Mom and Dad's 51st wedding anniversary

I love this picture so I had to put it up on the blog. This is the story behind the photo what my mom said,"

We were both laughing as my little veil was sticking straight up after Bill kissed me. Barbara hissed that that it was standing straight up and Bill tried to smooth it out while we were walking down the aisle, and couldn't. Then I tried, forgetting I had my bouquet in my hand, and it got caught in the veil so I had to keep my hand up like that. We both thought it was funny. We've had a lot of good laughs through the years."

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

More pics.

I had these pics of Maddox and Asher that I should have probably put up a while ago....but better late than never. Maddox likes hats as much as Kingston likes cars. It's funny what they get in to......and it's cute!! Asher wanted a picture with Maddox's hat on too. I know I have the cutest grandkids in the world!!!

Kingston's portraits

Jessica won a drawing for a free portrait and JC Penneys and these are some of the adorable pictures of Kingston.
My question though is.......how do you pick just one? I think it's impossible!














Kingston loves his cars!!













I love all of these and all that I saw on Jess's blog. What a cute little guy!!!!

Apricot Jam

The pinwheels on the apricot tree worked pretty good. The birds did get some of them but last year they got them all. We got quite a few apricots. I think enough to make 5 or 6 batches of jam. I've made 2 so far. Steve and Jaron want me to make more cuz they loved it. That makes me feel good and plus they look so pretty in the jars. There's not a better sound than the "ping" you hear when they sealed!!
This morning......off to the dentist. My back top molar died with lots of infection so off to get another root canal. I actually can't wait to go cuz the pain is intense. :(

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Steve's birthday. He's been wanting this certain remote control helicopter he's seen in CA. Timothy and Jess went and bought it for me and mailed it so I could surprise Steve with it. And it was a surprise!! Thanks T&J!!

We went out to lunch......I can't remember the name of the restaurant.....erg. I'm losing it but it was really good!!!

Steve wanted strawberry shortcake for his "cake". It was perfect for how hot it was yesterday!! Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!!

Nathan's email

Hey Mommers!!!

Thanks for the info about Mike!!! :D But it sounds like everyone is doing really good over there in the good ol' Pleasant Grove. Well, to be honest I'm not sure why people like the summer too much... it HOT... I feel like I'm going to die, when I'm out side... my companion and I did the math.. and if its -30 C in the winter (a slightly average temperature) and then 30 C in the summer
that's a 60 degree difference.. or in F. its like... 140 degrees... So that's why I'm thinking its soo hot... but yeah.. it has been in the High 80's low 90's this last week and its supposed to be another hot week... so we'll see how it goes.. haha.. So I got some shoes for 30€ and then a duffel bag for another 30€ (I've got too much stuff to just carry around in the 2 suit cases :S) So i used 60€... so I should be fine... I've gotten all the things I think I've needed to survive... but I guess we'll see. :D So things here are going good.. Not too much to say.. we had another slow week so that was kinda a bummer but, oh well just got to keep pushing forward :D But things are going great, And don't worry I'm HAPPY.. (:D) Haha.. but yeah that's really about it.. oh.. and I've never meet Elder Perry, he's been in the south for his whole time here and I've been in the Tampere area my whole time here in Finland... So I've never met him, That'll be a great conversation starter :D welp that's really about it but I hope you have a great week and I love and miss you a ton!!!

rakkaudella,

Vanhin Nate Peck

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

Hyvää Syntämää Päivää Sulle!

Hyvää Syntämää Päivää Sulle!

Hyvää Syntämää Päivää Isälle!

Hyvää Syntämää Päivää Sulle!

Happy Birthday Pops!!! I was thinking I would type you the Swedish b-day song.. however i don't really remember how it goes. but It could possibly be in an upcoming letter.. but you'll just have to wait and see. But I hope that the Finnish for now suffices :) and I'm not sure if the 3rd line is supposed to be just Isä or Isälle.. I havent really sung this song very much.. but it works either way. ´

So I hope you have a great Birthday!! You're a great Dad and I'm so glad that I was sent here to earth to have you as my Father!! I don't thing there is anyone else who could have done such a great job. You are an amazing teacher and have always taught me to do my best and to always strive to be someone better! You've raised me to have an open mind and not do judge people by how they look or what they think, and to always love people no matter what kind of problems they might have. Thank you dad for everything think you've done for me! Sinä olet mahtava ihminen! Mä rakastan sua, ja olen tosi kiitolinen siitä että olet minun Isäni! Kiitos Kaikesta!

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Nathan Peck

Stewart Falls

After church we hurried and ate dinner then drove up the mountain to hike Stewart Falls.


We kinda had a hard time finding the trail at first but once we found it we started hiking. On the Internet it said that it was a easy hike.....about 4 miles round trip.














I wouldn't exactly say it was easy. My interpretation of easy is different than theres. There was lots of uphills and downhill. I would give it a medium hike.








But we made it and it was beautiful. I really wouldn't mind doing that one again. And I think Jaron, Emily and Brody enjoyed it too.

