Peterson People Prancing Prettily (Through the Tulips)

So yesterday we had a lovely day at the Mount Vernon Tulip Fields...I'll let the pictures do the talking:

Lovely dirt patch, eh? 

The sun...that lasted 2 days! (proof that it was here)

My big surprise!

The best surprises are the ones that are really a surprise! Past birthdays for me have included some surprises...like certain unsuspected presents. Or the surprise in not knowing the exact style or color the dress mom always liked to buy me [to mend my "jeans-girl" ways] would arrive in. But this year for my 30th birthday I can say I think I had the surprise of my life!


The day started a usual Saturday of cleaning house anticipating the late afternoon frog-hunting adventure I had arranged with Trudi. Because it was my birthday Ken asked me to bring the kids to the mall and meet him for lunch at Azteca. We arrived at Azteca and were promptly escorted to a table. As we rounded the corner we were greeted by a bunch of crazy party-goers, AKA my family. After hugging mom, dad, Preston and Autumn (Jona and Christy couldn't make it this time) I was seated in my birthday girl chair and offered wonderful Hawaiian leis to complete the festivities! The scrumptious lunch was followed by an afternoon of shopping with mom and Autumn and more fun at home (complete with pizza and milkshakes). The best part of my birthday surprise was just being surrounded by my family again. Now that we live far apart I really miss the times of laughing to tears and stories and all the goofy quirkiness that the Bringhurst side of the family offers our gatherings. Thanks mom, dad, Preston, Autumn and of course, Ken, for making my 30th birthday so memorable. And thank you Lord for a family that loves You!

Here are some pictures of the grand occasion (in a very random order because I'm a bad blogger!):

The love of my life (AKA The-Keeper-of-the-Secret)

Mommy and daddy (AKA The Instigators)

"Pres-boy" bonding with his little prodigy

Audi and I (post-showers) and our matching tank tops

Some group shots of the Bringhurst craziness!

It just takes one word!

So Ken and I, like most parents, at times have to beg and plead with our children to clean up after themselves, play nice, drop the attitude, stop kicking each other...etc., etc. Well, that is until we discovered a new secret weapon, a word to be exact, to skillfully utter in desperate times. The word?

...DISNEYLAND! Ken and I are planning a trip down to the semi-annual training in Anaheim in June and the kids are well aware of our plans, especially because it involves their first time on an airplane. Leah, ever since entering kindergarten and being influenced by other young Mickey Mouse lovers, knows that Disneyland is in Anaheim, California. So as soon as we mentioned that we were going to Anaheim the kids started asking about going to Disneyland. We kept telling them "we'll see" but then one day the words "maybe you guys can save up and buy tickets to Disneyland" left my mouth. This sent them into a mad dash to their bedrooms to grab their piggy banks and begin feverishly counting their pennies. Discovering their current savings fall very short of the $55 needed for a one-day Disneyland pass Leah and Levi began concocting ideas to make up their lack. Levi scooped up a bunch of cars he never plays with and asked me to sell them on craigslist "for like $40". Leah began wiggling her loose tooth like crazy the next few days with the hope that "whoever-puts-money-under-the-pillow" would soon deliver. Both kids picked dandelions and sweetly offered to do any jobs "you guys want us to help with". Levi, our extremely picker eater, even started eating more at dinner time when we told him we weren't sure he'd be big enough to go on some of the rides at Disneyland. Ever since we began using that amazing D-word and watching the eagerness of our children to earn their way, I've been considering planning a trip to Anaheim every summer!

Leah's Bicycle Riding by Leah

One week ago I luarned how to ride my two wheeler.At first it was scary.but now it is not.Mom vidio taped me.I'v crashed before.It is fun!by:Leah

The Entry-By The Man On The Worn Out Couch

Sitting on my worn out couch, chewing a piece of trident gum that has long since lost any flavor that it once had, I start to blog. I cause my brain gears to slowly turn and experience slight discomfort, yet not enough to slow the steady increase of brain gear speed. My first question is, what is a blog? I found the answer at dictionary.com, "To write entries in, add material to, or maintain a weblog." Yes, I say this qualifies. I feel like a student, yea a college student writing in my virtual blue book. Oh the anxiety. I think I smell something burning or is it just in my mind? I suppose that one who blogs really does not need any one to read the blog to make it an official blog. However, due to the fact that some people are actually interested in what my wife and children are up to I must stay vigilant over myself.

