The Newest Addition to Our Family

The baby Buick is dead!

R.I.P.

It has been a trusted little friend that got us around a lot of places the last 5 years.

We have been looking around at used cars to replace the Buick so we can have a second car when Clark gets going busy with school again. We found the Chrysler Sebring at an auction in Kansas City. In a very exciting bidding war I won the thing...

(If you look carefully you can see Ethan driving the car).

So Monday we left on the 3 hour journey to go pick up our car. We found the place, saw the car, and were relieved that it really did run. I took Ethan with me to the DMV in the quaint historic Strawberry Hill district to pick up some temporary tags so we could drive it home. That is when the real fun began.

OH my! Ms. Shirley (the wonderful employee that sits at the information desk and filters people to where they need to go) was not even going to let me talk to anyone because I only had a copy of the title (the original is in the mail). So I got on the phone and Clark talked to the people at the auction to see what we could do. I stood in the line 5 times and Ms. Shirley wouldn't even let me talk to anyone. When she would see me coming she just rolled her eyes and thrust her loose tooth at me (it was pretty sick). My 4th time in line another employee was just walking by the information desk, so I jumped out of line and told her my plight. She said we could get a transit permit but I needed to call Topeka and get permission. I got the number and quickly called Topeka. It was now 4:25, the answering machine at Topeka said they closed at 4:30. I was so FRUSTRATED! Had the lady given me that number the first time I stood in line (45 mins. earlier) we could have taken care of it.

So not really wanting to drive illegally back to Iowa we decided to stay in KC for the night and try again the next morning. Clark went to the DMV early Tues. morning. Ms. Shirley knew who he was before he even opened his mouth - she referred to me as "persistant." I won't tell you what I referred to her as. They tried to give Clark the run around even after he had obtained permission from Topeka - one employee even tried to tell him she made a phone call when he was staring at her and never saw her pick up the phone. Finally...Ms. Shirley let him talk to a manager of a manager and we got our temporary tags.

How come the DMV manages to be so unhelpful, I've dealt with the DMV in a few different states now and it is always the same!?!

We finally made it home Tues. and we are hoping the baby Sebring was worth the trouble.

The coolest part is that our Sebring is the same color as Michael Scott's, we don't have the convertible top though, but still we feel pretty snazzy bombing around Des Moines in such a sweet ride! Muah ha ha!

New Toy

When we returned from Boise there was a surprise waiting for me and Ethan in the garage...a jogging stroller decorated with a yellow bow and welcome home balloons. While we were gone Clark put together a jogging stroller using pieces he found from one on the side of the road and another one that he found on Craigslist. We have already put some miles on it and are loving it (so much easier than jogging behind our travel system stroller). A couple of days ago we went with Clark on a nice walk, then played at the park, and got ice cream on the way home. The above pictures are the results of Ethan eating an ice cream cone by himself in a bumpy stroller. He was sticky and covered - but LOVED it! He is a real Peterson.

Since coming home his new favorite game is to climb on EVERYTHING! He is so fast, if I am distracted for just a second I can find this little monkey just about anywhere.

It seems like he went from being a baby to climbing toddler overnight. I am loving this sweet stage that he is in.

He has some new tricks that I think are adorable. Whenever he sits in his highchair he immediately folds his arms and bows his head waiting for the prayer. As soon as someone starts saying the prayer he starts eating, but hey, at least he's reverent for a second. After the prayer he claps very proud of himself.

It is amazing to me how he mimicks the things that we do...he loves to hold the phone up to his ear and pace around the room blabbing in a high pitched voice. (Is that really what I sound like to him?)

His vocabulary is expanding a little. He now says Dada, hi, uh-oh (whenever he drops something), ya ya ya (learned that from Grammy Tammy), wow, and recently he has added "oh man," (which makes us laugh every time). He barks really well whenever he hears or sees a dog, he also moos once in awhile when you ask him what a cow says. Sadly, he rarely says momma.

He is into giving good hugs and kisses. He gives people a high five, the pound, or a handshake quite frequently. Tonight at the baseball game he gave a giant hot dog a high five, and then pounded the people sitting in front of us. He helps me by unloading the dishwasher (usually when the dishes are dirty) and regularly sweeping the floor. Mostly he loves to run outside, we love to watch him chase the many bunnies that live in our yard. I love his strawberry blond ringlets on the back of his head. 15 months is a fun age!

Please Help the Undomestic

I'm asking all of you talented women who read this blog for suggestions.

Next Sunday in Relief Society I have to give a "Homemaking Tip." The "Homemaking Tip" usually includes a little demo., and a handout...it can be anything. The last few months women have shared how to take a stain out of concrete, wood polishing, gardening tips, making cool little photo frames out of binder clips...pretty much it can be anything.



I've been in the Relief Society presidency in our ward for a few months now, so far nothing has scared me as much as giving the "Homemaking Tip." I will have to do it about every 3 months...so please share any little tips or ideas you have found. I really feel clueless. I feel like my homemaking skills are on the remedial level ---unless making a balloon animal would counts as a skill?! Oh dear. You can leave me a comment or email me any of your wonderful ideas, please.!



Today was my first Sunday to conduct. It went pretty well...until I got up after the teacher finished to announce the closing prayer and song. I didn't realize my left leg was completely asleep. I stood up and fell in front of EVERYONE all in one graceful sweep. I was so surprised I had fallen, I tried to get up (still not realizing my leg was asleep) and couldn't. Then I couldn't stop giggling about it. Oh MY...


Once a clutz always a clutz! At least my skirt wasn't tucked in anywhere it shouldn't be this time...

Black Canyon Reservoir

My favorite sort of summer day happened on the 3rd of July. Boating at the lake with family and friends was awesome. I loved being at the lake and water skiing. Ethan is a little water dog and loved swimming in the lake - he stayed in until his little teeth were chattering and then cried when he had to get out. A perfect day...just missing one important element - and that would be Clark!

James' sweet 1984 JETSKI.

Dad and Emmers

Me...what what!

4th of July Auction

Apparently there are many treasures to be found at the Main Street auction. Dad came home with 2 tuxedos for Ethan. We love the all white with the tails! Too funny. Also 2 gigantic stuffed dogs came home along with other treasures. Oh MY.

Missing You Clark!

Ethan is a magnet to the water!

The Boise Zoo was an adventure!

Erica went to explore the prairie dog tunnels...we had no idea that by exploring the tunnels she would end up in the actual prairie dog exhibit. It was hilarious!

From the animal's point of view!

Ethan could have watched the penguins for hours.

My mom really hit it off with this monkey. They chatted for a while.

All zoo'd out.