Party at Jennie and Matt's house

Matt and Jennie invited us over for a New Years Eve get together tonight and it was fun. We didn't even really know what Wii was but they had one and we virtual bowled and it was really fun, I beat Chad! I doubt I could do that in the real world but it was a nice victory virtually! The food was great thanks to Jennie working hard today! Thanks! We got to meet Matt's family and that was nice, and we are looking forward to a real world bowling night with them real soon! Here's a couple pics of Matt and one of Jennie and Chad! During our virtual bowling!

Video of Hagen and Keleigh so cute!

Christmas with Jake and Tina!

Jake and Tina came over tonight to visit for Christmas. Since the baby came our Christmas Eve gathering was put on hold and now we are just having the kids over when they can make it. Hagen was so excited to see his new cousin and kept wondering why she had no eyes (she was sleeping) he was very anxious to show her his Optimus Prime which we gave him for Christmas and his new PJ's and of course he got a Hulk doll and he was sure she needed to check them all out! I thought it was so so cute the way he talked to her and was so excited when she opened her eyes! I wish I'd videoed it!

Isn't that just so cute?!








Hey Keleigh check out my Optimus Prime!










"why doesn't my cousin have eyes?"









Ok look at the toys Keleigh!

More pics of Keleigh!

A tickled Aunt Jennifer








Aunt Tina and Uncle Jake admiring me








My little cousin Jada and Grandpa checkin me out





Grandpa worrying about mommy while he admires me!






Me in my Christmas eve outfit without IV's!






Nana gushin over me and letting everyone check out that hair!

Keleigh Reese Petersen is here!!!

My First Photo
She came about 9 days before her due date! Sarah got sick on Saturday the 20th and started throwing up, she had been having trouble for a couple of days before that and not feeling well but then she couldn't keep anything down and got very dehydrated and contractions started and this time they were real! So we took her to the hospital and they started IV's and then about 6pm her water was broken and even though she was really sick the baby was doing well so we progressed through the night slowly and in the wee hours of the morning we talked Sarah into an epidural. She had a couple of setbacks in her progression but then finally got to a nine although it had been 24 hours since her water broke and she was completely exhausted so the doctor checked her and said it was best because of the baby's position that a c-section be done for Sarah and the baby! Sarah was so disappointed she had wanted a natural delivery and I know if she had been feeling well she could have done it without pain meds but she was so so sick. She had a little time to adjust to the idea (about a half hour) and then they came in and got her ready for the section. I got to suit up and go with her into surgery, it was the hardest thing I've ever done to witness them cutting my sweet baby open, to deliver her sweet baby. I was nervous watching Sarah shake so badly her teeth were chattering! It was a tearful moment for me when Keleighs head made her appearance (and was covered in dark hair and lots of it!). I heard her first little noises and knew she was here! Then the rest of her was presented to us and she was beautiful! I have witnessed the births of 4 of my grandchildren but never by c-section (even though Sarah herself made her entrance to the world by c-section) and the miracle of birth is still a miracle even when it has to have help! Sarah insisted I go with the baby and not take my eyes off her, I had a hard time leaving Sarah and was very torn to do so but Sarah was insistent. I was shaking and nervous and excited watching the nurses work on Keleigh and wondering how Sarah was doing. The nurses were so helpful explaining everything they were doing as we went along. Keleigh ended up in the NICU in about 12 hours after her birth because she contracted some infection and her white count soared and she was not responsive. I am thrilled to report she was there until Christmas Day and we got to bring both Sarah and Keleigh home, what a wonderful Christmas gift, my two healthy babies! I love them so much and am thrilled they are both doing well, I've gotten a bit overprotective in the process but I'm sure that's ok, right? The following are a only a few of the pictures from the 6 days at Davis Hospital!

Not so professional photo shoot!

On Thanksgiving we went to my daughter Jennifer's and she decided we should do a 'photo shoot' of Sarah's pregnancy and that we could do as good a job for less money as the professionals! So we gave it a shot. I think Jennifer did ok!













I love this one of Sarah













This was one that wasn't posed Jennifer snapped it before Sarah was ready and I just like it!













I love the rocking chair ones!













Jennifer decided art work was needed and so Sarah decided she would play around with a pose!









Jennifer at work creating her art piece!

Christmas Village!

