Merry Christmas!

This year we had our Annual Losee Christmas Eve party, the day before. We met at the new Pirates Island Pizza for dinner. What a fun environment. All the kids got $5.oo stuck to a candy cane that they could spend either in the arcade or the gift shop. After dinner, we went to my parents house for the rest of the party. One of our annual traditions is to act out the nativity with the grand kids. Last year's nativity was very eventful. We had kids fighting over who would be Mary, we had kids refusing to be in it at all, we had wisemen's carrying staffs, while the shepherds carried the gifts, and we had kids playing tug a war over baby Jesus. So this year we decided that the adults would act it out this year and show them how reverent it should be....

Yea right! Oh my gosh I was laughing so hard I about wet myself. Adam's child costume didn't fit so it was held on by clothes pins, my brother obviously didn't want to cover up his awesome Christmas Sweater so he only put his costume on half way, the angels wings were too small, the costumes got mixed up so we ended up with a couple of colorful shepherds and Mary fell off of her donkey on the way in. I don't know how well we did trying to set an example but it was sure funny. Defiantly a memory I won't be forgetting for a while.
After the reverent Nativity we played a game where we passed a present around a circle and when the music stopped whoever was holding the present had to unwrap it and do the task that was inside. There were about 12 different presents. Here is my niece Jadyn shoving marshmallows in her mouth and saying "God bless us everyone"

Calli had to get dressed up and act out the song "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas"
And here are some of the grand kids spelling "Christmas" in the air using only their bums. It was a blast!
And last but not least the grand kids all got their new pajamas from grandpa and grandma.

Christmas Eve and Christmas!

We had a nice and quiet Christmas Eve, which was nice for a change. We had our own little family party that night. Usually we do a talent show at the Losee Party but didn't do one this year, so the girls felt like we still needed one. So we all prepared a talent to share. After the amazing talent show we opened our Christmas Eve gifts. These are the gifts that we buy for each other. A few days before Christmas we draw names and then go shopping. This is one of my favorite traditions. I love watching my girls walk around the store looking for the perfect gift for that one person. They are supposed to keep it a secret until Christmas Eve but every year as we sit down to unwrap them we have already figured out who has who. But they still get so excited to open these presents. We spent the rest of the night watching "It's a Wonderful life" and Tracking Santa on the Internet. We got to bed just in time, before Santa made it to Utah.

Christmas Morning!

We woke up to a White Christmas.

I'm such a loser when it comes to taking pictures on Christmas, I get so excited about what's going on that I forget. So here is the only picture I got of that morning. It's the girls going through their stockings. Calli's favorite gifts were a Nintendo DS and a Digital Camcorder. Sadie's was her Nintendo DS and her boots. Gentry's was her Baby Alive and Bath paints. After opening presents Adam made us breakfast and we spent the morning, playing with our new toys. That afternoon we went back over to my parents house for Christmas dinner and then we all went to see a movie. (Bedtime Stories) After the movie we all went house hopping to see what everybody else got. And after that...we all crashed, we were exhausted.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

The Day After

We had our Peterson Family Christmas Party December 26th. We all drove to Enterprise and had Christmas Dinner at Adam's sister's house. Then we all went snow sledding! It was so fun to watch my nieces and nephews that live in Enterprise, they were all pros. They come out in all their snow gear: snow suits and boots while we are all in our levis and mittens. My niece who is 2 years old climbed out of the car and without any hesitation she jumped right on the sled picked her hill and away she went. Then she would carry her sled (which was twice her size) back up the hill and do it again. We got quite a kick out her. Although, after a while we were all pros. Everyone kept tring crazy stunts trying to out do somebody else. Calli attempted riding the sled down on her feet...noticed I used the word "attempted". We only got a few bruises, but had a lot of laughes. What a great time!

Slow Sunday!

