The Petersons: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Hauntings to You

From a very lovely Cinderella,

one silly little "Gus, Gus"

and two extremely UGLY stepsisters (yep, that is Tim dressed in pink)

Happy Halloween from all of us!

Now, that you all got a good laugh...I want to shout out a huge THANKS to Tim for being such a good sport, especially when it comes to all my silly ideas! You're the BEST husband/dad EVER!!

...SERIOUSLY!!!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Today we (my friends Crystal & Melissa and all our kids) headed to Gardner's Village to visit the witches, take some pictures, pet the animals, take a pony ride and have some lunch. It was the most pleasant day! The weather was perfect and not much of a crowd. The kids had a great time running around and trying not to get too close to the witches (they were still a little hesitant, even though they were intrigued). George cried ALOT whenever I took him out of the stroller. Except when we got to the petting zoo, I couldn't get him back in the stroller...funny kid.

I LOVE this picture of Avery...she's so CUTE!!

Sad little George.

Cute girls!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Sleepover Party

Lastnight, we had Chase & Ashton over for a sleepover party! It was alot of FUN! After we picked them up, we stopped at a pumpkin patch. They all picked out a pumpkin. Tim and I pushed them around in wheel barrels and took pictures of them on the tractors. They had a blast! We stopped at Carl's Jr. for some dinner and let the kids run around in the play area. As I watched them play, I thought...huh...this is what it is like to have 4 kids...I could do this...I think! Then we headed home, got jammies on and popped some popcorn. Tim got the beds ready and put a movie on...it was a great time for all! Avery keeps wanting to know when her cousins can sleepover again...

Tim is SUPER DAD & UNCLE!!! He got up made breakfast, helped the kids carve the pumpkins, got them lunch and dressed, cleaned up and took the Chase & Ashton home...all while I was enjoying myself at Super Saturday and working on the finishing touches for our Halloween costumes!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

A Perfect S'mores

Lastnight, we had our annual Hot Dog Roast with my family (the McDermott's). We headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon and settled at Dogwood. The weather was absolutely PERFECT, the colorful leaves painted a nice back drop for our evening (fall leaves are my favorite!) and the kids had a BLAST! Infact, right before we were going to leave, Avery asked where we were going to be sleeping. She was prepared to stay all night and then some. Avery & George loved the fire and Avery was such a big girl roasting her stuff all by herself. The kiddos LOVED throwing rocks in the stream and eating deliciously roasted marshmallows!

I enjoyed the evening snaping photos, watching the kids play and eating a perfectly roasted hot dog & toasted bun...and then the highlight of the evening -a "PERFECT S'MORES"...made especially for me, by my very own chef Timmy! Thank you Tim, you are AMAZING and my very own IRON CHEF! I love you!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

My Little Green Goodness

I never leave home without my little tin of green goodness (aka...Burt's Bees Res-Q Ointment). I LOVE this "all natural" ointment and I use it for EVERYTHING! On the tin it reads, "For all of life's discomforts, naturally soothes skin...". So, some of the things I use my "gg" on are: cuts, bumps, bruises, burns, bites, stings, scrapes, rashes...and my newest favorite...ZITS! It is the BEST zit ointment I have ever found for my skin...and I LOVE that it is made with all natural ingredients, instead of all those chemicals in your typical acne ointment. My "green goodness" has even cleared up overnight those BIG-painful "undergrounders" (as Tim refers to them). Ohhh...all the great things you can do with a little green goodness...

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I Just Had To...

...turn on the Christmas music today! I love, love, LOVE christmas music!! It's another one of my FAVs for this time of the year. It is also my ritual for the first snowfall. Once I start, I really don't stop until mid-January. So here's to snow, christmas music and a return to wonderful fall weather...at least until Halloween, then bring on the snow!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Welcome Fall

Awww...Fall. My most favorite time of the year is FINALLY here. Yesterday, as I was out and about I couldn't keep myself from completely LOVING the day. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I'd go as far as to call it a PERFECT "fall" day! I also spent most of my day doing one of my most favorite "fall" things to do -I canned tomatoes with my mom. I love, love, LOVE the smell of canned tomatoes. I grew up looking forward to the smell that would await me as I hurried home from school on canning days. The pure fresh smell of cooked tomatoes...I know I'm weird, but nonetheless...it's still one of my favorites.

