Some Notes

Dear Arizona Weather,
Please cool off. Soon.

Dear HGTV,
Thank you for being our most in-the-moment-favorite-channel. Actually we've been watching you for quite some time, and now that I think about it, so maybe I should change that to our most-favorite-channel. Not many families gather around to watch something on HGTV. At least not ones with an 8-year-old-almost-9-year-old. We love DesignStar and think Antonio needs to win. Please tell him that we are rooting for him. Please also let the individuals know on "Get It Sold" that they should know by now to de-clutter. People can be dumb. Nobody wants to buy a house with cheerios all over the floor under a high chair. No one. Not even parents that can relate.

Dear Next-Door-Neighbor,
I'm glad that you were finally able to buy a house, so that you weren't spending all of your hard earned money renting the one next to us. I'm even more glad that your two dogs will be changing residences as well. I prefer not to hear two dogs fighting/growling/barking at each other - even if they are just playing - all day, while I'm at home, and you're not. It sounds scary to me.

Dear Future-Next-Door-Neighbor,
Please don't be annoying. Please don't have barking dogs. Please be sure you pull the weeds in your front yard, so we don't have to. Please have kids that my son will want to play with. Please be the type of people that enjoy a cold beverage on the patio with the stereo cranking every once in a while, and even more so, ones that don't mind when we have friends over to enjoy a cold beverage on the patio with the stereo cranking every once in a while.

Dear Paralyzed Veterans of America,
Thank you for your service. Thank you for the beautiful return address labels I received in the mail yesterday.

Dear Skateboard Helmet and Knee/Elbow Pad Companies,
You are awesome! Thank you for making your products so durable! They certainly protected my son tonight at his skate practice while he was throwing out his board slides and trying to master a hand plant.

Dear Bryan and Cameron,
I apologize for the Raisin Bran and salad kick I've been on. The adverse effects these particular foods have on my body, and in turn passed along to you (no pun intended), are not intentional.

It's a crazy life

... but it's our crazy life. Then again, who's isn't? I can't believe August is over. Time is FLYING! Crazy busy stuff happenin' here at the Peterson's. Thus, the lack of online communication. Cam has had a great start to his school year. Very busy with all of his work, but it is manageable and appears to be holding his interest which is a bonus. Science has been a favorite - they get to blow something up next week, and last week they experimented with sunscreen ... and hot dogs. Whatever gets 'em through the day. History - it's all about Arizona. I remember studying the Oregon Trail in 4th grade and loved it. He's come home with some of the craziest facts about the state. How many of you know who the State Historian is? Yeah. I didn't think so. We met with his teacher last week during Curriculum night and learned about what we can expect this year as far as homework, projects, expectations, etc. His teacher informed us that the reading level at which his class tested the first week of school is phenomenal - beginning of 7th grade. Uh ... excuse me? My son isn't even 9 yet ... Math will be around 6th/7th grade by the end of the year. Thank goodness they're still reviewing ... I'm not ready to revisit algebra yet. It was hard enough the first time. Definitely not my subject, so I have to be very good about following long with him in each lesson so that I can help if asked. Which thankfully ... isn't very often. :) We've had skate practices and lessons, birthday parties every weekend, squeezing in organization and storage building in our closet, re-grouting some tile work in the house, adding some cupboards to the laundry room, yard work when the temp finally falls below triple digits, visits with grandma and papa, work, work, work, and then a last-minute trip planned to Vegas for this weekend. More business than pleasure, but we'll get to that shortly. Believe it or not, I've had every Friday off this last month to burn up some vacation time, and it has kind of sucked. In a couple of ways ... One, I'm crazy busy all week trying to get my stuff done ahead of time, and then crazy busy the following Monday catching up. And two, I am now back to working a full 5 days a week, and it's hard. I know. Poor baby. Honestly, with the exception of one "fun" Friday, all the rest were packed with errands and chores, so I haven't decided if it was worth it yet or not. :) Weekends have almost been busier than weekdays, which just isn't right!!!! But I'm looking forward to it cooling off a bit, hitting the lake, and football starting. Go Beavs ... Go Cards! I'm seeing a few get-togethers in the near future for this purpose! And it is much needed - we've had a hard time getting together with friends and making plans because of practices, birthday parties, etc. (You know who you are!!! Soon though!) And of course, we've got Master Cam's birthday just around the corner - turning 9 on 9-9-09. Think the plans are to have some of his friends coming over to swim, skate, play basketball, you know - the good stuff. :)

