Halloween night was so much fun for me and my inner desire to be a mom, haha. We stayed in to have a dinner with Jake's friend Kyle and his date, and I got to pass out candy to all the little kids that came by! I loved seeing all of them in their cute costumes! The best part was when our nephews stopped by! This was the best October, and Jake helped me do everything I wanted to do. He's the best! Happy Halloween! --Now pass the turkey!! 

FALL DATE NIGHT + ANOTHER BABY BLESSING

I think I’ve been talking about how excited I am for Autumn since July. October is my favorite month, (I mean, my birthday is this month! It’s gotta be my favorite by default, ammiright?) and I look forward to it all year, every year. I love to fill it with as many Fall activities as I can! And Saturday, Jake was the one to make sure that happened. 

We started off our evening by taking a drive through the Alpine Loop. It is stunning this time of year! Also—you really can’t beat a drive with Jake. One of my favorite hidden talents of his is his rapping. I don’t know what it is, but I really love it when he starts rapping to some normal music, haha!  Once we made it to the end of the Loop, we went to Jake’s parents’ house where his dad had made H A N D S D O W N the BEST homemade chili that I’ve ever tasted. I’ve been talking to Jake about Chili for weeks I think, and this chili did not disappoint. I’m not kidding. I could go on and on. S O G O O D!!!  From there we headed up to Sundance again, but this time to do the zipline! If you haven’t done this, well…you really should. You get to go on a nice ride on the lift in the Full Moon light, and then you get to zipline back down! In the pitch black night. It was exhilarating and oh, so thrilling.  Afterwards we went home and turned on the Haunted Mansion, and I fell asleep in Halloween Heaven. 

On Sunday morning, we were able to go to my nephew’s baby blessing! Kailor is the cutest baby. I could hold him forever! He’s got the most darling dark hair, and it’s safe to say I’m obsessed. I mean, just look at him!! 

BECOMING AN AUNT FOR THE 13TH AND 14TH TIME

 It was right around last Christmas when BOTH of my sisters-in-law revealed that they were pregnant with due dates ONE week apart! I'd been anxiously awaiting the arrival of those perfect little babes ever since. After what seemed like an eternity, we were able to welcome Kailor D. and Lyza Jane out of the wombs and into the world! I was instantly smitten, of course. 

This past Sunday was Lyza's blessing day. I love baby blessings. I love thinking about the future of this tiny little human that has no idea what kind of adventure he/she has begun! Life is a wonderful miracle, and I love the fresh perspective babies bring. 

Also, if anyone wants to talk about how attractive Jake is while holding a newborn baby....holla at me! ;)

PIZZA PICNIC + NICKEL ARCADE

Out of all my nicknames, I think my ultimate favorite is Auntie Pay. It all started back when my sister got married to a guy named Jon Walter. I was 11 at the time, and I thought it was funny to call him Won Jalter. In turn, he started calling me Palynn Ketersen. So when they had kids, instead of Auntie Kay, I became Auntie Pay, and it has stuck ever since. 

I take the title of "aunt" very seriously. And obviously I have to make sure that all my nieces and nephews love me more than they love their other aunts. So the day before they went out of town, we planned a super fun afternoon. 

We started out by making a stop through the Little Caesar's drive-thru to get some pizza and cheese sticks, and drove straight to the park for a little pizza picnic! Picnics are the best. You eat a little, you snuggle a little, you pick the green grass and throw it on everyone else, you eat a little more, you climb trees, you have stick wars-- and then repeat. There's really nothing better! As soon as we finished eating, we went to Nickel City to play some games and win some prizes. Although, I don't really feel like they can call it a nickel arcade anymore, because everything is done on cards now! And let me tell you; it's must easier to mindlessly spend your "nickels" this way, haha. But it was a lovely afternoon! Everyone walked away with their desired loot and ready for a popsicle and a nap once we returned home. 

THE DAY MY DAD PASSED AWAY

May 29th, 2017: My heart is extremely heavy. My dad passed away this morning at exactly 11:00 a.m. There is so much that happened that is too personal and sacred to share here, but it was an experience that forever changed my life. After hospice care took his body away, I went into his closet and put on one of his suit jackets; it smelled just like him. Wearing that jacket, I laid down on the floor of his closet, turned the Angel Lullaby song on on repeat, and cried myself to sleep. I can't imagine what life without my dad there will be like. At the same time though, I know he's not really gone and will be with me now more than ever. 

