Summer Break: Month 1!

Eva catching crawdads.

Maren found a dead fish! Older kids in back jumping off!

RED ROCK in Sedona with ward friends and cousins!

Jumping off the rock ledge!

Posing at Cairns on way back from Rope Swing.

Maren and Eva found a kid size slide.

DATE NIGHT: 9 Rounds of Golf (short version) at CCC with the Larsens.

Jen and Jess against Royce and Coby-We actually won:) Thanks to handicaps.

WILDMAN PHIL AT BRANCH LIBRARY

Maren got picked out of the audience to hold the Corn Snake!

Brynne and the Skink.

Maren...Skink.

Eva...Skink.

Dunc...Skink.

Python licking Eva's foot!

Maren and corn snake getting to know each other a little better:)

Spring Break!

Day 1: Drive to Huntington Beach, California---Eat, Play, Sleep!


The kids got in the water right away,
even though it was very cold and they hadn't changed out of regular clothes-
Brynne got knocked over by a wave eventually and got soaked!




Maren has no problem getting down and dirty no matter where we are:)







Dunc was the best at finding cool seashells.

 




Royce tired after driving 6 hours.

 



Eva eventually got knocked over by a wave too and ended up soaked:)





Jen 6 1/2 months prego with Allison.





Day 2: Disneyland!

Our first time down Splash Mountain! Eva and Royce
re the only ones smiling:) It ended up being Eva's favorite ride.

Kids posing in their 3D glasses for Star Wars.

Eva posing in Tarzan's Tree House:)

Space Mountain-Jen and Brynne's favorite.

Maren surprised us all, loving all 3 roller-coaster rides.
Brynne and Royce too. And Duncan's fav was Indiana Jones.

Maren, Dunc, Royce on Pirates of the Caribbean.

The second time we all agreed to keep our eyes open and smile:)

Warming up after water play.

Day 3: Beach Again!

Maren making a new friend-as usual!

Duncan digging, Eva playing, Brynne wading out-the bravest of us all!

Halloween

This year, Duncan and Brynne were inspired by characters they created for the Dungeons and Dragons Fantasy Game. Kalimdor-a half-elf fighter & Jezebel-a chaotic (not-so-nice) magic user. Duncan drew plans for his costume, then we went to Savers and bought a used leather jacket that he and Royce transformed into leather armor. Brynne bought hair spray paint and used some of Duncan's leather to finish off her outfit.

Maren and Eva watched the newest Barbie princess movie and wanted to be "The Princess (Maren) and the Popstar (Eva)". They both have been dancing around the house singing "Here I am, being who I am, never a doubt..."-Maren using her plastic microphone and Eva a toilet paper roll to sing into:) We even bought a pink electric guitar to complete Eva's outfit!

The event was topped off by having Vaughn and Tammy's family over to trick-or-treat! The kids downed large pixie sticks and went to bed about 9:30!

Porter Family Reunion

Happy New Year!

Peterson's Top 10 for 2011:

1. Eva potty-trained herself and speaks in sentences now: Me watch movie!

2. Maren started tap dance and goes to Primary all by herself now!

3. Brynne started a book and got her ears pierced!

4. Duncan started a book and increased his weapon arsenal!

5. Jen started a new support blog and went to San Diego for FUN!

6. Royce bought a hunting rifle and completed a WarH army!

7. We improved our punctuality as a family (nobody laugh).

8. Royce started a second dental job.

9. Royce and Jen celebrated their 14th Anniversary.

10. We built our first snowmonsters in Flag at Little America Hotel during a snow storm and ate ice cream after! 

Ringing in the New Year at Vaughn and Tammy's new casa!

Rootbeer floats and a belching contest!

Good old-fashioned boy fun!

Julia, V & T's youngest.

Playing Jen's new game: Qwirkle.

New Christmas shirts from G&G Peterson