Rice Cereal

Before rice cereal...

...and after rice cereal! Yes, he's just that age. So let the messy face begin. Let's just say, he has no idea what he's doing!

1st Day of Preschool...

Thanks to my cousin Kari who gave me this cute idea to take pictures of the first day with a cute sign. Kari I don't have your darling writing but Alayna and I did our best!

Anyways, here she is showing off her first day of school. She is VERY proud of her hair and how long it is becoming. So she is loving showing off her "long flowing hair" with her cute head bands. She has specifically told me that she will not allow me to cut it until she's in Kindergarten. We shall see!

Okay, so this was the official first day with out mom. The first day I was able to go with her to see the classroom, paper work, meet the teachers, etc. So this day was our first drop off. It was hilarious. I am not a very sentimental mom. Sad but true, I delight in Alayna's excitement and I know she WON'T miss me so there is no need to shed tears. So on this day I she was SUPER excited and couldn't help but do everything I asked for her so she could arrive on time and be with her teacher and friends.

So this is how it happened. I pulled up to just let her run on in. I saw another mom with a camera. I thought, "Oh, I will take a picture of her going in..." I get out and let Alayna out of the car. She was standing observing all the other kids with their mom. I video taped her a little asking her where she was going, etc. Then I gave her a quick hug and off she went. At what point she was watching another little girl who was "weepy" saying, "Goodbye Mommy, I will miss you..." Alayna glanced up at me and said kind of awkwardly, like that's what the kid is supposed to do..."Mom, goodbye?" It was so FUNNY, I could just read her. She was thinking she had to say she would miss me but she new she wouldn't. So I told her, "Have a great time!" And off she went practically skipping with joy. I continued to follow her wanting to take a quick picture and she immediately stopped in her tracks and turned around looking at me, "Mom, you don't come with me today that was just yesterday. Today is just for kids NOT moms!" At that point I got the hint. She was ready to go with out her mommy! I did continue to follow her in after I clearly explained that I was going to leave her alone. Either way she had a great time and was just beaming all day long.

This smile explains it all. She is smiling for me because I asked her too, but her eyes are looking elsewhere just soaking in all her new fun friends and teacher! She has now attended for a few days and every day I hear, "Mom is today a school day?" She's in heaven.

1st Field Trip--Wheeler Farm

Here is a goat...at Wheeler Farm. We also took tons of pictures with bunnies, cows, pigs, etc.
This was Alayna's first preschool field trip. She was very happy to go with Jacob. Surprisingly enough the little gal was excited to have me there too! :)

Mr. Pig was the best part of the day for Alayna. I can't reveal why, but she thought it was pretty funny to see a pig roll around in the water and snort. When the teacher said we get "bacon" from pigs he let out a HUGE snort. So funny!


Here is our tough kid...he was stung by a bee. Yeah, so thanks to Danielle our fellow friend who is a nurse she told me about mud. So we did our best to put mud on his face. Jake was too busy itching it and swatting at his face that it didn't stay. He was so tough he just kept saying, "I okay...I okay."

Here are a few of the six girls Alayna knows in her preschool class. They were very busy feeding the geese. It was a VERY HOT fun filled day. The kids gathered in the barn and sang, Old McDonald had a Farm. As usual what is cute than preschool kids? I just love that Alayna is having so much fun.

Happy Be-lated Birthday to my Mom!

Thanks for the FUN lunch at our favorite place to eat...Red Robin. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!! It doesn't get any better than FREE food on your birthday. I love that they give you a free hamburger/meal on your birthday. It's fabulous.

I love this picture one because our kids are so stinking cute and the other reason is we just told my mom she's surrounded by all her BOY grandsons and one little girl. My mom prefers "girls" and look what she is getting...BOYS BOYS BOYS! This is showing only six of the seven boys and soon to be eight with little baby BOY Peck due here in a few months! We finished the night of with a berry dessert and a horse movie. That is my mom's dream day come true...there's nothing better to her than her family, berries and horses! Happy Birthday we love you!

Our trip to Arizona...

WOW! It has been weeks since I have actually posted about something fun we have done! Life just seems to get filled. I think I need a new calendar or organizer to schedule everything I want to do and everything I need to do. If you have any secrets please let me know!

Our Trip to Arizona....(Yes, we drove...long, but so fun! - Except for New Mexico!)