Here is the conservation that Gentry and I had this morning while doing her hair for church.
Gentry: I don't want to go to Primary today.
Robyn: How come?
Gentry: Because.
Robyn: Well, then your going to miss all the fun Christmas stuff they have planned. I bet they do something really fun today and maybe you'll even get a treat.
Gentry: We only get treats on slow Sundays.
Robyn: What's slow Sundays.
Gentry: You know, like on Fast Sunday you don't get treats, but on slow Sunday's you do.
I had to stop doing her hair right there and walk out of the room because I was laughing so hard. She was right though, it must have been a slow Sunday because everyone in primary got a treat...well everyone except for Gentry, because she didn't go.

Happy Snow Day!

Boy, was our house hopping last night. The phone calls started coming in around 9:00pm and didn't stop until after 11:00 informing us that there would be no school. Needless to say my girls were to excited to go to sleep.

I've lived here my entire life and I don't remember ever having a snow day...How Fun!

 

Look at their big Snowman

 My three snow angels

Sadie made a snow cone out of the snow. 

The sweetest thing...

Okay, so if you read my last post this will make more sense but my husband is so sweet.
We had our Young Women activity tonight and while we were inside the church it snowed 3 inches. Adam knowing how scared I would be, texted me during the activity and told me that he would come and get me if I wanted him to. So as soon as the activity ended and I saw how much snow was on the roads, I called him. Everyone kept asking me what I was going to do with my car. I said "I don't care, I'll come back when it's sunny." The Bishop and Priesthood came in and said they would drive all the girls home...what a blessing! So Ronda (Bishops wife who also does not like driving in the snow ) went outside to wait for Adam. She was going to wait and then drive behind us in our tracks. So there we were sitting in Rondas car waiting when we hear a knock on the window. AS we look out we see Adam and Bishop standing there covered in snow. They had both WALKED down together so they could drive us home and also so I wouldn't have to leave my car there. I think that was one of the sweetest things he has done for me. I know it's just a simple thing and probably silly to some, but to me it meant the world.

What is all of this white stuff and what is it doing here?

I love the snow. I love looking out the window in the morning and seeing the white covered ground. I love watching my girls hit each other in the head with snowballs . I love making snow angels, and snow forts. I love putting the raisins, carrots hats and scarfs on the snowman. I love going sledding. But all of this seems to be forgotten at the realization that I am going to have to eventuallydrive in it. I am scared to death to drive in the snow. I'm the kind of person that likes to be in control of my surroundings and when you are sliding off the road you are not in control. It's the worst feeling in the world. I dread having to drive in the snow. There is a reason why I live in Sunny St.George.

So this morning I embarrassed my girls as we drove to school (which is 6 blocks away). We left about 20 minutes early to give me plenty of time to get there. As we drove 2-3 miles per hour, my girls were mortified as cars lined up behind us. To make it a little more adventurous I started singing the theme song to Indiana Jones. This only got a "Oh, my gosh mom" from my girls. I continue explaining that this is what happens when it snows in St. George, everybody gets freaked out, drives slower and takes more caution. In which Calli replied, "Just you mom." Needless to say we got there safe and sound. I'm already gearing up to go pick them up at 3:30. So, if you see me putting along and think it would be funny to honk or speed past me, just remember, I do not have a problem using my middle finger. HEE HEE JK! and Happy Traveling!

Christmas Countdown!

Our Countdown to Christmas usually involves lots of Fun Family Traditions.

Each year we like to...

Make Gingerbread Houses!

(actually graham cracker houses)

Add another year on our "All I want for Christmas" pillowcases.

Get a visit from "Jingle" our family Christmas elf.


Go to the Green Valley Stake Nativity Display. This is one of our favorite Christmas family traditions because my dad was the Bishop in the Green Valley ward that started this 8 years ago. My mom and dad still take turns being hosts, so we like to go in while they are there.

Take a trip to the St. George Temple to look at the lights,
and listen to the Nativity.

And then get all tuckered out driving around looking at lights.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

Bedtime

Okay, so this is how bedtime went last night. After sending the girls to bed more than a dozen times they finally laid down. After about 1.5 seconds, we hear chatter, bangs and whining. And sure enough here came the Informer.
Sadie: Calli and Gentry were beating up on me and put my face in a pillow.
Adam: Calli and Gentry come here.
Adam and I continue to explain to the girls how pushing ones head into a pillow is wrong and can be dangerous. Even when you're just playing mistakes happen and someone can get hurt.
Robyn: Now why were you pushing Sadie's head in a pillow.
Gentry: Because she threw a CD.
Calli: And then Gentry hit her.
Adam: Sadie, why did you throw a CD at Gentry?
Sadie: I didn't, I threw it at Calli.
Robyn: Okay, let me get this straight, Sadie threw a CD at Calli, but Gentry's the one that punched her.
Gentry: "No I POUNDED her."
Oh my gosh, have you ever had one of those moments when you know it is not the time or place to bust up laughing but can't help it. After we all had a good laugh we made everyone apologize and sent them to bed for round two. Bedtime is never dull around here.

Dickens Festival!

Dickens Festival 2008

Calli & Sadie

(This year the directors really wanted families to be a part of this together. There were several mothers and daughters, father and sons and entire families in the casts. I actually thought about trying out with my girls, but I knew they would have more fun having their freedom without mom always on their cases, so I volunteered my sister and I to be the make-up artists. That actually turned out to be a lot of fun. Before each show we got to put the make-up on all the actors, it was great fun!)

Sadie as an Orphan in Oliver!

Sadie Singing "Food Glorious Food" with the other little orphans.

Sadie as a Match Girl in Scrooge.

Calli as a Pick Pocket in Oliver!

Calli "picking" Fagin's Pocket.
Calli dancing with her cousin Talen to the song "December the 25th" in Scrooge. Holy cow, when she walked out on stage the first time in her darling dress I about cried. She is such a Tom boy and does not like being dressed up, but up on that stage you would never know; she looked like she was having the time of her life. When I asked her about it later she said "I was in character mom."
This was Calli's 4th year and Sadie's 3rd, along the way many cousins have joined. This year there were 7 cousins in the two plays together. Talen, Jorrin, Jaicelyn, Tavin, Calli, Kassidy and Sadie. They had a ball hanging out and performing together. This picture was taken after the last show on the last day so everyone is sad and had been crying.
(Actually Sadie and Kassi and still crying)
After Hours, Days, Weeks and Months of spending time with this cast, it was hard to say goodbye. This is Sadie saying Goodbye to the director Matt Boulton. Matt is so cute with these kids, they all just adore him. I don't know how he does it but he takes 100 kids and gets them all to listen to him and perform. He is amazing.Calli's turn to say goodbye.
They loved being a part of this cast and will miss everyone, but Matt holds a special place in their hearts.

Thanks Matt for another great year!

Gentry's Dicken Festival Adventures

So what did Gentry do while at the Dickens Festival night after night, show after show...she owned the place.

She colored...

She hung out with her cousins...
And in between shows she took over the stage.

For as many hours as we spent there she did really good!

Home away from Home

I have moved, and I just wanted to let you know my new Temporary Address. It is front row, Victoria Stage, Dixie Center. I will be living here for rest of the week... The Dickens Festival is here again which means I pack my bags every day and go camp out. For the past 4 years my girls have been in the Oliver and Scrooge plays for the Dickens Festival. They have been rehearsing twice a week for three hours each since September. It is a huge commitment from the entire family but they absolutely love it. They never complain or seem to mind the late nights and early mornings. I have to admit I love it as well. I am there for all 10 shows and it never gets old. They perform everyday Wed.-Sat. Oliver is at 6:00 and Scrooge is at 8:00. On Saturday there is also a matinee at 1:00 and 2:40. So if you come to the Dickens Festival come on by Victoria Stage and I'll give you a tour of my home away from home. (I'll post pictures at the end of the week after all the performances)

Sky Show

December 1, 2008Did anyone see the "One Night Sky Show" last night when the Moon, Venus and Jupiter all joined together for a few short hours. It was Amazing. (Sorry the picture isn't great, but if you look close you can see the Moon and Venus and Jupiter forming a tight triangle. You can see it really well if you zoom in on the picture) This event will not happen again until November18, 2052.