My Hero

Today I got an email from Mimi saying that there was a facebook page that honored my grandfather- Papa Doug. My first thought was, "That's funny, I wonder if Papa even knows what facebook is?" I decided to go to the group today and read some of the wall post. After an hour and a few tears, I must say I am so touched. I always knew that Papa Doug was special. Yet, after reading the stories about Mr. Bradham Day's and true impact he made on his students I am so proud to be his granddaughter. Like I said before, I have always known that Papa Doug was special. Ever since I could remember people have come up to me and told me stories about Mr. Bradham Day or how he touched their lives in some way. I distinctly remember I was a sophomore in high school and a substitute seeing "Carolyn Bradham" on the role. She pulled me aside and told me how much my grandfather meant to her and how she was having family problems as a child and he took her under his wing. Last year Kenny Perry, the head football coach at Bowie, came up to me and told me that he thinks of my grandfather every football season. He said, "I think about the impact that he made on me and principles that he taught me as a child. I try to teach my players the same ideals."



After reflecting on the stories as an adult I can only be in awe- what an amazing person. As a teacher, I think to myself, "How can I make that difference in my students lives" and "How can I be there for my students the same way he was for his?" Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the daily grind it's hard to focus on anything.

What was it that made him so great? I think about my principals as a child. To be honest, I can't even remember my elementary principal's names. I think what made him so great was not Mr. Bradham Day, not the ice cream sandwich or cokes, and not him allowing the students to say the pledge over the announcements. I think it was the simple fact that he paid attention. He knew his students' name, he knew their parents, he knew what sports they played, and he noticed when a student was acting different. He took the time out of the day to have eraser relays or counsel the student who's parents were going through a divorce. Who can honestly say that their teacher, let alone, their principal noticed these things? He did; he noticed.


I want to be just like him. I want to teach my students morals. I want to make an impact. I want my students to think back and say "Mrs. Peterson taught me so many life lessons." I want to make a difference.

He is undoubtedly my hero.

My Garden

My Dad let me borrow a book called Square Foot gardening by Mel Bartholomew.  Last Sunday I read the book and decided I that I wanted a garden!  Last summer my Dad grew tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon, and lots of other veggies.  I thought that was the coolest thing.  The whole point of a Square Foot garden is to grow a little bit of everything.  You have a 4x4 foot box that is broken up into 1x1 foot sections.  In each 1x1 foot section you can grow veggies, flowers, or herbs. 

Sweet Jerr Bear offered to help me build my garden.  So off to Home Depot we went.  We got 4 wood post that were 4x10 for the border, weed blocker, soil, compost, plant labels, chicken wire, zip ties, wire cutters, 8 4x1 inch panels, and lots of seeds! 

First I had to begin soaking my seeds.  So I wrapped the seeds up into moist paper towels and let them soak for a good 2 hours.  To make sure I didn't mix the seeds up, I bought the plant labels from Home Depot. 

After soaking my seeds, it was time to get dirty!  Jerry helped me build my garden. 

Step One: Build the border

Step Two:  Staple the weed blocker to the bottom of the border

Step Three: Build Cover (this is optional- unfortunately I have very naughty dogs that will either eat or destroy my garden)  For our cover we just screwed the 4 foot x 1 inch wood panels together to form a border.  Then we stapled chicken wire to the sides.  Last we used zip ties to connect the chicken wire. 

Step Four: Fill your garden box. The book tells you to make your own soil by mixing a bunch of stuff together.  However, we decided to mix Top Soil, Garden Soil (with Pete Moss), and Compost. 

Step Five: Place panels 1 foot apart.

Step Six: Plant your seeds!!!! This is the best part!  

For my garden I decided to plant cantaloupe, watermelon thyme, jalopenos, bell peppers, sunflowers, marigolds, cayenne peppers, cilantro, basil, sugar snap peas, chives, broccoli, squash, cucumbers, and parsley.  I really hope it all grows!!!!

Step Seven:  Put cover over garden to keep bad dogs out

Hopefully my garden will grow!  I'll keep you posted!!!

Lauren's Baby Shower

This Saturday we (me, my mom, Aunt Rozlyn, Meagan, and Misty) threw Lauren a baby shower!  It was so much fun!  It was so great to see all of Lauren's old friends from high school.  All of them have either just had a baby or are pregnant!  Lauren looked so cute.  She's all belly!  Lauren got so much cute stuff.  I think my favorite was this clothes hamper from Reetha (Lauren's mother- in- law).  It was pink with white polka dots and it had Claire embroidered on it.  Here are so pictures from the shower. 

That's the clothes hamper!  Soooo cute!

Dessert and punch table.  We had cake from Nothing Bunt Cakes!  The cake was delious! 

Close up of the diaper cake!  I think the doll on top of the cake looks like Lauren!

