8 years and counting...keeps getting better!!

Don't ask!!

So Jake and I just celebrated our 8th anniversary! In some ways it seems like it has totally flown by; in other ways it has been a long, hard 8 years. Not because of Jake, just life. 4 kids, loss of jobs, 6 moves, new jobs...new friends, new houses and a lot of painting!! This anniversary and year has seemed different. Jake in loving his job (well not loving, but enjoying,) and we feel settled here in little ol' Maricopa. Our children are growing up and we are not experiencing any child with colic at the moment. (which is a good thing) On top of all that, we are getting along so well!! I love being married to this guy. He really is the most funny, helpful and just plain easy to be around person. We are really finding a balance in our marriage and it just keeps getting better for us.

Our anniversary weekend really seemed to show this. 1st we hung out with friends. Sat. night we went to a surprise b-day party and went as couples. You need good friends...and I am grateful for ours. Next on Monday we went out on our DATE! We went to Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert. I highly recommend it. We got frozen yogurt and walked around in some stores and just enjoyed each others company. Grandma Sue watched the kiddos and we ended up spending the night at her house. We bought picture frames and had some family pictures blown up for our photo wall. Super perfect anniversary present if you ask me. It turned out great! The next day we took the kids to lunch and Cheesecake factory...yummo! They loved spending time with us and our life would be so incomplete without them. I am grateful for a husband who loves his kids and wants to spend time with them. Our marriage means more to us, because of our kids! Later that day I really wanted to get our photo's picked up for the picture wall, so Jake tended the kids and let me go with my friend Jen into town and get the pictures. We also decided to go to a movie (Jake didn't want to go.) I guess once again another compromise but just another part of figuring out this marriage thing. Jake doesn't like movies...I do, so problem solved...I go with someone else. :) So late last night when I got home we started our project. We worked together and hung our pictures. All in all, a great couple of days, an awesome husband, 3 cute kids, family, friends, projects... and dare I call it ... PERFECT!!

Random moments...other goings on!

Aubrey is starting ballet. She is very excited and quite disciplined. Playing wii right before we head out.

Going to Beauty and the Beast and the Hale theater in Gilbert. Highly recommend it. Aubrey was there too, but being a little "shy."

Cute baby!

Weston turns 4!

Weston ended up being quite spoiled this birthday. First we had a party with the Watkins side of the family. We swam, had subway and just enjoyed each other over at Aunt Connie's house. The next day we decided to have a "few" friends over that have kids Weston's age. He thought it was sooooo awesome that there were so many people here. He likes a crowd as much as I do I guess. We feel really blessed to have such great friends here in Maricopa. He really was so cute and well behaved. We sure love this guy and all the laughs he has brought into our lives. He has his moments, but we wouldn't trade him for anybody else.

Weston first day of "real" preschool.

Spencer was in a good mood that morning as well.

So we decided to send Weston to our neighbors Jumpstart Academy. I am so glad we did. Here are pictures from his first day. He was so excited to get on his bike and ride the couple hundred yards to Ms. Jen's House! He is loving it as well, so we couldn't be happier.

Family Pictures

So I have a bunch of these on facebook, but I wanted them on our blog for memories. They turned out so great. My brother Ty has a nice camera and took them for us on the hottest day in Idaho I swear! Anyway, I had bought the outfits and that had been such a nightmare that I got really worked up before they were taken. I could barely sleep the night before and I am sure cried at some point. Weird I know, but I just wanted everything perfect. We haven't had a good family picture taken for a really long time. Jake kept saying he only wanted it to take like a half of an hour and then he was DONE! Well ...in then end it went so smooth. I was in shock. We did two locations (a local park and my neighbors wheat field.) It only took about 45 minutes. It was hot and the lighting was a bit harsh...but kids were cooperative and my husband smiled and we all lived happily ever after. Yeah for family pictures, and yeah for brothers!!

The Great State of Idaho

All these pictures are unrelated, but here is the end of the pictures of my trip to Idaho. Here I am shooting a bow and arrow. Not a flattering picture, but a fun memory none the less. I was mocked relentlessly, because I had such a hard time pulling the bow back to shoot it. I did hit the box that the target was on...the 2nd try. :)

Gotta love the Mitchell's. Here is my best friend since college. Jamie Page now! It was so much fun seeing her and the whole family. We went up to Lake Cleveland for an evening...and had so much fun. Isn't it great to have a friend that after all these years and not much talking...you still just love to sit and chat and be together. Love you girl.

This is another camping trip with the Petersons. How many grandkids can fit on one horse. Five I guess...Up camping with the family. Aubrey loved the horse after the first initial shock. Gotta go see Samantha's grave. I wish she were closer, but Idaho will always feel like home to me, and I feel so blessed that she is buried there at the foot of my Grandpa Peterson's grave.

Water balloons are so much fun. Especially when Jake fills them up instead of myself. I think his 45 minutes of work was all wasted after about 5 minutes of play! Still worth it!

Shoshone Falls

One day in Idaho we decided to go to Twin Falls as a family. We stopped at Shoshone Falls and let the kids see the giant waterfall this is only about 30 minutes from where I grew up. Later that day we bought clothes for the family pictures that I will blog about later.

Peterson Family

The whole family except for Toby who is on a mission in Washington DC. This is just my family. 14 kids and 2 great parents.

When I think of being a "Peterson" I always want to well up and just cry...I come from truly the most amazing, funny, cool group of kids and the most awesome parents that there ever were. Seriously!! Here are the 5 sisters! I didn't get a shot of the 9 brothers. Here are the boys playing Frisbee.

And some boccie ball. Not quite sure how to spell that one, but we played it a lot.

Thomas and his girlfriend Ali. I sure love this kid. We stayed up till 4am talking one night. He always makes me what to do better and makes me feel good about myself all at the same time. He is definitely going places.

My dad! Love him!!!