We made it safe!

I was very excited at LAX with Greg and the kids. We left home on Wednesday morning at 4:30am. I was excited that we were together and we were going on an adventure. Savannah was excited too. She was so excited that she wet her pants right before we checked in ... while I was carrying her!!! Luckily we hadn't checked our bags yet, so I could get clothes out for us. I ended up taking a shower and giving Savannah a bath in the LAX bathroom sink!

Our flight went well. All of us were excited to get to Hawaii, especially Chase. He was patient for the entire 6 hour flight. Savannah was excited but not patient! Good thing she slept on Greg's lap for the last 3 hours. They weren't scared on the flight at all, until Greg told them that they were going to jump out of the airplane with him. Savannah looked so scared! That's all you dad.

When we landed, Greg's friend Scott and Major Hall welcomed us to the island. They gave us beautiful flower leis. Being pregnant, I got emotional and almost started to cry. Greg was able to check-in to his base at the airport. They made hotel reservations for us and took care of us. We're staying in Honolulu.

The first day, after checking in to hotel, we went to Waikiki. It was really empty and the water was warm, calm, and clear. The kids jumped straight in.

Chase loves being buried up to his neck and then "Hulk smashing" his way out. Savannah loves burying him. Even after he smashes out!

We've been exploring the island, trying to figure out how to get around. We've learned some of it, but there is just so much! I didn't think the island would be this big. Chase didn't either. He told us, "I didn't think Hawaii was big like where we're from." Chase's only complaint after the first day was that "there aren't any stores in Hawaii. You know, like grocery stores." So the next day we took him to the army commissary on Greg's base.

Chase and Savannah love the water. Chase learned how to breathe with the snorkel that he got for his birthday. It is awesome watching him go underwater trying to find fish.

Yesterday morning the kids and I got to visit Greg's work. We got to meet everyone who will be working with him. Everyone was very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. First they had a potluck breakfast and after that Greg got promoted to Captain! They let me change his rank. That was special, and again being pregnant I got all emotional.

We even got to visit Greg's office. I will be decorating it:) I forgot to bring the camera. It was the nerves that made me forget it. I was so nervous to meet everyone in Greg's office, including his boss, and his boss's boss, and her boss. We felt like it was our first day of school!

We are still in a hotel. We are going to be in a hotel for as long as the kids can stand it while we look for a house. We've decided to buy something in the Ko olina/Kapolei area. Chase is like his dad because he doesn't like living in a hotel. Chase said, "I don't like living in a hotel because you have to be quiet!" Him and Savvy are doing such a good job being good though!

We are all a little homesick, especially Savannah. She said on Thursday as we were coming home from Turtle bay, "when are we going home?" We said, "to the Hotel?" And she said, "No. To our home, Mammy's home!" It was sad!

We got to web cam with Mammy and Grandpa last night and Savvy kept saying, "I love you, I love you, I love you!" It was good for the kids to see them, and Chase keeps saying that his cousins are going to move here soon. We hope he's right!

Hello 2010!

How has 2010 started for us? Well...Greg has been freezing in Georgia. Next week he will be completing his airborne training by JUMPING 5 times from an airplane. He's CRAZY!

Our plans to move in February have changed. We are now leaving on the 24th or 25th of January. Greg started Airborne training sooner than expected, so I have had to make the moving arrangements. It has been a busy, busy week. I drove out to Camp Pendleton to get started with the moving process. Yesterday, dad and I drove out to LA to have our car shipped out to Hawaii. There have been a lot of things that I have had to organize for the move. I am grateful that I have felt well enough with this pregnancy to do them. I have my days though but they are not too bad. I can't wait to be a family again next weekend:) Good luck Greg! Don't look down, and come home safe!!!!

baby update...

Yesterday I had a doctor appointment. My doctor is awesome. She went over the ultrasound that I did on the 18th. That appointment first was schedule for the 10th but I had to reschedule. It was great that I had to because Greg came home the day before and he was able to come with me. It was amazing that although I was only 13 weeks along, our baby was already formed. I asked the technician if she could see whether it is a boy or girl. She said it looks like a boy.

I was surprised when my doctor said I am now 15 weeks! This pregnancy is going fast. Since Greg has been home I have been thinking more about the baby and feels more real that we are going to be parents to another child. The kids are super excited. Chase is sweet he kisses my belly and always tells me he loves the baby. He also gives me lots of hugs. He says, "Mom I can't wait for our baby to come."