Okay ... so ... Vegas. We're headed over there for the weekend to see mom and dad, of course, but also to meet with some people about a business venture. A new one. One that doesn't involve bread. In fact, far from it. Very scary thought to be opening a new business right now, but we've been doing our homework and are pretty confident that it would work. Have looked at some building space and met with the owner and broker, as well as neighboring business owners, drawn up some business plans, figured out rent and start up costs, equipment, staffing, etc. We're working on it. Not gonna say anything more about what it is ... yet. A lot has happened in the last few months, and while starting a business is risky, sometimes you have to take a risk. Oh, did I mention I'm not quitting my day job? :) I think it's time Bryan gets out of his business, for more reasons than I can count. And I really think the timing has just kind of been right where it needs to be. So I guess keep your fingers crossed ... even though you have no idea what for. :)

A child of one

... can be taught not to do certain things such as tough a hot stove,
turn on the gas,
pull lamps off their tables by their cords,
or wake mommy before noon. ~Joan Rivers

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to a "true classic"!

"When I was little,

I thought good luck meant

picking a four-leaf clover or

finding a penny heads up or

seeing a shooting star.

Now I know

it was having you for a dad!"

Just want you to know

that we're thinking about you today

and hoping it's a great one!

Love,

Us

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Playing catch up

It's been almost a week since I posted last. Sorry about that! Things have been a bit hectic around here with school starting again and getting back to a routine (even though it has been a welcome sort of "hectic"!) Cam seems to be adjusting fairly well to 4th grade. I suppose he's as excited as he can be about school - he gripes aobut the usual: homework, book reports, language homework, but seems to be a bit more enthusiastic about others: science experiments, the book he's reading for his book report, a new friend, soccer at recess, and math, which apparently he much rather do than go to music class. Interesting. Sooooo not his mother's son in that department. At any rate, he's doing pretty good. He also let us know that he's the only 8 year old in class. Well, we kinda knew that. Technically, because of his age and the requirements, he should only be in 3rd grade. But because he started at a private school, and moved to charter, he's just progressed to the 4th grade. So he's a young 4th grader. I have to constantly remind myself that he is still just my baby- especially when it comes to his class curriculum. His school works one grade ahead, so he's working on 5th grade level work. Probably a couple of grades higher than most kids his age. But he's adjusted well - even if some of the stuff is soooo boring.

Weather has been a tad bit cooler - the humidity is down, so that has helped immensely. We've been able to tackle some of the outdoor projects that have overtaken the "honey-do-list" and this weekend was certainly busy. I think we spent about 2 hours in Lowe's on Sunday, mostly because Bryan was oohing and aahhing over power tools. Whatever. But ... I did get a few good ideas for birthday/Christmas presents, so I suppose that was an advantage. We replaced our patio set - Yay! It was due time - and the new set is fabulous! So much more comfortable to sit and lounge in! The bold colors really brightened up the area by the pool too.

Other than the usual stuff like work and school, there is NOTHING going on. This is a very good thing. I've got some vacation time to burn before September 1st, so I've got every Friday during this month off. Kind of nice to know that I only have a four day work week, and a three day weekend! It was nice to use the day to get things done - like a pedicure and lunch with a girlfriend. :)

Out of the Mouth of ... Cameron

Mom called the night of Cam's first day to see how it was. Here's a portion of the conversation:"Grandma wants to know if you have a girlfriend yet ..."

"Whatever."

"Grandma wants to know if there are any cute girls in your class..."

"NO!"

"Grandma says that's okay, and that you should go for the younger ones ... the 3rd graders ..."

"Why, 'cuz they're easier to trick?"

Whoa. Where'd he get this idea? Who's he been talking to? Probably Bryan. Or his Papa. Either one for that matter. :) He also had quite the smart response for me last Monday when I told him this was the last time he'll EVER have a first day of fourth grade. He informed me that wasn't necessarily true .. he might not pass fourth grade and he'd have to do it all over again. So, it WOULDN'T be the last time. Well okay Mr. Glass Is Half Empty! I'm pretty sure we don't have to worry about that