The weight of this trial feels so heavy. I can't seem to shake it. The kids can all sense the sadness in the house. Every time Ryeson sees me, he comes up to me, gives me a hug and says, "He was the best grandpa." And he just continues to hug me and follow me around. My heart is so sad, it aches more than I thought possible. But this 4 year old helps me understand Heaven a little better, and for that I am extremely grateful. 

I love you always, always, always papa.

PRESCHOOL GRAD

May 26th, 2017: So proud of this little preschool graduate and so grateful for his absurdly cute smile today. There's nothing I love more than being an aunt.

ST. GEORGE + SUNDAY DINNER

This weekend my niece had her end-of-year dance recital with her hip-hop studio. It was something that I definitely didn't want to miss, so I asked my sister-in-law Kenzie to drive down with me. Lizzy did such a great job! It was so much fun watching her dance, see her confidence come out, and watch her having so much fun with it! I honestly was so proud of her, like I constantly am. She's always trying new things. She's so brave. 

Being in St. George was exactly what I needed this weekend! The warm weather, acting immature with my sister at church (she totally started it...) and playing nonstop with the cutest nieces and nephews in all the land make for one perfect weekend.

I got home on Sunday just in time to play with more nephews out on the trampoline before it got too cold and dark. We ate ice cream cones and played trampoline dodgeball until my legs gave out, haha. They're always getting me outside, and I love it. 

I have a bad cold now that may have stemmed from going nonstop this weekend (and I probably caught something from Nathan too) but I really can't complain with a life this good!

National Lucky Penny Day

Lucky Penny from Kalynn Petersen on Vimeo.

For the past few days, I've been down in St. George watching my nieces and nephews. I love these kids, but man, they can be challenging! Haha.

Today was a crazy one. First, the car battery died. Second, I somehow locked myself out of the house with my one year old niece and four year old nephew, right when it was supposed to be the baby's nap time, smack dab in the heat of the St. George day. It was so stressful! I had no idea what to do. I was so glad I had that four year old with me though. It's funny how just yesterday he got so worked up about me putting his bread in the "wrong" toaster slot, that he threw a tantrum and started bawling and throwing things, yet while we were locked out of the house and sweaty and exhausted, he kept smiling and saying, "I'm sure we'll find a way in!" Which we did. Isn't it funny how differently children and adults think? I'm over here like, "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH SLOT YOUR BREAD GOES IN." And he's probably wondering why I'm stressing so much about being locked out for a bit.

After that, though, we needed to turn our day around. So we went to ride the carousel downtown, and I stashed some lucky pennies--heads up-- for the kids to find. It's National Lucky Penny Day, after all! We made wishes on our lucky pennies, threw them in a penny fountain, and then left some lucky pennies for others to find.

It's days like today that make you think about how lucky you really are though. I'm lucky to have friends who would stop by to help jump the car. I'm lucky to be able to hang out with my nieces and nephews for a week and a half. I'm lucky to be able to call my mom whenever I need an adult to talk to.

Guess I'll be able to fall asleep tonight counting my lucky pennies.

10 things I learned from babysitting

1: If you toot three times, you have to go potty. 

2: Flashing lights means you're in outer space, and the dark side could attack at any second.

3: Mac and cheese is its own food group, and is better than any other food. Especially if from Golden Corral.

4: Car rides longer than 10 minutes are just unacceptable.

5: Car seats can double as jet pack. Or spaceship. Or train. Or airplane. Or any other mode of transportation. 

6: "Lasterday" is a word used that can be used to mean any day that isn't today.

7: The word underwear is funny to everyone and should be screamed during public outings. If no one laughs, you must scream it again. This may be substituted with the words booger or poop as well.

8: You may have rooms full of toys, but all you need to be entertained is a cup and a spoon.

9: Babies feel cuddliest in the morning. 

10: Children, even in their naivety, are wise beyond their years.

I got to spend the past 5 days babysitting some of my nieces and nephews in St. George! Being an aunt is one of my most cherished relationships. I can't even begin to describe how much these kids mean to me. It was a rainy weekend, and we had so much fun just enjoying each others' company. I can't wait until May when I get to do it all again! 

