She Can Read!!!

I love Kindergarten!! I love all of the new and exciting things that Courtney is learning about. She is a sponge for knowledge and is soaking it all in! It makes me so happy that she loves school so much and misses her teacher when she isn't there. It has been a big year for her, transitioning to all-day kindergarten, but seeing her accomplishments and projects that she brings home is so rewarding. I wish I could be a fly on the wall and observe Courtney as she goes through this learning process. One of those accomplishments is that she can read! Sure, it's quite simple words and sentences but everywhere we go that she sees words anywhere she is trying to sound them out and read what they say. What better way to practice? Courtney, I am so proud of you, my smart little girl, I hope you always love school!!

Happy Valentines Day!

Here are the "homemade" Valentines that I made for Conner and Courtney's classes. 45 of them to be exact! I'm not sure why I decide to work on time consuming tasks like this when I have NO TIME!! I must like the pressure and the stress! I guess if nothing else they were made by hand and precious time was put into them. Oh well, they were cute anyway.

But it looks like another mom was as crazy as I was! One of the Valentines that Courtney received was this adorable candy necklace, of course made by hand using plastic wrap and curling ribbon. How freakin creative!!! And picture worthy! Kennley's mom, whoever you are, I appreciated this and thought it was fantastic!! Maybe I'm not so insane after all.....

We had a little early Valentines celebration on Thursday night with yummy heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's. Just a fun little treat for this "lovely" holiday!Happy Valentines Day!!

Courtney's Party

I'm still in a little bit of shock that she is 6!!! I told her that I thought she just needed to stay 5 forever. Courtney said that I can't keep her little forever, she needs to get big so she can be a mom like me! How sweet!!

Another example of how wonderful my sweet mom is, she made Courtney this darling nightgown for her birthday.
Showing off her gift from her "friend that is a boy" Andrew. Who she said she is going to marry! What?? All of this after their first play "date" at McDonalds two weeks ago??? Hummm....she is growing up way, way too fast!!

The Barbie bride cake that she insisted that she have. A wedding cake perhaps???

Happy 6th Birthday Courtney!

Oh my goodness! Where has the last 6 years gone??? My baby girl is gone and has now been replaced by a beautiful and sassy 6 year old! I remember her "birth" day vividly. I had went to the doctor for my regular check up on Monday the 10th hoping that I would be told that we could get the whole process going. After all I was only 4 days from my due date. And luckily my doctor said she wanted to start me that evening, but not because I had dialated or anything like that but more because she was concerned about my very high blood pressure. So we hurried home to get our bags and make arrangements for Conner. Once we arrived at the hospital and had settled in my room a doctor came in and immediately broke my water, which got things moving quite quickly. Before long I was pushing and sensing a little scare as my doctor asked for a fetal monitor to be positioned on the top of Courtney's head. I knew this meant that the baby could possibly in distress and that they were having a hard time monitoring the baby's heart rate through the monitors on my belly. My doctor kept shaking her head and telling me that my baby was being very stubborn. But not letting on that there was any reason to worry. Finally after lots of pushing, and removing the cord that was wrapped around Courtney's neck twice, she was here! Courtney Melia Petersen arrived early in the morning on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 weighing 7 lbs. 4 oz. With a head full of dark brown hair like her brother and as beautiful and precious as ever!! I completely fell in love with her the moment I layed eyes on her. She is such a joy and I am so grateful that she is my daughter. I have loved watching her grow and learn and become quite the young lady. I love you Miss Courtney!! Happy Birthday!!

Welcome to the world baby Courtney!!

My brand new baby girl!

2 weeks
2 months

7 months

2 years

3 years

3 1/2 years

Today! 6 years old

Happy Anniversary!!

This post is dedicated to my sweet husband. One short year ago today I married my very best friend, the love of my life and the most handsome blue eyed man. In some ways it seems like just yesterday and in other ways it seems like forever ago. Our wedding wasn't fancy or expensive but it was perfect because it was the official or legal start to our future together. I will never forget the look on Clay's face as we were saying our vows...it was priceless!! And I couldn't stop smiling! It was a wonderful cold, snowy day in the mountains! I am grateful to all of the people who were there with us to share in our new beginning. I feel lucky to have had a second chance for happiness, to be in a relationship where I feel loved unconditionally and respected. Although the last year hasn't been the easiest for either one of us, I'm still glad that we endured the struggles together and are stronger because of it. I love spending every moment with you Clay even though our time together isn't as often as either of us would like it to be. Thank you for giving me strength and courage and for always encouraging me when I need it most. Thank you for being such an incredible step-dad to my children, this means so much to me. You are a great example to them and I know they love you as much as I do. I look forward to what the future holds. No matter what that is. I will be there by your side. I love you more each and every day and am the happiest girl in the world because of you. Thank you for being my husband.

"Whenever I look at you, I see all the things I always wished for in a man but never thought I'd find. It seemed to me that finding one person who could hold all those incredible qualities was just a dream... until I met you. And then, after I got to know you, I found things in you that I didn't even dream about, qualities that I didn't even know existed or how much I needed them. But now that I've seen them, I know I could never do without them... or you."

Happy Anniversary Clay! I love you with all of my heart!
-Elise

Guess What I've Been Up To???

Making sugar cookies!!! Tomorrow I'm throwing a baby shower for my cute friend at work and we are having a little lunch for everyone. Tasty french dip sandwiches, salads and desserts! Yum! I am so looking forward to it! I thought I better add some sweets to the party!

Here is the recipe:

Elise's Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs
1/2 cup less 3 tbsp. milk

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

4 cups flour

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar

My very, very, very talented mom made Stacie and her baby boy this wonderful hooded towel and two washclothes! It's my favorite baby gift to give because they are so useful and they last such a long time! I know you will love it Stacie!!!

So, speaking of my extremely talented mom... here is another one of her latest creations that she gave me for an early Valentines gift. I have numerous sets of these hanging towels that my mom makes for every season and holiday. Are they not the stinkin' cutest things ever?? I absolutely LOVE them! Thank you so much mom! I love you very much!

Cleaning Makes Me Happy!

Tonight my house is clean! I know that it may only last until morning but for now it's perfect! The vents have been vacuumed out and washed, rugs washed, bathrooms clean and sparkly, floors swept and mopped, and everything dusted and vacuumed!! It's the most rewarding feeling! Almost like good therapy! (I probably really need some of that!) Tomorrow I'm escaping with my friends for the day and so I make myself earn the right to get to play and have ME time!! I don't know why but I do that a lot. For example if I want to scrapbook, then I have a list of things I have to accomplish before I reward myself and scrapbook! Then I don't feel guilty that I should be doing something else. It probably seems really strange to all of you but it really works for me in keeping my sanity.

Speaking of cleaning, I LOVE THIS MOP!!! My mom gave it to me for Christmas this last year and used it for the first time tonight. I think she got it from QVC (we're all junkies) and it's from Don Aslet. It's a microfiber mop and you don't even have to use any cleaning product when you clean with it. Just water!!! I have to admit I still put a little bit of Lysol in the water more for the smell good factor. Then the house truly smells clean!! And you can take the mop head off and throw it in the washer!! This clean freak is addicted!

And I've just got to give a huge thanks to my sweet Conner tonight for all of his help with the cleaning chores. I usually do all of my cleaning when the kids are with their dad so I am spending all of my limited time with them and not worrying about getting the house clean. Conner was so anxious to help! He vacuumed the whole house and spend about an entire hour vacuuming out all of the vents! He was such a helper to me! Look at him jammin to his Ipod! Just like I was! Thanks bud, I love you and appreciated all of your help tonight! I couldn't have done it without you!