Spring Wing Ding and Kindergarten Graduation

Tate had his first school performance. He was absolutely adorable. They sang a few songs and showed a little slide show.


This is his clip from the slide show.
The end of the year also means Kindergarten graduation. :( We love kindergarten. Ms. Polly is such a great teacher. Tate was so proud of himself as he stood up in front of everyone while Ms. Polly talked about what a great student he is. He was so excited to get his very own "key to the future". He is officially a first grader now. I can't believe how grown up he is, we are so proud of him.

A beautiful love story

Faye Elaine Johnson Peterson ----April 6, 1917--May 23, 2009

George Peter Peterson----------- May 20, 1914-- May 20, 2009

*Married in the Logan Temple July 26, 1935

(pictures from last Oct.)

My witty, strong, hard working Grandpa passed away last Thursday. The day after he turned 95 years old. He was an amazing man filled with lots of laughs and love. Three days later my sweet, kind, charitable, loving Grandma joined him. I have never known a greater love than theirs. They are and forever will be a part of me. I feel so lucky that I grew up across the street from them and then lived with them through high school. I miss them terribly already but know they are both in a much happier place and more important they are together. It is only by a tender mercy from above that they could pass so close together. I can only imagine their beautiful welcome on the other side.

I was able to go to Utah and spend a week with my family last week. It was a wonderful week (aside from Belle being sick the whole time). I drove my mom around as she helped prepare for the funerals, do Grandmas hair, and pick out Grandmas temple dress. I got to hold my moms hand and put my arms around her and tell her everything was going to be alright. It's usually the other way around but felt so good to be able to do it for her for a change. It was so nice to be with my family. It was the first time in many years that all my siblings were together. The love I felt last week was indescribable as we all bonded together to grieve for our loss. One may say that it might not be so heartbreaking because they had lived such long lives and that they went together. But it is still so hard to lose someone who you are so close to. It breaks my heart that I will never get to play another game with my Grandpa or eat my Grandmas fresh bread and oatmeal cookies again. I will never in this life have their arms wrapped around me. It really makes me want to do all I can so that I can be with them again. I had the opportunity to speak at their funeral in Idaho. I was shocked and so afraid when I was first asked. My cousin Kim was asked to speak also. We decided to do it together and instead of doing a history we did a big memoir. Thanks to Wendi's help and her beautiful writing it was perfect. It was very healing for me to go through all the wonderful memories I have of them and speak of them. Kim and I stood up there, held hands and did it. I am so grateful I could do it with her. She is an amazing person. We couldn't have done it without all of Wendi's help putting all our thoughts together. Thanks Wendi. I will miss Grandma and Grandpa so much but am so happy for them that they are in a better place. What a beautiful ending to a beautiful life of love.

"The surest measure of a man or women's nature is the harmony, style, joy and dignity he creates in his family and the pleasure and inspiration he provides for his loved ones."

I love this quote! What joy and pleasure we all have had at their house. You both will be missed.....

1 year check up

Belle's Stats:
Weight 15 lb. 11 oz. --- 30%
Length 26 3/8 in. --- 25%
Head 16 3/4 in.

Her roly-poly legs and arms are very deceiving. She almost gained one pound since her nine month check up. She is such a tiny little thing. Dr. S isn't concerned about it but does want to see her again in three months to check her again. She can sit up on her own for a short time. She sometimes waves goodbye, plays patty cake, rolls like a maniac, and is starting to get into crawling position. She is still the happiest little girl and loves to play with her brothers. She also has started to yell at us if we walk past her without saying hello. It is a funny little game she started with Jonah. She has all of us wrapped around her little finger.

Birthday Parties

Belle had two first birthday parties. The first one was just our little family on her actual birthday. The poor girl was feeling miserable, she had a fever and was moaning all night. We could only get one smile from her the whole evening.

This smile......but this is how she really felt.

She is really picky with textures so I thought I would try cupcakes out a couple weeks before her birthday hoping that she would love them and then dig into her cake. She hated them. So instead we just plopped a big scoop of ice cream on her tray with a candle in it. When she touched it she screamed bloody murder like this....

Before and After

After that we thought we should stop torturing her. It was a pretty miserable birthday.

Sunday night we got together with the Bennett's and did a combined birthday celebration for Belle, Cheri, and Lilly. Belle was feeling much better by then and had a better experience. We got a huge ice cream cake for everyone to share. And this time Belle loved it cake and all.

To my beautiful little baby,

From the moment when your daddy and I decided to have another baby I prayed for you. I prayed so hard that Heavenly Father would grace me with a little girl. I had all these wonderful dreams for you and I. I imagined us playing dress up and having tea parties. I imagined you letting me do your hair up in braids and curls. I dreamed of daddy baptizing you and your first date. I tried to imagine what it would be like when you got your heart broken for the first time as we laid in your bed me holding you and telling you he was the one missing out. I thought about your wedding day and how proud I would be of you for getting married in the temple. I even dreamt about you being a wonderful mom who let me smother your kids with love. I wanted you to be a girl so much it hurt. When we found out you were a girl my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest. I was so happy. At the same time we found out that you also had an extra little tag along friend. My heart didn't know what to do. It wanted to be broken but I was so excited for you that love won. Some people say "that moment" shattered their dreams. It didn't mine. It made my dreams more colorful. I still have all those dreams for you, they just have a different time line on them. Maybe some of those dreams we won't see together in this life and it's ok we'll get them in the next. But most of them we will. I can't wait to live out these dreams with you. I can't believe you are one already. This year has gone by so fast. You are the cutest little baby I know. You are so loved, not only by our little family but by everyone that meets you. No one can resist your big blue eyes and those dimples. We are so lucky to have you in our family. Your big brothers adore you and I know you adore them back. I love when you play with them. You get so excited every single time you see them. You definitely have them wrapped around your cute chubby fingers. The way you look at your daddy melts my heart. You look at him like he is your hero. I love when you say mama to me and snuggle with me. When you are asleep in my arms I never want to put you down. I'll tell you a secret.......when you are in other peoples arms for to long I get really jealous and want you back. I sometimes hope you will see me and start to cry just so I can have you back. I love you so much my darling girl. You have brought so much more happiness to our family. We love you more than you could ever imagine. We look at life with our eyes and hearts more open. Your favorite song is "You are my Sunshine" and it is very fitting because you really are the Sunshine in our lives. You brighten up our days. Miss Belle, I hope you always know how much we love you. We are all so very proud of you. I look forward to living out all my dreams with you, my precious girl. Happy First Birthday my darling baby!

love,

Mama