Girls Trip!!!?

All my darling daughters!!!!! I love them all so much!!
Our suite!!!
Crafting all day and into the night!
Dancing all night!!!

I can honestly say, it doesn't matter where you go, it's all about the people you are with!! Our girls trip this year was going to be in St. George. Due to our last adventure on the road to St. George (keep reading), we changed it to my house at the last minute because there was a prediction of snow again. But we had a total blast!!! The girls made Christmas presents for their kids and Christmas decorations for their homes. We all said, it didn't last long enough!! Everyone was in charge of one meal, and the girls all slept on the floor in my basement rather than sleeping in separate bedrooms. Thanks a million to all the Grandmas, Grandpas and Daddies who gave their wives and daughters much needed breaks.

Thanksgiving 2010

The Granddaughters!!!
The Grandsons!!!
This year we are thankful for plastic plates and cultural halls!!
Our Thankful tree!!
A few of our STUDS!

On the road to St. George!!!

A few months ago, Telisa sent a mass email out to all of us stating that Clay was getting a week off of work and would love a family vacation in St. George! The entire Peters' clan was invited, so we all scurried around trying to rearrange our schedules to accommodate such a delightful idea. As luck would have it, on the exact date of Clay, Telisa, Bodie and Tatum's arrival (November 21, 2010- WHITLEY'S BIRTHDAY), a huge snow storm decided to descend on Utah. The VanLeeuwen's plane was to land around 5pm. Dennis volunteered to pick them up at the airport and head straight to St. George with a Traffic App on his cell phone. Most of the Daddies stayed home, but the brave Mommies filled their cars with kids, snacks, movies and games to make the journey on their own Sunday around 2 pm. Kim and kids decided to leave bright and early Monday morning so they could celebrate Whitley's birthday properly. Tiffany and Tristen's cars led the pack. Tara asked me to ride with her to help with her newborn Indy, which I happily obliged. The roads were a little dicey through Springville to Salem, but then things seem to look bright up ahead! Then we received a phone call from Tiff reporting that there was an accident involving 4 semi trucks that had jack knifed and had blocked the roads. Basically, we were all stopped for about 3 hours. As the snow began to fall harder and the temperatures drop, we were getting a little nervous. Everyone had to go the bathroom and we were starving! Tiffany and Tristen's cars finally made it out of the bottleneck, but just as Tara's car was starting to make it's way up a black iced road, her car broke down, with us in very precarious situation. I called 911 and asked the kids to start praying that no one would hit us, because we were dark and stopped in the road. There was some hollowing for "DADDY at that point!" The Sheriff showed up and tried to jump start our car, but we quickly discovered it wasn't the battery. He told us we needed to be towed, but all the tow trucks were working overtime, so we would have to wait at least another hour. Super fun! By now Tiffany and Tristen were in Beaver waiting for us. Dennis, Clay and Telisa had nearly caught up to us, but because of the information on his phone, he got off the main road and took a dirt road avoided the giant traffic jam. When the tow truck came, I imagined we would be taken to Beaver where we could rent a car. I was quickly informed that there were no Rental Cars in Beaver, all the Hotels were booked and the car would take 3 to 4 days to repair! The mechanic said, we might be able to open a church for you. Thankfully the rest of our group made it safely to Beaver and instead of listening to me and going onto St. George, they all waited and rearranged their cars so they could fit the six of us in their vehicles. We were so grateful for greasy gas station food and a fairly clean restroom, but mostly for our family that waited for us and managed to get us all the way to St. George by midnight. Kim drove up the next morning and got all the things out of Tara's car that we just couldn't manage to fit!!

The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful, but super fun for me. We had 20 kids under one roof during the day and used two houses to sleep in at night. We mostly crafted, ate, laughed, broke up squabbles between siblings, watched movies and crafted some more. The grandkids did a service project for all the residents of Grandpa Harold's place. When we drove that patch of road back home on Wednesday, I had a big smile on my face!

BLESSINGS!

As I sat in Church on Sunday with most of my children and their families, (missing so badly the little VL's in Omaha) I could literally feel my gratitude level soar! Stephen and Tara blessed their angel girl, Indy Janae Sunday morning and our family filled up many rows in the chapel in support of the Sansoms. Stephen gave a beautiful blessing and Tara shared an amazing testimony. I know I don't stop and think of my blessings enough. Why is it so much easier to think of the negative instead of the bounteous blessings that surround all of us! My friend, Jody Done wrote the following in our Relief Society Announcements on Sunday, and I am grateful for the good reminders of all the Blessings we enjoy at this time in our lives.

