Family Hike Day

I may have mentioned this before, but we live in a great city. Every year Pleasant Grove puts on a free family hike day. The hike is up the little canyon near our house and there is so much more than just hiking. This year was a fairy tale theme so there were games and activities that coordinated with the theme along with free breakfast. This was our second year doing the hike and we have still not actually made it all the way to the end because we spend so much time doing all the other things. Maybe next year, right?

Here is Gracie ready for the fun to begin.

I really wanted a cute family picture at the end with our princess and knight with his sword, but it was just not meant to be. We didn't get one picture with everyone looking at the camera.

There was a petting zoo at the beginning of the hike, it didn't have your traditional animals. There was a bunny, toad, lizard, a pig, and a skunk, yikes! We invited Jason and Sam to come with us and both of the older kids were willing to pet whatever they saw.

This was one of the games along the trail. It was an apple relay that you had to keep the apple between your heads walk about 20 feet and then drop it in a basket without using your hands. They made it maybe 6 inches before that apple fell to the ground, but it was really fun to watch.

Down at the breakfast area there were crafts and some celebrities. Gracie begged to have her picture taken with the princesses and they were happy to oblige.  

3 Months

Time goes so fast. I had to go back to work just days before Gracie turned three months old, but luckily there is only one week before Cass is off for summer break so Gracie will get to spend basically the first 6 months at home with one of us and Alden. Gracie is getting a little better in the car seat which is such a blessing. It has also been fun to see how much she loves here brother. No one can get her to smile or laugh as much as Alden can. Happy 3 months baby girl.

Alden wanted his picture taken with Gracie. Her face says it all. He was not quite sure how to hold her and it was an experience trying to take pictures and be ready to catch a baby at any moment. Luckily everything went well and no tears were shed by anyone.

New Drive Way

One thing we have wanted to do since the first winter in our house was pour a real driveway. Turns out shoveling mud that is not level is not fun, and it makes the kitchen floor really dirty as we go in and out. We were very blessed to get a nice tax refund this year so the house got new doors and a new driveway. Unfortunately I am too lazy to find a before picture, but here are pictures of the process and after. We still can't believe how much this changes the look of our house, but it was worth every penny because Alden finally has a place play with his wiggle car, trike, and scooter. Plus the neighbor kids love it too.

Alden that it was so cool to have a cement truck at his house. We also widened the front side walk since it was narrower than the stairs up to the house which looked a little out of place. We spent quite a bit of time at the table watching the men work.

The truck arriving for the first time. I think there were 3 total deliveries.

Here are the pictures of the final product, hooray!

We added some gravel along the front so there is not a blunt edge on the driveway as you drive up and it really makes things look great.

Memorial Day Celebrations

One of the blessings of living in Utah is that we are pretty close to the final resting spot of a lot of our grandparents. It is important to us that our kids know about their ancestors and how important their lives were in helping us get to where we are today. Here we are at all three of the grandparents graves in Utah.

Alden and Beth Peterson

Lee and Velma Taylor

Wayne and Isabell Jones

We have still been working on going to every temple in Utah as a couple together. This year we went to Hyrum a little earlier than everyone else so we could go to the Logan temple. It was a rainy cold day so we didn't stop and take our picture out front instead we just turned around and took a picture of the temple.

May 2015

Just some pictures from the month of May to show we were having fun in everyday life.

Some of Cassidy's co-workers gave us this adorable skirt for Gracie and I think she likes it too.

In May we also tagged along with Grandma and Grandpa's cubscout group to the Springville Fire Dept. Alden was not sure about it at first, but after he got to spray the fire hose he thought it was pretty cool.

Grandma Norton got Gracie these cute socks and headband. I love having a girl to dress up for church each week, hopefully she will let do it for a long time to come.

We have some good friends that we trade off babysitting with so that each couple can have a date-night twice a month. The three boys get along so well that we couldn't be more blessed as far as friends go.

Just a happy girl. We used to think she had so much hair, but looking back on it she looks almost bald.

Daddy taking a break from yard work. I promise the kids were happy too, just not for the picture.

Grandpa Peterson always likes to push the limits as far as food with the grandkids. He was surprised we didn't stop him giving Gracie ice cream so young.

Just one cool kid. He certainly adjusted to a sibling better than we could have hoped for.

Gracie Clair's Blessing

May 3, 2015 we blessed Gracie Clair Peterson. It was a great day full of close family. We are blessed as a family to have a worthy priesthood holder in our home and there are few things better than watching him use that priesthood to bless our family.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a special day. 

We didn't take too many pictures, but know that it was a good day. And to top it all off we get eclairs for our little Graci"eclair."

Grandpa and Grandma Peterson

Grandpa and Grandma Norton

Now a family of four!

Mom and Daughter

Could there be a cuter baby?! She was so happy for her pictures.

Gracie wore my blessing dress for her blessing and there were pictures like this of me to show how big and pretty the dress, so of course there had to be some of Gracie too.

So thankful for science that blessed us with this sweet angel.

Payson Temple Open House

Our kids are so blessed to live near so many temples and even more blessed that two will be dedicated within the first year of Gracie's life. We were thrilled to have this opportunity talk to Alden about the importance of the temple and being a family forever. We were also blessed to go with most of the Peterson family to the Payson, UT temple p[en house.

Here is Gracie all fancied up and ready to go to the temple for the first time.

Family pictures outside the temple. 

First up Jason, Laura, and Sam

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson

And finally us, up-close and far away

This is a beautiful building with an incredible spirit in it. We truly "Love to See the Temple."