Blogs Back Soon

You may be wondering why our blog is crappy lately. Well, it's because during our vacation we don't have perma-access to the internet and what little we do have is SUPER slow, so browsing and posting isn't really worth it. We'll be back Thursday, so look for us then and I'll tell you every can't-miss-detail of our time away from work.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday Carrie. We love you. I remember thinking months and months ago how strange today would be without you here, and here it is. Time is going too fast and yet not fast enough.

1st Birthday

Finally 5

Sweet 16

Happy 18th!

Here's a Good Rant for You

Oh my goodness, where to begin. Good things first. Troy's team won yesterday. They're now 3-5, but I believe that's the best record in the boy's basketball program right now, so we're happy.

Now on to the real reason I'm posting. I'll begin by saying I'm not in a good mood. Between stupid kids asking me stupid questions, students and teachers expecting and demanding the world and the internet deciding to take it slow just as I'm trying to notify parents their little dears have books to return, I've had a long day. Add to that this little adventure,

and I'm more than a little frustrated. That's right, that is the carpet and pad in my living room pulled up because it is soaked. When I push my finger into the pad water squirts out. The neighbors (with whom we share a wall) are remodeling and apparently have a leaking something in the bathroom. So what do I get as a thank you for letting them know they have a problem? Yes, you are correct, all their water. Okay, I only knew they had a problem after I discovered my carpet was wet, but who cares about a timeline?

Anyway, I wasn't too upset about it last night because, after all, these things do happen and I'm not the one paying for repairs (the joy of renting), but after listening to fans night and day, rearranging the filthy pad and carpet backing to get optimal air flow and enduring the smell that has taken over our house, I am quickly losing my patience. In one way I'm counting the seconds until I get to leave this mess behind but in another I realize this needs to get taken care of in less than 48 hours because if it's not, nothing will happen for two weeks--other than, of course, a dirty, musty stink penetrating every single thing I own.

One final little rant: who pays for the electricity to run those stupid fans 24/7 as we try to salvage worn, stinky carpet? Oh yeah, that would be me. Have a nice day!

A Quick Update

Yes, it's been a while since I posted. You'd think I've been busy, but no, I haven't really. Summing the last few days up, over the weekend my mom passed out right after she pulled the car off the highway (long story, but I'm very happy everyone's okay) and Jason and Lindsay got engaged on Saturday (hooray!). I'm getting more and more excited to go to Utah for Christmas. I miss my fam very much and get more and more homesick every day. I hope the weather cooperates and we can get out of Blythe early so we can get there quickly. Wish us luck!

And Not One of Them for Me

Yesterday I decided I was tired of the bare space under my Christmas tree and gift filling up all my good hiding spaces, so I wrapped all my gifts. I started pulling things out of hidden nooks and crannies at 5:00 and didn't put the last gift tag on until 10:00. That's right, 5 hours! Phew. But it's done and I feel very accomplished, even if my gifts don't have bows and ribbon on yet.

Thank You for Calling the Library

Have you gone to answer your phone at home and rather than saying hello or your usual at-home saluation, you greet the caller by identifying your place of work? Every time I'm about to answer the phone at home, I have to force myself not to say, "Library." And I don't even answer the phone at work that often! There have been a few times it slipped out and we all got a good laugh out of it, but it's really annoying to be walking around my house thinking, "Library, library."

Quite a Dilemma

I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should go out of town tomorrow and do some Christmas shopping (and watch my hubby's basketball game) or not. I'm just so tired and it would great to have a day to myself, but I really do need to go to an actual store and finish my shopping. What's a girl to do? I also need to finish my primary lesson, but I guess I could do that tonight instead of surfing the net. Ha ha. A serious quandary.

Go Big Green!

Congrats to the Boys' JV Basketball team. Tonight they got their first win of the season! Keep it up lads. Now I'm practically a basketball widow because Troy's had games every night this week but one. And he hasn't even gone out of town yet. So begins my six months of solitude. :)

The fearless leader shares his widsom (I guess it finally worked!). And I must say he looked pretty handsome as he yelled at the refs to call the River Valley kid on traveling or palming or pushing, etc. etc.

Drum-roll Please . . .

Okay, so this really isn't that exciting, but here they are: pics of a Peterson Christmas. Just in case the pictures don't explain enough, I'll narrate.

Aaaa, my living room is on fire! (I was experimenting with the setting on my camera)

This does not look like Christmas at all. Far from holy. Just evil.


Finally a picture you can see. It's really nothing special, particularly since I've been doing it bit by bit for a week. But it's done and this is the only part of my house with any Christmas spirit at all. Oh well. With this much we've managed to block off our coat closet and I have to climb over the tree to get Troy's sweatshirt, so this is enough. Merry Christmas everyone!

An Addition to the Family (don't jump to conclusions)

Okay, I know you're all on the edge of your seats waiting for holiday pics, but you'll just have to wait. I want to introduce everyone to my soon-to-be soon-to-be sister-in-law (that means they're not officially engaged yet, but I'm sure it will be any time now, right Jason?).

Welcome Lindsay! You two look like your normal, goofy selves. I love it. Troy is very excited to have another home-grown Californian in the fam. You guys are just too tempting to us Curtises!

How Festive!

Well, I was going to finish my music selection for ya'll, change font color and post pics of my meager Christmas decor all at the same time so you'd be overcome with the merry-ness of our blog, but the decor isn't coming together too quickly. However, I couldn't wait to do everything else! I've picked some old standards, some new favorites and a few little twists for your listening pleasure, so please enjoy and hopefully it will get you in the Christmas spirit as it has me!