After some gentle prodding from a good friend, and a dream last night during which I was joyfully blogging again, I have decided to attempt blogging again. Hopefully I don't crash and burn in a few days.

I'm going to start by blogging about things that strike me as interesting throughout the day, or funny/cute things my kids do, with occasional pictures to make the grandparents happy. I find myself mentally blogging or updating my facebook status throughout the day but I never actually do it. For example, I learned today that doctor's are treating chronic migraines with Botox. Hello! Sign me up! I even read the side effects to see if there was a line tucked in there about some patients experiencing firmer skin and fewer wrinkles. (There isn't one BTW) Oh well, I know what I'm talking to my doctor about at our next visit.

Here's a funny for you. The kids chose "Shrek" to watch this morning. Not my favorite, but we are recovering from colds and on Winter Break so I am pretty much letting them watch whatever they want. I"m sure I'll pay for it later. As many of you know, the movie "Shrek" starts with that charming scene where Shrek is reading a fairy tale in his outhouse while he does his business. He then uses a page from said fairy tale in place of well, um... toilet paper. Jane's response to this today, "He didn't wipe very good." So now you know what we've been talking about in our home lately, just a little glimpse into the fascinating daily lives of the Peterson's. That's why you come to this blog, right?

New Blog Name

So I was thinking that maybe I should change the name of my blog. "Peterson Publishes Posts!" is not really accurate. "Peterson Never Publishes Posts" or "Peterson Rarely Publishes Blog Posts" might be more appropriate. But I'm going to keep trying.

I haven't blogged much about Hawaii because I think it's kind of painful. I just end up feeling disgruntled about my life. Too bad we can't be on vacation all the time. Plus I didn't take very many pictures. I was too busy enjoying myself.

Here are some pictures of the kids and I the first full day we spent in Hawaii. Still being on NY time we woke up nice and early and went to the beach right outside our hotel. The sand was cool in the shade but the air was warm and soft like it always seems to be in Hawaii. Jane wasn't sure how she felt about the sand at first.

 

But she quickly got the hang of things.

 

Here's a little sand castle I built. I'm quite proud of it actually and it was so much fun to build. Sand is so much fun to play in. I'm glad my kids came to appreciate it.

 

Here are the kids and I digging a big hole for the ocean to fill up. My dad used to always dig giant holes for us at the beach when we were kids. He would even try to carve out steps so we could climb down in the hole. Then a big wave would come and fill up the hole and we'd have our own little pool. I found out how much work it is to dig even a small hole. Kind of tiring. But my dad always dug those special holes for us and it's one of my special memories.

Unfortunately, when the water came rushing into our hole the kids were terrified and it took several days before I could coax them back into one of my "pools." Luckily they warmed up to the idea and they even joined in the digging. Whew. I'm always glad when I can pass on something special to my kids that someone did with me when I was little.

 

 

 

 

Home

This is Ka'anapali Beach right near our hotel in Maui. I'm looking out towards the island of Lanai. I loved being able to see other islands so close. It felt cozy to me somehow. This is the evening of our last full day in Hawaii and the picture is kind of sad and moody, just the way I felt. It was hard to leave Hawaii. I even cried a little bit. Everything was so beautiful and warm. We had some lovely, contented days in the sun playing together as a family and I couldn't help wishing life could always be like that. But we had to come back to reality. Three weeks later, I'm still trying to adjust. The snow and sleet doesn't help but what can you do? You've gotta live the life you've made for yourself in the best, most joyous way possible.

Merry Christmas Eve

I love Christmas Eve. I love the anticipation and excitement. I love to think about the world, all those long years ago, not knowing it was about to receive the greatest gift God has ever given to man. (Even if if didn't technically happen at Christmastime.)

This year, we went to our friends' house for yummy Mexican food. My friend's mom had made her a really cute set of Nativity costumes so we had fun dressing the kids up. Here's Josh as a little shepherd and Jane as a sweet little Mary.




