Christmas home tour

I was challenged to show a tour of my home decorated for Christmas by one of my crafty blogger friends and although Christmas is over I promised I would get this up before the new year.

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Noelle learns to ski

Last Saturday Chuck was taking Marshal and a friend skiing

Noelle has wanted to ski for years but it never seemed to happen so Chuck decided it was the perfected day to teach her.

She was a natural and loved every minute

Seriously have you seen a happier child!

Noelle could spend hours out in the cold this is defiantly her sport!

Kendall is hoping to have her turn soon but I think teaching one kid at a time is the best way to go. After he has taken Noelle a few more times we will let her give it a try.

Pictures with Santa

Marshal says this picture is destined to be an AT&T ad, raising the bar!

Keep in mind I am on my tip toes. Never realized Charly is about to pass me up.

I Love that my ward does pictures every year!

Christmasland Show

Yesterday was our winter show all three girls did a wonderful job.

This year several of our neighbors have joined our studio so this morning at church when the primary kids went to sing for the Christmas program one of the little neighbor boys grabbed Charly before they sang and told her that she did a wonderful job and that he loves watching her dance.

I feel very loved that my Mom's sisters make such an effort to come watch the girls.

This was Charly's first performance on her toe shoes she was so excited to have them there to watch her. She put in so much work for this show. With nutcracker going on she had missed so many classes that she would practice at home she made arrangements to meet at the studio and get in extra practice whenever possible. She did an incredible job you would have never know that she missed any classes.

As a mother I think it is fun to watch your kids be involved, the part I love most is the life long lessons they learn. It does not matter if they are playing the piano, playing a sport or learning something new there is always a greater concept being taught. In dance they have learned to be confident, graceful, to have good posture and how to learn from those around you instead of being snotty or jealous. And last but not least the friendships they are gaining.

I had to get a picture of our very supportive Dad

Chucks Birthday

I know this was last week but I had to show how cute the kids decorated for Chuck

We had 40 balloons

We had all kind of surprises in 40's for him

Marshal told the lady what to write on the cake he thought it was so funny

I am an Aunt again

I had to share this cute picture of my new niece McCall. She opened her eyes for us just before we left on sunday.

Our Soldier

The Nutcracker is a big part of our Holiday traditions.

We get to experience the hard work and joy from a dancers perspective.

Charly has been given some great opportunity this year. She has performed a couple of times already filling in for dancers who for whatever reason were not able to perform. Her actual cast does not perform till the week after Christmas. Dec 26 - 31st

This saturday is the girls Christmas show for there dance studio

I am really excited for Chuck and the kids to see Charly perform for the first time on her toe shoes.

Being a mother who danced herself I am in awe of Charly and all the talent, dedication and love she has for this talent. I am grateful to her teacher for all the time and energy she puts in to these girls and for all the professional dancers she brings in and to ballet west for giving Charly such a positive experience to work with their company.

Peterson Christmas Party

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The one thing I love about the Holidays is getting together with family and traditions. I remember when I was a kid and we were dressing up for the nativity and now it is our kids. I wish I would of gotten more pictures of everyone there but when you hand this job off to a kid, you get what you get. We had a great time and I am very grateful to everyone for taking time out of there busy month to come and enjoy each other. Merry Christmas!!!!

Happy Birthday CHUCK!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHUCK!!!

I can not believe I have known Chuck long enough for him to be 40

Thanks for all the hard work you do.

You are an awesome Dad and Husband who always puts us first.

This is Chuck at Marshals age.

Love the 80's hair and shirt he still thinks this shirt was the bomb.

We hope you have a great day and know that we love and appreciate you.

Happy Birthday!

First week of December

This last week was full of all kinds of fun adventures and lessons learned. Earlier in the week I had the opportunity to help my nieces decorate their house for Christmas which was a lot of fun to see them in that role. While I was there I had an interesting thing happen. My niece pulled out this decoration that use to be my Moms. It was this lenox Christmas tree that a really good friend of hers had given her. I never thought to much about it but the minute Talia pulled it out of the box and showed it to me I could recall the excitement my mom had when she received it. The conversation her and I had about it and how much she loved this friend. I still can't figure out why this memory became so strong to me but it did give me much to contemplate about. It made me wonder if this friend of my Mom's has any idea of how much she meant to my Mom and if I express enough gratitude and love to my family and friends. I am hoping to make this a bigger priority this coming year. I am very grateful for all my family and friends and hope I can strengthen relationships this year and even repair a few.

