Lake Elmo

On Wednesday June 27th, the kids and I were invited to join a few friends in Billings at Lake Elmo.  It is a great little place, and I had a great time getting to know people in our ward better.  And the kids had a BLAST splashing and playing in the lake.  Here is proof!

 Nathan, casted arm bagged, and loving the water

Aubrey

 Emily

 Betsy

 Jay

 Aubrey having fun "making rivers".

How Nathan spent most of his time.  With his nose in a book.  Poor kid....

Nathan breaks an arm

From Sunday, May 20th to Thursday June 28th Nathan was sporting this blue full arm cast:

Then, gratefully, he got a new red half cast!  He will be wearing this one until the 26th of July. 

Breaking your dominant arm right as summer is beginning is not fun.  He has had to sit out of most of our water activities, and hasn't been able to do very much physically this summer.  He has spend the majority of his time either reading or playing computer games.  We will be having a PARTY the day his cast comes off and are planning on some type of water activity where Nathan can fully participate.

 He has gotten pretty good at doing almost everything with a cast, and I think that his mama will be happier to see it go then he will.  He is looking forward to taking a shower, because according to him, "baths are for babies".  Sorry dude, that's what happens when you break an arm...

~~~ 35 ~~~

From the very first time I saw David, working in the computer lab at Eastern Arizona College, I knew that there was something different about him.  He had a great sense of humor, and a wonderful listening ear. 

He chose me, a girl with lots of baggage, and treated me with respect and honor.  He was so good to me.  He treated me right, and the relationship felt so easy and relaxed.  No pressure, no jealousy.  It was refreshing.  He was a righteous RM and a pretty good home teacher too! =)

Since those early twitterpated days, I am pleased to say that he still treats me with respect and honor.  And our relationship is still easy and relaxed. 

He STILL makes me laugh everyday, and has always happily, and without complaint, stepped in when I needed a hand.  He used to take over diaper duties every weekend, he will make dinner when I haven't gotten around to it, and is quick to jump in and play with the kids.  He is their favorite toy.

Happy birthday to the man that changed my world forever.  It has been a privilege being your wife.  You chose me, and I am forever grateful for it...

What we've been through...

Since we decided to take the trek north to Montana and start afresh, I feel like we have been tried and tested in more ways then I can even remember.  I don't want to sound like I am complaining or ungrateful, because that is very far from the truth.  I know that we did the right thing by stepping out on our own, and moving to an unknown place.  I have felt the Lords' hand several times in our moving and settling process.  And many blessings have been given to us throughout this change.  So, with that said, I need to document some of the bigger things that have been placed in our path, because at this point it is getting almost humorous.  Just waiting for what the next thing is...

• I have been sick with a cough, cold, sinus, and/or chest infections off and on since we moved here.
• I was hospitalized with what ended up being a serious UTI and pelvic infection.
• The suburban broke down.  We took it to the shop and replaced the fuel filter and pump.
• Betsy started her therapy to help with her hand mirroring/shadowing.
• Betsy has had several cavities filled, two root canals, and so many trips to the dentist that everyone there knows us all by name. 
• The suburban broke down.  We replaced the alternator.
• Betsy had a serious asthma attack, and has now been put on stronger medications.
• Emily crashed her bike into the back of Davids truck and broke the tail light with her face.  Emergency room trip with face and head cut open.
• Suburban broke down, AGAIN.  Taking it tomorrow to shop to replace the #4 cylinder.
• Nathan fell, broke his right arm, and is now in a temporary splint.  Going back Friday to see if we will get a cast or possibly surgery.

With all these things piling up on us, it has humbled me.  I have had to allow people to help me.  I hate that.  I hate being "that person" that needs help from others.  It makes me feel weak, or unable.  Well, I think that the Lord has placed these trials in our path to see how we respond to them.  And what we learn from them.  I am responding relatively well, and learning that I cannot do things alone.  And that getting help does not equal weakness.  It takes strength to accept help.

...oh, and I have learned that all these trips to the doctor, mechanic, hospital, therapist and dentist adds up to a big chunk of change.

Graff Poetry Slam

Nathans' school, Graff Elementary, put on a Poetry Slam on April 12th.  I got to go with my wonderful son, and listen to him perform a self-written poem, to the entire 3rd and 4th grade, and a gym full of parents.  He worked hard on his poem, practiced a lot, and did great reciting it, by memory, for the crowd. 

Waiting in the wings to perform.  He was so excited!  I took a video, but I can't get it to load!

A couple weeks later, I found my son in our local paper!  This is the group of 3rd and 4th graders that recited poems.  He is in the fourth row, 3rd from the right.  By the way, Nathan says he now feels so famous!  He pointed out that he was in the paper in Snowflake when he won the spelling bee, and now in Laurel with the poetry slam.  Cute kid....


Here is his SELF-written poem that he performed:

The Candlestick
By Nathan Peterson

Here's a present!  Take it quick!
Plus don't jump over the candlestick!
If you do, you'll get a surprise!
