April in Denmark

 Ben and I just returned from a really great trip to Denmark.  My mom and dad were so fabulous to watch all three kids while we were gone the 8 days.  It was a really great time.  It wasn't the typical tourist vacation.. although we did spend the day in Copenhagen.  After that, we headed out to the countryside to visit lots of family (Ben's dad has lots of family still in his hometown) and some friends.  We were so grateful that Ben's parents were there and we had the opportunity to experience Denmark with them. 

A popular canal in Copenhagen.  We walked all over the city this day seeing so many many neat things.

The grounds of a castle right on the northern border of Denamrk.  It was an overcast day, but in the distance you can see Sweden. 

Going for a walk along the shoreline near Vejle.  It was a popular spot for local vacationers.  We took a walk through this wooded area and it revealed a beautiful castle. 

 When we were at an old church in Torups (built in the 1100's), Ben's mom had spoken with the Priest several years ago and she told her where the bell tower key was.  It was still there so we helped ourselves to a tour of the bell tower.  It was amazing.. I couldn't believe how OLD all the buildings were.  Such rich history!

 We took a ferry across the fjord.  Beautiful!

 Frederiksberg Palace near Copenhagen.  We spent time here with our friends, the Keysers.  It was a leisure park type area with lots and lots of green space.  It was really fun, but I have to admit the highlight was the kebab we enjoyed after we left the park.. it was SO delicious!!

 Ben loved loved the old houses.  Lots of them still had this old thatched roof. 

On the way back we had a few hours in Amsterdam.  So before the sun came up (5am) we headed into the city for some sightseeing.  The only people out were the garbage pickup crews.  It was peaceful and fun to walk around.  We were back to the airport by 8:30 am and ready to catch the long flight back to the USA.

We have dozens and dozens more pictures to remember our time in Denmark.  Hopefully it won't be the last time there.  The family that we met there were so warm and inviting and kept insisting that when we come back they would host us anytime.  I think we'll have to take our kids back someday to visit.  It is so interesting to learn about other cultures and see how other people live.. and it makes it even more special when they are your cousins. 

We came home excited to see the kids.. they loved all the toys and trinkets we brought home for them, of course.  It really was great to spend some time with Ben.  I'm already thinking of the next vacation.... just hope my babysitters are up for another few days. 

happy winter

It seems as if I'm a quarterly blogger, since the last time it was fall.. now it's winter, well.. somewhat of a winter. life is good and the kids are growing. i think they are beautiful in every way.. here is the last four months summed up in a few photos...

my new hobby.. crochet. this was my first hat and flower made.. i'm still perfecting.

the kids with their crazy sticker faces.. they have fun together.

a little silly picture made on picnik.. i'm sad it's closing down.

a picture of a quick overnight trip to tuscon arizona. perfect weather and a great time!!

Temple Square on Christmas Eve... no snow:( but we had a great time.

gingerbread house making

soren turned one

and learned to scoot.. just like his brother and sister. no crawling here. and no standing quite yet either. he is so so so sweet.

breakfast with santa.. it was fun.

noah turned six and had a fun party with several friends.

until spring i guess.... hopefully it'll come sooner than later.:)

Happy Fall

It's officially here, and I love fall! Love everything about it! My birthday so happens to be in October and Ben suprised me with a small getaway to someplace I've been wanting to go for awhile now... so here we are enjoying fall foliage of New England. This is in beautiful Vermont We lucked out with a beautiful hotel right on the Atlantic Ocean. Since it wasn't full, they upgraded us to an ocean view. This is the sunrise that morning. It was so beautiful!

Soren was lucky enough to get to come with us for the vacation. He enjoyed the leaves and was the worlds best traveler. His bright blue eyes got lots of attention and everybody would stop and want to talk to him. We have so many pictures that we snapped of the three days, they are all beautiful but don't exactly do the fall leaves justice, it was breathtaking.

Welcome Fall!! We are so happy you are here!

Summertime

We've certainly been enjoying our summer time around here.. seems to be going by all too fast.


