A First!

Since moving to California we felt our first earthquake tonight. It was small because the kids couldn't even tell. It was still really weird. I felt like things were shaking for a while after it. The tremor is probably from the Reno, NV shakes that have been happening. We are about 3 hours from there. It makes me wonder how the Ceo in Reno is holding up!

*update*After looking a little more I found this website that lists the recent earthquakes in California and Nevada. The one we felt was the 5.2 magnitude at 8:03pm near Willow, CA.
The Verdi-Mongul, NV earthquakes are the ones close to Reno.

Tag! Whose it?

I've been tagged by my friend Kori to answer some questions about one of my favorite subjects,

DAVID!

**warning** I like to kiss and tell ;-)

What is your husbands name? David

How long have you been married? 11 years

Who eats more sweets? We both love 'em but his favorites are baked sweets. His parents are bakers.

Who said I love you first? He did. It was in the wee hours of the morning and I drove David to the airport in Fayetteville, NC. He was to go to Alaska for some winter weather military training. We were sitting in the termial waiting for everyone to board. He leaned over, kissed me on the cheek and whispered "I love you" in my ear.

How old is he? 35 and he's accomplished so much in those years.

Who is taller? He is.

Who is smarter? I took a poll. Carson said me.(Because I am on the computer a little bit more than Dad) Callie said me.(Because I know the kids better when they are being sneaky) George said me.(Because Dad doesn't remember some stuff) Ginger said me.(Because I have great feelings) And Lucy said me. We'll have to see what they say when David asks them.

Who can sing better? Its about even.

Who pays the bills? I do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.

Who mows the lawn? That would have to be me, which I enjoy doing. He does it when he has time.

Who cooks dinner? I do. He likes to make breakfast and he does a wonderful job at it.

Who drives? He does.

Who kissed who first? I guess he did because he asked if he could kiss me. It was my first kiss and I had been anticipating it for 20 years. After we kissed and I was still basking in "my first kiss" he asked if we could do it again. I thought to myself in amazement, "I get a second kiss."

Who asked who out? He asked me out. He called me on a Saturday afternoon to talk. We talked for awhile and then he asked if I had eaten. I said no. He asked if I wanted to go get something to eat with him. I was like, okay. He said he'd be over in about 15 minutes. I hung up the phone and ran around trying to be presentable in 15 minutes. He was right on time and I was still stressin'. As we headed to the car, I tripped on the gardenhose. I didn't fall but it was embarassing. Then my mom yells out the door, "Put some lipstick on, you look pale!" Thanks mom!!!! We had a nice dinner.

Who has more siblings? I do. I have 7 and he has 3.

Who wears the pants? We both do.

What is his "Love Language"? Quality Time (here is a 30 second assessment)

Well, that was fun! I tag my sister, Gina, my cousin, DeAnn, and my friend, Kamy.

Pinewood Derby

I might have mentioned this before but in our ward we do not have a functioning Cub scout pack. I know, I can hear Sister Hill's gasp for air from here. (Bro. and Sis. Hill are a big part of the scout program in Lincoln) Carson is the only boy in that age group. Anyway, we found a local pack and got Carson moving along again. The pack has a Tiger den so since George was 7 we got him going as well. The leaders really work hard and do a lot. This summer the boys are going on a camp out with David and the other scouts. Carson and George are way excited.

This past Saturday we had our Pinewood derby. We thought we had missed it for the year because we are use to having it in January or February. George was really excited to make his first car. One thing I thought was neat was that for their weekly pack meeting they all worked on cutting their cars and shaping them. It was very helpful for us because we struggle each year coming up with the tools to do it. The cars turned out really nice. We had the races at a park, which it was a beautiful day for doing so. The PackHere is Carson getting excited for his first win. This is George and his friend Trenton. They are in the same class at school. We found out that his dad is a less-active member of the church. Here is Carson with a HUGE smile. He was so excited to win 1st place. After the picture was taken he said, "Aww man, I should have held it over my head." He is funny.

Here is George, thrilled to come in 3rd place. He was a bit more humble, than Carson. Carson deserves it though, its his 3rd year.

In the years past there has always been stress from competitive parents that have made the pinewood derbies not as fun. We had a bit of drama in Independence last year. This year we didn't have that stress. For example, there were pieces of grass on the track(you might be able to see them in the pictures) and no one cared. They were putting cars on the track backwards and no one cared. I don't know if it was the lack of dads that were there or what. Okay, moms can get a little testy as well. Whatever the reason, it was very pleasant and fun.

I know, I don't have the uniforms all figured out yet. My goal this week is to get all the patches and to get them sewn on.

****Later that day, we went to the park and ate dinner with a single sister, her grandson(who she is raising), and the elders. Lucy and Josiah are in nursery together. It was nice for the kids to burn some more energy.
Elder Hudman from Indiana and Elder Gardner from Utah(I don't remember where in Utah)

Funnies

**Callie had a softball game last night. We had some sick children so we were watching from the car. George yells out the window at a girl on the opposite team that is in his class at school. She promptly replies "Georgie" with a wave. I look at George and he looks at me with a big grin and then a "what?"

