Too much for a pregnant woman

Earlier tonight we were having one of our most successful family movie nights to date.  Everyone was happy.  We all cuddled together on the couch for the entire movie.  Very cute.  Made a tired mommy very happy.  And, then Autumn asked how long until we moved back home.

Less than six weeks.

What!?

My eyes got teary.  Jeff rolled his eyes at my teary eyes.

We put the kids to bed and Jeff headed off to play late night ice hockey.  I reminded him that he was going to miss ice hockey when we move back home.  But, nothing rattles that man.  He's convinced he'll have no problem finding a place to play.

And, then my boss called to tell me that the candidate I put forward to replace me was a winner.  They're extending him an offer . . . for my job.

I told him that I fully agreed with the decision.  But, expecting a pregnant woman to move to a different rental home (again) in a different country, kind of miss Christmas as we travel, recruit, hire and then train my replacement for a job I love, change jobs and then have a baby . . . it's all kind of indecent.  I, unfortunately, have no one to blame but me.  At some point a few months back, Jeff and I agreed that this was the right decision for our family.

Since then we've been disappointed with some of the options we've discovered at the National Ability Center in Park City - one of the reasons we felt a move back to Heber was ideal.  Go figure that after two years of everything being more expensive in Canada . . . everything to do with recreational therapy and ice hockey is more expensive back in Utah.  How is that fair?

So, back to packing . . . back to more transitions . . . back to another home that we don't own . . .

I know that once we are settled back in Utah that I will feel differently.  I know that we will have a new little baby to welcome to our family.  I hope that my boss was right when he emphasized that they will have an interesting position waiting for me back home.

And, after a while, we may feel like we never left in the first place.  Unfortunately, that's one of the parts I'm having the most difficulty with.  These 2 1/2 years have been just a little blip in time.  I don't want to feel like these years just evaporated.

I get overly sentimental - I always have (hence why I was most upset of the family when we left the magic of Disney World and why I shed a tear at the concert when Darius Rucker sang 'It won't be like this for long').  Jeff says I have a tendency to look backwards all the time with some form of regret somewhere . . . and, he's right.  So, imagine my mood as a 7-month pregnant lady.  Good times.  Good times.

Spookley and our round pumpkins

Between me working like crazy, hosting my boss and VP of Finance, and an amazing visit from Becky and Aaron (more on that to come), I've made sure that we stick to our traditional Halloween activities.

We have been leading up to Halloween with our holiday short movie bonanza.  We began by watching Spookley the Square Pumpkin and cooked some cute little sugar cookies with pumpkins on them (ahhh . . . I also learned the ease and joy of ready-to-cook decorative cookies from the store). 

Jeff had to hook up the VCR so that we could watch one of the old school Mickey Mouse Halloween tapes.  Does anyone else remember the cartoon when Donald wouldn't give up his candy for his nephews and a friendly witch casts a spell on him and makes him dance?  Anyway . . . it's a classic.  The kids enjoyed a small bowl of ice cream right in front of the TV.  A double treat.



Then, we rounded out the week with pumpkin carving and our last Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Halloween show.  Gavin was not into getting his hands gooey with the pumpkin guts.  I finally convinced him to touch the inside after emphasizing that Autumn did the same thing.  Immediately after, he told me in a fairly distressed voice that he needed to wash his hands 'right now.'  Autumn, on the other hand, is always willing to get a little dirty.

Today, Autumn was allowed to wear her costume to school.  She was luckily the only witch in her classroom.  I was only able to snap a quick photo of her in the truck before she headed to school.

But, we have two parties tomorrow and trick-or-treating yet to come.  So, stay tuned for our little witch and black cat.

(Yes, once Autumn decided she wanted to be a witch, she quickly convinced Gavin to be her little black cat.  He didn't hesitate.  He loves his big sister . . . even though he does pull her hair and hit her frequently).

Gavin, the 4-wheeler and the Helmet Cam

Jeff has been super excited about his new helmet cam.  He's taken it on a few dirt bike trips in Utah.  And, has now found new uses for it . . . filming the kids dancing, us flying down a water slide on a raft . . . and now, attaching the camera to Gavin's four-wheeler handle bars.