Saturday I got a call from my nephew Easton asking me if I could take him shopping to get his Mom and Dad's Christmas presents. Soon as he got his room cleaned we headed out. I had so much fun he had so many ideas of what to get them. I found out that he thinks his Mom and Dad are big fans of cheetah print things. (Colle is there a wild side I don't know about he he!) After our first store he had decided that he wants to do this with me every year for the rest of his life. I hope I coached him enough on what to say when his Dad tries to trick him into telling what we got.

Marshal had his final board of review this week he is officially an eagle just need to have the court of honor. At one point in the interview they had Chuck and I join them and it was really neat to here what these men had to say about him. I am a so proud of him he worked hard to get here. He learned a lot of lessons along the way and had a ton of fun. I am excited to see him take the challenge that was given to him to find one boy and make a difference in his life.

Sunday we made gingerbread houses and watched miracle on 34th Street

We made two houses Marshal and Noelle on one and Charly and Kendall on the other.

They had a great time. I enjoy this time of year and all the fun activities you can do as a family.

To end the night we had tithing settlement while we were there the bishop asked if there was anything he could do for our family and with out missing a beat Marshal says Yeah the Christmas lights we hung on our house won't go on could you come fix that. Chuck and I bust up laughing. To be a teenager!!!!

Thanksgiving

These two characters did not even make it to the kids table this year!

Nicolle trying yams for the first time

No matter how old you can't resist the olives on the fingers

Buddies

Big kid table

We had a great thanksgiving not sure why I did not get a picture of all the adults. We had great food and played a game and relaxed and enjoyed each others company.

Charly's girl day out!

Last wednesday I took Charly and her friends to go see the movie New Moon

She was so excited to see it and had fun fixing little treat bags for each of her friends.

We copied the idea from our awesome friends Lori and Emma and Marshal helped her create labels for all the treats. Not sure why we did not get a better picture of them here is what was in each bag.

Cherry 7up labeled type A

red filled oreos labeled bite me

candy kisses (that is as close as these girls will ever get to kissing Edward or Jacob)

and New Moon chocolates

This is the gang

Taryn, Kennedy, Paigly, Hannah and Charly

The best part for Colle and I was listening to them all talk about the movie on the ride home.

It was hard not to giggle at how many times the word "HOT" was used.

I know that not everyone out there is a fan of the twilight saga but I have to admit I liked the books and this last movie I thought was pretty good. Charly was a little bummed that she did not get to see it opening weekend but I think we made up for it by turning it into a party.

Pie Night

This was my pie entry. Chocolate bottom banana cream pie

It tastes as good as it looks

Here is Colle's she made a macadamia key lime

It was my favorite

I did not get a picture of all the pie's and we had a lot of them.

Next year I will have to be clearer on the rules but we had a really good time.

We don't see each other as often as we would like so it is a lot of fun when we get together.

I love the holidays and love all the excuses I can come up with to spend time with family.

I hope everyone had a great time and has a Happy Thanksgiving!

october updates

October was packed with so many things that I have not blogged about so here is my month in quick review.

Daddy daughter date.

Pumpkin patch, Hay ride, Cider and doughnuts and time with your dad

I am Noelle's leader so I got to be there to take pictures love how Noelle was prepared for the chilly weather.

Chuck and the girls

They had a great time Chuck is an awesome Dad and I am glad they all love spending time together!

My most favorite Birthday gifts.

Being a crafter I get giddy when someone takes the time to make something for me.

I had to give my friend Lori a shout out for making this for me.

Lori thanks for being such a good friend I love you and am always amazed by you!!!!

Halloween 2009

Marsh was a good sport to wear this old costume for the picture Kendall really wanted him to be Mickey with her. He is such a sucker when it comes to our little stinker-bell

Noelle and Charly were mario and Luigi I know several people who had this same costume but know one was as cute as these two.

We had a great October and I am very glad my kids were so understanding to switch costumes for me at the last minute Life was a little crazy and I just could not get the dang costumes done in time. Next year the plan is to have them sewn before school starts and all will be good.