After this we went to a live Nativity at a little farm near here. We ran into some more friends from church and had fun singing Christmas carols while trying to keep warm around a fire pit. It was really cold and I didn't choose my footwear wisely. (My feet felt like little blocks of ice by the time we got back in the car.) After waiting for the previous group to finish watching the presentation in the barn, we then headed into the barn which I hoped would be warmer. And it was... marginally. It was also set up like the Nativity with little kid shepherds, Mary and a real baby Jesus. I don't remember seeing Joseph anywhere. He was probably on a hot cocoa break. The electric lights and small band with keyboard and a microphone seemed a little out of place. But I can see the necessity not having actual angelic choirs on hand. The highlight of the presentation was actually not part of planned material. During one of the scripture readings or songs one of the massive horses in the barn starting peeing. The only angelic voice I heard at that point was Jane asking me, "What is that noise, Mommy?" Everyone just chuckled and went on with the show. Still, all I could think was, "Poor Mary, having a baby in conditions like these." Hopefully it was warmer for her since she was in the Mediterranean. January in Bethlehem is definitely warmer than upstate NY and since December is not known to be the actual birth month of Jesus, hopefully Mary had better weather. And hopefully she had angels helping her since she didn't have the blessed epidural I enjoyed with both my children.

On the drive home, I asked the kids if they would like to be born in a place like that, like the baby Jesus was. Dumb question. Jane, who was utterly enchanted by the horses in the barn and Josh who would live outside if you let him, both gave an unequivocal "Yes." Oh well, hopefully this is only one of many ways in which they will wish to emulate Jesus Christ. Grateful for Him at Christmastime and always.

Team Josh

 

My camera hasn't been working very well lately so I had to find an older picture of Josh but it's one of my favorites. I'm posting this picture of my beautiful boy, who also happens to have autism, because on Saturday, October 30, we're going to participate in a walk for autism. Autism Speaks is doing a walk in Albany. Here's the link for the Main Walk Page. and...

Here's the link for our Team Page

We would love it if you could join us on the 30th and walk with Team Josh. It's a great opportunity to show your support for families living with autism and to learn a little more about this disorder which affects 1 out of every 110 children, 1 out of every 70 boys. You can also donate to our cause or start your own team. Autism Speaks is a wonderful organization which according to their website is "dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families."

Living with autism is not easy, but there is hope and help, in part because of organizations like Autism Speaks. Living with autism can also be a gift as life with our Joshua has so amply shown us. Come be a part of the joy with us.

Cookie Monsters

My sister Lindsay did a really sweet thing. To help Jane pass the time while waiting for her cast to come off, Auntie sent her a "Get-Well-Soon" package of Mrs. Field's cookies. One day last week when she woke up from her nap she had a lovely surprise waiting... and she immediately dug in.

 

And of course when cookies are involved, Josh is always in on the action. Jane was sweet enough to share with him.

 

Here's my little cookie face. Can you guess which side of her head she slept on for her nap? Here's a hint: It's the not the side with the cute little ringlets.

 

Jane Update

On Thursday I took Jane to the Orthopedist for a check on her broken leg. We had a bit of a drive because we had to go to a different office this time, but Jane was in high spirits and kept up a steady stream of chatter the whole way there. When we got to the doctor's office she was charming people left and right. I don't think it's something she does on purpose; it just seems to happen. She had the slightly gruff x-ray technician calling her a princess by the time he was done. I think it was because she smiled for her "picture" aka her x-ray. No crying or fussing, just beaming the whole time. I stood there in my lead apron just smiling back at her. Really, it was hard not to.

While we were waiting for the doctor in a large open area, every nurse that passed by stopped in to ask little Jane about her pink cast. A little kid in a cast really is kind of a sad sight but Jane seemed to be eating up all the attention. She would smile and snuggle a little closer towards me but wouldn't talk to anyone. When no one was around, of course she had lots to say. When the doctor came he was pleased to see that all seemed to be healing well and he too tried to make small talk with her calling her a "little peanut" over and over. She of course made no reply but gave him lots of smiles. After he left and we were waiting in line to check-out, she said quietly to me, "I'm not a peanut." I laughed and said, "Oh no, of course not." I guess everyone has a limit.