What a ladies man! Uncle Curtis, you got some competition.


**We were watching a movie and Ginger looks up from laying on my lap and asks, "They don't wet their pants in the movies, do they?" I reassured her that they don't with a chuckle.


**Where do they come up with some things? Yesterday we were driving by McDonald's and Callie says "In grilled and crispy the 'c' in crispy goes with the 'c' in Carson and Callie, and the 'g' in grilled goes with the 'g' in George and Ginger." I really didn't know what to say to that one except agree with her. The words "grilled and crispy" where no where to be seen. It all came from her pretty little head.

This is a test. Only a test.

Lucy calls me, "Mom".

"Yes?", I respond.

Lucy says, "No, its 'Yes princess?".

I then say, "Yes princess?".

Lucy smiles with satisfaction. It's a test she gives me every so often.

Precious moments!

Yesturday was a busy day as are most of our days. Carson had his baseball practice changed from Friday to Thursday and there was an open house at the elementary school last night. Ginger and Lucy and I had some free time on our hands because David went to the school with Callie and George and Carson was busy with practice, so we went to the park.

After the park we went back to the baseball park and waited for Carson. There were some big logs of wood that I was sitting on while the girls played in the dirt.(dirt, my favorite) Anyway, Lucy came to sit by me so I helped her up on the wood.

The setting sun was in our eyes so I had my hand on my forehead trying to block and I leaned down and asked Lucy "How was your day?".

She didn't respond, then put her hand on her forehead and asked me, "How was your day?".

I responded, "Good, I went to the park with my daughters today."

She said, "You have fun with them?"

I said, "Oh, yes".

She smiled and got down then wanted up again.

I helped her up, she put her hand to her forehead again and then she asked me, "How was your day?".

I then responded, "Good, I went to the park with my daughters today."

She asked, "You love it?".

I answered, "Oh, yes I loved it."

She then said, "I love you mom."

I told her I loved her too with a hug.

Then I turned to Ginger who was sitting on the other side of me and asked her if she had a good day and she said thinking deeply, "Yes" then laughing she said, "It was the same as yours." Silly mom!

T-ball, Softball, and Baseball season has begun

We signed up George for t-ball, Callie for softball, and Carson for baseball this Spring. I feel like I have been living out of the car since the season began.

Our schedule goes something like this. On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday we usually don't go home after school because of gas, which is $3.87 a gallon today. We go up to the church and sit in the car to do homework. I have a key if we need to use the restrooms. With Lucy in training it is helpful.

This is outside the church and some of the snow that is left over from January.

I only have pictures of George so far. Last Tuesday he got hit in the eye with the ball. I think someone was throwing the ball to him. He's fine. I was picking up Carson and Callie from choir when it happen.

Monday

4:30 Carson baseball

Tuesday

3 - 4:30 Carson and Callie choir
4:30 - 5:30 George t-ball practice
6 - 7 pm Callie softball practice


Wednesday

6:30 - 7:30 Carson and George scouts(its a local troop so they have Tiger scouts for George)
7pm - 8:30pm Callie, Ginger, and Lucy go to YW with me, which they love doing

Thursday

4:30 - 5:30 George t-ball practice
4:15 - 5:15 Carson and Callie piano lessons
6 - 7 pm Callie softball practice


Friday

4:30 - 5:30 Carson baseball practice

The schedule turned out better than I thought. I was worried that Carson and Callie's practices would be scheduled the same time as piano and choir. Ginger and Lucy love being able to play in the dirt and run around. Its fun to be out in the Spring weather soaking up the sun.

Quilting with the YW

***Warning*** ...I am not as crafty as some of you all out there.

This month in the Young Women we are focusing on the value Good Works. So in the spirit of good works we are making laps blankets for residents at the nursing home.

Monday and Tuesday I spent cutting or tearing 8 inch squares. I figured I would tear them since the edges would be frayed anyway. I did 10 yards worth of material . Then I cut 7 inch squares of batting. Wednesday night we took the hour with the YW and taught them how to thread a machine and sew some squares togther. We took 2 different patterns of material and put a piece of batting inbetween them with the good sides of material on the outside. We then sewed an "X" through the square.
My girls even got in on the job with help from a very patient young woman.

We didn't get much else done last night. It was fun to see some of the young women sew for their first time. Some caught the bug and were excited to go home and try some things. We will finish the quilts next week.

Our trip to Utah

This is Lucy after her bath. We were cleaning and getting ready to go to David's work for an Easter egg hunt and celebration. We were also getting ready to leave for a week to go to Utah and visit family. So we packed up the car and planned on leaving after the festivities at David's work.

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The Festivities at ShastaView Nursing Center

Its quite a big deal. They had tons of eggs to find and 12 of the eggs were prize eggs that you get a nice basket filled with goodies. They had ice cream, snow cones, cotton candy, fishing pond for the children, a bean bag toss, a fire truck, the Easter bunny, Little Bo Peep, hot dogs, and one of those big inflatable jumping things(I can't think of what its called). It all started around 11am and the egg hunt was at 2pm. Ginger got filthy and we all got some sunburn. It was not the best way to start a long trip but the kids enjoyed it.

