Happy Easter, A little late!

Happy Easter, A little late! Alice loved it all!

Easter Egg Hunt

We have totally enjoyed the past couple of days of sunshine, to then wake up today to pouring rain. Alice absolutely loves to be outside, she whines at the door to go out, and cries when we have to come back in!

Alice had her 1st Easter Egg hunt on Tuesday. My friend Kelli organized it and had a bunch of friends come. It was so much fun. At first Alice wasn't quite sure what to do, but when she discovered there were jelly beans inside some eggs and I gave her one, she learned really quick what to do.

On Monday we had the opportunity to meet for dinner with Mara Adams family. She passed away last September from the same brain tumor as Ashley. They live in WA, but were in town for the week. It was so nice to get together with them. Always emotional, but nice. We feel as if we have known them forever.

Alice @ 15 months

We are so wishing Spring would actually get here. But until then, we will just keep playing inside and watch the snow come down.

Could it get any messier? Yes, it got way worse! Just didn't snap another shot!

Eventful couple of weeks

It has been a busy last couple of weeks. Many of you know last Friday was the one year mark since Ashley passed away. It was a very hard day, I wrote a journal entry of some of my thoughts and feeling on that day on her caring bridge site. So if you are interested, click on Ashley's picture to the right and it will take you there.

These next two picture were taken the day before Ashley passed away.

WE MISS YOU PRINCESS!

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One fun and exciting thing was my brother Tim (top right) flew in from China were he and his beautiful family are living for the next few years. We haven't seen him in over a year, so it was very fun, but 3 days just wasn't long enough. We miss his wife Suzanne and his boys Hunter and Tanner, and hope to see them soon, although I don't think it will be until next summer! Here is this picture in my Mom & Dad, all 5 kids, and my Grandparents.

Here is some of the Grandkids with Great Grandma & Grandpa Kunz. Alice is so HAPPY!

We played out in the backyard that night and I think Alice might turn out to be a pretty good soccer player.

I made sugar cookies too. I hadn't made them for a really long time, so I decided to make them really cute, after all your brother doesn't come from China everyday now..... well after many hours of work, I thought to myself "what was I thinking, like anyone cares." But, I have to say they all appreciated how good they looked, and made me take a picture of them before they partook!

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At the grocery store last week Alice pointed at those huge bins of balls and kept saying ball, ball, and signing "more" with her hands, so for $1.50 I caved in. Let me say it has already been worth it. She loves it. That first night she wouldn't let go of it. She even had to bathe with it. She was torn when bathing because she wanted to play with her other toys too, but just couldn't let go of it.

Cute 14 month old who loves the phone!

Just 2 weeks ago, Alice pointed to some pictures of Ashley and said "Ah Eee." It is so cute that she can say her name now. I totally love it.

About two hours ago, she learned how to say no, no, no, and keeps repeating it! Mostly to Maverick!

One of Alice's new things is playing with babies. She loves them!

(P.S. Thanks Aunt Suzanne for my new bows!!!!)

One for me...

& one for you!

I don't know who ends up eating more fishy crackers, Alice or Maverick!

So one of my new favorite things is picture hanging velcro. I seriously is the easiest, fastest way to hang pictures. And when you are done you just pull it off, and you never knew it was there!

Here is my wall before.......

And After. I love the way it all turned out!

Family Pictures May 2007

Today I picked up a CD of photos that were taken back in May of '07, just a few weeks after Ashley's diagnosis.  We obviously ordered some back then, but I wanted to have them all!  Can you blame me, look how cute they are.  

We miss you so much princess!

Dogs!

Most of the time I absolutely love having a dog......

But sometimes it's really frustrating!

Babysitting!

We have been pretty busy these past couple of weeks babysitting our nieces and nephews.  We were first at Paul's sisters, then went straight to his brothers.  We had so much fun spending time with all the kids, and Alice had a blast.  I really didn't take any pictures but these ones.

Alice playing with her cousin Daniel.

Alice & Charly.  

Alice is just like her big sis, she has a real love for animals.

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We received the most amazing gift over the weekend.  Our friend Jeremy Holmgren drew this picture of Ashley.  He has some serious talent.  It looks like he just blew up the picture in black and white.  I can't believe a person can be this good.  The detail is unreal.  I know this took a lot of time.  Thanks Jeremy for such a special gift!  We appreciate this more than you know!

Biopsy Results!

 The results of the biopsy came back and everything is fine!  

BEAUTIFUL NAUVOO!

We had the wonderful privilege of visiting beautiful Nauvoo last week.  It was so fun to see Paul's parents who are currently serving as the Temple President there.  We got to see a lot of neat thing inside the temple and even climbed the bell tower to right below where Angel Moroni's feet are.  Wow!  What an experience! 

It was so fun to visit Nauvoo and see where so much of our church history took place.  There is an amazing spirit there.  The Saints were driven out on Feb. 4th, so it was neat to be there this time of year to know what a sacrifice it would have been to leave your warm home.  It was an amazing sight to see the Mississippi River frozen over.

Just to show you how close Paul's parents live to the temple, Paul is standing in their driveway.  I think they have counted and it literally take 100 steps to get there.  It's amazing to look out their windows and the temple is literally in their front yard.

The blacksmith shop.

Carthage Jail

This is the room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred.

The Browning Gun Store: 

John Browning was a famous gun inventor who lived in Nauvoo, His son,  John Moses Browning is recognized as the world's greatest gun inventor and contributed more to the national security of the US than any American inventor who ever lived.

THANK YOU GRANDMA & GRANDPA PETERSON FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION!