Melissa Turns 50

Today I celebrated my 50th birthday. Years from now I'll probably read this and think I was so young "back then." Right now, it doesn't even sound like the right age. It sounds too old! Today happened to be Tammy's annual girls' day, and she really wanted me to come. She invited my girlfriends to join her girlfriends so she could do something special for me. She had organized a present, with Shelly's help, and had gathered charms from many of my family and friends to put on a bracelet. Each charm had special meaning. I was overwhelmed at the kindness from my family and friends, and at the meaning behind the charms. No one duplicated, and all were perfectly chosen. Tammy was so amazing to do that for me.  We hung out at her party for a bit and then returned home where Kelly was making me a five star dinner. Instead of going out, and because the weather was perfect, we set up our dining room table on the back patio with our patio lights for ambiance.  Jenna created menus for us with choices on them, and then took our orders. I was blown away by her creativity and how fast she put this together! We had mushroom and chicken tortellini with garlic potatoes and asparagus. There were salads and limeade spritzers and a scrumptious Bundt Cake for dessert (thanks to Beth and Kevin).  It was a perfect night out with my closest girlfriends, and I couldn't have asked for a better group to hang out with. What a wonderful husband and cute daughter I have too! It was truly a special celebration.

Saying Goodbye to Sariah

We met with the oncologist this morning, and we have a diagnosis. It's not good. Sariah has disseminated Histiocytic Sarcoma which is an aggressive form of cancer and is affecting her spleen and liver. With chemo she would have a 30% chance of surviving only six months. The cancer usually returns while the dog is healing from chemo. There was no guarantee she would survive the chemo. The doctor said our pup was suffering, and we didn't want her to suffer anymore. She has been declining rapidly this past week. So, tonight, after prayerful consideration, we tearfully said good-bye to our sweet puppy. She passed peacefully surrounded by our love witch each of us petting her gently.

Our girls have been troopers. It's finals week for the semester and not a good time to lose a beloved family pet. We knew we didn't want to wait once we found out. Not only the suffering but the waiting for the inevitable would be worse.

We decided to save pups ashes in a beautiful box. After spending nearly $4,000 on all the testing, we didn't want to spend more, but the thought of leaving her there was awful. At least with our little box we would be able to keep her with us for a little longer. I never thought I'd be like that, but I needed to know this wasn't "it" when we left the hospital. I think the girls felt better about having her ashes also.

We drove to In-N-Out for dinner, and the sky was beautiful. Jenna said it was Sariah in Heaven saying hello to us and letting us know she was okay.

The breeder has been outstanding in her support, and willing to answer all our questions. When she found out what was going to happen, she cried. She has offered us a puppy from their next litter which she knew wouldn't replace Sariah, but she wanted to do something. It was very nice of her. The pups aren't due until March. We'll see how we feel then. For now we will mourn our sweet pup as we walk in the door and experience the absence we feel expecting our pup to come to greet us.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was busy, yet quiet this year. As the Ward Music Chairman with the 11:00 a.m. Sacrament Meeting time, I had the responsibility to organize the program for a multi-ward choir that would comprise the entire Sacrament Meeting program after the Sacrament was served for Christmas Day. We had just Sacrament meeting, met with the Mile Square and Single Adult wards, and we had an incredibly spiritual Sacrament Meeting program.  I didn't know if I could pick all the music and assemble the program, but with the help of the Spirit, I chose music which turned out to be easily learned yet beautiful in harmonies and messages of the Savior. It was, by far, my favorite part of my calling to date.  Kevin and Beth chose not to come this Christmas so, it was just the Peterson family and Grandpa. The girls requested turkey enchiladas, and they were delicious. Thanks to Judy, we had a beautiful Christmas card this year. Christmas Day was especially spiritual, and it felt like the perfect thing to do to go church in the morning and spend the day with family.  Our Savior is the reason for this season, and we feel blessed and grateful.

Light The World

The church had a campaign going this month called, "Light The World." I did well on the first day making cookies for Jenna's coach gift, and as well on day two posting about a family member or ancestor who has left a legacy.  Here is what I said about my dad...

