Life is a wee bit insane for the Peters family at the moment.
Would you like to hear what we've been up to?
First, I need to say that these adorable family pictures came from the genius Lucinda Higley of Jerome. She contacted me about doing a family session photo swap. I was super duper excited and I hope we can do this in years to come. She was great! And I didn't have to worry about anything but finding clothes and keeping Maylee's shoes on! I failed with the latter... But they turned out great, despite the lack of shoes.
Clara is in a tap/ballet dance class once a week. She loves her teachers and loves getting to shake her booty... Even if she's not doing what the rest of the class is doing. She loves to talk and watch Dora and play pretend.
Maylee is 18 months old now! She's walking and talking and climbing all the furniture. She still naps for a couple hours (if I'm lucky) a day and loves to mimic whatever her big sister is doing. She loves nursery (and I love that she loves it) and will cuddle for a minute or two (which is 100% more than Clara would ever do). She squeals and laughs and says "bah-tul" "hi!" "dad" "mum" "cheese" and loves bringing me things upon request. ("Maylee, Bring mommy a diaper please!" and she'll go and get it... She won't sit down for a diaper change, but she'll bring me the supplies!) She loves to give kisses.
Dennis just got called to our home ward's bishopric. I'm sad to not be in the Spanish Branch anymore, but our home ward is actually the ward that they combined youth classes with at the beginning of this year. It seems to be more than chance that everything worked out that way! He's working at the bank, and working with the cows on the weekends... Between church meetings, his two "jobs," and all of my activities I don't see him as often as I'd like, but I guess I need to be more humble and giving. I am now quite sharply aware of how much I depend on him to help me with the kiddos in public places. It's been two weeks of not having him with me on the bench during sacrament meeting... It just shouldn't be the hour of the week that I dread so much, but I do. I don't know how anyone else does it. And thinking ahead to the next five years... I start hyperventilating. Baby #3 was always planned to be six years apart from Maylee, right? Hehe... but seriously.
This was supposed to be a paragraph about Dennis. He's great. He's wonderful. Too wonderful. I miss him.
I'm doing well. I don't know if I ever posted on here, but I'm coaching cheer at CSI! Wahoo! It's always been a dream of mine, I just never expected it to happen at this time in my life. It's a little hectic. The girls have an awesome nanny and (male version of nanny??? Nanno? that's not right.) My brother Dylan comes over twice a week and his girlfriend, Nicole is here three days a week. Practice is two hours a day, Monday-Friday and games are almost every Saturday and lots of Thursdays from now until March. It's been a little crazy building the program this year. I have high team standards and expectations, and some very talented athletes. Working with young adults has caused me to do a lot of personal reflection and evaluation of my own beliefs and my own lifestyle. It's been hard to express my love and concern to my cheerleaders while holding them to high standards. My heart has been broken so many times from the decisions they've made, some leading to consequences or dismissal... but on the opposite end of the spectrum feeling the joy that comes from working together and accomplishing new things. I feel like I could write a book of the many thoughts and reflections I've had through this coaching experience. I often wonder if they have the slightest idea the time I have dedicated to them... The late hours at night I stay up planning the next practice, figuring out the next stunt, looking up medical information about so-and-so's latest ailment, trying to find them discounted medical care, praying about so-and-so's personal dilemma or heartbreak, hours and hours of communicating with the uniform company, trying to get scholarship funds, or setting up camps and fundraisers. I worry that my strictness comes off as lack of caring, but how do I show that the truth is completely the opposite? Especially when so many people grow up (with parents and public education) not being held responsible for anything and feeling entitled to everything? It's a hard thing for me... It's hard to love people so much and know that it's not reciprocated. I wonder if parents feel this way, or even our Heavenly Father. I want them to choose right, to choose happiness so badly, but ultimately they make their own decisions, whether they want the consequences or not. That's just part of adult life. Everything has an opportunity cost. It's all about priorities. What is more important??? What is the MOST important?
Whew, that was a long paragraph. Can you tell it's been on my mind (practically 24/7?) My photography business has been fun this year. I've done many weddings over the summer and have had fun seeing my "photography kids" grow up and get to photograph them as they get older. The busy season is finally winding down and I'm looking forward to opening a little studio (hopefully) by the new year. We'll see how that pans out. It will be AWESOME to not have to spend an entire day cleaning my house just so clients can come over for a shoot. Because, well, my house is messy. Just ask the vacuum cleaner salesman (but that's a different story.)
Life is good. Life is crazy. When Dennis got called in by the stake president for his bishopric interview they interviewed me too. It was a very... not sure what the word was... but I felt very... hopeful? Positive? Strengthened? I need to hold on to that memory. I kind of lost it after the first Sunday sans Dennis. I need to be better. But anyway, the Stake President asked if I was prepared to make sacrifices. I was fairly confident (at least then) that I could do it. Since then I have had the feeling that something needed to change. I've felt this before. It usually involves a tough decision, and I haven't figured out exactly what is going to happen yet.
Life is good. I miss this blog. The girls are great. Dennis and I are great.
I'm pretty lucky.