On our way we were able to revisit a childhood memory for Shandra and I, The Hole in the Rock. It's this house that people actually lived in. It's just outside of Moab, Utah. We couldn't help but stop and take pictures of the Monticello Temple...how often do you actually get there? Then we visited Mesa Verde National Park. This is just outstanding. We couldn't help but think about the people who stumbled upon all of these villages in the mountains. It was really neat to visit and hike around.

More Mesa Verde picts...and then the best stop of all...the FOUR CORNERS...Okay, for those that have been there you can understand my sarcasm. But for those that haven't been. Enjoy the tourist trap. Seriously!

After we finally figured out the best and shortest way to arrive to Bison Ranch, Arizona we couldn't be happier! I'm not a huge animal/horse lover, but this little western town was adorable. The cute western looking buildings were our condos. The horses were on the property, as well as the ONE "bison" to call it, Bison Ranch, Arizona. My mother couldn't have been happier with all the horses around. I even learned what "lunging" a horse means...totally impressed I'm sure!

Then, there was the KIDS favorite part of any vacation...SWIMMING! This condo had a fabulous kiddie pool, so that is where we literally spent hour after hour! Day after day. At one point I was in the kiddie pool with SEVEN kids and someone asked me if they were all mine. Thankfully, I was able to answer NO! I was just watching all of Shan's monkies while she was on television in Pheonix, for Deals to Meals. Yes, she is becoming quite the super-star! (Hence the reason we came down to Arizona for a week!)

One day for an adventure we decided to drive around this area and sight see. We found some beautiful lakes and mountains. We realized on one road we were literally driving on a CLIFF. It was a tad nerve racking for some...since Jared and my dad like to go as far as they can to any edge!

And what is a Perry family vacation without great BBQ FOOD. Let's hear it for one of our family favorites...Sticky Coconut Chicken! YUM YUM YUM. We played horse-shoe and tether ball on our last night there. Then the drive home came with great excitement because we had planned our drive home to visit one of the Food Networks, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives restaurants....Brandy's in Flagstaff, AZ. It was WONDERFUL!!!! Even though we showed up during breakfast time they let us order a few lunch sandwiches that they are famous for. If your wondering, we have re-created them and they are just as great!!! I know you are not surprised. The final stop was at the Glen Canyon Dam. With that as our last stop we were heading home.

So cute...

Here is baby Caleb's first swing adventure at the park. Let's just say he loved it!!!

This was at a park in Park City...I just can't resist his giggle and smile!

Pillows...Pillows...Pillows

So, this is what has been occupying my free time. I have found a hobby that I must admit is addicting. This is the story. My good friend Emily has these great pillows on her couch that just screamed to me...meaning I love them. So when I moved and kept my same "brown" couch I knew I had to spice up our "earth-toned" house with color (Don't get me wrong I LOVE my house, but I LOVE color more than the average person). Thanks to so many helping, we have painted the kitchen YELLOW and I have decorations accenting it and now the pillows do that too. I have fallen in love with sewing. I'm not a perfectionist and the best part is these pillows don't require an expert. The lines are intentionally crooked and the patterns are crazy. That's why I loved them. I just thought of what I thought would be cute and I'd start cutting and hope it turned out the measurements I wanted. I picked tons of coordinating fabrics and non coordinating fabrics and tied them all together.

Here is my first pillow (the small one propped up against the plant). Then the other two larger pillows in the making.

This pillow was one I did make a mistake on, but now one would ever know, because the prints and lines are just crooked. I love it!

The other fun about these pillows are the fronts have the prints and patterns and the back would have one of the solid coordinating prints.

I told you they were crazy!

Don't be alarmed I still have to sew up the bottom on them (hence, the not a square shape!) I just couldn't resist showing you all my new found love!

There are some earth tones to help hold all the brown colors together in the room. But then out comes the RED, YELLOW and TURQUOISE BLUE. I even used a few embroidery stitches on my new sewing machine...Some worked...some didn't! But either way, it looks so cute.

Thanks to all who helped. This really is SO much fun!!!

Another one bites the dust...

Let me introduce you to some of the most fantastic ladies in the whole world! These are some of my old roomies from Utah State University. We were able to get together to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Camillle...the gorgeous one in tie-dye. :) (*Becks - we were bummed you didn't join in on the fun! And to Missy who lives TOO far away to join in the fun.) But you were GREATLY missed.

Camille, Me, Desiree

Miss, you will get a kick out of this story. So did you know that Des has "bee's?" Did you know that she has a booth at a Farmers Market selling honey? Did you know that she has been attacked by bee's while "harvesting" them? Did you know that she is getting chickens? Well, let's just say you missed a wild night of hilarious Des stories. We are insisting that she shows picts on her blog to update us all on her adventures in bee raising, chickens, and nothing other than singing with teddy bears in her backyard!