This is my dad on his wedding day. He was working at Autonetics in Anaheim and within two years would begin his career at Hughes Aircraft as an engineer. He worked there until retiring (never met Howard Hughes), and he worked on the Apollo project as well as many other top-level security projects. My dad was an Auburn University graduate who put himself through college. He was and is a southern gentleman and taught me a lot about hard work, manners and loyalty. He went to work every day and sacrificed a lot for his family. He was a track star, played baseball, football and loved playing cards and games. I learned in my adult years that I get my sentimental side from him, and he makes the most of every moment by being with family for special occasions. Now that he's closer in proximity, he comes to church with us each week just to be with us. My children don't know the man he was, but I remember, and I try to share his story so that they know their grandpa better.

Harry Potter World

Can we live in Harry Potter world? We love hanging out here. It's Thanksgiving break week, and today the older girls wore their warm and cozy Quidditch sweaters, and Jenna bought a house scarf. We rode the rides, had dinner at The Three Broomsticks, ran into my friend, Sarah, and picked up some yummy candy-- chocolate frogs, chocolate wands and peppermint candy--at Honeydukes. Can't wait to come back! Oh, and yes, that's Jenna setting a Quidditch ball so she can get her setting reps in.

Visiting Graves on Mother's Day

We normally visit our grandparents' graves on Memorial Day, but this year we decided to go on Mother's Day. It was a nice, quiet afternoon, and it seemed like a great activity. Both our mothers have passed, so it was a good time to remember them. Kelly cleaned their graves and we talked about our parents. The girls were good sports as usual. They don't like when Kelly get teary, but I think they like remembering what they can and hearing our memories. We are happy to know that we will be reunited one day.

Random January

 1•26 No school today calls for a movie! Love that Heather and I share a love for books and film.

 1•29 Took Grandpa shopping at Sam's Club. He was looking pretty dapper.

 Shot the picture on the right at choir rehearsal. It was interesting to compare it to one from a few months ago. Eating healthier takes the bloating away and leaves a glow. It's only a couple of pounds difference, but definitely healthier system on the inside.

1•30 Someone is catching up in height to their older sister!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day started out with a headache, literally. I woke up with a pounding throb and promptly reached for the Excedrine. I did manage to have a small treat and card for the girls and hub on their dinner plates, and Kelly brought home flowers.  He and I also attending a performance of "Into The Woods" in Brea that night where our friend, Tara Pitt, was starring as the Baker's Wife. It was a fun day and even though it started out rocky, I'm grateful to have been able to make the best of this day of love.

Our Piano

We recently changed out furniture in our living room, and between that and the fact that our little girls are adult size now (as well as their friends), oh and we have a huge dog, our living room was becoming a little small. My mom's piano, which we've had for ten years, takes up about 1/3 of the room's space, and we ran out of places to position it to maximize remaining space. Additionally, Heather's progress is warranting a newer keyboard since the keys on our 1920's gem are sticking a bit. It seems to be time to sell the piano. 

I had never wanted to put the piano in my home for a few of reasons. First, it was a purchase my mom made when I was a teen that meant very little to me because no one in our house played the piano.  We also couldn't afford the purchase which at a young age I was well aware of.  Fast forwarding to my adult years with two small children and my mom asking for a place to store the piano, and I told her it would no way fit in my small house. Lastly, there was no need at the time for me to have a piano because the girls were not ready to take lessons yet. But when a time crunch came and the piano needed a home, it came here because there was no other place for it.

We were surprised that it fit in the corner which is where we placed it hoping to retain some of our living space. It is a pretty piece of furniture, and our holiday decor has looked really nice on it. Then the girls started lessons not too long after it arrived, and it was very handy for practicing. My mom was able to see the girls begin lessons and learn songs before she passed away which had been important to her. 

When my mom passed, we weren't just storing the piano anymore, it had become an inheritance piece.  My sister did not have room for it, so it continued living here until we decided what to do with it. I didn't have brain space while raising my girls to investigate selling an antique piano at that time. It has been a perfect fit for these ten years, better than I had ever imagined. 

Back to the present and after doing some research, I posted a listing on Craigslist for what the piano might be worth. Dusting it off and photographing it was an interesting experience--I knew it needed to go, but it meant the end of some great memories of our daughters learning how to play. The very day I posted the listing, I told my neighbor about it asking her to share with friends, and she popped over after work to see it.  She promptly told me she has been wanting a grand and that this would be perfect. We made arrangements for her to buy it after the holidays.  It has been nice not to have to wonder how long it will take to sell, and Heather was excited that it would only be moving down the street where she could pop in and play it if she missed it too much.  Tender mercies.