Please if you have read this far and find any vexation from what you have just read stop. On second thought if I can control tiny bits of your activity now soon I may be able to control large bits. I fear that my blogging is a tragedy, I desperately hope that I have not fallen out of favor with any precious people who might be reading such a repugnant blog entry as this is. I seem to recall that my 3 older sisters have a way with blogging that I may never have. I suppose even if I were to stand high upon a very tall shrub I still could not reach the heights that have been set before me. I may just sit forlorn on my worn out couch with my tasteless chewing gum and hang my head in shame. Ah, a grinding sound between my ears awakens my mind. I recall hearing that it takes a long time for the frontal lobe of a male's brain to develop. Perhaps I say, yes perhaps this is the reason for my blogging misstep. I feel the weight of failure lifting off of my tired body like that of a large lunch lady that had fallen on a unknowing and certainly unwilling kindergartner.

So, as my blogging comes to an end, I feel fine. I feel all was not lost and I may have gained something from this so called error. I will look back on this with inquisitive eyes seeking for something to grasp. If you actually read this I commend you for your excellent perserverence and apologize for any feelings of regret that I may have caused you. I humbly express my desire to go to bed without folding any laundry....

Cheeto's update

I told Ken I thought it was silly to blog too often because our lives really aren't that interesting, but here I am again. I didn't want to leave poor Cheeto's situation up in the air for those of you who might be concerned or maybe just feel like reading about the Peterson People because you're really that bored.

So I got a call Friday from the vet asssistant and the information was rather vague. His white blood cell count and liver enzymes are elevated. What does that mean? Well, they aren't sure exactly...basically that information takes us from there being hundreds of possible illnesses Cheeto could have to around 15ish. They feel like there is something going on with his liver, whether it's a liver disease older cats can get or kitty hepatitis (did you know there's such a thing?) The vet kindly recommended we bring Cheeto in for an ultrasound to take a closer look at the liver. Yes, cats apparently can have ultrasounds (and it only costs $400). Our dearest Cheeto, however, will not be having that ultrasound at this time. I am asking the vet to give it his best guess and start a treatment. We love Cheeto but...$400? Just to maybe find out something? Sorry Cheeto! (Please don't throw tomatoes at us cat lovers!)

Thank You Lord for Cheeto!

Any of you who may not know Cheeto, he is one of the two cats we received as part of our generous mom-n-dad-moved-to-Romania inheritance. Out of the two cats, he is the one we enjoy the most. How can you not love a fluffy orange "Garfieldish" kitty? When I say we enjoy I mean the kids and I mainly as Ken is rather indifferent to our pets. Although even Ken admits that Cheeto is "better than Victoria" (the overly fluffy grey kitty who always insists on sitting on the computer when you're typing and kneading her claws into your pants, especially if you're wearing nice pants or a dress).

Well as of today, Cheeto has now gone from a pleasant pet for us to competing with things like the Wii or the TV for the proclaimed position as MVP (Most Valuable Possession). Tomorrow he may very well earn that title! For you see, poor Cheeto had to go to the vet today and you all know what that means. He's been losing weight at a fairly quick rate and laying around a lot so it became apparent something was wrong. Now the tests have been run...and the waiting game begins. Just how valuable will Cheeto become?

Through this experience today I realized two things: 1) Watching mommy cry (yes, there were some tears) is very entertaining to children. They've talked about it since we left the vet and asked me over and over again why I cried. I think I'll cry more often if it will keep them so intrigued! 2) I am so thankful for my wonderful mom who was at the receiving end of my tears and so soothingly shared with me about some of her vet experiences and how they didn't ruin her life (thanks mom!) She even shared how Ron Kangus or Ed Marks shared at a conference once about a large vet bill and how they felt at peace to just take care of the Lord's animals. So today I'm saying thank you Lord for our pet Cheeto. Tomorrow...well I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

P.S. The kids decided to play kitties when they got home, inspired by our experience!