Stevo and Emma

Me & Des

Emma, Sarah, Camille

Desiree, Me, Sarah, Emma, Camille, Stephenie

I must admit I lucked out with some of the most talented, inspiring, spiritual ladies as roomies for college. It was a great night to catch up on life for all of us. Thank you ladies for being such great friends and being sincerely interested in all of our lives. It was so fun to hear all the different talents, jobs, careers, mothering stories, etc. Camille is our dancer, she has the grace and elegance that I would dream to have. I had to have her do a few dance moves for me because I used to love coming home to Snow 302 to see her dancing all around. Des, as I mentioned above is just a pure riot to be around. She is our little "farmer" now! She has a little boy now and you can tell she just LOVES being a mom. Sara is simply beautiful, inspiring and the most famous of all! She sings, does concert after concert, records cd's, and has the most beautiful baby girl. She is one inspiring gal www.sarahsample.com. Emma has always had a great smile. She just makes you happy by being around her. She has become a wanted home decor lady- she's super talented. It was so fun to listen to her stories of decorating. Man, I need her to come visit my new house to give me tips! She's even doing Camille's bouquet...where was her talent 8 years ago when my wedding needed serious tips? Oh, well! Stevo is a the next in line with the kiddos like me. She has two girls and they are beautiful. I am SO happy she has joined us back in Utah. I missed her too much when she was in Cali. She's a genius and a nurse...I couldn't be happier with having her back!

Anyways, it was a GREAT night to just soak in all the wonderful friends I have been blessed with. Thanks for sharing in the great night together. It was fun to think how far we have all come. To all graduate from college! Even though several of us married off early on. It's just great to reunite with dear friends to find us still living the faith. I love it!...Missy I hope you know I took the time to post today just for you! Even if I am about a month behind on all my other posts! Enjoy. I even took the picts just for you- We miss you!!!

Haircuts!

I know some people don't agree with cutting baby hair, but I have a sister who INSISTS on chopping off my babies hair. I know that it's time when the hair becomes TOO long. Thanks to Shandra helping me finally realize that this crazy hair does look more silly than normal. As you can tell Caleb's hair was growing like old man hair, uneven, long, and thin. This morning after cutting Jareds and Jacobs hair...I finally gave in...

The funny hair in the back....

The cute face, but the super short hair in the front.

AHHHH...he has NO hair! I haven't been able to take a cute smiling picture yet to show how this bald head makes him look super chubby! Okay, now listen I tried to simply even out the back with the rest of his head, but it looked even more silly because the very front is SUPER short. So I decided to just go short all the way around. Goodbye little newborn hair.

His long curly locks are gone! It's growing on me, but it's like we have a whole new baby. Alayna blurted out..."He's a bald baby!" Jake has remained calling him "Baldy baby!" or "Mr. Baldy!" He no longer will have his funny hair. But now he will just be chubby and bald! He's still so cute though...I'll take another smiling picture when he wakes up from his nap!

I can't believe it!

We have a THUMB SUCKER!!!

I really can't begin to tell you what I think about this. I figured it had to happen to one of my children at some point. This just seems like an impossible habit to break! AHHH
(*If you're wondering the fabric in the background is on my bed not his! ha ha ha I didn't want you thinking he had flowers in his room!)

I must admit this thumb sucking thing is a little adorable...I just don't think it's adorable in public or when your FIVE! Caleb is such a good baby so I shouldn't complain about this! :)

Calebs Blessing Day

**I am SUPER behind on blogging...I have at least 10 posts needing to happen...But I don't see it getting any better either in the next few weeks. I just think that life at the moment is a tad BUSY...it might be the 3 kids, house, mini-vacations, summer activities, etc. But I just wanted to post a few picts from Calebs special day. Thankfully I was able to type up all the wonderful things from this very special day.**

This was a great day. Thanks to all who came to share in the day. We are just loving our little guy, Caleb!

Isn't he SO cute! I just LOVE this happy little smile.

This is his sweet face he has always had from the day he was born. We love you baby!

A small detour on the Staycation...

This house is the house we grew up in. It was my mom's grandmothers house on Park Street. (I need to ask a few more questions to actually document all the details.)

We lived in this house until we moved to Riverton when I was five years old. Just right before I started Kindergarton. It's in a neighborhood just a cross the street from Liberty Park.