We Love Our Pa-Pa!!

The last week has been such a worry for our family. My dad had gone in for a scan last week & all they said was to make an appointment with this surgeon because they found three masses on the scan. Well, of course your mind immediately thinks it could be something very serious. We have been saying a lot of prayers & my kids don't forget to pray for their Pa-Pa even at the dinner time prayer.

Today he went to the surgeon & the mass on his groin is cancer, but a very slow growing one, they think it has been growing for about 10 years & it's the size of a baseball. So he will be having surgery to remove it. Then the tumor on his side isn't cancer, but it also has to be removed with a 2nd incision. My dad's comment to that was now he'll have a scar to match Steve's. You have to love my dad's sense of humor. I am SO grateful it was mostly good news today!! We love you so, so much!!

My kid's also adore him and they made me smile with a few of their comments today....

Libby said, "If something happened to Pa-pa, who would I go camping with? He's the only one I've ever been camping with." ( my kids love their Pa-Pa's motor home "The Minnie-Winnie")

Then she said that she had been worried, but that I was even more worried because he's my dad & then my sweet Zack whispered to me, "I was just as worried as you mom."

I think my dad & Zack have had a special bond since he was a week old. Zack was in the hospital & had to have a spinal tap & I couldn't handle being in the room to watch, so my dad stayed in there with him (since Steve was still in Iraq). I could hear him screaming clear down the hall way & then it didn't work so they had to do it a second time & Pa-Pa stayed with him again!

Then they became 4-wheeling buddies after that! When Zack turned two, Steve & I gave him a sit on 4-wheeler & my parents had stopped by to say Hi & when they left Zack yelled, "thanks for the 4-wheeler, Pa-Pa!" Of course, he thought it was from his grandpa. It was funny!

Pa-Pa Steen & Zack

Tyler is also definitely my dad's little bud!

My dad was over last week for dinner & Tyler had to sit by him at dinner & if anyone talked to him he'd tap his arm to get his attention. Then Zack was sitting on my dad's lap & Tyler noticed & immediately crawled over to get on his lap too! He definitely loves his Pa-Pa!

WE LOVE YOU DAD!!!

How Fast Can You Type?

77 words

Speed test

Our "EXCITING" Friday night!!

So tonight Libby comes to all of us and shows us an invitation for a party tonight from 8:oo-9:00pm. Her imagination is always rolling....at times it can be hard to keep up with!

When we asked her if she could wait until tomorrow she was almost in tears saying, " it's all planned for tonight and I have everything set up."

She had the whole party planned with games & prizes too! We had to play tic tac toe, Simon Says & the silent game. Here are few pictures of our fun time.

Libby & Steve holding the prizes. Steve won the game of "Simon Says" & was given a hand made book, written by Libby. She is holding my cat & the hat puppet....I won the silent game!

Zack was making us all laugh while playing Simon Says....he got out every time & then would yell, "Oh crap!" and then he'd sit down. Finally, he said I'll just sit on both chairs!

The Host of the party with her side kick Zack.

An action shot of Simon Says.

Libby took these of Tyler before the party....he was asleep before the party started.

Can you see Tyler's nice fang? He is finally getting another tooth next to it!

Libby is definitely an amazing little girl! We love her & her tireless imagination!

Tips For A Better Life

My dad sent me this email & it does have some great tips to make your day better!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you
walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy
a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get
more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the
following statement, 'My purpose is to __________
today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and
Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in
2007.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and
prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy
lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under
the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and
eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink plenty of water.. Eat
blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds &
walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk
and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy
vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or
things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy
in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to
learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that
appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons
you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and
dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to
disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the
present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no
idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your
business.

28. GOD heals almost everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will
change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or
joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you
need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show
up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
Hey I'm thinking of ya!

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the
following statements: I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World
and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have
one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy
the ride.

Tyler's First Haircut

It was time to trim the baby chick feathers!

Tyler was actually holding still for a minute!

Here he is looking a little confused, but no tears!

Then he decided it was his turn & he wouldn't let go of the comb.....he has quite the grip!

And of course we couldn't help but get a picture of his aunt Sherry's new BLING! BLING!!

A June Wedding

Congratulations Sherry & Mark!!



They will be getting married on June 17, 2008.
We are very excited for them & it is so nice to see my sister so happy!!

TYLER CONFESSES.......

I truly am a PETERSON for I am also addicted to CHOCOLATE & SWEETS!!

He didn't do a very good job of hiding the truth!