HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEREK!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEREK!!!

Derek Ryan Peterson was born into our family 11 years ago today. The night he was born we watched the Jazz play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and he's been an avid sports lover ever since. Derek makes life so fun around here with all of his exciting ball games and his easy going and witty personality. We are so proud of every thing he has accomplished and the great kids that he is. We love you Derek!

ELEVEN COOL THINGS ABOUT DEREK:

1. He is a GREAT baseball and basketball player - both with his "awesome skills" and his sportsmanship.

2. He is really smart and does well at school.

3. He is the most competitive 11-year old I know.

4. He's well known in his circle of friends as being the master of FARTS.

5. He loves burgers, ketchup, marshmallow mateys, and ramen.

6. He can recite any sports statistic about baseball, basketball and football because he watches Sportscenter every day.

7. He's my only kid who has been in the hospital (5 times!)

8. He's afraid of heights. He hates amusement parks, and our hike in Bryce Canyon "freaked him out."

9. Everyone tells me he is really kind and has great manners.

10. He could care less if his room is clean or organized.

11. His nickname is BEAR (Der Bear) because he would always growl and charge people when he was a toddler...and we've kept the nickname because he can still go from zero to crazy in 60 seconds.

Miss Megan

You never know which Megan will show up. She is the Megan of Many Moods. She can be silly, sensitive, angry, whiney, goofy, pouty, funny, shy, outgoing...the list goes on and on. But most of the time she is the happiest most joyful little girl - like a ray of sunshine each time she walks in the room. She tests my patience every day, but she adds so much love to our home!!!!

Fun after the Funeral

My Uncle David's funeral was in Kanab, Utah - the most beautiful place in the world. While we were there, it rained like crazy (except for the half hour we were at the cemetery). Our hotel parking lot flooded, which of course the kids thought was so cool. While we were in Kanab, we also got to decorate my Grandma and Grandpa Frost's graves.

On our way home, we stayed at Brian Head. Beautiful! The ride up to Brian Head was amazing. We stopped at Navajo Lake to skip rocks and sit on branches. Then we did some sightseeing at the windy Cedar Breaks Monument. A tourist offered to take our family picture. When we got back to the car, we laughed for about 10 minutes straight over my "Medusa" hair. Classic! I couldn't reproduce that hairdo if I wanted to. That is one family picture that won't be framed and put on the wall!

Uncle David

My Uncle David Frost passed away last week from pancreatic cancer. He died at home with his family around him in the city and home he loved. We went down to Kanab for his funeral over Memorial Day weekend. All 5 of his daughters spoke at his funeral...and their tributes to their Dad were so loving and kind. He was so loved by his family, friends and coworkers. He was a great man! Uncle David was a truck driver and wanted to be driven to the cemetery on his "Big Red" truck. It was so cool to watch this big semi lead the procession to the cemetery. The flower arrangment on his casket had a red truck on top of it. So perfect!

"Big Red"

Rainy Swim Meet

Jake not happy but cooperating with me...I just wanted one picture.

Jake's latest swim meet was an outdoor meet and it rained most of the time. No lightning though...only the coolest rainbow you've ever seen! And I finally remembered to take pictures at this one. Mel took a picture of Jake's rained-out fans. We all look like we have had enough (especially Alan and Meg).

The Baseball Kids

This was one of the days they had a game at the same time. I love watching Megan trying to be like her brother with her big ball bag on her shoulders walking fast to keep up with him.

11-hour Swim Meet...Are you kidding?

Here are some of the kids from Jake's new swim team. I forgot to take pics at the swim meet but I snapped them eating at KFC at 10:00pm after the first day of the swim meet. Last month Jake joined a comp team that is more challenging for him and also requires a lot more practice time. We can see that this new team will help his time and technique, but the first meet we attended was spread over 2 days and was 11 hours long. And yes we had to stay the entire time because he swam in 5 different events spread out over 11 hours. He seems to enjoy the team and his times are already better. Next meet I will have a lot more reading materials and will NOT have Megan with me.

Jake and the Orchestra teacher Mrs. Flygare after his violin concert at the school.

Our Littlest Ball Player

This is Megan's first year of baseball. She is having a blast! She is always so excited to wear her baseball "costume". It is so fun to watch her play because she knows all of the positions and rules of baseball. She is quite the hustler and is starting to become a good little hitter too.