Friday's Photos - More From the Past

Near as I can tell this is in 1958.  We were still doing quite a bit of family camping at this time.  After  Larry and Deon were married and Calvin and Roger went on missions the family camping basically ended.  I am sad about that.  I think I missed some good opportunities.  In the background is our dog Laddy.  I have always had a love for a good axe.

There is a great deal of history in this picture.  First is the derrick.  It is the implement built out of poles.  It was used to stack loose hay.  The hay was forked onto a wagon, hauled to the yard and then pulled off the wagon and put on the stack by the derrick.  It was horse powered and a good "operator" could unload a wagon in four lifts.  When we started to bale hay, we cut the tines of the Jackson Fork shorter and used this to unload the bales and put on the stack.  Sorry, no picture of the Jackson Fork.  Google it.  The manger you see is the one that dad and the other boys built when they took over farming.  It was one of the best designs I have ever seen.  You can also see Deon riding one of the steers. 

I really wanted to play the drums!  However, the baritone was truly enjoyable.  This picture I believe was in 1973.  In High School, one of the baritone players was kicked out of band.  We had ample trumpet players and I immediately volunteered to learn the baritone.  It was great.  Interestingly, Roger also started on the trumpet as I did but in college he picked up the baritone while in the ROTC band flight.  This was a Sunday evening just having fun.  Left to right:  Byron, Roger, Larry.

Photo Friday

Vida has loved having her hair straightened lately. She looks like a different person!

Party of 3 on the gigantic indoor ferris wheel at Scheels.

Vida had an accident yesterday. She fell off the top bunk onto
something with a metal pole. Fat lip. Scrapes. Bruises. Just in
time for her talk on Sunday.

The picture on the left was taken two and a bit years ago? This is at Scheels, too.

Pictures on Sunday

I know these were on Facebook, but since I directed and Marquie designed makeup, I thought a few should be here. The show is going well. We have next weekend and then we are done. I'm sad none of you get to see it. 

Snapshot Saturday

Well, I never really sat down much yesterday, so as usual I am a Saturday blogger.

Simon felt very left out when we were eating oranges, so I gave him an orange in this cute little baby feeder that someone gave him.  He can chew on it and suck on it but only get the juice, so there is nothing to choke on.  He love it!

This is me at James' show last night.  The seating is on the stage, which was pretty incredible.  It was fun to look out at the 'audience.'  The show is really fun and will be playing next weekend, too, if you want to come and see it!

It was a fun week and NO ONE was sick!  The boys participated in a  geography bowl and had a blast.  Joshua was very quick to the buzzer and led his team to a victory.  Michael is still at his campout.  It is a Klondike competition, so I hope they win.  But if he stayed warm last night then everyone is a winner in my book!

It's Still Friday Here

And I should be in bed!  But I want to share more family pictures.

Somewhere in the 1904 time frame.  This picture of Elder Joseph Nephi Hutchings was taken in England

Back Row:  Deon, Theron, Larry.  Middle Row:  Calvin, Vida, Roger.  Front Row:  Elizabeth, Byron, Nephi.
This is one of the last family pictures that included Elizabeth.  In all of the pictures I have of Nephi he looks so very stern.  However, he was a very gentle man.  Larry tells stories of how Nephi treated his animals so very kind.  I have never heard any stories or comments of Nephi losing his temper at anyone. 

Please do not ask about the border.  I have no idea how I got it on the picture and am too tired to get it off tonight.  My father really appreciated his cars and this 1957 Cadillac was no exception.  I believe this is in 1961 or 1962.  He traded this car in on a 1963 Oldsmobile.  The 1963 was crashed in 1966 and both Theron and Vida dealt with the results of injuries for the remainder of their lives.  They purchased a 1966 Oldsmobile and sold it to Roger and Carol in 1968 when they purchased the 1968 Oldsmobile that became Byron and Lynne's dating car. Look closely at the window.  You will see a circle.  this was a basket that mom had imitation Lilly's in for many years. 

Photo Friday

The first time we gave Ava a whole apple all to herself.
She was in heaven, but was less than efficient with it :)

Fort and make-believe. Their specialty.

Ava trying to get on top of the table while it's impossible -
the bench is pushed under the table. But she still tries.

Merry Christmas to us! $500 of product free. Love me some pampered chef. 

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We had to bring the tent in. The boys were too cold. Haha. It is 56 degrees......

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His first

Pulled it out during sacrament meeting. He was just so excited, he couldn't wait  

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Photo Friday

Well, this week it was Hyrum's turn to be sick.  It was much easier to have a sick Hyrum than Simon. He would sit up in James' office and watch movies, so I could still do school with the big boys.

Sleeping in James' office.  He is feeling better now and ate most of his meals today AND kept them down.  YIPPEE! 

It never ceases to amaze me the strange places my kids work on school.  They all ended up  on the floor.  Maybe it was because I was sitting on the floor with Simon.  

And then there is Simon who is now getting into trouble at a young age.  He has learned to get up but not down.  I can't wait until he learns to get down, especially in bed.  

I am hopeful that we are all well now and that we can stop being sick.  It will also really help because we have some things scheduled this week that I would prefer not to cancel.  Fingers crossed and many prayers said.  Love you all!

Photo Friday

On a long day of errands, this is inevitable.

They love when they get their Christmas gift cards to McDonalds from their
grandma and grandpa. We never go so it's an unbelievable treat to them.

They used their Christmas Eve's Left Right Game money at
the dollar store and were in heaven with this craft project.

Jaime's dollar store crystal growing science experiment.

Vida and Ava being so bored at the doctor with me while Jaime was at preschool.
I've been really sick all week so I finally went in. Just a virus they say, wait it out.
Can't take anything because I'm breastfeeding. The good news is that I'm starting
 to feel better today.

