August 2013

As the summer started to wind down Jeff needed to get some fishing done. We spent the day at a family favorite swimming spot, Krause Springs, then went to Lake Travis to fish. We caught a fish every time we cast. I was nervous with Coco around the open dock but the girls and Jeff had a great time.

The girls finished up their basketball season and ended up really enjoying it.

We made a trip to Sandy's ranch for a weekend to spend time with Jeff's old friend Josh. We all love to be out there on the land with all the animals.

Coco

I turned 31 this year and our sweet neighbors took the kids for the afternoon so Jeff and I could go out.  I got a massage and then we headed downtown.  We went to a burger joint called Hopdoddys.  The burger, fries, milkshake, and Cesar salad was to die for.  We then went to Allens Boot Shop and Jeff bought me my first pair of real boots.  They were shooting a film downtown too so we hung-out and watched that for awhile. It was really a great day.

The girls had back-to-school night at their new school Fern Bluff. Camille has Ms. Moloo for kinder and Jill has Mrs. Shepherd for first.

They were both rather excited for the first day of school. I was pretty lonely. The school is super strict and I wasn't allowed to walk them to class.  I hate that.

The night before school started the girls got a blessing from Jeff and I gave them a Best Friends necklace. They told me after school, on the first day, they saw each other in the hall and ran together to put their necklace together. I'm so glad they have each other.

We ended the month with the UT season opener. It was packed and blazing hot but so fun.

before TX

when the decision was made to move to TX,

i knew there was a few things that needed to happen first.

a girls outing with my Taylor family.

we decided to go to Time Out for Women.

this is what i was greeted with on my way out the door.

it was great to get away and spend some time with the sils and mil.

of everything in AZ, i miss these peeps the most.

a few last visits with my ailing grandparents.

my girls LOVED visiting grandma and grandpa Pete.

he would take his teeth out and make us all laugh.

we got to practice holding a baby when Wyatt came to my sil Caitlin.

the girls were fascinated and in love instantly.

jeff and i were inflated with love for wyatt and excitement for out little boy.

we enjoyed one last AZ rainstorm with one of the girls

favorite accessories: an umbrella

the girls had their soccer banquet and received some awesome trophies.

jeff and i got a few nights out on the town.

pei-wei and barnes and noble:

asu vs. arizona football

we hit up a bunch of fall festivities and fairs including the AZ state fair

we got to visit with mom and dad peterson and brett's family for thanksgiving.

the girls loved the quality time with the cousins.

my family and a few friends had a get together to celebrate the baby and say good-bye.

do you think i like the boots?

i taught my last zumba class and they all stuffed their shirts with balloons for the warm-up.

it was quite comical.

i'm in the front in all black without a balloon. i really miss my class.

the girls were bats for halloween and i was a pot-belly pig.

we trick-or-treated with the cousins.

we even had some crafty times around halloween to help with decorations.

after all the fun times we packed up and left, but not without one

last group hug with the cousins and grandma.

(phew. that was a long mixed-up post.)

new things in 2011

jillian has graduated sunbeams and entered the CTR classes.

she received her ring and has to wear it every sunday.

she even gave the first talk of the year in primary and didn't cry.

(a huge deal for the one who still cry's as she enters the

primary room)

hears to choosing the right and 10:00 church!

(in the 5 yrs we've lived here church has been held at two times: 8:00am ((lame)) and 2:40pm ((lamer))).

jillian also starting going to a co-op

Joy School with a few kids from the ward.

we swap weeks teaching and we are LOVING it!

look at the pure excitement on the first day of school:

Camille didn't deal too well watching Jill go to school without her.

After a few weeks I caved; Camille got her way.

Camille also started Joy School and is doing very well.

2011 has brought with it a new love of make-up for Camille.

These are just two of the many times I have found a mess of make-up on the floor

and a very decorated camillian face.

At-least she does a pretty well job matching what she wearing.

I started teaching Zumba at the YMCA in Jan.

Since then I have had two other opportunities to

teach at other gyms but had to turn them down because I

am still picking up hours at the hospital.

I'm hoping to get a couple exercise-related certifications

in 2011.

Jeff has been working from home and each month is

more successful than the last.

Hopefully 2011 will bring continued success on the 

self-employment front. 

Speaking of me and Jeff,

our Valentine's Celebration was great.

On Saturday night I took him to a nice

Japanese restaurant (he loves sushi).

After, I finished the BEST teryaki chicken of my life

we heading to the local skating rink.

we had a blast once the DJ starting playing some

old-school top 40's that jeff and i knew.

Gotta' love it.