Gavin's facial expressions are hilarious.  Those little pursed lips, that determination . . . so stinkin' cute.

My favorite is his face at the bottom of the hill after he spins out.  Priceless.

Seriously, this kid doesn't miss a beat.  What he lacks in some areas . . . he more than makes up for in others.

We love this kid.

Back to school

Although Jeff and the kids returned from almost a month in the Mountain Time Zone just a few days before the start of school (making 8am feel like 6am) . . . we hyped them up on sugary donuts and cake to prepare them for their first day!

This is my very favorite time of year.  I don't like the idea of my kids growing up or spending the day with anyone but family . . . yet, I love how excited they get about making friends, learning new songs, letters and words, reading books and feeling so independent and courageous.

I love how the weather starts to cool down and you cozy up with a sweatshirt.

I love football.

I love Halloween.

I love pumpkins and pumpkin patches and our annual Spookley the Pumpkin FHE.

I love everything about Autumn time!!

Fall is kicked off with our first day of school activities.

Jeff gives each child a father's blessing the night before school begins.  I loved Autumn's shy little grin both before and after Jeff laid his hands on her head.  And yes . . . Gavin freaked out and screamed and refused to sit quietly . . . so, we are hoping to try again in a few days when he's caught up on sleep.

I took Autumn to school and walked her inside.  Unfortunately, after all of us completely fell in love with her Junior Kindergarten teacher, she opted to teach music lessons full-time.  So, Autumn has a new teacher this year.

As sweet little thoughtful Autumn does, she - completely on her own - decided to make a necklace for her JK teacher (with an "M" for Ms. Shin), her new teacher (with a "T" for teacher), herself (featuring "AP") and her best friend, Alida (she ran out of A's - so, it was just pink and white beads).

Her new teacher is all business.  As soon as we walked through the door, she grabbed Autumn by the hand and pulled her around the corner . . . leaving me yelling after her like the crazy mom I am, "I love you, Autumn!!  Have fun!!"  And, that was that.  You'd think her teacher takes that approach to prevent any meltdowns from nervous students.  It could be her reasoning was to cut off the tears that were rapidly forming in my eyes.

Jeff took Gavin to his preschool.  He was excited at first to see his favorite teacher again.  And, then when he realized that Daddy wasn't staying all day . . . he broke down in tears.  He's such a sensitive little guy.  And, that's why I chose to take Autumn and Jeff took Gavin.  Doing the thing you know needs to be done . . . walking away during those tears . . . is something that daddies are better at.  By the time Jeff came to pick him up, Gavin was eating a Freezy and having a great time.

I called from work to get a quick update from the kids and then told them I wanted to hear all the details as soon as I got home.  I hadn't even shut the door when Gavin wheeled up with his walker to say, "School was great, Mom!"

The kids decorated our 'first day of school' celebration cake.  Autumn drew a school with multiple levels of windows - 'just like her school.'  Gavin created the blue swingset with Daddy's help . . . then proceeded to immediately lick it off.

(Gavin is clearly still working on his camera smile)

We are so proud of our two little school kids!

Traditional Labor Day Donuts

Are you not familiar with traditional Labor Day donuts?  Well, it's likely a Peterson household invention.  A sly way of feeling good about making homemade donuts by tying it to a random holiday.  Besides, Labor Day is the kind of holiday that could use a sugary start!

I'm a huge fan of family traditions - however big or small.  We picked homemade donuts . . . and we're sticking to them!  And, oh my . . . they are delicious . . . especially with homemade chocolate frosting.

And yes . . . we do have a 'first day of school' celebration cake tradition as well.  Clearly I wasn't thinking of the proximity of Labor Day to the first day of school when we brainstormed these traditions!

Nevertheless, everyone at our house was all smiles for a few days (until I remembered how much chocolate leads to heartburn when I'm pregnant . . . ouch).

Gavin Rockin' out on the Drums

First time on the drums.  Our neighbors have this little set in the basement.  And, shy little Gavin found his groove right away.  Seriously, what a kid.

The second time he played, he clicked his drum sticks together and counted to ten before launching into his drum solo.

That's my man . . .