Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home to your's.

We had a great Christmas AND....we're heading back to the happiest place on earth. DISNEYLAND!

The girls asked Santa for tickets this year and he was happy to oblige. 

After all the other presents were opened they found a box hiding behind the tree. On top of the box was an invitation inviting them to come to Disneyland with the date, time etc. Inside the box they found tickets, gift cards, countdown calendars, reservation card for the Blue Bayou restaurant, disney decals for the car and these Mickey ears.  These hats interact with the new World of Color attraction.

Stockings!

The aftermath.

The rest of the day was spent playing Just Dance 4, visiting family, eating and just hanging out and relaxing. 

Favorite Gifts: (other than Disneyland)

Adam: Helicopter and I-Dock

Robyn: Clothes and Disney Decals for car, Jewelry Organizer

Calli: Her Socccer State Championship Ring, clothes, boots, light up, magnifying mirror

Sadie: Desk Chair, clothes, Fuzzy boots, Stereo 

Gentry: Stilts, Cubby baby doll, Tangled Barbie, Hide-n-Seek Bunny

Calli's State Championship Ring

On the front it says: SCHS State Champions 

On the left side it says: SC12 with the Warrior logo

On the right side it's say's: Calli and the #20 in a soccer ball

And then on the inside it say's Callister Peterson, KJ (for KJ Harrison who they played the entire season for) and their team scripture reference D&C 104:82

Christmas Eve!

We had great time this Christmas eve. All of our family parties were earlier in the week leaving us with just our little family for Christmas eve.
We went and grabbed a bite to eat. Then after dinner we came home and opened our gifts from each other. Again this year we drew names and had to make something homemade for that person. We each had a budget of $10 so if we needed to buy supplies or wanted to buy something to go with our gift we could. As always they all did such a great job. I was really impressed with the thought that each one put into their gifts.

Sadie had Calli. 

She bought this frame and drew zebra stripes on them and then added the pink paper to match her room.

Calli had Gentry.

She made her 2 barbie outifts. A dress and a sailor suit and then a tutu for her baby doll. She bought her a barbie to go with it. 

Gentry had me.

She nailed it. I LOVE mugs. I only ever drink out of mugs. I also love ICE. She bought two mugs and painted them. One said "I love mom" and the other said "mom's ice mug."

I had Adam.

I made him an ornament with his mom's picture in it and a poem that said "Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard but always near. Still loved, still missed and very dear." I also, added onto our family video. We had a family movie made back in 2005 that took us from our wedding in 1995 to 2005. I added to it right where it left off from 2005-2012. 

Adam had Sadie.

He bought and painted these blocks white and then added the paper and I helped him cricut the letters. The blocks match her room and on one side they say "Sadie" and on the other they say "Dance"  He also gave her fuzzy socks to dance in. 

 After gift opening and watching the home movie we opened our Christmas Eve game. We got Disney Cranium and also my brother Brandon that drew my name this year gave us phase 10 and some munchies. We had also gotten Disney Headbanz at our Losee Christmas party, so we spent the rest of the night playing games, eating junk food and having fun with chocolate fondue.

Chocolate Fondue.

Disney Headbanz.

Gentry is hilarious when we play this game. It takes her rounds to finally guess one card. She will ask a question and then wander off to eat something, get a drink or grab something to play with at the table and then she will come back and guess again. 

Sadie and Calli were on a team for Disney Cranium and would do their secret handshake after each turn. 

 
Calli and Sadie celebrating with a little apple cider bubbly.

Christmas Season!

We have spent the Christmas season doing lots, having fun and unfortunately not taking many pictures. So here's a recap:

We made Gingerbread houses, drove around and looked at lights (on several different occasions, went to the temple, the girls and I sang "Mary's Lullaby" in sacrament meeting, planned and pulled off the ward Christmas party...

Although it was a crazy busy time we had fun. We did a "Christmas around the World" themed party. We had large flags from all over the World hung around the cultural hall, we decorated the tables with centerpieces that members had from around the World, on top of the usual ham, potatoes corn, salad, rolls, etc. we had members bring side dishes from around the World, we had a Nativity display of Nativity's from around the World and the program was talent or traditions from around the World. One family sang Silent Night in 4 different languages, one family did sign language, there was a Hawaiian dance etc. I think it turned out really fun. Glad it's over though. 