It might even blind your eyes!
Now I have to go, and remember,
Don't jump over the candlestick!

When I opened the present I found
A hypnotizing candlestick!
The hypnotizing candlestick
Hypnotized me to jump over it!
I found a bright glow, it filled the room
Soon I heard a big KABOOM!

I must have been blind, everything was black!
Then I bumped around and found something.
I flicked it on and on came the lights.
I woke, thinking what happened?
It must have been a dream!

I have spoken a few times with Nathans' fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Broyles.  Each time I have she always goes on and on about what a great performer and speaker Nathan is.  I am so proud to have my smart, happy, GOOD boy!  I am one lucky mama, that's for sure!

Exploring Montana

Did you know that Montana is FULL of all sorts of historical spots?  We have made an effort to see a couple since we moved here, and plan on seeing many more in the future.  A few weeks after we got here (in February) we took a break from the last bits of unpacking, and advantage of the nice weather, and drove a short distance to Pictograph Cave.  Some petraglyphs have been found inside a cave, on the east side of Billings.  We had a good time getting acquainted with pieces of Montana, and got some fun pictures of our afternoon adventure.

 Very pretty views.  We might go back later in the year to actually see it GREEN. 

 In the cave.  The pictures are drawn in the wall behind the kids. 

Me and my hubby.

And just last weekend we drove about an hour and a half east of us, to the Battle of Little Bighorn (Also known as Custer's Last Stand).  It was a really interesting place.  We all learned a lot, and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures. 

This was a nice sized cemetery for Veterans and servicemen and women.  It was a good opportunity to walk among the graves and teach the kids a little about war, sacrifice, freedom, and gratitude.

At the top of the hill.  Under this memorial is the majority of the remains of the soldiers who fought along side Col. Custer.

This is where Custer fell, near the top of the hill.

And this is the shot of the hill, taken from the cemetery. 

We drove around the area and noticed the graves that dotted the landscape.  A sacrifice of good men, for such a foolish decision.  We all had a good time, and other than the bout of car problems on our way home, had another successful experience getting to know the great state of Montana.

In the coming weeks (read: when it warms up again!)  we will be visiting Pompey's Pillar (a large rock that Lewis and Clark carved their names into), and hope to see Mount Rushmore (6 hours east)and do some camping at Yellowstone (1.5 hours south) this coming summer.  So excited about that!!

Easter, etc.

I check my blog nearly everyday.  I look and see who has updated their blogs, and wish others would do the same.  Yet, I somehow forget that I should be updating mine!  How silly of me....

So, over the past month life has continued to go on.  My days are filled with regular mommy things.  And the kids are doing really well.  Betsy has been pretty expensive this month between her dentist appointments and new therapy sessions.  She was complaining last month of a sore tooth, so I found our new dentist and took her in, thinking it would be a regular cleaning and one filling.  BOY, was I wrong.  She has been such a tough girl as she has sat through several appointments, root canals, x-rays, and fillings.  She has TERRIBLE teeth.  We still have at least two more appointments set up.  Poor sweet little girl.

And for those who are wondering what the therapy for Betsy is about.  Let me explain.  She has always seemed to have a little quirk where when she used one hand her other hand would shadow or mirror the other hand.  It seemed kind of strange, yet not a big deal.  Then it started hindering her.  She struggles with independantly dressing herself, carrying things, cutting, basic fine motor skills. 

I really noticed it handicapping her several months ago, and wanted to go something about it, but then the move to Montana happened, so got put off.  We finally got through all the red tape and she began active occupational therapy last month.  She LOVES it!  LOVES to go "play with Martha".  It has been great to see improvement already.  I worry about her going to Kindergarten in August, but feel that she will have improved enough at that point to fit in fine.  What I love so much about my precious Betsy is that she is happy through it all.  Smiling ear to ear, and sweet as can be.  Love her!

In other news, Easter came to Montana.  We kept it VERY simple and went to an easter egg hunt that a church in town put on.  It was pretty chilly, given it had snowed the day before.  The kids had fun, and thats what mattered.

After the egg hunt we hurried over to the movie theater, and watched a FREE showing of Hop.  It was the first time we ever attempted a movie with all five kids at a movie theater.  They did great!  We figure the next time a "kid movie" is released we could take them all again.  Expensive though!

I love how this move has caused positive changes in my kids.  I have noticed that the rivalry that was always between Aubrey and Emily is gone!  They actually PLAY together.  SHARE the same friends.  SLEEP in the same bed.  They have really started to GET ALONG.

Finally, this is the project the kids threw together this rainy Sunday afternoon.  Its a doll house.  (Although, Nathan and Jay call it a TOY house).  They ALL worked together, desiging rooms, and taping it together.   They keep adding rooms and features to it, so now it is about twice this big, and still growing!


 AAAAHHH!!! My kids are getting along!  Knock on wood....