Jake and Tina invited us to go with them to the Christmas Village in Ogden on Monday night! It was a really fun time! The kids loved it! I got some really great pics too! It was really cold but the kids got to see Santa and let him know what they want him to bring them on Christmas!












Cute little Family!










I love that guy!










Sarah with the kiddos!










The guys!









The girls!

Keleigh!!

She is weighing now at 6lbs 10 oz! We are thinking she is about ready to make her appearance, I know her mommy is ready for her to appear! She is 50% effaced but no dialation yet! Sarah is having a rough time right now, she doesn't know how she can grow anymore and in the last week she got stretch marks!!! Oh my! :) On Thanksgiving we took some pictures of her and did them like the professional ones you see done these days. I think Jennifer did a really great job...I don't have them all available to post but I'll post one now and a little later I'll get more up!

Need to brag...:)

My daughter Jennifer just called to update me on Griffin and Jada's school progress. So I needed to brag just a little about what smart little grandchildren we have! Jada is doing 100% on her spelling and making A's she is a proud little first grader! Griffin got his photo in the newspaper for a science project he and some classmates worked on and was the only one in his class to make 100 % on the big math test last week, what a happy 3rd grader he is! Our grandchildren in Texas we get updates on occasionally are doing great, Rona sent us this update..."OUR LIL SIDEKICKS...Lexi is cheering, Jake football, and Luke is playing soccer. The season is almost up, but Lexi's little cheerleading squad is REALLY good and she takes probably 3 gymnastics classes a week...She thinks 5th grade "rocks" as I heard her telling someone the other day and both kids made the A honor roll. Jake loves football--it's right up his alley! He is quarterback but his poor team hasn't won a game. Jody is helping to coach and Jake loves that! 2nd grade is great and all the little girls chase Jake every day so he always has to wear shoes he can run in! Luke is playing soccer for the first time. He is by far the best player on the team...the coach & fans adore him. He is top scorer and best defensive player as well. He is still "mr. smiley" and I enjoy having him in my class at Little Angels.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving was nice for several reasons...first, we went to my daughter Jennifers and she cooked! Second, we got to see 5 of our 8 children and their families, third, this one really relates to the first...I didn't have to cook the whole meal!!! Jennifer was excited to do Thanksgiving and I was excited to let her! She worked hard and prepared a great meal to be thankful for, I even took photos of her pies which she was very proud of because she made them from scratch and decorated them very nicely! After dinner at her house we came home and had pie night at our house but my batteries on my camera were dead and I didn't get any photos of the evening. I'll do better Christmas Eve! Jake and Tina came over with their 3 little ones, Jennie and Matt and Joe and Dar and their 2 kids and of Sarah was here too! It was really nice and we know we have much to be thankful for and we are!

5lbs 11 oz!!!

Sarah had her doctor appointment today and they did the usual ultrasound and the baby is so so cute...we got to see a profile of Keleigh and her little nose so sweet! But the big surprise is she is 5lbs 11 ozs already! She is going to come around the 22nd or 23rd of not sooner so we are definitely having a extra little girl around Christmas! I took these photos today of Sarah all dressed up for Christmas! :)

Is it the holiday season already????

I can't believe the holidays are really here. Two things are on my mind right now and they sort of go together but then again not really. I'm sorry if I ramble!Seems to me the time has flown, I'm not sure if that is good or bad. I think it is a good thing if you are anticipating something special, like a new baby coming or a vacation but I think it is not so great when you realize time is slipping by! I think as I get older I think a bit more about the time we waste! We can waste time in so many ways, like procrastination, or fussing over things that are not really important in the scheme of things or the big picture depending on how you look at it! I for one realize at my age there just isn't enough time in a lifetime to waste!!! I have so many things that I want to do and they aren't just little projects either, big things that I have wanted to accomplish in my life. I have made a vow to myself to stop procrastinating and get busy with LIFE! I only hope that if there is one thing I still have left to teach my children or which might cause them in some way someday to want to emulate my behavior it will be this, that I don't waste precious time and I live every second to its fullest. I have lots to do, finishing my to do list, making amends to those whom I have offended in even the slightest way, accomplishments to achieve! I won't post my list here, at least not today...who knows maybe I will share a little at a time, later!

Giving thanks!

