Pedersen Post

What have I been doing for the past year and a half?

2011-02-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

I have been a little busy.

This is why.

Caleb Joseph born June 5, 2010

The girls love him

So does his dad.

This is Caleb at 8 months.

He is not spoiled, just well loved.

What I did this summer. Pt. 1

2009-10-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have heard complaints about my lack of updated blogs.

So here is what I did this summer.

Girls camp

I could not have done camp without these two.

Cassie was a YCL (Youth Counselor)

Maddie - don't ask. What happens at camp stays at camp.

Teaching the campers what not to put down the toilet.

Enough said. I loved being at camp. I learned so much this year. I feel it was a great honor to be a part it.

What a week!!

2009-06-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

I had the craziest week last week. I think all of the schools decided to plan all of their end of the year performances or celebrations to wear out the parents with more than one child.

This is how my week started.

Hannah had a Garden Club closing party on Monday

Tuesday day, I had a meeting for Camp and Maddie tried out for the "Pride Assembly" ( I am playing piano for her.) That took most of my day. Cassidy had her One Act performance for her Theater 2 class that night, and right after that, I had a budget meeting for camp.

Wednesday Kait had a performance for her acting class she was taking.

That night was Young Women, and I got to help with First Aid Certification.

Thursday Kait and Maddie had school performances on the same night at the same time.

I went to Kait's dress rehearsal during the day.

Maddie's choir performances that night.

First she sang with the choir.

Then a solo. "Lonesome Dove"

A duet that freaked me out!! She sang "A Whole New World". Note the hand holding ! !

Then a trio. They sang "Fugue for Tin Horns" from Guys and Dolls.

Friday I took the day off.

Saturday I had a YCL meeting. A graduation party. Then that evening, Cassidy planned a group date with her friends.

It was busy, but I wouldn't change a thing. My girls are doing wonderful things and loving their lives. I love the fact that they still want me to be a part of what they are doing.

I feel very blessed.

MY BABY WENT TO PROM!!

2009-05-16T21:52:00.001-07:00

It has happened, my Cassie has gone to prom. Here is a "play by play" for those who want to share in all of the prep and fun.

I did Cassie's hair.

Cassie's dear friends, Rachel and Ashley, came over and did the rest.

I made my first boutonniere!

Cassie's hair turned out pretty cool.

We would like to thank Debbie Eckhardt and Lindsey Rosas for the dress. It was fun shopping in the fancy dress closet!

Ashley and Rachel are great friends.

This is my favorite picture of the night.

Chatting with Robbie on Facebook while waiting for Dan.

Cassie's date was Dan Lichtenstein.

It is hard to believe that Cassie's old enough to go to prom! She looked so pretty.

Cool song!

2009-05-05T22:31:00.000-07:00

Check this out! This guy is amazing. He can arrange anything! He also does Pacabel meets U2, which is really cool.

Enjoy.

Life Song.

2009-04-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

I love this song. I don't usually like LeAnne Rimes but the message of this song, WOW!! It feels like my 40s mentality and heart. It is time for some changes.

Thank you Matt for sharing this song with me. Love ya my Brother.

We had a "Wicked" night ! !

2009-03-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

We went as a family to see the musical Wicked last night. It was wonderful. The memories that will stay with me will be; Elphaba's voice. It was incredible even better than the CD. Watching my girls enjoy it. Having Kait saying "That was amazing!" when it was over. Willow and Cassidy grabbing hands at the beginning of "For Good". It is their song. Being surrounded by friends. Watching Maddie talking and laughing with her friends. Last of all, Hannah praying last night, "Thank you that we got to go to Wicked and I got to meet the cast." Yes, Hannah did say "cast". She has been around theater enough to know the proper terms. :)

It was the perfect ending of a great night.

As Hannah said, we did wait outside the stage door to get autographs and pictures. Here are a few.

This Richard H. Blake, he played Fiyero.

He may look familiar, he was Warner in "Legally Blonde".

Glinda and Fiyero signing the girl's programs.

Boq and Cassie's head

The girls minus one, with Donna Vivino (Elphaba). She was incredible.

It was an awesome night! What made it even better was that Brent came also. Little did he know, when we married, that he would by choice go a musical with a family of all girls. Willow (Cassie's friend) was with us, so our van was full of singing, giggling, excited girls. He was smiling the whole way there and home. He is such a good sport and a wonderful Dad.

"All the world is a stage . . ."

2009-03-15T15:10:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated in so long, as you can see, we have been very busy.

We started the school year with Cassidy being cast in the advanced theater, student written plays, for her high school.

She played a pro-life school girl. (She is pictured with her best friend Courtney)

And, once a again, as the maid. She always seems to be a maid. Typecasting?

Meanwhile, Maddie was cast in her middle school musical, Cinderella, as one of the wicked step sisters.

