Great Power

Yesterday I spent the entire day in the airport. I know, nothing too foreign to any of us. We got on the 6:00 a.m. flight out of Washington and made it into Chicago without a hitch. The first flight into Salt Lake took Jodi and Jaime Lynne with it, but left me wandering the airport looking for outlets (now that was poor planning, I mean, how would Helmut Jahn had known 23 years ago that everyone and their dog would need an outlet to plug in their gadgets). The next two flights left me the same, each going out without even considering taking a standby passenger. I was way down on the list, too. But faithful to my ways as a longtime standby traveler, I waited it out, hoping against all odds that I would somehow get on the last flight of the day, which of course was oversold and had me listed as the eleventh in priority. Luckily for me I got to grab some dinner right before the 9:00 p.m. flight, and play with some adorable little girls that were at wits end late in the day. It made me happy and ready to willfully accept defeat for the day.

But sometimes great things happen, like last time I flew from Chicago to Salt Lake. I swear the only way to get out of there is to get my boarding pass out of seniority order. Yeah, happened again last night (lat time it was because a customer service rep had no clue). This time, though, it was because most other standby passengers must not have been as seasoned as I (You always stay for the last flight if you have already been waiting all day. Always!).

Well, the story behind the video: Have you ever seen a lightning storm from 30,000 feet in the air? I can't recall that I had, and I was completely in awe. I just couldn't believe that they hadn't turned off the seatbelt sign yet. Given that I was sitting in a bulk head seat, my camera was not with me. Luckily I was able to grab it before we passed the storm completely. Please, enjoy a little display of God's awesome power with me. It is just a reminder of how much he is in control, and how completely insignificant and powerless I am. God is great. Therefore we are great. Yeah, all from a lightning storm.

ahhhh

So, Joe left for scout camp Saturday morning and won't return until late Saturday night. Fun for him. If the last 24 hours is any indication of my week to come, I am definitely taking Sunday off. I was holding David on my lap last night while talking to Justin. He let some pretty juicy stinks, so I thought maybe I would change him. I walked upstairs and laid him on the couch (still talking to Justin). What, there is pooh all over his side. What? There is pooh all over my lap. I decided it was probably time to hang up. I changed me, bathed him, and put laundry in. This morning, Collin thought it would be nice to add vomit to our morning ritual. More washing. He was great by 9. I go down to switch the pooh laundry from last night... What? Someone put a green crayon in my hamper? Yes, sheets, clothes, all have green spots. You laugh, but the day continues, so must the story. While doing a craft tonight, because that is what Chloe does, she drops the open bottle of glue on the carpeted floor. Yes, it went splat and fly. What next? I don't know. Bedtime is always an adventure.

David and the Lime

Funny, very Funny

-Joe

It's in her blood

A few pictures of our MVP. She was the happy recipient of the game ball. She caught the whole game, which was 2 hours. It was hot, humid, and she was thrilled. She and her coach have decided catching is definitely her thing!

What I Need....

Some Laughs, Some Fun, Some Smiles,

and a whole lotta CRAZY!

Petersen Update

Do you want to see want our week is like?





That pretty much sums it up.

Posted from my iPhone

How hot?

How hot is it? The gum on my kitchen counter is melting. Wow. I think the kids are sleeping downstairs tonight. Fun times.

This is Jaime.

This is Jaime on bubbles.

Families that stay together Stay Together

The title of this post is in reference to an interesting phenomenon amongst the member families in Shanghai. The wives and children of the working men tend to go for extended visits to the United States during the summer, lasting between 6 weeks and a few months, without their husbands. The district presidency gave instruction that it shouldn't be so, that "families that stay together stay together."

I'm glad the Hutchings family thinks so too. I have surprisingly few pictures of the past week with all of us together. Here are a few.

We had fun staying up late talking...

and eating.
Hired a babysitter for the kids for one night...
to have an all-adult dinner.
We had fun! Thanks James and Liz for coming.

Another Heart

This is now getting odd! Ethan evens sweats in a heart shape.



- Posted from my iPhone

Ethan - Full of hearts?

We are at Chloe's softball game and we noticed something interesting. Ethan has blonde and brown hair in patches all over his head, like a skunk. Well he reciently got his hair cut short and we notice a pattern. Do you see it? There is a black heart at the base of his head at the neck line. It's AWESOME!!!




- Posted from my iPhone

Blessed rain

I have found a new way to lose weight! Turn off your air conditioner. Not only does this save you money, but the fat quite literally melts off. Ha Ha. After almost a week of hot, virtually rainless days, it pours. The cool down is welcome and my garden appreciates it. Our first storm was just rain, but lots of it. So, we all went out and played in it. We were soaked. So, next time it rains, take a quick twirl in it. You'll be glad you did!

Chocolate Carmel Ice Cream Brownies

This is precisely why family should not get together....

Happy Anniversay!!!

Happy Anniversary to Mom, Dad, Heather and Joe. I hope you had a wonderful evening and time to celebrate and enjoy each other!

Happy half Birthday Daniel!

So, Ella decided for some reason that it would be hilarious to make Daniel think it was his Birthday today. He came to me so excited, letting me know he would like a red cake and a trip to Chuckee Cheezits (my children's name for chuckee cheese). Sadly I dashed his hopes and assured him it was not really his birthday. About five minutes later he was back and just as excited as before, because somehow Ella convinced hime once again that it really was his birthday. I didn't have the heart to dash his hopes again so I told him that sure enough it was his half birthday, and since Ella was the culprit she could buy him a present and clean his room which was Mom's idea(because you know, you don't have to clean on your birthday). The party turned out great! We bought him a little cake and bummed spider man rings off the bakery department at Walmart, got him a five dollar movie, water balloons and some $1.00 airplane shooter. We even sang happy half birthday. He thought it was the coolest night ever! It turned out to be great, because instead of killing each other tonight we rather enjoyed ourselves. I feel bad for Bryce, he was soooo sad he missed it. If I ever get around to it (which I doubt) I'll post some pictures.

I got stung by a wasp. That's all I wanted to tell you.

and I went to Disney World. which was epic. and magical. :) I'll put up a picture "later" cuz they're on my camera. :)

my hair is brown again.
and it's cut.
it's cute.

you should see it.

now i think that's all. love you.