GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE!!

It isn't very often that a mother & father can be so lucky to have 7 children and that are healthy, wholesome and happy. But we are blessed & absolutely know that they are going to continue to be fine citizens. Not because of us, but because our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of them, and they are diligently working to understand their mission here on the earth and live up to the God given talents and gifts they have been given and serve the Lord in His work here.

Thanks for all of you. . .

Pedro's adventures Continue - HAPPY 24th B'day
August 13, 2008 -

I will start with Peter because today is his birthday . . .
For the record - Peter is #5 child and #2 son, just 2 years younger than his brother Tyler.
I had been suffering with Valley Fever during my pregnancy and was a little concerned

that he might suffer from the effects as well - I only gained 17 lbs by the end because I lost so much in the beginning of the pregnancy.

I actually went to Girl's Camp and went into early labor because of the High Altitude -

my Stake President, Pres. Davies and Bro. David Bunting had to give me a blessing in the middle of the night and then Susan Dunn drove my car down the mountain with Bev Davis our nurse, that had come prepared with sterilized equipment because Pres. Davies told her this might happen - HOW IN TUNE!

As we descended down the mountain, my contractions slowed up and I realized that it was

probably just a false alarm and decided that I would just have them check me out anyway.

We arrived at the Lake Isabella Hospital, smelling like a campfire only to find that they don't deliver babies - I felt like the "Gone with the Wind" movie, where the little gal finally admits,

"I don't know nothing about birthin' babies!" as she strolls off down the street-

I knew that I would have to have my water broken before he came anyway - so I really wasn't worried, but we got back in the car and headed down the hill to Memorial, only to be told that

I was dilated but there was a nursing strike and I would have to go home and wait -

a week later when I was at an 8 and could barely walk, they finally said I could come in.

He was born the Monday after the Olympics ended and it was a lot of fun to watch and think about what our new little spirit might be - REMEMBER, we didn't use to know ahead if it was a boy or girl, so I spent a lot of time Imagining who they would be - so when he arrived, he was completely healthy at 8lbs. 13 oz and definitely Mr. Muscle and I knew he would be an athlete, just didn't know how good he would be! His personality was fun loving and happy from the very beginning. We discovered early that he was a real charmer and very determined in everything that he did.

Tyler was a perfect brother to him and all of the three older sisters, Stephanie, Heidi and Nikki mothered him and he let them as long as he got what he wanted, but he ignored them if he wanted something more and got it for himself. From the minute he was born, he has not sat still. I haven't been the same since, I couldn't exercise like I did with Tyler, who would sit on his blanket and watch me exercise - Peter would crawl away as soon as I turned my attention to the aerobics stuff - so that ended that, and thus I am fat!

Heidi being 6 years old was really wanting to be a mommy and because she became sick with valley fever also was home with him during school time. Peter learned to say Heidi even before he called for Mommy - and she loved giving him all of her attention -the girls use to dress the boys up and put barrettes in their hair etc. I'll try to find the one that Peter has his cowboy boots on and pony tails in his hair - I could probably black mail him with it!

We have the cutest video of Peter as a little one visiting the KC Fair and he loved the pigs and wouldn't stop talking about it and oinking for us! I will have to learn how to download that!

Just let me say that Peter was an accident waiting to happen because he had such a drive to try to do everything that interested him. On the soccer field he had the killer instinct. I often told people that Tyler and Peter had the same skills probably on the soccer field, but Peter would stop at nothing, even personal injury to get the goal - We went thru a period of him having such anxious moments that he didn't do everything he could to get a goal, that he would start to hyperventilate and I would have to talk him out of it -

Thank goodness it worked and my final words would be, just get the goal and we won't have to worry about it any more - and within minutes, he would get the job done and be happy and free!

Appreciate all that Peter stands for in his personal life, family life and community life.

We know we can count on him to do what's right and be there for all of us like his latest adventure with his younger sister Stacie and younger brother Kyle as they shared their graduation trip together as THE TRES AMIGO's WORLD TOUR! Thanks for making that possible for all of you and making us feel more at ease with the prospect of this adventure.

We are so proud of your many accomplishments -Serving the Lord on a 2 year mission to Texas,

serving in the temple while you are working and going to school and doing all the extra stuff!

Graduating from UC San Diego and working on the immigration project, your orphanage work in Mexico with the Kaiizan foundation and the great job you did at the eye clinic at the university.

We know he will enjoy this new adventure with Stockcamp/Huron as a business consultant and we look forward to hearing all of your many travels and about all of the people that you meet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. Peter, you have a lot to be happy about and a lot to look forward to!

We love you and appreciate your example to all of us,

FOREVER YOUR FAMILY!