HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

My friend, Karla, gave me the instructions to this wreath. It is hanging on our
Idaho Falls front door. Hard to believe that I made something pink!
It turned out pretty cute even if it is pink. I like pink - I just don't wear pink.
It is made out of 5" circles of fleece then pinned
onto a heart shaped styrofoam wreath.

Saturday, Jeff surprised me and took me to the
Salt Lake Running store and hooked me up with some great
new running shoes. I should be able to step up :) my training now. Thanks, Jeff, for the
great Valentines Day surprise!

Laney and Abby helped me make valentines sugar cookies last night.
mmmmm good!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Projects Finished

It has been a "creating marathon" the past couple of weeks. I have had a great time making fun gifts for my grandkids and Darci!

It all started when Amy sent me an email with a link and asked me if I could make a car carrier for Charlie for his birthday. Easy -- I had some scraps of fabric, followed the tutorial off the website and ...
here it is... Closed .... and...

Here it is open. Cars fit into the pockets. Here's the link to the tutorial if you want to make your own.. http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/2009/12/cozy-car-caddy-tutorial.html



Then, Amy sent me some links to some terrific card table tents. So we designed and made this one for Charlie's birthday. I have wanted to make one of these for years.







Next project...early in January, Daphne asked me if I would make her a dress to be baptized in. I was honored. Daphne and I went shopping so she could pick out the fabric and pattern. She did a terrific job, I think! She looked like an angel last Saturday on her baptism day.



For about 4 months I have wanted to make a Church bag for me and have saved this pattern from a Joann Fabric website. I thought I'd try out my first bag on one for Darci's birthday.
It was a ton of fun to make and turned out great. I still haven't made mine yet but I will get it done soon. I think we still have 6 more weeks of winter -- at least :) Here's the link to the directions if you want to make one.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/projectdetail.jsp?pageName=search&PRODID=xprd780715

As you can see it has been cold in Idaho Falls and I have needed to stay busy inside. I have crafted with friends, family and by myself -- it has been so much fun making things for my family!

4 Things Tag -- Finally Posted

My niece, Colle, tagged me last week on her 4 Things Tag. Thanks Colle! You motivated me to keep posting but I'm slow. Before I start let me explain this pic. Last week we had fog several days. On Thursday as I drove out of the driveway I took this pic of some of our aspen trees in the yard. It was a beautiful, very cold, clear day. I love the contrast with the blue sky.

Now to the 4 Things Tag:

4 Things I like to watch:
1. The Good Wife
2. NCIS - Los Angeles
3. Last 6 weeks of American Idol
4. 24

4 Things I am passionate about:
1. Jeff Sayer - I love this man! I love him more everyday!
2. My family, kids, grandkids, so very grateful for them
3. The outdoors, enjoying it, appreciating it, partaking of it....
4. The Arts - visual, performing, lobbying for it, improving our quality of life.

4 Words or Phrases I say a lot
1. Hey, what's up?
2. Hmmm, let me think about that.
3. Hey Dude...seriously??
4. "Hey" ... I usually start out every conversation with "Hey"

4 Things I learned from the Past
1. Call your Mom at least once a week because you will miss her once she's gone no matter how long she lives. You can never tell your Mom you love her too many times and no matter how many times you have told her you say it in your heart when she's gone.
2. My Testimony and love of the Savior directs my life and choices.
3. Guardian Angels do exist.
4. Always smile when you enter a room -- it gives you courage!

4 Places I like to go
1. Mountains, rivers, lakes, outside! Nature strengthens and grounds my soul.
2. My sewing room to "create"
3. Any comfy chair when I have a good book in my hand
4. Places where I am with those that I love

4 Things I did yesterday
1. Finished Daphne's baptism dress
2. Worked out - exercise
3. Finished Charles B-day present
4. Started a surprise for Darci's B-day

4 Things I am looking forward to:
1. Annual Sayer Redfish Lake Camping Trip
2. Riding my new road bike -- I dream about it
3. Spring flowers - I planted more bulbs last October and am excited to see how they turn out.
4. A trip in March with my husband - location TBD

4 Things I love about winter:
1. Watching the Snake River as it freezes and thaws and those silly ducks
2. How quiet, beautiful and clean snow is.
3. Skiing, snowshoeing,
4. that it ends... :)

4 Things on my wish list:
1. Mirrors for our workout room
2. Trip to Italy
3. Trip to Israel
4. A few days or weekend when we are all together - Jeff and all of my kids and grandkids all together at the same time.

4 People I tag:
1. Kaylyn (aka Katie Peterson)- because we are related and we work together
2. Amy Sorensen - because I work with her but never see her
3. Travis - because he hasn't answered Darci's Tag yet.
4. My friend Karla, because she wants to start a blog and maybe this will inspire her.

Crochet Party!!!

Last Saturday, per Tyra and Lara's request, we had a crochet party!
At Spark, Lara and I loved the crochet flowers that were being made and sold. We tried our best to learn some simple flowers from the internet but felt that we needed some expert hands-on help. My sisters Fran and Pam, my nieces Robyn and Diana, rescued us with some great lessons!







Here is Charley working on a difficult flower that turned out perfectly!


My finished project was this headband and flower for cute Alex.. Luckily, she loves wearing hats and headbands!

Thanks to Fran and Pam for saying yes to this request. Thanks to Lara, Tyra, and Darci for the great lunch food. We had a great time! It was so fun to get together!

2010 - Challenge to POST

I have no excuse other than I couldn't find my camera cord, or when I found it I didn't have it with me, excuses can be lame so I will stop there. My 2010 goal/challenge is to POST once a week. We had a great Christmas and New Year. We split our time between Idaho Falls and Utah. We had a fun Christmas Eve with family featuring an afternoon of sledding and topped off with a Crab Fest dinner. I didn't take pics but Lara did and posted them on her blog. Great fun, food, and family -- the greatest blessings of all!!


One of the things my kids gave me were pictures of them. I framed the ones that needed to be framed and I hung them creating my "picture wall" that I have been going to do for a year now. I also have some blank frames that need to be filled.

During the break, I also spent an afternoon crafting with Abby and Laney. I finished a magnet board that I had in my garage for about 18 months. I used scrapbook paper, a little paint and also added some magnets that I made. All very simple. I was very pleased with how it turned out! I have yet to hang it but that will be done in the next 24 hours.

I also read three great books since I last posted, Have a Little Faith, The Blackbird House, and The Help. All great reads! Great Holiday!

Here's to a great 2010 filled with accomplishing our goals - my first goal is to POST once a week.

TA DA!!! The Christmas Story

Presenting the annual James Peterson Family Christmas Party performing the Christmas Story.
(I love this picture because Brauer is the blurry sheep running across the stage)

Thanks to Andrea and Chuck for reserving their church house so we could hold the party this year.


Every year the children act out the Christmas Story. At Fran and Robyn bring the costumes.
There are angels....

There has to be a strong donkey...


There were sheep abiding in the fields.....
Brauer and George were very busy lambs....







Guess what color the frosting on the cupcake that Charlie ate...

Fun evening for all that came. Hopefully memories are being created with the cousins as they act out the Christmas Story each year....

"Looking Like Christmas"

Here's to Christmas at our house -- the lights are up, the front porch is decorated, the Nativity and reindeer are secured for a strong windy Idaho Falls December!

I love Christmas lights! Next year maybe we will add some more lights, our trees need to get a little bigger.

Thanks Travis for putting the lights on the house, Jeff for putting up the Nativity and reindeer, I managed the front porch.