Family pics...revisited

So, here's the thing. We ATTEMPTED to do some family pics in the Fall, the weather was great, we went up a canyon, the girls looked cute, and nope. There was no WAY we were going to get them to both look at the camera. Smiling? That was not an issue. It was that they would say "cheese" to thier little heart's content, but with eyes darting every which way...it was disheartning.

So we tried again. This time in the freezing cold (I believe it was about 25 when we were out) and I am hoping for ONE good family pic. We did get some cute ones of the girls though. Even if they were'nt looking directly at the camera. ")

Man. Pictures were SO much easier (not as much fun- but definitely easier) when they were babies!

1st Bi-Annual Pederson Cousin Reunion

We decided at a random family get together that we needed to get the cousins (both us "grown-ups" and our kids) together much more often than we do and decided a reunion would be the way to do it. So the plan is to have a Pederson Cousin Reunion every other year.

For our first one, we headed to the condo in Park City (Thanks Trice!!) and had a blast. The girls had so much fun with the other cousins and we grew closer as an extended family, cause really? Is'nt that what it's all about anyway?!

This was the saving grace with the kids at times. Here Sofia and Sam are "taking turns"

As you can see- it was not ALWAYS good times. Sofia had just been given a time out. She recovered quickly though. She learned that bouncing the girls who were littler than she in the bouncy was not the best idea...

Sweet Ella. I tried to mimic her "dazed" look from the parade that morning. We had been up many hours already by this time. She took it like a champ though and loved it.

Mady Mae at the BBQ- we were lucky enough to get the last of the summer warmth and the kids all had a blast picking up as many pinecones as they could find.

Sofia on my shoulders-her much preferred way of travel.

It was so much fun watching the girls anxiously await what was coming up the street. They love parades and we had so much fun watching it that morning.

Heeeerrres Woody! Paul and Liane's newest addition. Woodrow Paul. What a doll that kid is. A chunk and a half, he is the easiest baby to get to laugh. Its awesome.

This was game night. We played the game "Celebrity". So much fun! All the kids did really well. Here is Paul with his two. Mady and Woody. Check out Woody's stare down of his sister's sippy cup!

Sweet Ella. Right before she decided to put one of the dried pine needles in her ear. We didnt know it until she came in and pressed her cheek up aganist mine. Screams errupted, and we figured out what it was. Thank goodness for Patrice's tweezers! No harm done and she has not put anything foreign in her ear since!

Sofia LOVED this cow! We went to ice cream after dinner and the line being pretty long, the cow was a much needed distraction.

This place was soo good. The girls ate up this pizza and loved it!

If Only...

That has been the question on my mind pretty heavily as of late. If only is a pretty bold way to start off a thought, and it can get you into trouble if you let it! Case in point: Life has happened once again and as my Dad has said to me more than once in my life "It could always be worse." Yeah, Im in a "the glass is half empty" kind of mood today. He is right. I have been looking at all the "if onlys"
-if only Artyom would find a job that were supposed to get
-if only I could leave that 2nd job behind once and for all
-if only we could expand our family NOW instead of later
Then I was once again reminded...instead of if only, why can't I think "only if".
-only if we do what were supposed to do will we see the blessings.
-only, if I were to have left that 2nd job behind when I wanted to, we would not have the tiny extra we DO have to keep us going right now.
-only, if we would have expanded our familiy when I wanted to, we would be in a much different place right now.
I just dont know how y'all do it. I love reading the many blogs that friends of mine have and it seems as the woman of the house does alot of it. I know these women. They have kids, they have daily duties, they have errands to run, mouths to feed, children to teach, houses to clean, how do you do it?! I am in humble awe over you. And thought that holiday or not, you deserved a shout out.
I know alot of people are posting the things they are grateful for this month, and I did last year. I think I need to do it again. I may wait till December...one reason being that I feel like enough of a slacker as it is! hehe. And the 2nd reason being, I want to start the month off fresh!

So stay tuned. I'm still around, just a bit overwhelmed at the moment!