Joy

Although he's a complete maniac and frequent hooligan, Little C continually reminds us just how GOOD life is.  

Good Girl, Allie Lou!

He know that we are "nice" to babies and animals.  So, when he approaches one he pets their heads (babies and pets) and repeats NIIIIICE over and over until they can escape.

Let's just say it's less Snow White and more Tommy Boy:
"I get all excited. I'm like Jojo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet. Now the pet is my possible sale. [holds a dinner roll] Oh, my pretty little pet, I love you. And then I stroke it, and I pet it, and I massage it. Hehe, I love it, I love my little naughty pet, you're naughty! And then I take my naughty pet and I go [makes ripping noises as he tears apart the dinner roll] OOOOOOHHH! I killed it! I killed my sale! And that's when I blow it."

Changing Lanes

With Matts' injury he's had a lot less time to run and a lot more time to think.  At Sunday dinner the other night he lead us in a conversation that resulted in the following essay:

Road of Life
A child's version


by Mattson Peterson Copyright 2011 December 30


The road of life is what we do our whole life.  There are three sections.  Easy, hard, slow.  Those are the three lanes of life.  Most of us are on the easy lane.  But I am in the hard lane.  Some other people are on the slow lane.  
We are walking it all the time!  the fast lane is when things are going smoothly and fine.  the slow lane is when things are hard and not fine.  Now, do not forget the stop lane.  That is when things are really hard. 


You switch lanes when you do something.  When you are fine you are on the easy lane.  When you are having a hard time you are on the hard lane.  When you are having a really hard time you are on the slow lane.


From a child   

Let's just say that was the short (child's:) version of a conversation that had Reed and I strategically hiding behind our napkins.  What can I say?  We've got the next Robert Frost or Jack Kerouac on our hands.  Happily for Matts (and all of humanity) he got his cast off yesterday.  The great news is everything looks good.  The bad news is he has the same activity restrictions in place for the next 4 weeks to allow his joint to loosen and heal.  His elbow is still fairly stiff/sore and he has pretty limited and painful motion.  But, knowing Matts I'm sure he'll be back in the fast lane in no time. In just 24hrs I've considered making a ginormous CAREFUL! sticker to remind him he's still healing.

Cast free and on his way to awards night

BROTHERS!

Cheese

Distracting Little C before leaving.

The monkeys

Never a dull moment

Over the winter break the boys had been creating things at an astonishing rate.  Tonite at dinner we hit a pinnacle.  

The homemade whoopee cushion.  It was so "well made" and well hidden that Reed was convinced it was real.
Happy Sunday Dinner to you too :)

Daddy Date

After days and weeks of waiting G finally got his special birthday trip with Daddy.  It was "a night and TWO days" of Grayson bliss.  But, apparently tickets to the Duke game come in a distant fourth place to swimming in the hotel pool, controlling the remote and ice skating in Centennial Park. 

 Consider it a lesson on the importance of the little things :)

All packed into his rolling suitcase and ready to go.   Necessities included: 5 magic treehouse books, a busy town, his favorite swimsuit, Duke gear and Book of Mormon trading cards.

Breakfast of champions

Apparently, shorts are appropriate skating attire in Atlanta.

Ready to go.

Dinner at Johnny Rockets.  They even had a special "5" bowl for  his ketchup.  

Love this boy and how much he loves life.  

Peterson Party

Although we have shockingly little photographic evidence to show for it, since Hayley and Kyle moved back to Columbus, GA we've had an awesome influx of visitors.  First, Grandma Diane and Grandpa Diane came out the beginning of December.  Since Matts was still a cast newbie we laid low with some movie night/cuddles and a trip down to Fort Benning.  Now we've gotten to see Aunt Chelsea and enjoy Sublime Donuts and The Varsity in one day!  Add a date night with the boys watched by their beloved aunt and plenty of fashion/decorating tips are we are loving having family close by!

We love Grandma Diane!

Enjoying the Infantry museum

We love Aunt Hayley and Aunt Chelsea!

Take me to the Zoo

After a few lazy days around the house we needed a break, so we headed to the zoo.  

Christian realizing that "ellas" are real.

He LOVES the babies

What?!?! This is made of ant spit?

 

They don't have eagles?  What kind of zoo is this?

Obligatory nest pic.  Only little C and I seem happy to be there.

Oh, sure.  Everyone's happy when it's the komodo dragon and daddy.  

At least there's a little love left for mom.

Too cool for any.

Snack break.

 It was great to have Reed there for C's first time "getting" the zoo.  I must say I'm getting completely spoiled having Reed at home.  Everything is just so much more fun and easier when he's around.  

Merry Christmas to all!

We had a quiet Christmas here in Atlanta.  I kept waiting for it to be miserable, but although a few tears were shed while talking with family on Christmas Day, it just felt right.

(I'm sure it helped that we at least had some family here, with a sick Hayley and Rambo dragging themselves up from Columbus to share in the festivities)

Jingles did a little air drop for the Christmas eve pjs

Christian has learned presents are a very good thing

A very stripey, comfy family.  

We had a slight incident where little C yanked  Jingles off the zipline and  hugged all the magic out of him.  Matts and Gray jumped to the rescue and engineered him an amphibious aquatic vehicle to get him back to the north pole.  They left it by the chimney with Santa's cookies and milk :)

 A little food for the reindeer

This is what I'm talking about.

What is this?  A present for ants?

Even bandaids are exciting on Christmas

Dreaming...
Luckily, Santa was aware of the situation and supplied Matts with some extra  gifts (books, top secret notebook and pen, etc. to keep him busy until he can break in his new bike)

Grandma Candi was also happily to oblige with Oragami  Yoda to keep Matts  busy and happy

Their Christmas "best" aka Christmas comfies

SANTA!

One down.

And to all a good night.