Did I thank Him for being able to open my eyes this morning and see his beautiful earth?

Did I thank Him for being able to walk and breath the fresh air while I wandered through the many colors of the season?

Did I thank Him for the people I love and the people who love me?

Did I thank Him for having food to eat so I can take care of the body he blessed me with?

Did I thank Him for a sound mind? (sound mound, that's a little iffy for me?)

Did I thank Him for letting me live these latter days?

Did I thank Him for my trials that have helped me grow?

Did I thank Him for the smiles and hugs of grandchildren?

Did I thank Him for blessings of living in a free country?

Did I thank Him for my membership in His true church and the knowledge I have of eternal life?

Did I thank Him for the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Did I thank Him for my Savior who set an example of Christlike love?

Did I thank Him for carrying me through difficult times and filling my heart with love and my mind with positive thoughts?

Did I thank Him for friends?

Did I thank Him for talents he blessed me with and ask for help in developing my talents?

Happy giving thanks time everyone out there!!!! I love and appreciate you all!!

Suitcases and Security Lines!?

For the last two months Den and Kat have been living out of our suitcases and spending an unusual amount of time standing in the security lines at airports. (By the way, you might as well be naked now as you go through security! They x-ray your entire body, and often pat you down!?) Super fun!? We've seen the Salt Lake Airport several times over, Monterrey Airport, Denver Airport, Omaha Airport, Atlanta Airport, Rome Airport and driven four times to St. George! Honestly, once at our destinations, life was great!! We enjoyed the company we were with and sight seeing. We especially loved visiting Clay, Telisa, Bodie and Tatum in their new home in Omaha, Nebraska! Telisa had new slippers for me, and a new golf shirt for Dad waiting on our bed when we arrived. Bodie, who was nearly asleep in his car seat when Telisa picked us up from the airport, let out a loud howler for joy when he saw us!! That sure made the naked security lines worth it!!!Awesome red barn near Clay and Telisa's house. We just had to take pictures!!!!!This was a terrific Pumpkin Patch/ mini Disneyland Telisa took us to. The boys had a great time choosing their pumpkins, playing with the animals, riding tractors, watching a pig race and listening to country music!


Cute mommy Telisa with sons, Bodie Dennis and Tatum Dutch!
Big Red and Little Red at the Pumpkin Patch in Omaha, Nebraska!!
Beautiful northern California!
Monterrey, California Beaches with Nancy, Kat and Jill Seppi
Den and I on a Tandem Bike!! Super scary, but fun. We are little rusty on the bicycling thing!
A great puzzle store we found in town! Dennis was in heaven, he persuaded his buddies into buying one too! What he didn't know is I had already been there an hour before and purchased a puzzle for him for Christmas! He ruined the surprise!
A lighthouse on a golf course! Telisa and Dennis' two favorite things!

My Four Princesses!!

Halloween 2009 some pretty amazing Princess costumes were made by some pretty amazing, not to mention, busy mommies! I decided then, I wanted to have a Princess Party for my four Princesses. It's almost been a year and concerned the girls would grow out of their dresses before I got my act together, I finally came through with my promise. Jovie opted to be a Fancy Nancy Princess instead, which was of course, her choice! Telisa made the cute invitations, and the girls all arrived in their princess attire ready to party Saturday, September 25, 2010!! We ate, played games, danced, watched a little "Snow White", crafted all the while wearing our crowns!!!

Now and Then!

George Paynter, Kathryn Peters, Dennis Peters- Air Force/BYU Game 1985 ! Diane must of been taking the photo! I don't remember who won, but I remember it snowed and was super cold!!
George and Diane Paynter, Kathryn and Dennis Peters- Air Force/BYU game 2010! I remember who won (Air Force) and it was super hot!!

Awesome trip anyway!!!

Debra and Larry Johnson
George and Diane Paynter
Gary and Lorie Lemmons





Even though BYU had an unfortunate loss with the Air Force game in Colorado on September 11th, Den and I had a blast with our lifelong friends, George and Diane Paynter, Larry and Debra Johnson and Gary and Lorie Lemmons! We stayed at the lovely home of George and Diane where we were welcomed with open ams, DELICIOUS food, comfortable beds and lots of silliness! (EVEN OLD PEOPLE ARE SILLY!) After over thirty years of friendship, there is lots to laugh about!

Thank you George and Diane for your hospitality!! Thank you Gary and Lorie for being the activity directors!! Thank you Larry and Debra for the singing and heartfelt conversations!!

"Mathusala! Mathusala!!"