A few other "fall" favorties are pumpkins, zuccihini bread, bike rides, football, jackets & sweaters, fires, leaves...any of you that know me well, know how much I LOVE leaves. Ohhh, and how I love the sound of crunching leaves under my shoes. Actually, I have been know to chase a few dried leaves blown by the wind, so I could get the satisfaction of a good crunch. Much satisfaction. I also love to pull out my fall decor out in September and of course, add to it every year (my current favorite color is burnt orange...perfect for fall decor). My favorite "fall" activities include, but are not limited to: morning walks, hot dog roast in the canyons, Oktoberfest, Wheeler Farm, Gardner Village, the Zoo, Thanksgiving Pointe, halloween parties and feeding the ducks at the lake. There are just so many things to love about Fall.

So, I gladly welcome you Fall. Please stay as long as you'd like.

Monday, October 06, 2008

A Bibbie Kick-Off SALE

Our Dilly Dally "bibbies" have arrived!! Since so many of you have been asking about when you would be able to purchase the bibbies from the new Fall 2008 fabric collection...I have some Good News...we've decided to CELEBRATE with a HUGE SALE for all our family and friends....and you're INVITED!!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 14th, stop by anytime between 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. I am hosting the event at my house. Please call if you need directions 209-1289 and feel free to bring a friend or two!!

All our bibbies will be on SALE...you don't want to miss this (One-Time-Only) Kick-Off Event!! Some Bibbies will be marked down to as low as $10. Bibbie prices will range from $10 - $25. Check out our website to view available Fall 2008 Fabrics at http://www.dillydallychic.com/

Hope to see you there!

Friday, October 03, 2008

I Heart Disneyland

We just got back for our family vacation to Disneyland...I'm having problems downloading the pictures...check back soon!

Avery & George's Quotes of the Day

Now that George is starting to talk. I have added him to the quotes of the day. Here is a little intro to welcome George to the talking world of kids! He can say several words, but here are my favorites: Georgie, mama, dada, Avery, one (he'll tell you how old he is as he points his index finger), Nemo, whale, juice (sounds like juu-juu), elephant, thumper, outside, nin nin (what he calls his binkie), ni-night, bu-bye, hi, hello, shoes and all the car noises. George is very loud and gets excited about the littlest things. He loves to play with his food, line up his cars and say "choo-choo", he loves to go outside and find bugs, especially ants. George can now open & closed doors. For some reason he really likes all the doors to be closed. I love his curly hair and big belly. I've been told by people that he has a "santa belly", but nonetheless people love his gut and it currently is one of his defining features. George loves to be silly, laugh, wrestle and get tickled. I love my Georgie! 10.12.08
So today I asked Avery if she would like to call Aunt Jessica and sing Happy Birthday. She responded "sure, mom how old is Jessie?" I told her Jessica is turning 33. Avery said, "mom, Jessie is going to be three like me?". I explained to her that she has a 3 in her age, but she has 30 years on Avery. Then, Avery got a little upset and in a cute whinny voice said, "but I want to be older than Jessie". I told Avery...maybe in another life. That seemed to appease her for the moment. 10.10.08
Avery calls the crust of bread..."crunch". I've tried to correct her, but I just decided to let it be for now...it's her own special thing...and one of the very few things that helps me remember that she is only 3. Anyone that knows Avery well knows that she is very ariculate (she can pronounce words better than I can), she has an incredible memory and a brillant understanding of relationship (all kinds). She sure keeps me on my toes. Thanks Avery. 9.29.08
George is starting to talk more. My favorite moment was while I was away at my tradeshow, George said to me over the phone "I wove oooo" (translation: I love you). I almost cried. It made my whole day. Thanks Georgie! 9.10.08
Today we went on a nice morning walk. As we were headed home I suggested to the kids that we stop at a park. Avery responded with "That's a Fantastic idea, mom!" I just giggled to myself. I sure love her responses 8.06.08
When we were in the car this afternoon, I put on some new lotion. Avery instantly said, "mom, I smell something...sniff, sniff...something good. Did you clean the car?" you gotta love that little mind of hers! 7.23.08
Tonight, Tim had to take a phone call for work and went outside not to be interputed. I told Avery and George that Dad was on an important phone call and they needed to stay inside (as they were desperately trying to get out the door). Then Avery grabbed her princess phone and headed towards the door as she said, "Mom, I need to take an important phone call and I need to go outside, so George can't hear me."...really! 7.22.08
We were talking about missions and Avery said she wanted to go on a mission. I asked her where she would like to go on her mission, she replied "to the princessess" 7.16.08
While I was saying a prayer on our lunch today, Avery looked at me with one eye slightly opened and said, "mom, I love you"...I cherish the random "I love yous" I get throughout each day. 7.16.08
Avery freaked out when she saw a spider on the porch this morning and screamed at me, "hold me RIGHT now, young lady"...excuse me Avery? It was actually too funny that I couldn't get upset. 7.14.08
Why this? Why that? Why when? Why how? Why who?...Why?, Why?, Why? Avery has officially hit the "why" stage of childhood. Any advice? 7.11.08
When I got home from the dentist this afternoon, Avery had a whole lot of questions about where I had been. I explained to her that I had my teeth cleaned and as I smiled to show her, I asked if they looked nice? She said, "yah...(pause)..they're yellow!" I told her they must not have cleaned them very good. I love the honesty. 7.10.08
This morning Avery was examining her scabbed knees that were healing and said "I want my cousin Ashty to pull me down again, so I can get more bruises" ...huh? What a silly girl! 7.10.08

