.5 hours to help us get the dang truck unfrozen, B. that it started so quickly (last time the fuel froze it took all day and lots of work on it to unthaw it all, this time it only took 2 hours) C. that we made it home safely and D. that we had an awesome trip and lots of fun times with our little man.
Highlights from the trip:
*Brandon finally being able to feel the little miss kicking....she is starting to move around like crazy now! So special to let him on the excitement of the miracle baby playing around inside of me.
*Melting endless amounts of snow for drinking and toilet flushing (we do have water, but we were too lazy to dig up the 5+ feet of snow to turn it on for one full day of playing)
*Brandon digging down to the shed through atleast 8 feet of snow so we could get into the cabin, and being so grateful for my strong determind man

*Brandon then digging down to the door of the cabin through another several feet of snow.

*Brandon and Kyler coloring together while i made dinner

*Kyler falling asleep in my arms and taking a short nap there (he hasnt done that for a long time)
*Watching movies with my best freind and talking till all hours of the night. I love him to death.
*Going sledding with Kyler, he loved it. (even though he does look miserable and cold in this picture)

"A little unfair that daddy can cover his face and i cant!"

My red marshmallow!

Look at those wind burned red cheeks!

*Kyler finally figuring out what the meaning of "cold" really is and using it appropriately to describe his little red  freezing cold hands. :) it was cute, sad but cute!

It was a great trip, and we are already planning on going back up before the little miss arrives :)

In His 20's

Kyler today playing dress ups upstairs with his favorite friend (who is helping hold him still by holding his hat) Wearing a witches hat (complete with witchy hair, and my old purse around his neck

So Officially today Kyler is in his 20's....he is 20 months old today! Fun fact is that he is 20 months on the 20th day of January. :)
A little about this boy as a 20 month old.....
He sleeps in a big boy bed (does better at nap time than night time, oddly enough!)
He worships the ground his daddy walks on. He cannot get enough of him.
He talks up a storm!! He says 2 some times 3 word sentences.
He LOVES breakfast and eats tons of it. Pancakes and cereal tie for his absolute favorites, but oatmeal is a very close second.
He is mastering the art of throwing tantrums :(
He loves his doggies (but i sometimes think its the 'outside' he loves and the doggies are a bonus)
He has NO FEAR. He is a little stunt devil.
He loves his baths, and asks for them at all hours of the day
He has recently learned "mine" and uses it frequently throughout the day (not a proud mommy on that one)
When he wants you to come, he grabs your hand and pulls you, with quite a bit of force, to what he wants you to do, or get for him
He is a clown, and he knows he is funny!
He points to the chair or floor and says your name to get you to sit down where he wants you
Some of his phrases or words he says often is:
"Wavis" (his uncle Travis, whom he loves)
"Ginkey" (stinky, aka when he is poopy)
"bye, bye ginkey" (when you change his bum, and i dont know where he learned it from but it cracks me up when he says it)
"bood" (food, and says it while signing for food)
 "beawer" or "pooh" (pooh bear)
"melmo" (Elmo, his best friend)
Really his vocabulary is now too long to list. I cannot believe how fast he picks up on new words. As i think of more of what he says i will list them here, i am just at a loss right now, that's what lack of sleep does to a pregnant mommy! :)