So for the next few weeks, we will say goodbye to our old friend.  Heather already has the top up and is playing and playing her pieces on it.  It sounds wonderful.  I'll miss that.  Who knew that my mom's purchase that had irritated me in my youth would end up being something I would be grateful for later on?  It has been a well-loved item.

Do You Dress Up?

It's that time of year when the light changes, the air is crisper, and the temperature beings to change.  If you're in California, that would be fall!  I know, not quite the same fall changes that happen elsewhere, but to we natives, we know when fall arrives.

There are so many blog posts I need to catch up on, but I will get to those.  Tonight I am contemplating Halloween, one of my favorite holidays.  I remember my costumes as a little girl--the smell of a plastic mask, the tickle of make up, the feel of my plastic pumpkin in my little hand, and the sweater my mom made me wear underneath my costume so I wouldn't get cold.  The best memories were of going from house to house with my Dad walking along side us.  When we were older and less likely to go out, Dad would bring doughnuts home, orange frosting and sprinkles, which we would eat while watching, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," or "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"

Of course I was ecstatic to share our daughter's first Halloween with her and begin our own traditions.  She was only three months old, but she made a very cute pumpkin!  There was one thing about that first Halloween that had to happen...

I had to dress up.

You bet'cha!  I feel like a kid inside each and every Halloween, and I need to be in a costume.  It's so fun, and I get downright giddy inside thinking about the possibilities each year.  My husband hasn't shared my desire to don festive apparel, but that hasn't stopped me.  I have managed to find something to wear each and every Halloween regardless of how I was feeling about the quality of my garb.  I don't know if my girls will remember my exuberance, and Jenna even told me last year that I need to dress up because I haven't done it for a few years.  This prompted a search through the digital archives which produced proof that, yes in deedy, I haven't missed a year.  I just can't.  It's too fun. Will my girls remember that I was a stinkin' fun momma? Actually, they will thanks to, as mentioned above, the digital age.  Ha!  Even if they don't, they each get into planning their own costumes every year, often several months in advance.  Where do they get that enthusiasm from?  Yep.

So I would love to know...do you dress up?  I bet your kids would LOVE it if you did.  If you need any help with costume ideas, give me a jingle.  I'll be happy to share my costume selecting eagerness (aka, passion, exhilaration, craziness) with you.

Happy Haunting!

p.s.  Yes, it's only September 22, but this affords you PLENTY of time to start thinking.  Come on, you know you want to.

Jeremy and Katee's Wedding

Aren't they a beautiful couple?  Jeremy and Katee Fitzsimmons were married on Saturday, December 28, 2013.  We were invited to attend the sealing and reception, but it wasn't meant to be.  Our car rental was planned as well as accommodations, but on our travel morning, I wasn't feeling too great.  I figured it was because the girls and I spent the day after Christmas cleaning and cleaning to get the house ready for company that would come when we returned from the wedding.  I tried to get up and shower, but went back to bed for just a few more minutes of sleep.  I had no idea how I was going to drive to Northern CA that day, but I figured I'd get my energy shortly.  Kelly came in to tell me the car rental place had no cars left, and I confirmed that with a phone call.  The corporate office only sent them one of the 7 cars needed that day.  I was relieved not to have to get up and go get the car right then, but nervous about the trip...how were we going to get there?  By the time they called to tell me there was a car available, my dad had come down with the stomach flu.  I was a little queasy as well, and I assume that's what I had.  Jenna had had it on Monday, Kelly on Christmas Eve, and I guess it was our turn.  Heather came down with it on Sunday morning.  My dad and I were the ones who were scheduled to drive up that Friday, so in a way, the car rental hiccup was a blessing in disguise.  I can't wait to see the pictures and hear about the wedding when Kim gets here next week!

The Doves and A Package

Our doves were back and having more babies.  We've heard they can have up to six broods a season, so we'll see what happens.  

Mail arrived for Heather and Jenna while Heather was away, so we waited to open the package until Heather was home.  The girls found some beautiful clothes from Uncle Kevin and Aunt Beth along with their congratulations for the girls achievements as they advanced from elementary and middle school.  The girls were thrilled!  We'll have to post again when the girls have the outfits on so they can show them off.  Thank you Aunt Beth and Uncle Kevin!