This is before. I used "rag rollers" strips of cotton material that I used as curlers.

After. This is even before I teased her hair out. As soon as I get more pictures I will put them on the blog. She was beautiful! In an ugly step-sister type of way.

Cassidy performed her plays February 19-21st. I had a week break. HA, HA, HA.

Then Maddie performed her play. (March 5th-7th)

The plays were done, now I could rest, SO I THOUGHT! Cassidy tried out and was just cast in her high school children's theater play, Ramona Quimby. She is playing Susan, the perfect girl that torments Ramona. (the one with the curls, I guess I get to use the rag rollers again.)

We are rejoicing because it is not a maid. :)

I love that my daughters are having an opportunity to share their talents. Some families do sports, we do theater and watching my girls on stage is like watching them in the play-offs. I am so proud and I want to stand up and cheer! ! I love being a mother.

Filling time.

2009-01-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you are starting your 3rd week of Christmas break?

You pull out the projects.

Now I understand why my Mom taught me how to make the plastic mesh boxes.

My house is full of the peaceful sounds of yarn and sewing.

Snow Day #8

2008-12-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

Here we are in the snow again, 14 inches. So I have a few pictures for you old time Oregonians who have left the NW.

Our hot tub, I think.

We found these hanging from our house.

2nd layer of ice.

The 14 inches in 2 days.

Can you believe this? We hope you are all safe and warm this holiday season.

Snow Day #6

2008-12-20T15:39:00.001-08:00

Take a look at all the Oregon snow !

We have had snow days all last week. 3 weeks of Christmas break. We have been snowed in.

It is beautiful, but Oregon has not seen snow like this in 30 years. I have a little cabin fever, but the girls are loving it.

Look at my girls working together to create this wonderful masterpiece.

A freaky green-eyed snowman.

Momma is so proud!

Our sweet neighbor let the girls build a snow fort in his yard. Maddie, Kait, and Hannah named it "Fort Whitaker" after his 7 month old son. He even helped, "Bless you Mike." They were out there working on it for 3 hours straight.

Welcome to FORT WHITAKER. I dreamed of making snow forts like this when I was young. They had a blast.

I am 40!!

2008-11-15T20:06:00.001-08:00

My sweet husband threw me a party to celebrate.

My wonderful friends showing their love.

All right. The party went a little crazy.

Thank you to all of you who shared and sent memories ( Mom & Dad, Becky w/a y and SNAFU). I felt very loved. It was a fun night.

The Princess Quiz

2008-10-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

I have finally taken the Princess Quiz.

You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Go figure.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

A Family Wedding

2008-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! MIKEY IS MARRIED!! My baby brother is now a husband. This happened on October 17th, at the Salt Lake Temple. Almost all of the Haroldsen family was there. It was wonderful to be together. There were cousins galore. The following are a few pictures from that day.

My family all dressed in wedding colors at the temple.

Joe's beautiful family.

Sarah and her children. We missed you Mike.

David and family.

Dan and fam.

All the sisters with Mike. (Kat, Jenn, Mike, Sarah, Me)

Cute cousins.

Matt and Mom

My Parents and Sarah. (Matt's arm trying to get Mom to smile)

The Elko, Nevada Reception

After the wedding we traveled to Elko for the reception. It felt like Sunday at my parents.

Teen-age attitude. Cassidy, Austin (Kat), Maddie, Makenna (Dave), Cody (Kat)

Brothers hamming it up. (Joe, Dave, Dan, Matt)

The Haroldsen family dance party!!!

We had a great time. Family is the best.

You know you are getting old when . . .

2008-09-17T18:46:00.001-07:00

. . . your prom dress, that you looked all over to find, is now a costume at a 80's retro dance. I guess that I just have to face it. The large shoulder pads and criss-crossing lace will not be coming back.

Plus, Cassidy looks better in it than I did.

Pictures of the first day of school.

2008-09-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Here are the first day of school pictures of my girls. I tried to create a slide show, and just couldn't do it. I would love to have any advice you could send me.

Hannah - first grade

Kait - 3rd grade

Maddie - 8th grade

Cassidy - 10 grade

My other daughters Lindsey and Willow

First Day of School

2008-09-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

My children are back in school. I now have all my girls at school full time. Everyone keeps asking me what I am going to
do with all of my free time. I haven't had any yet, so I can't tell them.

Hannah loves first grade. She comes home laughing about the funny things her teacher does and all the fun that she has at recess.

Kait is happy to be in 3rd grade. She was excited to discover that a friend of hers, that she thought was going to move, didn't and is in her class.

Maddie is excited to be the oldest group at school. She is excited to be in Theater and Concert Choir.

Cassidy is feeling a little overwhelmed. She has a tough semester with both Advanced Chemistry and Pre-IB English. She will have to work and study, but she will do well.