Motherhood

Lately motherhood has been on my mind. I think about being a mom when i cant fall asleep at night, i think about it when i can feel my new little "thumper" in my belly, I think about it when Kyler runs up to me so happy at what he has accomplished, i think about it when Ky dumps out the big bag of blocks i have cleaned up 100 times already that day, I think about it while laying next to my 20 month old in his new big boy bed falling asleep,  i think about it when i talk to my daycare kiddos and they make me laugh at what they come up with, and so so so many more times. And what do I think about during all these times.....how incredibly special it is to be a mom.
Back before i met the man of my dreams I often thought of what it would be like to be a wife and mom. I will be honest it was always rainbows and happy times i thought of. Perfect kids running around, kids who sat with their arms folded at 15 months and up in sacrament meeting, raising the kid who when presented with candy or a carrot they would always choose the carrot, me up early to care for the husbands needs before kids woke up, a immaculate home, healthy good meals on the table every night,  etc. I looked forward to motherhood, and being a wife with every fiber of my being. All i wanted was to be a mom. Simply a mom. Knowing there was a good chance in these times I would have to work, I got my degree in something that would allow me to be home with my kids and help other moms by watching their kids. Everything in my life has lead me to where i am today. All the Barbie roll playing, playing house all day everyday, helping my mom in the house, helping make dinners growing up, babysitting till i was one of the richest kids at my age.
So, does "real" motherhood keep up with all my high expectations i had as a 5 year old up to a 24 year old? I answer with not just a "yes", but a "it far outweighs what I could have imagined!" Is it all rainbows and happy days. Ha ha ha, NO! But it wouldn't be real if it was. Kyler is the opposite of reverent in sacrament meeting, he does fold his arms for prayer, but at times he yells out "mine" when i take the toy he is trying to play with, with his arms folded. While Kyler does love love love fruits and veggies, he would never choose them over a cookie! Ky drives me up the wall some day's till i just wish there was a stop, pause, and mute button on him. I rarely get up to make Brandon's lunches now that i have had a kid. My house is rarely clean, we have sandwiches, pizza and mac and cheese for dinner far more often than we should! BUT, I love every moment of it.
Motherhood to me is that feeling you get when your kid does something that makes you proud and you think your heart just grew 10 sizes bigger, its that feeling you get when your kid says "love you" for the first time (even if it is to his grandma), its the feeling of pure joy that you get to have another kiddo, its the laughter that doesn't seem to even do the moment any justice when your child does something so funny, its the feeling you get when you realize that your child is part you, and you see that part coming out in their personality, its the feeling you get when your child runs up and gives you tight squeezes around the neck just cause they want to, its that wonderful moment when they are falling asleep in your arms, its that feeling you get when you really want to sleep and they wake up crying and your gut is in knots cause getting out of bed is the last thing you want to do, you go in their room and they cuddle right up next to you, stop crying and fall asleep and you feel like a million bucks again. Motherhood is trying to teach a toddler how to sort laundry and it taking an extra hour to do so, but you had fun in the mean time, its all the worry, happiness, frustrations, excitement, tiredness, joy, all combined.
I remember hearing a talk by Sister Beck several years back about having a "Mother Heart" i wanted to share parts of it, but honestly they whole thing is wonderful so i am just going to paste it in here so you can read it OK instead of scaring you with a long post, here is an section of it,

"What is a mother heart and how is one acquired? We learn about some of those qualities in the scriptures. To paraphrase Proverbs: “Who can find a … woman [with a mother heart]? for her price is far above rubies. … She … worketh willingly with her hands. … With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. … She stretcheth out her hand to the poor. … Strength and honour are her clothing. … She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness” (Prov. 31:10, 13, 16, 20, 25–27

and HERE is a link to the whole talk...got to it, read it, you will be glad you did.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn along side of my children. Learn about my Saviour and His divine purpose, learn more about my Heavenly Parents and how they must feel to see us following the commandments and leading a righteous life, or how heartbroken they must feel to see us get confused with the ways of the world and fall away. I am grateful to have one perfect little monster to tend to all his needs. He is truly my joy in life. He is my everything. He is all things that is happy and good to me. He is a terror, he is a monkey, he is a Tasmanian devil who can make messes faster than i can say "little stinker". He a healthy, happy, bouncy, smart, loving, truck loving, daddy worshiping, doggy lover, mommas little man. He is what motherhood is all about. I am so extremely grateful to be having another little babe to make my heart expand another 100 times the size it already has become. I am grateful for everything that makes having these babes possible. I would just die inside to not be able to have children, and because of others talents and research it happens. They made motherhood possible for me and I am eternally grateful for them and their hard work and dedication. They must have know just how precious motherhood is and wanted every woman to have a fair chance at it.
I am grateful for a mom who taught me everything i know. She was my prime example of what a "mother heart" is. She not only blessed my life, but all lives she comes in contact with. She is a beautiful woman that i love with all my heart.
Here's to all the moms out there, cause what you do IS important, and DOES make a difference in many many lives. Here is to the perfect life of motherhood with all its perfections and imperfections to teach us what we need to know to be successful when we return to our Father in Heaven.

Big Boy

After Kyler did so well in our bed the other night, and he has been showing intrest in "big" beds the last little while we decided that now would be a good time to change him. This way he will be good and ajusted before his little sister arrives, and he can be the big boy he is trying so desperatly to become.
So tonight was the night. I unburried the twin matterss we had upstairs in a spare room that is more like a storage unit, daddy took apart the crib, and we put the bed on the floor....i think he is just too little for the frame and all...if he fell off it might do damage! :)

He was all sorts of excited about his bed. I need to make him a new comforter for the big bed, so for now he is using daddy's blankey from his mission that has a tiger on it, he thought it was pretty dang awesome. He was running around his room so excited, we brushed teeth, said prayers next to his new bed, daddy rocked him, and went to put him in bed and he lost it! He screamed, cried, and was scared to death (apparently he is all talk). So daddy laid with him till he was good and sleepy and got up, a few whines later we thought we won. Wrong. Soon the door into the living room opened....bugger! So mommy tried, sang 10 songs, slowly wormed her way from him, replaced herself with Pooh bear (or "beear" to him), and now its been a half hour and no Kyler. . . . I will keep you posted on our success with him, i am slightly afraid for naps.
Here is a movie of him being all excited for his bed:

My Little Bed Bug

The other night Kyler woke up before we had gone to bed, I was tired, he was sleeping in our room in the pack n play so his cousin could sleep in his crib....soooo being lazy i picked him up and laid down with him in our bed to get him back to sleep. He was sooo tired, but not falling asleep so i left him in there on our big tall bed (i know not super safe, he still cant get off it without falling) I checked in on him several times as he was moving around just making himself comfy and when we finally called it a night, this is the cute little bed bug we found..... he looks so grown up sleeping in a bed with a pillow. It was a happy mommy moment, i dont know why, just made me happy to see such a cute critter laying in my bed, and that critter was mine, all mine. I just love this little monster and am getting more and more and more excited for my little girl to come and join in on the lovin!
(yes he was quickly removed from our bed after the picture was taken so we could actually sleep, cause no one wants to sleep with a 20 month old, especially a Kyler 20 month old!!!! And yes i love my night shot on my camera that i never thought i would have a serious purpose for, it worked great! )

Pink.

Pink. Enough said. :)

We just cant believe we are going to welcome a baby girl into our little family! We are so super excited, and a little unsure of what we are going to do with a little girl! :) All i know is boy, trucks, dirt, messes, and all that stuff.... now i guess i get to be very well rounded and learn how to make bows, flowers, learn how to do little girls hair, and all that fun girly stuff! I honestly cant wait to start playing dolls/house/barbies with her though..... that stuff i am good at, i did it until an age i will not expose to the public, but i will say that my dad was the one that told me i was too old to be playing with barbies still. :) and now that i am older, i might have to agree.
So now I cannot be more excited to buy new clothes, bows, and all things pink to welcome my new little princess into our home in a few more months

So now for a quick story just so i dont forget. Yesterday I was talking to Kyler and asked him if he was getting a baby sister or brother, he replied back "sisa". I said, "oh, mommy is having a girl?!" Then with a serious face he said "bo, Pweeese" (my interpretation 'boy, please') i laughed then, and laughed harder when the tech said it was a girl!

Annual Petersen Family Winter Bash

Every year my family gets together to go snowmobiling/sledding/etc. This year my mom rented a condo in Midway for the get together seems how we are largely outgrown our cabin. We had a blast! Its so great to be with family. The whole entire crew was there! We played games, did a little sledding (we couldn't find the perfect place) and even shared some less than desirable sicknesses, but all in all there was awesome food, awesome fun, and i have to say awesome beds (i wanted to steal the bed we slept on, it was heavenly)
Here is a slide show of our fun week!

Goals for 2011

I always want to do things...i have a long list of things i would like to do, but they arent written down anywhere, no one holds me accountable to accomplish them because i simply store them in my brain...and it is becoming less than reliable, and i have a hard time keeping track of things...so i am going to list them here, and i can refer back to this post and show my progress throughout the year. The list started at 12 things, one for each month, and then it quickly become 15, then 20 so there is really no special number of things i want to do, just want to cross each off my list! :)

1. Do FHE with our little family every Monday out of the Nursery Manuel
2. Read the scriptures every day get through the triple combination this year
3. Pray every morning and night
4. Paint laundry room and decorate
5. Paint Kylers dresser
6. Put in our yard--do pathway myself
7. Loose all pregnancy weight and get to my goal
8. decorate playroom upstairs
9. Read "A Child Goes Forth" textbook about creating curriculum and programs for childcare and preschools
10. Re-read my child development book
11. Read Ensign article every Sunday
12. Organize/decorate upstairs bedroom that is more like a war zone
13. Master a budget (take a class to accomplish this)
14. Do Kylers 1st and 2nd years scrapbook pages
15. Make an Advent Calendar for next Christmas
16. Make curtains for upstairs preschool room
17. Make curtains for cabin
18. Revamp the curtains in living room
19. Re-learn to play my flute and play in sacrament meeting
20. Read "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" series
1. The Magicians Nephew
2. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
3. The Horse and His Boy
4. Prince Caspian
5. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
6. The Silver Chair
7. The Last Battle
21. Make everything I know we would like in my new Lion House Cookbook
22. Start make Brandon's lunches everyday like i used to before munchkins entered the scene :)
23. Attend the temple once a month with my dear hubby (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, November, December)
24. Make sheets for the pack-n-play for the new baby
25. Take a photography class 
26. Make dinner every night we are home with 12 cheater nights for the year (allowing us to go out for dinner, yes that is one a month)
27. Make homemade noodles
28. Bottle mustard pickles