Our Santa this year was awesome...AKA grandpa. He was soo excited he bought himself his own Santa suit and provided teddy bears for all the kids. It was a huge hit. Calli and Sadie helped him as their elves. After taking her turn on Santa's lap Gentry came up to me after and said "Santa sounds like grandpa." Then she shrugged and ran off. It was so funny. 

Back to the recap: We wrote our letters to Santa, did the live nativity at Tuacahn (different post) colored our pillowcases, had our baking day, ate tons of junk food...

I walked in the kitchen one afternoon after school and found Calli making this concoction. I swear she eats like a horse. I don't know where she puts it all.  Chex cereal, honey grahams cereal, peanut butter, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup. She put it in the microwave and chowed down. 

More recap:

hunted for Jingle Jr. every morning (different post), went to Adam's work party, went to the Peterson Christmas Party, went to the Losee Christmas Party...

 Grand kids in their new pajamas playing Disney Headbandz. 

With Ben and Stacy living up north now, we just have my mom and dad and 1 brother and his family to celebrate with. While we were having our party here my 2 brothers and sister were having their party there. We continued to text and send pictures and videos back and forth throughout our parties.

We even had a surprise visit from Santa himself. The girls were sitting in the living room when they heard the door bell ring and then banging on the door and someone yell hey, let me in. It totally freaked them out. It was hilarious. 

He brought each of the girls some pajamas. So cute. I think he (grandpa) is really getting some good use out of his Santa suit. Well, we had a crazy but fun Christmas Season. I tried to soak it all in as fast as I could as it seemed to just rush past my eyes.

Christmas Letter 2012!

December 2012

Friends and Family,
Happy Holidays from our home to yours. We hope this letter finds you all healthy and happy.   It’s been awhile since we have sent out a letter with our Christmas cards so we felt it was time to catch you up on all the Peterson Happenings. It seems we  have kept the busiest this year running around, chasing and  supporting our greatest blessings…our children, in all of their endeavors and adventures.
Callister is now 15 years old and a freshman at Snow Canyon Middle School.  She spent the summer conditioning, running, weight training etc.  with the high school soccer team in hopes of making the soccer team. All her hard work paid off…she along with 4 other freshman made the team. To say that this experience has been amazing for her would be an understatement. She has loved every second of being involved with this team, the coaches and the girls.  She was also lucky enough to play with her cousin who is a Senior on the team as well.  They had a great year and in the end won the State Title.  Calli was so excited to be a part of this experience and to be a State Champion.  She is anxiously looking forward to next season. She is also looking forward to getting her drivers license next year. She already has her permit and drives whenever we feel brave enough to let her.  She is loving school, her friends and the Young Women’s Program. She is very close to earning her Young Womanhood Medallion. So far teenage life with her has been a breeze. (Knock on Wood).
Sadie is now 12 years old and has just entered Young women’s, which she already loves.  She is our social little butterfly and loves to be surrounded by friends and laughter.   Sadie is in the 6th grade at Lava Ridge Intermediate school. She is doing really well in school and is enjoying it, especially since she now has a cousin in the same school with her where they even have a couple classes together. (I pray for those teachers) She is extremely fun-loving and very tender. She cares about and loves everyone around her and reaches out to those that need a friend. She is a great example to me and others.  She is still taking piano lessons (piano is our nemesis around here but we keep it up the best we can)  and is also still involved in dance. She takes 6 classes a week which keeps her very busy, but she loves it…I love it most days but have those days where I feel like we live in our car.
Gentry is 9 years old and in the 3rd grade at Red Mountain Elementary school.  (If you haven’t fallen asleep yet and have been paying attention you will have noticed that we have three daughters in three different schools, that in itself keeps us hopping) Gentry is and will forever be “my baby.”  She is my cuddle bug and much to my enjoyment still likes to snuggle.   She likes school most of the time.  She too is involved in dance and taking piano lessons but her real joys in life are sleeping in and playing with her best friend/cousin Hallee.  She would rather play with Hallee than do pretty much anything else. They live at each others homes. (Good thing it’s right next door. We have put up a ladder between our two homes so they can just go up and over the wall)  She is also still our shy one. She is very quiet around others but at home she keeps us in stitches with her witty sense of humor.
Adam is still working with Johansen Pools. A blessing we do not take for granted.  In his minimal spare time he enjoys working in the yard, doing home projects, spending time with his family and supporting his girls. He even enjoys (though he won’t fully admit it) going to his daughters dance and piano recitals.  His favorite day of the week is Sunday which is the only day he has to just relax. After church he can often be found sneaking off to his theater room for some much needed R&R. Churchwise, he was just put in as the Employment Specialist.  A calling he likes because it’s been pretty low key.  Also, new to Adam’s life has been some health challenges. In December 2010 he was diagnosed with his mom’s hereditary heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy along with supraventricular tachycardia and underwent surgery.  We are staying on top it and he is doing really well.  Other than taking medication and seeing a cardiologist annually he is still able live normally and do everything he has been doing… just a little healthier.
As for me, the biggest change came in November when after 3 ½ years of serving as Young Women’s President I was released.  It has been hard as I have missed the young women and being in there with both Calli and Sadie but it’s been good to focus my time on other things as well…like Preschool. I started my own preschool last year and am now in my second year of teaching.  I love being “Miss Robyn” and enjoy teaching and watching all my cute little students grow.  I teach only twice a week so I can still keep up with my life of being a wife, a mom, a taxi driver, nurse etc. Although, it seems there is always dishes to do, laundry to fold, bills to pay and errands to run, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  My life is a blessing and I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for all that He has given me.  I hope that 2012 has been good for you and your families and that 2013 will be even better. May it bring you many blessings, laughter and happy times.