Heathly Living

Tim and I are striving to live a more healthy lifsetyle. We have been exercising more frequently and also making better choices when it comes to eating. We are trying to eat more whole foods, sweets in moderation and the tough one...to eat meat sparingly. So, I thought it would be fun to post some of the new recipes I am trying out. Some of them are absolutley fabulous. Enjoy~

This salad has been refered to as the "famous salad" amongst our neighbors. We eat it about once a week. It's one of our recent favorites. Once again, compliments to the "Original Fast Food"

Oriental Salad
1 1/2 cups carrots, shredded
1 zucchini, cut into thin matchstick slices
1 1/2 cups mung bean sprouts
3 cups Napa cabbage, finely chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 lb whole-grain pasta

Combine salad ingredients into large bowl.

Peanut Dressings for Oriental Salad
1 tsp fresh garlic minced
1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp chicken bouillon
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 cup Braggs Liquid Aminos
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp chili-garlic sauce

Combine dressing ingredients into a blender. Blend until warm. Pour dressing on salad, toss, and serve. Enjoy!

After making this recipes several times. I think have it down and it's a fantastic bread recipe...thanks to the book "Original Fast Food"

Whole Wheat Bread (yield: 4 loaves)

1/2 cup warm water
2 Tbsp yeast
1 Tbsp honey
4 1/2 cups hot water
13 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup honey
1 Tbsp salt

Combine warm water, yeast, and 1 Tbsp honey in small bowl. In separate mixing bowl combine 4 1/2 cups hot water with 7 cups flour and mix well. Add honey, salt and activated yeast mixture and mix again. Add additional 5 to 6 cups flour and knead until smooth and elastic. Divide into four oiled pans. Allow to rise double original size. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Enjoy! It's delicious!

Whole Wheat Pancakes/Waffles Recipe
2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder (non-aluminum)
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp applesauce
1 1/4 cup coconut milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup water
1-4 Tbsp honey

Add all ingredients into mixing bowl and mix batter. Cook on a non-stick or lightly greases skillet or waffle iron...and enjoy!

*I usually put yogart, honey, or Grade B Maple syrup on them instead of the sugary yummy syrup. My kids loved the pancakes, which is my way of testing recipes. If my kids love them, I love them!

This past weekend, I was able to attend a "Original Fast Foods" cooking/food prep class. I loved it! I learned so much and have been striving to implement the healthier choice of foods in our diet. I will share some of the info soon!

The Petersons