Our visit with Merle

There is so much that happened during our visit with Merle. She was an excellent visitor who made our first exchange student experience top notch. It's almost unfortunate that she could not stay longer. While the whole visit was great, she was really getting comfortable with our family and vice versa. We are bound by heart now forever more. We certainly hope to see her again someday. Angel is already making plans to go visit her in a few years. This little slide show is just a peek at our time with her.

How NOT to bake!

Had to post this funny picture.  (I'm working on a big slide show of Merle's visit in the mean time).  I think it's fair to say I'm a pretty domestic person when it comes to housekeeping, cooking, family rearing, etc.  I'm not model perfect, but it has all came very naturally to me over the last 17+ years. It has made it quite easy to follow my childhood dream of being a stay-at-home-mom.  Every once in awhile I mess up and in a big way.  I'm pretty good at laughing at myself when these things happen.  This was no exception.

On Sunday's I like to break away from the tradition grab a bowl of cereal for breakfast that the kids often embrace.  (Personally I cook myself eggs each morning, the kids insist on their cereal, which does in fact make it easier for me).  Since Merle was visiting I had to make sure I busted out my amazing chocolate chip muffin recipe.  I finished a few dozen in time for breakfast and then had time to squeeze in one more pan before heading out for church.

Except, that is what I did.....head out for church.  Completely oblivious to the fact that I had left that last load baking in the oven.  For almost 3 hours!!!!

As soon as Jim walked in the back door he knew something was not right.  This is what we found:

My muffins burnt to a crisp.  Hahahahahahaha!  I couldn't help but get a good laugh at it.  I have had some pretty funny domestic bloopers over my years (oh the stories I could tell) but I don't think I have ever left something cooking in the over for several hours longer than need be.

Anyone want a muffin?

Spring Break

Yes, I am still alive.  Yes, I have SO MUCH to blog about.  Our 2 1/2 week visit with Merle was WONDERFUL!!!!  So much to tell you there.  Yet, it's spring break.  I woke up this morning and spent 3 hours working out at the Y.  Ahhhhh, heavenly workout bliss.  The whole time I kept thinking about how I was going to go home and get "so much" done around the house.  But then, Carmen had swimming lessons and with no school, all the other kids came along.  So I granted generous time to play in the gym, run laps around the track, bounce basketballs, etc.  Really pushing the be intention idea with my kids.  Then we went to the library.  Before I could get home I had a text invitation to join some moms and kids out at Lake Storey.  The weather was beyond perfect so why not.  I didn't want to put it off then by chance have less than ideal weather later in the week.  After a quick lunch it was off to the park we went.  We even stayed longer than I had planned.  That was not a bad thing at all.

So you see where this day went.  To the kids and just being with them.  I did eventually get some things done around the house.  Not what I hoped to accomplish, but when the trade off is good quality time with the kids I can't complain.  I ended the evening with making cookies with (baby) Carmen.  I hope to make some time for blogging this week (on both blogs) but if I don't, I'll still be here when they all get back to school.  Have a great week!

So far.....so good....

We have been enjoying our newest member of the Zoo, Merle.  We learned we were pronouncing it wrong the whole time.  It sounds more like Mare - Lee, but in the special German way.  We keep trying, often failing, but we'll get the hang of it.

Here are a few pictures of her arriving and fitting into our American way of life.

Getting off the bus/arriving in Galesburg, IL

 Talking with Angel face to face.  They hit it off like old friends.

 Jim is well known for getting family & neighborhood games of football going.  Merle joined in the fun.

Newest Arrival Coming TODAY!

Today our newest animal arrives at the Peterson Family Zoo.  I made the big announcement back in January about this new addition.

I grew up having exchange students so I am familiar with this process.  It has, however, changed.  I remember the first few short term students  we knew nothing about other than maybe a name and where they were coming from.  It could have been that I let my mom deal with any details and I just didn't know.  I remember as we got more students and eventually a (school) year long student we got more info like a picture, a short bio, etc.  It was all still a great mystery until the student actually arrived.

Fast forward almost 20 years and we "met" our student almost as soon as we knew we were going to be a host family.  We friended each other on facebook.  We exchanged messages and information.  I have purged through her profile to get a more inside look to her life.  We have already connected and bonded on a small level.  I've kept all this info to ourselves.  Since she is coming today I'll show you her picture and tell you her name.  The time has really come....SHE IS ON HER WAY!

Meet Merle (we've been told that it's pronounced Mer-lay)

I will give you a big update once we have her settled into our home.  You know me, I'll have a million pictures to show that I took of her arrival  & first moments with the Zoo.  Until then I have some final preparations to get done before she, along with the rest of the group, arrives tonight in Galesburg.

GHS Gadets

(Angel is in the first row sitting second from the right.)


We are finished with another year of Angel dancing on the Gadets squad.  The Gadets is a different squad/sport in that it performs for both football and basketball season.  Tryout are held in April.  They do a few minor things in May and then begin regular practice in June.  That goes on through the summer until school starts and it goes full speed through football.  There is a few weeks of quietness then basketball picks up and they perform for both boys and girls games.  I know Angel wouldn't have it any other way, she LOVES to dance.  We enjoy her being on the squad too.

I was able to record every single routine they performed this year.  I always load them to youtube and (usually) post them on facebook.  On youtube I wish I could make folders so that I can put them in one spot easier to find.  However they are mixed in with all the other videos I also load to youtube.  You can find them all by going to our petefamzoo youtube channel.

Since I am busy videotaping each performance I don't get the chance to take pictures like I want to.  I have tried a few times and my camera isn't too good at capturing their fast movements in addition to me being up in the stands to get a good position for video.  Another parents has a good camera though and she got some great shots during their last performance.

 (Angel is third in from left)

(Angel is on far left facing front)

(In the last two it's harder to see Angel unless you know exactly where she is.  She's in the second row, slightly to the left of the the second person in the front row.)

This year the participated in a dance showcase.  It's similar to a dance competition, but with no competition.  It took up a good chunk of a Saturday (we left at 1 pm and didn't get home until midnight), but it was a fun experience.  They look forward to doing it again next year.  At the dance showcase each school performed and at the end there was a grand finale.  Here is the video from that routine that all 9 school participated in.

Angel is on the far left, second row.

Geography Bowl

John participated in the Geography Bowl a few weeks ago.  He was also selected for the team last year.  The team is open to 4th and 5th graders at the elementary school.  Even though they didn't fair quite well last year he still wanted to be on the team.  He (along with the other team members) put in a lot of after school practices and worked hard this year.

Just like last year each round consisted of 20 minutes and 20 questions.  Each school had a round against each other.  They kept track of two things: most rounds won and most points scored.  Steele did an excellent job in competing against the other schools.  Out of 7 rounds, we only lost 2 and scored a total of  1020.  That lead up to tie for 2nd place in each category!  John himself answered several questions and did an excellent job in helping with the team.  The whole team did a good job representing the school this year.