Love, The Peterson Family
Adam, Robyn, Callister, Sadie and Gentry

20 children!

Like everyone around the Country and even the World the shooting at a Connecticut elementary school killing 20 children and 6 adults really got to me. I found throughout the following days and weeks that my mind was constantly going back to that incident and thinking about those little innocent children and their families. I just couldn't wrap my head around it and how someone could do this.  On Tuesday, as I taught my preschool class, again my thoughts went to Sandy Hook Elementary.  Were they sitting at their desks when it happened or were they sitting around the rug at the feet of their teacher listening to a story as my preschool kids were right then. The following days the internet was flooded with pictures and poems providing some comfort about this  horrific event. I came across this one and loved it. 

'Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,

When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, 

their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven," declared a small boy, "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring,

those children all flew into the arms of their King.

And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had,

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, 

some skipped and some ran.

All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Heavenly Father loves us!

On Fast Sunday this month as I sat and listened to the testimony's I was reminded of an experience I had a few years back during the Christmas season and stood and shared my testimony. 

When Gentry was in Kindergarten she came home from school with a note saying they were going to be making gingerbread houses on Friday and to please send in a bag of candy. On Thursday, Gentry stayed home not feeling well and unbeknownst to me another note came home that day asking each child to bring in a parent with them on Friday to help them make their gingerbread house.  

The next morning she excitedly got up and I got her ready and took her school. As I dropped her off and watched her run in I just had this feeling that I needed to go in. I had no idea why and I was still in my pajamas, so I ran home got dressed, brushed my teeth, ran a comb through my hair and went back.  As soon as walked in I knew...There sat all the kids at their tables each one with a parent sitting by their side with their gingerbread houses in front of them waiting for instructions so they could start, and then there sat Gentry all by herself. My heart broke as saw her and thought of her sitting there all alone making her gingerbread house. When I walked towards her she looked up and her little face just beamed.  I sat next to her and together we built her gingerbread house. My heart was so grateful for a Father in Heaven that loved me enough and knew me enough that He knew this was important to me and knew I would have been crushed if I found out later that I was supposed to be there. I was grateful that He took time to whisper to me that I needed to be there that day. Although it was just a small thing, it was huge to me and He knew that. I'm thankful for the love that Heavenly Father has for all of us. 

Sadie and Baptisms!

