Visiting Poppa's Grave

My Poppa,

Robert John,

passed away June 24, 2007

while I was pregnant with 

Xander John Peterson.

We used my grandpa's last name

as Xander's middle name.

He was an amazing man.

When I try to think of how to describe him

I think of one word...

integrity!!

No other word sums up 

who he was.

I hope Xander will learn about my poppa

and try to be like him.

My kids enjoy getting to go to the 

cemetary

where he is buried.

We brought flowers and just enjoyed being there.

The kids looked around at 

lots of headstones

discovering people who had their same 

birthdate.

Her are the flowers we brought.

the kids in front of poppa's grave

My mom with aeryn and ellie

Robert John

 peaceful time just being together

the view from poppa's grave...

pretty amazing, huh?

 Aeryn Randii Peterson

is named after my uncle Randy.

he passed away when i was pregnant

with her.

He had cancer...

he was too young...

but lived an amazing life.

 He is buried in the mausoleum 

at the same cemetary.

He is quite high, but aeryn wanted to have a picture

in front of where he is buried.

I could barely get his name and her face in the same picture.

The kids loved looking at pictures,

sayings, cards that are on the 

different memorials. 

It was a great experience.

We were able to discuss

how grateful we are for the 

plan of salvation...

for the fact that we can live as 

eternal families...

that this life is not the end...

that families go on forever!!

My kids amaze me with their faith in 

our Savior.

Pacific Coast Beach Trip

While visiting 

grandma and grandpa

we enjoyed sometime out at the coast.

We love the sand

the ocean smell

the bbq and smore's 

and mostly

the big giant sweatshirts to stay warm.

it really was cold.

my little xander!

my sweet aeryn...looking not so sweet!

 I love the look of sand.

you just want to feel it 

squishing between your toes.

then you remember

how much of a pain it is to 

get all that sand off our 

bodies

before we get in the car

cause it is

really a 

PAIN 

to get it out of the carpet in the car!

 the waves were awesome!

xander's sweatshirt dress...

i remember being that little

when my poppa's shirts 

touched the floor when i wore them.

i miss those days

and love having them with my babies!

my ellie is 9

turning into a young lady

wishing I could keep her small. 

 other beach moments

the kids love having their dad 

dig a giant whole

then they climb in and someone

gets buried...

up to their chest.

ellie is pretty much standing up

that is how deep the whole was.

she struggled to get out

but she did it!

she is strong.

we couldn't go to the beach 

without smore's.

my kids love to roast marshmallows.

it isn't easy to get them just right.

i used to like them burned,

but now I want them slow roasted...

so the inside gets gooey 

and the outside is perfectly golden.

it takes patience...

something I don't always have...

but when it comes to a 

perfect smore

I'll have patience.

when it was time to go

i looked at xander's feet

man they were dirty

but he had a good day

a very good day!!

Muir Woods

We really enjoyed being able to go out to California a couple of weeks ago. 

We took the kids to 

Muir Woods.

Or as Aeryn calls it...

'the redwood forest'.

They LOVE redwood trees and were really excited to get to 

explore the woods all around us.

Doesn't that cute face just melt your heart!

It sure does for me! 

Xander is the sweetest boy ever!

I love him...

he is my baby...

and always will be.

Here are the kids. 

We didn't pack enough warm clothes

and it was a little 

chilly.

Everyone is wearing either

my sweater

or 

my mom's sweater!

Here is my cutie family!

What a handsome hubby, huh!! 

The kids all climbed inside this 

fallen redwood tree.

The inside was all hollow and they 

thought it was super fun! 

Ellie and Travis with my dad

standing inside of a hollow out

redwood...but it is still standing

They are amazing trees! 

Here is my kids with Grandma, Grandpa, 

and Nana (my kids great-grandma).

I love my hubby!

He is such a good man.

He loves me 

supports me

lotions my feet :)

let's me cry and whine

and holds me when I need it

and when I don't! 

 We did a scavenger hunt throughout 

Muir Woods.

It was really fun.

This is Xander taking charge of the book 

filled with all the directions.

He thinks he can read...

and we let him think that!

Mostly he likes to find the letter 'X'

it is his letter!