Petersons in Texas

Loving this South Texas Life

What We Did This Week

So this week we have spent some time (lot of time) at the family ranch. We have had to have some drywalling done and to social distance I have taken the kids from the house and to the family ranch. They love getting out in the country and hanging out at Grammy’s house. There have been lots of swingset swinging, sandbox playing and wagon rides.

K also LOVES to help in the kitchen. Anytime she notices me in the kitchen she says, “I can help you” with so much determination it is impossible to say no to her. She says it while she nods her head. My Godmother spoils her and sent her some new cookie cutters to try out in the kitchen.

The kids went to the river for the first time for B and K had been once before. Piper had never been either and absolutely loved it. She is a water dog through and through. B was not too sure when I put him down but if he was in my lap, he was kicking the water and having a blast.

This past weekend we did a Drive Thru tour of the San Antonio Zoo! The zoo is perfect for driving through certain areas (sadly, you could not get a glimpse of the giraffes or elephants this way) but we had a great time. I am so glad the zoo thought of opening up this way and it has sold out. We got there about 9:45 am (opened at 10:00) and waited about an hour before we got to the front.

We also went on the boat this past weekend. The water is warming up and we all went swimming a bit. B sat in my lap and splashed in the water that came up on the diving deck. I was hiding down below the cute picture of the two of them. While it gets super hot here in South Texas I love the water sports and activities that we have available to us!

Weekend & Birthday Celebrations

It was a beautiful weekend this past weekend in South Texas. Best part about it was we were able to knock some house renovations out (we have been living in a minor construction zone for a few months!) AND take the boat out on the lake on Sunday.

We took our first family lake photo of 2020. We looked quite a bit different last summer! B spent most of the time asleep on the boat in his little bassinet and K loved jumping in the water over & over again. She was not a fan of the tube, so I am interested to see how she does when we pull that out. She did jump in the water but quickly learned it was not summer temperature yet.

Look at these babies! Summer 2019

B took to the boat pretty quickly. He was even trying to walk around, which he doesn’t really try to do normally so that was quite surprising!

Then yesterday was Josiah’s birthday. Kate was SO excited to decorate the cake (fabulous job she did!) and have candles and balloons. It is so sweet to see her get so excited for other people’s birthdays and know that it is not hers yet.

We have been spending a LOT of time outside. In South Texas it can be really hot in April or super nice and the past few days has been perfect outside weather. I am soaking it in and spending as much time as we can outside.

The spoon on Stellie’s back is temporary while she is still small enough to shove herself through the rod iron fence. Looking forward to when I can take that off of her! It is a pain to put on every time she goes outside!

Life at Home

Like most people we have been staying home. And, to be honest, I’m not upset about it. It has enabled us to have a much needed slow down that we had no idea we needed. By being somewhat forced to slow down we have had slower mornings, daily walks, breakfast, lunch and dinner at home and loads of playtime outside.

We have not been missing our constant time in the car, eating out and shopping (okay, I may be missing this just a little bit!). Before coronavirus we spent so much time on the go, going from one activity to the next that we weren’t able to truly enjoy each day. The kids have been napping longer and more consistently and are overall better rested.

  • Zoom Smash Cake was a hit
  • Big sister could not be more proud
  • How is he ONE?

This little guy turned O.N.E. His party was postponed but we still had a ZOOM smashcake and he had a fantastic day. Hard to believe he has already had one trip around the sun. He is around 31″ tall, 26.5 lbs, has four teeth (and working on two more) and is climbing up on everything. This Mama is wanting him to walk to give my arms a break!

  • Stellie loves to hang around B, he does not appreciate her jumping on him
  • K loves to Mama the puppy
  • It took a few days but these too are getting along so well

We added a puppy to the family! We were planning on getting her prior to staying home but it ended up working out quite well. Friends of ours had puppies and so Stellie joined our family. She is extremely smart and I wish she would use that to stop peeing on the floor. She was scared of Piper at first but now I love looking out in the yard and catching the two of them playing.

  • If it fits on his head, on it goes
  • Lots of messy paint & play dough time
  • cool wipe painting for Buddy
  • Playing outside in our dirt box
  • So many babies (this is mine from when I was 2)
  • and bandaids on heads. Big bandaid phase

We have had lots of playtime, inside and out. In South Texas, April can either be really hot or so nice and thankfully it has been beautiful weather to be outside recently. We have been taking advantage of that in the backyard. We have also been getting extremely messy with paint and play dough. And K has turned baby crazy these past few weeks. She is bandaid obsessed so normally her and her baby need one.

I’ve been keeping busy with the two of them, a husband working from home, a new puppy and making fabric masks for family members. I am also hoping to start blogging once again and making sure I am doing some things just for me.

While this societal slow down wasn’t expected, and it has caused a lot of pain and uncertainty, I am wanting to look for the silver lining in it. We are enjoying this family time safe at home and while I know everyone is ready to get back to “normal,” I am praying there is a new normal where families take priority and we recognize that we don’t have to always be on the go.

If this isn’t neglected, I don’t know what is

Wow.  So, so, so much has happened since I last posted in Spring of 2018! I don’t even think I know where to begin!

1 – Kate had TWO surgeries to correct her duplicated ureter.  Her first year was plagued with many hospital stays (6, I think?) accounting for over 60 days in the hospital.  She was an absolute trooper through and through and her shining personality is a testament to that.

  

2 – Kate turned ONE & then now TWO.  How do we have a two year old on our hands?

3 – Josiah opened up a new office/design center closer to home.  It is hopefully a place they can grow with for many more years.

4 – We added Banner to the mix! Born in April of this year he is such a fun addition.  Life is very hectic with the two of them but each day also holds so much joy (and caffeine!).

5 – and obviously lots more in between.  Trips to Vancouver, Montreal & Tennessee, both of the kids’ first trips to the beach.  Kate becoming a little fish in the water.  Both of them absolutely adoring each other.  Banner is smiling lots more and just lots of good times as a family of four.