We have a tradition with the Losee family that as soon as one of the grand kids turn 12 we go and do baptisms for the dead as a family. Grandma and grandpa, aunts, uncles, and any cousins that have turned 12 are there.  So we were able to do the same for Sadie. It's neat because my mom makes it so special for them. Her and my dad were temple workers in the baptistery so they know all the ins and outs and takes a lot of time talking and sharing stories with each grand child.  It is such a amazing experience to stand in the temple and watch your husband baptize and confirm your daughter.  Sadie had a lot of questions going into it and was a little nervous. I'm glad her first time was with us because she was able to relax and not worry so much. Now when she goes with the ward she'll be a pro.  One funny incident we had was, I took Sadie into the dressing room to get her in her jumpsuit (which was 3 sizes too big because she is so small) and she walked out of the stall and said "mom I can't get this zipped up and turned around." She had put it on backwards.  I had tears well up in my eyes because I was holding back the laugh. I did let a little giggle escape though. It was just too funny to see her walk out in this huge, frumpy jumpsuit on backwards. When I told her she had it on backwards she said "It zips up in the front?" I guess that IS kinda weird,  I just never thought about it before. She is such a fun girl. In the end she loved it and can't wait to go back. 

More Elf on the Shelf!

Here are some more of our favorite places we found Jingle Jr.

See you next year Jingle Jr!

Tuacahn's Live Nativity!

Our ward got to do the Live Nativity again this year. This is becoming one of my favorite holiday traditions. 

It is always such a neat experience   This year it was a little chaotic in the green room as we soon realized that a lot of the main parts hadn't gotten filled, so they just started assigning... Calli got asked to be Mary.

She was absolutely beautiful as Mary. She just beamed. I had several people come up to me after and tell me how she just radiated as Mary.  Here she is in the dressing room with her cute little baby bump. 

Calli - Mary

Gentry and I were Shepherds again and Sadie was a towns person this year.

Gentry and Hallee also got picked to the same special part they did last year. They traded off so in the first show Hallee ran around to the shepherds and showed them the Angel and Gentry got to hold baby Jesus and show the shepherds and then in the second show they switched. It was fun. 

Calli and Alex Karen as Mary and Joseph.

I wish I got a picture of her riding the donkey. She did a great job. 

Gentry and Hallee being the coolest shepherds ever

 as they hang out in the green room waiting for the second show. 

(Sadie was so busy being a social butterfly and hanging out with friends I could never find her to get another picture.)

Elf on the Shelf!

Our family Christmas elf, Jingle likes to drop in around the holidays and check in on us. He also likes to bring little gifts throughout the month. This year we got a surprise visit on December 1st. We found a package on our doorstep from Jingle. He had given us our own Elf on the Shelf. The girls names him Jingle Jr.

As the story goes we are not aloud to touch Jingle Jr. or his magic will go away.  Each day he sits around the house and watches to make sure we  are being good.  Then each night he flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa how we're doing. Then he reappears again the next morning and find himself a new spot to sit in.  The girls love getting up each morning and running around the house looking for him. We must have got a mischievous elf because we always seem to find him in the weirdest places doing the funniest things.

Here's some of the places we have found him so far...

December 1 - First visit 

December 2nd - T.P

December 3rd-Shaving

 

December 4th - Used permanent marker and drew on our family picture.

 
 December 5th - Mixed up our "Christmas" letters

December 6th-Snow (flour) Angel

December 7th-Game with friends

 

December 8th-Paper airplanes from the ceiling fan

December 9th-Getting into Sadie's make-up.

Stay tuned for next weeks "Elf Adventures"

Family Fun!

Adam loves going out and shooting his guns.  We just don't get out as often as he'd like. But with the weather being so nice lately we jumped on the chance. 

Gentry - 

Gentry really surprised us. The last time we took her out shooting she spent the time in the car with her ear phones on. This time we loved it. She was right in the middle of everything. She would load the gun, calk the gun and shoot the gun and then repeat. It was really funny watching her. 

Adam is great to show all the girls the ins and outs of gun safety. 

Sadie

 

Calli and Megan doing their version of the Charlie's Angels pose.

Calli

We had a good time. Even though there are no pictures of myself Adam made sure I shot a few times.