IPhone VS. Blackberry

Last Weekend Danny came out and we spent the weekend comparing Danny's IPhone to Chad's Blackberry. As soon as we collected Danny from the Airport the battle commenced. Danny's IPhone automatically changed to South Carolina time-pretty impressive. Already the Blackberry is falling behind(though Chad makes the valid point that his was already in south Carolina time-I think someones a little sensitive). Uncle Danny's phone had a built in GPS, and the touch screen allowed Kaleb to pretend that he had a light saber-Sorry Dad, Kaleb is voting IPhone. Then next day while Chad was at work, we went to Madagascar 2 which we were able to plot the show time, cost and route all on Uncle Danny's phone. We had a blast and felt it our duty to eat through two refills of popcorn because holy cow we paid enough for it-everyone left with a belly ache, but we got our money's worth. It was a lot of fun. We went home and then began the remote control tank wars. Uncle Danny told Kaleb he was bringing him a surprise. After we had to tell him it wasn't Grandpa John (for some reason Kaleb was so sure it had to be Grandpa because Danny said it was the coolest surprise ever-pause for sentimental interlude- Ahhh), Kaleb was almost as pleased to get these small remote controlled tanks that had laser battles. It was a blast aside from the fact that for some reason I "accidentally" got the tank that's battery wasn't fully charged. My tank died and Danny recovered from almost being beat by his little sister. Very convenient.

The next day we took Danny to the Darlington race way-or should I say Danny's Iphone took us? It was cool to see how little the track actually is. I thought they were so much bigger when I saw them on TV. As Ben Stiller said in Night at the Museum, "The South may have lost the war... but it got Nascar." Kaleb and Tavia saw the fabulous Hudson Hornet. My favorite nascar inspired moment was in the gift shop. I found that for the female following Nascar has developed a serious of Romance novels. I was a little boisterous in my amusement and may have offended the sales clerk, but seriously Nascar meets Harlequin, there's so much material there. Grandma Doris would be proud because after eating at a restaurant where smoking was still permitted, yes, we are in the south, we all got on our thick socks and went bowling, packing our day from start to finish. Danny won barely beating Kaleb, then me and Chad barely beat Tavia, yes people the bumpers were on and still no one broke 100. It was a lot of fun watching the kids toss the ball down the lane, the men bowling next to us were so amused they gave the kids superman stickers. When we got home from the bowling we had a BBQ and rented a movie. We got Ice cream from Buster's, and not realizing what I was ordering, I got birthday cake with M&M's. We all needed an insulin shot after that one. The next morning we took Danny back to the airport. Tavia popped bubbles on the touch screen of the IPhone when she could get it away from Kaleb playing Star Wars again. Danny's trip out was short, but extremely appreciated. I think that at this point we all know which phone is preferred by the kids, and can any other test subjects be more important to a fun loving uncle?

Whooose a super cutie???

Recon Mission

Well last weekend we had a visitor and we did a little recon for May 8th and 9th!!

We are now taking reservations for the big event. We have room for all, and all are welcome.

Halloween Family Letter

Well it is Halloween again. As my family can attest this is the time when I like to send your average “Christmas letter”. I do this because it often turns out a little scarier than sentimental, which means that it is more appropriate for Halloween. This year for Halloween Kaleb is going to be Anakin Skywalker, and as he has never seen the third installment of Star Wars due to it’s PG-13 rating he keeps asking me how Anakin becomes Darth Vadar. It is a good opportunity to talk about good choices and bad choices. I am a little worried about the day he turns thirteen and actually watches the third installment, because I may have gotten a little enthusiastic about my explanation and Kaleb may feel the actual movie a little dull. While on the subject of Kaleb I suppose I ought to mention to those who haven’t noticed he has learned how to use the telephone. Grandparents love it. Dad does as well. He gets sweet little messages from Kaleb--six or seven times daily.
Octavia is going to be a princess for Halloween. She is getting into character by ordering the neighbor boys to pull her in the wagon and stand guard when Anakin comes with his light saber (good choices Kaleb, good choices). The boys here are little gentlemen and are always opening her doors for her and asking her if she needs anything. It really is adorable. Tavi also watches as many princess type movies as she can which helps her prepare for the role of damsel in distress. Fortunatly we are intermingling them with star wars so she when she gets in trouble she can wait for the prince, or shoot her way out with her blaster--a girl has got to keep her options open. Octavia still asks when we are going to move back by Jeanette, to which I have no answer because it breaks my heart. I think on a whole the kids are adjusting though and I am very proud of the way the are willing to try new things.

Chad is still working a ton, and on a daily average is getting fewer threats that he will recieve bodily harm from his employees, so the hospital seems to be coming around to the change. We are hoping he can come home for Christmas with us, but he can't be sure. I stay home with Tavi and we are buddies. We both agree our favorite part of the day is picking Kaleb up from the bus. Danny is coming into town in a week and we are very excited. Kaleb has already planned a bunch of fun things to do, and Danny even gets to play with Kaleb's spare light sabar. That's love right there. I read this to Kaleb and he didn't think I was very funny, but he said if I put the word fart in my letter it would be funnier. I refused, so I'm sorry if this post is a little dull to some.

Becky asked for a few more pictures of the house, Tavi was so excited she got right to work. Enjoy.

KALEB TURNS SEVEN--HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday Kaleb!

Kaleb had a fun time on his Birthday with the neighborhood kids. Everything was Star Wars and he was happy playing games and watching the movies.