Brody

Yep Brody is here. Emily has introduced him to Little Big Planet and I'm having a heck of a time distracting them. I have been giving it my best shot and so far I've gotten a few smiles, laughs and Emily did take her hand off the controller once. Brody is going to EFY on Monday through Saturday morning. Then I can torture him once again with my teasing. :)

More Retro

I finally went out and bought the retro green glider. I've been thinking and thinking about it for days trying to justify getting it. What pushed me over the edge was Steve telling me to just go and get it. It was on clearance so that helped too. I started putting it together and then Jaron came and helped. Too much for one person to do. But I really like it. Steve and I went and bought a few stones to set it on and now I just have to level it out. So here it is. :)


I took a couple of pictures of Maddox and Asher when they were last over.....and Christopher. They are growing up way too fast!!!

Pinwheels

Last year the birds ate every apricot on our tree. We didn't get a lot of apricots but what little we got were eaten. This year I wanted at least a few but wasn't sure how to protect them from the birds. My mom suggested pinwheels. I went and bought 3 of them and strung them on the tree. The birds already got a few of them before I got the pinwheels on. I'm hoping it works.
The peas are on and we have tons of them. I've been eating them right out of the garden on a daily bases......very delicious!!!!

Nathan's pictures

Yesterday I got a letter from Nathan with these pictures. I love getting pictures from him but I don't get them very often. He's busy doing other things so I totally understand but when I do????....it makes my day!!!
So here is Nathan with President and Sister Brown.





This is the city Jyvaskyla, where he's at now. He said his apartment is at the center/left of the pictures. In the center of town.

Nathan's email

Hey mommers!
Sounds like Emily had a good Birthday! Did she get the Postcards I sent... I sent 2, but I sent them kinda late so they may not get there for a couple day's. but yeah.. those should be coming in the mail sometime soon. Well... not really anything happened this last week.... all of our teaches canceled so we spent most of our time tracting and contacting around the center trying to find someone to teach.. but we weren't too successful. However this week should be better. We've got a teach set up with that really good guy we met last week for tonight, so I'm pretty excited for that.. it'll be the first time in a while when we get to teach someone. but he's still looking really good so we're really excited about him. but yeah that's really all that went on this last week. not too much, sorry but thanks for the money... that's always useful :) I actually need to buy some new shoes. My black ones are pretty much gone... there is a HUGE crack in them that just lets all the water and stuff in.. so that's not too fun... But I'm going to see if I can find some new ones here soon :D welp that's about everything I hope you have a great week! I Love and Miss you!!!!
Rakkaudella,
Nate Peck

Hey Pops,

So it sounds like everything there is going pretty good. How did all you editing stuff go? By the way.. What is you Moab book about? I don't really know anything about that one. But it sounds like a pretty crazy time, full of fun adventures to different lands! :D

So I think I've been getting you letters... as far as I know I have been.. I got one last week anyway, but I think sending them to the address works.. it just gets kinda risky when its close to the transfer time.. To be honest sending them to the mission home is probably the safer Idea, but what ever works for you.

The new mission president is really good. I sent a little bit about him in my letter last week, however I got it off a little late so you may not have it yet. But before he came here he was a lawyer, and he served his mission in Finland when he was younger. SO he still knows Finnish from that experience. But he's a really great guy. He's really loving and I'm really excited to work with him!

THings here are going really good. We had a really slow week though, with not really any teaches. Bu you know that happens and you just got to keep pushing on and i really think that this week will be really good. I pretty excited. We've got a teach set up with the guy we met last week and I'm really excited to teach him. He's great.

Well that's really everything but I hope you have a great week and I love and miss you!!! Take care!!1

Rakkaudella,

Vanhin Peck

Our last day in CA at the pool

We took so many pictures when we were in CA. I think this is the last of them but you never know. I may put even more up as I find more. This was our last evening there. We just ate at Squeeze In and needed to hop into the pool.
















At one point Timothy flipped Emily off the inner tube and so Jaron and Emily tried to get T off. It was hilarious to watch!!

























And here's the proof that I did get into the pool. :)

Emily's birthday and Harry Potter

Emily's birthday started with the unwrapping of presents kinda early this morning. We had to leave early to get in line to see the Harry Potter movie.










Jaron made her (and all of us) breakfast before we left. Very delicious!!













Then we saw Harry Potter. OMG.....it was so good!! What was fun also was the Waters' were there too so we got to talk awhile while standing in line. It was great seeing them. Afterwards we went and had lunch at the mall and Emily spent her birthday money. I think she's really enjoying being 14 so far. :)

Emily's birthday dinner

We celebrated Emily's birthday dinner a day early. Christopher and Jaron have to work tomorrow night. Emily wanted steaks for dinner so Steve bar-b-qued some tri tips. I made the baked potatoes and garlic bread stick and everything tasted great!!
Christopher and Lesa got Emily a Harry Potter wand. Perfect since we're seeing the movie tomorrow morning. :) I'm so glad they could come to her dinner tonight!












Em also wanted a cookies and cream ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. We just about ate the whole thing up.

























Tomorrow is really her big day but why not spread it over a couple of days. She going to be 14. All I can say is.....there better not be any 13 year olds in the house tomorrow!!!!