I'm back! And happy birthday, Lizzy!

Oh, hello! This is something that I haven't done in a very long time. Last Friday at work (got a new job, by the way!) I had some down time, and for some reason came to this old blog of mine and ended up reading through the entire thing! Besides making me feel extremely nostalgic, it also made me so happy to read all the memories I hadn't thought back on in so long. I realized that this blog was my best form of journaling. I know people are always complaining that bloggers (I mean the famous ones--not me, haha.) lead everyone on to believe they live some perfect life full of ONLY happiness and good times. While we all know that's not entirely true, what's wrong with believing it? I loved going back through my old posts and reading about the things that made me the happiest. The experiences I was having, the music I listened to, recent movies I'd seen--life WAS perfect to me. And I'm sad I don't have the same thing to look back on for the last couple of years. So I've decided that I'm back at this, even if it is only for myself and my mom. Hi, mom!

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Today my niece, Lizzy, turns ELEVEN. Eleven?! Eleven. 

My relationship with her is oh so special to me. She was the first little human to make me an aunt. I was only 13 when she was born, and I think that age paved the perfect path for us to be best friends. She is the sweetest, most beautiful girl in the world. Honestly, there's no one like her. While I can't count on her to keep a secret--she'll always go and tell her mom! haha!-- I can count on her to love me no matter what. She's one of my biggest fans and one of my best cheerleaders. It can be a lot of pressure having someone so young and innocent and naive look up to me so much, because I never want to disappoint her. She's so good. I hope she never grows out of wanting to have a sleepover when either of us is visiting the other. Happy birthday, Lizzy! Love you xoxo

Here are a few of my favorite pictures with her:

Aunt Kalynn.

Tonight while I was watching this cute nephew of mine, he looked over at me so sweetly and said, 

"KK, you'll always be my aunt."

There is probably nothing better than being an aunt.

Day 3.

Today I was thinking about the last visit I had with this little guy. He was screaming at me because I wouldn't let him have a chocolate cupcake before he ate his breakfast. 

I will be the first to say that I get nostalgic for naivety. 
I miss the days of believing evil was just the arch-nemesis of happily ever after, confined to story books and Disney movies.
I wish I didn't have to worry about walking to my car alone in a dark parking lot,
or leaving my bedroom window unlocked so I can take in the natural air,
or trusting the simplest gesture of a stranger.
But while I understand the necessity for opposition in all things, it doesn't make the sting of deception any less disheartening.

When we're children, our biggest disappointment is not getting dessert when we want it. Then we come to the age in which decisions over our eating habits become dependent on our own discretion, our letdowns progress to amplify themselves immensely, and suddenly we're wishing our dilemmas were over that little cupcake. 

It's funny. Regardless of what people think, Heavenly Father has a plan. A perfect plan for every single person. And it will go on whether we believe in it or not. I love that. It comforts me to know that I don't need to worry about what I want, because it will work out in a way that gives me exactly what I need-- which is ultimately what I will want.

I love that as we live and learn to serve others, we are reciprocated those blessings. 
I love that trials of our faith simply reap a greater understanding and testimony of the Savior. 
I love that the blessings of the gospel are conditional; merciful, yet just.

See? Perfect.

What got left out.

There were some pictures/occasions that got left out of my blog during Spring break by accident.
I thought I'd fill you in now.

Matthew and I like to eat.
We especially like breakfast.
So we planned a brilliant breakfast of sausage, bacon, french toast, eggs, and smoothies.
We decided to be nice and invite Kels and Adam along too.

yeah, yeah. I'm hawwtt. Tell me about it.
not.

Matthew took me out to Fazoli's, cause that's our place.
They just keep handing you breadstick after breadstick.
Would you think differently of me if I told you that we ate 10 by the end of the night?
Cause...we really did.
But in my defense, it wasn't 10 each.
Just...10 total.

Lastly, I finally got to go see my newest nephew:
Cole Nolan Johnson.
He's such an adorable baby!
He totally looks like a little man, doesn't he?
I'm such a lucky aunt.

And...that's it.
you will hear no more talk of Spring Break in these parts.
Summer break is coming in 6 weeks though.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--Love Always,
Kalynn.

p.s. MOM: I forgot to bring that big box of goldfish to Cedar that you bought for me. Don't let Adam eat them.