The kids played hide and seek. Unfortunately, poor KJ wasn't told that the game had ended. Mr. Chad finally had to seek him in Kaleb's closet to take his picture. Everyone ate their weight in junk food, but Kaleb's friend Tyler ate half a bottle of pickles and had a tummy ache by the end of the party. One kid lost, one sick, and everyone Star Wars crazed...the party was a success.

For Brad's sake

Brad wanted to see the new car, so here it is. I know what you are thinking, they are a little too nice for the Petersen clan. Fret not, Kaleb is kicking on the back of the seats and Tavi is asking Daddy pretty please can she bring her chocolate milk with her when we go to the store, so it will only be a matter of time before we are restored to our normal state of Peterseness. We are in South Carolina now. It has been a bit of a culture shock, they boil peanuts until they are soggy(why, for the love, why?) They eat these soggy green leaves that no lie taste like what smelly feet smell like.

The bugs here are merciless-it is easier to see the red blotches than Kaleb's legs. Thank goodness for deep woods OFF!! Though I may as well add that he is outside with all of his free time having a blast, so they are more like battle scars to show where he has been. There are bugs here that are huge, and I must say I have never seen before. Perhaps that is why they feel it a pleasure to enjoy our newly found southern hospitality and stay snuggly all over the house. All joking aside, the people in South Carolina are very kind, and everyone has been more than polite to us. The church is true no matter where you live.
Chad works fourteen hour days and is getting the hospital whipped into shape, and I am at home with the kids. Kaleb is going to school and is in heaven as the school has a sand box, and a few other star wars crazed kids to play with. We are still missing Bremerton, but as my mother says you bloom where you are planted, I just hope with all the fried food out here, I bloom upward, and not outward. All is going well for us and we are still finding our strength in the Lord, and pray you all are as well.

Amazing what can happen in a month

WOW!!! It has been a month (okay 2) since we have posted and looking back a lot has happened. I know that I will leave things out but here goes nothing. We have spent the last few weeks on vacation with Katherine's family. We drove down to San Diego and spent a week there, it was very enjoyable to be on vacation. We went to Knott's Berry Farm, it was a blast the kids really enjoyed it and the uncles enjoyed it even more. David found out that Kaleb is tall enough to ride all of the big fun rides. He tried all the big roller coasters and only had 2 that he would not go on a second time. Tavi enjoyed hanging out with her cousin and getting her face painted. She was our pretty princess fairy.

Uncle Danny aka "The Chicken Whisper"

Chad found a way to keep track of the kids including the twins at the beach. and they LOVED IT!!!

We also went to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Life park. The kids enjoyed being able to see the different animals, Kaleb's favorite was the cheetahs.

I think that the petting zoo was the funniest part with the twins, they would walk around and pet and enjoy the animals. One time one of them turned and there it was, they had what we hoped to be dirt in there mouth we all knew it was not but the alternative of seeing your child eating poop was not good. So we will just call it dirt.

San Deigo Here We Come

So with the trip just a little over a month away we have been looking at how we will get there and figure we will make a nice trip out of it and drive. We will leave town and stay just out side of Mount St Helen's. I think that it would be cool since we live pretty close that the kids need to see it. Imagine waking up to this.

Then its down the 101 / 105. Stopping along the way to other cool site. Kat says we need to try and stop at Ghirardelli Square so we will have to fit that in. May be on the trip home. I don't know something about loading the kids with sugar and driving a long ways just makes you want to go and beat your head against the wall. We may try and be in LA for the 4th. Jury is still in deliberation on that. There are sure a lot of National Parks along the way. None the less it is looking like this will be tons of fun.

Here is a little taste. Looking out at one of the views at the house. (Promotional mind you)

Summer is here

Well the sun finally has come out, after months of gray skys and rain. Today it was 88 and beautiful. It all started last night when I found some genealogy information and cool pictures. I was able to find journal entries and even an auto-biography of John Prodger Wright. He is my Great-Great-Grandpa. Here he is in his working in his store back in the late 1800’s. This almost makes you want to keep more pictures.

Today as we were out trying to enjoy this nice day we did our bi-monthly shopping and saw a great deal on BBQ’s. SO we went and got the truck and are now the proud owner of another BBQ. Oh how the food tastes better on a grill. After dinner we decided that we would play games. It was duck, duck, goose, so after being made fun of for being so old and not being able to sit criss-cross applesauce it was game on. After a few rounds we remembered that you can always substitute other words in, so it was chicken, prince, garbage head, smelly feet, and so on. So on Tavi’s turn she walked around and it was duck, duck, and goose no I mean chicken, duck, goose and Katherine was it. Octavia decided that after she was half way around that she would run a little slower claiming that she was so tired (now walking) saying get me mom, get me. Katherine now on the floor laughing so hard she could not move. What a great night to enjoy those childhood years. I almost forgot what funny things they say.

Flowers everywhere

So my parents came in town for a long weekend. They even brought Amy along which was really fun.

We decided that since it was not feasible to travel to Holland to see the fields of flowers that we would go and see the Sakgit Valley tulip festival that they have here in Washington.

They had many many different colors of flowers.

Oops.......

Gum anyone?

So we where on top of the space needle with my folks and found a picture of this wall. Thought it was pretty cool so thought I would ask if anyone needed a piece? Just let us know and I am sure that we can find a good one.

Cute Kids

Octavia's Gets her Hair Chopped

Well, it was bound to happen and it finally did. Katherine's mom came up for a few days and well one thing lead to another and now Tavi's hair is shorter.

Getting started

Well here goes nothing. It seems that this is the thing to do now days to be able to keep up with everyone. Katherine said that she would help keep it up so hopefully between us both we will be able to keep this going. I look at it as a journal so to speak, well if that is the case we will update this about every few years. LOL