The shower was great!  I can't wait for Claire to be here!  Only a little over a month!  

Grass Update

Well, it's been about a month since Jerry tilled up the backyard and layed seed down.  For awhile, I thought it was a lost cause.  No grass was growing and it was so frustrating!  Then finally one day.... GRASSS!!!!!! Here are some pictures... I know it's not much, but hey it's a start!

Close up:

Hopefully all the grass will end looking this full:

A couple of weekends ago, Jerry decided to put in a french drain.  I was very nervous about this, but Jerry assured me that we had to have it.  So we dug a trench, put the tarp thing down, put a sock around a pipe, and put some rocks on top of the pipe.  And what do you know we have a french drain!  It sounds a lot easier describing it, but it was ALOT of work.  On Wednesday it rained really bad.  Instead of the water pooling, it went down the french drain!  It was a miracle!  Usually we have nasty mudwater in our back yard for at least a week.  Which is a huge pain because the dogs track in a ton of mud into the house. 

The next weekend we decided to beautify the house.  We cleaned out the "flower beds."  It's hard for me to even call it that because it was just so awful looking.  Here is one picture of just how awful one of our flower bed looked:

After working ALL DAY Saturday and Sunday we have the end result.  Drum roll please....

Side of the house:  We took out the wood planks and replaced it with beautiful stones.  We also trimmed the trees, put down some bushes, and topped it with black mulch. 

This is the front of the house.  We put in 3 little bushes in front of the window, planted red and white germaniums, and topped it all with black mulch. 

This is the walkway.  We planted red and white germaniums and put down black mulch.  I love th black mulch!  It looks like dirt.

This is a cute welcome sign I got at Hobby Lobby.  I love that store!

I never realized how rewarding a pretty yard can make you feel.  Everytime I drive up to our house I have so much pride!  I used to hate when my parents would make me help plant flowers and I never understood why they cared so much.  It makes me so happy to drive up to our house now. 

Here is the end result of a long hard weekend.  As you can see Lucy was tired from just watching Jerry and I. 

Spring Training

Over Spring Break, Jerry and I went to Surprise, Arizona for the Ranger's Spring Training. We also went with Dustin (Jerry's SigEp bro), Groves (Jerry's SigEp bro), Brett (Groves' brother), and Kline(Groves and Brett's bff). We had so much fun! The weather was so perfect! In the mornings we would go to the back fields and watch all the players (major and minor league) practice and work out. It was really fun seeing all the players and getting their autographs.   Here is a picture of all the pitchers meeting before they go to practice. 

While we were in the back fields it was really easy to get autographs.  Here is a picture of me and Jerry with Matt Harrison one of the pitcher.  We go alot of autographs, including Neftali Feliz.  

After visiting the back fields it was time to go to the game.  The field was pretty small compared to the Ballpark.  I like it that way.  It seemed more up close and personal.  We litterally sat in talking distance to the players.  Here's a picture of the stadium. 

One day, we got the game early and Elvis Andrus was signing autographs.  It was really cool.  He signed my program and we got a picture with him.  I was pretty excited. 

One night we went to the Padres/ Mariners stadium and watched the Padres play the Dodgers. 

That was fun too. 

I'm not sure why I like baseball so much.  For one, it is was of Jerry's passions and it's nice to somewhat understand baseball and talk baseball together (as good as I can "talk" baseball). Jerry is a very good/ patient teacher.  I explains trades, positions, and plays to me during the game when he thinks I'm bored (I'm not really bored- just relaxed.)  Second, baseball is so relaxing.  I love being outside, the slow pace of the game, and all the yummy smells.    Third, Ian Kinsler.  Enough said.  Fourth, I feel like the players are more normal that other professional atheletes.  Being at Spring Training the players didn't seem to be cocky or too cool for school.  They were happy to talk to you or give you there autograph or take a picture with you.  It just really impressed me. 

It was a wonderful trip.  I had a great time and I can't wait to go to a baseball game at the Ballpark.  GO RANGERS!

Here are some random pictures I snapped throughout the trip. 

CJ Wilson-

Feliz signing my baseball:

The coolest Ranger's Fans ever:

COME ON GRASS!!!

Jerry and I have been battling our backyard for the past year. It seems that it is impossible to grow grass in the backyard. It is really annoying. Jerry decided to till up the entire backyard and put down some grass seeds. I really hope that it takes! GROW GRASS GROW!!!!

Here's a picture of Jerry with the tilling machine. What a handyman!

Claire's New Bedroom!

For Lauren's Birthday, my mom and I chipped in to buy her Claire's bedding. We finally got it in and it is super cute! It's not to girly, but just right! Here's a picture of Claire's crib.

Here's a picture of Lauren's belly this week! She's really starting to get big!


I've been shopping a lot for Claire lately. I just can't help myself, everything that size is so cute! I can't wait for Claire to be here!