I hope you are having a great beginning school year.

Sunday Night fun at Grandma's.

2008-08-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

What more can I say. We have fun.

I love this singer.

2008-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Checker her out. She has an amazing voice. Her name is Adele, she is out of the UK. Her album is wonderful. A mix of a lot of genres. She is 19.

This is my dream voice.

I have returned from girl's camp.

2008-07-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Girl's Camp is over. Look at all my beautiful girls. It was a wonderful week. I am just now coming out of my "no sleep" fog. It was the hardest and most incredible time. I have a few pics to let you know how my week at camp was.

This is Melissa, she is my right hand and sane mind. If you could have one on no sleep. I could not have done this with out her. I feel that the great blessing of this calling was meeting her.

I haven't laughed so hard, or cared so much. By Wednesday we were finishing each other's sentences, and by Friday we were speaking in stereo. She was always reminding me to breathe and that all things are fine, and if things were out of my control, it was an "Oh, well." moment. She is my dear friend, I am thankful that I had her with me this year. I refuse to do camp without her.

This is Melissa and my cabin after 3 days of busy people. Foam stickers on the walls for the first 2 days (princesses themed on Tuesday, Island themed on Wednesday), then came the yarn. I was quite impressed with the yarning skills of our pranksters. We had yarn through the legs of our pants, around handles, it was a work of art. Then came Friday night, we went to bed at 2 am and woke to this . . .

(Sorry Melissa, I kept it small).

We woke early to open our door and find it filled with styrofoam beanbag beads and a message that said, "To our favorite princesses - from the peanuts".

We were also "Padded". Needless to say, we had a lot of fun. The girls were great.

Here are just a few pics of some of the "fun" that was to be had a camp.

This is the gator that we drove around. Yes, I drove a gator. I slid down most of the hills, but the girls learned to stay out of my way.

This is the

final moment of camp. Some one else was selected to go into the pool, the YCL's (youth counselors) felt I was still looking a little hot and dusty.

So as you can see. I had to take a swim. At least they let me take off my shoes, watch and glasses.

I loved my experience at camp. I felt the Lord's hand guiding me through this experience and I have grown and learned and I am a better person because of it. I also learned that my heart can grow so big that it could love 246 people at once. 178 of them were the Young Women and the rest were my wonderful Stake Staff and Ward Camp Directors. I have met some amazing people, I just can't describe how my life has changed.

Meet my girls.

2008-07-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

Cassidy decided to make my blog a little more exciting. So she changed a few things. (Just about everything). So in honor of her, I thought I would tell you how I feel about my girls.

Hannah, my baby who is not a baby anymore, is sweetness in action. When I was pregnant with her I felt this calm and love all around me. After she was born, she has continued to be that way. She can get her sisters going, but she prefers to love. She is a true artist. My favorite memory of her is seeing her sitting at my kitchen table, age 1, legs swinging, drawing circles on paper with crayons.

Kaitlyn is wonderful. She is so full of life. She knows that she has a lot to offer the world and is hurt when the world does not see it. She is tender and kind. My world would be empty without her.

Kait is so smart that I have to work to keep up with her logic. She loves to read and draw.

Madelynn is my songbird. She walks through my home singing. I video of her singing to the musical Cats, at 2 years old. She is loving and notices when someone is hurting, and wants to help.

Maddie has an awesome laugh that is contagious. She is all about her friends and fun. She loves clothes and shopping. This is strange for me because for the longest time all she would wear were sweat pants and basketball shorts. The teen years are coming. I love it.

Cassidy, is fun. She has decided that there is fun all around, you just need to find it. She loves drama. She is not a dramatic person, but acting is her love. She is definately a Haroldsen when it comes to the Theatre. Get her on a stage and she comes to life. She is a born leader. She naturally reaches out to people to make them feel a part of things. Cassie is excited to be 16. I am still in shock. She loves dances and dances almost every slow dance.

My girls are wonderful. I love being their mother. It is the joy of my life, to watch them grow and learn and become the people they were sent to earth to be. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for them. I know that they can change the world.

Girls Camp

2008-07-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Camp is in 5 days and this is what I look like right now. Things are going well, I just dropped off the booklet at the printers and it will be done by Friday, T-shirts, lanyards, bracelets, and special gift should be in tomorrow for me to pick up.

My girls are awesome. They are helping so much. I think that they will be happy when camp is over also.

I loved having my family in town. I love to sit back and just watch the chaos. Nothing is better than family. I love you all.

Thank you Jenny

2008-07-10T20:08:00.001-07:00

I am finally getting my blog put together thanks to my sister Jenny. She is the best. She is also sitting right here watching me type.

She is wonderful and amazing and I would be lost without her. Jenny liked that.

I hope that I can continue to keep these up. My girls will probably be better at it than I am.

We love you all.

We are happy to be among the blogging family.