Ava thieving food off our plates on our 'family date.' Worst family date ever.
Trying to keep the girls quiet and sitting at a restaurant - then ended with one of
them howling in pain with a stomach ache. At least we could laugh about it.

Tried a tiny pony tail and loved it on her. Also, she's still working
on the stairs. I'd love to keep that baby gate down and not have
to deal with bloody noses or mouths.

From Mom and Dad for a Friday

We have so enjoyed the pictures and message from texting (although Dad does not get them), Facebook and our blog.  As I said, I love the blog because it is helping create and preserve our history. 

Thought I would share some older and not so older family pictures.

Finally, I was no longer the youngest.  Brenda, the oldest grandchild of Theron and Vida, and I shared a wonderful bond, she being only 6 1/2 years younger than I and while I was her uncle, we were as close as any brother and sister.  The day I received the call that she had succumbed to a blood clot is burned into my memory.  We were living in Denver and I sat and sobbed.  When she was courting Gordon she came to me because she didn't know how to handle an issue.  It seems that She and Gordon knelt and prayed often but he would never hold her hand and she didn't know how to handle it.  I remember telling her to just ask him.  She did and the answer was "I do not want to be distracted when I am praying.  Case closed, marriage date set...

February 9, 1985 we gathered to celebrate Theron and Vida's 50th wedding anniversary.  This picture represents all of the family except Lee who was serving his mission.  Brenda, second from the right, is holding Gordon IV, the oldest great-grandchild of Theron and Vida.  Lee Roberts, grandson of Lee A. Palmer, who was pulled in by Larry and Beverly, is in the back center, yes the tall one.  Lee was killed while serving his mission in Michigan.  His untimely death closed the opportunity for Lee Palmer to have a righteous posterity. 

I have always appreciated seeing the "family", parents, children and spouses in group pictures.  For those families that preceded me, it helps me place the members of the family together.   

Hope you enjoy. 

Hey

So it's late and I am tired.  Story of all our lives.  I just wanted to let you all know that we Petersen's really appreciate all your love and support.  You guys are just the most amazing family ever.  I am sorry I don't communicate well these days, (ever...), but my weary and overwhelmed brain doesn't seem to want to piece together a real conversation.  Life is just hard.  Blah, blah, blah.  I love you all bunches and then some.

A Rough Week

Well, I didn't get many pictures, but I thought I would just post an update.  Simon spent most of the week sick, but he is starting to feel better now.  Phew!  I forgot what it is like to have a sick baby.  It is no fun at all!  And Hyrum is working hard to make as many messes as possible.  He is very good at it but fortunately I have a good team of helpers to keep him under control.

During all the chaos I did manage to get the kitchen pantry cleaned out and organized.  I had much more planned, but plans change.  I am glad I got that done, though, and I love being able to find things in my pantry easily!

Photo Friday

This happened here today. 

This isn't a lense flare, it's a sun dog--a halo of ice crystals around the sun's image that form a rainbow ring and a reflection of the sun itself at each axis. It was pretty amazing to see. 

Happy New Year Family

I guess it is time for Dad to get back into this blog stuff.  I appreciate the Facebook posts and phone calls but particularly like the blogs as it is more fully creating a family history for us.  Following the theme of the Christmas Gift Mom and I shared from Uncle Larry's efforts, we would like to continue the process of sharing our personal history in pictures and stories as well as increase understanding of ancestors, close and distant.  I appreciate your patience in accepting this.  Well, I guess you can just skip the blogs!  :)

I have been doing more reading in "From Obscurity to Prominence"  and came across an entry that really struck me because it speaks so deeply to our heritage of doctrinal knowledge and understanding.  This is found in the second file, I believe on or close to page #310 (page 72 of that file) .  Additionally I have included some pictures of my brothers and me.

I believe this was around the time I came home after birth.

From the History:

...mention is made of Sunday evening study at the kitchen table. This became a powerful experience in the family. The D&C was a favorite course of study. A couple of sections each time were studied in detail and discussed. ...Theron guided discussions from his studying. (Theron – personal diary; Author – personal memory).

Larry and Deon mixing concrete for structures in ditches to control the water.  The tractor was the International Farmall H.  I never drove this tractor as it was traded in before I learned to drive.  I do remember the day Roger drove it to Swain Motor to turn in on our first John Deere, a 3010. 

Author’s Note: This studying of the Gospel and Scriptures set a standard in the home. Theron and Vida gave sons a strong foundation of Gospel principles and doctrine that carried with them throughout their lives. They were good Gospel scholars and could answer questions anyone could raise by chapter and verse, or by book title and page. Elmer Palmer was an additional mentor in this process.

My edited remarks:  I believe it was by virtue of this studying that all of the sons were qualified to accept teaching and leadership calling in our later teenage and early adult years.  Larry taught Sunday School, course 16 at age 16 and called as Priest Quorum adviser at age 17.  Deon was called as the Teacher Quorum adviser at at age 16. Calvin was called as the Seminary President.  Roger could teach anyone at any time and was the top scriptorian in his mission.  I was Seminary President in the 9th grade and have held many teaching assignments over the years.  All of us have taught with doctrinal knowledge and power. However, sadly these Sunday night discussions migrated to just discussions and not scriptural reviews.  While helpful they were not as strong as in the early years of the family and even more sad, I did not continue them into our family. 

This should be the summer of 1957, I was roughly 18 months of age.  I am in my mother's arms.  Deon we believe is the other one on the log.  While the older brothers were growing up the family did a great deal of camping.  Given age of mom and dad, this greatly diminished for me.  I remember some family camping when I was very young.