Soren turned seven months old; has three bottom teeth, eats bananas, cheerios, sweet potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, peaches, pears, applesauce, mangos, avacados, and popcycles. He is really sweeter than pie and has the brightest bluest eyes you've ever seen. I just love the look he gives me all the time. He did sleep through the night two nights ago, but the is surely not the norm. The last few months have been a struggle with teething, but alas, I know he'll grow and it'll happen so quickly, so I'd better enjoy every. single. minute. of him!! Leah's first girly girly hair do... curlers. too bad her hair holds none of them and they are nearly straight only but 45 minutes later. but she looks so darling. She has definately grown so much over the last few months, now playing so much like a little girl.. lots of dolls and stuffed animals, my little ponies and playing kitchen. she is a momma's girl and loves to see 'we're girls, right mom'.. 'just the girls, right mom'.. but when dad gets home she can put up a mean wrestling match. she is a-dor-a-ble, at least in my humble momma opinion.

Soren is finally sitting up well enough that we can all fit in the wagon. this won't be for long because both kids legs were squished, but alas, we took a pleasant wagon ride around the neighborhood one night before bed.

happy 9 year anniversary for ben and i. We enjoyed a 35 miles bike ride, lunch at Gaucho Grill, movie at home, and a relaxing motorcycle ride up smithfield canyon. it was the best. and ben is the best husband in the world! next year is going to be 10.. and i've already begun to think of destinations that i'd like to go.. a girl can dream, right??

we also have caught some parades around town.. this is soren napping during the hyrum 4th of july parade.

and Leah happy as can be to get candy.... until, she got whopped on the head with a salt water taffy, then she was just fine sitting back on the grass with me and the blanket.

the best photo we could get of the family before a bbq.. i love celebrating things, so of course i wanted everybody in red-white-blue.. not the best, but it'll spark my memory of such a fun time in our life.. we have three beautiful children who bring lots of joy, a country that allows us freedoms, and such supportive family and friends who help us along the way. that's just the tip of the iceburg. .. we are blessed!

May

Leah turned three on May 8th, 2011. It was also Mothers Day. We had a princess party on the Friday before with lots of little princesses. It was lots of fun and Leah was spoiled.

She is a beautiful, and smart three year old. I love this little spunky girl!!

on May 21st, my Grandma Downs passed away. I can't find words to describe her amazingness. She wasn't just my grandma, she was my friend. I was lucky to live so close and spend lots and lots of Sunday dinners together, afternoons at the park, lunches at Wendy's with the kids, and days full of sewing. She has left me with a great example of the women that I want to become. The program for the funeral service had a quote that I especially liked:

A Life well-lived is a legacy of joy and pride and pleasure, a loving, lasting memory our grateful hearts will treasure.

I will always have a tender spot for her and the legacy that she left. I can only imagine the perfect joy she is feeling with my grandpa and her own parents and all those that have gone before. Until I can see her again, I have lots and lots of memories, handfulls of keepsakes and blankets she has made, and many, many examples of Christlike living to follow.

Happy Valentines Day

Here's a recent photo of our little guy.. he's recently turned two months old and has now given me four peaceful sleep through the night bedtimes... too bad it coordinated with Leah being a touch sick so she was up during the night.

We also blessed Soren the last week of January. It was a fabulous day and we were so grateful for so much family support. Leah's not in the family pictures, she's turned into that kind of a two year old, maybe we'll photoshop her in.:)

Noah has recently started preschool and absolutely loves it.. I love it, too.. a few peaceful hours that I can spend more time with Leah, and he is maturing so quickly. This is how I picked him up one day. Scared me all day long. It's a great preschool though, and he goes with his cousin IVY.

Like I said, Leah has had a touch of something.. no throwing up, which I'm thankful for... so she has taken a daily nap on the couch watching Ariel, her favorite movie.. she is cute as ever, but sure can be a spitfire, letting you know what she does or DOESN't want.

Happy Valentines Day from the Pedersens!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! We certainly enjoyed the holidays and spending time together as a family. I think Christmas gets more and more exciting as more and more children come along. This year I was particularly excited for the kids to open their handmade robes. They actually picked out their own fabric months and months ago, and had completely forgot that I was making them something. Leah loves hers so much she usually wears it to bed.. makes a momma feel good.

Soren is now three weeks old and is more and more alert.. here he is bright eyed, I think he is so handsome.

Here he is sleeping, which he does a good portion of the day.. nothing better than holding a sleeping newborn.

...and here he is all bundled up ready to go.. wish it wasn't so darn cold outside.. i'm itchin' to go for a good long stroller walk.

and last, here is Leah doing what she does best... drinkin' apple juice while watching her favorite Dora movie. Unfortunately with the birth of a new baby, the TV has become a part time babysitter.. we'll be changing that a bit as momma adjusts to three kids.:) and today is day one of the adjustment as Ben returned back to work.. Boo hoo!