Missing Our Baby and Happy Birthday!

Duncan and I arrived in Kansas City yesterday on a spur-of-the-moment trip to conduct some real estate business. We decided not to bring Chloe with us so that we could focus on business and get more done, so she is staying with her Grandmother and Papa Peterson in Pocatello (their new home as of a few months ago). We had quite a time getting her there. The plan was to meet Duncan's mom in the middle--in Brigham City--drop off Chloe and all of her paraphernalia and then head to the airport. Well, as other things came up that we needed to take care of (remember, this was a last minute trip), we started running out of time and asked Nancy to keep driving south and meet us at the airport (thank goodness for cell phones). To make a long story short, we ended up missing our flight, but luckily got on a later flight that got us to our connecting flight in Denver at the same time; so we still arrived in KC as scheduled. Anyway, here we are and we miss Chloe so much! At least we know she is in good hands. Here are some recent pictures that I have been looking at since we've been gone. By the way, it's Duncan's 32nd birthday today!

Weekend Pics

Here is a selection of some recent pictures, including Chloe's first BYU football game:

Look at that posture.

Chloe is still working on the forward crawl. Here, she has backed herself under the bed.

The Cougars are out!

Intently watching the game :)

A fan in the making.

It was hot and sunny for the first half.

Taking a break from the heat.

Finally some cloud cover.

Just a cute girl!

Does coffee ice cream count?

I'll admit, I love coffee ice cream. But it always seemed like one of those Word of Wisdom gray areas--kind of like Coke. Well, fear no more. There's something even better: Pero ice cream. I discovered this concoction shortly after I gave Duncan an ice cream maker for his birthday last September. (Not that he uses a lot, but he loves ice cream!) You basically just make a regular vanilla ice cream recipe, but instead of adding vanilla, you dissolve 3 or 4 teaspoons of Pero in some milk and add that. It's heavenly. In this last batch, I added coarsely chopped Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips....oh yeah! (Can you tell I like to make sweets?)

Swimming and Strawberry Tart

With the end of August approaching, days of fun in the sun and fresh strawberry desserts are coming to an end. (It's already late in the season for strawberries, but Costco still has good ones.) This is a Strawberry Mascarpone Cream Tart that I made the other day. Mmmmm...so good.


My friend, Adrielle, invited me to help her use up her pool punch pass, so Chloe and I have gone to the pool a couple times with her and her two year-old daughter. The second day I brought Chloe's 'Bumbo' chair for her to sit in. Here is a clip of her enjoying the water. I think she wants to jump in.

Hi, I'm 6 months old today!

I know! I can't believe it either!

Here are some of the things I can do:

Sit up by myself for more than 30 seconds
Push myself backwards in my walker
Squeal with delight
Smile at everyone I meet
Pinch
Tear pieces of paper
Turn over from my tummy to my back
Get on my hands and knees and rock back and forth
Stand while mommy or daddy holds my hands
Reach for things
Hold on to things really tightly (like mommy's hair)
Help mommy turn pages when we read
Growl

But here's what I do best: Tug at mommy's and daddy's heartstrings. :)

Reunion in Maine

Duncan, Chloe and I attended a 'Parker' family reunion in Raymond, Maine from July 19-28 (we stayed a couple extra days). Duncan's Grandmother Peterson, or 'Grammy Grace,' is a Parker from Georgia. There were 75 people there at Panther Pond from the Parker line. Here is a re-cap of the week's activities.

Chloe's first airplane ride. We took a red-eye flight, no less. She did really well.

We stayed in 'Camp Redwing' on Panther Pond (which is actually a good-sized lake).

The backyard of 'Camp Redwing'

An interior shot

There was a memorial service at the church for Duncan's Grandfather Peterson, who passed away earlier in the Spring. There was a light supper after the service.

This is the path from the lake road with all the cottages to Duncan's parents' house. So lush and beautiful!

Relaxing on the back porch of the cottage.

The view from our cottage. In the distance you see the Peterson camp where the clan would congregate.

A visit to L.L. Bean in Freeport. They're open 24-7, 365 days a year!

A fun morning of blueberry and raspberry picking! Yum!

Even Chloe went in the water.

Getting a taste of the ribs at the family barbecue.

You can't go to Maine without eating lobster.

The larger family lobster fest that was planned got rained out, so we ate ours with Duncan's mom and siblings in Paul and Nancy's bungalow. I ate two lobsters!

A favorite nap spot in Grandmother's house. Almost every time we put Chloe there she would fall asleep.

There was some sun...

...and some rain.

Gilbert's Chowder House

The last evening of the reunion, eating blueberry pie and ice cream after a talent show/testimony meeting. Duncan played a couple pieces on the piano, and he also shared his testimony.

I'm Finally Posting this Tagging Thing

Rules: Each player answers the questions themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answers.

The Five

Ten years ago…
1. I was 27.
2. I started graduate school.
3. My dad retired from the army and my parents and sisters moved to Pleasant Grove, UT. I moved in with them.
4. I was attending a singles ward in Provo and wondering when I would get married.
5. I took a trip to London.

Five things on today’s “to do” list…
1. Iron and hang curtains in Chloe’s room.
2. Fold laundry.
3. Have FHE.
4. Continue working on the budget with Duncan.
5. Wish mom and dad a happy anniversary.

Five snacks I enjoy
1. Salt and vinegar potato chips
2. Any kind of quality fruit, but especially a good watermelon
3. Triscuit with a slice of cheese and a slice of apple
4. My own chocolate chip cookies
5. Ice cream from the ‘Mosquito’ in Raymond, Maine

Five things I would do if I was a millionaire…
1. Travel to family history sites in U.S. and Europe.
2. Re-model and re-decorate someone’s house for them.
3. Buy a house in England that looks like the cottage in ‘Sense and Sensibility.’
4. Make sure I prayed a lot and kept the commandments so I wouldn’t get proud.
5. Help other people become millionaires.

Five places I have lived…
1. Germany
2. Switzerland
3. France
4. Korea
5. Kentucky

I am tagging Amy, Audra, DeAnn, Cindy, and Erin Rushforth.