Savannah is a doll. She also kisses my belly and tells me "I love my baby" while rubbing my belly. They came to the appointment really excited, and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat really clearly. This was the first time that I could actually recognize the baby's heartbeat. In my previous pregnancies I couldn't tell if it was my heartbeat or the baby's. But my new doctor helped me hear it with this one. She's so great!

After the appointment we went to Los Angeles to visit my Grandma. She's visiting from Sacramento. It was a blessing she came because I wanted to see her before our move. Since Nov. I have been trying to figure out how I was going to get to Sacrament to visit with her. I hadn't seen her in 2 years. Right now she is recovering from an open heart surgery done in September. I got to see her on Sunday and yesterday with Greg and the kids. I am very happy I got to say good-bye and I hope and pray she recovers. I hope to see her again. The kids with their great-grandma:My visit with her on sunday with my parents and siblings. Here is my dad with his mother and me.

Not easy taking pictures!!! Christmas '09

Christmas 2009 was perfect! We spent it with both of our families. Chase and Savannah now understand all the fun stuff of Christmas, also remembering the birth of Christ. Chase taught Savannah all about Christ's birth using one of Mammy's nativity scenes. For the annual Peterson Christmas pageant, Chase played Samuel, and Savannah was a shepherd:)

Every year for Christmas I try to take a picture of the kids together and of the family. It is always very hard to get pictures of the kids smiling and looking at the camera.

Here's Chase with a real smile and actually looking at the camera.

Here we go trying to get a family picture. I think it's funny that we need to take thousands of pictures to get just one decent picture. Greg and I look the same in all of them. The kids don't! Chase winking:Savannah sticking her tongue out for us:Chase in his outfit for the play, being silly: Savannah the shepherd. They did a great job with their parts. The kids loved their Christmas gifts, and we love having Dad home.

Here we try again to get a picture of the kids looking at the camera. Chase finally smiles but not looking at the camera. Try number 30 or more-and its the best we could get. Chase had to be funny and flare his nostrils. Chase just wanted to share his funny faces with us.Savannah just being cute! Yay she looked in the camera, but forgot to smile!Merry Christmas everyone, and we wish you a joyous New Year!

Random thoughts!!!

These two things have put me in the holiday spirit.

1. the smell of pine cones

2. poinsettias

Oh especially having my husband home on Thursday:) He will be done with the long 6 month training. HURRRRRRRRRAYYYY!
I love the smell of scented pine cones.

At the grocery store, I saw beautiful poinsettias. When I got home I really noticed the one mom got before they left to Israel.

When Chase and I hung are stockings.
He said mom "which one is my"
I said "the penguin one"
he said (in a funny tone) "penguin one".
I knew he was going to out grow it. Next year he'll need a more boyish kind. I got it for his first Christmas. It's going to be hard to let it go. A picture for memories:)

Chase told Santa he wanted GI Joe toys. At my moms Ward Christmas Activity. Savannah was brave at the end to let Santa know what she wanted. She got me by the hand to take her to go see him but when we walked in, he was standing and it scared her to death. She didn't tell him but she waved hello, when he sat back down. He was a really tall Santa:) My little man with Santa.

We had are girls night out for December. This time my mom came with us and my sister-in-law Diane was missed. We had dinner at the olive garden:)

This gingerbread house was so hard to keep together.

Gram crackers is the way to go for next year. Thank goodness it DID stay together. Chase did a good job with candy decorating & helping me. He didn't lose his patience like I was:)

Just love...

When Greg was over for Thanksgiving weekend, Michelle was sweet in willing to take are family pictures for our Christmas Cards. On the CD this was the first picture I saw and I just absolutely love it. It's beautiful! I think of how long the children have been away from Greg and no matter how long his been gone- he is still their dad. Michelle is a awesome photographer! (Thanks sis)

Thanksgiving 09 & big news!

I saw Savy sitting down with her cousins, starting to eat and I realized this was her first Thanksgiving dinner. She really liked the turkey and even asked for seconds.After dinner the kids decorated turkey cookies that Lizeth made. The kids really had a good time cookie decorating:) It was a blessing having Greg home for Thanksgiving. I was afraid it wasn't going to happen but by October we knew he was definitly going to be here. The kids just love having him home. Savy is daddy's little girl. She was on his hip the whole time.

Greg and I celebrated our anniversary on Friday. We went out for dinner and stayed a night over at a really cool hotel in Rancho cucamanga. It was nice just for the two of us to have some time together.

I am trying really hard to keep myself from getting morning sickness all day. Yeah that's right I am pregnant. We are excited to be parents to baby number three:) I think in 2 weeks I will be beginning my second trimester. On the 10th of December I will have an ultrasound taken to make sure exactly how far a long I am and when my actual due date is.