Easter and Jerusalem

For Easter Jonathan and I spent most of the day with his family, because we were also celebrating his bday for the family. It was a wonderful dinner, and so much fun. I brought a chocolate fountain for dessert (I can't believe I didn't take a picture). I brought the Choc Fountain because Jonathan really wanted one for our wedding but I had already chosen a bunch of desserts so we decided against adding it to the list. Anyway, since we were also celebrating his bday I decided it would be a great time to whip out the fountain for Jonathan. Thanks mom for letting me borrow it!!  

Once dinner was over, and we had celebrated Jonathans bday. Oma shared a very special experience with all of us. A few years ago, Oma and her sister Dina, traveled to Jerusalem. She said they had the most marvelous experience of being there in the streets that Jesus had once walked. She explained to us that there are 5 places that she feels sacred about. The home, the church house, the Temple, the Sacred Grove, and Jerusalem. She told of a wonderful experience of going past the Jordan River and feeling a great spirit, she even was able to witness a few people having the opportunity to be baptized in the River! She then spoke of her experience in going to the tomb where they believe Jesus was buried.  

After Oma shared her testimony Jonathan and I felt the spirit so strongly and we declared that we must make it to Jerusalem! I would love to have the experience of being in that wondrous city! To see the culture, the architecture, and most importantly the sacred places that belong to the town. So we have decided to start saving "our big bucks" to take a trip!! I am so excited to go! It will be a wonderful experience! I can't wait!  If you too are interested, I have found a man who does tours.  Just looking at the itinerary makes my mouth drool! He also has an option to go to turkey and Egypt while you are out there! Ooooh! Egypt and Jerusalem, here I come!! (In a few years :) ) 

*By the way the picture above is Jonathan with Raquelle, Angela and Rob's newest beautiful addition to their family! Isn't she gorgeous! And Jonathan is so cute with her, he will be such a good dad!

November update!

Quick Update on the past few months, then I am going to do MUCh better on Blogging!





NOVEMBER- AAh! Turkey month! Jonathan and I were blessed to have 2 new additions to our family and learn about a coming addition!! Jenny gave birth to Lily Joy Peterson and Holly gave birth to Danielle Ross on Nov. She too is beautiful, fun, and a wonderful addition to our family!! We are so happy to have both beautiful babies in our lives! Also we learned that on the Day side, my Sister Katie is also having a surprise bundle of JOY!!! We are so excited to have more kids around. We could not be more excited! The morning of Thanksgiving Jonathan and his friends got together for the annual Turkey Bowl. They are so funny! Most of the week before was spent talking trash and betting who would win. There are two age groups in his close circle of friends and so it was the older vs younger. JOnathan was the quarter back for his team! He played wonderful!! My own original Tom Brady!! :)



Of course there were also many wonderful gatherings with Family for Thanksgiving. We are so glad that we are able to make it to both families for Thanksgiving!! It makes for a lot of food though!! Also in Nov we had the Annual Riddle Family Tree Hunt. THis is easily one of my favorite traditions! The day after Thanksgiving we traveled to Christmas Grove where Jonathan and I picked out our FIRST TREE!!! It was so much fun! Of course everyhting is more fun this year and more special because we get to put "first" in front of everything.. Jonathan thinks I may have overdone it will all of the "firsts", but hey it only happens once right!! :) We found the perfect tree. I wanted a big beautiful bushy tree and Jonathan wanted a "Charlie Brown" tree. So we compromised, we both loved this tree it was perfect for us! November was simply wonderful!! We could not have asked for anything more! We were able to thoroughly enjoy each other and our extended families, and friends! Aren't the holiday's great! The following pictures are all from November and the activities I mentioned above.