My daughter shared a story with me about my granddaughter Jada and I have just had it running around in my mind and causing me a lot of pride in this little 7 year old girl! I guess she was at the store with her mom the other evening and she was being really good, walking right along with her mommy and all of a sudden my daughter realizes she isn't next to her, she turns and Jada is running to catch up and she starts telling her mommy "sorry mommy I had to help that lady she dropped her milk so I needed to help her and I picked it up for her" My daughter said Jada was just beaming the whole rest of the shopping. Jada asked her mommy in the car "mommy was I good in the store?" My daughter said "yes you were and I'm so proud of you!" Jada then tells her, and this is what makes me just overwhelmed in my heart with all kinds of warm fuzzies, Jada said "I don't know it just made me feel so good inside mommy to help that lady, I just feel so happy" I love that a seven year old can recognize what a lot of times as grown ups we don't even notice! She was a good girl and helped someone and in turn it helped her too, she was happy the rest of the evening and just couldn't stop saying how good she felt! I just love that little girl! I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be a grandmother (nana as I prefer it) it is just great to witness our children being parents but it is most wonderful to witness our grandchildren growing and learning!


Sweet little girl!

Helping out with baby brother!

Fantastic musician!

Those of you who don't know my sweet husband, he is a keyboard player, he also plays mandolin and sings(he has a great voice if I do say so myself)! Tonight he is at a gig, I didn't feel like going so I am home missing him and so I thought I would blog about him a little bit! I actually met him when he was playing gigs in the Outlaw and I would go there with my girlfriends to dance. I thought he had the nicest eyes I'd ever seen and was completely taken by him. But I didn't think he even noticed I was alive! A previous post tells about most of this so I won't elaborate. I just wanted to say I think he is a great musician, he has written some really cool songs and I'd love to see him sell them someday. I keep telling him we are gonna take a little trip to Nashville and see what we can do about getting his songs noticed! He comes from a very talented family and I just think it is really great how talented and smart they all are. His oldest brother is a doctor and had his retirement party in June and it was the first time I heard him sing, and he wasn't too shabby! His oldest sibling is a sister and she was a CPA before retirement, I'm pretty sure she does ok on the piano. His brother just older than him is an attorney and his baby brother has a PhD in Music and is a great musician in his own right! Plus they are all just the nicest of people! I love them very much! Chad is proud of his siblings and I just wanted to say how proud of Chad I am and I know his dad sure was before his passing a few years ago. His mom passed before I knew her but I have read her journals and she was quite proud of Chad too! Anyway,

It's a boy!

So Jennie just let us know she is having a baby boy! So we will have a Macy Wade to add to the mix of grandchildren we have when number 16 arrives in April 2009!

Ralph Waldo Emerson...I'm sorry.

I guess I have to apologize to Ralph for taking a little liberty with his words....he said: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us" I heard it changed a little and I wanted to post in on my blog because I think it is my new marriage theme!! I was just thinking about it tonight!

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies between us"
I just think nothing is as important as finding your soul mate and then making him your number one priority...all the rest is just 'small stuff', no one or nothing can get between what you have for each other, your true love! You know if you gave up when things got hard...well it seems it would prove the 'big stuff' (your soul mate) just wasn't worth it! Marriage is worth working at...it's a really important job! But well worth the effort in the end, well the blessing in it is ...no end!

Cruisin!

These are a few from our Mexico cruise with our friends Larry and Sue! We had a blast...
Chad at Cabo Wabo!
On a tour in Mazatlan!
Mazatlan!
Me in our state room!

My sweetie in our state room! Wow I love this man!

Brrrr....take me to the tropics!

I would rather be somewhere warm right now! It is so cold and it just got me thinking about all the really beautiful places we have gotten to travel to and wishing we were somewhere warm right now. We love tropical places and have visited many islands and someday we are going to retire on one of those islands! Hawaii, Mexico, Aruba, St. Martins...we love them all! Here are a few photos from our many wonderful vacations to warm islands! We have seen these places and they are all so warm and sunny...and simple! I love simple...

Just a really cool picture I took at Xcaret, Mexico (Riviera Maya)
Chad in Mexico!
We were just having a good time at dinner (mexico again) those are not our legs by the way! We were shocked when these guys came dragging these to our table!
One more that night!












Volcano on the Big Island or at least the steam coming off it very early in the morning!










Me in a lava tube on the Big Island, Hawaii!









Sarah and her friend in Aruba!










Me and Chad in Aruba...awwww














Another shot of the love birds in Aruba!