All the Things

 Yes-- I'm still here. Still reading blogs everyday. Just not able to keep up with writing mine very often so I succumb to random photo dumps. 

I'm teaching 3 separate classes this semester, journeying through another dance  competition season, gauging how much prep we need to do for both boys to join sports teams, and taking a 36 hr professional development course online. Whew. 

Also dealing with and accepting my own diagnosis of Type One Diabetes and managing multiple daily injections & attempting to get on a different diet & start exercising again. 

So here we are. 

Oh and we added a miniature Australian Shepherd puppy to our family in early January and also still have our "big girls" (80 lb Lab/Rhodesian Ridgeback). 

So yes... I guess we're busy. 

But still here! 

So here's a whole lot of photos. 

A Sonic picnic in the living room! 

Meet Mochi! 

Our big girl "puppies." 

My principal treated 5 employees to a coffee on our first day back in January! We had perfect attendance for the second quarter of school. 

My parents gave Noah my grandpa's Army jacket. 

He bought a football helmet with birthday money. 

We had a light flurry of snow one day! This girl was IN it to WIN it! 

Our sweet friend gifted us these Seahawks cookies on SuperBowl Sunday! 

Avery had a painting "field trip" for her Valentines celebration. 

Tired boys!

Avery is doing a song from Trolls for her solo this year. It's so cute! 

We had FFA week this past week and I went all in for Stand By the Flag day! I'm all about America! 

Avery gets to wear a "fun leotard" on the last day of the month and this time, she chose a costume I wore when I was about her age! How fun! 

I found this super cute shirt on Amazon! I love the pattern and it's so soft!

And one more picture from Stand By The Flag day! No question of where my patriotism lies!

Thanks for hanging with me as I navigate the busy season! 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Noah is 12!

Yesterday, my sweet blue-eyed Noah boy turned 12! 

He celebrated by choosing Chic-fil-A for dinner & having grandparents over for chocolate chess pie. Some of his presents were delayed in the mail, so we'll be able to celebrate tomorrow as well! 

Noah, 

You are sweet and spunky and we love you so! You have recently discovered a love of football and are putting your heart & soul into learning new skills related to the sport. Auburn Tigers & Seattle Seahawks rank as your favorite teams. We watch The Office together, and your understanding of the jokes & your growing sense of humor is so fun to see. You are a tender heart & care about others although you don't let that mean that you're walked over, by any stretch of the imagination. You are excelling at school and have handled the increased classload well. 

We love you, Noah! Keep looking to Jesus! 

Love, Mom 

Fa La La La Laaaa

It's Christmastime at the Petersen house! Not to say we're not giving Thanksgiving its due, but we're ensuring that we enjoy the Christmas season as long as possible because of the joy it brings!

I love our tree full of ornaments collected over the years. 

I added a plaid pillow to my other Christmas pillow (sewed by my late aunt). 

I added some twinkling lights to the nativity set on top of the bookshelf. 

I also added fairy lights to the pie safe (with my ceramic Santa on display in there too). 

The dining room window sill is flanked by two small trees and two Christmas paintings. 

The skinny dining room window has our Jesse tree with the book and ornaments (in the silver box) ready for December 1st. On the table outside sits my poinsettia and two of three little faux trees (the 3rd was enjoyed as a dog toy last night apparently). 

I love my mantel! 

That's a glimpse into our decorations for now. I'll set the table with Christmas placemats and take out the Christmas hand towels soon! 

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba

Halloween 2025

Halloween 2025 is a wrap! 

This year, we had a Dorothy (at school), Glinda (for trick or treating), a Sheriff Deputy, and a random dude named Todd. 

We had such a great time!

Until Next Time,

Much Love, Reba

Okay, October!

 Wow. Where, oh where, did the time go?!? So... here we are in the second half of October-- good grief. My favorite month is quickly slipping away. I'll do a photo dump here, and I'll try to get back in here to write a bit about our adventures this month. 

For now... here are some photos. 

A happy morning in my classroom before they caught the bus to school!

I attached some mechanical pencils to some fake sunflowers and stuck them in a mug full of coffee beans! Now my students can use pencils and it looks decorative too!

I thought her outfit on this day was too cute for words!

I bought the curved frame artwork at Home Goods. It came in the frame & I thought the colors complemented the others in the gallery wall so well!

Avery had a few dances to perform at our local fair. She did so great & looked so elegant in this pink costume!

I took Noah & Avery to the beach for our fall break while Aaron and Michael had things to do at home. We had such a good time. I'll try to recap it soon. 

You know you've hit your adulting stride when you're pumped about a new dryer! We went the simplified route this time, and I couldn't be happier!

A few fall touches make a festive difference on these early mornings!

My neighbor finished this quilt that my Nana had started. She gifted it to Avery & we picked it up this week! So sweet! Avery has used it each night. 

And that's our October so far!

Until Next Time, 

Much Love, Reba