David cookin' up some hot dogs.

Callie and the Easter Bunny!

Little Bo Peep(Lynette the office manager)

25 cent cotton candy, YUM!

Snow cones!

The moment we waited 4 hours for(David had to be there at 10am so we were there an hour longer). It was over with in 2 minutes. Everything was cleaned up and people went home while we began our 11hour drive to Utah.

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We got to Utah in the wee hours of the morning. The kids had been in and out of sleep the whole drive so I was hoping they would be able to go back to sleep so the Easter bunny could come. They did and the Easter bunny carefully and quietly left some nice treats for us. Then the Easter bunny collapsed into bed.

We woke up later and had a nice afternoon visiting with family and having a delicious meal. We had a Honey Baked ham that Gina and Duncan brought with some asparagus, and Chad and Maizie made fresh bread and potatoes. It was delicious! After eating, Callie and her cousin Madelaine filled plastic eggs and hid them in the back yard. The cousins had fun searching for eggs.

Who's gonna find the eggs?

How many do you have? The egg police, each cousin was to get 6 eggs.

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Monday

I took the girls and went to my sister Gina's house and made some Amish friendship bread. While it was baking we watched the funny parts of Nacho Libre. The girls are still quoting it. "My life is good, (pause) Really good!" Gina tried to get a little nap while we watched Chloe. It didn't last very long.

David had a paper he had to finish on the computer so he stayed at my parents with the boys.

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Tuesday

We went to visit BYU. We met Aunt Gina and Chloe for lunch then we went and bought somethings at the bookstore. One thing that we got and have enjoyed is a new CD by InsideOut called Sharing Time. Our kids really love the music and the fact that they use no instruments. The peanut butter and jelly song is one of their favorites.

While walking around campus we tried to find a car with plates that came the farthest to BYU. Callie found one with a Norway flag where the front license plate goes.

BYU!(smile Callie)

We later went to the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum on campus. They were celebrating their 30th anniversary.
The kids were excited to find Napoleon Dynamite's all time favorite, a "liger". Napoleon's drawing looked a little different.

There was this beautiful butterfly display made out of colorful butterflies. I loved looking at all the different shapes and colors.

A huge shell!

A little hip from Callie, Lucy, Ginger, Aunt Gina, and little Chloe.

We went back to Papa and Grammy's house, bar-b-qued chicken for dinner with Chad and Maizie's family and Gina and Duncan's family. We watched parts of Nacho Libre again because the boys didn't get to re-live those wonderful lines.

Callie went ice skating with her cousin Madelaine's Activity Day group. It was Madelaine's first time going since she turned 8 last month.

David and I watched Chloe that night so the new parents could get some much needed sleep. So we stayed up late watching North and South.

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Wednesday

We met Gina, Chloe, Maizie, Harrison, Benjamin, and Olivia at Thanksgiving Point near Lehi, UT. There are many things to do there but one of the things is the Dinosaur Exhibit.

Digging for fossils.

Lucy and I getting ready to play in the sand and water.


Carson getting his hands in the fun.

David went with Duncan to a Real Estate venture meeting that night. Duncan had been studying the whole week we were there to test on Saturday for his Real Estate License, which he passed! Way to go Duncan!

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Thursday

Thursday was a busy day. We drove up to Ogden to where we used to live. George was born when we lived there. Although the hospital is gone that he was born in. The city of Ogden built a new one a couple of years after we left. We drove around town and went to Weber State so David could meet with one of his old professors for a few minutes. From there we decided to go to the Aerospace Museum near Hill Air Force Base. We had lived in Ogden for almost 2 years and never went, sad.

Before and...

after.

The traditional Pettijohn silly face picture. Mmm, Callie's expression didn't change much. We finished off the day in Salt Lake City. We saw one of our bishops from Dillon, MT and his wife who are serving a mission at temple square. The Fairbanks. We toured the Conference center and went into the Tabernacle. It is so nice to feel the spirit there at Temple Square.

This is some creative artwork around town.

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Friday

Can you tell I'm getting tired?

We spent the day at Papa and Grammy's cleaning, doing laundry, packing, and relaxing. We mostly did relaxing. Aunt Nancy came up from Price to see us. We all went out to Korean which was a lot of fun. Then we all went to Papa and Grammy's and hung out. We played a game while the kids watched a movie. Gina I don't remember the name of the game, would you leave a comment with the name. It was pretty fun. I guess it would be fun because David and I beat everyone.

Aunt Nancy was such a big help by playing with the little ones. Nancy played restaurant with Callie and Madelaine just like she used to do when she was little. Thanks Nan!

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Saturday

We packed up, cleaned up, and went to see my grandmother(Gee Gee).

We then hit the road for a nice 11 hour ride home. What a blessing it is to travel so far and come home safely. It was so nice to get away and "relax". To be at Papa and Grammy's was a treat. We sure did miss them there. Diannah comes home from her mission on the 8th of April(in 3 days) and we were sad to miss her in Utah.

Thanks Chad, Maizie, Gina, Duncan, and Nancy for letting us play and visit with you all.