2011...it's going to be good.

just a little ditty

yesterday was a great day.

have you seen this movie?

i took my girls yesterday to watch it.

it is officially my favorite animated disney film.

i was laughing out-loud and i cried twice too.

you should go see it.

it's sooooooo good.

did you watch this game?

me either.

i actually started to

(b/c as you know, this is the biggest game for unr EVER)

i fell asleep in the first quarter.

(i went black friday shopping at midnight that morning

and was emotionally drained from watching tangled. i was exhausted.)

jeff took me to bed.

i woke-up today and found out about the game from the web.

jeff got pounced for not waking me.

i'm headed to watch the game now.

thankful for DVR.

way to go alma mater

jeff + alisha + jenni = true love

jeff and i had a date night last night. his mom gave us tickets to the suns vs heat game. we had a great time!!! the hi-light of the night was meeting JENNI from the show "the Bachelor". i was going for her from the moment she stepped out of the limo. 1. she's dancer 2. she lives in pheonix. looking at this picture i realize that i could use some self-tanner and more make-up!
here's shaqui. he is huge!! i'd have a pic of steve nash but he played like a soccer player...only 3 points going into the fourth quarter. after the game jeff and i stopped by a live press thingy and saw tom chambers and i think we made it on the news. i love date nights.

wonderful week

wow, last week was wonderful.

last weekend: stake conference. on saturday jeff and i were able to attend the leadership meeting and the adult session, then on sunday we attended the general stake meeting. to my great surprise Elder Eyring attended to and spoke at all three!!
jeff had to leave the adult session early on sat b/c jill was being rowdy. after the closing prayer i quickly walked up to the podium and shook elder Eyring's hand (i was the first one!!). i then proceeded to ask him if he'd like to go golf with my husband on monday. he said that he "very much enjoys golfing. however, i have to report to President Packer monday morning". jeff was impressed that i was the first one up and that i actually asked him the question. i thought to myself "do you know me at all? of-course i would do that!"
well then on sunday, i was determined to speak with him again and have him meet jillian. after "amen" i quickly walked to podium, but he was already escorted out. i strode to the exit door. BLOCKED. an usher kindly told me i couldn't use "this" door. i found the closest door and ran into the foyer. he was inside the stake offices. i was determined. if i waited long enough, he'd have to come out. so i waited. i meandered in and out of the gym socialising, always with one eye on the stake door. all the chairs were up and the crowd was gone, still i waited. finally, no luck. with slumped shoulders i walked to my car. less than five cars left in the entire parking lot. i strapped jill in and drove to the exit. as i drove by i saw the elders in the foyer. of-course elder eyring would be meeting with them! now's my chance. i parked the car in handicap parking and ran back inside. as i was going in the elders were coming out. wrong again! i drove down the street toward home. as i pulled up to a red light i thought "i've got to try one more thing! if i don't i'll regret it. i really wanted jill to see him". i flipped a "U"ie and speed to the church. as i pulled up, no cars left in the parking lot, i noticed an outside access door from the stake offices. of-course!! i knew it had been there, but in my stalker-thought process i had forgotten. as i was finally and really driving home i was over come with the spirit. as the tears started to flow my testimony burned. did i want to speak with him b/c i wanted a good story? no i wanted to speak with him and shake his hand b/c of the knowledge and spirit that surrounds him. i am reminded of the women in the bible with the issue of blood. all she needed was to touch the saviors hem and she was healed. all i wanted was more of elder eyrings teaching and testimony. as young as jillian is i wanted her to feel what i was feeling. the conference was a success. i left with a stronger testimony and a greater resolve to become as He is.

Wed: finally! jill has started dancing. i took it a little personal when nora and carrie were movin' before jill. silly, but true.

Thrus: jill is 11 months! time to look for a new car seat. i can't wait to look back and see her cute face, instead of her cute back of head.




Friday: i now consider jill walking. she'll walk back and forth from jeff and i with encouragement. so fun to watch. of-course she still prefers to crawl.

Saturday: i know that i'm bit of a pessimist about arizona. okay, more than a bit. however, one thing arizona has going for it is the sports. Suns, Diamondbacks (in the running for the world series), Cardinals, Mercury (won the national championship this year), Coyotes. arizona also has great college athletics too. we've been to suns games and coyotes games. we really want to go to a cardinals game but they're mostly on sunday and they mostly lose. jeff and i really enjoy going to sporting events. on saturday we went to ASU vs. Oregon football. what a great game!! ASU looks pretty good, i think their record is 5-0. we had so much fun.




Sunday: my primary children were much more reverent this week than two weeks ago. they're getting ready for the sacrament program. we have a phenomenal chorister and pianist. every sunday as the children sing the spirit is invitied to the room. i love my calling. also, it is really official now. jill is walking. i set her down as i was conducting and she walked around the podium to the other counselor all by herself. i'm sure i'll have a video coming soon.

phew! what a wonderful week.